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Notre Dame On-Field Breakdown Thread

One thing I’ve noticed about this ND defense is that they tend to start very slow. Most of the points they’ve given up this season have come in the first half. They’re susceptible to getting gashed on the ground, and through the air, they play a lot of soft zone that allows offenses to move the ball without much resistance.

Wisconsin – 14 points total, 10 in the first half.
Michigan State – 10 points total, all 10 in the first half.
North Carolina – 26 points total, 14 in the first half.
BYU – 28 points total, 21 in the first half.
Navy – 13 points total, all 13 in the first half.

If they come out and play anything like they have shown on film, Mensah is going to carve them up. I think Miami can put up 21–28 points by halftime.
 
Just listened to the Ruffino and Joe Show breakdown of the game and they basically said the same thing. Denbrock, if he has one brain cell in his head, should throw the ball almost every play, mostly to the backs and tight ends, because our secondary is terrible (made a specific mention of how bad the safeties have been) and we can't tackle anyone.

Ruffino picked Miami (Joe is an admitted ND fan and didn't make a pick but said he didn't feel great about ND's chances) and said he trusts Mensah more in a shootout, but this is another national show echoing what seems to be a pretty clear blueprint. Game will be high scoring, Miami is incredible on offense and pure, adulterated *** on defense against the pass, just throw it every play and hope you can outscore Miami.
 
NicKane said:
Agreed to a certain extent on Onye but there’s a chance that Brewu might be done for the year. So I don’t think we see him out there on Saturday.
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Yeah, that's what I said. I think Onye tries to play, but there are reports Brewu might be in real injury trouble, so I don't make a prediction on him.
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
Just listened to the Ruffino and Joe Show breakdown of the game and they basically said the same thing. Denbrock, if he has one brain cell in his head, should throw the ball almost every play, mostly to the backs and tight ends, because our secondary is terrible (made a specific mention of how bad the safeties have been) and we can't tackle anyone.

Ruffino picked Miami (Joe is an admitted ND fan and didn't make a pick but said he didn't feel great about ND's chances) and said he trusts Mensah more in a shootout, but this is another national show echoing what seems to be a pretty clear blueprint. Game will be high scoring, Miami is incredible on offense and pure, adulterated *** on defense against the pass, just throw it every play and hope you can outscore Miami.
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He talked about Carr throwing 49 passes against BYU like 5 different times but never once acknowledged he threw 0 TD's.

We obviously have an issue in coverage but Carr didn't light them up either.
 
LuCane said:
Yeah, that's what I said. I think Onye tries to play, but there are reports Brewu might be in real injury trouble, so I don't make a prediction on him.
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Guy who seems pretty connected to the program says he'd be shocked if either plays. I think they're going to be down Brewu for sure, Onye most likely, Bowen for sure, McKinney for sure, and the other Safety who was a starter for them but only played 1 game.

But, compared to their preseason depth chart, I think they're going to be down 5 of 11 starters on defense. And Moore hasn't played much recently, how rusty is he?
 
San Amaro Dr said:
He talked about Carr throwing 49 passes against BYU like 5 different times but never once acknowledged he threw 0 TD's.

We obviously have an issue in coverage but Carr didn't light them up either.
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I didn't take it like that at all. He was more saying they have that gameplan in the bag. At least, that's how I understood it. Not that it was wildly successful, but it's not like this has to be a run first team. They dropped back over 50 times against BYU, Miami is *** at defending it, run it back and see if you have more success.

He basically said what I said, why even try to run the ball? Obviously you're not going to run it 0 times, let's be adults. But the gameplan should be a heavy, heavy, heavy dose of the throw game. He was just questioning whether Denbrock actually does it because it seems like he's been a moron for most of his tenure there versus what Ruffino saw at LSU.
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
Just listened to the Ruffino and Joe Show breakdown of the game and they basically said the same thing. Denbrock, if he has one brain cell in his head, should throw the ball almost every play, mostly to the backs and tight ends, because our secondary is terrible (made a specific mention of how bad the safeties have been) and we can't tackle anyone.

Ruffino picked Miami (Joe is an admitted ND fan and didn't make a pick but said he didn't feel great about ND's chances) and said he trusts Mensah more in a shootout, but this is another national show echoing what seems to be a pretty clear blueprint. Game will be high scoring, Miami is incredible on offense and pure, adulterated *** on defense against the pass, just throw it every play and hope you can outscore Miami.
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It would be a stupid game plan.

I think the reason why UNC was so successful was that they were able to run the ball and keep us unbalanced. They were in many third and short situations and third and manageable distances. They were able to run the ball and keep the chains moving.

Throwing every down would be suicidal.
 
San Amaro Dr said:
He talked about Carr throwing 49 passes against BYU like 5 different times but never once acknowledged he threw 0 TD's.

