*Notre Dame* - On Vacation

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Thoros of Beer, Feb 3, 2016.

  1. IrishLAX2

    IrishLAX2 So you’re telling me there’s a chance
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    I also don’t think the Notre Dame beat is all that critical either. Sure, you have Driskell finding literally anything and everything to complain about. But the rest of the beat is full of writers too scared of losing access to actually be critical.

    Compared to NY sports media, the ND beat is outrageously positive.
     
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  2. nexus

    nexus TMB’s TSO
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    Are people unfairly attacking individual players online or something? I get standing up for your guys but 99.9% of everything I’ve seen is completely and totally fair criticism, and as you mentioned, often times rather gentle in its tone.
     
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  3. repoocs

    repoocs Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
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    Yes. People do. Social media is a cesspool where many fans personally attack players.
     
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  4. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    can't remember if it was posted in here or not, but we had a 97% postgame win expenctancy per SP+ (i know, we've gone over the flaws there). didn't watch, but that seems higher than expected, but also not that crazy. spot them 10 to start, buchner with the awful pick 6, but from what i read/saw, we controlled a lot of the game. just happy to be to the off week at 5-1, because this could very easily have been 1-5 or 2-4
     
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  5. NilesIrish

    NilesIrish Not a master fisher but I know bait when I see it
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  6. Robdog_5

    Robdog_5 Well-Known Member

    BK doesn't want any pushback.

    He clearly is defensive about Quinn because frankly a lot of people questioned that and Rees hires. So he is quick to defend that because ultimately that falls back on him.

    Winning is all that matters in some ways but for the future so is development. Prior to VT I felt that was the biggest issue. Not only are you not a great product despite winning ugly but your not improving or getting young guys on the field. Injuries and ineptness allowed some frosh to get on field and mostly do ok. So hopefully that allows others to get on there.
     
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  7. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    .
    This sounds like a you problem
     
  8. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
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    The solution to the stadium problem is so clearly to drop ticket prices significantly but they won’t do it. Lower prices means more Nd fans in the seats 100% of the time.
     
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  9. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
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    On a different note, heated debate in ii about whether liberals are the reason usc is down
     
  10. Red Rover

    Red Rover Neck water faucet, mockingbirds mocking
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    Hell yes

    Get as many loud, drunk locals in there as possible
     
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  11. NilesIrish

    NilesIrish Not a master fisher but I know bait when I see it
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    Our tickets last night were $130 face in the 500 level. Tickets are too expensive but that is not an ND problem, it's everywhere.
     
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  12. Thoros of Beer

    Thoros of Beer Academy Award-Winning Actor, Tim Allen
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    Tickets are overpriced and it could be worse.
     
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  13. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
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    Beyond that - if I had two tickets that I paid 50 bucks each for I would give them to a Nd fan if I couldn’t go (which we used to do all the time walking into the stadium etc.) Now, fuck that I am getting my 400 bucks back
     
  14. Thoros of Beer

    Thoros of Beer Academy Award-Winning Actor, Tim Allen
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    And that is exactly what they want you to do, sell them on stubhub
     
  15. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
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    Yep and fans who come here once every 20 years have a much higher price point and the cycle continues.
     
  16. IrishLAX2

    IrishLAX2 So you’re telling me there’s a chance
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    I remember the late 90s scouring the parking lots with fingers in the air trying to scalp tickets for $300 each to watch a 5 loss football team
     
  17. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
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    Maybe it does come with success. I remember even in the mid-200s having like 50-60 dollar tickets.
     
  18. IrishLAX2

    IrishLAX2 So you’re telling me there’s a chance
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    The 2006 Penn State game was the first one I was noticeably surprised we were able to get face value tickets for
     
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  19. SD_Irish

    SD_Irish El Mas Chingon
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    Freshman year I believe my season ticket book cost $100. Those were the days
     
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  20. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    PSA for the thread: in the last 5 years there has been like 3 games where tickets have gone for more than face at game time. Georgia and Michigan, and maybe there is another in there.
     
