Please...someone, anyone...share some good news with us. I would even accept 'fantasy' scenarios right about now. I am usually highly optimistic...but am concerned about how we will appear to some recruits on the 'bubble'?

Don't worry, I don't think this loss will affect us negatively with recruits. If anything I think that it shows some of them that we really need talent, and our need of players coupled with CW should really help us out. Hopefully LSU fills up its DT class this weekend though so that we can get Blackwell!

TIM BROWN JUST SAID THAT RICK MINTER IS IN TROUBLE!!!!!!!!!

This insight helps, at least its a start 'NDFan'. There is logic behind what you say. And I also feel this way...but man, a confirmation of these thoughts was needed...badly!

Rick Minter better be in trouble...he has had two years and has somehow managed to make our defense worse than it was before he came. He was no good the first time he got here anyway. We need to hire an aggressive D coordinator.

I first felt that the Defensive Co-ordinator was only as good as the players? Now I see how wrong I was. We actually have damn good players here already. They just aren't allowed or taught to be aggressive enough. We need both a teacher and designer on the defensive side!

ND is fundamentally unsound on defense. It's as simple and as embarrassing as that. It is painful, painful, PAINFUL to watch.

 

And with the reputation of Coach Minter I just don't understand it.

guys, its not just Minter it is our players. I'm sorry and I wish it was as easy as firing one guy to make everything OK, but its not. We have NFL caliber defenders on our team and they rarely ever play up to their potential. Abiamiri didn't even come close to Russell tonight. Landri and Laws were completely neutralized by those huge guards. The only linebacker I saw in on any tackle was Mo Crum and that was usually 15 yards downfield in coverage. And our safeties provide not coverage and support to our corners. Oh, and Minter has an obsession with blitzing our best cover corner, Mike Richardson, on plays that leaves Duke or Zibby, or better yet a freshman, one on one with a WR. The point is that VA, Landri, Laws, Crum, Richardson, Woodson, Zibby, and maybe even Duke will all have shots as NFL careers yet they can not play well together on the field and are not just burned, they are embarrassed in our biggest games. And for anyone that thinks we'll be better off without 5th year players......yeah, lets let John Sullivan, Carlson, and Trevor Laws all head off. We'll prolly win about 5 games next year if thats the case.

Well said NY. We are brining in good players, and it's time to get a better D coordinator to coach them up, end of story. Now is the time to make the switch. Lets not wait for another season of poor defense. Also, those 5th year guys that you mentioned are all very important to next years team and hopefully they stick around. But honestly, you can't tell me that it would be better to have Zibby and Wooden struggling in the secondary rather than a younger guy with more upside for our team?

guys, its not just Minter it is our players. I'm sorry and I wish it was as easy as firing one guy to make everything OK, but its not. We have NFL caliber defenders on our team and they rarely ever play up to their potential. Abiamiri didn't even come close to Russell tonight. Landri and Laws were completely neutralized by those huge guards. The only linebacker I saw in on any tackle was Mo Crum and that was usually 15 yards downfield in coverage. And our safeties provide not coverage and support to our corners. Oh, and Minter has an obsession with blitzing our best cover corner, Mike Richardson, on plays that leaves Duke or Zibby, or better yet a freshman, one on one with a WR. The point is that VA, Landri, Laws, Crum, Richardson, Woodson, Zibby, and maybe even Duke will all have shots as NFL careers yet they can not play well together on the field and are not just burned, they are embarrassed in our biggest games. And for anyone that thinks we'll be better off without 5th year players......yeah, lets let John Sullivan, Carlson, and Trevor Laws all head off. We'll prolly win about 5 games next year if thats the case.

 

 

IrishNY I think we willbe sruprised next year when it comes with what players hit our field for ND.I know everyone doesn't want to hear CW had to coach up somebody elses players but they are ND players.We willbe a better team next year.We will be a hungry young team and wanting ti hit some one.All I know is that CW better let someone open up a CAN OF WOOP ASSWHEN OUR DEF HITS THE FIELD NEXT YEAR.

no fan, I agree with you there. I was the biggest Zibby fan in the world but the guy just isn't a good safety. I'm sorry. Now if he wants to come back and be our punt returner, fine. Maybe play some nickel or dime packages, but if Harrison Smith or anyone else is a better safety you put them in. The best player plays, period. I love Zibby's toughness and emotion, but we need guys that can shut down the big play passing offenses that are the norm in college football today and he isn't going to help us there. Wooden....he could be a player but is also prolly better off as a sub. I compare Wooden to Mike Richardson coming into this year. Kinda an afterthought but he also has some talent, he was highly ranked in high school and isn't awful but if McNeil, Walls, and Gray are better, play them. Enough said.

Maybe we should recruit some of the posters here on DD!

 

It sounds like some of you guys can suit up now!

 

all kidding aside we let them do anything they wanted to, especially in the second half.

 

One thing i know is the guys were trying, they just got killed in the second half.

Sorry RD,

 

You wanted good news!

 

I think we land donald this weekend!

 

that will help us in 07 08 09!

To me it seems that the defensive backs are out of position. Every game there are recievers running free uncovered down the middle of the field. We don't have the greatest players on defensive but I think a lot of this falls on the coaches. Weis included. I love Charlie and he is the best thing to happen to Notre Dame football in a long time, but ultimatly it is his responsibility to make sure the defense knows what is going on. they seem lost sometimes.

i can't complain scheme-wise with the defense, and remarkably our D Line held up pretty well until they were just too gassed to do anything else.

 

The problem I have is that our secondary is out of position during 80% of passes. This accounts for huge plays and yards after catch. If this is a Minter problem then so be it, but if it is more specifically a Bill Lewis problem, no one is talking about that.

Rick Minter better be in trouble...he has had two years and has somehow managed to make our defense worse than it was before he came. He was no good the first time he got here anyway. We need to hire an aggressive D coordinator.

 

Agree 100%. Minter has to go now. Said to say this but it is obvious to anyone that he has this defense playing worse than they did before he got here. Ndukwe was out of position on every big play for LSU. That is POOR COACHING. Minter just doesnt run good defensive schemes. He just is a poor coach.