Thoughts on MSU Re-watch

[NDinL.A.]

Long day of waiting for the big game today, so I thought I'd share some thoughts on what I saw upon closer review of the MSU game, which I hadn't noticed the first time:

* Kendall Moore - was a 3 or 4 star recruit, only plays on special teams in his 3rd year in the program. He could be a major-league sulker on the sideline. But I saw 2 plays where the Irish made plays and there he was on the sideline screaming in joy for his teammates. Might not seem like much, but those are the types of guys that make coaches' jobs easier, and make teams gel.

* As great as everyone says Shembo played...they still undersold him - he was insane! Wow, what a stud. He was basically unblockable.

* Everyone killed Koyack for his lack of blocking (rightfully so), but on Cierre's first big run on the final big drive, he absolutely pancaked his man, which sprung Cierre. So he has it in him.

* The offensive line did an incredible job on William Gholson (sp). He is a beast, and had a relatively quiet game. Awesome job.

* After Day got inured doing his best Grammatica impression, I saw him return to the game, and played late as well. He'll be fine.

* Kap can rush the passer too! He had 2 bone-crushing hits just as the QB released the ball. I had to rewind it twice to make sure it was him making his o-lineman look foolish on one of the plays. No sacks, but 2 huge hurries/hits on the QB.

* Toma was absolutely phenomenal, but I'd like to see Neal get just one of those quick hitches Toma always gets. Make it an automatic read where neither he nor Golson has to think, and get that kid the ball out in space. Just one time, please!

* Josh Atkinson got a pass caught on him, but his coverage was damn good. Just a great pitch and catch, but not his fault. I hope he takes that with him and his confidence grows.

* And Bennett had some great coverage as well, which seems to be lost in looking at post-game talks. Dude was blanketing guys, which I thought he'd be doing this season. Now, let's hope it was more him than the MSU's sh!tty receivers (I'm dubious, having seen so many crappy corners from ND lol). But it was good to see.

* And finally, I'm wrong a lot, but about CW being our best RB, I was not wrong on. After the Navy game many people were touting Theo, but I was positive it was Cierre. He brings speed, vision, and toughness, and it was on full display that 2nd half.

Anybody else re-watch the game and have new thoughts to share?

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I agree with you about Riddick.
He's a nice player, but lacks that extra burst AND vision.
Too many times I saw him get caught in a fast closing hole that Cierre pops through and cutting back into a non-hole when another was open.
He's more of a single read/cut back runner where Cierre is the complete package.


Just one thought to add to yours:
They need to stop rushing the punter.
Instead of trying to get penetration, they need to block the o-line and try to set up a return.
It's ridiculous that in three years we haven't had a punt return no matter who's back there.

 

[irish1958]

Toma is also a good blocker, and he appears to know how to get open. Last year he was open a lot but rarely got the ball. He reminds me of Welker.

 

[jakerbluegold]

What really stuck out to me was the kicking game. Both Turk and Brindza did great work out there. We had great field position to start some of our drives, and Turk pinned sparty back more times than not.

And I completely agree with the Neal comments. We need to block better for him on returns, and work him in to the offense here and there.

 

[Grimm]

Rewatched as well. A few things that I noticed that I missed watching live:

- Golson had a much worse game then I thought. After watching live, I thought he may have missed a couple of passes, but really was smart about not making mistakes and managing the game. But he missed a ton of passes. 5 of his first 10 passes that were incompletes should have connected. The two long balls were straight in the middle of the field and he had a ton of time to throw (no one near him). He missed a few easy screens. Even the great pass to goodman had a jump ball feel to it (and he had a wide open Toma in the endzone as well). He also had a couple of balls that could have been INTs. I kind of look at this as a positive, because it shows you if he can do what he did against Purdue, we should be a 30+ point offense. But the lack of accuracy was surprising.

- During the game, I loved the tipped passes by the LBs. But I didn't notice how great Dan Fox was all game. Plenty of times he was blanketing his guy so no throw in his direction. And he was pretty good against the run. Really break out game i think.

- Agree with you on Toma. Really surprised at how athletic he was after the catch (and to get that catch on the sideline). I was thinking after the game that he was just a great route runner and I remembered a couple clutch catches during the game, but in the rewatch he really looked elusive and was a difference maker. And as for the receivers, TJ Jones made a couple of plays and blocks where I am now really excited to see what he becomes. Need to get him the ball more.

- Have to say, I can't agree on the assessment of Cierre vs Riddick. I don't think this game showed a clear separation. You may be right, but this game wasn't (in my opinion!) one where you can declare being right. Really neither did much until the fourth quarter as far as running goes. I would say that if we need a yard, Cierre is the guy because Riddick gets tripped up more easily. But Riddick had some nice runs, and that 11 yard run on the big drive from the 4 was a beauty. He looks more elusive to me and is great at catching the ball and that has to help in how people defend ND when he is in the game. I also thought it was interesting he got the ball the last drive where they just wanted to run it up the middle and not turnover. That said, Cierre's second run in that definitive drive was amazing. I'm sure we all can agree that having both of these guys makes our running game very formidable in the fourth quarter.

- I didn't think the blocking away from the LOS looked great at times. Even when a TE spreadout, they seemed to have trouble with CBs. But then again, it really is hard to tell what is going on away from the ball watching TV.

One thing I was hoping I would think differently about was the Oline. But they still looked just so-so until Q4. Seems like we just wore MSU down by the end.

 

[OCIrish]

Nice assessment LA......I agree with pretty much everything you noted, although I haven't re-watched the game in it's entirety. As another poster noted, Danny Fox has been lights out in his pass coverage this season. I also felt Danny Spond did a really good job, Saturday night.

 

[Ironman8]

Great assessment LA. The only thing I will add after rewatching is that Daniel Smith gets some grief on here about not being a big pass catcher, but the kid was great in blocking last Saturday. There is no doubt in my mind he is our best blocking WR (I actually think Toma is second), and it is really a testament to him and the team player he is that he can still take pride in that aspect of the game without being targeted often.

 

[Anchorman]

I'll echo the punt return complaint. Its the only aspect of our game that makes me shake my head. Our guys literally walk/jog to their protection line, then quite literally step aside, let everyone rush by, then watch the play. It makes zero sense, and didn't improve from last year to this.

 

[irishfan]

* Kendall Moore - was a 3 or 4 star recruit, only plays on special teams in his 3rd year in the program. He could be a major-league sulker on the sideline. But I saw 2 plays where the Irish made plays and there he was on the sideline screaming in joy for his teammates. Might not seem like much, but those are the types of guys that make coaches' jobs easier, and make teams gel.

This was no joke one of the main things I noticed from re-watching the game too. Stuff like this makes a team work. You can't be successful if your backups are moping.

 

[Ricochet]

Toma is also a good blocker, and he appears to know how to get open. Last year he was open a lot but rarely got the ball. He reminds me of Welker.

He is without question Welker, he will never get his proper due because his not that physical specimen of a freak athlete but he gets it done by being a good blocker, a great route runner and having great hands.

The kid is a player.

 

[Ricochet]

Nice assessment LA......I agree with pretty much everything you noted, although I haven't re-watched the game in it's entirety. As another poster noted, Danny Fox has been lights out in his pass coverage this season. I also felt Danny Spond did a really good job, Saturday night.

The LB play was awesome and Te'o and the Prince got the pub but collectively they were all great.

Carlo and Fox complement each other and Te'o so well and Spond proved that they also have a very good DOG LB.

 

[Ricochet]

* Kendall Moore - was a 3 or 4 star recruit, only plays on special teams in his 3rd year in the program. He could be a major-league sulker on the sideline. But I saw 2 plays where the Irish made plays and there he was on the sideline screaming in joy for his teammates. Might not seem like much, but those are the types of guys that make coaches' jobs easier, and make teams gel.

Listen to the coaches and others that have gotten to see this team practice often and they will all tell you that Moore and Jarrett Grace are worthy of being starters and good ones at that it's just that they are stuck behind a special, special talent in Te'o who doesn't come off the field.

 

[NDhoosier]

The biggest issue with the TEs Koyack and Niklas is not that they cannot block, but they dont seem to know who to block until it is too late. Niklas seems to do that all the time. Seriously, who could overpower Niklas? The problem is that Niklas and sometimes Koyack dont block the right person and a man runs free into the backfield...

