Update your resume Van Gorder....

[football1irish]

Holding my nose yet again.

A sad Pitt offense goes the length of the field on two second half drives. Third and longs with a chance to get off the field lead to three man rushes and zones for easy pick-ups.

A QB not known as a runner walking for 20 yards on multiple occasions.

Joe Schmit constantly playing in spite of much better players behind him.

D-backs not picking up players in man to man when needed to.

Bad fundamentals in coverage and tackling.

Should be a blowout and once again we're going to fight to win this.

 

[mirer03]

lol. Really. 34-17 domination so far. Can't please everyone

 

[deadirishpoet]

Holding my nose yet again.

A sad Pitt offense goes the length of the field on two second half drives. Third and longs with a chance to get off the field lead to three man rushes and zones for easy pick-ups.

A QB not known as a runner walking for 20 yards on multiple occasions.

Joe Schmit constantly playing in spite of much better players behind him.

D-backs not picking up players in man to man when needed to.

Bad fundamentals in coverage and tackling.

Should be a blowout and once again we're going to fight to win this.

The defense playing well

 

[IrishMike409]

Holding my nose yet again.

A sad Pitt offense goes the length of the field on two second half drives. Third and longs with a chance to get off the field lead to three man rushes and zones for easy pick-ups.

A QB not known as a runner walking for 20 yards on multiple occasions.

Joe Schmit constantly playing in spite of much better players behind him.

D-backs not picking up players in man to man when needed to.

Bad fundamentals in coverage and tackling.

Should be a blowout and once again we're going to fight to win this.

Just stop already.

The negativity is boring.

The inaccuracies are embarrassing.

 

[hvillebill]

42-17. What more do you want? Are they supposed to shut out every opponent?

 

[Johnnie82]

Holding my nose yet again.

A sad Pitt offense goes the length of the field on two second half drives. Third and longs with a chance to get off the field lead to three man rushes and zones for easy pick-ups.

A QB not known as a runner walking for 20 yards on multiple occasions.

Joe Schmit constantly playing in spite of much better players behind him.

D-backs not picking up players in man to man when needed to.

Bad fundamentals in coverage and tackling.

Should be a blowout and once again we're going to fight to win this.

Notre Dame looking very much like one of the top teams in the country. This quote came from one of the announcers. I think they know a little more than you do

 

[football1irish]

And another case in point. Blown coverage and the third 2nd half TD against a team with only one impact player.

 

[IrishMike409]

And another case in point. Blown coverage and the third 2nd half TD against a team with only one impact player.

Are players ever accountable? Or just coaches? Redfield was a 5* and continues to make mistakes. If Tranquil was healthy, he'd be playing.

 

[john0gaunt]

Hmm, tomorrow this team will be one of the top 4 teams in the country. So, either you, or all the people involved in the playoff rankings are idiots. Which do you think it is? And yes, that's a rhetorical question.

 

[justacollegefan]

Holding my nose yet again.

A sad Pitt offense goes the length of the field on two second half drives. Third and longs with a chance to get off the field lead to three man rushes and zones for easy pick-ups.

A QB not known as a runner walking for 20 yards on multiple occasions.

Joe Schmit constantly playing in spite of much better players behind him.

D-backs not picking up players in man to man when needed to.

Bad fundamentals in coverage and tackling.

Should be a blowout and once again we're going to fight to win this.

every week I see stupid posts about the coaches, if isn't about kelly it is about van gorder, and some of you need to get a freaking clue about the sport. just mentioning the secondary shows you do not understand football, ours is slightly above average at best. we don't have a pass rush up front either which hurts because we have to blitz a lot, which in turn lets the quarterback run free because the players aren't staying in their lanes and keeping him in the pocket. if you watched pitt you saw a solid pass rush with only 4-5 guys and hopefully if we can finally get some big time recruits at defensive end we will have that as well.

 

[Fifthhorseman25]

The only complaint I have with the D.... is can the CB's turn their heads when defending a pass?

