Not much to add to this. We were out blocked, out tackled, out run, out hustled, and out coached. I do not understand the umbrella approach on defense. We've done this twice this year. The 2nd half of Wake Forest and the Miami game. I just don't think it fits our players. We are better when we bring extra men to provide pressure (because our front 4 normally can't do it) and we are better pressing coverage. Allowing an offense the time to set up and run their plays while we hope to keep it all contained in front of us isn't an umbrella. It's a prevent. It's suicide and I don't understand it. I'd rather get our ass kicked getting after it than letting the opponent do what they want and then reacting to it. Still, that wouldn't have mattered. We turned it over. We just didn't get it done in any facet of the game. Congrats to Ralph and most of the Hurricane fans. You guys earned this in a big way. There's no way you should be left out of the playoffs if you win out.
I'm over the game from Sat night, Sunday was tough. But I'm over it, and I hope the team is over it and ready to move on and beat the crap out of Navy. It was fun while it lasted, I really thought the game at Miami was going to be a good game and that we had a good chance to win. But in the end we were a flawed team, and had been able to cover up those flaws because the teams we were playing all had their issues as well and they couldn't exploit our issues. Miami could exploit all of our issues, they could afford to just come down hill to stop our running game and they did, and Wimbush who is a terrific kid reportedly and a leader who has his teammates respect, is a terrible passer. Our defense was exposed for what it was a defense with not much of a pass rush and who is weak against the run up the middle. Those were things that were worried about pre-season. Credit to Elko for covering them up as long as he could. I know Long is getting a ton of criticism for his play calling, maybe he wasn't calling the plays maybe it was Kelly or Kelly telling him pre-game what to call. I don't know, but when you have a QB who holds the ball too long, who is not accurate, I don't know what you do. Traditionally it's getting a QB going with short quick passes that are easy to complete, but those are the passes that he throws into the dirt. It's amazing that we have done as well as we have with all our flaws. I feel bad for the OL, they had no chance Sat night, as somebody below said it wasn't really speed but the fact that they just ignored Wimbush as a threat to pass and came after him big time and he couldn't make them pay. Maybe part of it is our WR's. I don't know. So many thought this season would be 6-6 or 7-5 with all our flaws. So I'm over it and ready to move on. I am still worried about both Wake and Miami running the ball on the interior, Navy FB is bound to be licking his chops. I'm hoping Tranquil and Martini and Coney will shine in this game as we don't really have to worry about Navy beating us with their passing game. Stanford is resurgent with their new QB and I'm assuming Love will be 100%, by the time we get out there. I'm not expecting a USC or NCState type of win at this point as both Wake and Miami have shown how you beat our defense, so maybe just maybe Wimbush will have a good game throwing the ball and that will free up the RB's and we can win a close game in Palo Alto. Given where I was at 8-1 thinking we had legit shot at playoffs and back to reality now, 10-2 would be an awesome season, and while 9-3 would be a disappointment now, but not given where I was with expectations on Aug 31st. As far as Miami goes, they are reaping the rewards of total domination of a previously highly ranked Irish squad. I do wonder though if when they do face Clemson who in Kelly Bryant when healthy has a QB who can run and pass enough to make them pay if they try the same defense. Plus the Clemson defense is better than the Irish defense, much better.
What really hurts is that I refused to be fooled again through most of this season. But after the NC State game I again began drinking the Koolade. I actually believed that we could play a good game in Miami. And now once again I look in the mirror and see a big sucker. As to Wimbush I'd been concerned for some time at this consistently overthrowing wide open receiver on deep throws. I happened again Sat. and it was a an important time. When you aren't a deep threat, you can shut down a running attack by bringing up your safeties. End of story.
I wonder if it would have been a completely different ball game if Wimbush had completed that bomb into the endzone where the Irish receiver beat our cover guy. Score first in big fashion and take the crowd out of the ball game and make Miami respect your passing attack....
It's possible it could have changed the outcome from 42-8 to 42-15. The thing is that if Wimbush throws that pass 10 times to an open receiver he's going to miss it 8 or 9 times, and the time it connects his WR will have to layout 180 degrees and make a highlight reel catch. He's just not very good throwing the football right now, and I am wondering if he'll ever become competent ..but one can always hope.
I can't tell if we won the fight after the game, but like during the game we were out manned at the point of attack. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IS7CNqo4nWg" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Warning!! Transcript "language" on this Cane-video is not G-rated..But I laughed.. Hitler reacts to The Miami Hurricanes TURNOVER CHAIN !!! https://youtu.be/9rO1n1ZuY54
What a pile of ********. You and these other yokels who are piling on and calling for the 2nd string guy who threw a pick 6 just don't get it. He didn't lose that game, but that's what you're implying with the crap quoted above. Without Wimbush we're not 8-1 before the Miami game. He's done everything asked of him and much more, and all you can do is focus on the fact that he's not a great passer. I don't care if he never becomes a better passer than he is now, but he will. His presence on the field is sufficient by itself to carry us to a great season if the other parts of the team and the coaching staff do their jobs. Our O-line is overrated, always has been. They and our defensive players just aren't good enough to play with the big boys. Our fan support is mediocre at best compared to other programs, yet our fans have no problem when it comes to criticism. Any QB without O-line support cannot play to his strengths, whatever they are, yet he's the easiest target on the team for frustrated or angry fans, of which Notre Dame has more than its share.
Lol... Playoffs!?....PLAYOFFS!!...we gotta beat Punk State and the Hogeyes just to get to 6-6 and be bowl eligible, and your worried about Playoffs!!?? Worst season since 1959....and The institution of lack of control is undefeated. I need to find religion.
I'm crushed AJ, crushed.... 1959 Dwight D. Eisenhower was president..The average price for a gallon of gas in 1950 was 18 cents with the price at the end of the decade being 25 cents so it was a bargain to buy gas for 24 cents ten years after 1959. The average cost of a new car was $1,510
Ralph is just rubbing chile paste in the wound at this point. So I vote that we move onto the next game, what say the group?
George I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, thank you.....And I hope my internet connection from Kazakhstan where I just arrived holds out...Did you know that Yak racing is pretty interesting once you drink enough curdled goat milk....
You're out of the country? If they have any high end stores there don't shop lift any sunglasses! They have camera's there as well! Just ask the UCLA basketball players.