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Pitt 28 Notre Dame 21

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Thud – another night game in Pittsburgh and finally ND’s luck runs out. Sure Tommy Rees threw 2 costly picks but he also threw for 318 yards and 2 TD’s. This loss is not on him, this loss is on the entire ND coaching staff. The play calling remains a total mystery along with absolutely no concept on how to develop a running game.

How can you have a running back that goes for 140 yards last week and gets about 4 touches against Pitt? Pitt has one great defensive tackle but that’s all they have. ND should have been able to get at least 200 yds rushing but you’re not going to be able to do that running east/west along with piss poor blocking by the OL. Sure they get the job done as pass blockers but do they even bother practicing the run game. Christ they all weigh over 300 lbs and can barely get 2 yards when they need it.

As an aside watch what Stanford and Wisconsin do – everyone knows they are going to run and they still run all over the opponent.

Now the ND defense. What the hell can you say. Very little pressure on QB Savage and this kid can pass – everybody else has 4 or so sacks against Pitt. You need constant pressure on this kid. Okay tough to do with the imbecilic call and ejection of Tuitt. Had he played ND would have won this game, despite what Diaco was doing. Pitt, yes Pitt had 356 yards in this game using a rag tag OL – but when they needed the yards they got them. In pass defense the ND players stood back, admired the catch and then missed the tackle.

Why the hell would you have Calabrese and Fox in there on obvious passing downs??? This whole “prevent” defense that Diaco runs cost them the game. I hope to hell someone hires him as a Head Coach and we can pry Narducci away from Michigan State. Maybe Kelly will get an NFL gig and we can get a real Div 1 Coach – you know the kind that can actually coach in a coherent manner.

All those 4-5 star recruits had their lunch handed to them.

To compound my Saturday misery I watched Wisconsin beat BYU and UCLA vs Arizona – we could not play with any of those teams.

So a Bye Week and then 2 straight losses.

Notre Dame VS Pitt

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Another night game, another so so team looking to make their season. ND must start now and put together a complete game in all phases as they have 2 monster opponents coming up.

Pitt plays a traditional offense like Wisconsin, where head Coach Paul Chyrst came from. They have a cobbled together OL which Tuitt and Shembo should feast on – that is if Shembo shows up. Pitt QB Savage is a very good passer if given the time, and very wobbly when rushed. ND should be able to feast on him all game.

The Pitt defense has one very good DT in Aaron Donald and the rest of the D is comprised of marginal type players. I would think that the Pitt staff will elect to have Donald attack the right side of the ND line – Elmer and Stanley. If they hold up, barring fumbles and interceptions, ND should roll in this game and take out their frustrations of the last 2 games. But they have to be ready to go from the first whistle – if they start out like sleep walkers, it’ll be a long night. Finally, on defense both Fox and Calabrese must start playing like 5th year pros to stop the inside running game.

It has been a year of redemption for Tommy Rees and I really hope he can close out his career in the last 3 games without making disastrous decisions that cost us a win.

Finally, ND has to play to win and not play hoping they don’t lose. I think this coaching staff over thinks everything and just confuses the players with a rigid game plan – this just makes them tight. Most of these guys are top flight athletes – so unleash them – let them play all out – aggressive aggressive and aggressive. Forget that timid, tepid defensive scheme–cut loose, play loose and we win easily.

Notre Dame 38 Pitt 17

ICON Videos Kelly Half Time Speech

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ICON has released great clips of key plays in the Navy game, sideline clip as well as Coach Kelly’s half time speech and winds up with the after game speech.

Good stuff for any ND fan—-enjoy!!

Notre Dame 38 Navy 34

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No doubt in my mind that Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is living in Bob Diaco’s head rent free. The Notre Dame defense looked hopelessly inept against the Navy option attack. What really surprised me is how easily Navy gashed the middle of the ND defense with their fullback.

I knew the edges would be a problem but the ease running inside shocked me. Hey no doubt about it the Navy offense was a picture of how to perfectly execute an option attack – that QB is good and we see him for 2 more years. What continues to infuriate me are the cut blocks and we lost 3 more “D” players with leg injuries – Ben Councell, Sheldon Day and Kona Schwenke. I don’t know how many others are banged up, but I saw Carlo Calabrese go feet to the sky twice from cut blocks. No one else in college football uses the cut block except option teams – just GT and the Academies as far as I can tell.

