Texas A&M Postgame

[Bane]

I went to mass today for the first time since HS. Helped me clear my head.

Did the Big Guy give you some insights into Purdue & Arkansas' slot WRs?

 

[Irish2155]

Did the Big Guy give you some insights into Purdue & Arkansas' slot WRs?

Unfortunately, nope.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I’m sober,… completely gutted still but sober. Anyway, please for the love of all things tell me Purdue and Arkansas don’t have some underclassmen slot receiver that’s just uncoverable,… I’m super fucking over that trend

Arkansas has 2-3 pretty solid WRs, a couple decent TEs, and their QB can hurt you with his arm and legs. He’s better than A&Ms QB imo. Don’t know much about Purdue.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Arkansas has 2-3 pretty solid WRs, a couple decent TEs, and their QB can hurt you with his arm and legs. He’s better than A&Ms QB imo. Don’t know much about Purdue.

Not sure if he’s their slot but O’Mega Blake has been their leading WR. Senior who averaged 13 ypc last night.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Not sure if he’s their slot but O’Mega Blake has been their leading WR. Senior who averaged 13 ypc last night.

He does line up in the slot but outside as well. The razorback OL isn’t too bad either. Going to be a good test for the Irish defense. Gotta find a was to get some pressure on the QB and keep him contained. Not the greatest matchup for the Irish if they haven’t figured out their defensive issues for sure. The Irish may have to out score them like Ole Miss did. Their defense isn’t that good so I like the Irish offense there for sure.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Regardless of the outcome just about everyone I heard or saw say the atmosphere was the best they have been to on a college venue. So props to the Football program for stepping it up.

 

[NDVirginia19]

I went to mass today for the first time since HS. Helped me clear my head.

I woke up still pissed off and frustrated after the game, left mass with perspective. I did the same last year directly after watching the NIU loss in person. It really is healing.

 

[MacIrish75]

He does line up in the slot but outside as well. The razorback OL isn’t too bad either. Going to be a good test for the Irish defense. Gotta find a was to get some pressure on the QB and keep him contained. Not the greatest matchup for the Irish if they haven’t figured out their defensive issues for sure. The Irish may have to out score them like Ole Miss did. Their defense isn’t that good so I like the Irish offense there for sure.

Yes, finally our vaunted defense will be tested against an opponent with competent QB play and offensive weapons to challenge our secondary.

 

[gregm83]

I went to mass today for the first time since HS. Helped me clear my head.

His grace turned around a quite terrible hangover so thats good.

 

[Huntr]

Look at this shit. Fuck.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

A bit of irony just hit me.

This game felt like 2008 ND under Weis and now ND can treat the rest of this season like it's 2008 with nothing to lose: let CJ grow, take his lumps, and get in a bunch of shootouts.

Bring everyone back on the OL next year. Try to bring JD Price back. And for all things good and holy, let the freshman DB's Zakery and Golden come in and play.

Figure out in December what you're doing with your defense and its staff for 2026.

I'd rather them do their best to rip off 10 straight wins and see where the chips lie in December, but I also get this sentiment.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Don’t get me wrong, I want to win every game by 60 points and thought we’d roll our first two games. I just don’t let it affect my life.
Especially with all of the crazy things that’s happened the past week.
My daughter is a skinny little blonde Ukrainian girl that looks a lot like the one in that train. That shook me.

I love Jesus, my wife, and my children.
That’s enough for me.

Healthy outlook. This is just my second season with a child and I told my wife yesterday morning if it wasn't for him, I probably would've drank my weight in self-pity Saturday night. Family and faith are the best way to keep yourself grounded. We all love football, and get emotional about it.

That result two nights ago, and the start of this once-promising season, absolutely sucks. It's hard but have to focus on the things that are most important and try our best to cope. A long offseason filled with excitement and expectations more than likely dashed by week 3 lol. FFS. Bigger tragedies, though.

Here's to hoping they absolutely curb-stomp Purdue again like last year and we can have a momentary reprieve before another seemingly tough game in Fayetteville.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I went to mass today for the first time since HS. Helped me clear my head.

