Great post! Spot on. Am I one of the few who thought it was the bad call of the game to go for 4th and 5 on the USC 40 (after 3 previous ones only netted you 5), instead of punting and pinning them deep? That led to a quick score and heavy momentum switch that almost lost us the game! I don’t like about a third of Chip Long’s play calls.

The experts for the NFL call the three man rush, the defense to loose the game. A better approach would be a four man front, 2 linebackers and five defensive backs. Then you can get the pass rush and keep the runs play down.

How about that tackling? Doesn’t anyone teach them to tackle below the knees and slide down the legs. They did a terrible job on that large running back of USC.

With proper defense and tackling, they would have won big. Book showed poor technique as a passer again. Will he ever recognize the blitz and know where his outlet receiver is ?

Let’s not forget the record for player suspensions, arrests and the 21 forfeited wins we have had to endure under this coach. It’s a crying shame that he even gets mentioned in the same sentence as Rockne and Holtz! Another mediocre victory over a mediocre unranked team at home. 3-8 against Top 10 teams and no victories against Top 5 teams.

Hopefully, BK will turn our defense lose (rush 4 or 5 an blitz) on an average Michigan QB and not go to the prevent defense against the very good receivers.

A mediocre coach that will pass Rockne’s record for number of wins, have a No. 1 recruiting class in 2021, have 26-4 record in last 30 games to tie Holtz’s best 30 game stretch, graduate his players and win 10 or more games 3 years in row.

Oh, but Michigan will come close. Remember, Kelly’s teams play poorly on the road against ranked teams, so I believe it will go down to the wire with ND snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Yep. With a bye week to prepare, there is no reason why Michigan should come anywhere as close as USC did.

As a chest-thumping ND alum I agree with Irish Rifle. The game plan turned a three touchdown victory into
a three point victory. USC has a mediocre team with three good receivers. However, the unwarranted fear of
these receivers precipitated a defensive game plan to neutralize them which in turn neutralized our defensive
strength, namely our pass rush. Our pass rush allows our DBs to handle any receivers. We have a championship
caliber defense when it is allowed to play to its strengths.
Offensively, the goal should be to have a balance between passing and rushing. While the rushing attack was effective, pro tonto, it neutralized our great tight ends and our best wide receiver (Claypool).
While the old rule is to take what the defense gives you it does not mean that you should accept a turkey wing from a Thanksgiving host, especially if he knows that you are a drumstick man.
As to the tv announcers, where is Steve Beuerlein when you need him.

I checked the third quarter scoring for ND in the four games they have played against decent teams. The total is 24 points, but seven came on a fumble return and another seven were the result of a turnover inside the opponent’s ten yard line. So, you’re right, the offense hasn’t down much by themselves in the third quarter. Just ten total points over four games where the offense deserves credit.

I was also dismayed by the abysmal tackling last night. Technique was awful.