- that victory is going to do very well for us in the confidence column if we can get past UNC next week...hope we aren't caught looking too far ahead...

- some people on this board don't like Kelly - we get it...but to blame ANYTHING on him yesterday is beyond ridiculous...the ONLY thing I would have cast doubt on him was if they trotted out Hunter Smith a third time and he botched it...but he didn't - if he did I would have questioned Kelly's decision to keep him in. The weather conditions were horrid...the defense we played were beats...we did as well as we could under the conditions.

- Golson is a bit of a liability running the ball. We need him to protect the pigskin...and more importantly himself...

- Irish Storm takes the prize for worst posts yesterday: step up your game son; you brought nothing to the potluck yesterday and ate like a pig...

I agree with your post 100%. Sign BVG up to a Weis type contract now, guy is earning his.

I learned that this team responds well to adversity. Behind, dropping the ball, with your back against the wall in a rain storm. It becomes, who can make a play.

 

A 45 yard FG after missing 2 after to bad operations is no gimmie and Kyle nailed it.

 

Making a play in the corner on your last chance, is straight movie script stuff.

 

We weren't gonna score 40 yesterday, very few teams could have, but they won in the face of adversity, that's my take away from it all...

Magic. I remember during Holtz's run, there was some magic. You always knew we were going to make a play to win.

We had some magic in 2012. We had some last night.

Winning teams have players that can make that happen.

- that victory is going to do very well for us in the confidence column if we can get past UNC next week...hope we aren't caught looking too far ahead...

- some people on this board don't like Kelly - we get it...but to blame ANYTHING on him yesterday is beyond ridiculous...the ONLY thing I would have cast doubt on him was if they trotted out Hunter Smith a third time and he botched it...but he didn't - if he did I would have questioned Kelly's decision to keep him in. The weather conditions were horrid...the defense we played were beats...we did as well as we could under the conditions.

- Golson is a bit of a liability running the ball. We need him to protect the pigskin...and more importantly himself...

- Irish Storm takes the prize for worst posts yesterday: step up your game son; you brought nothing to the potluck yesterday and ate like a pig...

 

 

I agree 100% and I also think it worth saying twice...Golson is a bit of liability running the ball. I don't think he likes running it and his tendency is to always hand it off and not keep it. He is no Cam Newton (running). I love him, these are just observations.

I agree 100% and I also think it worth saying twice...Golson is a bit of liability running the ball. I don't think he likes running it and his tendency is to always hand it off and not keep it. He is no Cam Newton (running). I love him, these are just observations.

 

He needs to run smarter...he's the glue holding the offense together...

I'm a Kelly supporter, but the running game play calling has been really iffy this year. Also, the whole we are gonna only play mcdaniel against a physical team just made no sense to me.

I'm a Kelly supporter, but the running game play calling has been really iffy this year. Also, the whole we are gonna only play mcdaniel against a physical team just made no sense to me.

 

I'm not CBK obviously but I don't think he trusts GB and TF with holding on to the ball, right or wrong that's the impression I get. I have no idea how many fumbles Cam has had in his career but it doesn't seem like many?

I'm not CBK obviously but I don't think he trusts GB and TF with holding on to the ball, right or wrong that's the impression I get. I have no idea how many fumbles Cam has had in his career but it doesn't seem like many?

 

He dropped it against USC last year...

One other glaring obvious is that this team is going to be deadly in a year or two...the young talent is absolutely wrecking it and is only going to get better...

1. Big Q of the offseason (other than that dad gum investigation) answered. Schmidt and the speed D can hold up against power offenses and big OLs.

 

2. A bunch of 3-n-outs is every bit as good as a turnover or two. This team breaks the rule in back-to-back games. You can turn the ball over and still win when your QB makes big plays and your D gives him enough opportunities. This D is for real. (Which is fortunate. Cause so is ASU's back-up QB and last year's Heisman winner, both of whom we get to visit shortly.)

 

3. It's hard to catch the ball on cold rainy days. True for receivers and kick holders. Even true for Corey Robinson, to our collective astonishment. Need some more cold-weather practices. Suspect we can count on the South Bend climate to deliver.

 

Best play of the game: We all know. It's seared into our memories.

 

Worst play if the game: Immediately before the best one, when Steve Elmer's butt tackled Golson on the QB draw.

 

Best bad play of the game: The blocked field goal. I know it sucked, but did you see Brindza's right foot scoop the ball off the ground like a nine iron and nearly get it over the line? That kick wasn't far from three points, which would've made it the most amazing FG ever.

I'm a Kelly supporter, but the running game play calling has been really iffy this year. Also, the whole we are gonna only play mcdaniel against a physical team just made no sense to me.