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  21. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
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    lol we knocked vts 2 qbs out for the season apparently.
     
  22. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
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    not that it matters but nd’s schedule will look so so bad at the end of the year
     
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  23. AHebrewToo

    AHebrewToo Albino Hebrew Extraordinaire
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    I was out in the wilderness all weekend. I saw the score, but know nothing about the game.

    Do I watch it or will it just frustrate me?
     
  24. Killy Me Please

    Killy Me Please I lift things up and put people down.
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    Hook up a car battery to your nuts first.
     
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  25. 40wwttamgib

    40wwttamgib Fah Q, Ohio
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    skip the first quarter
     
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  26. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    knowing that ND wins should help
     
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  27. AHebrewToo

    AHebrewToo Albino Hebrew Extraordinaire
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    I feel like this is bad advice.
     
  28. nexus

    nexus TMB’s TSO
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    Watch the opening drive and get back to us
     
  29. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    I watched some of the game on Sunday and knowing that nd won definitely helps get through some of the more frustrating aspects. Still couldn’t bring myself to watch the first quarter, but seeing the good from Buchner was fun and then the final 10 minutes of the game (even the incredibly frustrating defense) was fun to watch
     
  30. Beeds07

    Beeds07 Bitch, it's Saturday
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    YTTV allows you to watch key plays. So far the first five were VT plays
     
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  31. Juke Coolengody

    Juke Coolengody One name. Two men?
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    I'd watch the positive Buchner highlight tape (avoid the negative tape like the plague) and then watch the full 4th quarter.
     
  32. Wicket

    Wicket Fan: ND, PSV, Pool FC, Cricket, Urquel, Dog Crew
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    so honestly it was a game that frustrated me to no ends but in the end i felt better than before. At one point in Q1 i was seriously contemplating going to sleep but it was a bit like a horror movie, but with a happy ending
     
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  33. CTownND

    CTownND Well-Known Member
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    Knowing we won, I'd definitely watch it in full. It was frustrating as hell, but it was moreso getting down 10-0 and wondering if the wheels were going to just fall off like at Miami, at Michigan, etc.
     
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  34. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    our local alumni club has 4 SC tickets if anyone is interested. section 133. $125/ticket
     
  35. AbeFroman

    AbeFroman You touch me, I yell RAT!

    No kink shaming.
     
  36. a1ND

    a1ND Bold & Spicy
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    ToT

    “Today was like a coming out party for us. The o-linemen in there are pretty happy. Kyren (Williams) ran with an edge today. That was beast-mode for him on that touchdown run.

    “We played more physical. We were better at the point of attack. There was movement and that’s what has to continue moving forward with the assortment of guys we have in the lineup.” - Brian Kelly


    • The performance by Notre Dame’s offensive line in its 32-29 victory at Virginia Tech Saturday night was the effort this group has been searching for and could be the breakthrough it needed to take the next step in its development. At the very least, it was the first real noteworthy positive step of the season.

    By rushing for 173 yards and a four-yard average with Kyren Williams leading the way with 81 yards, the Irish found a balance that had been missing from the first five games, although Tyler Buchner’s extended playing time behind starter Jack Coan certainly had much to do with it.

    After two series, which included a whiff on a kick-out block and a false start on 4th-and-1, beleaguered left guard Zeke Correll was removed and red-shirt sophomore Andrew Kristofic was inserted. Unable to hold weight in his three years in the program, Correll reportedly is in the 280-285 pound range and just cannot hold up at the point of attack. He was ice skating out there against Virginia Tech’s defensive line.

    • This clearly was Kristofic’s best game/most extensive action in an Irish uniform as he worked in tandem on the left side with true freshman Joe Alt. Notre Dame frequently ran to the left side of the line and benefitted from the extra weight that Correll and Michael Carmody lack.

    Kristofic got push on his first snap of the game in the third series. He pulled left-to-right on an eight-yard run by Buchner. A 3rd-and-1 conversion by Williams came on the backside of Kristofic. It was the Kristofic-Alt pairing that opened up a six-yard run by Chris Tyree.

