I must admit that I didn't like the "throw it all over the field" approach where you don't have a conventional hand-off to Allen until the second quarter.

 

That said, ND had the game under control in the 2nd Qtr. and the ball around midfield. Here, I thought, was perhaps the glimmer of light. We would score and continue to score and blowout MSU. Instead, Weis decides to get cute: specifically attempting a pass from Tate - a throw across his body - to Clausen. Tate never got the pass off, the drive stalled a play later and the momentum shifted.

 

Another example is getting a 1st down with 4 minutes left. The running game is working well, the lineman are running downhill, Allen's seeing the holes, etc. 1st down after Tate gets them out of jail and we run the Wildcat again, except this time it goes wacko and Tate tackles Allen. Why do this crap when you just need to shorten the game and you are getting yards in the run game?

 

This win has a bitter taste to me because I don't think it really did much to ease any concern. I knew the kids had heart. I also knew Weis runs an undisciplined team, gets too cute when it isn't necessary, doesn't help his defense by shortening the game at the end of the game, and that our defense is really that bad.

 

It's better than losing - but I certainly didn't see anything between this game and Michigan for me to say " Yeah, that was a fluke." It cemented my concerns all the more.

i didnt mind the playcalling at all......it was the D that letdown imo

I must admit that I didn't like the "throw it all over the field" approach where you don't have a conventional hand-off to Allen until the second quarter.

 

That said, ND had the game under control in the 2nd Qtr. and the ball around midfield. Here, I thought, was perhaps the glimmer of light. We would score and continue to score and blowout MSU. Instead, Weis decides to get cute: specifically attempting a pass from Tate - a throw across his body - to Clausen. Tate never got the pass off, the drive stalled a play later and the momentum shifted.

 

Another example is getting a 1st down with 4 minutes left. The running game is working well, the lineman are running downhill, Allen's seeing the holes, etc. 1st down after Tate gets them out of jail and we run the Wildcat again, except this time it goes wacko and Tate tackles Allen. Why do this crap when you just need to shorten the game and you are getting yards in the run game?

 

This win has a bitter taste to me because I don't think it really did much to ease any concern. I knew the kids had heart. I also knew Weis runs an undisciplined team, gets too cute when it isn't necessary, doesn't help his defense by shortening the game at the end of the game, and that our defense is really that bad.

 

It's better than losing - but I certainly didn't see anything between this game and Michigan for me to say " Yeah, that was a fluke." It cemented my concerns all the more.

 

Are you complaining about the last pass play? I think it was third and 5 or 6 so I didn't mind the call and with JC on fire. I thought the wildcat crap in the second quarter pulled the foot off the accelerator. Penalties didn't help either. One thing is for sure. Those adjustments CW and Tenuta made last Sunday weren't that effective.

In response to Speedster's request, I'm not going to comment anymore this evening on the likes and dislike of the game.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Wildcat either. Yes it resulted in 2 TDs, but it also took the ball out of your best player's hands (JC) and is just too cute. The call for Allen to throw was perfect, but thats the only place you can throw the ball there. AA throwing the ball on a normal wildcat play at midfield isn't going to scare anyone. I still can't believe defenses even cover the QB on that play, especially JC, WITH A HURT FOOT no less. This gimmick is just too cute. JC is one of the top 5 QBs in the nation, you are wasting his talent making him a decoy.

what the hell are we doing having golden tate rolling out to throw a ball? plain f'n stupid..........

I wasn't a huge fan of the Wildcat either. Yes it resulted in 2 TDs, but it also took the ball out of your best player's hands (JC) and is just too cute. The call for Allen to throw was perfect, but thats the only place you can throw the ball there. AA throwing the ball on a normal wildcat play at midfield isn't going to scare anyone. I still can't believe defenses even cover the QB on that play, especially JC, WITH A HURT FOOT no less. This gimmick is just too cute. JC is one of the top 5 QBs in the nation, you are wasting his talent making him a decoy.

 

I absolutely agree with you. I think I made this point after the Nevada game, but I actually didn't mind the wildcat with JC's foot situation. And yes... that was before AA and GT ran into each other like a couple of clowns. I felt so bad cus they looked so silly at the time.

i dont like the wildcat. 99% of the time your going to run and with JC playing a receiver you can almost forget about him because hes not going to get the ball. then your allowing the defense to put another guy off of JC and onto whoever is running the ball. there was one play today where they showed a replay after the play that had JC wide open waving his hand because the defensive player wasnt covering him because the defensive player knew JC wasnt going to be involved in the play.

