Hear me out here.
In the time that BK has been here we have seen ND get out-muscled in big games (think playoffs, bowls, etc) and at times after bye-weeks. Back in Nov ND physically beat up on Clemson, in fact we had multiple threads lauding that and how Balis had built the team in the weight room. I dare say we dont have those threads this morning.
The only thing that makes sense is that they ratcheted down the intensity (physical intensity) during the off-week and maybe even in the week's prep leading to the ACC Championship. My best guess is that this was done (and has been done in the past) to ensure fresh legs, etc. We saw an admission of that in 2012 after the BCS game. We have seen it for years around here. Again, this is what makes sense to me especially after the way we beat up on Clemson just over six weeks ago. There are only a few things that can explain that almost 180 degree turn.
As an old line coach I never wanted to ramp the intensity down, b/c you cant turn that mess on and off like a light switch. We'd be hitting and going 1's v 1's with the d-line on the Thursday before a state championship on Saturday. What I am saying is that you are what you practice. It is obvious to me that they have practiced physically throughout the year but I lean heavily to the theory that the havent really been physical since Syracuse.
In the time that BK has been here we have seen ND get out-muscled in big games (think playoffs, bowls, etc) and at times after bye-weeks. Back in Nov ND physically beat up on Clemson, in fact we had multiple threads lauding that and how Balis had built the team in the weight room. I dare say we dont have those threads this morning.
The only thing that makes sense is that they ratcheted down the intensity (physical intensity) during the off-week and maybe even in the week's prep leading to the ACC Championship. My best guess is that this was done (and has been done in the past) to ensure fresh legs, etc. We saw an admission of that in 2012 after the BCS game. We have seen it for years around here. Again, this is what makes sense to me especially after the way we beat up on Clemson just over six weeks ago. There are only a few things that can explain that almost 180 degree turn.
As an old line coach I never wanted to ramp the intensity down, b/c you cant turn that mess on and off like a light switch. We'd be hitting and going 1's v 1's with the d-line on the Thursday before a state championship on Saturday. What I am saying is that you are what you practice. It is obvious to me that they have practiced physically throughout the year but I lean heavily to the theory that the havent really been physical since Syracuse.
