Just watched the Michigan game last night.

[Bodizephax]

The dline looked awesome. Khaleed Kareem and Jerry Tillery made big plays. Daelyn Hayes had his best game rushing the QB even though he did not register any sacks.He had a great hit on the QB early that forced an errant pass on third down. Julian Okwara had a couple of QB hurries and of course the INT. Adetokundo had a fierce rush on the QB forcing a quick throw which he batted to the ground.
Tevon Coney was his usual superstar self making tackles all over the field and almost sacking the QB himself. Drue Tranquill did great. Asmir Bilal came in to his own Sat night and made some plays and he is even mopre athletic than Coney or Tranquill. #22 was a question mark but no more !! Aloha Gilman was showing all American potential that we wanted out of Max Redfield. He was batting down pases in the end zone and making sure tackles. Wow ! what a pick up from Navy ! #24 Jalen Elliot another safety looked good and made the best clean hit on a receiver for the Irish in years !! Alabama look out !. I didn't notice the cornerbacks much which is good--They were busy blanketing the Michigan receivers.
On offense Chris Finke was a stud---a overachiever which can only lift the game of other receivers. Chase Claypool is a star in the making. He did not have any drops and got open and made some key catches on third down when Wimbush was running for his life. Miles Boykin looked great except for one drop. He made a great TD grab that was called back due to a stupid formation penalty. A big strong target !
Alize Jones made a good catch early but made a key drop in the fourth quarter when the Irish could have put the game away. Cole Kmet got called for a penalty but I would like for him to get some more reps. I am not sold on Alize at all-- he doesnt block well either (Alize)
Avery Davis looks like like natural running and catching the ball. And so does Jafar Armstrong. Tony Jones Junior did a good job running on the vaunted Michigan Defense. A healthy Tony Jones is a Horse--I don't understand why some fans don't like him. Tony Jones Jr and Dexter Williams will be a helluva one two punch with Jafar and Avery.
I noticed Sam Mustipher making some great blocks. The Oline did not make as many offsides as Harrys oline always did. Jeff Quinn must coach them on it. But the Oline did get beat too many times. I heard Hainsey was hurt so that might explain some of it.

***Which brings me to Brandon Wimbush. We don't beat Michigan with their withan elite defense with Ian Book. Wimbush escaped many sacks and made many plays with his feet.
His stats may not have looked great but he is a baller who took alot of wicked hits and kept getting up. Wimbush is a warrior.. If he keeps his composure like he did Sat night he will win the Irish a ton of games. And he is so money in the redzone. With Wimbush I breathe easy when the Irish are deep in enemies territory. He will continue to get better as he now has a full season under his belt.
Justin Yoon made a great kick and he needs to stay in on kickoffs.
This Irish team is loaded with ballers and tough football players. This team is better than the 2012 2015 and 2017 teams as there is just a few elite players but many.

We need to come out fired up against Ball State (like we did against Michigan) and play hard with first teamers and backups for a full 4 quarters. Every week is a week to grow as a team and impress the playoff committee and put the fear of God in our coming opponents.
Lets respect Ball State but lets try and destroy them physically and spiritually. If we can hang 80 on them I would like that. But I doubt it Ball State is a tough team this year.
Go IRISH !
Beat Ball State !! Beat BALL STATE !!

 

[theskibro]