Outside of that today///good job.

 

[deadirishpoet]

The only complaint I have with the D.... is can the CB's turn their heads when defending a pass?

Outside of that today///good job.

You could apply that to almost every CB in college football

 

[notredamerises23]

The defense simply allows too many big plays and gives up too many first downs on 3rd and long situations. The offense (led by the third string QB and 4th string RB) is carrying the team right. If the defense plays well, we have a good shot in any given game in a playoff situation.

 

[TurnoverMachine]

He should just retire. This is the worst defense since Kelly got to ND.

 

[twalsh]

Holding my nose yet again.

A sad Pitt offense goes the length of the field on two second half drives. Third and longs with a chance to get off the field lead to three man rushes and zones for easy pick-ups.

A QB not known as a runner walking for 20 yards on multiple occasions.

Joe Schmit constantly playing in spite of much better players behind him.

D-backs not picking up players in man to man when needed to.

Bad fundamentals in coverage and tackling.

Should be a blowout and once again we're going to fight to win this.

Don't you just love mid game posts???????

 

[mmboys07]

I don't know. I won't get into the coaching thing. ND won the game. Prosise may be injured. It's just that ND just always go through some very sloppy play at some point during the game. I mean they are up 42 - 17, but can't close it out without giving up two sloppy scores at the end.

 

[HDK]

Notre Dame looking very much like one of the top teams in the country. This quote came from one of the announcers. I think they know a little more than you do

Honestly not trying to be negative, but I just don't see us as a top five team. Our defense is just not there, and I don't know that that has anything to do with Van Gorder being the coach. We've gone through more than our share of supposedly good defensive coaches over the years. Somehow they suck when they coach for us but they move on and they do quite well.

 

[deadirishpoet]

He should just retire. This is the worst defense since Kelly got to ND.

Not true

 

[BDIrish]

Quit drinking the Kool-Aid, Van Gorder needs to go! Way too many times our players are out of position and missing takles!! Schmidt misses way too many tackles and Russel can cover their SLOW WR!!

 

[deadirishpoet]

Quit drinking the Kool-Aid, Van Gorder needs to go! Way too many times our players are out of position and missing takles!! Schmidt misses way too many tackles and Russel can cover their SLOW WR!!

The defense is not Alabama, but not as bad as you are making it sound

 

[DieHard_Irish]

Quit drinking the Kool-Aid, Van Gorder needs to go! Way too many times our players are out of position and missing takles!! Schmidt misses way too many tackles and Russel can cover their SLOW WR!!

Don't be ridiculous. The players that give us the best chance to win are playing. Rip them all you want. This isn't the NFL where you cut people, or trade for others. The best players are playing. Yes we have some holes, but we are winning and the coaches are doing an awesome job. Especially considering our injuries.

 

[deadmanramsey]

Only one game holding opponents under 20 points. 400 yards a game is the norm, even against mediocre offenses.

While the defense has been serviceable, I see no reason Van Gorder has earned a third year. Honestly, given the depth, talent, and experience this may be the best Van Gorder does for us...which is pretty sad.

 

[justacollegefan]

Don't be ridiculous. The players that give us the best chance to win are playing. Rip them all you want. This isn't the NFL where you cut people, or trade for others. The best players are playing. Yes we have some holes, but we are winning and the coaches are doing an awesome job. Especially considering our injuries.

Too many on here are clueless and think we have the same recruits/talent as a team like Bama and they are blind. We have solid kids playing like Day and Jaylon but we also have a lot of kids that wouldn't be starting on top teams. You can't blame Van Gorder for a lack of talent because as DieHard said above, this isn't the NFL where you can trade and draft players.