    While the left side of the line had played disjointed throughout most of the first five games, this duo worked much better in tandem. That’s the best chemistry the left tackle/left guard duo has had this season.

    Alt couldn’t handle the talented Amare Barno on the first-series sack in which Barno’s spin move shed Alt. Kristofic missed the block on 3rd-and-1 right before Jonathan Doerer’s go-ahead field goal that put the ball back into the hands of the Hokies one more time. Kristofic was called for an unusual clipping penalty right before Tyler Buchner’s second interception throw. It wasn’t Kristofic’s fault when Coan stepped up into his second sack of the night.

    But the Irish now have a duo upon which they can continue to build as they head into the bye week.

    • When Buchner connected with Kevin Austin Jr. for 46 yards, it was Alt against defensive end Jaylen Griffin and right tackle Josh Lugg on Barno that gave Buchner the shield he needed to deliver the pass. This was Lugg’s most complete game of the season as well.

    Did he get away with a takedown on Jack Coan’s two-point conversion pass? Probably, but for the first time this season, the wall of Alt, Kristofic, consistent center Jarrett Patterson, right guard Cain Madden and Lugg looked like a cohesive unit. Madden, too, was at his best. That’s the best push he’s provided this season.

    Why was the push so much better than in the previous five games? It’s not because the Virginia Tech defensive front is lacking per se. That’s a good if not great unit led by Barno, play-making tackles Jordan Williams and Mario Kendricks and strongside defensive end TyJuan Garbutt. Notre Dame’s offensive line simply out-played Virginia Tech’s defensive front wall.

    • Notre Dame’s first six games against Florida State, Toledo, Purdue, Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech came against arguably the best defensive fronts the Irish will face in 2021.

    Navy has the best run defense (statistically) of the remaining six opponents at 49th nationally, although the 14 rushing touchdowns allowed in five games is telling. USC is 70th against the run and allowing 4.4 yards per carry. North Carolina is 80th. Virginia is 113th at 5.2 yards per tote. Georgia Tech is 78th while allowing 3.5 yards per carry, but that’s due partly because teams are throwing the football against them (11 touchdown passes, tied for 91st). Stanford is 123rd against the run, allowing 219 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry.

    There are inroads to be made on the ground, particularly now that the offensive line has a confidence boost coming out of the Virginia Tech game and five that have experienced success together.

    Brian Kelly clearly has indicated that Jack Coan is his starting quarterback. If Coan can take the approach he did in the touchdown and field-goal drives that brought the Irish back from an eight-point deficit, Notre Dame can have more success in the passing game, although it’s predicated on Coan’s timing mechanism.

    Coan is at his best – and this is something Drew Brees has said – when he’s in a 1-2-3-throw mode. Because of his lack of mobility and with the walls crumbling down around him through the first five games, Coan senses he’s under siege even when he’s not. He sees pass-rush “ghosts” even when he has time. His frame of mind is much different from a Tyler Buchner or a Braxton Burmeister because they know they have a margin for error with their feet. Coan does not.

    When he plays with a 1-2-3 frame of mind, he’s much better, although if he continues down that path, his completion percentage will suffer over the long haul. He’ll have to throw some passes away if he stays in that rhythm because receivers won’t always be open on his timeline. But at least he can avoid some sacks that have been crippling the Irish offense.

    For the most part, it was three steps and throw for Coan in the fourth quarter. Fifteen yards to Logan Diggs. Twenty-three yards to Avery Davis. Eleven yards to Braden Lenzy. Twenty yards to Lenzy. Fifteen yards to George Takacs. Step, step, step, throw. Now that Coan knows what that feels like – in tandem with some tempo to keep him in that rhythm – perhaps it’s something he can build upon.

    “We live with these guys,” Kelly said. “We see (Coan) every day. I didn’t name him the starting quarterback because it came up on the Ouija board. We see him every day. That’s what he does. That’s the way it is.

