Yes, we were the better team, but we need to clean up some things, namely running QBs, & the flats.
Also, we just spent a pretty penny on Beck, let him play. We called a very conservative game, & truthfully…CJ Daniel’s miraculous Palm of God catch saved an int.
This was Carr’s 1st start, & he looked way too comfortable a lot in the 2nd half. In the obvious passing situations to end the game, we turned up the heat. I like what I saw in some areas, & then in others I’m just like: we were lucky.
All in all, I’ll sleep easy tonight. Moving fwd, we gotta trust Beck more. We allowed ND to stay in this game & to be brutally honest, that’s a Mario calling card.
Agree mostly.
My big thing is the conservative game plan to grind out the win. Having said that, I watched some plays back watching what they were doing defensively.
Their secondary is rock solid. Sure, they hold some, but everyone does these days. Lots of hand checking and fighting, which used to be an automatic flag. They got the benefit of the doubt a few times for sure.
They're also known as a man coverage team. Their new guy though was really mixing it up all over. We didn't have film on that and I don't feel like we game planned for it, when they'd drop to a zone after the snap, which they disguised wonderfully.
That's a too 3 secondary with LSU and OSU in my opinion. Feel free to argue which is the best.
I'm not sure we trust anyone other than Toney out there and they even accounted for him on every play. His quick change of direction is what got him open time and again. WR beyond him is a big question and there was little to no separation besides him.
It took a catch of a lifetime grab and ended up being the difference in the game. That's football, but I think the game was indicative of two pretty even teams.
Wish Mario would show something on the sidelines. He looks like a deer in headlights zombie out there. Passion post victory, but get on the officials for what I felt were some very questionable calls.
It's a win, lots of work to do. I think we'll see what this team's capabilities are when we aren't facing a secondary that by and large will all play in the NFL.
Lastly, F'the Irish. I feel dirty giving them a compliment, but they're a good team led by a coach I can't help but like a whole lot. After decades of guys leading them, he makes it hard to dislike that team (or at least root for them to lose) like I always did. ****, I'd rather they win out to make this win mean more, I mean WTF, 20 something me would want to kick my ***.
