Time for a reality check fella's....

 

Lots of criticism of Kelly/Golson/Heistand(sp) but to be frank IMO we have simply worn down over these 9 games.....

 

Things we NEED to keep in perspective---we lost some key players and MANY TOO EARLY to the NFL---8 or 9---including the HEART OF THE OLINE in that BEAST MARTIN and his sidekick WATT---WE LOST the heart of our DL....we lost a monster of a TE....

 

Then before the season gets going we lose our #1 CB and one of the nations best....we lose our #1 WR and Golsons favorite target---and we lose almost all that was left of the 2013 DLINE when Williams gets the boot---leaving only the terrific DAY and less experienced Jones & Rochell

 

AS WE ALL KNOW ---we are playing freshman & inexperience all over the defense-----

 

STILL WE CAME OUT FIRING----

 

NFL LOSSES---INJURIES & RETIREMENT TO GRACE/SPRINGMAN/HOUNSCHELL was not helpful to a weakening ROSTER.

 

The team PEAKED against FSU despite showing some glaring weakness against TEMPO playing UNC....

 

But that loss, that effort took its toll on this EXTREMELY young team....Navy showed the attrition, even more telling then the loss of JOE was the look of a team struggling.....

 

Literally we were SURVIVING on Golsons arm--against UNC/The last second throw in the rain against Stanford---the last drive against FSU , the offense against NAVY who ACTUALLY could have won that game if we didn't put up all those points.....

 

WE HAD BECOME A TOTALLY QB DEPENDENT TEAM BY ASU and when the QB stumbled badly we had nothing left ......

 

OUR DEFENSE my friends is simply TOAST.....they are TOO BANGED UP- TOO THIN & TOO YOUNG and likely will NOT have a strong game again in 2014.....

 

OUR OFFENSE has TRULY become one dimensional , we simply cannot dominate the LOS giving us all the options running and passing that come from that.....

 

INSTEAD we are putting all our hopes & GAMEPLANS on our playmaking QB and a nifty group of receivers.....

 

Will the OLINE get it together before this season ends and take charge against Louisville/USC and our bowl opponent opening running lanes at will and protecting the QB like a shield----WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT____NO!!!!

 

Will our DEFENSE manage to spring back to life with our frosh MLB our dismembered secondary and a bunch of frosh & sophs playing all over----

WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT---NO!!!!!

 

We may not have to play another team AS STRONG AS ASU or FSU but these teams are plenty good enough given the state of this Irish team right now....

 

IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE FACT.....That despite the collapse EG had against ASU---Despite his turnover problems and what could easily become some self fulfilling confidence issues.....Despite the one dimensional offense that gives the remaining teams a great HOW TO in controlling our offense....

 

DESPITE all that GOLSON IS ALL THIS TEAM HAS LEFT TO WIN WITH!!!

 

Its gotten much harder...teams have a great plans to attack our SHREDDED defense and GREAT PLANS to disrupt our QB.....

 

We will have FOUR GAMES to play in 2014----and what was PARTIALLY TRUE in the beginning is ON STEROIDS TOTALLY TRUE NOW___-

 

Only GREAT PLAY at QB can win these remaining games for us.....

 

We literally HAVE NOTHING much left---we will not run too great---our defense will be at BEST AVERAGE with glaring problems at CB up the middle, all over the place.....

 

For us to finish well---WE NEED OUR QB TO SHAKE IT OFF AND PLAY TO HIS POTENTIAL----it would be great if we had a strong run game, a smothering defense and a powerful OLINE to make the difference----

 

BUT WE DO NOT---and its not coming in 2014.....

 

Golson with all his recent troubles is all we have to win with....he has to outscore these teams that will ALL put up plenty of points against our defense...even LOWLY northwestern will find some success....

 

It was true early its so much MORE TRUE now---WE WIN OR LOSE--LIVE OR DIE---on the arm and playmaking of GOLSON.....

 

This team and its QB really has a MOUNTIAN TO CLIMB both psychologically and physically......

 

COLOR ME QUITE CONCERNED as the trend line for our team play have been trending down and farther down....

 

Fingers crossed GOLSON is up to this---its all we have left i'm afraid,

 

aloha's go irish

Who are you, and what have you done with Hawaiiirish?!?!?!?!