Amen brother. Hope you keep going and make it a habit once again.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Obviously, I'm not here to pile on and/or beat a dead horse. But, I obviously missed the game Saturday as I was watching LSU-UF. I watched the replay, however, after another Saints loss (yay!). A few thoughts/questions:

DEFENSE

• After watching Bo Pelini and Matt House single handedly destroy the LSU defense, it's obvious the same is going on with Ash. Time and time again, pre-snap, the players are confused as to where they should line up, the coverage, and so forth. They're discombobulated...yelling at each other...looking at one another and throwing their hands up. The system is either too complex or the players do not know it. Coupling on that, this soft zone/read and react is an 180 from what they players ran last year ... and it shows.
• Ash's calls do not make any sense. Logically, they make no sense whatsoever. Leonard Moore...I thought he blew his knee out. Thankfully, he didn't and was okay. But his first play back, you send him on a corner blitz??? And he gets pummeled! Are you trying to injure the kid? When Moore goes out, you stick in (I believe) a true freshman and you all of a sudden ask him to play man (despite playing zone with Moore)? A&M immediately takes advantage of that and ... TD.
• Christian Gray looks just entirely lost out there.
• The middle of the field / crossing routes ... shit, my 9 year old could run post routes and pick up first downs it's so wide open. The defensive line just cannot generate any pass rush. If it's 3rd and long, it might as well be a first down. How did they give up that 3rd and 12 run?
• I like Bowen. I do. He plays hard, he's physical, and he's a hard tackler (he made a real good tackle near the goal line), but he is objectively not as good as #27. He just isn't. That said, why on God's green earth would you have Bowen ... a (respectfully) "clunky" player ... a bruiser ... a thumper out there and in coverage on the final play? It does not make any sense.
• Why did you call timeout on the final play? Unless you flat out didn't like the way something was lining up, it gave A&M a moment to take a breath and regroup.
• The defense lost some key players last year (Mills, Cross, Watts), but they returned too much to be this bad. This "read and react" scheme is too much. Last year, they pinned their ears back and played fast, physical, and aggressive. This isn't good, guys. Freeman needs to nip this shit in the bud quickly before it spirals out of control.

OFFENSE

• This isn't a knock or slight on Love, as he played good, but something, to me, seems up with him. Bear in mind, I'm a middle age commodities trader that runs a 35 min 5k, but his vision doesn't seem there. He's hitting the hole that hasn't opened up either too hard or too quickly. He's like a battering ram. He's still very effective as he's a tremendous player, but it seems really forced.
• Alternatively, and you all might think I'm crazy, but strictly running the ball, Price seems to be more effective or efficient. He's more patient and things open for him. At this point, running the ball, I think the two are 1A and 1B. Price is playing really, really well.
• Carr, he's going to make mistakes from time-to-time, but shit, he's the real deal. Notre Dame needs to go all in on the Portal (O-line, WR, etc) because this kid is special.
• You can tell Denbrock "misses" Riley Leonard on 3rd and short. Having a 6'4 225lb battering ram was money on 3rd and short. The offensive line isn't getting the push and they struggle there. The wildcat plays are too predictable. Why not put a full back in there to help on short yardage plays? Or here's an idea, if you're running something like wildcat, why not have Love as the QB and Price next to him (or in the Pistol). Holy shit, having to account for both of those guys in the backfield...imagine that.
• Fields was a great pickup. Where's Greathouse? He doesn't seem to get as much PT as Fields and Faison.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Great punt block
• Buchner...sigh...was he wearing an Apple watch? I couldn't tell if it was an Apple watch or like a black wristband. You also can't be yucking it up on the sidelines after that. I'm not putting the loss on him, but come on man....read the room.

COACHING

• Freeman's got to meet with the defensive coaches and come to some sort of meeting of the minds. It's visibly apparent the players don't understand the scheme. Dumb it down. Mickens and that secondary didn't get that bad overnight.
• You've got to get the best players on the field and in the right situations.
• There's enough speed and athleticism with #10, #27, #44, #7 to generate pressure on the QB. You've gotta figure it out.

Hate it for y'all. Regroup. Go beat Purdue.

 

[matman4593]

Last year in close games, it somehow always felt like we would find a way to gut it out and pull out a win. Like a certain clutchness.

I think these last two losses hurt as bad as they do because we now feel like we will find a way to muck up and lose.

A complete 180

 

[Dale]

Why did you call timeout on the final play? Unless you flat out didn't like the way something was lining up, it gave A&M a moment to take a breath and regroup.

