Where is the pass rush?

[nd4life211]

and where is it going to come from? This is, IMO, the only thing holding ND back from making the playoffs this year. I thought Botelho was going to be "that guy" and maybe even an All American this year, however that has been far from the case. Baptiste has shown flashes but hasn't been super consistent. Junior and Nana seem like rotational guys. Looking at guys on the roster... who is going to step up and provide a pass rush? Ford? Vernon? Burnham?

We better get this fixed quick. Regardless of the questions surrounding OSU's QB, he will torch us if he has all day to throw.

 

[1Redrum]

Has Brenan Vernon played this year?

 

[BleedingBlueNGold]

This season our D-line was going to take a step back. We don't really have a standout player like we have in the past. Also a lot guys who have spent most of their ND career as 2nd/3rd stringers have been expected to take on more of a role due to lack of depth (One, Osaka-Mensa, Hinish) not to mention guys like Burnham and Tuihalamaka playing more D-line as opposed to LB that they were recruited as. I think they will get better, but recruiting hasn't been th best along the D-line. Freeman needs to evaluate the Al Washington hire.

 

[Golson5]

This season our D-line was going to take a step back. We don't really have a standout player like we have in the past. Also a lot guys who have spent most of their ND career as 2nd/3rd stringers have been expected to take on more of a role due to lack of depth (One, Osaka-Mensa, Hinish) not to mention guys like Burnham and Tuihalamaka playing more D-line as opposed to LB that they were recruited as. I think they will get better, but recruiting hasn't been th best along the D-line. Freeman needs to evaluate the Al Washington hire.

I think recruiting has taken a significant step up but needs the next step.

All those guys were recruited by Elston and then the LB guys

Last years class I really like and this one at DE I love. Young, Thomas, Mullins are dudes. By we are missing a big impact DT in this class. That's the big hole in recruiting imo

But the 8 man class the last 2 years is very good. Short of elite because DT. Fix that and it will be nasty

 

[Tru2Irish]

How is it we blitzed so much yesterday but only had hurries and that QB was hitting wrs way too easy? Plus the fact our guys overran on the rush when backs had the ball and missed tackles badly. Those have to be adjusted. I also thought Botelho would dominate. Hasn't happened so far. That QB was sackable as was NC State's.

 

[Golson5]

I would move Sneed to DE on pass rush situations. Use his speed and athleticism. He's struggling at lb right now

 

[echowaker]

Blit

How is it we blitzed so much yesterday but only had hurries and that QB was hitting wrs way too easy? Plus the fact our guys overran on the rush when backs had the ball and missed tackles badly. Those have to be adjusted. I also thought Botelho would dominate. Hasn't happened so far. That QB was sackable as was NC State's.

The philosophy in blitzing is to disrupt timing and forcing the QB to release the ball before routes can properly develop. Sacks from blitzes are gravy. Now I agree the dline has not been dominant. Mills is a disappointment to this point. Always thought Botelho was more bark than bite. Cross is solid and Hinish looks like a player. Onye is certainly starting to show. It's " bust a nut " week.

 

[Telx1]

Blit

The philosophy in blitzing is to disrupt timing and forcing the QB to release the ball before routes can properly develop. Sacks from blitzes are gravy. Now I agree the dline has not been dominant. Mills is a disappointment to this point. Always thought Botelho was more bark than bite. Cross is solid and Hinish looks like a player. Onye is certainly starting to show. It's " bust a nut " week.

Echo,
have you focused enough on line play to know whether Mills is occupying double teams on most plays? I had expected this to be his real value this year….clogging up the middle and freeing up our linebackers to fill gaps, etc…. I haven’t had access to recorded games, so haven’t been able to watch a game a second time at my pace to focus on things like this. He’s too big and too strong with good feet not to be more disruptive if he’s not getting double teamed on most plays.

For me, Botelho is the great mystery. His play against South Carolina in last year’s bowl game gave us hope and an expectation that he was finally prepared to be a pass rush force this year, and he’s been anything but. Baptiste has not disappointed me with his effort and ability to get some pressure on pass plays, and I said in another post that I thought Onye was our best DL in the second half. We knew going into this year that it was going to be pass rush and Sacks by committee, but so far the committee seems on a long lunch break. Time to get to work and this Saturday is the perfect game to show up.

 

[NotreDomer1]

Man I miss Elston

 

[THUNDERSTRUCK111]

Agree. We need to do a better job of getting to the qb. Maybe golden was playing vanilla and we see it unleashed this weekend. I didn’t see any exotic blitzes vs cmu. . Saw a couple vs navy amd a few vs nc state . But nothing yesterday.

 

[NotreDomer1]

Two things are probable in my opinion

1). We game planned for CMU’s normal starting QB who hurts you with his legs so gap assignments were paramount amongst the DL. Freeman didn’t know till just before kickoff that he wasn’t playing

2). Our pass rush abilities have diminished greatly under Al Washington. HE NEEDS TO GO

 

[NotreDomer1]

I would move Sneed to DE on pass rush situations. Use his speed and athleticism. He's struggling at lb right now

I thought this yesterday! Sneed on one side and Burnham on the other on obvious passing downs. Get Onye in more at DT too in the same situations

 

[NCDomer1]

Part of it is they were trying to do a contained rush filling all of lanes. I imagine the blitz will be different against a non running team

 

[Patrirish]

and where is it going to come from? This is, IMO, the only thing holding ND back from making the playoffs this year. I thought Botelho was going to be "that guy" and maybe even an All American this year, however that has been far from the case. Baptiste has shown flashes but hasn't been super consistent. Junior and Nana seem like rotational guys. Looking at guys on the roster... who is going to step up and provide a pass rush? Ford? Vernon? Burnham?