The dline looked awesome. Khaleed Kareem and Jerry Tillery made big plays. Daelyn Hayes had his best game rushing the QB even though he did not register any sacks.He had a great hit on the QB early that forced an errant pass on third down. Julian Okwara had a couple of QB hurries and of course the INT. Adetokundo had a fierce rush on the QB forcing a quick throw which he batted to the ground.
Tevon Coney was his usual superstar self making tackles all over the field and almost sacking the QB himself. Drue Tranquill did great. Asmir Bilal came in to his own Sat night and made some plays and he is even mopre athletic than Coney or Tranquill. #22 was a question mark but no more !! Aloha Gilman was showing all American potential that we wanted out of Max Redfield. He was batting down pases in the end zone and making sure tackles. Wow ! what a pick up from Navy ! #24 Jalen Elliot another safety looked good and made the best clean hit on a receiver for the Irish in years !! Alabama look out !. I didn't notice the cornerbacks much which is good--They were busy blanketing the Michigan receivers.
On offense Chris Finke was a stud---a overachiever which can only lift the game of other receivers. Chase Claypool is a star in the making. He did not have any drops and got open and made some key catches on third down when Wimbush was running for his life. Miles Boykin looked great except for one drop. He made a great TD grab that was called back due to a stupid formation penalty. A big strong target !
Alize Jones made a good catch early but made a key drop in the fourth quarter when the Irish could have put the game away. Cole Kmet got called for a penalty but I would like for him to get some more reps. I am not sold on Alize at all-- he doesnt block well either (Alize)
Avery Davis looks like like natural running and catching the ball. And so does Jafar Armstrong. Tony Jones Junior did a good job running on the vaunted Michigan Defense. A healthy Tony Jones is a Horse--I don't understand why some fans don't like him. Tony Jones Jr and Dexter Williams will be a helluva one two punch with Jafar and Avery.
I noticed Sam Mustipher making some great blocks. The Oline did not make as many offsides as Harrys oline always did. Jeff Quinn must coach them on it. But the Oline did get beat too many times. I heard Hainsey was hurt so that might explain some of it.

***Which brings me to Brandon Wimbush. We don't beat Michigan with their withan elite defense with Ian Book. Wimbush escaped many sacks and made many plays with his feet.
His stats may not have looked great but he is a baller who took alot of wicked hits and kept getting up. Wimbush is a warrior.. If he keeps his composure like he did Sat night he will win the Irish a ton of games. And he is so money in the redzone. With Wimbush I breathe easy when the Irish are deep in enemies territory. He will continue to get better as he now has a full season under his belt.
Justin Yoon made a great kick and he needs to stay in on kickoffs.
This Irish team is loaded with ballers and tough football players. This team is better than the 2012 2015 and 2017 teams as there is just a few elite players but many.

We need to come out fired up against Ball State (like we did against Michigan) and play hard with first teamers and backups for a full 4 quarters. Every week is a week to grow as a team and impress the playoff committee and put the fear of God in our coming opponents.
Lets respect Ball State but lets try and destroy them physically and spiritually. If we can hang 80 on them I would like that. But I doubt it Ball State is a tough team this year.
Go IRISH !
Beat Ball State !! Beat BALL STATE !!

Nice post Bodi

Lots of good positives. I agree on Alizé tho. That guy has not impressed yet n has too many drops

We need a big W this week or we will drop in polls

 

[zonairish]

Nice post Bodi

Lots of good positives. I agree on Alizé tho. That guy has not impressed yet n has too many drops

We need a big W this week or we will drop in polls

He had that one nice catch then he was clobbered

 

[twalsh]

Miles Boykin looked great except for one drop. He made a great TD grab that was called back due to a stupid formation penalty. A big strong target !

The penalty was stupid, or ND's WR lining up incorrectly was stupid?

 

[Get Nasty]

Agree that alize did not block well but not sure why we had him blocking Gary and winovich 1 on 1 at times? I think he will have some big catches this year. He looked more athletic. I think he catches that ball late if he didn't get so rocked in the first half. I was impressed he came back so quick.

As for Tony Jones. It's not about liking/disliking, it's about having someone back there that is dynamic. You see flashes with Jafar, and possibly Avery. Jones has a role on this team, I think he is going to be someone in the 2nd half of games that will get carries to eat out the clock, wear down the defense, and keep the carries lower on Jafar.

 

[echowaker]

The penalty was stupid, or ND's WR lining up incorrectly was stupid?

mental mistake. obviously boykin did not look as he is supposed to do.

 

[echowaker]

Agree that alize did not block well but not sure why we had him blocking Gary and winovich 1 on 1 at times? I think he will have some big catches this year. He looked more athletic. I think he catches that ball late if he didn't get so rocked in the first half. I was impressed he came back so quick.

As for Tony Jones. It's not about liking/disliking, it's about having someone back there that is dynamic. You see flashes with Jafar, and possibly Avery. Jones has a role on this team, I think he is going to be someone in the 2nd half of games that will get carries to eat out the clock, wear down the defense, and keep the carries lower on Jafar.

mack made one great catch and dropped a pretty easy one.

 

[cgaynor]

As soon as I starting thinking "this is the Alize we've all been waiting for" after that big 1st half catch, he followed it up with that crucial drop in the 4th quarter which left me & most others thinking..."is this the same guy we've been frustrated with for years?!" Hope the kid puts it together this year. I am starting to think he never will turn the corner.

