Folks,
Now that the Saturday night excitement and buzz has worn off, I will give my analysis of the game. It was great to have many things to cheer this past night. Some were not ND related, FLA loss, USC loss. I caught myself getting an unrealistic buzz that maybe 6-6 is still a possibility which would bring a much needed bowl game for two reasons. One we would get an opponent we should beat and additional practice days, even more important. Then some common sense came over me and I realize 6-6 will be VERY DIFFICULT with the issues the team has. So here we go, I will start with the most excellent defense.
DEFENSE---
Coaching: I really like how CB went for the throat when he knew we had a rookie at QB. He moves his guys around alot which I like. He gambled with some blitz pckgs. The coaches need to work with the kids on wrapping. Grade B
D-Line: Laws is a freak!!! Kuntz played well too. We finally got some upfield pressure with the D-Line. Hand must not be showing anything in practice, he has not played the last two weeks. Grade B(would be an A if not for some missed tackles)
OLB: Smith and Neal will be special. These two are already looking comfortable and play with good aggression. A year in the weight room will make them scary. Ryan gives good effort, but is playing about 1 year early. He needs some size and strength. We are getting some good corner pressure. Vernaglia played pretty well at both OLB and ILB. The future is bright for ND at OLB. Grade B-(they still give up the corner too often)
ILB: Congrats MO. He had a game for the ages. The remainder of the group played well, but no dominate play. Brockington has been really hitting hard, but is a bit slow. Toryan loves to hit, but gets out of position on many plays. Grade A-(would be a C+ without Crum's performance)
Safeties: Zibby finally had a good game. Bruton continues to play well and amaze on special teams. The group kept plays in front of them, although they need to tackle better. Grade B
CB: Overall this group played pretty solid. Lambert was tested deep a few times and was step for step with his man. Walls is showing good ability to read the ball. Wooden did not cover great, but he brings a punch when he tackles. Check the sidleline hit in the second half. Wooden stopped the runner in his tracks on the UCLA sideline. Grade B
OVERALL THE D PLAYED SOLID AND INSPIRED BALL. THEY TRIED TO FEED OF EACH OTHER. THEY RAN TO THE BALL WELL. CB IS GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO FREELANCE. THE BIG ISSUE THEY HAVE IS TACKLING. COACHES MUST WORK ON WRAP UP'S. KUDOS TO THE D AS THEY WON THIS GAME.
OFFENSE----
Coaching: CW called a poor game on offense. 1st and goal at the one and you roll out your QB. YOU PUNCH THE BALL IN UP THE MIDDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus if you are going to run up the gut, spread the freakin D out. Our screen passes are so easy to pick up. It is NOT lack of Oline blocking, rather the D is sniffing them out. The swing pass to the side is a waste of a play. Shark made those work because he was very illusive. Not one medium range pass. Bombs to Tate or Swing pass. CW's play calling has become so predictable that myself and my buddies knew what was coming prior to most plays last night. It is obvious that the D does too. Grade D
QB: Before all you JC is the second coming of JC people go nuts, let me say that I just call it like I see it. JC is NOT the right QB to help this O go in 2007. He did not make the big mistake last night, but he also did not make any big plays. He continues to hold the ball way toooooooo loooong. Don't give me the receiver is not open BS. I talked a friend who played D-II college QB who was at the game last night. He said that there were many times Jimmy was just holding the ball when guys were wide open. Further, JC then flushes and stares at who he is going to throw to. He is gonna get our WR's killed. Sharpley ain't perfect,but he makes faster decisions. Finally, I have yet to see the great accuracy he supposedly possesses. Rember folks, JC played on a team LOADED with D-I talent, so it was easy to look like a superhero. Grade C
OL: These guys are quietly getting better and more aggressive. I saw some attitude last night in these guys. Their pass blocking was much better. JC had time on most pass plays. They did get some upfield movement on some run plays, but when the box is loaded with 8 defenders it is hard to move them all. Young looked a little gimply last night. I wonder if he is playing with an injury. Grade C+(this is huge when they were an F only a couple weeks ago)
RB: Aldgridge is starting to become a solid all around runner. Ever notice he rarely goes down on the first hit. Once we build a solid pass game, he will have some huge days. He will get only bigger and stronger which means some DB's are gonna get run over. Armando is sooo quick. I reallly like him. He just needs a full year of weights to get some strength. Why hell are we not using Luke at FB more often. I think he is being wasted in our O. Shame on you Charlie. Grade B-
WR: As a group they continue to improve. They are starting to make some tough catches and run well in traffic. Duval, awesome catch in the 3rd quarter. Hord got some play time which I was glad to see. I think he could be a good player. Tate is gonna find the going tough now that D's will key on him.
