Comments on: IBG: What’s Next?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:24:19 +0000

In reply to flirish. Amen brother!!!

By: flirish

flirish — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 04:30:06 +0000

watching the progress of Auburn and Missouri makes me realize just how far ND is from being a good team. Even seeing Michigan State who we beat play so well against OSU makes me realize how poorly coached ND is. I think we have talent enough to be a BCS team this year. The fact that not only are we not a BCS team but we are not even ranked confirms that we played way down this year. Kelly has to be totally accountable for all of it. It is true that we didnt have a DI QB this year but again that is his fault for not having developed anyone but Goldson in four years. Using Rees as a starting QB was an embarrassment.

By: Fenian_32

Fenian_32 — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 21:21:45 +0000

I certainly agree that this team under-performed. I can’t really decide which regression is worse: the running game or the defense. It was the defense in the beginning of the year, for sure. They couldn’t get to opposing QB’s (whatever happened to Shembo??), and the inside linebackers had serious issues in pass coverage. I went back and read John Vannie’s pre-season primer, and he was concerned with this issue because of our lack of speed at inside linebacker.

I do think the mounting injuries prevented the defense from re-grouping as the season progressed, however. If we look back to August. Of the original fourteen or fifteen-man two deep of LBs and D-Linemen, seven of them would suffer injuries that prevented them from playing games and slowed them down in others, and five of them suffered season-ending injuries. The 2012 squad was blessed with good health. I expect the defense to play better next year.

The lack of a running game doomed this season to mediocrity. I read some of the other ND blog sites, and everybody is raving about Hiestand and the offensive line. I just don’t understand that at all… 149 yards a game on the ground??

Btw, I’ve watched the entire pregame festivities for the SEC championship. It seems like ages ago that I was in Miami for the ND-Alabama game. But if you want to watch a spread offense that can dominate on the ground, watch Mizzou!

By: Mike Coffey

Mike Coffey — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:59:06 +0000

In reply to Tom D.. Remember they'd also have NIU's players, or Boise State's.

By: Tom D.

Tom D. — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:55:57 +0000

In reply to MJJR. Well, I'm not going to defend the below average job the coaching staff did this year. But don't you think ND would go 12-0 if it played N. Illinois' schedule? Or Boise State's? Those teams are playing Eastern Michigan and Wyoming while ND is playing USC, UM, Oklahoma and Stanford. They are good teams at their level, but not national powers.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:03:37 +0000

Just heard that ND accepted a Bid to Pinstripe Bowl. My feeling is ok, let’s get this LAST year and a month behind us (Teo’ Embarrassment, NC Game Embarrassment, Golson Embarrassment, and now the 2013 Season Embarrassment). Alot to take for an IRISH fan. But this is what ALMOST everyone wanted….now that Golson is enrolling in Mid-December AND back to ND. So now I’m Expecting a 10 win season with a BCS Bowl game and a BCS Bowl Game win!!! Right??!! This is Kelly’s blow off year right!?!? Same with some ND fans right!?!?! Now 2014 is the year for ND to be back as a TOP 25 TEAM year in and year out for the next 10-15 years!!!! Right!?!?!

But like me as well as other ND fans who saw ND REALLY play football in the Mid/Late 80’s and Early ’90’s will know if OUR BELOVED IRISH ARE BACK FOR REAL OR SOME FAD THAT LASTS LIKE THE NEXT HAIR STYLE!!!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH being average at best with excuses or below average!!!!

By: mneelon

mneelon — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:05:03 +0000

In reply to ND-WLC.

It won’t matter who Kelly hires as the OC because Kelly is going to run the show in every aspect
of the game. I can only speculate, but I believe he makes the decisions as to who plays on game day,
what plays are called and the OC basically sits around with his thumb up his but while Kelly runs the
show. That might be one of the reasons Martin left. On game day Kelly is a one man band.

By: NDMD62

NDMD62 — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 16:46:06 +0000

Agree with all. Very well thought out questions which were answered with facts and not emotion(except a few)
In addition to the obvious short sighted development and play caalling,this team needs a good defensive secondary coach. It is a nightmare to watch this: let them catch it,don’t let them get behind you and miss the tackle.
I dred to see the off season report of how many pounds the kids have gained. Why not how faster they have become?

By: TC69

TC69 — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:31:42 +0000

Until ND has top flight dual threat QB play, they will not be a consistent top BCS Caliber team…All of the top teams have them…Tommy Rees is a great kid but was very limited……Even with their other shortcomings…..If you put Jameis Winston, Braxton Miller, Marcus Mariotta, Johhny M etc on ND, I believe that the current team would have won at least 10 or 11 games this year…Lets hope that Golson or one of the other young QBs they have recruited becomes that top flight QB we need…

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 14:46:06 +0000

In reply to GraceHallChapel86. It's more than $ that is the problem here!!!