STANFORD 28 ND 14

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Not ready, sloppy, low intensity by the ND offensive line contributed to a flame out in the first half and down 21 to zip no way to beat Stanford.

This team, especially the offense in facing quality opponents falls flat and almost looks like they are not only confused but that they expect to lose.

The OL was atrocious against a Stanford defense not known for brutalizing opponents. Sure Cave was out but it was the entire line that got punked.

A depleted defense made a valiant effort and those young guys gives us hope for the future.

Turning again to the OL we lose at least 2 starters but I do not recall any 2nd teamer getting any significant playing time–that is not how you produce effective depth.

Rees lack of any mobility almost got him killed. Going to Hendrix provided a spark and he should start in Bowl game.

Unfortunately it was also a final dis to Crist.

Wait til you see the Fla State pass rush–that could get real ugly.

For some reason this offensive team does not look prepared ag. good teams nor does there appear much effort or intensity.

Kelly and the offensive coaches have to do a much better job in all phases of the game prep.

Keep recruiting both OL and DL men but they have to play at least a little so they are ready when some one goes down.

Rarely do you have a talent like Mike Floyd and not play someone who can actually pass.

This team better in Sept than Nov.– called regression.

Lastly–get Gunner Kiel

The Dayne Crist Tragedy

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Big arm 5 star recruit and heir to Clausen under the guidance of Charlie Weis. Perfect for the Pro system run by Weis.

Redshirt year and knee injury in Weis final year.

In comes Kelly (at this point Dayne should have left–think Mallett at Michigan).

But Dayne all in for ND and was in fact the leader of this team–respected and liked by his team mates.

He had to rehab knee and at same time learn the spread–limited in Spring practice but recovered to start the season.
Scary head injury, vision loss and finally the next knee injury–so Rees thrown in to finish the season.

Interjection here—Think back to Kelly year 1. Did not matter if spread was new square pegs in round holes. Crist had to learn and run the spread in warp speed with only 6 months to grasp the system.

Sideline behavior of Kelly re Crist was unbelievable and uncalled for. Kelly shattered Crist’s confidence. The last thing a QB needs is a head coach screaming at him every time he saw him. If Weis knew anything he knew how to handle and coach up QB’s. Just go back as to how he handled Clausen and all the mistakes he made–he did not see a raving lunatic when he came off the field.

2011 Fall Practice Crist wins job but gets yanked after 1/2 of game and relegated to bench until USC game and fumbled snap.

Contrast the treatment afforded Rees–he can make all the turnovers he wants –you don’t see Kelly screaming at him. You also do not see the uptempo warp speed spread that Crist was expected to run–this is just the old shotgun offense.

So Rees is the QB with the complete inability to go deep–run the ball and short passes will carry the day. Except when defenses dare him–see Pitt and USC games. You have maybe the best receiver Floyd that was completely shut down in the USC game while ND let Woods run all over the place–maybe a time out when Lo Wood lines up to cover Woods would have been appropriate–huh coach. No not really Motta got hurt??? Does anyone think Motta could have covered Woods.

Another interjection–Andrew Hendrix, in system for 1 1/2 years but has limited grasp of offense-needs more time but Crist given no such luxury–he had 6 months along with bad knee to get this down pat. Hendrix is in Pre Med but can’t learn this system–huh.

Over the blogs lot of wailing about no one stepping up as a leader–players not stupid they all saw what happened to Crist–maybe behind the scenes he stood up to Kelly.

The whole point of this article is Crist not really given a chance to succeed while he might have been able to work thru his problems and if he succeeded we would have him for next season.

We’ll stumble thru next 4 games but without the deep ball threat Stanford will destroy us.

Don’t be surprised if Crist starts for Florida next year.

Random Thoughts USC Game

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The extravaganza Kelly set up flopped.

ND does not have an elite QB–and if you want to compete with the studs –you need one.

Freshman Lynch and Tuitt got schooled and worn out by a mediocre USC OL.