Furthermore some people discount the recruiting numbers, like 5 star athletes, but the reason teams like Bama, LSU, Ohio st, are up there is mainly do to those kids on the team. Yes good coaching is needed as well but it is a lot easier to coach when you have solid players all over the field. The only time recruiting numbers can be misleading is when a team gets a QB as a 3 or 4 star and the kid turns into a college All American. Oregon is a perfect example of this when they got Marcus but weren't high overall in the recruiting rankings. Now with MM they aren't very good but still have the same recruiting rankings, that is how important the QB position is in football.

Regardless if you look at our recruiting the last 4-5 years we were overrated in each. You can argue this all you want but the fact is that many players we originally recruited never made it on campus, transferred, have been injured, got suspended, or a combination of things happened. For these reasons I think kelly and the other coaches, especially Van Gorder, have done a great job and that is why we are 8-1 right now.

 

[deadmanramsey]

Too many on here are clueless and think we have the same recruits/talent as a team like Bama and they are blind. We have solid kids playing like Day and Jaylon but we also have a lot of kids that wouldn't be starting on top teams. You can't blame Van Gorder for a lack of talent because as DieHard said above, this isn't the NFL where you can trade and draft players.

Furthermore some people discount the recruiting numbers, like 5 star athletes, but the reason teams like Bama, LSU, Ohio st, are up there is mainly do to those kids on the team. Yes good coaching is needed as well but it is a lot easier to coach when you have solid players all over the field. The only time recruiting numbers can be misleading is when a team gets a QB as a 3 or 4 star and the kid turns into a college All American. Oregon is a perfect example of this when they got Marcus but weren't high overall in the recruiting rankings. Now with MM they aren't very good but still have the same recruiting rankings, that is how important the QB position is in football.

Regardless if you look at our recruiting the last 4-5 years we were overrated in each. You can argue this all you want but the fact is that many players we originally recruited never made it on campus, transferred, have been injured, got suspended, or a combination of things happened. For these reasons I think kelly and the other coaches, especially Van Gorder, have done a great job and that is why we are 8-1 right now.

I don't think we should necessarily have a defense on par with Alabama but is there any reason we cannot have a top 20 defense? If not, why not?

 

[justacollegefan]

I don't think we should necessarily have a defense on par with Alabama but is there any reason we cannot have a top 20 defense? If not, why not?

We don't have the talent to be a top 20 defense. It is hard to have a top 20 defense in college to begin with because you really need kids who can step in as freshmen and make an impact. We have had a couple over the years, especially Te'o and Jaylon, but not like some of the other programs.

 

[deadmanramsey]

We don't have the talent to be a top 20 defense. It is hard to have a top 20 defense in college to begin with because you really need kids who can step in as freshmen and make an impact. We have had a couple over the years, especially Te'o and Jaylon, but not like some of the other programs.

So you think the teams that ARE ranked in the top 20 on defense have a better roster than us?

DE - Rochell **** (Upperclassman)
DE - Okwara *** (Upperclassman)
DT - Cage ***
DT - Day **** (Upperclassman)

OLB - Smith ***** (Upperclassman)
MLB - Schmidt N/A (Upperclassman)
OLB - Onwualu **** (Upperclassman)

CB - Russell **** (Upperclassman)
CB - Luke **** (Upperclassman)
S - Shumate **** (Upperclassman)
S - Redfield ***** (Upperclassman)

-7 Total **** or ***** players
-10 total upperclassman

Find me 20 programs with a better combination of talent and experience. This should be a top 20 defense EASILY. Even the 2012 defense did not have a much better personnel but performed at a much higher level.

Bottom line: the whole is inferior to the sum of the parts meaning BVG is not getting the most out of his guys.

 

[deadmanramsey]

I just don't understand how people can think a roster like this should translate to mediocrity.

 

[Granite45]

I don't think we should necessarily have a defense on par with Alabama but is there any reason we cannot have a top 20 defense? If not, why not?

How do you think a top-20 defense is evaluated?