    “Yeah, it was uneven to start. That’s why we pulled him and went with Buchner. (Buchner) did some nice things, but he’s young and he’s going to be really good.”

    • As much as Brian Kelly would like to pick one quarterback and stick with him, chances are the ground game will bog down again and a call to the bullpen will be necessary. Now that Tyler Buchner received his most extensive action in as tough of an environment as he’ll play in during his career at Notre Dame, he’s better prepared to run a more diverse menu of plays that Tommy Rees provided him against the Hokies. (More on that topic in a bit.)

    For those clamoring for Kelly to let Buchner throw more during the first portion of the schedule, do you see why they’ve been reluctant to let him fire away? The inability to decipher coverages shows itself on the practice field. Kelly and Rees understand the danger of giving him too much too soon in the passing game.

    With Buchner sparking the offense early against the Hokies, the Irish had to ride the hot hand. Notre Dame doesn’t win this game if Buchner doesn’t provide the spark that allowed them to score two second-quarter touchdowns and then a third on a short field in the third quarter.

    But he doesn’t see the things that Coan has seen as a 23-game starter. The pick six by Jermaine Waller, the badly-overthrown ball to Diggs that Nasir Peoples picked off, and the breadbasket drop by Armani Chatman all exemplified the mass confusion college coverages create for a young quarterback who played one season in his last three in high school.

    • Buchner was great early. The 46-yard toss to Kevin Austin Jr. was spot-on against a great cover corner in Waller. When Buchner’s throwing motion is tight, short and over the top, he’s at his best. He drilled Avery Davis for 36 yards with that 1-2-3 timing mechanism that would ultimately work so well for Coan.

    It’s when Buchner slides down with his throwing motion and tends to sling it that his accuracy goes haywire. A quarterback that doesn’t have a complete grasp of coverages lacks confidence in his decision-making and accuracy. A quarterback uncertain of how he wants to release each varied throw creates problems.

    “He did some really good things and then he did some things that are inexperience,” Kelly said. “You don’t throw the ball into the boundary versus Cover 8 without knowing that the corner is not squatting. There are technical things that he is still (not) seeing.

    “He’s getting there, but he’s not there yet and the maturation process continues. But man is he a gamer. He’s tough, he’s fast, he’s competitive and he’s unflappable, too. He just keeps coming back. I’m glad he’s on our team.”

    • When Buchner runs the football, his power and pad level are that of a running back. His ability to stick a foot in the ground and make defenders miss is running back-like as well. His jab-step run against Virginia Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield was a “break your ankle” move.

    Clearly, Notre Dame runs the football better with the threat of Buchner and the avenues opened up for the running backs.

    “We’ve got to have a running game. We’ve got to run the football,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to have a different mentality about the way we do things. Tommy and I talked and I said, ‘He’s playing. Just commit yourself to the play sheet. He’s playing and he’s not coming out. Call the game that way.’”

    Of course, they ultimately had to take Buchner out because of an ankle injury. It would be interesting to know if they would have stuck with Buchner after his second interception clearly indicated that his momentum at the helm of the offense had slipped away.

    • So where does this leave Drew Pyne? Likely not in a very good spot, but who knows? Through six games, Kelly and Rees have had to push the buttons of all three quarterbacks. All three have produced at one time or another. It makes their lives more difficult to juggle their way through a season. It’s unorthodox. But this is the position the Irish find themselves in this season.

    Fans can bitch and moan about it. They can whine about how the quarterback recruiting hasn’t gone according to play. Fine. Agreed. But the current situation is the current situation. Kelly and Rees have to manage it. They’ve done a very good job with it under difficult circumstances.

    It appears the only way the Irish are going to get consistency out of the quarterback position this year is if they utilize the varied skillset of the talent. Coan may have found something in his game against Virginia Tech. The run defenses of the remaining opponents will give a Buchner-led offense opportunities.

    Brian Kelly said he didn’t want the flavor of the week,” said ACC Network analyst Tim Hasselbeck. “Well, how in the world do you decide with the rollercoaster we’ve seen with the quarterbacks he’s put out there?”