 

[echowaker]

As soon as I starting thinking "this is the Alize we've all been waiting for" after that big 1st half catch, he followed it up with that crucial drop in the 4th quarter which left me & most others thinking..."is this the same guy we've been frustrated with for years?!" Hope the kid puts it together this year. I am starting to think he never will turn the corner.

funny how a certain poster here was adamant how mack was head and shoulders above the others at his position and the guaranteed starting tight end and then Kmet started on Saturday.

 

[Bodizephax]

The penalty was stupid, or ND's WR lining up incorrectly was stupid?

TE (kmet) lining up wrong was stupid (coaching?). But the refs were plenty stupid or ProMichigan as they called a phantom pass interference on Drue Tranquill which ended up giving points to Mich and also the phantom no call on the TD KICKOFF when Drue Tranquill was tackled before he tackled the returner(holding penalty) which also led to points.
If it wasn't for the bad officiating ND shuts out Michigan for the second straight time.

 

[HDK]

TE (kmet) lining up wrong was stupid (coaching?). But the refs were plenty stupid or ProMichigan as they called a phantom pass interference on Drue Tranquill which ended up giving points to Mich and also the phantom no call on the TD KICKOFF when Drue Tranquill was tackled before he tackled the returner(holding penalty) which also led to points.
If it wasn't for the bad officiating ND shuts out Michigan for the second straight time.

Michigan fans would argue that ND got away with holding on our third TD or that we got a very favorable spot on a third down run that kept our final field goal alive. Or that we got lucky when the play clock read 0 before the ball was snapped on that same field goal.

 

[Get Nasty]

funny how a certain poster here was adamant how mack was head and shoulders above the others at his position and the guaranteed starting tight end and then Kmet started on Saturday.

I think Kmet can be a stud but only reason he started was first play was a run.

 

[Bodizephax]

Michigan fans would argue that ND got away with holding on our third TD or that we got a very favorable spot on a third down run that kept our final field goal alive. Or that we got lucky when the play clock read 0 before the ball was snapped on that same field goal.

But I'm not a Michigan fan. Are you?

 

[NDAFArly]

Mack played 42 snaps (even though he was in concussion protocol for a series & a half).
Kmet played 38 snaps.

Mack had the drop in the 2nd half, but that was nothing compared to importance as the catch he made in the 1st Q.
Third & long, Wimbush throwing out of his own end zone against a great defense. Mack dives, gets targeted, still holds on.
That play was a HUGE play in the game. If not, UM is probably starting a drive on ND’s side of the field down only 7.

And Mack blocked fine. Who cares that Gary tackled a RB for no gain when 1on1 versus Mack. The top DE in the country should get a TFL when matched up 1v1 with a TE & the ball ran right at him, & he didn’t.

 

[NDAFArly]

Michigan fans would argue that ND got away with holding on our third TD or that we got a very favorable spot on a third down run that kept our final field goal alive. Or that we got lucky when the play clock read 0 before the ball was snapped on that same field goal.

It wasn’t holding. It was a textbook pancake. That was just Flutie being Flutie. In fact, there is a Twitter blog out showing it as “highlight block.”

And the spot didn’t matter, Wimbush gained close to two yards on the sneak on 4th down anyways.

And the official looks at the clock, when it hits zero he then looks up to see if the ball is snapped. So every team gets an extra second.

I can name a half a dozen things that benefited UM, but I won’t, because ND fans don’t make excuses like UM famously does.

 

[mcculloughsocal]

Cheer cheer for old Notre Dame, wake up the echoes cheering her name, send a volley cheer on high shake down the thunder from the sky!
What though the odds be great or small,
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory!

 

[Bodizephax]

Mack played 42 snaps (even though he was in concussion protocol for a series & a half).
Kmet played 38 snaps.

Mack had the drop in the 2nd half, but that was nothing compared to importance as the catch he made in the 1st Q.
Third & long, Wimbush throwing out of his own end zone against a great defense. Mack dives, gets targeted, still holds on.
That play was a HUGE play in the game. If not, UM is probably starting a drive on ND’s side of the field down only 7.

And Mack blocked fine. Who cares that Gary tackled a RB for no gain when 1on1 versus Mack. The top DE in the country should get a TFL when matched up 1v1 with a TE & the ball ran right at him, & he didn’t.

