Comments on: Defense Saves Lethargic Irish

By: Jake in Cali

Jake in Cali — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:48:38 +0000

JVAN,

Watched the game a second time on NBC Cable, AND it was even worse the second
time around.. PITT lost this game….PITT blew the game…

BK so out coached by Narduzzi… Not even close….

By: Terry MCMANUS

Terry MCMANUS — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:10:40 +0000

They didn’t play particularly well, but IMO they didn’t play down to Pitt – they just didn’t play as well as we are getting used to. Pitt wasn’t impressed or intimidated by their surroundings and actually has a good team.

When the chips were down ND came through – this was an ugly win, and that’s just fine.

If there are some among you who are a tad grumpy on this fine Monday morning, I offer this – I was just browsing around the internet and I happened on the highlights of the epic struggle between Appalachian St. and Michigan, and I highly recommend it – shots of the Michigan fans who can’t believe what they’re watching are worth their weight in gold.

By: ccb

ccb — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 22:32:26 +0000

At some point running the prevent defense will prevent a win.
Rushing 3 on the last Pitt possession could have cost us the game if Pitt had a better QB.

A better QB with all day to throw will pick the secondary apart. We didn’t hold Pitt to a single TD by rushing 3.
Why do it then when the game is at stake?

Ditch the prevent and prevent a loss.

By: bocceman2

bocceman2 — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:24:10 +0000

Offensive line is offensive

By: flirish

flirish — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 19:28:54 +0000

The Irish are up to their old tricks. Making easy games look hard is a BK trademark and the reason they do it is the 8 years of horrific special teams play.
Look at this:
Special teams off sides–4th down to TD
Kick off Return –we have a kicker who can’t put the ball in the end zone–he is just horrible and the return coverage is horrible
Missed the two point conversion
All special teams errors. All Pitts points off of special teams errors.
The punter has a fantastic average but can’t keep the ball inside the 20 to save his life. they are just terrible. I a close game with equivalent talent we will lose. This has been a problem for ND since Kelly started. He places no value on special teams

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 18:34:13 +0000

If I told you that our defense would only give up 242 yards of offense and that our QB would complete 26/32, would you take that? Yes – all day, every day. Yet the game was close and I felt nervous throughout.

The stat I was counting as I watched was “mistakes”. The 2 interceptions were mistakes. The big sack Book took in the first quarter was a mistake. Going offsides on 4th and 4 was a mistake. Giving up a special teams TD is a mistake. There were other smaller mistakes. Yet ND won the game. There is going to be a game or two where you make more mistakes than your opponent. They key to a good season is winning those games when you “out mistake” your opponent. We did. Good. Now, watch the film to learn, practice hard, and clean up the mistakes and ND will have a great season.

By: Jake in Cali

Jake in Cali — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 16:25:37 +0000

Another UGLY BK coached performance:

Terrible Special Teams

Bad Play Calling

Bad OL Play

This is why many of us our skeptical about this team over the BK ERA.. BK gets
outcoached again..

By: NDOrtho97

NDOrtho97 — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 14:48:09 +0000

Ugh. Another close one with lots of chest pains.
Long list of things that need to be addressed, which is always easier to do after a win. It starts with the baffling special teams. Didn’t cost us yesterday but it will. Growing pains on the O-Line with new-ish personnel. Book came down to Earth and looked like a kid who has started 5 games.
Defense is not on the list of things to be be concerned about. They gave up 1 TD. I’ll take that every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Kareem is a monster. All levels are solid.
Not the prettiest win ever but on a Saturday when the ranked teams dropped like flies, ND stayed perfect for the season. I’m sure Penn State, Washington, Georgia, WV, etc would gladly swap their losses for an “ugly” win. ND will probably will be 4th. Enjoy your break Lads! Get healed up and ready for the Middies-another team that has played us tough in recent memory.

By: Farsdahl

Farsdahl — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 14:43:48 +0000

It’s all about the offensive line. If the line can open up the running lanes, Dexter Williams has another 150-yard day. If the line holds the pocket and picks up the blitzes, Ian Book has time to see the field and find the open receivers, and he doesn’t throw two picks to defenders he didn’t have time to see. This game came down to a beaten-up and poorly-prepared line not giving our playmakers the time to make plays. That’s it.

If the line doesn’t improve, we’re going to be embarrassed in the first round of the playoff, if we even make it there.

By: irishhawk50

irishhawk50 — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 23:34:56 +0000

ND was out coached by Narduzzi, but at the end of the day they had superior athletes which made the difference. No excuse for two kickoff returns to go the distance so far this season. Book’s lack of playing time and inexperience almost cost the game. Quality teams are going to watch this game tape. ND better step it up.