Time of Possession

[Riddickulous]

One of my concerns heading into the 2010 season is Brian Kelly's system. Not the offense itself, but his strategy of playing no huddle and scoring quickly every time, which negates time of possession and leaves the defense on the field longer. In fact, I read somewhere that Cincinatti won a game under Kelly where they had the ball for 12 minutes total. Kelly even bragged in an earlier press conference about having the worst TOP in the Big East conference and scoring the most points.

If our defense has some major weaknesses, they could be exemplified by being on the field so long. They could be on the field for 40 minutes. The strength of our defense is questionable. This may hurt us in the long run.

Thoughts?

 

[johnnykillz]

3-and-outs mean we are going to get the ball back. Turnovers mean we get the ball back. As long as they don't score, we get the ball back. Then we can run down the field and score again.

Just my thoughts concerning the system in place.

In other systems, I would be worried. BK has proven it works. Now he gets to do it with more talent and on the sidelines of Notre Dame.

 

[ACamp1900]

playing ball control ended in two straight 6-6 seasons.... just saying

 

[IrishInFl]

Kelly had a shitty defense and still managed to win 12 games. I'm not particularly concerned as long as we get our points.

 

[johnnykillz]

I will say overall, although, I am slightly concerned with leaving our defense on the field if we don't get stops and another team runs it down our throats every play. Of course regardless of posession schemes, that will always be a problem should it happen.

If we stop the run, I think we can force some three-and-outs. Let's hope for some good coverage this year.

 

[DaLastFarleyite]

If Kelly is successful in his "next man in" approach, then I am not overly concerned if our time of possession is below 50%. Further, if he puts the points on the board and we get 3 and 4 TD leads, who cares. Let the other team burn the clock with long drives.

 

[bigedefense]

IMO our defense will have something that they have not had much of in the past few seasons...EMOTION!!! If we go out and pop out big plays, our D goes out and tries to match the tempo. Plus, they will go out there looser because they will have the feeling that this one play (or drive) will not lose us the game. Once we get the mommentum on offense, I feel like the defense will take it on the field with them and we will see a defense unlike what we have seen in years. I CAN"T FREAKIN' WAIT!!! The big Mo' and emotion is something that we didn't have with Coach Weiss. NFL mentality we had, but in the college game momentum and emotion are vital to success. Just my opinion, and maybe my "glass is half full" attitude, but I think that big plays on offense equals BIGGER plays on defense.

 

[BearGB]

I think it is a good point to bring up, about TOP. I think it is blindly optimistic to say that it is not a worry. Certainly no coach would choose to have his defense play 48 minutes in a game.

I think Kelly's system can definitely work (see Cincinnati 2008-09, etc.). However, it will take some adjusting to, and there will be times when it frustrates us. Paul Johnson - another very, very good coach - lists TOP as one of his highest priorities. Remember how frustrating Navy is to play as a team because of it.

I, for one, can't wait to see it play out - and certainly hope for the best. However, for it to work I think we need four basic things to happen:

1) Offense needs to score probably 65-75% of the time they touch the ball, no questions.

2) Our defense has to be in terrific shape.

3) We need to be able to stop the run using our front seven.

4) Our DBs need to make sure that we do not give up the long third and fourth down situations.

I know this seems obvious, but these are the things I think need to happen. Now, how do you get that done? Hell if I know, that's why the pay Kelly the big bucks

 

[GDomer09]

IMO our defense will have something that they have not had much of in the past few seasons...EMOTION!!! If we go out and pop out big plays, our D goes out and tries to match the tempo. Plus, they will go out there looser because they will have the feeling that this one play (or drive) will not lose us the game. Once we get the mommentum on offense, I feel like the defense will take it on the field with them and we will see a defense unlike what we have seen in years. I CAN"T FREAKIN' WAIT!!! The big Mo' and emotion is something that we didn't have with Coach Weiss. NFL mentality we had, but in the college game momentum and emotion are vital to success. Just my opinion, and maybe my "glass is half full" attitude, but I think that big plays on offense equals BIGGER plays on defense.

We averaged 30pts per game last year. I don't think Big plays on Offense necessarily transfers to the Defense. If your D is weak your D is weak and will get run over either way. We have to come out hungry.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

IMO our defense will have something that they have not had much of in the past few seasons...EMOTION!!! If we go out and pop out big plays, our D goes out and tries to match the tempo. Plus, they will go out there looser because they will have the feeling that this one play (or drive) will not lose us the game. Once we get the mommentum on offense, I feel like the defense will take it on the field with them and we will see a defense unlike what we have seen in years. I CAN"T FREAKIN' WAIT!!! The big Mo' and emotion is something that we didn't have with Coach Weiss. NFL mentality we had, but in the college game momentum and emotion are vital to success. Just my opinion, and maybe my "glass is half full" attitude, but I think that big plays on offense equals BIGGER plays on defense.

I disagree. '05 and '06 were big emotional years. for the team. New coaching staff and system tend to breed hyped up teams. This team has a much more fragile psyche than the early Weis teams. This team has suffered more losses than any other squad in ND history. The defense is going to have to fight the "here we go again" attitude.

As other posters have said here, the offense hasn't had trouble putting up points. The D is going to have to overcome some demons. After the debacle that was '07, and then '08 and '09 seasons being highlighted with blown leads and losing to teams we should NEVER lose to, the defensive players have a giant monkey on their backs.

