Congrats ND fans. That first win in a season is something to build on the rest of the season. Oh, and you are welcome. I wager agaist ND... they win every time! :?
Played all the stud freshmen defensive players and MSU had no answer for them. Aaron Lynch is clearly our best D lineman. That kid is unstoppable.
:roll: We won, but there's still a lot to be unhappy about... The Irish were a lot better than these guys too, but Kelly almost blew it again. He has a real tendency to let off the gas when he gets up a couple of scores and you can't do that. He also fails to anticipate or react to the halftime adjustments of his opponents. Michigan State made the decision at halftime to stop the run and gamble that Rees couldn't beat them passing. It almost worked, because Kelly kept running right into stacked boxes. He's got to get smarter than that! He does a lot of things that I don't understand: 1. I still don't believe that our best chance to win is with our LEAST athletic QB. Rees is good for at least one fumble and one interception per game and Kelly obviously doesn't trust him to throw when the team is protecting a lead. Couldn't we just take a little peek at Hendrix before he transfers out to Florida? 2. Fox is a good LB, but he's no Carlo Calabrese. Carlo laid some hits on those Spartans that they're still feeling this morning and he broke up a pass too. Carlo should be the starter. 3. Who were those guys returning kickoffs? Austin Collinsworth (who's also a good blocker) and California State Sprint Champion George Atkinson. It's amazing what happens when you get people into the right slot...eh? 4. The Irish have no punt returners in the school other than a guy who can't catch punts (Riddick) and a guy who always calls for a fair catch? (Goodman: he dropped one too.) I have another silly idea; how about Collinsworth? 5. Troy Niklas is one of the freshmen beastie boys that the NFL scouts are already drooling over, but who's idea was it to put him in on the goal line defense? He didn't even know where to line up or who he was supposed to cover. You can't make them older, even if they're big. Diaco worries me. 6. How about Robert Blanton? Wow. A career game for a great, loyal kid. That effort today was an example of the senior leadership that good teams must have. The Dbacks were superior today against a very good college QB. 7. Speaking of beastie boys... I'm in awe of Aaron Lynch. How many holding penalties did the MSU line have trying to contain him? When they didn't hold him, he was busting through their Oline like it was a jail break. 8. Something has to be done about Kyle Brindza's shoes. They're going to attract insects... 9. Two MSU players limped off slowly when Louis Nix landed on them. They can list him at 326, but he's heavier than that... 10. Theo Riddick has almost disappeared from the game plan. If he can't return kickoffs...and he can't catch punts...and he still can't run the correct routes or read defenses...then why is he still in there? He's out of position at slot receiver. He should be moved back to running back and Toma or Devaris Daniels should be in the rotation. It's always a temptation to play a super athlete like Riddick, but he can't contribute until he's in the right slot...
Nahhh....just 9. But c'mon Gipper, you only put 18 on your Irish? What difference would the other 2 points make? Commit Gipper, commit. I will give you credit though Gipper, you were the high bidder for the Irish this week. Guess that's why we call ya Gipper... 8)
Following JO'Co's outline... Notre Dame never pounds a team on the scoreboard. In college football tha can cost you. Kelly was looking to run out the clock with 4:10 left. 1. I like Rees though he needs to protect that ball better. The one fumble he gets a pass on; he was blindsided courtesy of our LT whiffing. The kid is as cool as ice. Can't run though. 2. Carlo still needs more work on his pass drops and hooks but Fox got burned all day on crossing patterns. Against the run Carlo has it all over him. I laugh when I hear " Fox is more athletic "... Carlo played six positions in HS including RB, QB, and WR. And on Blanton's big INT at the end, that started with carlo creaming the guy on the crossing pattern coming off the line and taking that option away. 3. Amen 4. Somebody put out an APB on Bennett Jackson. Why isn't he returning punts? 5. Niklas got the baptism by fire. Did you see Teo grab him from behind and move him before the snap? Big kid and athletic. he was chasing the action all day.. he stayed busy. He will be a good one. 6. Blanton had the game of his life, in spite of what he said! 7. Lynch is a future AA. The kid is unstoppable. 8. No comment 9. The Irish D-Line looks like an LSU line now. Big, fast, and physical. I don't think those MSU linemen will be able to get out of bed this morning. 10. Riddick looks lost. It's time for Toma. Hit of the game? How about Harrison Smith blowing up MSU's 276 lb TE on that sideline pass? I don't know who flew farther , the ball or the player.