 

LVI, good post. But, (sorry) I still don't get this "Cam shouldn't be in there" conversation. A few things:

 

1. Cam McDaniel is as good a RB as any the Irish have had in years. He runs North/South, doesn't turn the ball over, catches passes, picks up the tough yards, and blocks well. I thought he did a great job yesterday. The Cam bashing continues to make me scratch my head and I will miss him when he is gone.

 

2. IMHO, the play calling has been 100% better this season. Personally, I don't care if ND passes or runs as long as they score more points than the other team. Actually, there were times yesterday when I was saying to my brother, "WHY is Kelly running the damn ball?" The press even questioned him after the game and he simply explained if ND didn't run the ball, it would have destroyed the passing game later, or something to that effect.

 

3. Now this is only my opinion, but against a team like Stanford, in those conditions, the odds of turning the ball over go up exponentially. Would YOU rather have a guy like Cam running straight into the defense dropping his shoulder, or a guy like GB or TF who are shifty, young and inexperienced, and unproven in the big game? Cam is the smart option IMHO. The kid picks up first downs, DOESN'T FUMBLE, and knows the offense better than anybody else. There is plenty of time left for GB and TF so be patient. They WILL make their mark.

 

Best bad play of the game: The blocked field goal. I know it sucked, but did you see Brindza's right foot scoop the ball off the ground like a nine iron and nearly get it over the line? That kick wasn't far from three points, which would've made it the most amazing FG ever.

 

I was thinking the same thing.... bad hold and he smacks it anyway...... Brindza can't be faulted for not trying in the face of adversity.

LVI, good post. But, (sorry) I still don't get this "Cam shouldn't be in there" conversation. A few things:

 

1. Cam McDaniel is as good a RB as any the Irish have had in years. He runs North/South, doesn't turn the ball over, catches passes, picks up the tough yards, and blocks well. I thought he did a great job yesterday. The Cam bashing continues to make me scratch my head and I will miss him when he is gone.

 

2. IMHO, the play calling has been 100% better this season. Personally, I don't care if ND passes or runs as long as they score more points than the other team. Actually, there were times yesterday when I was saying to my brother, "WHY is Kelly running the damn ball?" The press even questioned him after the game and he simply explained if ND didn't run the ball, it would have destroyed the passing game later, or something to that effect.

 

3. Now this is only my opinion, but against a team like Stanford, in those conditions, the odds of turning the ball over go up exponentially. Would YOU rather have a guy like Cam running straight into the defense dropping his shoulder, or a guy like GB or TF who are shifty, young and inexperienced, and unproven in the big game? Cam is the smart option IMHO. The kid picks up first downs, DOESN'T FUMBLE, and knows the offense better than anybody else. There is plenty of time left for GB and TF so be patient. They WILL make their mark.

 

 

I have been a true supporter of Bryant/Folston getting the majority of the carries but there is no doubt in my mind that I would have had Cam in the game yesterday. Bryant is not running with confidence or authority right now and Folston relies on his lateral movements a little too much to be overly successful in a game like yesterday.

With the wind and rain, I don`t know of anything to take from the game other than the win. And that Golson is a winner.

This year reminds me of 2012 in the sense that I have the utmost confidence in the defense. They had one true breakdown on Stanford's last TD, but for the most part Stanford had nothing.

Yesterday was definitely a Cam game, but in 2 weeks in Tallahassee we are gonna need Folston or Bryant to show up and match FSU's athleticism.

folston and bryant arent playing for a reason.

 

bryant dances way tooo much.

One other glaring obvious is that this team is going to be deadly in a year or two...the young talent is absolutely wrecking it and is only going to get better...

 

This is what I keep coming back to, regardless of how this season turns out we are going to be scary good next year

Starters we will lose for sure next year:

Offense

- Cam

- Lombard

- Koyack

 

Defense

- Riggs

 

Other notables that could go pro early:

- Stanley (very likely to come back, while he is good, I dont think he will be ranked high enough to warrant leaving early)

- Day (I also think he will be ranked too low to make him leave early, but he has a shot of being a 3rd round draft pick this year if he finishes solid)

Edited October 6, 201410 yr by NDhoosier
corrected

Starters we will lose for sure next year:

Offense

- Cam

- Lombard

- Koyack

 

Defense

- Schmidt

- Riggs

 

Other notables that could go pro early:

- Stanley (very likely to come back, while he is good, I dont think he will be ranked high enough to warrant leaving early)

- Day (I also think he will be ranked too low to make him leave early, but he has a shot of being a 3rd round draft pick this year if he finishes solid)

 

Schmidt has another year, didn't play as a freshman.