    Perhaps it’s time to stop fighting it and just accept the fact that the best way for Notre Dame to maximize its offense in 2021 is by utilizing the quarterback position like other positions. Play them as deemed necessary.

    • You have to appreciate the disruptive nature of Irish defensive ends Isaiah Foskey and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa. Foskey’s quickness and length are intimidating. His sack of Burmeister was incredible. After looping left to right, he had to change directions and run down Burmeister on the other side of the field. The film clip of that play will catch the eyes of NFL scouts.

    Tagovailoa-Amosa is winning at the point of attack. His combination of length and quickness is playing well. His ability to chase down running back Raheem Blackshear on a swing pass for a three-yard loss is his “show-this-to-the-NFL-scouts” clip.

    Both were flying off the edge and creating difficulty for Braxton Burmeister, who was just 15-of-30 for 184 yards. Brian Kelly expressed his frustration post-game with Burmeister’s ability to temper a dynamic pass rush with his escapability. Ultimately, the Irish stopped the rest of the Virginia Tech attack well enough to come out on top.

    • Yes, Notre Dame’s defense struggled with the running prowess of Burmeister. Now you know how dozens of opposing fan bases felt going against Ian Book.

    Yeah, it’s difficult to contain when linebackers and defensive backs are defending against the pass. Rarely was Book ever stopped, except when they were able to funnel him inside. Burmeister does that to all of his opponents, not just Notre Dame.

    It gives a little better understanding of why Foskey has been used as a pass-rushing middle linebacker at times. If he comes off the edge, a mobile quarterback like Burmeister can escape out the back door; if your best pass rusher is coming up the middle, he’s cut the field in half for the quarterback who doesn’t have a back door through which to exit.

    Kyle Hamilton has it rougher than most when it comes to avoiding targeting penalties. His range is so incredible that he reaches plays that the normal human being cannot. He finds himself in positions – particularly breaking on the football from his safety spot – where he can light someone up on a regular basis. You can see Hamilton having to lighten up on hits or alter his contact point because today’s officials are reaching for their back pocket before contact has even been made.

    Hamilton’s personnel foul on a hit of Burmeister put him in an impossible position. He was blitzing up the middle with linebackers Drew White and JD Bertrand flanking him. He had a direct, unencumbered path to Burmeister.

    Burmeister’s follow-through wasn’t complete when Hamilton made contact. What is he supposed to do? Veer to his right and dive into air? Even if he pulls off the hit a bit, he’s still going to make contact because he’s propelling his body in torpedo-like fashion to the quarterback because, well, it’s his job to prevent the quarterback from delivering a completed pass.

    Hamilton has to compromise his skillset on the collegiate level. Unfortunately, not for much longer with the Irish.

    • I didn’t give enough credit to the Notre Dame defense in the post-game Snap Judgments.

    https://247sports.com/college/notre...gments-Notre-Dame-vs-Virginia-Tech-172803471/

    Some of the inopportune long drives continue to haunt the defense. But at the end of the day, the Irish held a tricky Burmeister-led offense to just 321 yards total offense. Burmeister and backup quarterback Connor Blumrick were a handful in the running game. They combined for 78 of Virginia Tech’s 134 yards rushing and played a key role in converting 8-of-17 third downs. But the Hokies averaged just 4.5 yards per snap compared to Notre Dame’s 5.8. (Note: 4.5 yards per snap this season would rank 12th nationally.)

    The Hokies scored just twice on four red-zone entries. The most noteworthy was the 1st-and-goal at the one-yard line with the Hokies up 7-0. Raheem Blackshear was held to no gain by Rylie Mills and Drew White. Blumrick threw incomplete on second down when Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa flushed him out of the pocket. Burmeister then threw incomplete on third down to Tre Turner with Cam Hart in coverage.

    A 10-0 deficit looked a whole lot better than 14-0 in a game that figured to be low-scoring.