To be fair, they basically knew the exact play A&M was gonna call. ND post game and Elko post game have been essentially said this. You can see they bracket both WRs and Bowen basically runs the TE routes for him. DL got penetration and Sneed was there for Reed.

Bowen just didn’t break it up.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Bowen knowing the play beat the te to the spot which actually fucked him it let him get boxed out

 

[FWIrish4]

Bowen knowing the play beat the te to the spot which actually fucked him it let him get boxed out

Yup exactly. Basically over-executed (if that’s even a word) because they were prepared.

Also helps a shit ton when you tackle the guy that was going to make the game ending sack *sigh*

 

[irishff1014]

Regardless of the outcome just about everyone I heard or saw say the atmosphere was the best they have been to on a college venue. So props to the Football program for stepping it up.

I agrees I have seen that a lot as well

 

[Irish#1]

SIAP............But when you block a punt for a TD and your opponent has a dozen penalties, you typically win.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

SIAP............But when you block a punt for a TD and your opponent has a dozen penalties, you typically win.

On the flip side, when your defense gives up a whopping 21+ yards per reception, you typically aren't winning many games.

Creating zero havoc, on top of getting gashed defensively. Really bad recipe.

 

[Irish#1]

OFFENSE

• This isn't a knock or slight on Love, as he played good, but something, to me, seems up with him. Bear in mind, I'm a middle age commodities trader that runs a 35 min 5k, but his vision doesn't seem there. He's hitting the hole that hasn't opened up either too hard or too quickly. He's like a battering ram. He's still very effective as he's a tremendous player, but it seems really forced.

Given the preseason hype, I think he's been pressing trying to meet everyone's expectations. He appeared to find his groove later in the second half as it looked like he was giving his blocking a split second longer to clear things before hitting the hole.

 

[2013Irish]

I know this shouldn't be discussed, but we should be favored by 10 points in every game the rest of the way.

USC worries me with Lemon and Lane and Arkansas at noon will be wonky, but maybe taking these lumps early on will be a blessing in disguise.

 

[RDU Irish]

Both of these games felt like we should have lost by three scores.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

To be fair, they basically knew the exact play A&M was gonna call. ND post game and Elko post game have been essentially said this. You can see they bracket both WRs and Bowen basically runs the TE routes for him. DL got penetration and Sneed was there for Reed.

Bowen just didn’t break it up.

I heard the same thing from one of the pods. It was a wheel route by their blocking TE so Bowen had leverage on his coverage b/c that pass is usually thrown over the receiver to catch. IIRC, Reed may have been flat footed but when he threw, it was under thrown (probably not intentionally) so the TE was able to block Bowen out like a power forward and make the catch w/ little to now defense.

To Bowen’s credit, he insisted on talking to the media. That’s what captains do. For whatever reason, he was the only captain on the interview panel.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Both of these games felt like we should have lost by three scores.

Especially aTm. Not trolling Aggies, but I don’t think they’re much better than an 8-4 team once again. They have enough competent defenses on that schedule that will be able to do two things ND failed at:

1. pressure Reed and get him throwing outside the pocket. His %age is horrible when pressured.

2 put best cover corner on Concepcion & bracket Craver (or vice versa)

The fact is aTm’s offense should’ve scored over 50 had Reed been more accurate.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I know this shouldn't be discussed, but we should be favored by 10 points in every game the rest of the way.

USC worries me with Lemon and Lane and Arkansas at noon will be wonky, but maybe taking these lumps early on will be a blessing in disguise.

The Arkansas spread will be less than a TD...maybe a FG

 

[2013Irish]

Especially aTm. Not trolling Aggies, but I don’t think they’re much better than an 8-4 team once again. They have enough competent defenses on that schedule that will be able to do two things ND failed at:

1. pressure Reed and get him throwing outside the pocket. His %age is horrible when pressured.

2 put best cover corner on Concepcion & bracket Craver (or vice versa)

The fact is aTm’s offense should’ve scored over 50 had Reed been more accurate.

Re #3 - you could go the other way and say we missed picks and calls. The score is what it is.

Agree that TAMU will be more of the same. Samford is the only game on their schedule that seems like a layup.

 

[Dale]

By SP+, we would a dog at Arkansas today, but I doubt that will be the same by game time.

 

[Dale]

Terry is just trolling A&M fans now lol