Won the Battle Hope We Didnt Lose the War

[raulduke_007]

1st such a great feeling to kick ass and win so impressive. Now it comes down to our health. There is only so far you can go down the depth chart before it reaches a point of no return. Hope Young and Mills were injuries that were coaches decisions not to return because of the score and not because they are really hurt.

 

[FightingIrish44]

Yeah man, it just might not be our year with the injuries but ND is 12-1 and will be playing 14 games for the first time in history.

I think ND can hang with Georgia. Remember that they’re missing their starting QB while ND has Leonard.

 

[christophero]

I think it will be close. We need our A game.

 

[banmate6]

I think it will be close. We need our A game.

I feel ND actually got their A game today...except for the last 3.5 minutes garbage time, which I blame on MF. He can and should make the call. Both on Xs and Os, not going prevent. As well as an imperious leader demanding they fight to end.

That A game handled Indiana emphatically. Their O never stood a chance. Ok, it's the O however which remains an issue.

The ND offense played about as good as it could. But it could be tweaked to be a bit better. The OL is enigmatic, doing well enough overall, but not well enough like in those red zone situations where points where lost.

RL won't become a deep passer. But he's a good runner. Good enough short passer. Denbrock can call a better game to leverage and impose himself. Denbrock now for me is the key person...raise the ND A game offensively a bit...enough to help the D to beat Georgia.

 

[Golson5]

I feel ND actually got their A game today...except for the last 3.5 minutes garbage time, which I blame on MF. He can and should make the call. Both on Xs and Os, not going prevent. As well as an imperious leader demanding they fight to end.

That A game handled Indiana emphatically. Their O never stood a chance. Ok, it's the O however which remains an issue.

The ND offense played about as good as it could. But it could be tweaked to be a bit better. The OL is enigmatic, doing well enough overall, but not well enough like in those red zone situations where points where lost.

RL won't become a deep passer. But he's a good runner. Good enough short passer. Denbrock can call a better game to leverage and impose himself. Denbrock now for me is the key person...raise the ND A game offensively a bit...enough to help the D to beat Georgia.

That wasn't our A game

 

[raulduke_007]

Defense played great when it mattered. Just dont know it we can overcome the injuries to dline. If Mills cant go vs Georgia it will be a huge blow to our chances. Young is only de we have that can get pressure in 4 man pass rush. Im hoping it was score as too why they didnt return.

 

[ndhuntington]

Pete Sampson said Mills was walking wanted to go back in had a brace guessing he will play. Not sure on Young or Roco..

 

[HDK]

Pete Sampson said Mills was walking wanted to go back in had a brace guessing he will play. Not sure on Young or Roco..

Spindler was not in uniform after the game, which leads me to believe his injury was serious. I was happy to see Mills walking around on the sideline because the way he grabbed at his knee, I was thinking another ACL. There was no mention of Young's injury in Hanson's recap of the game.

 

[Golson5]

Pete Sampson said Mills was walking wanted to go back in had a brace guessing he will play. Not sure on Young or Roco..

Young looked good after the game.

Mills did not. Big brace had a noticeable limp

Rocco looked okay walking

 

[banmate6]

That wasn't our A game

Yes it was. ND played almost as well as it could. D for sure. But O came close...albeit can still improve.

Don't be fooled by the garbage time points. That's like I said on MF. He allowed the Irish to get lax at the end, knowing the game was in hand.

The ND O in my view cannot get that much better. It comes down to better play calling and some execution. Particularly by the O line in the red zone.

Like I said, RL won't suddenly become a deep passer. He'll continue to live by running and short passing. Again, it's on Denbrock to call things optimally.

 

[HDK]

Yes it was. ND played almost as well as it could. D for sure. But O came close...albeit can still improve.

Don't be fooled by the garbage time points. That's like I said on MF. He allowed the Irish to get lax at the end, knowing the game was in hand.

The ND O in my view cannot get that much better. It comes down to better play calling and some execution. Particularly by the O line in the red zone.

Like I said, RL won't suddenly become a deep passer. He'll continue to live by running and short passing. Again, it's on Denbrock to call things optimally.

Golden took the blame for the soft defense at the end.

I wouldn't have minded one consolation TD, but I was disappointed they scored twice. The coverage of both onside kicks was disappointing. It was bad enough to give up one, but we could very well have lost the second ball as well.

