What Now

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Let’s treat 1st 2 games as exhibition games with next 10 our regular season.

Really have to get all the DB’s heads screwed on right. Gray, in particular–but after re-playing the game–no real pressure on the QB in passing situations and that makes it very difficult to maintain coverage. 2 games and I can’t recall 1 sack or good pressure on either QB.

The strength of this team was supposed to be the front 7 which in turn would help the DB’s with pics–isn’t happening.

So what do you do–well last 30 seconds, knowing they have to pass why not get the best line athlete on field with one job only–get the QB. Aaron Lynch should have been the guy.

He is every bit as good as Teo was as a freshman–get him on the field starting right now.

Get Tuitt much more involved. Niklas and Williams need more playing time also.

All of these guys would be starting elsewhere.

Run defense was very good but changes have to be made in obvious passing downs.

Somehow we need to get Teo freed up. Too often he is shielded out of the play.

Speaking of LB’s Calabrese was really hammering anyone he came in contact with while Fox showed good speed and range.

Nix again was a force but Johnson and Moore really have to step it up.

Next up more conventional teams–we simply have to play guys that can rush the passer. OLB’s real disappointment at this stage.

We can run the table if we just play the right guys on D.

If anything, you can bet that the D as a whole will be fully re-evaluated this week.

Let’s hope so.

MICHIGAN 35 ND 31

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How the hell does a team go 80 yds in 30 seconds with a mediocre passer-(-we are not talking Joe Montana to Jerry Rice) by just lobbing the ball up and short? Interceps just for the taking.

This is an experienced defensive team and Gray, Blanton & H. Smith have multi year experience–Gray’s play was shocking.

Does ND have a men’s Rugby team? If so get some guy from there–must be someone who can punt more than 25 yds. Christ, massive DT Kevin Hardy used to punt and he could barely get his leg off the ground.

This defense was to be the backbone of the team but they just imploded in this game–where is all this 4th quarter energy we hear about.

So we are 0-2 against teams that are not all that talented and we have a slew of good passers coming up–looking grim.

Rees will be ok with more experience.

Nothing else to say except kudos to Hoke for going for the win vs. the tying field goal; with 2 secs to go.

ND vs MICHIGAN

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Really do not like night games, especially in that stadium. On paper ND should win this game–superior offense vs questionable Michigan defense–but these are basically the same teams from last year.

Did not like at all,when it really mattered, USF’s late long march down the field that put game away.

Believe Rees is a marked man and will see more blitzes than he ever dreamed of and gets flattened after throwing 2 picks.

Special teams for ND could once again lose this game.

In order for ND to win this game, they have to be flawless with both Floyd and Wood having monstrous games and the ND defense has to keep Denard Robinson to 200 total yards.

This is a very good Michigan OL and Robinson can throw as well as run–so look out.

ND falls in 4th quarter just like last year.

Pick: Michigan 31 ND 24

ND vs MICHIGAN Pre-Game Thoughts

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OK–lets talk straight about this ND  team.  I was not overly impressed about the ND defense–particularly  OLB ‘S –Darius Fleming  and Prince Shembo nor was I impressed with Johnson or Moore.

Third and long I would play  Tuitt and Lynch with Niklas on the outside.

We all heard about how dynamic Fleming would be–never shows up on Saturday–must be great practice player-just impress the coaches.

Predict before year is out–4 man DL with ends Tuitt and Lynch and tackles Nix & Cynmar.

As currently constituted the defense will collapse vs Robinson. Finally blasphemy-Teo not a dominant LB and needs to vastly improve–he can’t cover a TE any better than Calabrese or Fox.  Carlo had that TE covered –turn around–look in eyes—but what the hell were the Safties doing. I would like to see Teo dominate like Katsomyer and Hawk did at Ohio State.

Finally Kelly demeanor–can understand his frustration–but no need to act like a maniac– all you have to do IS BENCH the guy. Put Toma in.

Now the OL –when it really counted in red zone–stuffed– replay the infamous fumble.

They have to pass in red zone–I still don’t buy this OL.

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.

DISGRACE

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ND LOSES TO USF–Same old same old—out coached on both sides of the ball as well as outplayed.

Nothing else to say–absolutely disgraceful exhibition on both sides of the ball.

This is ND’s worst showing on opening day in years.

As I said before– show me–all this bullshit about Longo etc–just comes down to actually playing the game.

They got the shit kicked out of them today by a bunch of no names no stars.

So now I look at maybe a 6 w 6 season.

Next week Michigan will obliterate them.

Sorry.

ND VS. USF

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What bothers me most about this game is the prediction of a USF win by Lou Holtz. I know–what did you expect him to say. It’s the way he said it that bothers me. He didn’t say he hoped USF would win or that he would cheer them on–he said USF would win this game.

He’s been to practices at both schools and has keener insight than reporters covering ND–maybe he saw something that prompted him to say what he said.

We will soon find out. I think this will be closer than I would feel comfortable with–I want a blowout, I want to see all these freshman on the field at the same time –Williams, Tuitt, Nix, Lynch and Niklas.

If ND can’t take the 1st possession and score a TD we are in trouble. If we can’t run the ball we could easily lose.

Once again the OL holds the key to the game. I hope I’m wrong but I really don’t want this game decided in the 4th quarter–we can’t let them hang around like last year–nearly every game.

So here is my hopeful prediction:

ND 31 USF 24

Commit #14

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Storm had closed down access but what a pleasant surprise awaited.

Massive 6’7" 300lb. DE or DT Jarron Jones from Rochester NY puts the count at 14.

Not many slots left and we really need some RB’s

Diaco continues to impress.

Welcome Jarron!!!