Sorry, the dreaded double post <r>Following JO'Co's outline...<br/> <br/> Notre Dame never pounds a team on the scoreboard. In college football tha can cost you. Kelly was looking to run out the clock with 4:10 left.<br/> <br/> 1. I like Rees though he needs to protect that ball better. The one fumble he gets a pass on; he was blindsided courtesy of our LT whiffing. The kid is as cool as ice. Can't run though.<br/> <br/> 2. Carlo still needs more work on his pass drops and hooks but Fox got burned all day on crossing patterns. Against the run Carlo has it all over him. I laugh when I hear " Fox is more athletic "... Carlo played six positions in HS including RB, QB, and WR. And on Blanton's big INT at the end, that started with carlo creaming the guy on the crossing pattern coming off the line and taking that option away.<br/> <br/> 3. Amen<br/> <br/> 4. Somebody put out an APB on Bennett Jackson. Why isn't he returning punts?<br/> <br/> 5. Niklas got the baptism by fire. Did you see Teo grab him from behind and move him before the snap? Big kid and athletic. he was chasing the action all day.. he stayed busy. He will be a good one.<br/> <br/> 6. Blanton had the game of his life, in spite of what he said!<br/> <br/> 7. Lynch is a future AA. The kid is unstoppable.<br/> <br/> 8. No comment<br/> <br/> 9. The Irish D-Line looks like an LSU line now. Big, fast, and physical. I don't think those MSU linemen will be able to get out of bed this morning.<br/> <br/> 10. Riddick looks lost. It's time for Toma.<br/> <br/> Hit of the game? How about Harrison Smith blowing up MSU's 276 lb TE on that sideline pass? I don't know who flew farther , the ball or the player. <E>:cry:</E></r>
Re: Aaron Lynch He finished the game with five tackles, a sack and 6 QB hurries. last season the Irish team leader for QB hurries had 5. For the season!
Re Rees the int. was his fault. The fumble was a vicious blindside that most QBs would have coughed up. Cousins did the same thing.
Had a great trip. Not just because the Team won, of course that was central to the success. But the weather was great, stadium was actually pretty hot all game. I used an old trick gipper taught me to get my guys into the LaSalle grille. When I called after the pep rally to see what our chances of getting a seat were the nice young lady said not much they were packed...so as the gipper taught me I asked if we could eat in the bar...pause...um yeah that will work what's your name! Had a great meal!! Thanks Mike!!
ND <r>I think you brought us some luck Terry. Glad the day went well for the team and you. <E></E></r>
:idea: I see what George was referring to in my Blue & Gold Report. Last year, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Ethan Johnson and Darius Fleming each had five QB hurries for the entire season. Last Saturday, Aaron Lynch had six in one game, as well as a sack and causing a fumble. Holy mackerel... :shock:
ND <t>On Lynch..all I can say is I'm glad he's Irish and I'm glad they never gave up on recruiting him.</t>
Irish Connection is very good this week. Must see for all...it's 16minutes. Funniest part is when they bring the Megaphone Trophy into the lockeroom Michael Floyd said "We get a trophy?" ICON MSU
A couple of thoughts. 1. JO'Co is spot on. 2. I am disappointed in our KO coverage, while we haven't given up a TD. I doesn't seem like we get down their and nail the runners. 3. On the Punt returns, I get it that Goodman is good at fair catching the ball (inspite of the fumble) but he seems confused as to when to fair catch and when to try a return. Austin Collingsworth was a Punt returner in HS, so was Cam McDaniel, and I believe so was George Atkinson III. Now I can see maybe not trusting a freshman, but Collingsworth is battle tested and I think the kid is fearless.
re: ICON MSU That's a great tool for analysis. I've never seen that before. re: Louis Nix They list him at 326, but they refer to him here as 340. He's heavier than that too. Watch him land on people. Guys like that aren't even fun when they're on your side. Sometimes they land on you. Other times they come into the huddle with a big smile and say things like, "Did you see me hit that guy?" They don't really pay attention to signals and they smell bad in the huddle. Looking at the future of that Irish defense with Nix, Aaron Lynch, Troy Niklas, Ishaq Williams and Stephon Tuitt, there's a real chance for greatness there...