Sorry but I have seen too many drops, bad blocking, academic problems, ecetera to be too excited about Alize making one first down catch and dropping another.
But you are right --that was a big catch (as I had stated in the OP), and hopefully he can start being consistent and make me eat my words. I hope he has a great season or a good one in the rotation.

 

[echowaker]

I think Kmet can be a stud but only reason he started was first play was a run.

Agreed and that would indicate that the staff believes he is the superior blocker. the point was the poster in question was adamant about Mack.

 

[echowaker]

It wasn’t holding. It was a textbook pancake. That was just Flutie being Flutie. In fact, there is a Twitter blog out showing it as “highlight block.”

And the spot didn’t matter, Wimbush gained close to two yards on the sneak on 4th down anyways.

And the official looks at the clock, when it hits zero he then looks up to see if the ball is snapped. So every team gets an extra second.

I can name a half a dozen things that benefited UM, but I won’t, because ND fans don’t make excuses like UM famously does.

yep breaks are part of every game. nd has a td called back on a misalignment, nd benefits from an obvious roughing the passer call. its never a perfect game on either side and for the officials too.

 

[Get Nasty]

yep breaks are part of every game. nd has a td called back on a misalignment, nd benefits from an obvious roughing the passer call. its never a perfect game on either side and for the officials too.

Um's only offensive TD was greatly helped by a phantom PI call on Tranquill. There are big plays/calls throughout a game when two good teams are playing. Clearly ND made a lot more, although the biggest play or bust in the game was the kick off TD.

 

[HDK]

It wasn’t holding. It was a textbook pancake. That was just Flutie being Flutie. In fact, there is a Twitter blog out showing it as “highlight block.”

And the spot didn’t matter, Wimbush gained close to two yards on the sneak on 4th down anyways.

And the official looks at the clock, when it hits zero he then looks up to see if the ball is snapped. So every team gets an extra second.

I can name a half a dozen things that benefited UM, but I won’t, because ND fans don’t make excuses like UM famously does.

I don't know if we are talking about the same plays. The block was a tackle by #71 as Armstrong scored in the corner of the endzone. The spot came on a play that was called a first down, so there was no need for Wimbush to sneak for it; the 0 on the play clock was pretty obvious and a very lucky break.

Notre Dame won the game and I'm very pleased, but to say Michigan's fans complain any more than ours do is just nonsense. We have people up in arms just because Herbstreit didn't say anything about us! It used to be we looked for obvious insults.

 

[HDK]

But I'm not a Michigan fan. Are you?

Not at all, but am capable of watching a football game without letting my paranoia that Notre Dame gets screwed on each and every play spoil the fun. (I think you should go back and watch the tape. I'm pretty certain Michigan had 12 men on the field the entire second half.)

 

[echowaker]

Um's only offensive TD was greatly helped by a phantom PI call on Tranquill. There are big plays/calls throughout a game when two good teams are playing. Clearly ND made a lot more, although the biggest play or bust in the game was the kick off TD.

that too. something unusual every game and often more than once.

 

[HDK]

Um's only offensive TD was greatly helped by a phantom PI call on Tranquill. There are big plays/calls throughout a game when two good teams are playing. Clearly ND made a lot more, although the biggest play or bust in the game was the kick off TD.

And Michigan made three really stupid penalties that resulted in first downs on each of our three TDs. I'd tell Michigan fans if their team was more disciplined, they might have had a shot in that game.

 

[echowaker]

I don't know if we are talking about the same plays. The block was a tackle by #71 as Armstrong scored in the corner of the endzone. The spot came on a play that was called a first down, so there was no need for Wimbush to sneak for it; the 0 on the play clock was pretty obvious and a very lucky break.

Notre Dame won the game and I'm very pleased, but to say Michigan's fans complain any more than ours do is just nonsense. We have people up in arms just because Herbstreit didn't say anything about us! It used to be we looked for obvious insults.

yeah, i agree if they call a hold on Bars on that play i don't think nd would have a valid complaint. holding happens way more than it doesn't in the course of a game on both sides. i guess which ever side you root for determines your perspective on it.

 

[echowaker]

It wasn’t holding. It was a textbook pancake. That was just Flutie being Flutie. In fact, there is a Twitter blog out showing it as “highlight block.”