 

[Golson5]

Yes it was. ND played almost as well as it could. D for sure. But O came close...albeit can still improve.

Don't be fooled by the garbage time points. That's like I said on MF. He allowed the Irish to get lax at the end, knowing the game was in hand.

The ND O in my view cannot get that much better. It comes down to better play calling and some execution. Particularly by the O line in the red zone.

Like I said, RL won't suddenly become a deep passer. He'll continue to live by running and short passing. Again, it's on Denbrock to call things optimally.

Not close to our A game

The ND offense couldn't run the ball outside of 1 run really. We had 3 or 4 drops. Had a interception. We got great field position in the 2nd half and inside the red area and couldn't close the game til late. Had a field goal blocked. Too many penalties, delay of game.

Lot to clean up on O. That was our B to B- game on offense

 

[banmate6]

Golden took the blame for the soft defense at the end.

I wouldn't have minded one consolation TD, but I was disappointed they scored twice. The coverage of both onside kicks was disappointing. It was bad enough to give up one, but we could very well have lost the second ball as well.

Golden, but also MF above all. MF is a defensive specialist. This is where I expect a HC to intervene, telling Golden to watch it...not let the opponent back in.

Of course, that 2nd onsides kick could have been dangerous. It speaks volumes to let a game well in hand get to a risky enough situation...not that this should be exaggerated.

But it is something MF can clean up, as kids will be kids...and let off if you let them. Saban for me has been the best coach in this context. The ultimate disciplinarian and psychologist. Always demanding and getting the best access the entire game.

 

[Telx1]

Not close to our A game

The ND offense couldn't run the ball outside of 1 run really. We had 3 or 4 drops. Had a interception. We got great field position in the 2nd half and inside the red area and couldn't close the game til late. Had a field goal blocked. Too many penalties, delay of game.

Lot to clean up on O. That was our B to B- game on offense

I agree with this. We’ve said all year that our OL was the potential weak link in this team. They’ve developed well as a unit, and given the injuries, they’ve delivered good results. But thought they played poorly last night, overall. Running game was anemic if not for Young’s 98 yard TD. Leonard was under pressure a lot, thus a ton of short dump off throws. We had two long drives that resulted in eating up a ton of click, and only had three points to show for it. Leonard had his flaws, and we were fortunate so many off target passes were caught, but his mobility makes our OL stat sheet look better than it is.

 

[mva5580]

The game went entirely as expected. They controlled the overwhelming majority of it, and IU scored at the end to make it look closer. Unfortunately a common ND theme when they play teams they “should” beat.

The next game is THE game. Because for the past oh I don’t know….35 years, this is a game ND loses. And not only loses, but loses comfortably. They need this game. Bad.

 

[buckey]

Yes it was. ND played almost as well as it could. D for sure. But O came close...albeit can still improve.

Don't be fooled by the garbage time points. That's like I said on MF. He allowed the Irish to get lax at the end, knowing the game was in hand.

The ND O in my view cannot get that much better. It comes down to better play calling and some execution. Particularly by the O line in the red zone.

Like I said, RL won't suddenly become a deep passer. He'll continue to live by running and short passing. Again, it's on Denbrock to call things optimally.

Not our a game on o. 3 Hugh missed scoring opportunities that could have pissed the game away if not for our d

 

[banmate6]

Not our a game on o. 3 Hugh missed scoring opportunities that could have pissed the game away if not for our d

I still disagree sleeping on it.



ND played about as good as it could vs a decent but not elite team. Again, scoreline is deceptive. ND can improve the O shortcomings being discussed, but not by much.

Onwards to Georgia.

 

[Golson5]

I still disagree sleeping on it.



ND played about as good as it could vs a decent but not elite team. Again, scoreline is deceptive. ND can improve the O shortcomings being discussed, but not by much.

Onwards to Georgia.

Our offense wasn't close to as good as can be

 

[banmate6]

Our offense wasn't close to as good as can be

You can keep saying that. Which is ok. But it isn't true.



BTW: not to be pedantic, but we're talking ND playing its A game...not having objectively an A grade offense. Just making myself clearer.

 

[savvyandsassier]

The game went entirely as expected. They controlled the overwhelming majority of it, and IU scored at the end to make it look closer. Unfortunately a common ND theme when they play teams they “should” beat.

