1. PK/K: at bare minimum, ND needs someone who can kick off in bounds, and handle PAT routinely. Right now, both those operations are dicey at best.
2. Figure out a goal to go offense. ND has 2 elite backs, and a TE who can catch. QB power is fine in a playoff game, but we better not see it again prior to then.
What am I missing?
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touchback 98% of the time and we get this cute idea that if he instead aims the kick at the front pylon, we might get bonus points!!!!! It's the DUMBEST idea in the world, and ND has ruined every good KO kicker we've had in the last 30 years doing it.
I don't understand why something so stupid is so pervasive at ND in the kicking game? It's been this way across multiple coaching staffs. Why?
A touchback is a touchback and gives you the best opportunity to pin the offense deep, plus removes the potential for a KR TD.
We seriously overthink the kicking game. STOP BEING CUTE and kick the thing right down the middle to the back of the endzone. We've proven we can do it. Stop being cute.
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against Miami and Texas A&M, and even this past Saturday, the USC QB had too much time to throw which makes covering WR’s for a long period of time difficult. The defense definitely has improved but I feel pressure is an area that still needs to improve and will be needed should we get to the playoffs and play better teams. On the offense side, while they have been very productive, I would like to see Denbrock not so predictable. I can tell nearly every time when they are going to run or pass. I would also like to see motion used more with the WR’s instead of just the TE. If you get Faison in motion, he would be nearly impossible to cover. Bama did this a few years back with Devonta Smith. Motion gives the WR an advantage at the snap and it also prevents teams from being able to double your best WR. I’m always analyzing this stuff because you have to benchmark against the best teams and know what your weaknesses are and address how to improve to be able to finally kick the door down to win a championship. We aren’t that far off, but some things need to be cleaned up or in a close game, they will bite you in the ass such as our kicking situation that you alluded to. It’s awful. And the defense down four must get better pressure on the QB.
Since then they've gone back to an attacking D that these players were recruited and developed for.
The SC game was different because they didn't run as many stunts up front as they had been the previous few weeks, probably in an effort to keep the QB in the pocket and prevent escape routes.
They did blitz more than they had against Miami and A&M and got good pressure off those without letting Maiava run free.
Think it was the plan and thought it worked well.
Burnette has been solid when healthy. My belief is that he was having issues with his plant foot slipping a bit in the rain. His issues can be corrected. The kick off issue pissed me off. There’s no reason to kick the ball out of bounds.
#2. I agree. When you get down to the 2 yard line, don’t get cute and roll out the QB. Run the ball down their throats and impose your will.
1) could the answer to our kicking woes, be currently on the men’s soccer team? Just wondering out loud, it’s been done before. HS teams routinely hit their PATs.
2) could a red zone package with Kenny Minchey be the answer?
Extra stuff: get the team healthy for the stretch run, also as I believe Eric Hansen mentioned on his Football Never Sleeps podcast: any frosh who haven’t played in games can play without losing their redshirt year in the last 4 games* of the year…all hands on deck, he we go, boys!
* I believe the rule is 4 game in regular season and you don’t burn your redshirt year.
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