ND–entire team played way too tight–see extravaganza above.

Monte Kiffen ate Kelly alive.

Both OL & DL got beaten up by a subpar USC team.

USC tweets–ND quit!!

Kelly way too defensive about bye week–you get 2 wks to prepare–let the injured off not the rest of team with so much riding on this game.

As opposed to everyone else I would start Crist against Navy. Why–Rees a little hobbled and he has to be eased out to make room for Hendrix.

Alternate series if need be — Crist & Hendrix.

I do not want Crist to end his career with that fumble. Give this guy a final chance–he deserves it.

Bob Diaco has to start thinking — 1 year to think Navy — didn’t show vs. Air Force — way too soft and confused — SC knew and ran and passed all over the field — imagination!!!!

QB switch — why? Michael Floyd bored — super player but you get him the ball deep with a better QB.

Kelly and entire staff — Stanford waiting and Rees’s limitations will lose that game.

Long hair and tats only look good if you back it up.

N.D. 38 PURDUE 10

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Finally a relaxing game for ND fans as Purdue was stomped big time to the tune of 551 yds by the ND offense.

Great running game by Wood (191 yds) including a 55 yard burst for a TD. Jonas Gray finally got more touches which produced 94 rushing yds.

Tommy Rees–no turnovers hit for 3 TD passes and 250 yds passing. Floyd, TJ Jones and Eifert all scored.

Defense held Purdue to 276 total yds.

Special Teams need a lot of work–2 missed field goals and a blocked one could really cost going ahead,.

Somehow the snapper and holder have to get it together. Punt return–non existent.

Tuitt missed the bus for missing a class and that had a ripple effect–Lynch had to play more due to injury to Ethan Johnson(ankle) and what I didn’t know– ND wanted to red shirt Kona Schwenke this year. So a bad decision by Tuitt cost a teammate a year of eligibility.

Crist did mop up duty which surprised me. Kelly apparently asked him if he wanted to go in and he said yes. Real ND man–real high character.

Other than the above–very satisfying win.

I did have the opportunity of watching Air Force vs Navy which made me anxious–both excellent option teams–play fast and intense for 4 quarters yet they don’t seem to tire out at all. ND will have to put up big big numbers to make them one dimensional—red flag games.

USC also seems much improved–damn it!

Offense Musings

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When Brian Kelly opened his first Spring Practices to reporters–they were blown away by the uptempo speed with which the offense was working. And Kelly quipped –you ain’t seen nothing yet–wait until we finish Fall Practice.

He also opined on the Spread Offense with warp speed running plays which happens so fast, it keeps the defense from substituting as well as changing up the defense before ball snapped.

Sure enough,they ran a blazing fast offense but Christ was unable to keep the tempo up to Kelly’s satisfaction, which started the screaming at the QB tirades every time Christ came to the sidelines. No one can tell me that this did not sap Crist’s confidence which led him to being scared of making the smallest mistake.

Crist is a Pro-set QB and always will be–tutored by Charlie Weis.

Ok let’s forward to the 2011 season. Now we have a slow tempo offense–might as well huddle, which re-acts to what the defense is doing-so Rees can go thru his progressions. The ND offense is not setting the tempo–their opponents are.

Seems very strange to me that Kelly ran a helter skelter uptempo offense at first, which has now slowed to a crawl since Rees is only a very green QB at this time. It has slowed so much that they can barely get the play off.

Was all this Crist’s fault–hardly. He did not get a fair shake. Rees, on the other hand can barely move and just locks onto on receiver and became almost unhinged when Pitt took Floyd out of the game.

It looks like there is utter confusion on the ND sideline.
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I’ve posted this before but to re-iterate–doubt if Crist ever plays again nor will Hendrix and both gone elsewhere by end of season. Golson will be next in and soon.

Pitt Aftermath

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I have already expounded on my take of the Pitt game–lucky win, but so were the losses lucky for our opponents.

