Kelly and the Red Zone

[stu4don]

He still hasn't figure it out. It remains our biggest problem! Just unimaginative calls.... He really needs to do some soul searching here -- it isn't Kizer's problem it is the plays that are called. Given how they have no offense we should have just played it safe and kicked field goals if we had to...

Very disappointing. Nice to get the win but I'm not impressed.

 

[vivalas]

Hard when you can't run the ball, plus they could have thrown a pi flag on almost every one of our passes

 

[TurnoverMachine]

And we wonder why the committee will have them outside the top 10. Kelly just can't win impressively on the road. I'll take the W though.

 

[justacollegefan]

He still hasn't figure it out. It remains our biggest problem! Just unimaginative calls.... He really needs to do some soul searching here -- it isn't Kizer's problem it is the plays that are called. Given how they have no offense we should have just played it safe and kicked field goals if we had to...

Very disappointing. Nice to get the win but I'm not impressed.

yeah he was really dressed up as kizer and tossed those 2 int's... youre freaking brilliant!

 

[WhySeperateKnob]

He still hasn't figure it out. It remains our biggest problem! Just unimaginative calls.... He really needs to do some soul searching here -- it isn't Kizer's problem it is the plays that are called. Given how they have no offense we should have just played it safe and kicked field goals if we had to...

Very disappointing. Nice to get the win but I'm not impressed.

Remember how Holtz would run those plays inside the five out of a T formation with the QB under center? Made the defense account for four guys....

 

[stu4don]

yeah he was really dressed up as kizer and tossed those 2 int's... youre freaking brilliant!

No you are a ****ing genius. He put his freshman in the position to throw two ints in the red Zone. Aaron Rogers wouldn't have been able to make those plays. Bad play calling pure and simple. And I've always been on the Kelly band wagon!

 

[justacollegefan]

No you are a ****ing genius. He put his freshman in the position to throw two ints in the red Zone. Aaron Rogers wouldn't have been able to make those plays. Bad play calling pure and simple. And I've always been on the Kelly band wagon!

what an idiotic excuse to blame kelly! what should he have played safe and run the ball against the front 8 they had lined up the entire game? that first interception was terrible and no quarterback should be throwing like that. the second could have been a pass interference but it bounced off of fuller, was that kelly's fault as well? maybe he shouldn't let kizer throw as all now?

 

[Toby Smart]

First pick was on Freshman, not too long ago 3rd team QB, D Kizer. He owned it. Second pick was pass interference that wasn't called. Temple did dictate the game for the most part. Look, ND has had major injuries, freshman QB, a RB who was a WR last season, and won on the road against an unbeaten team. Temple's defense has been together for three years. The bye made the Irish look slow and sluggish. CJ did not look himself. The Irish won. That's what counts.

 

[IowaIrish1]

Stu it is a problem and has been for some time under Kelly. I missed most of game with my daughter trick or treating so I'm going back to watch a good portion, but I just don't get the struggles. Something has to change. I sure hope that he was atleast trying to get the ball to our big receivers down there.

Also, I see the stat line for Fuller wasn't great. I sure hope he got at the least 5 bombs thrown his way tonight. It's pretty clear that in most cases you're gonna get a long catch or PI call. I swear if I watch this back and I don't see any I'm done with Kelly. Not that it means jack squat!

 

[stu4don]

I'd love to see Kelly's red zone numbers -- I bet they are in the 50-100 rating in CF.

 

[IowaIrish1]

I'd love to see Kelly's red zone numbers -- I bet they are in the 50-100 rating in CF.

Last i saw is 85th this year.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Stu it is a problem and has been for some time under Kelly. I missed most of game with my daughter trick or treating so I'm going back to watch a good portion, but I just don't get the struggles. Something has to change. I sure hope that he was atleast trying to get the ball to our big receivers down there.

Also, I see the stat line for Fuller wasn't great. I sure hope he got at the least 5 bombs thrown his way tonight. It's pretty clear that in most cases you're gonna get a long catch or PI call. I swear if I watch this back and I don't see any I'm done with Kelly. Not that it means jack squat!

Good for you Iowa.

Way to step up for your daughter

 

[perseverare]

He still hasn't figure it out. It remains our biggest problem! Just unimaginative calls.... He really needs to do some soul searching here -- it isn't Kizer's problem it is the plays that are called. Given how they have no offense we should have just played it safe and kicked field goals if we had to...

Very disappointing. Nice to get the win but I'm not impressed.

well, Stanford is struggling and if Stanford goes down they will take ND's hopes with them!

 

[stu4don]

what an idiotic excuse to blame kelly! what should he have played safe and run the ball against the front 8 they had lined up the entire game? that first interception was terrible and no quarterback should be throwing like that. the second could have been a pass interference but it bounced off of fuller, was that kelly's fault as well? maybe he shouldn't let kizer throw as all now?

Yes, run the ball and if we don't score take the field goal! That's what you do to protect a frosh qb. The red zone calls are bad. Did you like that first play? Even if Kixer had taken that sack it would have been a tough field goal

 

[deadirishpoet]

Yes, run the ball and if we don't score take the field goal! That's what you do to protect a frosh qb. The red zone calls are bad. Did you like that first play? Even if Kixer had taken that sack it would have been a tough field goal

STU

It doesn't matter if the QB is a freshmen, sophomore, JR, SR the red zone game is bad.

