No Love from our Defense

[Gocanes1990]

I’ve personally never seen such discussion on two incredibly obvious intentional grounding calls. On the second one, I almost lost my mind.

The holding where the center (I think it was) pulled our Dt on top of him that got picked up was effing Wild. Wouldnt have been in fg range after that. Never seen a hold picked up in 30 years or watching

 

[pubmedu]

 

[JHallCanes]

That ND gameplan was highly protective. Extreme reliance on WR screens and quick drops. I have no idea if we’ll have a top pass rush or not, but not a good game to evaluate it. ND mainly played within what I used to call the Patrick Nix rectangle (it has a max height of 12 yards). Even when they broke out of it, it was a quick drop fade route (50/50). Very, very protective of their young QB in the passing game.

Agreed

We got unrelenting pressure when the situation dictated it with just 4

I **** near shed a tear between that and a couple of tackles by Popo that saved huge plays

 

[NC_Canes_11]

Isn’t that what I’m saying? Ha. My post is in response to someone calling for more pressures and sacks. I’m stating those stats were limited by ND’s gameplan.

If you’re talking about stats, then yes you are absolutely correct. But watching the tape, it’s a great game to evaluate it.

 

[252cane]

I’d like to see our CBs play bump more, but perhaps it’s not part of the new crew’s style. I think it’d match well with our DL.

Think it was because the opponent and nd looking to run and like sneaking love out the backfield. You play zone to keep everything in front and guys backs aren’t turned

 

[Caned Peach]

The D shutdown to close the game was old school Canes. Carr and Co had no chance.

We were the better team last night on both sides of the ball. Haven't been able to say that against a top team in a long time.

 

[TaylorWalls]

Something the announcers didn't notice on the next to last sack: the attempted pass hit a lineman in the back. So even if they didn't call grounding, it should have been illegal touching.

 

[TheToadSage]

I thought the DL controlled the game for the most part. Definitely need to see more pressures and sacks but that’s definitely the best OL they’ll face all year.

The sacks should come, a couple of sacks didn’t get to count since Carr decided to intentionally ground the football. I wish the sack would include in that penalty

 

[marshallrc13]

So many things to rewatch, but I usually watch defense from the Safeties in, and I was truly impressed with our overall approach to Jeremiyah Love.

That kid has some elite attributes, and we put him in relative shackles. I’d be surprised if he had another game as statistically poor as this one. It took a whole bunch of sound defense to do it.

Props to Aguirre, who stopped at least two plays out in space that would have likely been 50+ yarders last season. Other LBs filled hard, too.

Props to the DL, who took that overhyped OL and moved them around as they wished.

And, to the DBs. After what we watched last year at Safety, tonight’s game was a breath of fresh air (with a few hiccups) against the run. This group went from running in the wrong direction to looking for contact and gang tackling.

Totally agree. Outside of 2 plays, their first TD, and the busted coverage late with the TE going almost 50 yards I was truly impressed. No alignment issues, not missing tackles everywhere, no confusion. And we really controlled the LOS. Didn't like letting their QB run so much but we will adjust.

 

[rsa coral gables]

the DL didn't have 50 sacks because Carr got the ball out in 2 seconds or less at least 75% of the time. he had no time back there. ND coaches knew it and game planned it. carr missed a ton of open throws because of the pressure

 

[QSTOKES]

Hetherman had Bain and Mesidor on the same side to end the game. that mtf is a maniac

 

[nycane]

The holding where the center (I think it was) pulled our Dt on top of him that got picked up was effing Wild. Wouldnt have been in fg range after that. Never seen a hold picked up in 30 years or watching

I saw plays where them fell on top of our DL guys and it wasnt called.

 

[nycane]

that new safety Thomas looks like a miami player.

 

[jsy]

Fundamental football
No Chinese fire drill as ball is snapped
Alignment was sound - wish we would press
More
Tackling was sound
Coverage was solid except on scramble drill and when 1 got lost
I think we have the horses if we stay healthy to make a run

I feel we played a lot of two deep shell to prevent any db slipping and giving up an easy big play

 

[jsy]

It’s clear we finally got the top portal Dt
And not the second choice

 

[PennsylvaniaCane]

Takeaways on the defense

Played much faster with intent
Blay has a ridiculous first step.
Moten and Scott equally quick off the ball
Bain and Mesidor lol
LBs actually looked the part
DBs for a first game together played pretty well

 

[QuattroCane]

Have to give credit where credit is due. Notre Dame’s got some players, if that defensive effort shows up every week we’re gonna maul a lot of teams.

 

[Spindrift]

"Swarm to the ball"

That's what Bain said Heatherman preaches. No matter what, swarm the ball

That was our defensive mantra during the championship years.
I think it was the Canes that coined and played to that mantra
So good to be hearing that again.

Totally agree. Outside of 2 plays, their first TD, and the busted coverage late with the TE going almost 50 yards I was truly impressed. No alignment issues, not missing tackles everywhere, no confusion. And we really controlled the LOS. Didn't like letting their QB run so much but we will adjust.

That delay of game call bothers me. Did the play come in late? Or was it on Beck?
We gotta clean that **** up.

 

[CANEFAN83]

So many things to rewatch, but I usually watch defense from the Safeties in, and I was truly impressed with our overall approach to Jeremiyah Love.

That kid has some elite attributes, and we put him in relative shackles. I’d be surprised if he had another game as statistically poor as this one. It took a whole bunch of sound defense to do it.

Props to Aguirre, who stopped at least two plays out in space that would have likely been 50+ yarders last season. Other LBs filled hard, too.

Props to the DL, who took that overhyped OL and moved them around as they wished.

And, to the DBs. After what we watched last year at Safety, tonight’s game was a breath of fresh air (with a few hiccups) against the run. This group went from running in the wrong direction to looking for contact and gang tackling.

Bain had a great night. The only real bad play all night was Toure lapse in coverage late that caused that 60 yard play that led to ND score. Our D played well for most of night. Kudos to the Staff including Hetherman as well.

 

[Hstokes1447]

I have been beating the table about this all offseason. Heatherman defense and Miami talent together is a recipe for a dominate defense. By midseason the defense should be buzzing.