They cannot run the ball when they have to because of the Kelly Offensive scheme. No lead blocker (where is Anthony Johnson when you need him) and the delayed handoff does not lend itself running into 8 and 9 man fronts when the opposition knows you want to. The Irish have had the lead and the ball in the closing minutes of two or their last three losses and were unable to sustain drives and run out the clock. If we had a power running game both of those would have been wins. An offense that is not able to impose it's will in the closing minutes of games is not a championship offense.
Yes, the defense has real problems. The loss of Jaylon Smith, Mathias Farley and Sheldon Day hurts and they have not been adequately replaced but the lack of a power running game is at least as big a problem
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saying it is the biggest weakness of the team is simply wrong.
The defensive performance, specifically the complete ineffectiveness of the ability to bring a runner to the ground, allows every team on the schedule to compete with and beat ND. It is comically bad, or at least has been consistently. Solve that and this team can win 6 or 7 games. But, to win 'em all, they do need the threat of a power run game utilizing a fullback. It opens up so many options that opponents do not pay any attention to in the red zone currently. Developing sets and personnel to use in the red zone should be a priority at some time for Kelly....but after 7 seasons at ND, the hope of that ever happening is dwindling and approaching zero. IMHO, it is one of a few major flaws in Kelly's approach to the game. (Notice I did not say it was THE flaw....:)
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In the big picture saw the game plan for this season being: (a) accept the D as being ineffective to start but expect it to improve; (b) expect the special teams to win the battle of field position and have a minimum of big plays positive or negative - get the FG almost always the opportunity is there; (c) develop an O that can control the tempo with minimal mistakes and keep the D off the field with the running game and possession passes. Overall expected the team to be a lot better at the end of the year than the start.
We are doing poorly across the board with the talent and experience we have. The biggest unexpected concern for me is similar to yours but not exactly the same. Our running game with the folk we have in general should be a lot more effective at moving the sticks and keeping the clock moving. Was at the Nevada game and saw a distressing pattern, an O without rhythm with the result being some big plays mixed in with a lot of really ineffective ones - pretty much the pattern for all our games.
Am not a big fan of "change the scheme" as think effectiveness is more about talent and finding mismatches on both sides of the ball. Only rarely have I seen a dominant scheme (aka the wishbone when no one knew how to defend it).
On O it really looks like our biggest problem is the inability to execute correctly play after play with the result that we have to go for the big plays and even when we get them the clock barely moves. Expect that we will find our style,however, so far our search has left the tempo of the game up to our ST and D with the result that a good ppg average has been negated by the other two phases (esp the D) making just about every game an actual or potential shootout with a handful of plays making it a W or L.
The scheme/design Is poor for power running, but I did see a few counters, fakes and misdirections last week that left me hopeful!
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And probably 4-0.
the other teams OF doesn't have the ball. Weak defense needs this.
You can wish all you want for a different kind of offense but the fact is that this team, even with the offense style it has was just a few points away from the playoff last year and could likely be 4-0 with nothing more than an average defense.
the reason this is team is 1-5 in it's last 6 games is due to a weak poorly schemed defense, not the lack of a power running game.
supposed to get rid of the ball quickly? I hope just the change inspires effort in the fundamentals at least so we win. Losing to Texas was bad but they were inspired and of course the no call in the end zone hurt us, losing to Michigan State was bad because we would have made them quit if we could have scored, when we were going to get great field position before that punt hit our guy in the leg and they recovered. Losing to Duke is embarrassing but could have been avoided if Yoooooon could hit a field goal or kick the ball off deep after going up 14 to 0. Losing to Syracuse could set up a depression that would last until next year and raise more doubt. We better win. We better be more consistent on offense too.
The defense has been the biggest problem. Clearly.
Not saying the running game is good. Believe me.
But the defense is the problem.
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I have to laugh when someone says a team was outcoaches. Execution makes coaching. Good plays are a result of good coaching or good consistent players? For me nothing is absolute. Each game is a result that determines whether it was well played and/or well coached.