    • And then there was the ejection of freshman tight end Mitchell Evans for targeting. I had a long-time Power 5 conference referee text me during the game who said, “I don’t think it’s even a blindside block” let alone worthy of targeting consideration.

    He was right. Virginia Tech linebacker Alan Tisdale wasn’t blindsided by Evans. In fact, he was looking right at Evans when contact was made. Evans made contact with his shoulder. He’s pushing 6-foot-6. Tisdale’s body positioning left Evans with nothing but a high-on-the-body contact point. His only alternative was to not throw a block at all against a player who was looking right at him.

    “It was another indication of, ‘Why are we throwing these kids out of the game?’” Brian Kelly said. “Like really? That wasn’t targeting. Kyle Hamilton took one step and then delivered a blow. It was clean. (The official) said he hit him too high. I didn’t feel like those were dirty plays.”

    • Not surprisingly, wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. has had moments where he’s struggled this season. He had a complete swing-and-miss game against Purdue in which he failed to make a catch on eight targets. After a two-touchdown game against Wisconsin, he struggled against Cincinnati All-American cornerback Ahmad Gardner with just one catch on two targets.

    Think about it. The kid hasn’t played in games on a full-time basis since he was a senior at North Broward Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. That was 2017. Yeah, there’s likely to be some inconsistency, particularly after breaking his foot twice and playing against some real quality cornerbacks offered by the Bearcats and Hokies.

    But the sheer talent is frequently on display, as it was again in Lane Stadium where he caught three passes for 70 yards, including a ballet-like 46-yarder and the spectacular two-point conversion grab that was incredible on a couple of levels.

    The 46-yarder was perfectly placed by Buchner. But that was Jermaine Waller that Austin beat off the snap. And then on the back end of it, although he was ruled out of bounds at the four-yard line, Austin was within an inch of keep his heel off the white stripe, otherwise he dances into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown. Pure artistry.

    • The two-point conversion was amazing, and not just because Jack Coan rolled to his right and completed a crucial pass. (Not exactly Coan’s forte.) Austin ran a stick route to the left. Coan chose not to throw the pass, and yet if delivered in the 1-2-3 fashion that worked so well for Coan, there was room to insert that pass to Austin for the touchdown. Braden Lenzy, who had motioned to that side, was another option just outside the goal line.

    The amazing part, however, is that after Austin was bypassed, he ran across the end zone. There was speculation by analyst Tim Hasselbeck that perhaps the pass was intended for Avery Davis or George Takacs. We’ll have to ask Coan the next time we have access to him what his intentions were. But Austin took it upon himself to leap up and snatch it as he was getting raked across the facemask.

    When people talk about press coverage, there are two forms – one with hand-to-hand contact and one without. Wisconsin and Cincinnati like to engage with the hands, which sets a tone of redirecting the route off the snap. Virginia Tech presses, but they generally avoid contact with the hands, perhaps because that can throw off the balance of the cornerback. Austin obviously can get off press easier without the contact and did so on the 46-yard grab.

    • The criticism of Tommy Rees as a play-caller is misguided. The Cincinnati game wasn’t his finest moment, but he was creative once again at Virginia Tech, as he was with multiple quarterbacks through the first four games. Sometimes, the players simply don’t execute well enough against an opponent that schemes too.

    The variety offered with Tyler Buchner at quarterback against Virginia Tech unfolded until Buchner’s inaccuracy threw a wrench into the operation. The design of the touchdown pass to Kyren Williams was two-back personnel with Chris Tyree in the backfield and Williams in the slot. Williams broke out and under Kevin Austin Jr.’s cross, and Williams was wide open. The design forced a coverage bust.

    The touchdown run by Williams on a crossing of backs with Logan Diggs created conflict for the Virginia Tech defense and Williams did the rest. There was the play in which Austin motioned jet sweep with Mitchell Evans leading the way for Williams. There was the two-back fake handoff that gave Buchner a RPO option.

