Vandy Post-Game Thread

[stlnd01]

I agree with you.

To add to the discussion about opponents coming into ND stadium and playing the games of their lives is true. The only teams that will come into ND stadium and lay an egg are the big boys that are regularly scheduled. Ala USC 2017 and Michigan 2014. The USF, Ball states, Vandy, Tulsa, etc play the games of their lives.

One more: Most of the teams that play Alabama, USC, Oklahoma, etc., play them pretty much every year, because they're in the same conference. Unless you're at USC, Stanford or Navy, you only have one trip to Notre Dame Stadium in your career and you may only have one game against ND at all. It's an Event.

 

[stlnd01]

I would not say there are no blue chippers. All the WR’s on the team, excluding Finke were 4* recruits, Michael Young might have been 3 star though. If given the opportunity Miles Boykin could be an absolute monster. Saying that he is not a typical big play WR, but he should be given more opportunities at 50/50 balls. I think what you are looking for is someone to take the top off the defense. IE Braden Lenzy.

There are blue-chippers, but we don't at the moment have anybody explosive enough that there's a decent chance of them scoring on any given play.
Our big WRs are solid but not likely to smoke anyone. Neither is Finke, or any the tight ends except maybe Alize Mack. Jafar Armstrong is fast but green, Tony Jones is solid but not a game-breaker. The only guy you think could break one at any given moment is Wimbush.
That might change when Dexter Williams comes back, or if someone like Lenzy emerges as a deep threat. But right now we don't have a game-breaker like we did last year with Adams, Stepherson, even ESB. And it's hurting our offense.

 

[NDRock]

I would not say there are no blue chippers. All the WR’s on the team, excluding Finke were 4* recruits, Michael Young might have been 3 star though. If given the opportunity Miles Boykin could be an absolute monster. Saying that he is not a typical big play WR, but he should be given more opportunities at 50/50 balls. I think what you are looking for is someone to take the top off the defense. IE Braden Lenzy.

Which brings up a good point. Lenzy can play 4 games and still preserve a red shirt year. Why has he not stepped foot on the field to run a go route or a reverse? They saving his speed for Stanford?


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Will Fuller wasn’t that highly ranked but when he was here, he was a blue chipper. Don’t really care what the rankings were of our starting WRs, just know none of them are getting drafted high in the NFL. Same with our RBs. Hopefully Dexter comes back and lights it up. Lenzy is probably at least a year away.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think Boykin with Kizer would be a star

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[Irish YJ]

Will Fuller wasn’t that highly ranked but when he was here, he was a blue chipper. Don’t really care what the rankings were of our starting WRs, just know none of them are getting drafted high in the NFL. Same with our RBs. Hopefully Dexter comes back and lights it up. Lenzy is probably at least a year away.

As long as Lenzy can run straight and fast and catch the ball, he could be a big help blowing the top off the D. Not saying he's an every down guy right now, but we lack the home run ball.

 

[calvegas04]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All we’re interested in is celebrating in this locker room after the game. <br><br>ICON: Vanderbilt<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> ☘️ <a href="https://t.co/soz5IgW36Z">pic.twitter.com/soz5IgW36Z</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1041871639229751298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Will Fuller wasn&#146;t that highly ranked but when he was here, he was a blue chipper. Don&#146;t really care what the rankings were of our starting WRs, just know none of them are getting drafted high in the NFL. Same with our RBs. Hopefully Dexter comes back and lights it up. Lenzy is probably at least a year away.

Doesn’t matter if Lenzy is a year away. Just do what Weis did with Golden Tate is freshman year. Run a go pattern. That is all Lenzy has to do. Run one or two routes fast, catch the ball and score a TD.


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[Sherm Sticky]

One more: Most of the teams that play Alabama, USC, Oklahoma, etc., play them pretty much every year, because they're in the same conference. Unless you're at USC, Stanford or Navy, you only have one trip to Notre Dame Stadium in your career and you may only have one game against ND at all. It's an Event.

Agree. Which is why 2017 USC happened because ND plays them every year. And why 2014 Michigan happened.


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[Irish Insanity]

Not sure if we've reached "Fire Long" banners being flown over the stadium yet. It's definitely concerning though.

I'd have to think Turnover Tommy would have to be in as much hot water, if not more, than Long. I'd say that Long at least has some positives on his resume, while Rees...still doesn't even have a resume, let alone any positives on it. But even guys like Mike Sanford and Matt LaFleur didn't seem to have much success coaching QB's under Kelly, so who knows. The lack of progression/regression of QB's under Kelly is the giant gorilla in the room and clearly staring all of ND directly in the face.

finally got finished watching the game on dvr. when the O goes tempo and wimbush doesn't have time to think, everything clicks. They start every game this way, and they did it again to get to 22. As soon as they slow down, everything takes years to develop, the running game stalls, and wimbush makes ugly passes. Why don't they keep the pedal down and go tempo most of the game? They have the personnel, and it obviously works. Maybe they're saving it for Stanford, I don't know...

