So much blame, hard to know where to start. Tissue paper defense, turnovers, coaching... I have to wonder if we won't lose out including the bowl game.
Not to stir the pot, but I am trying to determine which team surprised me the most last night, Notre Dame losing to Northwestern or Wisconsin having a field day against the Huskers?
Don, The only way to answer that is to have ND and NU meet in a bowl game. We beat NW at their place, so the winner of the bowl game would answer who really is the shittier team....I'm going with NU. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH OUR PROGRAM.
Not to pick AJ's scab, but Wisconsin is actually less shocking because it's happened before. I want to say I've seen this act before with the Irish (kinda like Tulsa a few years ago), but this is worse because we're actually talented...
Corey, It really amazes me that Notre Dame can be so successful in recruiting, but they really do not seem to make use of the talent. I know many of you are down on Kelly at the moment, but is he really the problem? Just curious as an outsider.
Well, there's a lot of NFL talent that doesn't play for the national title. At the same time, we seem to have quite a few guys who come into the NFL as 'okay' and wind up doing pretty damned well for themselves. There are other programs putting guys out in the first few rounds who are routinely producing busts. So to an extent, I think it's hit or miss at any level. There's an element of it that's on the kid. Still, as I mentioned in another section, we need to take a long, hard, realistic assessment of what we're doing and how we're doing it. We need to define who we are and what we want to be. I gotta tell you, I don't think we know the answer to either of those questions.. not as a team, or a program. It's interesting to me because ND made their bones as a team of innovation and fighting uphill into new history. They've become a slave to their history for so long, that I wonder openly if it's hurting them. Our fan base is ridiculous. Not Alabama ridiculous, but we're only not that bad because people aren't dying. I actually want to retain Kelly. I like what I see in recruiting. We're getting bigger/faster/stronger in the trenches and that's the real difference maker in my opinion. What's going on this season can really be pinned on 2 things. 1) The paper gate suspensions 2.) A huge wave of injuries that have left us without a DL, 1/3 of a LB corp and maybe half a defensive backfield. Name 1 team in America that could overcome that? I just believe we have to take a long look in the mirror and I wish I had better answers for you..but right now, I don't think anyone has those answers.
Don to give you a better answer and an egg timer assessment of our previous coaches. Davie: Not as bad as we thought we had it. Hiring Davie was akin to Ohio State hiring a great assistant from Texas and all he does is talk about the real football traditions down south in the state of Texas. He really isn't a bad football coach, I just don't think he's a head coach. Also, he's a f*cking moron. I mean that sincerely. Dumber than a bag of hammers. It also appears that he's a back stabbing POS. Ty: This guys was a nightmare. I think we recruited something like 2 OLs in 3 years under this guy. He was generally smart enough to not say much because there was no way he could live up to any promise he made to, or about, anything other than the golf course.. I was excited about Ty's hiring. I can admit it. I run from nothing. He was a horrific hire who literally set the program back another 5 to 7 years. I'd rather have 10 years of Gerry Faust than another 3 years of Ty. I'd rather have Dan Devine's corpse leading the Irish rather than another Ty Willy 1 finger-up for the cameras moment. I don't throw these words around lightly, nor am I going to censor them... but **** that guy. He's cancer. Every program he coached got better with a new coach after he was gone.. Weis: I'm torn. I believe he loves the university. I believe he's a good coordinator and a great strategist. I just don't think he knew a lot about football, if that makes sense. He's a smart guy. He's like a 500lb Icarus who lost himself in his own vanity and ******** that he flew too high and came crashing down. I think he left ND a better place than he found. I think he did the same at Kansas.. at least in terms of talent. He just wasn't good enough to be the HC at either of those places, although they'll be paying him forever. The thing is..none of these guys brought in as much size/speed talent as Kelly is bringing in. Now, Kelly's really just starting to bring these guys in so it's tough to tell. Someone ran some stat up before this week's game about how we're the youngest team in DI and it's not close. I want to see where we are in 3 years time. If we're not a playoff team/title contender, then Kelly isn't the man. But he's taking the program to another level.. Is that a better answer?
One thing I noticed right away and it continued throughout the game. Fitzgerald was smiling, laughing patting backs the whole way. He and his players look like they really enjoy one another and in sports that translates into playing over your heads. Kelly was stern to angry throughout and the players lacked emotion. I understand the different perspectives and approaches but it was a stark contrast in styles and results.
Well Fitzgerald came in with nothing to lose, let it all hang out. If we lose we were big underdogs and expected to lose...but what if. Lot easier to be smiling a slapping backs when your team is staying in a game they were supposed to lose. Also don't forget that Mr. Happy and Friendly had 3 wins coming into the game and 1 of them against W. Illinois.
ND <t>A loss to Northwestern....4 turnovers lost....no change in QB. We are a 7-5 team. Just when I thought we actually had the program going in the right direction I find I was only kidding myself. Look for recruits in this class to bail too. Golson is not going to get any better. Kelly won't bench him so....This season is over except to find out how bad we lose to Louisville and USC.</t>
As much as the turnovers have killed us, esp in the 1ast 2 games, it's the defense that no longer can stop anybody that is the real problem. We will have to score in the high 40's low 50's to have a chance in the next 2 games. Even if BVG was in fact the greatest DC in history, he is still stuck with an extremely thin defense with way too many freshmen. It's like he's coaching at A&M.
Tim, Glad to see you back on board, even if a bit depressed. I can remember how I felt at seasons end last year losing the final two games. I guess there is always next year? :wink:
KP, We've discussed this before http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alabama-fan-killed-over-football-game-victims-sister-says/ Terry, I simply do not agree. The defense put us in multiple positions to win the game AND scored themselves. You can't keep giving the opponent the ball at the 50 and expect to win a game. Not only does Golson do that, but we've had pick 6'es and long return fumbles. There's not one defense in the country, not even Alabama, that could overcome what our offense is putting them up against. Then, you toss in the lack of depth and experience.. we're playing Russian roulette with a loaded bazooka. Right now, we're ranked 115 in turnovers lost. We're tied with Michigan, Vanderbilt and Tulane. There are only 7 teams in all of the FBS that have lossed more turnovers. Mind you, almost ALL of our turnovers have come in the past few weeks. Those other teams we're down there with have been coughing it up all year.
To give you a better idea.. Our defense is ranked 23rd in turnovers gained. We're only 1 or 2 turnovers away from being in the top 5. As a team we're ranked 74th in turnover margin. Our offense ranked 115.... tell me the defense is the problem.