Re-watching the game proved what I had initially thought. The DLine payed fine. First of all, I wonder how many of you understand that (esp in the 3-4) the lineman are meant to occupy their men so LB's can roam free and make tackles. Secondly, the DLine got pressure all night. Gardner and his receivers made plays esp when the pocket was collapsing. But to pretend we didn't get pressure in plainly incorrect. Thirdly, Mich's line held Nix and Tuitt A LOT. They got three holds called on them but there were at least 6 more OBVIOUS holds not called.

 

The problem was Gardner made plays and our LB's and DB's did not. You want pressure. You can't get a sack all the time but you want pressure becauses it is supposed to force a QB into bad plays. Well, Gardener only made one bad play. Other times he was hit while throwing but our LB's and DB's were not aggressive and did not make plays on the ball. That is our problem. Not the DLine...

Re-watching the game proved what I had initially thought. The DLine payed fine. First of all, I wonder how many of you understand that (esp in the 3-4) the lineman are meant to occupy their men so LB's can roam free and make tackles. Secondly, the DLine got pressure all night. Gardner and his receivers made plays esp when the pocket was collapsing. But to pretend we didn't get pressure in plainly incorrect. Thirdly, Mich's line held Nix and Tuitt A LOT. They got three holds called on them but there were at least 6 more OBVIOUS holds not called.

 

The problem was Gardner made plays and our LB's and DB's did not. You want pressure. You can't get a sack all the time but you want pressure becauses it is supposed to force a QB into bad plays. Well, Gardener only made one bad play. Other times he was hit while throwing but our LB's and DB's were not aggressive and did not make plays on the ball. That is our problem. Not the DLine...

 

Agreed.. I thought our DLine played great, especially against the run.. Our defensive woes were definitely not on the shoulders of the front 3 this game.

Re-watching the game proved what I had initially thought. The DLine payed fine. First of all, I wonder how many of you understand that (esp in the 3-4) the lineman are meant to occupy their men so LB's can roam free and make tackles. Secondly, the DLine got pressure all night. Gardner and his receivers made plays esp when the pocket was collapsing. But to pretend we didn't get pressure in plainly incorrect. Thirdly, Mich's line held Nix and Tuitt A LOT. They got three holds called on them but there were at least 6 more OBVIOUS holds not called.

 

The problem was Gardner made plays and our LB's and DB's did not. You want pressure. You can't get a sack all the time but you want pressure becauses it is supposed to force a QB into bad plays. Well, Gardener only made one bad play. Other times he was hit while throwing but our LB's and DB's were not aggressive and did not make plays on the ball. That is our problem. Not the DLine...

That was my thought while watching the game. We're really hampered by the LB corp it seems. DL seemed to be the best of the bunch on D.

I said this numerous times throughout the game as well. I think our front four brought good pressure the whole game. I also believe Grace and Smith played fast. I remember one play in particular where Grace ran down Fitz and thinking he should definitely be playing more. Carlo is good when he gets in the backfield but that is it. I also do not think Fox played that bad. Our secondary was the major problem on Saturday. As the season goes on I fully expect the defense as whole to play a lot better especially in the secondary. They are too athletic to play the way they did.

watch the last drive after rees throws the interception. Nix went in beast mode. You could tell he was pissed. Two plays in a row he just tossed the OL out of the way and smashed toussaint. If he can play with that intensity all game, watch out.

watch the last drive after rees throws the interception. Nix went in beast mode. You could tell he was pissed. Two plays in a row he just tossed the OL out of the way and smashed toussaint. If he can play with that intensity all game, watch out.

 

he cant.......

I agree with the OP.

 

The problem was/is our LB's and DB's. Absolutely pathetic performance by those guys. The other problem was some of our playcalling on the offensive side of the ball.

We didn't look like a top team any way you slice it---

 

So many things to criticize which is mildly predictable after a loss, but there is no escaping the facts that we got outplayed.

 

We had chances to come back--

We had chances to assert ourselves with what was expected to be a strong defense

We simply BLEW IT!

 

Its very doubtful to me that given the play of gardner--the anemic defensive play---the running game by committee---its very doubtful winning that game was in the cards.

 

TEAM NEEDS LOTS OF ADJUSTMENTS---

 

No TEO/MOTTA/KLM/SPOND/SLAUGHTER/SPRINGMAN

 

We all thought with NIX & TUITT and lots of other four stars that we could just reload---not the case though---

 

STAFF NEEDS TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR ABOUT DEFENSING MOBILE QBs

 

LINEBACKERS NEED CHANGE----GRACE/MOORE should get chances

 

CARLISLE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN THE JOB __CASE CLOSED

 

I'm sorry but I preferred Lombard at tackle over Stanley---

 

DAMN this should not have taken a drubbing and pissy performance to make this all clear.

 

Kelly seems to have just assumed --older guys are better & we are going to be very good---

 

ASSUMING is a risky business---makes an *** out of U & ME

 

aloha's go irish!

We didn't look like a top team any way you slice it---

 

So many things to criticize which is mildly predictable after a loss, but there is no escaping the facts that we got outplayed.

