Last year's melt down. Why? And could it happen again?

[Duo]

Last year after losing a heart breaker to Florida State ND had to come from behind to beat Navy and then proceeded to lose 4 in a row.

At FSU lost 31-27
Navy won 49-39
At Arizona State lost 55-31
Northwestern lost 43-40
Louisville lost 31-28
At USC lost 49-14

So, what happened during the second half of the season? Do you see any scenario under which that could happen again this year?

The first half looks tough this year with the GT, Umass, Clemson, Navy, USC stretch before a bye looking daunting. Thoughts?

 

[BGI User 756]

Hello Everett Golson

 

[Duo]

Hello Everett Golson

Would those L'S have been W'S with a different QB?

If MZ had been the QB how many of those 5 losses would have been wins? Yeah, it's an "if" thing but that really doesn't matter. What's your honest opinion?

 

[echowaker]

Would those L'S have been W'S with a different QB?

I just think injuries caught up with them, especially on defense.

 

[SeanPol355]

Duo, right now I'm hoping you redshirt a year to work on your posting skills..
I prefer glass half full posters who look for ways to improve ND, not you gloom and doom guys trolling for negativity.

 

[BGI User 1596]

D is one of the unknown unknowns - hard to say BVG is not the second coming of Jon Tenuta at this point in his ND career.

 

[Duo]

Duo, right now I'm hoping you redshirt a year to work on your posting skills..
I prefer glass half full posters who look for ways to improve ND, not you gloom and doom guys trolling for negativity.

OK SeanPol........

The glass half full approach:

Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances beyond anyone's control ND ended the season at 8 and 5 last year. (nothing negative, just fact)

What are the positive changes that will make big improvements this year and undoubtedly end the year with a more positive record?

Is that better Sean?

 

[Mihalko35]

I just think injuries caught up with them, especially on defense.

Echo, I hear what you're saying but at what point does a rash of 'fluke' injuries become a trend? The last two years have seen unbelievable numbers of injuries.

Take a look at this article about Stanford's strength and conditioning program, which places injury prevention as the most important goal: http://www.ruleoftree.com/2014/9/11...ioning-under-shannon-turley-benefits-on-field

The point is, I think the majority of injuries can be prevented

 

[Duo]

Several of the posters here have said the reason ND has a problem with injuries is because they play Navy every year and it's because of the dirty, unethical way Navy plays.

Note the 4 consecutive losses following the come from behind win over Navy last year.

Also note that USC comes right after Navy this year.

 

[MTIrish98]

The injuries on D were huge. I think the lack of leadership after the injuries was as big of a deal as the physical abilities they were missing.

The QB also mentioned how the season "became a burden" at the end. I prefer to hear the leader talk about how it became a bigger challenge when the offense needed to step up.

 

[57Patrick]

Injuries and turnovers killed the Irish in the second half of the season. I don't put much stock in Navy having affected the Irish. Navy plays 12 opponents and I don't hear anyone else bemoaning the fact that Navy is dirty... Notre Dame's defense is no longer a bend don't break defense. Last year with underclassmen filling in the D ended up giving up big play after big play. Even against LSU, the defense gave up several big plays. BVG knows his stuff. I'm just not sure yet if he can recruit the talent to execute his plan. Hopefully he can.

 

[Toby Smart]

Defense. Injuries. Suspensions.

 

[irishalice]

Duo, the FSU loss had nothing to do with the Irish tanking the second half of the 2014 season. (surely you're not one of those Nole fans that bandy that theory on Chant)

I think it was a combination of defensive injuries, adjusting to the new defensive scheme and the offense leaving points on the field.

 

[end_23]

Last year after losing a heart breaker to Florida State ND had to come from behind to beat Navy and then proceeded to lose 4 in a row.

At FSU lost 31-27
Navy won 49-39
At Arizona State lost 55-31
Northwestern lost 43-40
Louisville lost 31-28
At USC lost 49-14

So, what happened during the second half of the season? Do you see any scenario under which that could happen again this year?

The first half looks tough this year with the GT, Umass, Clemson, Navy, USC stretch before a bye looking daunting. Thoughts?

Yea, that UMass game will be a squeaker. Dumbass FSU fan.

 

[end_23]

I just think injuries caught up with them, especially on defense.

You can't be serious. Brian Kelly needlessly went for two against NW which cost ND a win a week after the ASU turnover debacle. ND had 1st and goal against Louisville with one minute to go, a TD could've won it. How are those losses because of injuries to the defense?

 

[mokpra37]

I don't think it happens again for two reasons:
1. The number of turnovers by the Irish should go down.
2. Hard to imagine that many injuries on defense two years in a row. More depth on defense as well.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Last year after losing a heart breaker to Florida State ND had to come from behind to beat Navy and then proceeded to lose 4 in a row.

At FSU lost 31-27
Navy won 49-39
At Arizona State lost 55-31
Northwestern lost 43-40
Louisville lost 31-28
At USC lost 49-14

So, what happened during the second half of the season? Do you see any scenario under which that could happen again this year?

The first half looks tough this year with the GT, Umass, Clemson, Navy, USC stretch before a bye looking daunting. Thoughts?

Luckily Golson is playing for you guys this year.

 

[Duo]

Duo, the FSU loss had nothing to do with the Irish tanking the second half of the 2014 season. (surely you're not one of those Nole fans that bandy that theory on Chant)

I think it was a combination of defensive injuries, adjusting to the new defensive scheme and the offense leaving points on the field.

Hi Alice,

I agree with you however a poster above attributes 2 of those losses to coaching errors. On the other hand that same poster makes light of the coming Umass game. Judging from recent history it would seem logical not to make fun of any opponent (Northwestern, Pitt, S. Florida, Navy, Tulsa) especially one that plays option football and uses cut blocks to even up the size and speed differential.

Alice, there is one very interesting phenomenon to look out for this year. And that is what happens to teams after playing Navy. Posters here have documented that time and again many teams lose the game following their game with Navy. That should make this year's USC game all the more interesting.

 

[echowaker]

You can't be serious. Brian Kelly needlessly went for two against NW which cost ND a win a week after the ASU turnover debacle. ND had 1st and goal against Louisville with one minute to go, a TD could've won it. How are those losses because of injuries to the defense?

you don't understand attrition ? had there not been the volume of injuries there were nd is not likely in those situations. you can't cherry pick. gotta look at the whole picture. not blaming the losses SOLELY on the injuries on the defensive side but I firmly believe they were the single biggest factor. changes the whole dynamic of the game.

 

[schadenfreude]

There was only one upset in that stretch. ND played great against FSU but came up short and horribly vs Northwestern. Otherwise, none of the results were that surprising.

 

[Pennick4]

You can't be serious. Brian Kelly needlessly went for two against NW which cost ND a win a week after the ASU turnover debacle. ND had 1st and goal against Louisville with one minute to go, a TD could've won it. How are those losses because of injuries to the defense?

You aren't serious are you? The game is made up of offense, defense and special teams.

 

[HRC08]

The melt down was Brian Kelly. I like him but let's be honest: he put the ball in Golson's hands way too much. Our defense was decimated and Golson was giving it away like a crack head. Imagine Nick Saban throwing the ball 40 times against Louisville, Navy and North Western. That's right... You can't because he would nt have done that and his team would have win each game by double digits.