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I wonder if the slow start has anything to do with wanting to see what the other team is doing offensively and defensively and and us having to adjust to it.

Freeman has also mentioned taking what the opposing defense gives us specifically about RL. It may be that we don’t really have a solid game plan and adjust based on what we see in game vs is deciding we are going to impose our will. I think Kelly used to do the same thing. Slow starts that sometimes lasted whole game see NIL and other slow starts that turned into bigger wins like GA Tech.

I have always thought there was an issue about preparation or being ‘ready to go’. After hearing his comments this year now I think we play more reacting football vs imposing our will. If so, I hate that idea. I can see adjusting if something surprises you but start with your strengths and go from there.

To me you make the other team stop u, not the other way around.

They outplayed us wire to wire. I think that's the risk with coming out too flat.

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It's exactly why he will always lose clunkers like Marshall, Stanford, NIU, ect.

ND should come out today and run the ball down Navy's throat. They won't, at least not early, because of Freeman's reactionary philosophy.

horribly in my mind. This also includes clock management decisions obviously.

Heck, we don't even know if we'll have the time with him to see it occur here.

He's 2.5 years into ever doing it and he started out on the biggest stage possible, while most of the coaches we all consider great were able to make the same mistakes he has on a much lower level where nobody remembers the growing pains.

To put MF present tenure as a HC into terms comparable to a child's development, he's currently at the point where he's learned to tie his shoes well enough that they actually stay tied long enough for him to get to school. However, once he makes it to recess and starts sprinting, there are some trip ups.

Don't take this as some shining endorsement or defense of MF, as I personally have lost confidence in him being the guy. But what if I'm wrong?

Any rational, logic based evaluation of MF at this point, that is not centered around "HE lost to NIU!" has to conclude its too early to tell.

This is part of why I'm so strongly opposed to the hiring of first time HCs at ND. Not because they are all going to be bad...every great HC was a first timer at some point. But again, most of them go through their learning curve out of the spotlight.

The problem is the complete unknown...you don't know if you have a guy who is total trash or a future great, or just some 'mehh'. With an experienced coach you've already seen that they can do the job of a HC and have a good basis for estimating how good they can be. Now it's just about seeing if they can do it good enough at your program.

This can make for a much quicker evaluation process, as a guy who already knows how to tie those shoes well enough to hold up under gassers and has some years of demonstrated experience to prove it, should be able to have success at a new stop in 3 years.

But when you take a complete shot in the dark hiring an unknown, is it fair in any way to expect them to be a finished product inside of 3 years? Nope! You're almost stuck giving them at least 5 years unless they completely bomb, and MF hasn't shown to this point that he's willing to let things spiral out of control like Davie, ty, or Weis...and even Kelly at times.

Kelly came in with 20 years HC experience and still had 9 different multiple game losing streaks in his first 7 years...Freeman lost his first 3 games as a HC and has not lost back to back games since.

Maybe...just maybe, the guy needs a little more time to develop before we make a final decision.

non-Power 5 school. Get better there, grow as a head coach and become successful. Next job after that will do really well at a Power 5 school.

A major step down to non-Power 5? Even I have more faith in him than that!

underscores that.

back the ball. That seems like imposing your will imo.

And lingering games we seem to pile up.

I like the old days like when Holtz had the o line and backs pummel LSU in the bowl game. Here it come, lets see u stop it. Not to say it has to be the run but whatever your strength is.

We don’t have a strength under freeman for Kelly.

Its like the patriots approach under bellichek, do what it takes to win. Not sure that translates to college ball.

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I can see Navy running Fullback, Fullback, QB keeper , Fullback, Option pitch, Fullback. Our Secondary creeps up more and more. Navy WR wide open for six and there are no defenders anywhere in sight. I can see Navy success running wide. Or, I can see our D completey shutting down the Navy "O". Maybe gashing our D for a play or two, but that's it. What Irish team will show?

And we shit the bed with NIU. So that's unfortunate.

I don't think we'll lose the rest of the season given the fact that Army and Navy are our two remaining tough games, but I think we may have some close calls that could keep us out of the playoffs. Like NIU, if we have the close calls, better early in the final stretch than at the end.