Read Kelly’s comments on this game (I’m in control) and Rees is MY QB–okay so what if he is planted in the sod of ND stadium–what is plan B–really no answer except maybe more Frosh will play.

So what do we take from that. My gut instinct–Crist out, Hendrix out and Golson is next in , even if preferable to redshirt him.

I further read this that the Charlie Weis recruits out, namely Crist and Hendrix. Crist and Hendrix are both Pro-set QB’s–so they are out

If I were either, I’d tell Kelly to stuff it–Crist, maybe has 1 yr. eligibility left–Anyone need a strong arm Qb that plays Pro set–same for Hendrix–Charlie Weis wanted this kid real bad and if anything CW knows Qbs–so off to Fla goes Hendrix. Crist one year left goes anywhere he can start.

So that brings us back to the present. We just saw a defense with Pitt that worried about vertical long strike hold ND to 15 pts–every team ND faces will play short knowing Rees can’t throw the long ball.

So mix in the OL woeful pass block ability ND has a real problem–an absolutely piss poor Pitt Db’s took Floyd out of game.

Looking ahead USC and Stanford(with much Better athletes) blanket Floyd and blitz the shit out of Rees resulting in regular picks and fumbles.

The only thing Kelly has going for him is the Defensive side of the ball although Diaco has movie star looks, can recruit, doesn’t have the cojones yet to be outstanding defensive coordinator–hey you have the players–let them loose the entire game.

ND’s future rests on the defensive side of the ball.. Kelly has to get the offensive moving–see how fast we run the offensive–I don’t see it happening against USC or STANFORD.

USF 23 ND 20

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The day after the shock of this loss, a few things come to mind.

  1. This is not a BCS team
  2. ND does not have a QB
  3. ND has a schizo offense
  4. ND has moderate defense
  5. ND has a very slim chance for a major bowl.
  6. Kelly has to calm it down – looks like a maniac.

I think Kelly’s offense is a split second offense–sort of like a fast break for an entire game and for that to work you need a GOOD QB that can pass and run.

 

If you take Michael Floyd out– the offense will collapse.

With the schedule they have and the persistent problems they have in the red zone– it will be tough to win 6 games. Quite simply they have to have a high octane offense and put points up every offensive series to be competitive.

USF has a decent team but one of the weakest on the schedule.

So what do you do at the QB position? I do not believe Kelly has any time for Crist or Hendrix–so you go with Rees and slowly mix Golson into each game for a few series.

Of course that means Hendrix leaves. Now you have 3 QB’s with one solid hit on Rees just waiting to happen.

All of this spells trouble and with his over the top behavior he could easily lose this team.

Michigan is not USF and now I believe they blow out ND with Denard Robinson once again racking up over 500 yds total offense.

Reading The Tea Leaves

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Well camps over and it’s anybody’s guess who starts at QB.

If Rees won the job, then he deserves to start. He seems to be an unflappable sort, has a calmness similar to Montana and maybe that’s what Kelly wants.

But what then happens with Crist? Losing out will be a confidence shattering jolt for him. I can’t help but reflect back to last season and the manner in which Kelly treated Crist vs. Rees. I wrote at the time that Kelly’s constant screaming at Crist was no way to treat any QB. He just got shakier and shakier–afraid of the coach and afraid to make any mistakes at all. Maybe the injury issue also comes into play–who knows.

If it’s Rees then what does it say about Hendrix? Will he sit around and wait while Rees starts for next 3 years.

Further, wasn’t Rees more or less a throw in–in that recruiting class with Hendrix the next heir apparent. They are both sophs and what is it about this offense that is so difficult for Hendrix to grasp. Seems he’s just even with frosh Golson.

I can’t be positive but don’t think Kelly even offered Hendrix when he was at Cinn.

If it plays out with Rees starting, Charley Weis might jump in and grab both Crist and Hendrix before season even starts–after all they are his RKQB’s.