Shaking the "loser" psychology

[hawaiiirish 62]

This is going to be a mountain to climb for this team , this coach , and his new staff....

 

When 2 boxers fight and one has an undefeated record, even if the other guy is better and favored, its ALWAYS hard to get over on an undefeated fighter.... the psychology of a guy that hasn't lost contributes heavily to that.

 

In the same fashion the "loser" mentality works the other way and psychologically incentivizes choking , panicking and giving in to the first adversity....

 

We all are familiar with the way this dynamic works in sports.

 

This 2017 squad is in a vulnerable and difficult spot in this way----our psychology has been shattered after last seasons MISERABLE outing, we haven't really featured an emotionally STRONG team and staff since 2012.

 

New QB, New coaches , a HC that is certainly in the fans hot seat if not the administration. A national press that see's ND as a program that "spiked for a bit" but now is fading for a variety of reasons....

 

And of course, IT IS NO HELP that our recent game history shows so many 2nd half collapses against teams of all talent levels---and a team and program under BK that has had ALMOST NO SUCCESS winning the big games when they counted.....

 

Blend this crisis of confidence and success by the HC---with a newbie QB and new assistants with changing schemes....and that is a RECIPE FOR A TEAM DEVELOPING A TASTE FOR LOSING!!

 

That IMO will be a challenging atmosphere to overcome.....

 

It will come at us from GAME 1---Criticism and disappointment will be just waiting to see the first failure to dump all over Kelly and his team....

 

And if this team and staff cannot respond with WINS right out of the gate the 2017 team will be at a TRUE RISK to follow the 2016 team down the football drain....

 

Sports psychology is unforgiving---there are very few answers when things go south in the way they have at ND. Really the only answer is to CHANGE the psychology by WINNING---by escaping the predictable collapses and failures with WINS against the teams we should beat and WHATS REALLY NEEDED TO FLIP THE MENTALITY is an early win against a team we expect to lose to.....GEORGIA for example

 

2017 is NOT the type of team that can start out with a rough beginning and somehow muster themselves to finish strong with 7 wins or some such---- UNFORTUNATELY with a team as VULNERABLE as ND a slow losing start is much more likely to escalate into another fiasco in 2017.

 

We need to start this season with a bang or it will quickly end with a whimper...

 

What TANGIBLE things can we do ??

 

Discipline and insight in the COACHING PREPARATION and game planning...

 

GOOD QB play from the get go!

 

Successful changing and a smooth transitioning of scheme on both sides of the ball....

 

AND PERHAPS THE FASTEST WAY TO OVERCOME THE LOSER PSYCHOLOGY AND FLIP IT----is to play FIRST CLASS DEFENSE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE!!!

 

Do we have the players and coaches to turn from losers to winners----time will tell but the stresses of recent failures make one thing clear ---WE WILL NOT HAVE MANY GAMES TO CHANGE THE EMOTION---it has to happen right away or likely it never will.

 

aloha's PLAY DEFENSE!!!

[Wharton70 93]

Well stated and thought out, Hawaii. Very little room for error - the big hope is that a staff that is very different is sending & selling the message that these guys CAN dominate and win - they need to start each game fast & hard - no sleep walking, and I agree that it is very important for the defense to b**ch slap all 11 guys on the other team (old school version of 1st class ).

[Irish_Convert 1]

Play calling(Coaching) and execution, players all play into it. Football should be a basic sport. Move the ball, score points, stop the other team from moving the ball and scoring points. Sure, there are countless rules to follow but good teams adapt and bad teams wallow in the mire.

[jbrown_9999 1,125]

The problem is that losing is a disease...

 

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[imroc 4]

This is going to be a mountain to climb for this team , this coach , and his new staff....

 

When 2 boxers fight and one has an undefeated record, even if the other guy is better and favored, its ALWAYS hard to get over on an undefeated fighter.... the psychology of a guy that hasn't lost contributes heavily to that.

 

In the same fashion the "loser" mentality works the other way and psychologically incentivizes choking , panicking and giving in to the first adversity....

