I dont get it

[KellyisNasty 0]

How can a team who beat down OK in Norman, turn into a penalty/turnover machine who forgot how to play great defense?

 

I'm still stunned how bad they looked overall last night

[corysold 0]

Teams don't play their best every week.

 

As "bad" as they looked last night, they gave ip 6 points, had 5 sacks and allowed 54 yards rushing.

 

They did whatever they wanted on offense until they fumbled.

 

It wasn't a pretty result, but it was never really in doubt.

[KellyisNasty 0]

Teams don't play their best every week.

 

As "bad" as they looked last night, they gave ip 6 points, had 5 sacks and allowed 54 yards rushing.

 

They did whatever they wanted on offense until they fumbled.

 

It wasn't a pretty result, but it was never really in doubt.

 

BC had about 600 yards rushing for the season going into last nights game and abandoned the rush in the second half. They also, at times, carved up the secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey. They just couldn't do anything with the ball in short fields.

 

Its less about ND than BC being hopeless. Yes, NDs offense moved the ball with impunity, but whenever they got anywhere near the red-zone, they shot themselves in the face with a 12 gauge.

 

I'm not really concerned with last nights game so much as worried about a scary trend developing these past two weeks.

Edited November 11, 2012 by KellyisNasty

[1qa 0]

The team is not mentally sharp at the moment...

 

IMO, they are reading the press, and looking beyond their "weak" opponents to USC... whether they are conscious of this behavior or not.

 

I think Kelly can remind them until he turns purple, that they need to focus on the small things, and all the good habits that have gotten them to this point... but the field leaders (captains) would be most effective in this role.

 

Pitt was a scare... and there should have been a better showing against BC... I think they know it, but they haven't kicked into that extra focussed gear.

 

It's been an exhausting season... they got over the BIG hump of Stanford, BYU & Oklahoma.

 

I hope they are done with their mental break, and are able to concentrate on Wake. Wake is like Pitt, IMO.. they can beat us if we are careless with the ball.

 

WHY the fumbles now??

[corysold 0]

I hardly think 247 yards on 43 three throws in "carving up" a secondary, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

Most everything they threw was underneath the linebackers. The secondary played pretty well I thought.

[KellyisNasty 0]

I hardly think 247 yards on 43 three throws in "carving up" a secondary, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

Most everything they threw was underneath the linebackers. The secondary played pretty well I thought.

 

But that has been open all season. Its concerning when the defense drops 7-8 and somehow the LBs cant guard the sticks.

 

There is basically manual now on how to beat NDs defense and USC is reading that book from cover to cover right about now.

[corysold 0]

But that has been open all season. Its concerning when the defense drops 7-8 and somehow the LBs cant guard the sticks.

 

There is basically manual now on how to beat NDs defense and USC is reading that book from cover to cover right about now.

 

It has also been the same gameplan all season. Rush 3-4, drop 7-8, keep everything on front and tackle.

 

If the linebackers play more shallow, it opens a hole behind them as we saw a few times last night. The secondary isn't good enough yet to just lock teams down, do the LBs are dropping deeper to compensate. That is what ND has done all year, then they clamp down in the red zone when there is less space.

 

You may not like it, but right now that gameplan has given up the fewest points in the nation.

[KellyisNasty 0]

It has also been the same gameplan all season. Rush 3-4, drop 7-8, keep everything on front and tackle.

 

If the linebackers play more shallow, it opens a hole behind them as we saw a few times last night. The secondary isn't good enough yet to just lock teams down, do the LBs are dropping deeper to compensate. That is what ND has done all year, then they clamp down in the red zone when there is less space.

 

You may not like it, but right now that gameplan has given up the fewest points in the nation.

 

I'm not down on the team, just concerned about what USC/bowl-team can do.

 

As a ND fan, I am completely conditioned to wait for the other shoe to drop. rofl

[corysold 0]

I'm not down on the team, just concerned about what USC/bowl-team can do.