That's been the modus operandi under BK for a long time. I don't know if he thinks the team can't sustain it or if he is trying to milk the clock once he gets a lead, but the offense is more effective when they are in the hurry up.

OMM below said it better than I ever could. But BW does great with scripted, lenghtly practiced, plays. Once he has to think and become a QB as opposed to a puppet, his success rate plummets. I love everything about BW, except as the starting QB for an ND team with this much talent/potential.

I believe that first drives tend to work well not simply because they're scripted (and Kelly probably has a lot of say in that) but because they're pre-practiced so Brandon has "seen" the action several times and doesn't doubt/slow his comprehension down.

As to "tempo" offense then, our chosen QB can't run it, not with any consistency nor competence anyway. He is not an all-field comprehender-seer, and the quicker tempo is just going to induce more errors. IMO.

The two QBs that Kelly has had who were "stand-and-deliver" QBs (Rees and Kizer) could run such a thing, and Book (and probably later, Jurkovec) can. Kiel probably could have. Pike was the Cincinnati mold for this, but Collaros could stand-and-deliver while still posing a running threat. Golson couldn't. Wimbush is Golson revisited without the academic fiasco. The last thing that Long could do to relax me would be to emphasize "tempo" with a guy who can't deal with any more "excitement" than he already has.

 

[Circa]

finally got finished watching the game on dvr. when the O goes tempo and wimbush doesn't have time to think, everything clicks. They start every game this way, and they did it again to get to 22. As soon as they slow down, everything takes years to develop, the running game stalls, and wimbush makes ugly passes. Why don't they keep the pedal down and go tempo most of the game? They have the personnel, and it obviously works. Maybe they're saving it for Stanford, I don't know...

Maybe we are good enough to win our first 3 games. IDK . just my uneducated guess.

 

[NDRock]

Doesn’t matter if Lenzy is a year away. Just do what Weis did with Golden Tate is freshman year. Run a go pattern. That is all Lenzy has to do. Run one or two routes fast, catch the ball and score a TD.


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Golden Tate, who is probably more talented than Lenzy, caught six passes and scored one TD his Freshaman year. Pretty sure a few go routes to Lenzy isn’t solving our offensive issues this year.

 

[Irish#1]

OMM below said it better than I ever could. But BW does great with scripted, lenghtly practiced, plays. Once he has to think and become a QB as opposed to a puppet, his success rate plummets. I love everything about BW, except as the starting QB for an ND team with this much talent/potential.

This goes back to the problems being in his head, more than mechanics. While he's a good soldier, I have to believe getting pulled for Book, especially in the RZ sends a loud message that BK doesn't trust BW's judgement. BK can spin it anyway he wants to, but if I drove a team to the 5 only to be pulled for the backup, I would start wondering what is going on which in turn would have me wondering when I'll get yanked next instead of being focused 100% on the game.

 

[tko]

I watched our first series last night because I was out and about during the first half on Saturday. Getting cute at the 2 caused me to turn the game off, disgusting. We go up 7-0 there Vandy folds the tent hard. They looked scared as fk in that first drive. Also, get me some more Michael Young please.

 

[NDRock]

I watched our first series last night because I was out and about during the first half on Saturday. Getting cute at the 2 caused me to turn the game off, disgusting. We go up 7-0 there Vandy folds the tent hard. They looked scared as fk in that first drive. Also, get me some more Michael Young please.

Didn’t we just go under center, I formation, and try to pound it in from the 2? I guess that’s getting cute in modern football. Really thought we were going to see play action there (we did later in the game with Book). The false start killed us on 3rd down.

 

[tko]

Didn’t we just go under center, I formation, and try to pound it in from the 2? I guess that’s getting cute in modern football. Really thought we were going to see play action there (we did later in the game with Book). The false start killed us on 3rd down.

That false start was terrible. I think we tried some sort of read play and Jones was swarmed by like 5 guys without a ND player in site. I love the Wimbush sweep inside the 5 with blockers in front. Again, we get away from the plays that should be bread and butter.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I really hope we are all singing a different tune when we get Dex back.

Him, Jafar and TJ, coupled with Wimbush, could be pretty lethal if the offensive line builds off of that Vandy performance. Step in the right direction for them up front.

 

[NDRock]

I really hope we are all singing a different tune when we get Dex back.

Him, Jafar and TJ, coupled with Wimbush, could be pretty lethal if the offensive line builds off of that Vandy performance. Step in the right direction for them up front.

Hope so. We just need some big plays. Hopefully Dex can provide that spark.

 

[sportallyr]

I really hope we are all singing a different tune when we get Dex back.

Him, Jafar and TJ, coupled with Wimbush, could be pretty lethal if the offensive line builds off of that Vandy performance. Step in the right direction for them up front.

Yeah I agree. Wondering if BK and Long would consider some I-formation packages with TJ playing more of a FB. Bring back the triple option!!!

 

[Irish Insanity]

This goes back to the problems being in his head, more than mechanics. While he's a good soldier, I have to believe getting pulled for Book, especially in the RZ sends a loud message that BK doesn't trust BW's judgement. BK can spin it anyway he wants to, but if I drove a team to the 5 only to be pulled for the backup, I would start wondering what is going on which in turn would have me wondering when I'll get yanked next instead of being focused 100% on the game.

