What we're missing.

[koonja]

Using Alabama as the measuring stick, here are the areas that I noticed we come up short:

1) BCS, quality depth on the lines.
2) Elite DBs (ours are very good, but when it comes to athleticism, it wasn't even close).
3) A WR that can stretch the field. DD is our best receiver, imo, but look at #9 for Alabama. We need a guy like that to make the play action that much more dangerous.
4) Fast linebackers. Theirs were flying around like madmen (thank you, Jalon Smith).
5) I know people on here sing Paul Longo praises, but whatever Alabama is doing for S&C is incredible. They looked like full grown men out there compared to our boys. Our guys were tired and noticeably weaker than their team as a whole.

Thank God we're addressing some of these needs through this recruiting class (see, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Butler, Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, etc).

 

[JoeyGetherall]

Yep.

Just keep winning... Winning = Better Recruiting. Better Recruiting = More Shots At a Title.

 

[yankeeND]

Using Alabama as the measuring stick, here are the areas that I noticed we come up short:

1) BCS, quality depth on the lines.
2) Elite DBs (ours are very good, but when it comes to athleticism, it wasn't even close).
3) A WR that can stretch the field. DD is our best receiver, imo, but look at #9 for Alabama. We need a guy like that to make the play action that much more dangerous.
4) Fast linebackers. Theirs were flying around like madmen (thank you, Jalon Smith).
5) I know people on here sing Paul Longo praises, but whatever Alabama is doing for S&C is incredible. They looked like full grown men out there compared to our boys. Our guys were tired and noticeably weaker than their team as a whole.

Thank God we're addressing some of these needs through this recruiting class (see, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Butler, Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, etc).

Those stud recruits you listed at the bottom are one of the huge things we have been missing. Bryant is the type of player we have been missing. The line depth like you mentioned is very important moving forward. We are very close and with another great season next year the string of quality recruiting classes will be at 4 and the continued success on the field will be there for the taking! We are very close IMO just gotta build the depth and make some minor tweaks to the ever evolving offense and away we go!

 

[phork]

Being tired, specifically on defence, was a result of being on the field for 80% of the game.

 

[RuntheBall]

Criminals...

but I agree with you Kuehnja especially with 1, 2, and 4

 

[ALLGATOR]

Talent and depth on both lines of scrimmage is the biggest need. I know ND took a lot of DLinemen 2 years ago but I see a big problem with only taking 1 maybe 2 DLinemen this class so far.

 

[arrowryan]

We're just behind them right now. Rome wasn't built in a day. Saban has been building that team and reloading talent for 6+ years now. It takes to build aen Alabama like team, especially tough when Notre Dame is in a cold city and it is tough to get into the school. In 2-3 years I think we will be there

 

[GreenSox04]

i think it really comes down to depth, especially on the offensive line. look at obviously bama, but a team like A&M as well. dont get me wrong, manziel is unreal. but i think that offensive line is over looked.

as well as depth in the backfield to go along with in the trenches, wood and riddick were good, but they in reality arent even in the same conversation as lacey/yeldon tandum..i really think/hope bryant (especially) and folston can be what we saw on the other side of the ball..could be just another example of kelly taking this program the SEC styled way.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Using Alabama as the measuring stick, here are the areas that I noticed we come up short:

1) BCS, quality depth on the lines.
2) Elite DBs (ours are very good, but when it comes to athleticism, it wasn't even close).
3) A WR that can stretch the field. DD is our best receiver, imo, but look at #9 for Alabama. We need a guy like that to make the play action that much more dangerous.
4) Fast linebackers. Theirs were flying around like madmen (thank you, Jalon Smith).
5) I know people on here sing Paul Longo praises, but whatever Alabama is doing for S&C is incredible. They looked like full grown men out there compared to our boys. Our guys were tired and noticeably weaker than their team as a whole.

Thank God we're addressing some of these needs through this recruiting class (see, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Butler, Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, etc).

1) We have had some terrible luck on the O-Line (James, Bullard, Tate) and can't make up for it the way Alabama does. We are getting back, though.
2) Our starters were injured, we are building depth.
3) #9 is running around with safeties staring at Eddie Lacey. No doubt he is good.
4) I agree.
5) Alabama has bigger players at a lot of positions because they are the Top Dog and get the better recruits. We'll look like that once these next couple clases are seniors. There just are not a lot of Laceys and Yeldons out there.

 

[koonja]

Talent and depth on both lines of scrimmage is the biggest need. I know ND took a lot of DLinemen 2 years ago but I see a big problem with only taking 1 maybe 2 DLinemen this class so far.

I agree with ALLGATOR. It's scary that some people thought this Alabama team wasn't their best in the last few years. After watching that game I want ND to go bananas on DL/OL from now on. We've accomplished that for the OL for this class, and next year's looks to be good, too. If we get EV I like our DL class very, very much.

