1. Coaching - The entire staff (except ST) will have to get drastically better and avoid the rookie mistakes that aided in the rollercoaster ride of 2022. Know the situation (when to kick), know the clock and play call (when to call a timeout/audible). Fumbling the basics was a glaring issue all year and needs improvement fast. First year jitters, fine. But we have to correct these if this team makes any strides and is better than 8-4 in 2023. It's probably 2 if not 3 years before we get back to a consistent top 10 and a lot has to change to get to top 5.
2. Player Development - We can recruit until we're blue in the face but if we don't see 75% of the players getting drastically better by the end of year one we'll remain an 8-10 win football team. If we're still planning on playing the let's save them for a 5th year then we'll continue the 8-4 with an occasional 10 win path. A lot of poor fundamentals showed throughout the year. Mostly on defense but also on offense. Bring back the Elko/Lea, fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. See the ball, catch the ball, run the ball, tackle the ball.
3. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Cute and complex is not creative and innovative. For whatever reason watching ND football still feels like you're watching a team that tries to make the game way harder than it is.
The team can make the biggest leaps heading into 2023 just by getting fundamentally sound and seeing real player development. If not, '23 will likely be as frustrating as 2022.
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Those games should have been blown outs by ND, Small adjustments wouldn't have fixed those systemic issues. The team jelled since then and went 7-1 including the bowl win.
I don't believe you gave the coaching staff credit for turning the season around after those losses.
Why are you just focusing on the negative?
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Marshall 1Q skipped FG, turnover on downs - left points on the board
Stanford 3rd drive skipped FG, turnover on downs - left game winning points on the board.
In one of the pressers Freeman said they knew they had the wrong play on a 4th down and instead of calling a timeout they just ran with it. This was early in the season so would have been likely in the first 3 games.
Just to name a few. Small details make a big difference.
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Ever consider running for President?
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Dementia is a condition characterized by progressive or persistent loss of intellectual functioning, especially with impairment of memory and abstract thinking. Dementia doesn't have legs. It can't run.
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You know, your favorite team.
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