 

We had chances to come back--

We had chances to assert ourselves with what was expected to be a strong defense

We simply BLEW IT!

 

Its very doubtful to me that given the play of gardner--the anemic defensive play---the running game by committee---its very doubtful winning that game was in the cards.

 

TEAM NEEDS LOTS OF ADJUSTMENTS---

 

No TEO/MOTTA/KLM/SPOND/SLAUGHTER/SPRINGMAN

 

We all thought with NIX & TUITT and lots of other four stars that we could just reload---not the case though---

 

STAFF NEEDS TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR ABOUT DEFENSING MOBILE QBs

 

LINEBACKERS NEED CHANGE----GRACE/MOORE should get chances

 

CARLISLE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN THE JOB __CASE CLOSED

 

I'm sorry but I preferred Lombard at tackle over Stanley---

 

DAMN this should not have taken a drubbing and pissy performance to make this all clear.

 

Kelly seems to have just assumed --older guys are better & we are going to be very good---

 

ASSUMING is a risky business---makes an *** out of U & ME

 

aloha's go irish!

 

We are talking about the Dline here Hawaii, no need for another rant on how bad we are and how we will only win like 2 more games this year.

 

I thought the Dline played great, but most fans only see sack numbers and use that to determine whether we got pressure or not.

We clearly got pressure and Gardner was scrambling and throwing on the run most of the time. I'll hazard to even say (Gasp!) the backers weren't playing too badly and that Gardner was releasing the ball at the last second and making great throws and the receivers were making great catches. They were on fire that night and executing. Plain and simple That's jmho after rewatching. I kept thinking," Damn what a great throw and great catch!"

We clearly got pressure and Gardner was scrambling and throwing on the run most of the time. I'll hazard to even say (Gasp!) the backers weren't playing too badly and that Gardner was releasing the ball at the last second and making great throws and the receivers were making great catches. They were on fire that night and executing. Plain and simple That's jmho after rewatching. I kept thinking," Damn what a great throw and great catch!"

 

No doubt there was some of that, esp early...

The lack of containment by the defense was "critical"---the line got some penetration but it was constantly wasted as the play sidestepped it or ran around it, SHEMBO was totally invisible.

 

NIX played well

DAY has some good penetration

 

Tuitt had that one awesome display of athleticism but overall was NOT dominant.

 

I just don't think the defensive line should be IMMUNE from criticism simply because it features our best players.

 

The facts are ICY COLD----Michigan's entire interior line the center & both guards had a measily total of 6 collective starts.

 

This DLINE was billed by me and others as "THE BEST" in the country, yet the QB opporated with immunity playing directly behind THREE TOTALLY INEXPERIENCED OFFENSIVE LINE.

 

To be frank we did not really seem to contain or dominate lowly temple either.

 

Color me concerned about EVERY aspect of the defense at this point--including the defensive line which I expect should bounce back fine but nonetheless has looked MUCH LESS THEN STELLAR AFTER TWO GAMES!

 

We need purdue IMO and hopefully we can use that game to start making some adjustments.

 

aloha's go irish!

Great post BlackIrish. Great observations.

 

It's amazing that the defensive line played as good as they did with a) no subs and b) against a scrambling qb.

 

This whole board needs to chill on attacking ND players and coaches. Gardner was on fire and looked like Colin K. He was awesome. Just admit it.

 

It happens in college football and that what makes the game great

Edited September 10, 201311 yr by TheRizz

We clearly got pressure and Gardner was scrambling and throwing on the run most of the time. I'll hazard to even say (Gasp!) the backers weren't playing too badly and that Gardner was releasing the ball at the last second and making great throws and the receivers were making great catches. They were on fire that night and executing. Plain and simple That's jmho after rewatching. I kept thinking," Damn what a great throw and great catch!"

 

I agree Speedster. My thoughts exactly. We got pressure and always seemed so close to getting Gardner, but he just made the excellent plays over and over. We weren't horrible altogether, he was just superb.

I agree Speedster. My thoughts exactly. We got pressure and always seemed so close to getting Gardner, but he just made the excellent plays over and over. We weren't horrible altogether, he was just superb.

 

 

I'm on board with this one... reminded me of eg last year in the oklahoma game. He found his rhythm and was bouncing around and making good throws. Will be interesting to see how his season goes... How many more mobile qbs we got this year anyone know? Cause they are a pain in our arse

...Gardner was releasing the ball at the last second and making great throws and the receivers were making great catches. ... I kept thinking," Damn what a great throw and great catch!"

 

Perfectly stated as I had an uneasy feeling early on when Gardner was pressured and lobbed a pass to Funchess cutting across the middle and he did a high reaching left hand grab for a 1st down. I just thought to myself that if they keep this up we are in for a long night.

The problem was Gardner made plays ..

 

This... right here.

 

Dude played out of his mind (aside from the pick to Tuitt)... stepped up, made throws while getting hit.

 

We hit Gardner in the pocket just how you are supposed to, and only a couple times did it fluster him.

 

LB's and DB's left some to be desired though.