 

[arrowryan]

Talent and depth on both lines of scrimmage is the biggest need. I know ND took a lot of DLinemen 2 years ago but I see a big problem with only taking 1 maybe 2 DLinemen this class so far.

Tuitt, Nix, Day, Springmann, Schwenke, Jones, Rochell, Matuska, Hounshell,

The bold are the starters. The italics are the ones to help the most. If EV comes then he would be in the 2 deep IMO

 

[chicago51]

Using Alabama as the measuring stick, here are the areas that I noticed we come up short:

1) BCS, quality depth on the lines.
2) Elite DBs (ours are very good, but when it comes to athleticism, it wasn't even close).3) A WR that can stretch the field. DD is our best receiver, imo, but look at #9 for Alabama. We need a guy like that to make the play action that much more dangerous.
4) Fast linebackers. Theirs were flying around like madmen (thank you, Jalon Smith).
5) I know people on here sing Paul Longo praises, but whatever Alabama is doing for S&C is incredible. They looked like full grown men out there compared to our boys. Our guys were tired and noticeably weaker than their team as a whole.

Thank God we're addressing some of these needs through this recruiting class (see, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Butler, Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, etc).

1) We have had some terrible luck on the O-Line (James, Bullard, Tate) and can't make up for it the way Alabama does. We are getting back, though.
2) Our starters were injured, we are building depth.
3) #9 is running around with safeties staring at Eddie Lacey. No doubt he is good.
4) I agree.
5) Alabama has bigger players at a lot of positions because they are the Top Dog and get the better recruits. We'll look like that once these next couple clases are seniors. There just are not a lot of Laceys and Yeldons out there.

Yes

I think KVR and BJ are athletic enough perhaps not experienced enough or good enough. Safeties we have outside of Motta are pretty athletic. Motta was more of an overachiever but we have athletes at Safety coming and on the roster. I think the seconday just needs experience.

 

[ALLGATOR]

I agree with ALLGATOR. It's scary that some people thought this Alabama team wasn't their best in the last few years. After watching that game I want ND to go bananas on DL/OL from now on. We've accomplished that for the OL for this class, and next year's looks to be good, too. If we get EV I like our DL class very, very much.

This wasn't their best D in the last few years. They were not as deep and they did not have an elite pass rusher. I will continue to say Florida had a better defense than Bama this year and some others in the SEC have an argument. This Bama team had a much better offense then some previous teams.

 

[IrishLax]

I agree with ALLGATOR. It's scary that some people thought this Alabama team wasn't their best in the last few years. After watching that game I want ND to go bananas on DL/OL from now on. We've accomplished that for the OL for this class, and next year's looks to be good, too. If we get EV I like our DL class very, very much.

I agree with him partially you also can't have the deficiencies we do on the back end. The ineffective play of our secondary and missed tackles/lack of physicality by those players was a bigger reason for our loss than anything in the trenches.

Also, the fact that 0-12 Southern Miss played Louisville closer than Florida renders all of his opinions on "team building" invalid.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Just keep filling the trenches. Last night was a wake up call, but hey, the blueprint is there.

 

[koonja]

I agree with him partially you also can't have the deficiencies we do on the back end. The ineffective play of our secondary and missed tackles/lack of physicality by those players was a bigger reason for our loss than anything in the trenches.

Also, the fact that 0-12 Southern Miss played Louisville closer than Florida renders all of his opinions on "team building" invalid.

The missed tackles, no doubt. But I do not blame the secondary for McCarron having all day to throw. Any secondary will give up yards if you have 7 seconds to make a pass. I'm now a true believer that everything starts in the trenches. You can win big with 3/4 star DBs and they can look GREAT if you have a dominating DL and athletic LBs.

 

[Grahambo]

Overall? Just keep adding high quality athletes. I think depth is probably the #1 problem. This is why building takes time.

As with football though, controlling the LOS is the most important thing and we just didn't have the depth to control the LOS for 60 minutes.

 

[Ndaccountant]

The missed tackles, no doubt. But I do not blame the secondary for McCarron having all day to throw. Any secondary will give up yards if you have 7 seconds to make a pass. I'm now a true believer that everything starts in the trenches. You can win big with 3/4 star DBs and they can look GREAT if you have a dominating DL and athletic LBs.

The other way to get pressure is to have great DB's that can play man incredibly well so you feel comfortable blitzing 7. Bama did it a bunch last night and that is what NFL teams do. Get you to third and long and blitz.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Hindsight obviously shows that K-State or Oregon would have been a better opponent for us than Bama, but this thread is EXACTLY the type of question the coaches will look at and continue to address. We got shellacked, s-it happens, how do we make sure it doesn't happen again? BK isn't going to sleep well this week, and I'm sure a fire was lit.