Current ND ranks:
Total Defense 360.9 yards/game, #46 #20 - 321 yards/game
40 yards/game difference
Scoring Defense 22.3 pts/game, #39 #20 - 18.3 pts/game
3.0 pts/game difference

These are not great differences considering the SOS of the various teams in FBS.

So what would be your expectations?

 

[deadmanramsey]

How do you think a top-20 defense is evaluated?

Current ND ranks:
Total Defense 360.9 yards/game, #46 #20 - 321 yards/game
40 yards/game difference
Scoring Defense 22.3 pts/game, #39 #20 - 18.3 pts/game
3.0 pts/game difference

These are not great differences considering the SOS of the various teams in FBS.

So what would be your expectations?

Those stats aren't even updated so they will be a little worse after today (yes 1 TD was on the offense).

It will be about a 50 ypg and 5 ppg difference which is significant (we could have back to back shut outs and still not make up that difference). Also you are just assuming that we have faced abnormally tough offenses this season which I fail to see. USC and probably Clemson have elite offenses. We have also faced some pretty bad ones in Temple, Pitt, Virginia, and Texas (who got shut out by ISU!).

I would expect us to be a top 20 defense objectively which should show in the bottom line stat sheets. Only one game of holding a team under 20 points is not indicative of that. Coming into the season I was expecting around 15-18 PPG and maybe 320 YPG or less.

This was to be a season where things lined up very favorably. If a team chock full of juniors and seniors cannot grasp Van Gorder's defense than we will be in trouble in the coming seasons when we don't have that luxury.

 

[Bumpdaddy]

How do you think a top-20 defense is evaluated?

Current ND ranks:
Total Defense 360.9 yards/game, #46 #20 - 321 yards/game
40 yards/game difference
Scoring Defense 22.3 pts/game, #39 #20 - 18.3 pts/game
3.0 pts/game difference

These are not great differences considering the SOS of the various teams in FBS.

So what would be your expectations?

Our SOS is good but that really doesn't address how our defense has performed relative to the opposing offenses we've faced. The 2 best offenses we've faced are Clemson and USC which come in at #20 and #22 in overall offense respectively.

Here are the overall offensive rankings of our other opponents:

UMass - 47
G-Tech - 67
Navy - 78
Pitt - 91
Virginia - 95
Temple - 96
Texas - 117

If we had a top 20 defense then we would certainly be ranked in the top 20 considering the offenses we've faced but obviously that isn't the case. I love the talent on our defense but right now our performance isn't matching our talent potential.

 

[deadmanramsey]

Our SOS is good but that really doesn't address how our defense has performed relative to the opposing offenses we've faced. The 2 best offenses we've faced are Clemson and USC which come in at #20 and #22 in overall offense respectively.

Here are the overall offensive rankings of our other opponents:

UMass - 47
G-Tech - 67
Navy - 78
Pitt - 91
Virginia - 95
Temple - 96
Texas - 117

If we had a top 20 defense then we would certainly be ranked in the top 20 considering the offenses we've faced but obviously that isn't the case. I love the talent on our defense but right now our performance isn't matching our talent potential.

My point exactly. I don't want to be all doom and gloom because we are 8-1 and I am thrilled. Just think our defensive performance does not correspond to expectations, and I am concerned at the future trajectory of this as well as this season. We have no obligation to bring back BVG when we can find someone who can do a better job to elevate this program to an even higher level. I don't think we are elite yet but we can be!

 

[notredamerises23]

The defense is not Alabama, but not as bad as you are making it sound

lol! Anything, ANYTHING to try and avoid giving Kelly credit, eh? What a joke.

Your ENTIRE posting narrative has been about how Kelly hasn't done anything, that the one year he got the team to the BCS title was all due to the defense, etc. Now that Kelly has a top 20 offense with his 3rd string QB and that the offense is really the sole reason this team has a shot against any team must be troubling for someone who wanted Charlie Weis and Paul Johnson as coach.

Coming into this game. ND was 17th in total offense and 46th in total defense. After today's game, ND will be 50th+ in total defense.

