Comments on: Looking for Answers in Another November Meltdown

By: disqus_ZwGqws1CR9

disqus_ZwGqws1CR9 — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:28:00 +0000

I totally agree with premise of this story. Every year we hear the ND football schedule is ‘Brutal”. ND is the Only D1 school who always proclaims to have a brutal schedule. Not a tough one but, a “brutal” one ? Why is this always so ? It shouldn’t be this way going into 2018. I checked over some of the SEC teams schedule . They play teams like Mercer, Samford, Ga. Southern, The Citadel, Louisiana-Monroe, Kent St. When has ND ever played these type of schools ? NEVER ! Plus, the SEC
has perennial losing teams in Vandy and Kentucky. Now i hear that Harbaugh is brining in 2-3 top flight recruits from Ole Miss. The QB Patterson may be starting for Michigan in 2018. Who is ND first opponent- Michigan. I’m not sure joining a conference is the answer but, a new schedule mind set needs to be adopted. There is no reason to play Mich, Mich St, and Stanford every year. I would keep USC and Navy every year and rotate Stanford and the southern schools around every 4-5 years. There is no pressure relief on the team from the schedule. I believe the relentless pressure contributes greatly to the Nov meltdowns experienced over the years.

By: Ed Flaherty

Ed Flaherty — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:45:00 +0000

Its the way they lost if Miami was a close game fine again another meltdown late vs Stanford. Winbush did not get any better as the season went along.

By: HolyHandGrenade

HolyHandGrenade — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +0000

In reply to TrumpTrain71. Is it that hard to accept that dumb mistakes cost us? Turnovers - singular events, caused huge swings in all three losses. You can't directly prevent mental lapses as a coach.

By: George Diabes

George Diabes — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 20:24:00 +0000

In reply to Jimmy Grant.

Not sure? But I can tell you I would not have Williams on the bench at all – unless very very injured. I also see that this team did not have an answer for a true “slot” receiver who have great quickness – or to provide an open space receiver that may be a threat. They have this kid that collects kickoffs who should have been trained from day 1 as a true slot as he is the only one with the quickness (can’t learn that) to do that job. The staff just did not get these kids ready – most on the QB and receiver side – but also used their backs like teams in the 1960’s. Just stupid to the max.

By: Jimmy Grant

Jimmy Grant — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:51:00 +0000

In reply to George Diabes. Do you really think the coaches (some of which played Division I football don't understand what true speed is?

By: Jimmy Grant

Jimmy Grant — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 12:27:00 +0000

In reply to GB. Tough to say, the schedule is brutal next year.

By: GB

GB — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:58:00 +0000

I think the team did not make adjustments. GA figured out how to defend the Irish. The other teams did not have the speed on D to keep up until Miami. The wheels came off the D during that game too and has stayed off on the whole team. Mike Vorel of the SBT had a great article about the game indicating that this team is not strong in any area and thus has no identity. Even though the QBs can’t pass, at least they can do some misdirection and counters. They also diddle in the backfield and that gives the opposing D time to get into ND’s backfield. I don’t see much improvement next year either.

By: Jimmyg

Jimmyg — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 01:43:00 +0000

In reply to TrumpTrain71. Simply offered my thoughts on what caused this meltdown.

By: George Diabes

George Diabes — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:19:00 +0000

Only one reason for the outcome – poor coach prep of a key position -QB. The offense had no balance from day 1 – no rreason for any team to respect our ability to pass the ball did us in. The coaching must understand what true div 1 speed is in a halfback and understand that they need the receivers and QB to pass the ball 1st then run if you must to have a true div 1 offense.

By: TrumpTrain71

TrumpTrain71 — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 20:29:00 +0000

I strongly disagree with everything you said here. There is no reason for us to fall flat on our face in November due to a tough schedule. Is our schedule the toughest in the country? No. Tough but not the toughest. We don’t play a 13th game due to not being in a conference and we were getting the benefit of the doubt from playoff committee due to the tough schedule. We were the highest ranked 1 loss team in all the committee rankings! Kelly falls apart when the chips are down. Cant win on the road in a big game, especially in November. In Miami everyone looked scared. At Stanford they choke. Against Navy they play down to their level. Why is this great O line unable to push Navy around? We outweigh them by 50 pounds a man! Why did the defense get lazy against Wake forest? We aren’t injured, Kelly aint ready for primetime.