 

We all are familiar with the way this dynamic works in sports.

 

This 2017 squad is in a vulnerable and difficult spot in this way----our psychology has been shattered after last seasons MISERABLE outing, we haven't really featured an emotionally STRONG team and staff since 2012.

 

New QB, New coaches , a HC that is certainly in the fans hot seat if not the administration. A national press that see's ND as a program that "spiked for a bit" but now is fading for a variety of reasons....

 

And of course, IT IS NO HELP that our recent game history shows so many 2nd half collapses against teams of all talent levels---and a team and program under BK that has had ALMOST NO SUCCESS winning the big games when they counted.....

 

Blend this crisis of confidence and success by the HC---with a newbie QB and new assistants with changing schemes....and that is a RECIPE FOR A TEAM DEVELOPING A TASTE FOR LOSING!!

 

That IMO will be a challenging atmosphere to overcome.....

 

It will come at us from GAME 1---Criticism and disappointment will be just waiting to see the first failure to dump all over Kelly and his team....

 

And if this team and staff cannot respond with WINS right out of the gate the 2017 team will be at a TRUE RISK to follow the 2016 team down the football drain....

 

Sports psychology is unforgiving---there are very few answers when things go south in the way they have at ND. Really the only answer is to CHANGE the psychology by WINNING---by escaping the predictable collapses and failures with WINS against the teams we should beat and WHATS REALLY NEEDED TO FLIP THE MENTALITY is an early win against a team we expect to lose to.....GEORGIA for example

 

2017 is NOT the type of team that can start out with a rough beginning and somehow muster themselves to finish strong with 7 wins or some such---- UNFORTUNATELY with a team as VULNERABLE as ND a slow losing start is much more likely to escalate into another fiasco in 2017.

 

We need to start this season with a bang or it will quickly end with a whimper...

 

What TANGIBLE things can we do ??

 

Discipline and insight in the COACHING PREPARATION and game planning...

 

GOOD QB play from the get go!

 

Successful changing and a smooth transitioning of scheme on both sides of the ball....

 

AND PERHAPS THE FASTEST WAY TO OVERCOME THE LOSER PSYCHOLOGY AND FLIP IT----is to play FIRST CLASS DEFENSE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE!!!

 

Do we have the players and coaches to turn from losers to winners----time will tell but the stresses of recent failures make one thing clear ---WE WILL NOT HAVE MANY GAMES TO CHANGE THE EMOTION---it has to happen right away or likely it never will.

 

aloha's PLAY DEFENSE!!!

 

Good stuff right here.

 

I rarely add to other ppl's post, but i will state that there's no such thing as a moral victory this year.

[Handsome Jack 0]

Note Dame has been a loser for so long now. Can they come back from that? Can they shake it from themselves AND the perception of it from the outside? Can the smirks of those who talk cfb when ND is mentioned turn to respect?

 

It is a good question and a monumental task, to be sure.

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,571]

Play better defense and run the ball well. I think each season has its own psychology. and I think elko having the defense play harder will help. I don't know how well we will run the ball because we changed the approach again.

[Frankus 210]

It's pretty simple imo:

 

You need a great head coach and staff and great players. If there are gaps you're going to lose. If there are lots of gaps you're going to lose a lot.

[WeaverIrish 28]

It's pretty simple imo:

 

You need a great head coach and staff and great players. If there are gaps you're going to lose. If there are lots of gaps you're going to lose a lot.

 

I feel like we have great players, maybe great staff.... a great coach?... not so much

[PJacksonsDred15 121]

I feel like we have great players, maybe great staff.... a great coach?... not so much

 

Great players? Who?

[The eND 0]

Great players? Who?

 

This is going to sound harsh, but there really isn't a game-changing talent on our roster, IMO. Will Fuller was one and CJ Prosise was right there.

Maybe Wimbush could be that guy, but who knows. Still very unproven, smaller in size for a QB.