OVERALL THE O SHOULD HUG THE D FOR HANDING THIS ONE TO THEM ON A PLATTER. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE IMPROVED LINE PLAY, RB PLAY AND WR'S. THEY ARE STARTING TO GET AGGRESSIVE. THE PLAY CALLING LEAVES HUGE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. AS I SAW ANOTHER PERSON SAY ON HERE, CW IS CALLING GAMES LIKE HE IS IN THE NFL STILL. THE QB SITUATION WILL NOT CHANGE, BUT JC IS HOLDING THE O BACK AT THIS POINT. I STILL BELIEVE TIME ON THE SIDELINE WATCHING AND LEARNING WOULD DO HIM BETTER. IT HAS HELPED EVAN.
Special Teams---
OVERALL THIS GROUP HAD THERE FIRST SOLID ALL AROUND PERFORMANCE. GREAT JOB BY THE FG TEAM. PRICE SHOWED THAT HE PICKED UP HIS GAME TO GET HIS STARTING JOB BACK. HE PUNTED LONG AND ALSO DID GOOD ON PLACEMENT KICKS. THE ONLY AREA THAT CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE IS KICK RETURN BLOCKING. IF WE GET ALLEN A SEEM HE IS GONNA TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE. GRADE B
GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that the Saturday night excitement and buzz has worn off, I will give my analysis of the game. It was great to have many things to cheer this past night. Some were not ND related, FLA loss, USC loss. I caught myself getting an unrealistic buzz that maybe 6-6 is still a possibility which would bring a much needed bowl game for two reasons. One we would get an opponent we should beat and additional practice days, even more important. Then some common sense came over me and I realize 6-6 will be VERY DIFFICULT with the issues the team has. So here we go, I will start with the most excellent defense.
DEFENSE---
Coaching: I really like how CB went for the throat when he knew we had a rookie at QB. He moves his guys around alot which I like. He gambled with some blitz pckgs. The coaches need to work with the kids on wrapping. Grade B
D-Line: Laws is a freak!!! Kuntz played well too. We finally got some upfield pressure with the D-Line. Hand must not be showing anything in practice, he has not played the last two weeks. Grade B(would be an A if not for some missed tackles)
OLB: Smith and Neal will be special. These two are already looking comfortable and play with good aggression. A year in the weight room will make them scary. Ryan gives good effort, but is playing about 1 year early. He needs some size and strength. We are getting some good corner pressure. Vernaglia played pretty well at both OLB and ILB. The future is bright for ND at OLB. Grade B-(they still give up the corner too often)
ILB: Congrats MO. He had a game for the ages. The remainder of the group played well, but no dominate play. Brockington has been really hitting hard, but is a bit slow. Toryan loves to hit, but gets out of position on many plays. Grade A-(would be a C+ without Crum's performance)
Safeties: Zibby finally had a good game. Bruton continues to play well and amaze on special teams. The group kept plays in front of them, although they need to tackle better. Grade B
CB: Overall this group played pretty solid. Lambert was tested deep a few times and was step for step with his man. Walls is showing good ability to read the ball. Wooden did not cover great, but he brings a punch when he tackles. Check the sidleline hit in the second half. Wooden stopped the runner in his tracks on the UCLA sideline. Grade B
OVERALL THE D PLAYED SOLID AND INSPIRED BALL. THEY TRIED TO FEED OF EACH OTHER. THEY RAN TO THE BALL WELL. CB IS GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO FREELANCE. THE BIG ISSUE THEY HAVE IS TACKLING. COACHES MUST WORK ON WRAP UP'S. KUDOS TO THE D AS THEY WON THIS GAME.