Literally we were SURVIVING on Golsons arm

 

OUR OFFENSE has TRULY become one dimensional

 

....Despite the one dimensional offense that gives the remaining teams a great HOW TO in controlling our offense....

 

 

I agree... who abducted Hawaii....

 

 

216, 157, 218.

Agreed. Our O-line should be better than it is though.

Agreed. Our O-line should be better than it is though.

 

This is kind of my issue. And to expand, OL, TE and QB I expected to be our senior leadership to drive the team. Seems like they peaked at FSU. OL and QB were subpar on Sat and I didn't expected that.

This is kind of my issue. And to expand, OL, TE and QB I expected to be our senior leadership to drive the team. Seems like they peaked at FSU. OL and QB were subpar on Sat and I didn't expected that.

 

It was the perfect storm on Saturday. A team that blitzes 55 percent of the time against a QB who has 75 percent of his TOs vs the blitz. I will save you guys from doing the math, when you add everything you end up with 7-2.

 

I don't understand people talking about 10-2 right now, I am just looking for 8-2 this week. Like I said before, the only thing I really want is a win vs. USC I am not sure why so many people are taking that as a given.

Rochell and Jarron Jones are playing injured. We need to rest them as much as possible. It's time for our offense to carry us past Northwestern. The offense hasn't taken hardly any hits and they have come a long ways except for Golson's turnovers. Quite frankly, some of that is just plain bad luck. The ball seems to have bounced right to ASU on more than one occasion.

 

I don't see us running on fumes because of the offense. It is still progressing despite the setback last Saturday. Look for the offense to kick in and the defense to look good against a bad offensive unit. Hopefully we take no more injuries while the defense gets healthy. Morgan will get better and it will show this Saturday. Let's win this game, stay healthy as possible, and then re-evaluate next week. I think it may look more rosy.

Surprised we're pointing out OL as a having a poor game and not TE.

 

I was astounded how poor Ben played at pass blocking. For a fifth year senior, at a skill that Kelly requires, this is just unacceptable. He should be much better. Kelly pointed out he thinks Ben is wearing down -- maybe that's it.

Every team is worn down and beaten up at this point... not an excuse.

Surprised we're pointing out OL as a having a poor game and not TE.

 

I was astounded how poor Ben played at pass blocking. For a fifth year senior, at a skill that Kelly requires, this is just unacceptable. He should be much better. Kelly pointed out he thinks Ben is wearing down -- maybe that's it.

 

He has never worn up.

He has never worn up.

 

haha - nice.

 

I like Ben, I think he's a great pass catcher - I think Golson is finally realized what a good receiver he is. But he just hasn't developed as a pass blocker it seems.

Time for a reality check fella's....

 

Lots of criticism of Kelly/Golson/Heistand(sp) but to be frank IMO we have simply worn down over these 9 games.....

 

Things we NEED to keep in perspective---we lost some key players and MANY TOO EARLY to the NFL---8 or 9---including the HEART OF THE OLINE in that BEAST MARTIN and his sidekick WATT---WE LOST the heart of our DL....we lost a monster of a TE....

 

Then before the season gets going we lose our #1 CB and one of the nations best....we lose our #1 WR and Golsons favorite target---and we lose almost all that was left of the 2013 DLINE when Williams gets the boot---leaving only the terrific DAY and less experienced Jones & Rochell

 

AS WE ALL KNOW ---we are playing freshman & inexperience all over the defense-----

 

STILL WE CAME OUT FIRING----

 

NFL LOSSES---INJURIES & RETIREMENT TO GRACE/SPRINGMAN/HOUNSCHELL was not helpful to a weakening ROSTER.

 

The team PEAKED against FSU despite showing some glaring weakness against TEMPO playing UNC....

 

But that loss, that effort took its toll on this EXTREMELY young team....Navy showed the attrition, even more telling then the loss of JOE was the look of a team struggling.....

 

Literally we were SURVIVING on Golsons arm--against UNC/The last second throw in the rain against Stanford---the last drive against FSU , the offense against NAVY who ACTUALLY could have won that game if we didn't put up all those points.....

 

WE HAD BECOME A TOTALLY QB DEPENDENT TEAM BY ASU and when the QB stumbled badly we had nothing left ......