 

[HawaiianIrish]

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE: CHECK


Go Irish and thank you for the wonderful season. You boys and coaches make me proud...

 

[Green Mountains]

Remember that age old debate about 4*'s and 5*'s. We need elite talent. More 4*'s and 5*'s. The talent gap and depth gap is vast. We need more top 5 classes.

Longo can build them up. And BK can coach them. It takes time. And every indication is we are on the path to sustained success.

 

[chicago51]

Hindsight obviously shows that K-State or Oregon would have been a better opponent for us than Bama, but this thread is EXACTLY the type of question the coaches will look at and continue to address. We got shellacked, s-it happens, how do we make sure it doesn't happen again? BK isn't going to sleep well this week, and I'm sure a fire was lit.

I'm going to post this in the Kelly to the NFL thread as well. Any chance of Kelly leaving for the NFL next year ended with that loss. I'm sure he is pissed off and a fire has been lit.

When Ara quit they asked him if giving up 56 unanswered to USC in his last game after being up 28 made him quit. He replied "no in fact it almost made me stay". Nothing gets to a coach to get embarrassed like that, especially when you know you yourself got schooled.

 

[koonja]

This game sucked, but Alabama was going to slaughter anyone with that much time to rest and game plan. Their offense was really, really good. We're going to have a string of double digit win seasons with BK at the helm.

 

[IrishLax]

The missed tackles, no doubt. But I do not blame the secondary for McCarron having all day to throw. Any secondary will give up yards if you have 7 seconds to make a pass. I'm now a true believer that everything starts in the trenches. You can win big with 3/4 star DBs and they can look GREAT if you have a dominating DL and athletic LBs.

Absolutely. I was more disappointed in their inability to make a tackle on the second level of their RBs or shed blocks by WRs to stop outside runs. Oh well.

I think we will be fine relative to non-Alabama teams next year on the DL with Tuitt and Nix plus a bevvy of other highly rated guys who could step up.. namely Jarron Jones.

On the OL I have serious questions. We just really haven't had top tier NFL talent on the OL in ages and that won't be changing next season. Some of IrishMob13 are the first guys in awhile that have very high upside outside of Stanley/Hegarty.

 

[koonja]

I would like to schedule one SEC team per year. For two reasons:

1) Play a game against or in a state that's loaded with talent (LSU, Bama, Georgia, Florida, etc).

2) We can point to our schedule all we want, hell we can even be right in an objective SOS argument. But the fact is, no one's going to give us much credit until we start playing and beating a SEC team.

Take off Oklahoma. That's a tough game and Oklahoma isn't as loaded with prospects as Georgia, Florida, etc are. Keep Texas and USC because those are talent-rich states. I fully believe we can compete with SEC teams on a week to week basis. Giving a team like Bama 37 days to prepare, however, was a different story, at least last night. Play them 6 days after then play Tennessee and I think we have a shot.

 

[cyrano]

Rivals Rankings from last 4 classes:

Bama 1, 1, 5, 1

Notre Dame 20, 10, 14, 21

 

[chicago51]

Rivals Rankings from last 4 classes:

Bama 1, 1, 5, 1

Notre Dame 20, 10, 14, 21

Bama has more talent. Still should not have got taken to the woodshed 42-14. We lose 28-17 in a hard fought game and you can say it is talent. Last night's loss went behind talent.

 

[phork]

Bama has more talent. Still should not have got taken to the woodshed 42-14. We lose 28-17 in a hard fought game and you can say it is talent. Last night's loss went behind talent.

Deep over the top, you might say.

 

[blackirish]

Using Alabama as the measuring stick, here are the areas that I noticed we come up short:

1) BCS, quality depth on the lines.
2) Elite DBs (ours are very good, but when it comes to athleticism, it wasn't even close).
3) A WR that can stretch the field. DD is our best receiver, imo, but look at #9 for Alabama. We need a guy like that to make the play action that much more dangerous.
4) Fast linebackers. Theirs were flying around like madmen (thank you, Jalon Smith).
5) I know people on here sing Paul Longo praises, but whatever Alabama is doing for S&C is incredible. They looked like full grown men out there compared to our boys. Our guys were tired and noticeably weaker than their team as a whole.

Thank God we're addressing some of these needs through this recruiting class (see, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Butler, Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, etc).

Agreed,but for the 5 guys you mention that we get, Schools like Alabama,LSU, FLORIDA GET THOSE AND 3 OR 4 MORE AT THOSE POSITIONS TO INCREASE DEPTH

 

[Buster Bluth]

I agree with him partially you also can't have the deficiencies we do on the back end. The ineffective play of our secondary and missed tackles/lack of physicality by those players was a bigger reason for our loss than anything in the trenches.

Also, the fact that 0-12 Southern Miss played Louisville closer than Florida renders all of his opinions on "team building" invalid.

THIS. Lax gets it, as always.