 

As a ND fan, I am completely conditioned to wait for the other shoe to drop. rofl

 

I get where you are coming from. They will try to do the same thing to USC. Take away the big play, make USC go 10 plays without a drop, penalty or sack. Given USC is the most penalized team in the nation and has a weak Oline, it should be a sound strategy, just like vs OU.

[Domer Dude 0]

6 points..........

[AtLeastMySisWasIrish 0]

The team is not mentally sharp at the moment...

 

IMO, they are reading the press, and looking beyond their "weak" opponents to USC... whether they are conscious of this behavior or not.

 

I think Kelly can remind them until he turns purple, that they need to focus on the small things, and all the good habits that have gotten them to this point... but the field leaders (captains) would be most effective in this role.

 

Pitt was a scare... and there should have been a better showing against BC... I think they know it, but they haven't kicked into that extra focussed gear.

 

It's been an exhausting season... they got over the BIG hump of Stanford, BYU & Oklahoma.

 

I hope they are done with their mental break, and are able to concentrate on Wake. Wake is like Pitt, IMO.. they can beat us if we are careless with the ball.

 

WHY the fumbles now??

 

I agree with the mental breakdowns but believe it more to do with the building pressure which comes with being undefeated this deep into the season. I see a team which is playing tighter, trying to avoid mistakes which always leads to more mistakes...No one in that locker room save Kelly has been undefeated to now and the pressure cooker which is ND has no equal and a fan would be naive not to think the kids are feeling it big time. I beleive Kelly has coached them to not look past opponents but if I'm 18~20 yrs old knowing the hopes and dreams of ND Nation are riding with your every play...I might be a little bit tight too. When we were just starting out the kids were playing loose with no end of year epxectations...now it's all about the BCS, ABC national games...a big load for a team which hasn't been here for 19 years. I expect better play next week, Senior Day, final home game but won't be shocked either if it is still close going into the 4th qtr. But this team wins albeit ugly and looking forward to the exclamation point at USC and on to the BCS debate...

[OntarioIrish 10]

Chicago Tribune article:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-1111-notre-dame-boston-college-football--20121111,0,1861033.story

 

Coach Kelly quote:

 

"When it's all said and done, we'll see where we are. You see how hard it is to win in college football — we can't worry about those things. We have to focus on what we can do. If people don't like us winning, I don't know what else to tell you."

 

"If people don't like us winning, I don't know what to tell you." Kind of sums it up nicely, I think.:ranger:

[ottawand 0]

What really annoyed me last night was whenever Rettig faked the handoff to his running backs, our D-Line momentarily froze to play the run, this was despite our big lead and Boston College's lack of a running attack, it should have been an all out rush on the QB, this happened all night long. Also despite the fine work of our outside linebackers, in obvious passing situations we should switch them up for some extra defensive backs.

[goirish83 0]

im very much in the a win is a win camp and im not one of those people saying we're lucky to be where we are and are overrated. We're 10-0 and earned that 10-0 against a tough schedule.

 

But i would be lying if i didnt say i was at least a little concerned about the performances the last two weeks. It's an incredibly fair criticism Boston College and Pitt are terrible football teams there's no sugar coating that. Hopefully someone turns on the accelerator next week and we pound wake that'll give me a little more confidence heading into the coliseum but right now i agree USC looks like a mountain of an obstacle.

 

The good news is elite defenses keep you in every game and even though we saw some cracks particularly against pittsburgh i still feel that this defense is elite and will keep us in the game against USC and whatever bowl game we're in.

[D Fence 175]

I put a lot of how we "looked" yesterday on the coaches.

 

On offense, we got too conservative way too early in the second half. Yes, we did throw at times, but when it was 3rd and 12. We fell into a predictable playcalling pattern and only mustered 7 second half points against a bad team.

 

Turnovers also hurt us, but we folded up the playcalling tent pretty early.