We are seriously running low on the defense with 3 tough games to go… I don’t care about our Navy history of 70 years ago, we’ve got kids that hope to have a future in the Pros or at least leave the game without serious knee and ankle problems, so I say outlaw the cut block which causes as much injury as helmet to helmet. Another thought – why did we not play 8 in the box against an obvious running team, sorta like how Michigan State played us. I would love to see MSU defense against Navy. MSU just battered Michigan yesterday 29-6. I’d like to see DC Narducci coach for us – let Diaco go coach Iowa.

Onto the game. We scored at will and had 506 total yards vs. 419 for Navy. Navy rushed for 331 yards and threw about 3 passes – one for a wide open TD. Tommy Rees 2 TD passes and 2 picks (putting him in 3rd place – 56 behind only Brady Quinn 95 td’s and Jimmy Clausen 60). TJ Jones another TD catch as well as TE Ben Koyack – great to see him finally emerge. GAIII had a 40 yard burst for a td, Cam got one and Folston got his first. Folston looked super rushing for 140 yards and before the season ends will be the number one back.

Troy Niklas was absolutely mauling and pancaking Navy defenders – got a bogus holding block on one play. He even gave some 6 Navy guys a ride on a pass catch.

Kona Schwenke had an outstanding game until a leg injury on Navy’s last drive – game ball anyone?

Turning points: Stopping Navy on first series of the second half and Jaylon Smith take down on a Navy reverse on 4th and 4. Looked like a TD to me – completely fooled our “D”. Speed kills and kudos also to Eilar Hardy for just enough to enable Smith to make the tackle and end the game. 7-2 I’ll take it – next up Pitt, they are another tough team annually for ND.

Here are the Game highlights:

Commit #17 Nick Watkins

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Elite 4 Star DB Nick Watkins 6′ 190 from Bishop Dunne HS Dallas Texas committed to ND yesterday. He is the first DB commit for the 2014 Class.

Numerous offers including Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, USC and UCLA.

Watkins has everything you want in a db size and elite speed. Very good chance he sees playing time his Freshman year.

Notre Dame VS Navy

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Navy – our annual pain in the ass game highlighted by chop blocks, cut blocks and cheap shots. As opposed to Army and Air Force, Navy, in my opinion, plays dirty and always has. The ND players should advise the Middies that for every injury we will take out 2 of yours starting with your QB. Hope Diaco has reminded the defense that when the QB starts to run, he in essence is just another running back and can be hammered. Actually an Option QB should be hammered every play – that’s why it never went over in the Pros.

So with Navy we have a QB that can run well and actually is one of the best passers Navy has had in a long time. Their Fullback is quite a load at 240 lbs so our ILB’s Calabrese and Fox will have to get in the holes fast. This will be a test for the also in the passing game as the fake and pitch could neutralize their run aggressiveness. I have confidence we can control the perimeter as long as we first blast the QB whether he pitches or not. Hit him often enough and he won’t be able to throw.

Navy sitting at 4-2 with a recent win over Pitt but they did lose to Air Force 28-10. ND defense comes together by the 2nd period and shuts the middies down.

ND Offense – it is now evident that GAIII and Carlisle simply cannot adjust to the zone blocking scheme so – do some straight ahead old fashioned block technique if you play them. Actually we should do this the whole game – why go east/west when we outweigh them 75 lbs per man. Put 8 in the box we’re coming anyway. There used to be a time that QB’s hid the ball quite well and no one quite knew who had the ball (TV Cameras often followed wrong back) and I remember the QB’s practiced this – a lot. The quick hitter at the goal line used as well as the 2-3 back set. Quite effective for Lou Holtz. The stretch hand-off to a back 6yds behind the QB drives me nuts and the no back set was designed to get your QB killed.

I really like how we use our Tight Ends but I also really like a big Fullback if just to protect the QB – speaking of which why not put ILB Kendall Moore 6’1″ 244 in there, kid hits like a truck and why waste him riding the rails–make him the lead blocker inside the 5. Hell he might prove to be a good runner.

With all that said Kelly seems terrified to put Rees under center – don’t get that at all.