The offense is carrying the team and ND is winning despite the defense.

 

[ndfi65]

Don't be ridiculous. The players that give us the best chance to win are playing. Rip them all you want. This isn't the NFL where you cut people, or trade for others. The best players are playing. Yes we have some holes, but we are winning and the coaches are doing an awesome job. Especially considering our injuries.

Quit with your BS about best players are playing and your infatuation with Joe Schmitt. Watch the game and its quite obvious that he doesn't belong out there. If he's the best we got(and hes not) thean we have major problems. If he is still in there for Stanford, watch them run right at him for 7-8 yards a pop.

 

[perseverare]

If ND plays Bama or tOSU any defensive questions will be put to rest; one way or the other.

 

[echowaker]

And another case in point. Blown coverage and the third 2nd half TD against a team with only one impact player.

blown coverages happen. expecting perfection ? 8-1 and can't enjoy it. sad to be you.

 

[echowaker]

So you think the teams that ARE ranked in the top 20 on defense have a better roster than us?

DE - Rochell **** (Upperclassman)
DE - Okwara *** (Upperclassman)
DT - Cage ***
DT - Day **** (Upperclassman)

OLB - Smith ***** (Upperclassman)
MLB - Schmidt N/A (Upperclassman)
OLB - Onwualu **** (Upperclassman)

CB - Russell **** (Upperclassman)
CB - Luke **** (Upperclassman)
S - Shumate **** (Upperclassman)
S - Redfield ***** (Upperclassman)

-7 Total **** or ***** players
-10 total upperclassman

Find me 20 programs with a better combination of talent and experience. This should be a top 20 defense EASILY. Even the 2012 defense did not have a much better personnel but performed at a much higher level.

Bottom line: the whole is inferior to the sum of the parts meaning BVG is not getting the most out of his guys.

you really think all those players are top 20 talent. ? yikes.

 

[echowaker]

My point exactly. I don't want to be all doom and gloom because we are 8-1 and I am thrilled. Just think our defensive performance does not correspond to expectations, and I am concerned at the future trajectory of this as well as this season. We have no obligation to bring back BVG when we can find someone who can do a better job to elevate this program to an even higher level. I don't think we are elite yet but we can be!

stats are for losers. as long as they win why do you care if the score is 3-2 or 72-69 ? I think you're another in a long line of miserable fans who won't be satisfied with anything other than total domination in every phase of the game. good luck with that.

 

[zonairish]

I am no expert on what the stats should be but the Irish D is good from this perspective. They stop when they need to. the problem that I see on a consistent basis is they are not always playing at high level and they tend to be inconsistent along with being sloppy when the game is in hand..

 

[echowaker]

I am no expert on what the stats should be but the Irish D is good from this perspective. They stop when they need to. the problem that I see on a consistent basis is they are not always playing at high level and they tend to be inconsistent along with being sloppy when the game is in hand..

correct. they are not a shut down defense. to be that you have to have a dominant physical front. nd does not . they have very good players who do an above average job in vangorders scheme. they rally to the ball pretty well and overall are solid. not dominating, solid.

 

[DieHard_Irish]

Quit with your BS about best players are playing and your infatuation with Joe Schmitt. Watch the game and its quite obvious that he doesn't belong out there. If he's the best we got(and hes not) thean we have major problems. If he is still in there for Stanford, watch them run right at him for 7-8 yards a pop.

So seriously, you think you know more than the coaches? Just answer that? And if you think someone should play in front of another player, please explain who, and why, and what basis you have for that assertion. Answer that first.

Secondly are you asking anyone to believe you know more, and that when BK says JS gives us the best chance to win, is he just lying? Does he prefer to lose? Why is it that you think you no more? It's laughable.

Your asking me to quit? What D1 or NFL team did you coach? How much recruiting have you done? How many practices have you attended.

Don't you think the coaches "put in e work and watch the vids". Any clue how stupid you sound?