 

It comes down to whether you want to see us win versus watching us put up style points. I'm sure the coaches' party lines will be "we got the win on the road". But had we finished a couple of those 2nd half drives and the score wound up 28-6 or 35-6, that would have passed the eye test a little better.

[Soko 135]

Do we not have the number 1 scoring defense in the country?

 

If that is forgetting how to play great defense then sign me up for some please.

[AtLeastMySisWasIrish 0]

A lot of folks on this board need to head over to ND Nation and click on the football articles which link to the national media outlets. Pay particular attention to those out of Boston, NY and shhh...ESPN. I get some here will always find a flaw but may do you good to read how the majority of the media saw this as a dominating performance with the score being no indication of the outcome. This was not our best game by far but we beat the crap out of these guys and a few fumbles kept it from being the game you style guys wanted. F***ing in the National Championship debate for the first in 19 yrs...117 other teams in the FBS would love to be 10-0 and winning ugly right now.

[Rocketsan 879]

I hardly think 247 yards on 43 three throws in "carving up" a secondary, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

Most everything they threw was underneath the linebackers. The secondary played pretty well I thought.

 

Hopefully we get a good concentrated rush in two weeks against USC. Curious to know how the secondary plays against the deep threat they present...

Edited November 11, 2012 by Rocketsan

[1qa 0]

A lot of folks on this board need to head over to ND Nation and click on the football articles which link to the national media outlets. Pay particular attention to those out of Boston, NY and shhh...ESPN. I get some here will always find a flaw but may do you good to read how the majority of the media saw this as a dominating performance with the score being no indication of the outcome. This was not our best game by far but we beat the crap out of these guys and a few fumbles kept it from being the game you style guys wanted. F***ing in the National Championship debate for the first in 19 yrs...117 other teams in the FBS would love to be 10-0 and winning ugly right now.

 

I agree... the national media is not is down as we are... but that's because we are fans who have now shifted our expectations.

 

Being in the NC conversation should make us happy as pigs in mud, but nothing less than excellence is also why we love ND.

 

Anyway... i will go play in the mud today. And fret next Saturday.

 

I really hope Senior Day... being Teo's last day... will be the emotional boost the team needs to refocus and play a complete and dominating game.

[irishrb 0]

I am CONVINCED that BK waters the offense down when they are not playing a tough opponent. He's setting things up for USC...

[Rocketsan 879]

I am CONVINCED that BK waters the offense down when they are not playing a tough opponent. He's setting things up for USC...

 

I'm not. No way he jeopardizes everything by putting this team behind the 8-ball each week we have struggled.

 

It's something else. I think our record is better than we are. I think that years of unlucky/improbable plays against us have all been cashed in this year and we've been the recipient of some favorable bounces...

[toddrhodes 98]

We looked flat out bad against BYU heading into Oklahoma. We all know how that turned out. Get off the ledge, jeez. 10-0 and no, they didn't put up 50 points but that isn't the measuring stick for this team. I still look at our QB as very much a work in progress and, frankly, I think he's ahead of schedule. But whatever, melodramatic ND fans gonna be melodramatic.

 

"We suck." Can't believe I read that on this forum today.

[Franco 0]

I am CONVINCED that BK waters the offense down when they are not playing a tough opponent. He's setting things up for USC...

 

Definitely agree...no doubt that Kelly takes away about 80% of the play book...we seriously would just run right up the gut all game..even if they're stacking the box

 

I'm a bit disappointed with the score but its not as bad as people re making it out to be...

 

BC threw everything at our defense plus the kitchen sink, and the defense still held them to 6 points...

 

If the RBs didn't all of a sudden have a case of fumbilitis, the score would be 35-6

[Rocketsan 879]

6 points..........

 

Against a garbage Boston College team...

[toddrhodes 98]

Against a garbage Boston College team...

 

You'd find some way to bitch about a 50-0 blowout. It's getting so tiresome. Unless you're just trolling which wouldn't be a shock.