 

OUR DEFENSE my friends is simply TOAST.....they are TOO BANGED UP- TOO THIN & TOO YOUNG and likely will NOT have a strong game again in 2014.....

 

OUR OFFENSE has TRULY become one dimensional , we simply cannot dominate the LOS giving us all the options running and passing that come from that.....

 

INSTEAD we are putting all our hopes & GAMEPLANS on our playmaking QB and a nifty group of receivers.....

 

Will the OLINE get it together before this season ends and take charge against Louisville/USC and our bowl opponent opening running lanes at will and protecting the QB like a shield----WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT____NO!!!!

 

Will our DEFENSE manage to spring back to life with our frosh MLB our dismembered secondary and a bunch of frosh & sophs playing all over----

WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT---NO!!!!!

 

We may not have to play another team AS STRONG AS ASU or FSU but these teams are plenty good enough given the state of this Irish team right now....

 

IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE FACT.....That despite the collapse EG had against ASU---Despite his turnover problems and what could easily become some self fulfilling confidence issues.....Despite the one dimensional offense that gives the remaining teams a great HOW TO in controlling our offense....

 

DESPITE all that GOLSON IS ALL THIS TEAM HAS LEFT TO WIN WITH!!!

 

Its gotten much harder...teams have a great plans to attack our SHREDDED defense and GREAT PLANS to disrupt our QB.....

 

We will have FOUR GAMES to play in 2014----and what was PARTIALLY TRUE in the beginning is ON STEROIDS TOTALLY TRUE NOW___-

 

Only GREAT PLAY at QB can win these remaining games for us.....

 

We literally HAVE NOTHING much left---we will not run too great---our defense will be at BEST AVERAGE with glaring problems at CB up the middle, all over the place.....

 

For us to finish well---WE NEED OUR QB TO SHAKE IT OFF AND PLAY TO HIS POTENTIAL----it would be great if we had a strong run game, a smothering defense and a powerful OLINE to make the difference----

 

BUT WE DO NOT---and its not coming in 2014.....

 

Golson with all his recent troubles is all we have to win with....he has to outscore these teams that will ALL put up plenty of points against our defense...even LOWLY northwestern will find some success....

 

It was true early its so much MORE TRUE now---WE WIN OR LOSE--LIVE OR DIE---on the arm and playmaking of GOLSON.....

 

This team and its QB really has a MOUNTIAN TO CLIMB both psychologically and physically......

 

COLOR ME QUITE CONCERNED as the trend line for our team play have been trending down and farther down....

 

Fingers crossed GOLSON is up to this---its all we have left i'm afraid,

 

aloha's go irish

 

 

Cue R.E.M.

Every team is worn down and beaten up at this point... not an excuse.

 

Agreed! Plus we have had two bye weeks this season -- not very common.

It was the perfect storm on Saturday. A team that blitzes 55 percent of the time against a QB who has 75 percent of his TOs vs the blitz. I will save you guys from doing the math, when you add everything you end up with 7-2.

 

I don't understand people talking about 10-2 right now, I am just looking for 8-2 this week. Like I said before, the only thing I really want is a win vs. USC I am not sure why so many people are taking that as a given.

 

I think we can get to 9-2 but that USC game is gonna be one hell of a game. I expect their defense to give us fits but I also expect them to be worn down by the 4th. A team that should have beat ASU and is standing between us and a bigtime bowl.

 

Very excited for the game but worried cause I know how athletic they are.

It is true that ALL TEAMS can get worn down as a season progresses, often depth and injury "luck" can be the difference of a team that peaks late vs the opposition or a team that fades vs the competition.

 

In our caase the WORN DOWN is out of the ordinary....we are down nearly FIFTEEN PLAYERS from the spring roster.....that includes a couple of captains and many FRONTLINE players.....

 

That though is ONLY HALF the issue.....

 

We are an EXTREMELY YOUNG TEAM..... many of our guys seeing HEAVY ACTION were playing a HIGH SCHOOL schedule last year at this time.

 

Young players are MISSING not only experience (whch they are getting big time by the way) BUT THE ALSO ARE MISSING THE STRENGTH to handle a LONG college schedule without it wearing them down considerably---

 

TRUMBETTI/TRANQUIL/CAGE/HILL/MARTINI/BLNKENSHIP----all these guys and other young players have played MORE SNAPS & MINUTES then anyone would want for young players.....

