Tag: Temple

Michigan Week, Temple After Thoughts

ND Editor September 4, 2013 Football Tagged games 2013, Michigan, Temple

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 September 1, 2013 Football Tagged games 2013, Temple

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 August 30, 2013 Football Tagged games 2013, Temple

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.