 

[tkirish]

He still hasn't figure it out. It remains our biggest problem! Just unimaginative calls.... He really needs to do some soul searching here -- it isn't Kizer's problem it is the plays that are called. Given how they have no offense we should have just played it safe and kicked field goals if we had to...

Very disappointing. Nice to get the win but I'm not impressed.

Stu, I second, third and fourth your post. You want to have a chance to best ND, get them inside you 15 yard line. You are completely correct. First and goal from the three and you try to get fancy. End up with a field goal. If you can't get 3 yards with that line you deserve to lose. WTF! they should be thanking God for that win. Temple outplayed them and deserved to win.

 

[NDCap]

No excuse for ND to not be able to run the football with Procise. It is the system. The scheme is very easy to defend and slow developing . ND needs to line up and attack down hill more . Get Latua in the backfield in a FB position and let him lead block. Too much east / west for CJ. I am not saying to change to offense just add more attacking and then Play action to Fuller . or Jones. 2 weeks to prepare my ass.

 

[mmboys07]

yeah he was really dressed up as kizer and tossed those 2 int's... youre freaking brilliant!

On the second sequence ND could have made a first down. However, ND is throwing 4 times into the end zone; just asking for it to be picked off. And, it was.

 

[actionfx]

Definitely frustrating to see the offense sputter in the red zone but that 2nd INT should have been called a PI.

 

[echowaker]

No you are a ****ing genius. He put his freshman in the position to throw two ints in the red Zone. Aaron Rogers wouldn't have been able to make those plays. Bad play calling pure and simple. And I've always been on the Kelly band wagon!

be fair. the first throw was flat out a mistake on kizers part. you throw it away or eat and he knows that. the 2nd one should have been a penalty. good throw to the spot that got knocked out. give temple credit. they committed to stopping procise and chose to force kizer to beat them. he did. nd's center and guards got abused last night. way too much penetration all night long.

 

[echowaker]

Stu, I second, third and fourth your post. You want to have a chance to best ND, get them inside you 15 yard line. You are completely correct. First and goal from the three and you try to get fancy. End up with a field goal. If you can't get 3 yards with that line you deserve to lose. WTF! they should be thanking God for that win. Temple outplayed them and deserved to win.

the line is not nearly as dominant as some here think. the interior got schooled last night. not sure why you would say temple deserved to win. they game planned to take procise out of the game and it worked. they forced kizer to beat them. he did. temple played excellent, disciplined defense. a good solid team who fought hard. playing on the road at night is never easy. I'm enjoying the victory and the season to date. 7-1 given all the injuries is just fine by me. would like to see someone who could be more consistent on kickoffs.

 

[HDK]

Remember how Holtz would run those plays inside the five out of a T formation with the QB under center? Made the defense account for four guys....

I used to love that. It was like lining up with leather helmets and no facemasks, totally old fashioned, but yet so efficient because you had running backs who would throw a block on the perimeter.

The problem with our current offense, it seems, is that when you get close to the goal and running the ball is expected, the defense can sell out and when you have a shotgun QB with only one back, there seems to be many ways to blow up the play. And it's harder to pass because you don't have the space to let plays develop.

I just prefer more of a pro-style attack.

 

[echowaker]

I used to love that. It was like lining up with leather helmets and no facemasks, totally old fashioned, but yet so efficient because you had running backs who would throw a block on the perimeter.

The problem with our current offense, it seems, is that when you get close to the goal and running the ball is expected, the defense can sell out and when you have a shotgun QB with only one back, there seems to be many ways to blow up the play. And it's harder to pass because you don't have the space to let plays develop.

I just prefer more of a pro-style attack.

me too. but I also realize the coach believes in his philosophy and won't change. hey, I played at a high school where we passed about 20 times a season. we ran stacked I with two tights 95% of the time.

 

[tkirish]

What it comes down to is that NDs style of offense is not that effective against good defenses inside the 10 yard line. To sum it up. " they're soft". ND should be able to run the ball in most times inside the 5 yard line. As big as there line is, those guys are not maulers. Pass blocking is really good. That is all on the coach and his style of offense.

 

[stu4don]

Why not develop a package with the QB under center? Or a Winbush package (although, to Kizer's credit, he ran very well last night.) Look, I'm very happy to be 7-1 and I think Kelly is a great head coach, but this is an area (like special teams were until this year) that needs work. Sanford is supposed to be this offensive genius -- I wonder if he is having any input? I don't see anything different in this year's offense and Red Zone woes. That said, Kizer will get better -- he's a very smart kid who is still learning... (And he's proving to be a real winner in the clutch!)

Go Irish! Just keep winning...

 

[FightingIrish44]

Complaing about playcalling is for the extremely ignorant. It amounts to "that didn't work, bad idea". Dumb.

 

[echowaker]

What it comes down to is that NDs style of offense is not that effective against good defenses inside the 10 yard line. To sum it up. " they're soft". ND should be able to run the ball in most times inside the 5 yard line. As big as there line is, those guys are not maulers. Pass blocking is really good. That is all on the coach and his style of offense.

agreed. a short field doesn't help. Kelly will not change and I've accepted that. it's been debated here ad nauseum.