 

There are many reasons why a team LOADED WITH UPPERCLASSMAN AND VETERANS is considered more formidable then one laden with YOUTH.....

 

STRENGTH & STAMINA over a long season is clearly one of those reasons.

 

I don't offer this as an excuse but rather as an explanation as to why our INTENSITY & ENERGY has obviously dropped.

 

THE ONGOING THINNING of the roster coupled with the OVERDEPENDENCE on YOUTH is IMO at the root of that fall off in play.....

 

It is true that the OFFENSE , despite its OLINE ISSUES , RUNNING GAME ISSUES & TURNOVER ISSUES is overall in MUCH BETTER SHAPE as far as strength and stamina....

 

But don't kid yourselves our DEFENSE is in SERIOUS WORN DOWN MODE!!

 

They simply WILL NOT be able to give the intensity that they had early.....

 

The one possible exception could be a bowl game, if with a long layoff we can reenergize the defense to GET UP for ONE LAST EFFORT,,,,, but IMO these last three games will all see the defensive vulnerability on display....

 

Have to win with offense now,,,and that seems to translate to a GOLSON PASSING ATTACK as the ONLY real staple of this offense.....

 

WE CAN WIN OUT YES.....but don't expect defense and overall team energy to be at the root of our play anymore this regular season...

 

aloha's go irish!

It is true that ALL TEAMS can get worn down as a season progresses, often depth and injury "luck" can be the difference of a team that peaks late vs the opposition or a team that fades vs the competition.

 

Yep - 2012 was marked by a lack of injuries and absences.

 

This year on D - WOW.

Not watching the same team or games I'm afraid...at least not in the desert disgrace...

 

ASU beat ND 55-3 while Golson was turning it over on a semi-regular basis, giving up repeated pick-6's , hand over field position again and again and again and again...

 

The young, too green, too taxed defense forced 3 consecutive 3 and outs in the 3rd quarter, and barring the inexplicable mishandling of a snap on a FG, the team played out of the original 34-3 hole and should have been tied at 34 with 6 minutes to play. The way Golson protects the ball has always been suspect and it bit him hard in the *** last week. He has not learned the lesson yet and the game is going to keep teaching him the same lesson - HOLD ON TO THE BALL AND PROTECT IT AT ALL COSTS.

 

ND is going nowhere this year...maybe some back water bowl game against some clown college at best, but there is still next year and the question of whether or not Golson will or should be back for a 5th year. If he plays the last 3 games like the previous 2 games, that question is going to move from a whisper to a roar. We have already got Zaire wasting on the pine and Kizer to join him soon. If Golson is no longer progressing and is even regressing in areas by end of the year in L.A., then a switch for 2015 would not surprise me as much as I think it would most people....

Yes--watching the same team and the same defense--a defense that was in the top ten in scoring defense after Stanford but has now FALLEN OUT OF THE TOP 50.....

 

We let NAVY do anything they wanted---we gave up 50 against UNC and ASU--- we folded in the second half against FSU----

 

Yes turnovers are a problem---and yes we have some very good players that can make a 3 and out still but OVERALL this defense is COMPLETELY WORN OUT & UNDERMANNED!!

 

We still cling to the top 50 in total defense but ALL of that comes from the first several games---the last 5 weeks have featured a defense that just CANNOT SUSTAIN.....

 

Given the endemic problems with player attrition I Don't see that changing as we finish.....hopefully Northwestern can give us a little confidence,,,, but this defense is having significant problems maintaining its focus & energy as young and very young players wear out.

 

This shouldn't be a surprise given the roster

 

aloha

Agreed. Our O-line should be better than it is though.

 

Hopefully those stud OL recruiting classes begin playing dividends next year. Haven't heard much of Bivin or Mustipher this season. Nelson and Bars will deserve looks as well.

When it comes to the defense not performing as it did at the beginning of the season i truly believe it is because other teams are finally getting film on us. At the beginning of the season the other teams were confused and performed terribly because we were unpredictable. We have superior talent than UNC, and Navy but they must have seen tendencies. We have lost a lot to injury but i struggle to believe that those teams outplayed us.

Swiss cheese