The next game is THE game. Because for the past oh I don’t know….35 years, this is a game ND loses. And not only loses, but loses comfortably. They need this game. Bad.

Really, who expected that? Fans? I think what you meant to say is that the game went as it might have gone, generally speaking, if you were desperate to portray ND as obviously better, and the clear alpha in this clash, and to suck every bit of vicarious dominance you could out of it even before the game was even played. And then we ended up actually winning. It was certainly possible that we would, and that's what happened. But there ain't no nostradomus fans out there. Their projections are what they want to happen, not what they actually think will happen. Don't flatter yourself.

 

[ZibbyQuinn]

Spindler was not in uniform after the game, which leads me to believe his injury was serious. I was happy to see Mills walking around on the sideline because the way he grabbed at his knee, I was thinking another ACL. There was no mention of Young's injury in Hanson's recap of the game.

+1 on Rocco being in sweats, very telling

 

[BGI User 756]

I feel ND actually got their A game today...except for the last 3.5 minutes garbage time, which I blame on MF. He can and should make the call. Both on Xs and Os, not going prevent. As well as an imperious leader demanding they fight to end.

That A game handled Indiana emphatically. Their O never stood a chance. Ok, it's the O however which remains an issue.

The ND offense played about as good as it could. But it could be tweaked to be a bit better. The OL is enigmatic, doing well enough overall, but not well enough like in those red zone situations where points where lost.

RL won't become a deep passer. But he's a good runner. Good enough short passer. Denbrock can call a better game to leverage and impose himself. Denbrock now for me is the key person...raise the ND A game offensively a bit...enough to help the D to beat Georgia.

I would say that was our B game..

 

[BGI User 756]

Pete Sampson said Mills was walking wanted to go back in had a brace guessing he will play. Not sure on Young or Roco..

He was limping noticeably on field after the game during handshakes

 

[BGI User 756]

Golden took the blame for the soft defense at the end.

I wouldn't have minded one consolation TD, but I was disappointed they scored twice. The coverage of both onside kicks was disappointing. It was bad enough to give up one, but we could very well have lost the second ball as well.

Collins was terrible on those onside kicks, lucky to get second

 

[NDinNJ]

I feel ND actually got their A game today...except for the last 3.5 minutes garbage time, which I blame on MF. He can and should make the call. Both on Xs and Os, not going prevent. As well as an imperious leader demanding they fight to end.

He was rotating the backups in on D. Relax, the game was over, if you were 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart, you would want to be part of that historic game. Freeman did the right thing getting guys PT.

 

[banmate6]

He was rotating the backups in on D. Relax, the game was over, if you were 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart, you would want to be part of that historic game. Freeman did the right thing getting guys PT.

I get that. But I still don't like so many points being given up that way. Although the game was well in hand, why give the opponent some chance? ND played dreadful in the last few minutes.

 

[4-4-3]

I agree with this. We’ve said all year that our OL was the potential weak link in this team. They’ve developed well as a unit, and given the injuries, they’ve delivered good results. But thought they played poorly last night, overall. Running game was anemic if not for Young’s 98 yard TD. Leonard was under pressure a lot, thus a ton of short dump off throws. We had two long drives that resulted in eating up a ton of click, and only had three points to show for it. Leonard had his flaws, and we were fortunate so many off target passes were caught, but his mobility makes our OL stat sheet look better than it is.

It was a solid win in SOME WAYS and in others, UNDERWHELMING. While the D played fundamentally sound, agressive ball till those final two drives, the O never established anything other than a MAKESHIFT DINK AND DUNK RHYTHM. Reminded me of an 80's Stanford team.

Too many stuffed and/or negative yardage running plays. Love had that one run, and Price had one that went for about 20 yards. AND, aside from a couple of Leonard scrambles, THAT WAS IT. What it looked like to me was that ND's OL was simply having a tougher time of it than IN A LONG TIME.

As you point out, this caused Leonard to spend much of the night improvising and hurrying -- mostly dump-off -- throws. To me, it was reminiscent of the offense in the season's early going.

What this bodes for Georgia, I've no idea, but I doubt that their DL isn't personnel-wise AT LEAST as good as Indiana's. I mean it's Georgia, right? They will have fast, strong bodies out there.

I don't see an easy time of it for ND if the OL doesn't bring its A-game. Especially if ND's banged up D-line is less than 100%, and Georgia is able to move on it and put up points.