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You also gotta love the prayer in the opposing team’s end zone before the game….attended by only HALF the team. Tell me that wasn’t scripted. Just wanna know why they weren’t down there praying AFTER the game thanking God for their health, etc. Why? Because it was all for show. Hypocrisy.

One final thought, what is up with the idiotic nd Marching band?! They and the “cheerleaders” (who didn’t lead a single cheer through the whole game but danced in place like night club strippers) mindlessly beat their drums and and danced after every play…INCLUDING THOSE BY STATE! LOL Looks like the band director knows as much about football as the as the coach.

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Post Script: I just watched the replay of the game. We actully played much better than I thought. We should have had 5 total scores. Defense was pretty stoudt. Individual plays did determine the game. The future is bright – the Coaches will coach them up.

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As to the perceived lack of progress with the ND program, let me provide a little outside perspective on this. Compared to other programs, yeah I think it is safe to say that ND is taking a much longer road back to glory than others. Look at CW’s track record to date:

0-3 (very likely soon to be 0-4) vs USC and only really competive in one of those games
1-3 against MSU (including 1-2 since vowing “to never lose to that team again”)
2-2 against UM
0-2 in bowl games (yes, they were BCS games)

Not exactly the best track record against the three main BCS rivals ND plays each year (please do correct me if I have missed a major rival, I am really trying to be fair here).

Fact is that CW is also one of the top 5 highest paid coaches in CFB, in terms of comparison he is to be measured against guys like Urban, Stoops, Petey, and just for Biscuit, RichRod. So if that is who he is to be compared to, honestly how does he stack up? Granted circumstances are different at ND than other schools (academics, semi-bare cupboard from Ty) but CW knew this going in, this is not some new obstacle that has been thrown up since he got there.

With that in mind, look at OU, USC, and LSU (under Saban) by years 3 & 4 with new coaches they were in the NC mix.

Another question to ponder, has CW had what you mught call a “landmark victory” since he arrived at ND? Again, not trying to flame, I really would like some input on this.

A few things in summary:

1. Wow, I must be really bored at work.
2. I think CW is a good coach but shouldn’t ND have a great coach? Does he have the potential to be great, I’m not sure but domer and biscuit seem to think so.
3. At what point do the small worries you have about CW become serious concerns?
4. Do you really, honestly believe that ND is “closing the gap” with USC?

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Here’s my take (with props to this excellent post, of course): http://starsandslights.blogspot.com/2008/09/fan-or-fanatic-which-are-you.html

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Jim, what DTK is talking about is the technique where OL pairs work in tandem to first double a defensive lineman and then, depending on the point of attack and the flow of the defense, one of the pair leaves the initial double and flows up to the linebacker.
It’s a really tough technique with a ton of payoff if it works. Because when it’s working, from the POV of the linebackers, it looks and feels like a wave of humanity overcoming you. But the trick is the OL, usually the guards, have to have the timing down so they block on the double just enough to sort of serve up the DL to their pair and then get to the LB. Meanwhile, in most run plays with this technique, the RB is just going with the flow, looking for a hole. And that means the point of attack could move at any moment, depending on how the RB decides to cut. I think the RBs generally are told to only make one cut and then get down field, but good luck getting a 20 year old who thinks he’s a god to only make one cut.
I’m fine with the scheme if you’re going to be that sort of team, but I don’t like the ND body type for it. Our right side of the line is MASSIVE. Massive and slow. I don’t like that in combination with zone blocking. Much rather see the Bronco style of OL or, frankly, the Pats style of OL when Weis was with them. And that’s what confuses me the most about having it at ND. Weis recruited massive guys and had them bulk up. It’s not like he doesn’t know the prototype for the zone attack. It’s pretty curious.

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Honestly, if I were an ND fan (and if I were I would still find a way to be internet enemies with Biscuit) it raise a huge red flag for me to see so much zone blocking in the running game.

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I think pass blocking is a much more difficult technical skill over run blocking. No matter what, with run blocking, it pretty much comes down to attitude and confidence first, technique second. What I mean is, if it’s a matter of a guard against a defensive tackle, the winner will be sorted out by attitude and confidence in what they’re doing first. If both are equal, THEN whoever uses the best technique wins.

In pass blocking, it’s almost all technique. A lot of people watch a game and see pass blockers take a step back out of their stance when the ball is snapped, and they think it must be a very passive thing, but that step back is essentially allowing the blocker to get into a good position and rev up in order to deliver the necessary blow to block the pass rusher since the rules don’t allow pass blockers to take a step beyond the line of scrimmage. If you’re not plenty aggressive in pass blocking, your gonna get your ass run over by those big guys looking to eat the QB.
But pass blocking is also much more like olympic wrestling or judo than rush blocking. You end up having to adjust what you do based on what the defense is doing. You set up, and depending on the pass rush, you might ride a guy off out of the play, or try to take a guy down to get him out of the passing lanes.
Speaking of which, a lot of people don’t realize that at this level, the OL is responsible for passing lanes. They’re trying to create gaps in the big line of bodies between the QB and the receivers so the QB can see his target. You see it done with success much more in the NFL, but they’re certainly trying to do it in college as well. The OL is generally made up of the smartest guys on the team, and there’s a reason for it. It’s really, really tough to know your position, know where the QB should be at all times, and know how you should try to move a defender on a pass play based on that blitzes or stunts they’re running, what the QB should be doing, and where the receivers should be.
Again, that’s also why I think run blocking is easier from a technique standpoint. There’s usually one point of attack. The point of attack doesn’t usually move during the play. And if all else fails, generally, you hit the first guy you see.

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