I have essentially taken a hiatus from this board and following ND recruiting for the better part of 4 months and I've found it to be very therapeutic after what I was witnessing in September. After the Duke loss I barely watched another game. I would follow them and watch highlights but I realized early on this team wasnt going to be any kind of contenders. My question though is, what happened? Was it the QB battle? Arrests? Sticking with BVG too long? No leaders? I remember posting last fall we should've known this team was going to be in trouble when 6 of them got arrested the 1st night they had freedom. I dont think I've ever seen anything like it. At least in '07 the roster was awful. But there was some real talent on that team last year. Alot of it was young for sure, but still how did we lose to Duke at home? Lose to stanford when they scored 1 offensive TD at our place? It was a s--tshow from week 1 til USC. Hopefully whatever it was they clean it up, cause this 2018 class has the potential to be historically special on paper for ND.
So Serious Question...WTF Happened in 2016?
- Thread starter D_Master
- Start date
Well we had a near lynching of the Irish coaching staff that would have been therapeutic but all posters who had their pitchforks ready were banned. so you are stuck with us
Bodizephax
I've posted how many times?
Bodizephax
I've posted how many times?
I thought there were similarities and I checked old threads an
2016 did not happen. At least I don't remember.
2016 did not happen. At least I don't remember.
We lacked playmakers and leaders. There really were no bell cows at any position. No upperclassmen emerged except maybe Nyles Morgan. EQ was very good.
Coaching wasn't good, particularly on defense but offense took a step back as well. Special teams were attrocious despite the return of major components.
4th qtr collapses where we seemed to get beat up.
Just about a perfect storm.
BK broke up the staff, addressed the S & C and hopefully revitalized the players so they feel a sense of urgency. McGlinchey, Nelson, Morgan and Tranquil are the captains. Not bad but I want Crawford like guys. Morgan and maybe Tranquil fill rhat role. I expect EQ, Adams, Wimbush, Morgan, Tranquil, DHayes, Alize and Claypool to be playmakers. Crawford as well if healthy and playing.
Coaching wasn't good, particularly on defense but offense took a step back as well. Special teams were attrocious despite the return of major components.
4th qtr collapses where we seemed to get beat up.
Just about a perfect storm.
BK broke up the staff, addressed the S & C and hopefully revitalized the players so they feel a sense of urgency. McGlinchey, Nelson, Morgan and Tranquil are the captains. Not bad but I want Crawford like guys. Morgan and maybe Tranquil fill rhat role. I expect EQ, Adams, Wimbush, Morgan, Tranquil, DHayes, Alize and Claypool to be playmakers. Crawford as well if healthy and playing.
WE GRADUATED HALF THE TEAM. And it was the half that was good.
We had TEN PLAYERS invited to the combine (Elmer would have made it 11) last year. Only OSU had more, a crazy 14.
The other reason was BVG --- his d and subsequent firing ruined the season. We should have been an 8-9 win team that should have been coming off of a final four (and yes nat champ season.)
We had TEN PLAYERS invited to the combine (Elmer would have made it 11) last year. Only OSU had more, a crazy 14.
The other reason was BVG --- his d and subsequent firing ruined the season. We should have been an 8-9 win team that should have been coming off of a final four (and yes nat champ season.)
Poor defensive schemes and even poorer halftime adjustments combined with incompetent head coaching decisions.
extremely fragile. Flinched at slightest adversity (muff punt v. MSU, pick 6 v. Stan, Duke's KO return)
>the other teams have some talent and they try too! they no longer rollover at the idea of ND
>the Other teams had far better prep time from Mon-Fri
>the other teams had coaches with skills enough to make in game adjustments
>ND under Kelly had become soft and predictable
Unless Elko has far more infulence and authoritative impact, that is that he can make important decisions, then really what has changed? I read where Elko resonates with the players, but he needs also to be a force among the staff and change the mindset of the staff. He cannot be a yes man, auditioning for a HC job elsewhere.
example where an experienced effective DC might have helped:
"WEAKNESSES
Top heavy. Missing mass through thighs and in calves. Gets battered by down blocks and can be rooted out of gap due to lack of anchor in lower half. Comes off the ball too tall. Needs to play with more consistent bend to alleviate pad level issues. High center of gravity produces issues with balance when thumped with a redirect block. Needs to recognize cut blocks and stuff them more consistently. Scouts consider him unmotivated and question his football character. Doesn't treat offseason as a time to get better. Sources say Irish coaches had to work overtime to keep him interested and working to get better. Injuries have limited his growth as a player and his overall production...."
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/jarron-jones?id=2557864
Weight training?
It also mentions that playing inside probably was not his best use, (mentioned here on this forum; same idea on Tilley; if JT is playing D).
>the Other teams had far better prep time from Mon-Fri
>the other teams had coaches with skills enough to make in game adjustments
>ND under Kelly had become soft and predictable
Unless Elko has far more infulence and authoritative impact, that is that he can make important decisions, then really what has changed? I read where Elko resonates with the players, but he needs also to be a force among the staff and change the mindset of the staff. He cannot be a yes man, auditioning for a HC job elsewhere.
example where an experienced effective DC might have helped:
"WEAKNESSES
Top heavy. Missing mass through thighs and in calves. Gets battered by down blocks and can be rooted out of gap due to lack of anchor in lower half. Comes off the ball too tall. Needs to play with more consistent bend to alleviate pad level issues. High center of gravity produces issues with balance when thumped with a redirect block. Needs to recognize cut blocks and stuff them more consistently. Scouts consider him unmotivated and question his football character. Doesn't treat offseason as a time to get better. Sources say Irish coaches had to work overtime to keep him interested and working to get better. Injuries have limited his growth as a player and his overall production...."
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/jarron-jones?id=2557864
Weight training?
It also mentions that playing inside probably was not his best use, (mentioned here on this forum; same idea on Tilley; if JT is playing D).
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"My question though is, what happened? Was it the QB battle? Arrests? Sticking with BVG too long? No leaders? "
My "best guess" is a little of all of that -- Plus, the overall coaching stunk..period. Once BVG was fired, the defensive mantra was probably to maintain until year end. There were some good points, and some bad points. Offensively, they started off a game great -- then, BOOM -- would just go listless. Also, this team, for some reason, went into a funk once adversity hit them in a game -- almost like they had no idea how to respond (back to your "no leaders" point). Coaching -- as games wore on, it seemed like opponents were adjusting to what ND was doing -- but not vice versa. And the big point -- they physically just seemed to wear down in the 2nd half of games -- very evident in the last 4 games of the season (part of why the S&C staff had a major shake up too!).
