Comments on: Defense, Wimbush Key Irish Win

By: NDCO

NDCO — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 22:56:10 +0000

Wimbush is not the QB to win at ND but Kelly won’t change. Fire Kelly, Please!!! The O line is slow and weak. RBs are very bad. Defense is good. Only bright spot.

By: Farsdahl

Farsdahl — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 14:01:07 +0000

The first half shows that ND is a well-coached and well-prepared team. (Please keep reading; I promise this is NOT a troll.) Opening games between well-matched opponents most often turn on which coaching staff has their units game-ready, particularly the defense. Reasonable minds can differ about how much Coach Kelly had to do with this, but Clark Lea and Chip Long clearly had the defense and offense firing on all cylinders right from the start. Michigan’s defense didn’t wake up until the second half. Compare the Washington Husky’s performance against Auburn; it’s hard to win a game when you spot the other team two scores right out of the gate.

For discussion: would we still have won if we played Michigan in the second game of the season? I think our defense would have been just as good, but I’m afraid our offense might have looked a lot like it did the second half, except for the whole game.

By: GOND88

GOND88 — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 12:45:11 +0000

Frankly, I think the thing that helped ND win the most was running through smoke coming out of the tunnel. When I saw that I just sat back knowing a win was all but guaranteed. They’re definitely going to need some tunnel smoke when Stanford comes to town, so with three home games in Sept. I hope they don’t run out.

There’s good things and not so good things about this win. The o-line got blown up a few too many times but it’s the first game against what could be the top defensive unit in the nation by end of the year. No, ND didn’t dominate but they did make plays when it counted and had fewer miscues than the skunk bears.

At the end of the fourth quarter I feared that they might snatch defeat from the jaws of victory again but they made key plays to preserve the win. I hope Kelly and the team have finally turned the corner.

By: flirish

flirish — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 18:08:32 +0000

great game, thus is the best game atmosphere since3 the hot era. I have been going since Are was a coach and really after about 96 there has been no game/ stadium atmosphere like that. We had a real home filed advantage. Thank God for the Jumbotron, piped in noise and game day activities. Really great.
Defense looked great. Offensive game plan was average. In the first half when they crowded the box and only had one safety throwing deep outside was perfect and if there was no interference then we completed the pass. When they adjusted in the second half we still thew deep. I get that BQ has some issues but how about some throws to the TE or hitting the receivers oner the middle. we ran deep patterns and screens all night.
As for special teams–well that is a real joke. Kelly just doesn’t care. yes JY was good but why until he kicked off we were worse than good high school teams. The filed goal Michigan got was a result of a TN bad punt that gave them filed position at the 40. It was amazing to me that with one offensive score they were still in the game until the fumble with less than a minute left. that is 100% the fault of the special teams. It will cost us down the line in a big game.
With that said it was a great win for ND

By: marleyman

marleyman — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 23:22:20 +0000

Solid win for the opening day! I don’t know if I have to much to add with my dopey comments:
1. Hats off to ND for scheduling a competitive opener. Unlike the majority who schedule cupcakes, this was the earliest of tests. Bravo.
2. As mentioned in the game summary, the defense receives an A+ for their game preparation, physical fitness, and aggressive play.
3. Special teams gets a B-. But I will say that Justin Yoon is money! The punting game, not so much. And of course, the kickoff return, with it’s share of arm tackling was a real momentum breaker. This remains an area of ongoing attention for the staff.
4. I don’t know what I can add regarding the offense. We were all excited about the fast start, however they certainly let down in the 2nd half. Wimbush is an exceptional athlete and perhaps the best back the Irish have, but he certainly is not an effective passer. Despite a great arm, he remains highly inaccurate and is nervous in the service (the pocket). The offensive line was in an all out war with an impressive Michigan group and was handled on occasion, especially on the ends, but they are a work in progress and will surely improve. The receiving corp appears talented and could do some major damage to opponents if Wimbush could only get them the ball. I like to think that Wimbush is on a short leash with plenty of talent in the wings, but it remains to be seen if Kelly would sit him down in favor of Book. I believe Ian is a much better qb despite not having the same level of athletic prowess.

Overall, a good start to another exciting season. GO IRISH!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:26:59 +0000

In reply to irishhawk50. Agreed, still concerned about QB position. Saw multiple times in the pocket where he had time to set himself, but instead threw off his back foot.

By: Polo Coronado

Polo Coronado — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:13:59 +0000

In reply to Dave Opie. Michigan had five players listed in a 100 best CFB players and ND had none. Even with two outstanding Michigan DEs, the offensive line held its own. A good performance considering the conservative approach during the second half. A good move to not unnecessarily show all your weaponscearly in the year.

By: irishhawk50

irishhawk50 — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:06:07 +0000

Sorry, but I agree with the posters and espn journalists that still have serious doubts about Wimbush. There was a interception throw into double coverage in the end zone that Chris Finke somehow stole and an earlier one that I think it was Boykin that stole it away. A bunch of misses to open receivers too. So despite the fact that he is a little better in stepping into the pocket I didn’t see the major improvement that Kelly talked about. He must give Book some quality playing time in the next few easier games.

On the other hand the defense was greatly improved but it remains to be seen how good Michigan really was and I don’t see any major tests until Stanford. But a win whose final score did not reflect how easily the Irish handled the Wolverines. There is hope, but hold the kool aid for a bit.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 16:43:22 +0000

First half offense was vigorous but in the second half it looked like it was reverting to that old Kelly thing of looking to the sideline. Kelly said he’d get out of the players’ way in a game but that just lasted for one half. Here’s hoping it’s not back to blandness and enervation from being overly controlled by the coaches.

By: Dave Opie

Dave Opie — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 13:35:55 +0000

In reply to ccb. We MUST keep WImbush as the QB. His "escapability" was the thing that saved the offense since the OL was poor (although, against a great DL). Book is a good QB, but no one would have had time to throw in the second half, so at least Wimbush gave us a chance with his running.