A LOT...

[echowaker]

To be truly optimistic and excited about going forward. The defense is stout, talented and most importantly incredibly deep. They get after you. The offense will be a work in progress for a few games but it's always a process with such a young inexperienced group up front. The important thing is they got better as the game went on. Easy to see why the coaches made the personnel decisions they did.
Really liked the physicality on both sides of the ball. Special teams performed very well also. Gotta clean up the penalties but the high number isn't unusual in an opening game.

 

[IrishMike409]

To be truly optimistic and excited about going forward. The defense is stout, talented and most importantly incredibly deep. They get after you. The offense will be a work in progress for a few games but it's always a process with such a young inexperienced group up front. The important thing is they got better as the game went on. Easy to see why the coaches made the personnel decisions they did.
Really liked the physicality on both sides of the ball. Special teams performed very well also. Gotta clean up the penalties but the high number isn't unusual in an opening game.

Great post Echo.

You mentioned personnel decisions. Do you mean specifically Knapp and Pendleton? How do you think they looked?

 

[Get Nasty]

Pendleton just had way too many mental mistakes

 

[Chitown11]

To be truly optimistic and excited about going forward. The defense is stout, talented and most importantly incredibly deep. They get after you. The offense will be a work in progress for a few games but it's always a process with such a young inexperienced group up front. The important thing is they got better as the game went on. Easy to see why the coaches made the personnel decisions they did.
Really liked the physicality on both sides of the ball. Special teams performed very well also. Gotta clean up the penalties but the high number isn't unusual in an opening game.

Fair assessment

 

[NWfor3]

Finally a post that makes sense. A lot of positives going forward, the best is that ND is 1-0, winning at 100,000 fans Kyle Field. Rushed for almost 200 yards, threw for 158, good special teams, 2 picks by the D and the Irish didn’t turn the ball over.
Clean up some of the penalties.
Is Beaux Collins the WR we were looking for?
Tandem of Price and Love!
OL will get better and 1 game under their belt.
Defense has depth, plays fast and physical and can cover!
On to game 2…

 

[echowaker]

Great post Echo.

You mentioned personnel decisions. Do you mean specifically Knapp and Pendleton? How do you think they looked?

Better than I expected because they clearly got better as the game went on. Knapp as a teenager going against a 22 year old man projected as a 1st round draft pick more than held his own. He's not at a place physically yet to just line up and bully someone. You could see his quick feet and arm length utilizing it to direct and wall of the defender. Pendleton while having some mental issues was very physical and moved his feet well. I love the potential going forward. Wagner was solid. Like him a lot. Can't wait to see the unit in a month.

 

[echowaker]

Pendleton just had way too many mental mistakes

One really glaring one but also got much better as the game went on.