Onto the game. Navy will get its rushing yards about 260 a game and I think scores first. Worry about the pass – if that opens up watch out. Navy coach every bit as good as Kelly. Lets hope Diaco doesn’t go into a mystic trance. Other than that ND should roll.

Notre Dame 45 Navy 27

Notre Dame 45 Air Force 10

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On a beautiful day in Colorado Tommy Rees had a game that QB’s dream about. He passed for 284 yards and 5 touchdowns to 5 different receivers – Corey Robinson, Will Fuller, Ben Koyack, TJ Jones and Chris Brown – all long balls. Rees now has 54 TD passes in his career and each pass was picture perfect. Even Andrew Hendrix completed a pass – 46 yards to Fuller – kid has speed. With the way Rees is playing you have to wonder, if it continues and he had another year, would Golson be riding the rails. This just shows the necessity of getting at least 1 QB every recruiting cycle and flash a redshirt on him.

Yea I known AF is an option team but 284 rushing yards on this ND defense has to concern. Looks like Sheldon Day re-injured his ankle. ND should not play Nix against Navy and I would seriously consider sitting Tuitt. Navy is very good at chop blocks on the inside and we often lose guys to knee and ankle injuries.

On offense we took what AF gave us but only 135 rushing yards against a weak AF defense is concerning. We out weighed these guys by at least 50-60 lbs per man but we continued the trend running east/west rather than right at them. Looks like McDaniel (61 yds) and Folston (47 yds) will be 1-2 on the depth chart. Atkinson and Carlisle just don’t get any production, real shame since Atkinson has speed to burn. Hell put Hendrix in at full back.

Brindza kicks a 51 yd field goal – good news, for we will need all the points we can get going into the last 4 games.

All in all a nice relaxing game to watch – no damn drama.

Here are some clips:

Notre Dame VS Air Force

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Not much to say about this mis-match except that ND will roll all over AFA.

Unfortunately Christian Lombard, starting RG is lost for the season after undergoing back surgery. Freshman Steve Elmer will get his first start backed up by Conor Hanratty. Big Louie Nix won’t make the trip due to shoulder and knee problems. Keep your fingers crossed that cut blocks by AF don’t cause further injuries. Not too worried about AF but Navy (following game) has been known to take cheap shots.

Other news – ND signed a preferred walk-on Keenan Centlivre 6’6″ 200 lb receiver. From Bishop Dwenger HS Indiana, long time ND fan and family connection to ND goes back a few generations. A little weight and he may be a jewel in the rough.

A note about TV coverage. Game will only be shown on cable – CBS Sports Network and not the regular CBS station.

Ok, this is a good chance for the backups and we will see what they can do. Opportunity for Kelly to go more uptempo. Unfortunately, I said the same about Temple. I really really hope that the fog lifts for Hendrix.

Notre Dame 42 Air Force 17

Notre Dame 14 USC 10

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Now we know what life without Rees would look like. Rees now has 2 wins over USC for his career. So with Rees out, Hendrix finally gets his chance – did not turn out well for him. If only he completed one pass maybe he would have gained confidence but as things now stand, Kelly may be forced to go with Zaire – if he can figure out the playbook. If you fast forward to 2014, Golson coming back is no sure thing and Rees will be gone – so you have to go to Zaire.

Where did Kelly get the rep that he was a developer of QB’s – don’t know but he sure hasn’t done the job at ND. He had a good shot of getting Maty Mauk, who fits his style perfectly. Mauk, a red shirt freshman got his first start for Missouri and beat Florida yesterday 36-17 passing for 295 yards. I think Kelly leaves ND if he gets any kind of good offer to any Pro Team. He may as well strike while he has some kind of stature. All he has to do is look at the team and visualize who won’t be there next year. If he stays, he should drop Chuck Martin and get a highly respected QB coach.

Well, a win is a win and there was outstanding effort by everyone on this team. Tuitt gets the game ball and Cam McDaniel showed some great moves. But no doubt at all that for this team Rees is a priceless commodity. From here on out they MUST keep a back in for extra protection – simply can’t have Rees out of the game.

Like to thank USC with a game ball for all the penalties and missed field goals.

Here’s a clip of the game’s highlights: