1. Home
    2. ›
  2. Blog

Detached From Reality

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Brian Kelly’s post game press conference was somewhat bizarre. He went on and on about need to improve the offense and how just a few plays on offense would have resulted in 14 points and thus won the game – with nary a word about the defense. He repeatedly answered most questions with “We need to be smarter, more disciplined.” Ya think!!

The plain fact of the matter – Michigan was better prepared and better coached and I guess he did not want to throw his “mystic” DC Diaco under the bus.

Well back to reality – 2 bad outings by the defense and just predictable offensive play calling makes me pine for the sensitivity training days at the bucolic Camp Shiloh, where telephone pole climbing got the boys ready for the rigors of a tough schedule.

Going back to basics – thought that’s what Fall Camp was all about. Anyhow that monster Purdue is up next – which by the way moved to Prime Time ABC. Which is good so we can all watch Alabama & Texas A&M and see how the game is really played.

I wanted to refresh my memory so I checked some of the 2012 game results which proved to me ND had no business playing Alabama for the NC.

So here goes – look back 2012, a few games:

  • Purdue (6-7) final score ND 20 Purdue 17 and that was at home. Purdue 2013 is 0-1 lost to Cinncy 42-7.
  • BYU (8-5) final score ND 17 BYU 14. BYU 2013 1-1 Lost to Virginia 19-16, beat Texas 40-21
  • Pitt (6-7) final score ND 29-26 OT remember Pitt’s missed FG. Pitt 2013 0-1 lost to Florida State 41-13
  • Finally USC (7-6) final score ND 22-13. USC 2013 1-1 beat Hawaii and lost to Washington State. Despite all the sanctions and possibly the worst coach ever at USC–we can only beat them (barely) when their QB hurt and does not play.

What can we gather from the above– probably summed up best by “Oh Shit”!

Michigan 41 Notre Dame 30

ND Editor Football Tagged ,
0

Once again a barn-burner of a game as Kelly loses 3 out of 4 to Michigan. Michigan coach, Brady Hoke, apparently coaches the whole game without knowing what plays are being called ala Joe Paterno.

It looked at times that ND would be blown out but these guys kept fighting back – no quitters on this squad. With that said – they need a ton of work especially the defense. The DL is just not that good – Tuitt and Nix a real disappointment – seemed they were easily handled for most of the game and Day was just swallowed up.

Which brings me to Bob Diaco – does he know what the hell he’s doing or is it just the players that are hopelessly confused? He just made Devin Gardiner (QB Michigan) an All American – kid just ran and tossed terrifically the whole game. Diaco just seems to be always behind the curve during the game and at times the “D” players seem lost.

On offense – no imagination on play calling at all and it was just way too predictable. I’m not going to hang this loss on Rees, although he did throw one boneheaded pick at the end of the first half.

His job is to manage the offense and not be solely responsible for winning the game by himself – some imaginative play calling from the coaches to help him out would have been nice – that together with some blocking would have been nice also.

Michigan would rush 4 against ND’s 5 and get a lot of pressure on him. The OL really needs to improve on their run blocking – ND had only 96 yds rushing.

With all of the above Rees was 29 of 51 for 314 yds – 2 games in a row Rees over 300 yds passing. One bright note is the emergence of TE Troy Niklas – kid is a stud.

Running back – Carlisle is the real deal and Atkinson isn’t, but Amir is small. With Purdue next, ND must get Bryant and Folston into the game early. These kids have to play NOW!!! Don’t tell me they can’t pick up a blitzer – look at the arms on Bryant.

I’d start Bryant against Purdue and put Carlisle in for the home run–hell why not play 2 RB’s at the same time and just rotate the 3 of Them – again – get some plays, some imagination please. Of course the OL would have to block – just a little bit.

So next is Purdue. A truly dreadful team that just barely eked out a win over Indiana State 20-14.

Other News:

The Good – USC lost to Washington State 10-7.

The Bad – BYU clobbered Texas and racked up 550 in rushing yardage – BYU 40 Texas 21 – seems BYU has a running QB.

Notre Dame VS Michigan

ND Editor Football Tagged ,
2
Michigan Wolverines vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Tickets

Unless Michigan QB Devin Gardner throws 5 intercepts or fumbles 5 times Notre Dame will lose this game. Last year Denard Robinson coughed it up 5 or 6 times and ND still barely won.

Notre Dame, take away one 45 yard run, simply could not run the ball against Temple and only scored 1 TD against Temple in the 2nd half. Third down production was horrible and all this is just the offensive side of the ball. I think the Michigan defense is maybe just a tad better than Temple.

Now the Notre Dame defense. What defense – 8 starters back from last year and Temple gets 300+ yds. What I saw last week was not only discouraging but downright scary considering the schedule we have.

The DL simply did not play and the ILB’s were awful – this makes no sense at all considering both Fox and Calabrese have been playing regularly for 4 years. We can only hope that Grace emerges big time.

Temple’s QB in his very first start ran all over the place and if even a few of his passes were caught that game would have been closer – take that with the missed FG’s and ND maybe only wins by 7.

I’m still not sold on Bob Diaco and his philosophy on defense – you just can’t let a team dink and dunk it’s way between the 20’s and expect to win the big games. Michigan has the players to take a dink for a TD, plus they have an excellent FG kicker. They also have a massive OL with a top 5 pick in LT Lewan.

Unless ND comes out in uptempo fast offense like the old Kelly teams I just can’t see them even in this game. I originally thought Michigan by 3 to 7, but after last week they win by at least 14.

Michigan 34 Notre Dame 20

Michigan Week, Temple After Thoughts

ND Editor Football Tagged , ,
0

I’m not privy to what the ND coaches are thinking during the course of a game, but I just do not understand what the 1st string OL was doing in the game in the final 10 minutes. Surely Elmer and Hanratty could have been put in for Z. Martin and C. Watt at LT and LG.

Why risk your best linemen in meaningless mop up time. Surely, at some time this season they will play so why not play them in the Temple game?

Temple After Thoughts:

  • After re-watching this game I do not feel good about the defense especially the front 7.
  • On a few plays when watching the line play Temple pushed the DL 2-3 yds backwards bunched them up thereby giving the ILB’s no gap to hit.
  • I think the DL is out of shape or taking plays off.
  • Moreover, this team at least in the 1st game sorely misses the leadership of Teo, Kap Lewis and Zeke Motta.
  • We can’t rely on this defense to save games for us – so I say junk the bend/no break defense theory.
  • Play aggressive football not wait around ball and hope to get lucky.
  • Kelly opined Sheldon Day a star – didn’t even look like he was even in the game – buried by Temple linemen.

Now Michigan:

  • Brady Hoke has done an excellent job recruiting, especially on the OL – he snagged a few that ND really wanted and they are big dudes.
  • Michigan LT Taylor Lewan is an All-American and maybe the best LT in the country – so we should see quickly how good Tuitt is going against him.
  • Their RT is no slouch either, so we’ll see how Day does there.
  • Michigan starting Center Jack Miller is new – so Nix – no excuses.
  • Thinking about Devin Gardiner – can run but also a decent passer.
  • I would use Jaylon Smith as a spy and give, in this game, one assignment – go get the QB every play.

Here’s Kelly’s Tuesday presser from WatchND.tv:

Notre Dame 28 Temple 6

ND Editor Football Tagged ,
2

Tommy Rees looked outstanding going 16 for 23 for 346 yards including some very nice long passes to Daniels and Niklas for TD’s. TJ Jones had an outstanding game – he is the real deal. Kudos to the OL for pass blocking, but need more production in the running game – we also need an inside runner.

Carlisle looks very sharp and quick with some exciting runs and he will be great running outside but is just too small to pound it. Unfortunately, George Atkinson is just not a running back. Cam McDaniel should start and Bryant and Folston will grab this position as the season continues.

I was impressed with the tenacity and no quit of Temple – they held ND to just 1 second half touchdown. They also had some extended drives and ate up the clock – had a lot of dropped passes. I was particularly impressed with their Center, think the kid named Friend. Although he had help, many times he handled Nix one on one and the same with Kona Schwenke.

The ND defense really needs a lot of work. Tuitt had one sack and was a non factor throughout the rest of the game – he needs a serious dose of effort.

Big Lou Nix just looked like a Big Fat Guy. Both of these 2 fell way far short of pre-season accolades and certainly did not play like All Americans. ILB’s were a disappointment but I did like what I saw of Jarret Grace–he’ll start before too long.

Temple’s score a 2 yard run for a TD was just too easy.

So what did we learn? We have a lot of work to do if we are going to be even competitive with Michigan.

Also, I really don’t like a defensive philosophy to let an opponent go up and down the field between the 20’s and rely on the defense to stop a TD but give up or hope for a missed FG. Way to much time off the clock and I did not see a smothering defense in this game.

Final Stats: ND 543 yards Temple 362 yards – way too much to yield to this over-matched opponent. ND playing down to the competition again.

Other notes:

10 Freshmen played in the opener.

Kelly gets new 5 year contract to 2017 which puts him 2 shy of the 10 year burnout for most previous coaches.

Notre Dame VS Temple 8/31 3:30 EST | Predictions

ND Editor Football Tagged ,
0

Notre Dame rolls right from the start and this game is basically over in the 1st quarter. Temple is just not big or talented enough to give ND a game. Let’s see how determined this team really is seeking some kind of redemption after the embarrassment by Alabama.

  • Tune up game as does Michigan playing some directional school.
  • Rees impresses as does both TE’s Niklas and Koyack.
  • Looking for 5 TD’s and 3 FG’s.
  • Notre Dame 44 Temple 0.

Notre Dame Depth Chart 2013

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Here is the Notre Dame Depth Chart so far (info from Irish Sports Report.com):

OFFENSE

WR
7 TJ Jones 6-0 195 Sr.
88 Corey Robinson 6-5 205 Fr.

WR
10 DaVaris Daniels 6-2 203 Jr.
87 Daniel Smith 6-4 213 Sr.

LT
70 Zack Martin 6-4 308 Sr.
57 Hunter Bivin 6-6 291 Fr.

LG
66 Chris Watt 6-3 321 Sr.
75 Mark Harrell 6-4 305 So.

C
72 Nick Martin 6-5 295 Jr.
77 Matt Hegarty 6-5 300 Jr.

RG
74 Christian Lombard 6-5 315 Sr.
65 Conor Hanratty 6-5 309 Jr.

RT
78 Ronnie Stanley 6-6 318 So. or
79 Steve Elmer 6-6 317 Fr.

TE
85 Troy Niklas 6-7 270 Jr.
18 Ben Koyack 6-5 261 Jr.

WR
2 Chris Brown 6-2 191 So.
17 James Onwualu 6-1 215 Fr.

QB
11 Tommy Rees 6-2 215 Sr.
12 Andrew Hendrix 6-2 226 Sr.

TB
4 George Atkinson III 6-2 220 Jr. or
3 Amir Carlisle 5-9 190 Jr.

DEFENSE

DEFENSE
DE
91 Sheldon Day 6-2 290 So.
90 Isaac Rochell 6-3 280 Fr.

NG
1 Louis Nix 6-3 357 Sr.
96 Kona Schwenke 6-4 303 Sr.

DE
7 Stephon Tuitt 6-7 322 Jr.
94 Jarron Jones 6-6 305 So.

OLB
55 Prince Shembo 6-2 258 Sr.
11 Ishaq Williams 6-6 261 Jr.

ILB
48 Dan Fox 6-2 245 Sr.
59 Jarrett Grace 6-2 253 Jr.

ILB
44 Carlo Calabrese 6-0 250 Sr.
8 Kendall Moore 6-1 251 Sr.

OLB
9 Jaylon Smith 6-3 230 Fr.
30 Ben Councell 6-5 254 Jr.

CB
2 Bennett Jackson 6-0 195 Sr.
3 Cole Luke 5-11 184 Fr.

S
28 Austin Collinsworth 6-0 205 Sr.
22 Elijah Shumate 6-0 213 So.

S
41 Matthias Farley 5-10 204 Jr.
4 Eilar Hardy 6-0 204 Jr.

CB
26 KeiVarae Russell 5-11 190 So.
3 Lo Wood 5-10 194 Sr.

KICKING SPECIALISTS

PK
27 Kyle Brindza 6-0 236 Jr. or
40 Nick Tausch 6-0 195 Sr.

KO
27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 225 So.

P
27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 236 Jr. or
98 Alex Wulfeck 5-7 154 Sr.

LS
61 Scott Daly 6-2 248 So.

RETURN SPECIALISTS
KR
4 George Atkinson III 6-2 220 Jr.
33 Cam McDaniel 5-10 207 Jr.

PR
7 TJ Jones 6-0 195 Sr.
3 Amir Carlisle 5-9 190 Jr.

  

Temple Week

ND Editor Football Tagged , ,
0

Never thought I’d be typing that, but hey Joe Paterno padded his schedule with patsies for 50 years.

  • Looks like Jaylon Smith won the OLB spot over Ben Councell.
  • Austin Collingsworth edges Elijah Schumate at safety.
  • Ronnie Stanley tentative starter at RT – if he can’t go it’s frosh Steve Elmer.
  • Lombard is the RG.
  • Lots of frosh fighting for 2 deep spots.

Check out Kelly Presser provided by und.com/watchnd:

Season Predictions 2013 Team

ND Editor Football Tagged
2

While I really hope ND runs the table, I just don’t see it happening. Even though the Irish have talent galore, the tough schedule will work against them and if Nix or Tuitt get injured, look out. Tony Springmann will really be missed. He was a major contributor last year and replacements for him are really green.

I’m not too concerned about Rees – he just has to manage the offense and not make bad decisions. I still think most teams will load the box and dare him to go long – all he has to do is hit just a couple semi deep passes and things could change big time.

  • TEMPLE – If ND doesn’t hang at least 40 on them we are in deep trouble. If Rees is going to throw int’s this is the game to do it and get it out of the way.
  • MICHIGAN – Another g-d night game and another loss. Close game and no Denard but they have been getting really good recruits and that horses ass Mattison always has their “D” ready for Notre Dame. M by 3.
  • PURDUE – ND rolls all over them. Should be over by halftime.
  • MICHIGAN STATE – Tough game but ND wins by 2 td’s.
  • OKLAHOMA – Day game at home. Sooners lost too many players – ND by 10 but game never in doubt.
  • ARIZONA STATE – I truly hate Todd Graham but he is one hell of a coach. Again a night game and ND wilts in the 4th quarter and lose by 7.
  • USC – Another night game filled with recruits–the only reason ND wins is the bye week after ASU. ND by 7.
  • AIR FORCE – ND just too big, strong and fast – troubles in first half then blowout in the 2nd. ND by 21.
  • NAVY – See above but beware cut blocks and injuries after seeing 2 back to back option teams. ND by 21.
  • PITT – Always play ND tough(see last year) – if a night game ND by 3.
  • BYU – This game could go either way and BYU can score. This is Senior Day and thank God it’s a day game. ND by 6.
  • STANFORD – Hope it’s a day game. Don’t think this Stanford team is as good as the 2012 edition but they just may be playing for a slot in the National Championship Game. Once again ND ruins their year and wins by 10.

So that’s 10 W vs. 2 L – Could just as easily be 8-4.

Pre Season Show 8/24/2013 3 PM

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

NBC Sports Network will present STRONG & TRUE: BUILDING BONDS. A Pre-Season look at the 2013 Notre Dame Football Team.

Saturday August 24 at 3 PM