 

And don't get me started on defense where we lack anyone who is going to dominate a game or make up for other positions the way a Jaylon or even Manti did. We don't have the Nix's and the Tuitt's anymore. Our defense, woof. TD Jesus, help us.

 

I love my Irish but I can't remember a season I have been less excited for than maybe 07 (but to be fair we all knew that would pretty bad from the outset). I think we will have a better record than last year and '07, but 8-4 is probably the ceiling.

 

P.S. I hope all this ends up being dead wrong. :becky:

[OKCIrish99 3]

This is going to sound harsh, but there really isn't a game-changing talent on our roster, IMO. Will Fuller was one and CJ Prosise was right there.

Maybe Wimbush could be that guy, but who knows. Still very unproven, smaller in size for a QB.

 

And don't get me started on defense where we lack anyone who is going to dominate a game or make up for other positions the way a Jaylon or even Manti did. We don't have the Nix's and the Tuitt's anymore. Our defense, woof. TD Jesus, help us.

 

I love my Irish but I can't remember a season I have been less excited for than maybe 07 (but to be fair we all knew that would pretty bad from the outset). I think we will have a better record than last year and '07, but 8-4 is probably the ceiling.

 

P.S. I hope all this ends up being dead wrong. :becky:

I think it's quite premature to say there's not a playmaker on this team for the 2017 season which is still 3 months away. How about Josh Adams? He only set the longest play in scrimmage in ND history. Dexter Williams could be the same guy. Alize Jones has big play written all over him and will be ready to go.

 

Defense is a tougher nut to crack with your scenario, BUT don't be surprised if Daelin Hayes becomes a game changer. His issue has been health, but he is healthy now and will hopefully remain that way. We, actually, have a legitimate d-coordinator now also. It may be the understatement of the year, to say it's rags to riches going from VanGorder to Elko. One thing I've always liked about CBK is his ability to conform. I wanted him gone after last year like many, but he impressed me with his offseason coaching moves. Also, the defense, as a whole, is much larger now. Just look at Coney and Tranquill. I could see either of these guys come out with a bang next year ala Harrison Smith 2007.

 

Patience my friend. Get over 2016. It was an anomaly.

[Frankus 210]

I think it's quite premature to say there's not a playmaker on this team for the 2017 season which is still 3 months away. How about Josh Adams? He only set the longest play in scrimmage in ND history. Dexter Williams could be the same guy. Alize Jones has big play written all over him and will be ready to go.

 

The big question is can Kelly's offensive system be consistent. Can they convert TD's consistently in the Red Zone instead of Field Goals? Can they take over the game in a tight fourth quarter game by grinding out the clock in a touchdown ending drive? And defensively, can they force the big turnover, or make the big stop during crunch time. This is where all the components of a winning football program need to come together.

[Jersey Irish 207]

I think it's quite premature to say there's not a playmaker on this team for the 2017 season which is still 3 months away. How about Josh Adams? He only set the longest play in scrimmage in ND history. Dexter Williams could be the same guy. Alize Jones has big play written all over him and will be ready to go.

 

Defense is a tougher nut to crack with your scenario, BUT don't be surprised if Daelin Hayes becomes a game changer. His issue has been health, but he is healthy now and will hopefully remain that way. We, actually, have a legitimate d-coordinator now also. It may be the understatement of the year, to say it's rags to riches going from VanGorder to Elko. One thing I've always liked about CBK is his ability to conform. I wanted him gone after last year like many, but he impressed me with his offseason coaching moves. Also, the defense, as a whole, is much larger now. Just look at Coney and Tranquill. I could see either of these guys come out with a bang next year ala Harrison Smith 2007.

 

Patience my friend. Get over 2016. It was an anomaly.

 

Agree, Okie that patience is the one virtue all ND fans need to have this season.

Hawaii hit the nail on the head-- winning early is a key to the season to build the team's belief in themselves for all the hard work this off-season in new training techniques and learning new schemes. If Elko can take 3- stars at WF and turn the defense into one of the best in the ACC, he certainly can take the ND roster and turn it into a defense that will be 100 percent better than any of the last 3 years under VG withouot question.