I completely agree. While I don't think BW is the man to lead us to the promise land, if you're going to have him lead this offense you need to let him lead this offense. Pulling him here and there helps absolutely nobody individually, and especially this team.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Yeah I agree. Wondering if BK and Long would consider some I-formation packages with TJ playing more of a FB. Bring back the triple option!!!

LOL. Considering BW seem's to have difficulty deciding between two options, I can only imagine what would happen if we ran the triple option.

 

[Voltaire]

This goes back to the problems being in his head, more than mechanics. While he's a good soldier, I have to believe getting pulled for Book, especially in the RZ sends a loud message that BK doesn't trust BW's judgement. BK can spin it anyway he wants to, but if I drove a team to the 5 only to be pulled for the backup, I would start wondering what is going on which in turn would have me wondering when I'll get yanked next instead of being focused 100% on the game.

Just like in Varsity Blues tbh. Coach Brian Kelly CBK = Coach Bud Kilmer CBK

stay woke

 

[RDU Irish]

Welcome to being ND, Bama, OU, OSU, and SC. Everybody circles you on their calendar and plays their best game of the year against you. The only voodoo I've ever seen that works against it is to jump on them early, beat them like a rented mule, and don't let them get any momentum going.

No the difference with Bama and OSU are people are mortified of being completely boat raced - they have consistently pounded lesser opponents so badly (largely making that rep on DIII schools). They are out there enjoying utter domination of a lesser opponent, building confidence and staying fresh with 20 minutes of scrimmage for back ups to finish the game.

Everyone comes to ND thinking they have a legit shot and we will keep them in it. When we get a lead we pull back the reins and play not to lose. Grinding it on the ground versus going full Tecmo bowl on their ass. Play some prevent D instead of keeping the heat on that kept them down. O and D get ridiculously predictable and conservative letting other teams back in it. We play so damn scared - or don't want to completely emasculate the opponent - I can't tell which but it is a cultural thing that comes from the top, IMO.

 

[RDU Irish]

This goes back to the problems being in his head, more than mechanics. While he's a good soldier, I have to believe getting pulled for Book, especially in the RZ sends a loud message that BK doesn't trust BW's judgement. BK can spin it anyway he wants to, but if I drove a team to the 5 only to be pulled for the backup, I would start wondering what is going on which in turn would have me wondering when I'll get yanked next instead of being focused 100% on the game.

Maybe if he is so damn fragile he should be taking RB reps and forgetting about ever throwing the ball again?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

This goes back to the problems being in his head, more than mechanics. While he's a good soldier, I have to believe getting pulled for Book, especially in the RZ sends a loud message that BK doesn't trust BW's judgement. BK can spin it anyway he wants to, but if I drove a team to the 5 only to be pulled for the backup, I would start wondering what is going on which in turn would have me wondering when I'll get yanked next instead of being focused 100% on the game.

If anything can cause you to not be 100% focused on the game, you deserve to be pulled. I don't necessarily agree with everything Kelly does but the above is nothing but excuses. Players need to be locked in and committed to winning and to trusting the coaches, at least for the duration of the season.

 

[RDU Irish]

I really hope we are all singing a different tune when we get Dex back.

Him, Jafar and TJ, coupled with Wimbush, could be pretty lethal if the offensive line builds off of that Vandy performance. Step in the right direction for them up front.

Won't matter if there are 9 in the box.

 

[fightingirish26]

I'd rather Book run the offense until they get to the RZ, then bring in Wimbush. Our RZ offense last year was elite.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Hope so. We just need some big plays. Hopefully Dex can provide that spark.

By no means am I saying that TJ didn't play well because he ran his ass off on Saturday. However, as hard as he is to bring down sometimes, some of those holes he ran through
Saturday were massive, and a guy like Dex would have had a chance to go the distance against Vandy. He has that next gear that we've been lacking to turn big chunk runs into big scores.

Yeah I agree. Wondering if BK and Long would consider some I-formation packages with TJ playing more of a FB. Bring back the triple option!!!

I would love to see a two TE, two RB wrinkle when he comes back, be that a FB or shotgun with two RBs; I just don't know if we will see the I-form too much if at all. Not really BK's MO. But I would be a huge fan

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Won't matter if there are 9 in the box.

Michigan loaded the box and that turned out pretty well, didn't it?

Same song different tune. Football isn't that easy.

 

[matman4593]

I'd rather Book run the offense until they get to the RZ, then bring in Wimbush. Our RZ offense last year was elite.

Agree with BW in the redzone. He is easily our biggest threat in the redzone or "blue zone" or whatever obscure term BK wants to invent to try to justify putting book in. Need to start running the designs QB power that BW and Kizer ran so effectively over the past 3 years.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

This feels like 2012 all over again. We may win every game by the thinnest of margins (which would be great) only to get curbstomped in the playoffs to bama or OSU (which would not be great).