TOP is going to be a huge concern for people like me. If the defense can't get stops and get off the field (a huge problem in recent years) I am going to be worried. I am not going to be happy trying to just outscore the other team. We need to be competitive in all three aspects of the game.

I don't want to see ND put up 35 or 40 ppg - only to have our opponents also averaging 35 or 40 ppg. That is going to be cause for another season of ulcers, blown leads, close games, and a drinking problem.

 

[kmoose]

One of my concerns heading into the 2010 season is Brian Kelly's system. Not the offense itself, but his strategy of playing no huddle and scoring quickly every time, which negates time of possession and leaves the defense on the field longer. In fact, I read somewhere that Cincinatti won a game under Kelly where they had the ball for 12 minutes total. Kelly even bragged in an earlier press conference about having the worst TOP in the Big East conference and scoring the most points.

If our defense has some major weaknesses, they could be exemplified by being on the field so long. They could be on the field for 40 minutes. The strength of our defense is questionable. This may hurt us in the long run.

Thoughts?

Assuming that Kelly's ND offense is as prolific (or more) as his Cincy offense, one could make the argument that TOP will be negated by making the opposing offense one dimensional. Not too many coaches worry about establishing the run, when they are down by 17-20+ points at the end of the 1st quarter. I think alot of "traditional football" guys, including me, are going to have to accept that the times they are a-chagin', and we have to adjust our "Football 101", to keep up.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

My feelings is this. These past defenses were horrible not because they were outplayed, or outskilled. They did not lose because they lacked athleticism, they lost because they were outcoached, and not just on saturdays, but from sunday to friday. They could not tackle, were outschemed, out of position, and did not understand the scheme at all. They were so fundamentally deprived that I believe some of the players actually got worse playing for these coaches. Not to mention the pyschological factor of realizing all of these things...and still having to play.

Now you have a coach who is actually coaching these kids up, and teaching them the fundamentals of every phase of the game. They are learning "why" they have to be somewhere, not just being told. Think back to a math class..if a teacher tells you a formula to solve a problem and you try to work it out over and over but keep screwing up everything else begins to snowball out of control...you start multiplying incorrectly, adding the wrong numbers..etc. You begin to doubt yourself and make bonehead mistakes. But once a good teacher comes along and explains the formula and tells you WHY you are doing it, it all begins to make sense.

I think we are going to be pleasently suprised.

 

[irish4ever]

1) Offense needs to score probably 65-75% of the time they touch the ball, no questions.

And as long as the majority of these are NOT just FG's. Gotta put it in the end zone for the big 6!

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

And as long as the majority of these are NOT just FG's. Gotta put it in the end zone for the big 6!

Great point. And if N.D. can actually succeed with even an extra point (PAT), more the gooder.

What a joke special teams at N.D. have been for so long, even at the end of the Holtz years...

 

[Rocket89]

I'm not concerned about TOP right now. I'm curious to see if it gets even more out of balance than Kelly's Cincy days or if he leans on the run game a little more and it won't be quite as bad.

 

[Riddickulous]

Great point. And if N.D. can actually succeed with even an extra point (PAT), more the gooder.

What a joke special teams at N.D. have been for so long, even at the end of the Holtz years...

I remember 2006. We had some kicker, Carl Gjoia or whatever his name was, that was missing PATs like clockwork.

Nick Tausch seems to be the savior of the Irish kicking game. What a great season he had last year.

Last season, we would have scored more points in the red zone if we called more plays than dive, dive, fade, field goal.

 

[Rocket89]

One of the tiny subplots to the upcoming season will be how Floyd handles the fact that the ball won't be thrown to him as much as in the past.

He'll still probably get a lot of receptions, but the wealth will be spread around more.

Some people were saying he didn't look particularly happy at the Blue-Gold game because he only saw a few balls. Should be interesting...

 

[fightinirish68]

carl gioia was aweful hahahaha. i think we are missing those big hits that a lot of other teams have to help motivate and pump up their defense

 

[kmoose]

One of the tiny subplots to the upcoming season will be how Floyd handles the fact that the ball won't be thrown to him as much as in the past.

He'll still probably get a lot of receptions, but the wealth will be spread around more.

Some people were saying he didn't look particularly happy at the Blue-Gold game because he only saw a few balls. Should be interesting...

I don't think this will be an issue. Kelly has already mentioned that he asked Floyd to drop a few pounds, to be in better shape to handle the number of touches he is going to see.

 

[Riddickulous]

One of the tiny subplots to the upcoming season will be how Floyd handles the fact that the ball won't be thrown to him as much as in the past.

He'll still probably get a lot of receptions, but the wealth will be spread around more.

Some people were saying he didn't look particularly happy at the Blue-Gold game because he only saw a few balls. Should be interesting...

He saw even less last year, making just one reception for fourteen yards. It should not be an issue, especially considering that he is now lined up in the slot and will be creating mismatches against safeties up the seam.

 

[GDomer09]

Great point. And if N.D. can actually succeed with even an extra point (PAT), more the gooder.

What a joke special teams at N.D. have been for so long, even at the end of the Holtz years...

Sooooo true. Just watched last years ND-Mich game yesterday on the Big Ten Network. Couldn't get it through the uprights.

 

[irish1958]

If they go 3 and out, our offense will get the ball. If they go 15 and score as they have in the past, it will be a long year.
Special teams stink; this is where we have to improve. So we don't have to go 90 yards and they have to go 40 or 50.