And the spot didn’t matter, Wimbush gained close to two yards on the sneak on 4th down anyways.

And the official looks at the clock, when it hits zero he then looks up to see if the ball is snapped. So every team gets an extra second.

I can name a half a dozen things that benefited UM, but I won’t, because ND fans don’t make excuses like UM famously does.

if you're referring to armstrongs second td Bars definitely got away with a hold,but those things happen all the time on both sides in every game. an official can literally call holding on every play somewhere on the field. if you watch, Bars clearly is grasping the defenders jersey in the shoulder pad area with his left hand while on the move. now if his left hand would have been inside between the shoulders, perfectly legal, then it would have been a textbook block.

 

[echowaker]

It wasn’t holding. It was a textbook pancake. That was just Flutie being Flutie. In fact, there is a Twitter blog out showing it as “highlight block.”

And the spot didn’t matter, Wimbush gained close to two yards on the sneak on 4th down anyways.

And the official looks at the clock, when it hits zero he then looks up to see if the ball is snapped. So every team gets an extra second.

I can name a half a dozen things that benefited UM, but I won’t, because ND fans don’t make excuses like UM famously does.

just watched it again and the hold was way more blatant than i thought when i watched it live. i'll take it.

 

[NDAFArly]

just watched it again and the hold was way more blatant than i thought when i watched it live. i'll take it.

No.

I will repeat what was said by two former players, one a NFL LB, they other a NFL OL, & that was text book.
The OL said he grabbed him inside, which is what you are supposed to do. Drove him to the ground. Then the LB commented the defender did what he was supposed to do when locked up, he spun & grabbed the OL to make it look as if he is being held as they go down. Happens 20 times a game.

Watch the play. The defender has no chance of making a play & as he is going down he grabs Bars & spins & Bars just goes with it, which is an elite blocker.

 

[echowaker]

No.

I will repeat what was said by two former players, one a NFL LB, they other a NFL OL, & that was text book.
The OL said he grabbed him inside, which is what you are supposed to do. Drove him to the ground. Then the LB commented the defender did what he was supposed to do when locked up, he spun & grabbed the OL to make it look as if he is being held as they go down. Happens 20 times a game.

Watch the play. The defender has no chance of making a play & as he is going down he grabs Bars & spins & Bars just goes with it, which is an elite blocker.

View embedded media

They are wrong. Bars is clearly grasping the defenders jersey with his left hand on the shoulder pad area. blatant hold. inside the shoulders legal. outside of it is a clear hold. i don't make the rules.

 

[echowaker]

No.

I will repeat what was said by two former players, one a NFL LB, they other a NFL OL, & that was text book.
The OL said he grabbed him inside, which is what you are supposed to do. Drove him to the ground. Then the LB commented the defender did what he was supposed to do when locked up, he spun & grabbed the OL to make it look as if he is being held as they go down. Happens 20 times a game.

Watch the play. The defender has no chance of making a play & as he is going down he grabs Bars & spins & Bars just goes with it, which is an elite blocker.

View embedded media

go to the nbcsports site and watch it. at the 28 second mark Bars is pulling on the jersey of #24 so much you can see the jersey moving. Clearly a hold that i'm glad the officials missed.

 

[echowaker]

No.

I will repeat what was said by two former players, one a NFL LB, they other a NFL OL, & that was text book.
The OL said he grabbed him inside, which is what you are supposed to do. Drove him to the ground. Then the LB commented the defender did what he was supposed to do when locked up, he spun & grabbed the OL to make it look as if he is being held as they go down. Happens 20 times a game.

Watch the play. The defender has no chance of making a play & as he is going down he grabs Bars & spins & Bars just goes with it, which is an elite blocker.

View embedded media

whoever referred to that block as a "textbook pancake " needs to watch it again. far from it. Bars has a grasp on his jersey long before the defender does his part.

 

[echowaker]

No.

I will repeat what was said by two former players, one a NFL LB, they other a NFL OL, & that was text book.
The OL said he grabbed him inside, which is what you are supposed to do. Drove him to the ground. Then the LB commented the defender did what he was supposed to do when locked up, he spun & grabbed the OL to make it look as if he is being held as they go down. Happens 20 times a game.

Watch the play. The defender has no chance of making a play & as he is going down he grabs Bars & spins & Bars just goes with it, which is an elite blocker.

View embedded media

except he could certainly have proper hand placement.