I know we're all fans but some of you need to switch to de-caf on game day.
Particularly the Pyne acolytes. If he transfers, not I want him to, who cares? He isn't the solution, this year or any year. Buchner is likely the starting QB next year as I'm betting the deal with Coan was for one year. Pyne isn't a starting qb on any Power 5 school worth being on. He is probably best advised to get his degree from ND, and if he wants to milk some type of grad degree re: a grad transfer might be good for him if he finds a school that thinks he can help. Note: it would be a short list.
For those who keep focusing on the QB, that isn't the crux of the problem. The offensive scheme and the OL is. The OL, while hit with injuries, has talent but is coached down by Kelly minion/lackey Quinn. Rees is in over his head as the OC for a Power 5 team which looked decent last year due more to a perfect storm of a cheapened COVID schedule, 5th year qb, and talented and experienced OL who had more coaching from Quinn's predecessor that than did from him. It doesn't matter much who the WRs are since Kelly could misuse a WR corp of Davante Adams, Tyreke Hill and Stefon Diggs and complain after the game that they "weren't getting open."
The Freeman head coach- in-waiting to Van Gorder-reincarnation swing is hilarious. The defense is short on talent behind the DL. There is one capable DB, with a former WR playing a starting corner. Forgetting the fact that Freeman is installing a new defense with players not designed for it, the loss of the 2 best lbs make this tough. The LB depth is so bad that a WR was converted to LB and the guy who may the best rusher, Foskey, plays more LB roles than pass rushing ones.
Kelly can throw out all his lame-ass coachisms/excuses but this team is just not a very good one for various reasons with coaching at the core of it. We need a new OL coach, much less a real OC (Kelly isn't going to win a NC much less a play off game with Rees as the OC), but knowing Kelly's history with keeping his yes-men, low hanging fruit, coaches around it ain't happening unless the product on the field craters.
Replies to: I know we're all fans but some of you need to switch to de-caf on game day.
How about decaf the afternoon after?
As to Pyne, the staff made it loud and clear last night that his only future at ND is as a backup. A 5'11 QB without elite arm talent and athleticism probably should never have been recruited.
I'm curious how last year's OL could have received more coaching from Quinn's predecessor. Were they 7th-year players? For the "you can't credit Quinn for last year's OL" theory to hold up you need the Chris Watt channeling Hiestand part that Driskell pedals. Good luck with that. Occam's razor.
You yourself acknowledged before the season that it would take time for an OL with 4 new starters to gel. That was before Fisher went down, followed by Carmody, Baker and now the new starter, (converted TE, true freshman) Joe Alt and Kristofic taking over as starter at LG from the undersized Carroll. The additional size on the left side seems to have made a difference last night.
"For those who keep focusing on the QB, that isn't the crux of the problem." What problem exactly? I'm not going to treat seriously the idea that an immobile QB who the defense doesn't respect in the running game and who raises no containment issues in the passing game and whose name isn't Tom Brady is an insignificant problem. That he is the best option speaks to Kelly's biggest failure at ND, the QB position.
On the one hand, injuries no excuse for Quinn but with respect to Freeman, you have to take them into account? And the criticisms of Freeman relate specifically to the end of halves, playing soft and giving up points -- bringing up memories of BVG -- and the failure to contain a QB who has mobility, negating ND's defensive strength, the DL.
Good thoughts
All in all, I guess we just view it differently.
1. Re: Offensive live coaching. HH did coach 4 of last year's 5 offensive linemen. My point is they received more (and better) coaching from HH than they ever did from JQ. The criticism of JQ as OL coach isn't new. I haven't read any Jeff Driskel typical drivel so my comment isn't connected to that. I admit I expected the OL to get better as the year went on. They haven't and it is more than injuries considering the relatively weak schedule they have played. We'll see if they get any better after the off week.
2. No high quality qb is going to thrive is this lame-ass Kelly offense. It is abundantly clear to any one who watches this team in person. Any competent DC has no problem coaching against it; any good DC destroys it. It isn't a talent question as it is an offensive structure problem. The fact that it took a 5th year senior in the midst of his 3rd season starting and a weak schedule to be anywhere near successful shows how low brow and unadaptive this offense is.
3. There is a dearth of talent on the defense especially anywhere besides the DL. Any chance of being merely effective was dashed by injuries because they hit the position Freeman's defense is structured around. I not excusing Freeman but he is putting a new defense built around players that aren't experienced in it. I understand why the defense isn't particularly effective. You can't say that Quinn is new to this team or new to the players of new to the offense. 3 of the starters have at least 2 years under Quinn in the same system. A 4th, while a transfer, is in his 6th year of football. While we don't know why he isn't playing particularly well, you would think a decent OL coach could do something with that experience. So I see no reason to cut Quinn "slack" injuries aside.
If Buchner is the future
ND is in trouble
With our schedule, he could well not lose another game this year.
This team will lose to any legit top 10 team because of the issues you identified.
A legit top 5 team will take them out badly.
Yet they are foreseeable as a 1-2 loss team based on schedule.
Our fan base either wants him run out of town or think he’s the 2nd incarnation of Kanute.
Such a strange year.
There is no legit top 5 team other than Georgia and Alabama so yes we could beat an illegitimate
top 5 team.
Y'all have lost it. How can there not be top 5 teams?
Like, it is literally impossible. It's not a subjective thing. It just is.
If you are that slow I will help you. Based upon how good anybody is Georgia and probably Alabama
are the only teams I would classify as the top 2 potentially good teams that could set themselves apart as very difficult to beat. Anybody currently ranked number 2 through 13 is beatable and maybe Alabama could lose again. The only reason I think Georgia is limited offensively is both of their QBs are good but not great and therefore beatable.
No, you said "legit top 5 team".
There are a set number of teams so someone has to be top 5, top 10, top whatever. There isn't a legit and not legit. There is just an is.
Now polls, those are subjective but having top 5 teams isn't.
These are the silly things ND fans do because they are fans of ND and not the sport. When you only watch one team and see UGA and Bama from the views of ESPN highlights you make silly statements like this.
I don't think there is anyone that thinks he's Knute.
You do know Don is a troll right? The Irish Hammer more than likely who did the same schdict with Weis.
Uhm turn up your meter. Being sarcastic.
Wondered about Don/Hammer for awhile.
Wouldn’t put it past TIH. Not sure though. Either way he’s funny.
Re: I don't think there is anyone that thinks he's Knute.
Our GOAT Coach Kelly has surpassed Knute’s record. Coach Kelly is the stuff of legends. Irish eyes will forever smile in Coach Kelly, long after they’ve forgotten Knute.
That sounds like Hammer.
(no message)