 

 

there is another pay call i wanted to talk/ask about. last week people were upset that ND was throwing the ball late in the game with the lead. im wondering what people thought of the call in todays game late in the game with ND leading. it was 2nd and 17 deep in ND territory and JC threw the ball to Tate and Tate was able to run for the 1st down. should JC have been throwing or would it have been better to have Allen running? would people feel differently if Tate hadnt made that catch?

what the hell are we doing having golden tate rolling out to throw a ball? plain f'n stupid..........

 

exactly...theres no point to it. all it can turn into is something bad.

 

why try to be cute and trick a defense with the wildcat when JC can throw the ball and nobody can stop him no matter what...even if the know the damn play

i understand when you say people would be talking differently if tate dropped the pass in the final series. but remember it was a safer 7 yard pass not a fifty yard bomb.

Problem isn't with the offense its the D, and Corwin and Tenuta need to start answering.

 

 

I really don't like the wildcat but when AA threw the TD pass it was a very nice play. This team will and does score points thats not the problem.

I agree with gunslinger. I don't get the bad playcalling complaint at all. Charlie's playcalling was fine. I agree that the wildcat is not needed but it did work today. I personally don't like it. And if we are judging playcalling on one play (the Tate WR pass), that is crazy. That play doesn't have to work to keep the defense honest. Michigan St did the same play for a TD. You think MSU fans are complaining about that call?

 

Our Defensive scheme needs some work but our offense is outstanding. 33 points against a good defense plus the play Floyd got injured on was a TD.

The problem I have with the Tate pass is that Tate is left handed. If you are going to run that play, at least have him running to the other side.

First, I thought Charlie deserved another year last year, so I'm not totally a Weis Hater. That said, though, I think Defcon is 100% right as pertains to Charlie's extremely questionable playcalling when we had a chance to blow the game wide open.

 

One of the many things that Charlie has not seemed to be able to grasp is the role momentum plays in collegiate athletics and just how quickly it can change. The Spartans were down. Notre Dame could have potentially put them out. The offense we were running was working just fine, but he had to get cute and start running that stupid Wildcat.

 

A bit of an aside, Charlie was quick to talk about "how big the win was for Notre Dame and not for Charlie Weis." I suggest he begin coaching that way. Quit trying to prove how innovative and smart you are Charlie and coach the kids to victories. The truth of the matter is you haven't appeared to be all that bright since taking the helm. Quit trying to appear as the "great offensive genius" and just coach these kids. Take what works and capitalize on it. That's what the great coaches do. Oh, be my guest and throw a gimmick in once and a while, but step on the other team's throat when you have a chance.

 

One of the problems Notre Dame has is they don't really have an identity. That is 100% Weis' fault from where I sit and doing things like running a "normal" offense and then switching to gimmicky offenses more than just a couple of times contribute to this.

 

I've been reading this board for the better part of 2 years. This is my first post. I have a question for those who are much smarter than me. Can anyone explain why we never run one of our great receivers or tight ends on slants, button hooks or any number of other pass plays across the middle of the field? Why is seemingly every pass play run to the sideline where our receivers are often robbed of playmaking abilities after the catch because their mobility is carrying them out of bounds?

 

And on defense, can anybody explain to me why we never seem to drop linebackers into pass coverage. Trust me, I understand that John Tenuta likes to blitz. Unfortunately, the offensive coordinators from the teams we are playing understand that, too. So they simply have the TE or a receiver fun free across the middle. Hey, I'm all for a well conceived blitz. But when you do it on every play and continue to leave the middle of the field wide open, bad things happen -- as we've seen the last two weeks.

 

Thanks for the great forum, Domer Domain!

Jeez.....

 

The only questionable thing FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON is our D. CW is doing a GREAT job calling plays.

 

The wildcat is a wrinkle.....as long as we run it a few times a game, the opposition HAS to practice for it. Even if it isn't our bread and butter, it will cause teams to spend less time focusing on our REAL offense. Having Tate throw it out of the wildcat also makes teams have to focus on that wrinkle of a wrinkle......meaning the runs SHOULD be more successful.

 

I guess it is impossible to please most of you guys. Jimmy has throw for 300+ in each game, and our running game is doing great.....but CW still somehow sucks at calling plays

Welcome to DomerDomain Gemlover.It's great to have you finally join us.

SJ

Jeez.....

 

The only questionable thing FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON is our D. CW is doing a GREAT job calling plays.