    There were numerous examples of creative play-calling. Criticizing only the plays that don’t work is prototypical uneducated, amateur football evaluation. You can’t execute every play called. Rees continues to be a step ahead in most instances.

    Against the second stingiest red-zone defense in the country, the Irish made four entries and scored all four times. Why no comments on Rees’ play-calling when that happens? Because the evaluation of Rees is one-sided.

    • That was one helluva debut by freshman running back Logan Diggs. He didn’t seem overwhelmed by the environment. He beat cornerback Dorian Strong to the edge for a 10-yard gain. His pad level was mostly good. His shiftiness – a calling card out of high school – nearly led to a seven-yard touchdown, but he was just tripped up before the Coan-to-Davis touchdown pass. He caught a 15-yard angle route pass out of the backfield. Diggs earned more playing time, particularly with the uncertain situation with C’Bo Flemister, who did not make the trip.

    • Every college program says the bye week “came at a good time.” Not sure that applies to Jack Coan, who may have found a rhythm at the end of the game that he can carry into the second half of the season. Not sure that applies to Tyler Buchner, who saw his most extensive action and had some success in the passing game, although that sprained right ankle could use some time off.

    Nose tackle Kurt Hinish probably would like to build upon his return to action after missing two games. Offensive linemen Joe Alt and Andrew Kristofic must be significantly more confident after the Virginia Tech game. Both will undoubtedly remain in the starting lineup after a strong performance against the Hokies.

    But the bye certainly comes at the right time for tight end Michael Mayer, defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola, Hamilton, and linebackers JD Bertrand and Drew White and running back Kyren Williams.

    Mayer (groin/adductor) will have three weeks between his last action against Cincinnati on Oct. 2 and the Oct. 23 game against USC. Ademilola was getting worked on at the end of the Cincinnati game and was not on the field for the Bearcats’ game-clinching drive. He was banged up on a couple of occasions in the Virginia Tech game, too. Hamilton, Bertrand and White have logged virtually every snap taken by the Irish defense. Williams has been taking his lumps behind a leaky offensive line and absorbed a targeting hit to the grill.

    • I look to the heavens and speak with the late Lou Somogyi whenever this happens because we frequently talked about it during games in the Notre Dame press box. After taking a 22-21 lead with 50 seconds left in the third quarter, head coach Justin Fuente decided to go for the two-point conversion, even after a false start moved the ball back to the eight-yard line. The two-point conversion failed.

    So when Virginia Tech scored on Burmeister’s 19-yard scramble with 3:55 remaining, the extra point made it a 29-21 Hokies advantage. It would have been a 30-21 lead had they kicked the extra point late in the third quarter. Thus, Notre Dame’s touchdown and two-point conversion would not have been enough to tie it with 2:19 remaining.

    Jonathan Doerer’s field goal with 17 seconds remaining made it moot, but…Speaking of Fuente, what an unusual sideline/halftime demeanor. What a faraway look every time the camera panned to him.

    • For those clamoring for more penalties to be called against Virginia Tech – they were flagged five times for 40 yards – it should be noted that they are 4th in the country at 4.0 per game and fifth in yards per game (34.2)…I figured out who Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister looks like. Former Notre Dame men’s basketball point guard Matt Farrell…It was stunningly quiet in Lane Stadium when Tyler Buchner hit Kyren Williams with a bullet touchdown pass to give the Irish a somewhat unexpected 14-10 lead…Not Cam Hart’s finest moment on an armless tackle attempt on Raheem Blackshear. If there’s one guy for the Hokies who must be wrapped up, it’s Blackshear. But one bad play among countless good ones doesn’t diminish Hart’s rise…

    • That was a big-time step by tight end George Takacs. Not only did his 15-yard grab play an instrumental role in Notre Dame’s game-winning field goal drive, but he battled as a blocker in several critical situations such as the 3rd-and-1 conversion run by Williams on Notre Dame’s first touchdown drive and an eight-yard Tyler Buchner run. He also sealed the inside for Buchner’s touchdown run, despite getting twisted around by a Virginia Tech defensive lineman…I really enjoyed the broadcast of play-by-play man Dave O’Brien and analyst Tim Hasselbeck. O’Brien does a great job of keep you posted on down-and-distance after virtually every play and Hasselbeck offers a clear and varied take on the action…

