This is the most complete team of the Brian Kelly era. Because of the defense. We have always had weapons on offense but generally had to outscore our defense to win. Too many potential landmines out there to pencil us in to the CFB playoffs, but this is going to get interesting if we don't slip up between now and USC, which regardless of records, has broken our hearts too many times to count in LA. We run the table, how can they keep us out? GO IRISH.
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Unfortunately, that ain't happening...,
loses a close battle would be different in my book.
It would still be supremely unsatisfying but it would show strides.
(Hell, that's actually what I EXPECTED to see in the 2012 season NC game and why I was so miserable afterwards. I wanted to at least see that Notre Dame was "back" in a meaningful way and they demonstrated that they weren't.)
by flirting with the NFL during bowl prep. Typical Kelly, his own worst enemy..
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Last year's team from Boston College to NC State (6 game stretch) was the most dominant team I'd seen since the Holtz years. Best rushing offense in the nation and very solid defense. They were rightfully ranked No. 3 in the nation heading into Miami. Then the wheels inexplicably fell off.
Things look great right now, but I'd like to see it sustained for more than 2 games before I jump on board. Hopefully, I'm wrong to be skeptical.
All of what you said is entirely correct, but there was a huge elephant in the room that could be ignored at the time, due to all of the success that we were having:
Brandon Wimbush wasn't a reliable passer, plain and simple.
With the exception of the Michigan State game, there really wasn't a game where he showed that he could complete easy passes with good consistency. It only got worse as the season went on, and Miami's defense, which was a very good one and fired up, exposed our offense for the one-dimensional trick pony that it was.
This year's offense is significantly more complete. We have a passing and a running game, both of which aren't exactly chopped liver. Defending against this offense isn't as easy as it was last year, or in 2013, where opposing defenses would either stack the box with 8 or 9 defenders, daring us to pass (last year), or simply drop 8 into a short zone, and take away the short passing game (2013).
The only part of this year's offense that I would say is unproven, is the long passing game. Ian Book's arm strength is decent enough, but I haven't seen the long bomb being a credible threat yet. While it does take away some of the vertical aspect of the game, at least he has proven that he can hit those medium range passes with accuracy, which can still spread the field vertically enough.
Now, I do worry about the offensive line and the running backs, now that we've lost Alex Bars for the year, Jafar Armstrong is out for this week, and Tony Jones is a bit banged up, but if the replacements continue to step up, maybe it's a good sign that we have real, developed depth that's ready to be plugged in on the fly.
Maybe it is, I don't know. I suspect soon we will find out. A smart DC (like Bud Foster) can take away both the run game and short passing game by crowding the LOS. Maybe Book can make them pay for doing that by hitting some deep throws, but so far (with so little film on Book) no DC has forced ND's hand.
But I do think (if they stay healthy) that this is ND's best defense since 2012 and that team did not have a great offense so it might not matter.
...season was a great team.
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Sure the DL is playing great, but when was the last time we lauded the DB's?
Shane Walton, Vontez Duff, Gerome Sapp, and Glenn Earl were the best defensive backfield we had ever since 1992, and when combined with a good front seven, were doing a very fine job. Walton and Duff were some of the best when it came to squatting and cutting off the short to medium range pass routes.
1992's defensive backfield was probably the best we ever had. Tom Carter, Jeff Burris, and Bobby Taylor were 1st / 2nd round draft picks (and NFL starters), Willie Clark, Greg Lane, Shawn Wooden, and John "Shaft" Covington were drafted, and Brian Magee was just getting started. I still think Bobby Taylor could have been a 1st round pick, had he stayed for 1995's season.
That being said, I think that this defensive backfield might actually turn out to be even better than 2002's, depending on who steps up at the nickel position and the other safety position.
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Since Holtz maybe.
I didn't realize that Andre Brown never caught that 4th down TD pass that he was credited with.
The announcers never addressed it. Pretty amazing. Watching it the first time, notice when he gets up he has no ball in his hands. Watch the replay. He never had it.
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Seems like the opposite is true. ND leading the nation in scoring D kind of cuts against the notion that this team is "different" because of the D.
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But nice try.
We're playing well. Hyperbole is not necessary.
the clock reaches zero in the fourth quarter of the USC game with ND ahead and undefeated.
If history holds true with the officiating at Southern Cal Notre Dame is already down 7-0.
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