 

The wildcat is a wrinkle.....as long as we run it a few times a game, the opposition HAS to practice for it. Even if it isn't our bread and butter, it will cause teams to spend less time focusing on our REAL offense. Having Tate throw it out of the wildcat also makes teams have to focus on that wrinkle of a wrinkle......meaning the runs SHOULD be more successful.

 

I guess it is impossible to please most of you guys. Jimmy has throw for 300+ in each game, and our running game is doing great.....but CW still somehow sucks at calling plays

 

My thoughts too. How can you complain about offensive play-calling when we're putting up 35 points and almost 500 yards a game? Yes there have been some calls that you can second-guess..but taken as a whole Weis has been awesome calling the plays this year.

 

Need to address our whole defensive philosophy. I pray to God that its not because we are not conditioned well...we have the athletes to compete but we're not.

First, I thought Charlie deserved. another year last year, so I'm not totally a Weis Hater. That said, though, I think Defcon is 100% right as pertains to Charlie's extremely questionable playcalling when we had a chance to blow the game wide open.

 

One of the many things that Charlie has not seemed to be able to grasp is the role momentum plays in collegiate athletics and just how quickly it can change. The Spartans were down. Notre Dame could have potentially put them out. The offense we were running was working just fine, but he had to get cute and start running that stupid Wildcat.

 

A bit of an aside, Charlie was quick to talk about "how big the win was for Notre Dame and not for Charlie Weis." I suggest he begin coaching that way. Quit trying to prove how innovative and smart you are Charlie and coach the kids to victories. The truth of the matter is you haven't appeared to be all that bright since taking the helm. Quit trying to appear as the "great offensive genius" and just coach these kids. Take what works and capitalize on it. That's what the great coaches do. Oh, be my guest and throw a gimmick in once and a while, but step on the other team's throat when you have a chance.

 

One of the problems Notre Dame has is they don't really have an identity. That is 100% Weis' fault from where I sit and doing things like running a "normal" offense and then switching to gimmicky offenses more than just a couple of times contribute to this.

 

I've been reading this board for the better part of 2 years. This is my first post. I have a question for those who are much smarter than me. Can anyone explain why we never run one of our great receivers or tight ends on slants, button hooks or any number of other pass plays across the middle of the field? Why is seemingly every pass play run to the sideline where our receivers are often robbed of playmaking abilities after the catch because their mobility is carrying them out of bounds?

 

And on defense, can anybody explain to me why we never seem to drop linebackers into pass coverage. Trust me, I understand that John Tenuta likes to blitz. Unfortunately, the offensive coordinators from the teams we are playing understand that, too. So they simply have the TE or a receiver fun free across the middle. Hey, I'm all for a well conceived blitz. But when you do it on every play and continue to leave the middle of the field wide open, bad things happen -- as we've seen the last two weeks.

 

Thanks for the great forum, Domer Domain!

Welcome to DomerDomain Gemlover.

That was a gem of a first post.

 

Good questions too.

I could give you my opinion on them all, but I honestly don't know what the thinking is.

 

I love slants and crossing patterns on offense.

Texas Tech runs them flawlessly. Even if the majority of them only go for 5 or 6 yards, you at least give your recievers the ability to make some plays on their own. Look what Tate did yesterday late in the game. Short completion, break a tackle, and get a huge gain for a crucial first down.

it would also help open up the long game, but as long as JC keeps being so accurate, that's not a huge problem.

 

I can't complain much about the offense though. Other than a left handed Tate running a pass option to his right ????

I pretty much liked what I saw.

 

The real problem is the defense. That's what really needs to be figured out.

A high powered offense with a weak defense just makes us look like ND version 2006.

 

The problem with that is our talent is light years ahead of that team right now, especially on D. There's no comparison there, which makes it so much more frustrating to see us giving up so many points to a team that's splitting QBs.

Some folks just hate Charlie, and want him gone no matter what! Yes there ARE problems but our offensive execution isnt one of them. If the offense is putting up 33-35 points a game and we are still struggling to win, the Defense is the problem, Not the offense. I get mad a Charlie sometimes too, but come on this offense has been AMAZING ever since that U$C game ended! Lets get the D problems under control at least a little and we should be more than fine! Go Irish!

Completely agree with the opening poster. Our offense was doing very well until CW decided to get too cute with the play calling.

 

We've been scoring a lot of points and our defense is playing very well but there have been too many times when we have punted instead of stepping on the opponent's neck.

i think that sometimes it feels like the offense cant handle prosperity.