 

[JughedJones]

The biggest issue with the TEs Koyack and Niklas is not that they cannot block, but they dont seem to know who to block until it is too late. Niklas seems to do that all the time. Seriously, who could overpower Niklas? The problem is that Niklas and sometimes Koyack dont block the right person and a man runs free into the backfield...

Seriously, after the pep rally yesterday, I don't want to hear anyone saying that Niklas can't block anyone in the NCAA. He just needs to pick his target sooner.

Once he does that? I pity fools.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

MSU looking very bad this week against a very poor Eastern Michigan team. Hoping it's not an indication that they're just not that good.

 

[JughedJones]

MSU looking very bad this week against a very poor Eastern Michigan team. Hoping it's not an indication that they're just not that good.

Just saw that.


How does Bell have 120 yds at half and they only have 3 points? Crazy.

 

[eNDzone]

Shumate looked like he was using glue to stick to his man. He is going to see some picks this year for sure.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Buddy of mine from Ohio sent me this today. Hi-larious!!!! I know its late but its funny to hear them cry. I was in Tunica Ms at the casinos and watched this at the bar. I was the only one hoop'n and hollering. I know it was 6 years ago but, I still think it was a great comeback.

2006 Mike Valenti Michigan State - Notre Dame Rant Part 1 - YouTube


GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!

Diz

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Buddy of mine from Ohio sent me this today. Hi-larious!!!! I know its late but its funny to hear them cry. I was in Tunica Ms at the casinos and watched this at the bar. I was the only one hoop'n and hollering. I know it was 6 years ago but, I still think it was a great comeback.

2006 Mike Valenti Michigan State - Notre Dame Rant Part 1 - YouTube


GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!

Diz

Lol I remember hearing this before.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Lol I remember hearing this before.

He sent it to me because my wife told him to listen to me on the radio today here in Nashville. They wanted ND fans to call in. I called and told them our defense is stout, offense is still a little suspect but getting better. Didn't want to get into any shoot-outs with Oregon, KSU, or Alabama if had to. But was proud of our boys. Then the a-holes tell me, wait a minute, now your saying ND is not worthy of their BCS ranking???? and then ask me, is that what you are saying, then hung up on me so I couldn't answer then went on to bash me and say that ND is lucky to be where they are right now. D-heads.

GO IRISH!!!!!!!

Diz

 

[phork]

He sent it to me because my wife told him to listen to me on the radio today here in Nashville. They wanted ND fans to call in. I called and told them our defense is stout, offense is still a little suspect but getting better. Didn't want to get into any shoot-outs with Oregon, KSU, or Alabama if had to. But was proud of our boys. Then the a-holes tell me, wait a minute, now your saying ND is not worthy of their BCS ranking???? and then ask me, is that what you are saying, then hung up on me so I couldn't answer then went on to bash me and say that ND is lucky to be where they are right now. D-heads.

GO IRISH!!!!!!!

Diz

I post this yearly here.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I still wish MSU had John L Smith as their football coach...

 

[ACamp1900]

The hater fans from the south will never give ND their due... even when Lou had ND rollin in the late 80s early 90s they hated.... every bowl game ND went to was undeserved, every big game ND won was a fluke, I have seen many times where a fan from the south mentions the 88 team as one of the worst title teams ever...

Seriously, Notre Dame was ballin' back then... if they won't give props during that era they won't ever give props...

Actually, I wasn't around for it... but listen to them talk about the Era of Ara today... same stuff...

 

[Dizzyphil]

The hater fans from the south will never give ND their due... even when Lou had ND rollin in the late 80s early 90s they hated.... every bowl game ND went to was undeserved, every big game ND won was a fluke, I have seen many times where a fan from the south mentions the 88 team as one of the worst title teams ever...

Seriously, Notre Dame was ballin' back then... if they won't give props during that era they won't ever give props...

Actually, I wasn't around for it... but listen to them talk about the Era of Ara today... same stuff...

Eh... I have gotten used to it. I just got suckered in to the radio station looking for ND fans. Of course after the hang-up, people called in to air out about the arrogant, richey-rich, and chosen one fans of the Irish. I have learned to ignore it down here in SEC land. Too many arguments not enough conversation about college football. The idiots that root for the same team even argue over who is the bigger fan...

GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!

Diz