We better get this fixed quick. Regardless of the questions surrounding OSU's QB, he will torch us if he has all day to throw.

I tend to agree, the pass rush hasn’t been inspiring !

 

[Pennick4]

Freeman said they are number 1 in pass efficiency so he is thrilled. Doesn't care about sacks.

 

[HRC08]

Ohio State fans are also asking this question of their team, fwiw.

 

[mirer03]

I would move Sneed to DE on pass rush situations. Use his speed and athleticism. He's struggling at lb right no

I don't think he's ready for a role at this point I'm time. He shows some pass rush skills but using him there will take away from his lb development and we need him next year in the lb rotation.

I think Rubio going down stilted the rotation that they hoped to have, and I'm hoping when he returns we will see much more subbing in and subbing out using the depth to create rushing opportunities. We have young guys at rush end, if one of those can't be a dedicated pass rusher on third we are in trouble

 

[mirer03]

Two things are probable in my opinion

1). We game planned for CMU’s normal starting QB who hurts you with his legs so gap assignments were paramount amongst the DL. Freeman didn’t know till just before kickoff that he wasn’t playing

2). Our pass rush abilities have diminished greatly under Al Washington. HE NEEDS TO GO

I without a doubt think the goal both vs ncsu and cmu was to contain and not over run a mobile QB.

 

[Golson5]

I don't think he's ready for a role at this point I'm time. He shows some pass rush skills but using him there will take away from his lb development and we need him next year in the lb rotation.

I think Rubio going down stilted the rotation that they hoped to have, and I'm hoping when he returns we will see much more subbing in and subbing out using the depth to create rushing opportunities. We have young guys at rush end, if one of those can't be a dedicated pass rusher on third we are in trouble

If he can help now, you put him on. No worrying about lb development when we're trying to beat osu. Botelho/Junior/Burnham/Nana have done little to nothing rushing the passer.

Let him use his speed against the slower Osu tackles. It's worth a shot. Those other guys are more power but that suits osu tackles. Need speed rushers. He's the only one of those

 

[Patrirish]

I without a doubt think the goal both vs ncsu and cmu was to contain and not over run a mobile QB.

Could be, we’ll know more on Saturday night

 

[NDgreatestofalltime!]

I would move Sneed to DE on pass rush situations. Use his speed and athleticism. He's struggling at lb right now

I can’t get over the fact how this fine athlete and physical specimen is so poor at open field tackling? I’m not even talking about failing to wrap, I’m talking complete whiff, not even making contact, it’s been brutal at times.

 

[Shakin' Down the Thunder]

I can’t get over the fact how this fine athlete and physical specimen is so poor at open field tackling? I’m not even talking about failing to wrap, I’m talking complete whiff, not even making contact, it’s been brutal at times.

Lack of discipline and technique.

 

[melstew]

Agree. We need to do a better job of getting to the qb. Maybe golden was playing vanilla and we see it unleashed this weekend. I didn’t see any exotic blitzes vs cmu. . Saw a couple vs navy amd a few vs nc state . But nothing yesterday.

I think there may be something to this. Especially against NC State the clear plan was to collapse the pocket while maintaining contain. Navy is an aberration. It will be interesting to see if defense pins its ears back given Ohio State elite wideouts and qb still figuring things out.

 

[melstew]

I without a doubt think the goal both vs ncsu and cmu was to contain and not over run a mobile QB.

Sorry Mirer I saw your post after posting mine basically saying the same thing!

 

[Harpo Marxist]

If OSU's quarterback isn't pressured, its going to be a long night.

 

[mirer03]

If OSU's quarterback isn't pressured, its going to be a long night.

Pressure isnt the issue. ND actually pressures the QBs well, it's just not translating to sacks

 

[Get Nasty]

I think the dline is a disappointment because of what they are being taught/coached to do. They are almost always running straight into the olinemen and engaging to hold their gap or gaps. I believe this is to defend the run with 6 and prevent qbs from scrambling.

McCord isn't a huge threat with his legs, if the dline isn't causing pressure saturday, we know we have a big issue.

 

[Harpo Marxist]

Pressure isnt the issue. ND actually pressures the QBs well, it's just not translating to sacks

Pressure on a scale means hurrying the pass or deflecting it, (not on target or int), hands on the qb, or sack. I will take all of them. Yes, we want the latter early and often...but all matter. With the separation those wideouts can get in a hurry...this guy can't be given any quarter.

 

[FightingIrish44]

I can’t get over the fact how this fine athlete and physical specimen is so poor at open field tackling? I’m not even talking about failing to wrap, I’m talking complete whiff, not even making contact, it’s been brutal at times.

I made a post recently about Sneed’s tackling. The missed tackles against TSU were more about being in a bad position to make the tackle rather than an in innately poor tackle attempt.

Against CMU, one of those plays he was blitzing and was blocked from the side and potentially tripped. I’m probably not going to hold that one against him though it was difficult to discern what happened from the sideline view.

I’m not sure what happened on that one where he sort of freezes up as the back comes outside. It looked like he just froze up and isn’t quite confident in what he’s doing.

Edit: He needed to get outside and force the ballcarrier back inside, understanding that his help is to the inside.

I’m not trying to say he’s playing well or that he’s a good tackler. Just that some of these misses weren’t as bad as it might seem. Peyton Wilson for NC State had a similar one against ND for a similar reason that Sneed missed one against TSU (trying to make up for a team mistake earlier in the snap — the pass to Estime in the flat on Drive 3).

 

[Holycrossover3]

Freeman said they are number 1 in pass efficiency so he is thrilled. Doesn't care about sacks.

Part of this is we haven’t played an offense with much power in the air. If we don’t pressure McCord, I don’t believe even guys like Morrison and Hart can contain their core for an entire game….