    • Flashes of Xavier Watts on Notre Dame’s last two kick coverages. By the way, Watts is working at safety, not Rover. That’s his best defensive position. A spot awaits him in 2022 if he can adapt…There’s no risk on Bo Bauer’s part to look for a lateral on an intercepted two-point conversion. That might be something that needs to be added to Brian Kelly’s list of special situations that arise in games…The Irish were fortunate to have two Hokie linemen downfield on what would have been a touchdown pass and a 20-14 Virginia Tech lead instead of a 16-14 lead.

    24COMMENTS
    • Notre Dame came into the game with just 11 red-zone entries in five games while Virginia Tech’s defense had allowed just seven entries in four games. The Irish responded by scoring touchdowns in all four red-zone penetrations against the Hokies…A real quality game of consistent penetration by Drew White. Of his six tackles, two were for loss with a quarterback pressure mixed in. White left it all on the field…Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens looked a bit bothered by Brian Kelly’s stern communication after Virginia Tech made it 10-0…Jordan Botelho hasn’t played much the last two games. One thing we noticed during spring drills was how easily overpowered he can be against size. He was walked back into the end zone on Blackshear’s seven-yard touchdown run by freshman offensive tackle Parker Clements

    • We haven’t heard about DT-Jacob Lacey’s status because of the bye week, but the knee didn’t look good as he had his legs bent underneath him. Lacey had been playing the best football of his career against Wisconsin and Cincinnati…It was a tough day in soft zone coverage for TaRiq Bracy until his clutch interception that set up Notre Dame’s second touchdown. Great job of undercutting inexperienced Hokie receiver Da’Wain Lofton. Great to see captain Kyle Hamilton pumping up Bracy’s confidence on the sideline.
     
    beist likes this.
  37. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Gotta go give prister his click so he doesn’t cry
     
    Voodoo, AbeFroman, a1ND and 2 others like this.
  38. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
    Donor

    there are defintely too many pinned threads on the board now and I really want to start a thread complaining about it
     
    Voodoo and Rise like this.
  39. Killy Me Please

    Killy Me Please I lift things up and put people down.
    Donor

    No. We need Pyne. Coan is dogshit.
     
  40. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    pyne too
     
  41. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    As a member of the fire Quinn into the sun super fan club i have to say that the line looked much improved against vt
     
    Irish226, repoocs, IrishLAX2 and 4 others like this.
  42. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
    Donor

    why it too 6 games to get there…
     
  43. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    the same exact question popped into my head as I was writing this. It was the same in 2018, same in 2019, same in 2020 and same now.

    the line always seems to take some time to gel, not sure how it is at other places but it seems to be the same
     
    Rise likes this.
  44. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    The line looked very average last year against duke and Louisville
     
    Rise likes this.
  45. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    Am I making excuses for Jeff Quinn right now? Damn, Thoros of Beer come get me out of that funk
     
    Beeds07 likes this.
  46. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Quinn needs to go and I bet he does with del this offseason
     
    repoocs, 40wwttamgib and IHHH like this.
  47. AbeFroman

    AbeFroman You touch me, I yell RAT!

    Please be true.
     
    IHHH and 40wwttamgib like this.
  48. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Notre Dame Fighting IrishCleveland BrownsMontreal Canadiens

    upload_2021-10-11_16-8-31.gif
     
    Rise likes this.
  49. CTownND

    CTownND Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Is there any Scharuth recruiting update? UW starting 1-3 probably wasn't great for them, but looks like they're gonna end up 8-4 or 7-5 so not sure their in-season performance is an issue if he wants to go there
     
  50. Rise

    Rise Well-Known Member
    Donor

    His GF is still going to uw and it’s going to be a really hard pull
     
    40wwttamgib, SD_Irish and NilesIrish like this.