Comments on: Irish in a Rush to Defeat Temple

By: DenverJoeIrish

DenverJoeIrish — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 20:29:45 +0000

In reply to Terrence. Uh-oh, Terrence, you've forced me to invoke a Jim Mora reaction. PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?!? You're talking about PLAYOFFS?!?!?!?

By: flirish

flirish — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:33:01 +0000

great win and great to see the ball run so well. I would like to see Dexter Williams get a few more touches. the special teams despite all the hype abut improvement still were suspect in the filed goal aspects, punt returns, and kick off returns. without really good special teams we will not survive the season. we are still light years away from being able to compete against the top teams. Next weeks game will tell us al lot about the rushing defenese

By: flirish

flirish — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:28:41 +0000

Irish looked good and ran great. Defensive backfield may be a big issue. our special teams were better with punting filed goals, kick returns and overall special teams were not much improved. We are still miles away form competing with good teams. we will get a great test next week against a great running team. that will set the stage for the season

By: GOND88

GOND88 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:44:25 +0000

This is a much needed big win and there’s more good than bad. There appeared to be some blown assignments on defense and if Temple receivers had hauled in the balls that would have kept drives alive or put another score on the board. ND needs to clean that up and I expect they will.

If Temple is bowl eligible this year then this will be an impressive win but if they finish 2-10 then not so much. We really won’t know how much ND has improved until the next 4-5 weeks.

ND has to win against Georgia. Close losses to top 20 teams are no longer acceptable.

By: Terrence

Terrence — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 01:02:25 +0000

Not a bad start, but I agree with IrishGreen that the defense looks like a liability. It might not have a bunch of suspended starters this year, but they still looked a few steps behind on their reads. Hopefully they get better to be able to stop better teams, but they looked like the typical post-Holtz Irish D, minus a couple of years. Temple has been good, but lost their coach and a lot of starters, so I don’t think they were a very good litmus test. Wimbush is the first real athlete at QB since Kevin McDougal because he has the quickness, size and explosiveness to get away and punish defenses with his feet, and the durability to not get injured from taking hits. His accuracy and timing were inconsistent, but the improved running game, via the O-line and backs, coupled with his constant threat to make big plays with his feet, are more important than the threat of a dangerous pass-happy attack. We will see what the Irish do against Georgia and Michigan State, but it’s one thing to beat some good teams, like 2012, but something entirely different to face the likes of an Alabama or Clemson calibre team in the College playoffs.

By: Aaron Koproski

Aaron Koproski — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 16:10:52 +0000

Good statement win IRISH! Definitely put last season behind us! Have to keep improving on both sides of the ball. Next week we'll see how much we improved!!!! Enjoy this win weekend IRISH FANS!!! Come Monday....it's all about James Oglethrope's Bull-Dawgs!!!! GO IRISH

By: goirish1988

goirish1988 — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 15:43:17 +0000

In reply to martin. Not too much to complain about yesterday but, even if we eventually improve on defense, #3 above is the long-term problem under Kelly: no killer instinct.

By: Coach

Coach — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 15:28:56 +0000

In the Philly papers this morning, Temple fans are not happy with their bad team and new coach. So I will wait til next week to determine if ND has improved. I thought ND tackled better. Did Jerry Tillery play? Didn’t hear his name. Certainly expected him to be more of a force. I’m very happy albeit surprised that Brandon went under center inside the 5. Power the ball and impose your will. Good opening win for the team

By: IrishGreen

IrishGreen — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 13:19:38 +0000

Offense is good and the defense is mediocre. We have seen how this plays out. Maybe the ground game offsets the poor D a little more then in the past but there were Temple receivers running open all day which doesn’t bode well against the better teams.

By: martin

martin — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 12:20:08 +0000

1. I think Temple is going to be a good team so this was a good win.
2. We’ll see how long the “good” Brian Kelly lasts but at least he was on his best behavior yesterday.
3. ND got out to a big lead and let up again. That has been a problem under Kelly.
4. Josh Adams is a stud. Dexter Williams is clearly much better than Tony Jones. I don’t know why they had Jones run the ball on that 4th and 2.
5. I loved that they ran for over 400 yards and had three 100 yard rushers for the day.
6. Chip Long seemed to be trying to protect Winbush by calling a lot of short safe pass plays. They didn’t throw downfield very often.
7. The offensive line looked good. There were a lot of long runs but there were quite a few no gains as well.
8. I don’t know what this love affair with Alize’ Mack is about. I thought Wieshar and Smythe were much better.
9. Winbush had a solid game with the exception of that interception. He’s more comfortable running but he has a strong arm. His mobility will be a key next week.
10. I read an article last week that Kevin Stepherson is in the dog house and I noticed that CJ Saunders was barely on the field. You can bet Georgia is going to load up against the run so we may see more of those two next week to loosen up the Georgia defense.
11. The defense improved as the game went on but there were seams and Temple ran well. Georgia has a big line and two big backs.
12. The defensive backfield was helped by some Temple drops but they didn’t give up any long touchdowns.
13. Daelin Hays and Drue Tranquil were all over the field. Tevon Coney and Nyles Morgan looked good too.
14. The defense actually had three sacks ….. in ONE GAME! They even forced a turnover.
15. This team is a work in progress and we’ll find out a lot more against Georgia but I’m optimistic.