OFFENSE----
Coaching: CW called a poor game on offense. 1st and goal at the one and you roll out your QB. YOU PUNCH THE BALL IN UP THE MIDDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus if you are going to run up the gut, spread the freakin D out. Our screen passes are so easy to pick up. It is NOT lack of Oline blocking, rather the D is sniffing them out. The swing pass to the side is a waste of a play. Shark made those work because he was very illusive. Not one medium range pass. Bombs to Tate or Swing pass. CW's play calling has become so predictable that myself and my buddies knew what was coming prior to most plays last night. It is obvious that the D does too. Grade D
QB: Before all you JC is the second coming of JC people go nuts, let me say that I just call it like I see it. JC is NOT the right QB to help this O go in 2007. He did not make the big mistake last night, but he also did not make any big plays. He continues to hold the ball way toooooooo loooong. Don't give me the receiver is not open BS. I talked a friend who played D-II college QB who was at the game last night. He said that there were many times Jimmy was just holding the ball when guys were wide open. Further, JC then flushes and stares at who he is going to throw to. He is gonna get our WR's killed. Sharpley ain't perfect,but he makes faster decisions. Finally, I have yet to see the great accuracy he supposedly possesses. Rember folks, JC played on a team LOADED with D-I talent, so it was easy to look like a superhero. Grade C
OL: These guys are quietly getting better and more aggressive. I saw some attitude last night in these guys. Their pass blocking was much better. JC had time on most pass plays. They did get some upfield movement on some run plays, but when the box is loaded with 8 defenders it is hard to move them all. Young looked a little gimply last night. I wonder if he is playing with an injury. Grade C+(this is huge when they were an F only a couple weeks ago)
RB: Aldgridge is starting to become a solid all around runner. Ever notice he rarely goes down on the first hit. Once we build a solid pass game, he will have some huge days. He will get only bigger and stronger which means some DB's are gonna get run over. Armando is sooo quick. I reallly like him. He just needs a full year of weights to get some strength. Why hell are we not using Luke at FB more often. I think he is being wasted in our O. Shame on you Charlie. Grade B-
WR: As a group they continue to improve. They are starting to make some tough catches and run well in traffic. Duval, awesome catch in the 3rd quarter. Hord got some play time which I was glad to see. I think he could be a good player. Tate is gonna find the going tough now that D's will key on him.
OVERALL THE O SHOULD HUG THE D FOR HANDING THIS ONE TO THEM ON A PLATTER. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE IMPROVED LINE PLAY, RB PLAY AND WR'S. THEY ARE STARTING TO GET AGGRESSIVE. THE PLAY CALLING LEAVES HUGE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. AS I SAW ANOTHER PERSON SAY ON HERE, CW IS CALLING GAMES LIKE HE IS IN THE NFL STILL. THE QB SITUATION WILL NOT CHANGE, BUT JC IS HOLDING THE O BACK AT THIS POINT. I STILL BELIEVE TIME ON THE SIDELINE WATCHING AND LEARNING WOULD DO HIM BETTER. IT HAS HELPED EVAN.
Special Teams---
OVERALL THIS GROUP HAD THERE FIRST SOLID ALL AROUND PERFORMANCE. GREAT JOB BY THE FG TEAM. PRICE SHOWED THAT HE PICKED UP HIS GAME TO GET HIS STARTING JOB BACK. HE PUNTED LONG AND ALSO DID GOOD ON PLACEMENT KICKS. THE ONLY AREA THAT CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE IS KICK RETURN BLOCKING. IF WE GET ALLEN A SEEM HE IS GONNA TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE. GRADE B
GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