We obviously have an issue in coverage but Carr didn't light them up either.
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I'm 3 games into their season and this dude rarely throws anyone open. They have some decent concepts against zone and he loves to take free money on the outside to Faison (#6) and #14 (can't remember his name right now). That's actually a perfect match for us, because we love bailing our DBs and giving free money. I did see a nice dig route by Faison against Wiscy. That was a tendency breaker that can probably really hurt us.
 
Colombie said:
It would be a stupid game plan.

I think the reason why UNC was so successful was that they were able to run the ball and keep us unbalanced. They were in many third and short situations and third and manageable distances. They were able to run the ball and keep the chains moving.

Throwing every down would be suicidal.
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UNC threw the ball the majority of 1st downs. Hetherman's explanation is shaky. UNC was one step ahead of our run orientation. They weren't in 3rd and short only because of early down running.
 
Colombie said:
It would be a stupid game plan.

I think the reason why UNC was so successful was that they were able to run the ball and keep us unbalanced. They were in many third and short situations and third and manageable down and distances. They were able to run the ball and keep the chains moving.

Throwing every down would be suicidal.
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Sigh. This one's on me. I have to be more specific on here, my bad. I'm not saying throw every single play. I'm saying throw the vast majority of the time. Also, UNC dropped back 42 times, and ran 21. That's the ratio you want to beat Miami, if not even heavier throw.
 
Braduhley said:
Wouldn't mind seeing some 10+ play 7+ minute drives where Fletch and Mallory pound the rock. The less our defense is on the field the better.
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I believe this is the key to win this week, and I believe it’s attainable. Dawson has to have one of his flawless games, that we know he’s capable of.
 
Start fast out of the gate with Fletcher & Mallory. Then burn their *** with Toney, Barkate & Lofton. Get Carr completely out of his comfort zone & don’t commit stupid penalties. Looks like ACC refs.
 
LuCane said:
UNC threw the ball the majority of 1st downs. Hetherman's explanation is shaky. UNC was one step ahead of our run orientation. They weren't in 3rd and short only because of early down running.
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People don't understand what they watch. Here are their 11 3rd downs:

1. 3rd and 10, converted with an 11 yard pass. Was 3rd and 10 after 2 incompletions on 1st and 2nd.
2. 3rd and 7, sack, forced punt. Was 3rd and 7 after a 3 yard run on 1st, and an Edwards scramble on 2nd for 0 yards.
3. 3rd and 1, converted with a 9 yard pass. Was 3rd and 1 after an 8 yard completion on 1st down, 1 yard run on 2nd down.
4. 3rd and 2, converted with a 4 yard run. Was 3rd and 2 after a 5 yard completion on 1st down, 3 yard run on 2nd down.
5. 3rd and 3, converted with a 6 yard run. Was 3rd and 3 after 2 passes on 1st and 2nd down.
6. 3rd and 8, not converted after a 7 yard run. They did convert the 4th and 1. Was 3rd and 8 after a pass on 1st down incomplete, 2 yard run.
7. 3rd and goal from the 8, converted for a TD on a pass. Was 3rd and goal after an incompletion, then run for no gain.
8. 3rd and 6, converted with a 23 yard pass to the TE. Pass on 1st incomplete, run on 2nd for 4 yards.
9. 3rd and 1, converted with a 2 yard run. Pass on 1st down for 9, pass on 2nd down incomplete.
10. 3rd and 2, not converted after a 1 yard run. They did convert the 4th and 1. Pass on 1st down for 7, run on 2nd down for 1.
11. 3rd and 2, converted with an 11 yard pass. 8 yard pass on 1st down, penalty on 2nd, then 10 yard pass after penalty set up the 3rd and 2.

Under no circumstances, AT ALL, were they converting 3rd and short because they kept us off balance running. Their backs only had 21 carries the whole game, and I just listed 7 of them above when it was 3rd or 4th down. They had 6 instances of a 3rd and 3 or less, every single one of those came after a completion on 1st down. Every single one.
 
LuCane said:
UNC threw the ball the majority of 1st downs. Hetherman's explanation is shaky. UNC was one step ahead of our run orientation. They weren't in 3rd and short only because of early down running.
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I never said anything about early down running.
I am emphasizing that if they choose to throw on every single down it would not work.
 
OrangeBowlMagic said:
People don't understand what they watch. Here are their 11 3rd downs:

1. 3rd and 10, converted with an 11 yard pass. Was 3rd and 10 after 2 incompletions on 1st and 2nd.
2. 3rd and 7, sack, forced punt. Was 3rd and 7 after a 3 yard run on 1st, and an Edwards scramble on 2nd for 0 yards.
3. 3rd and 1, converted with a 9 yard pass. Was 3rd and 1 after an 8 yard completion on 1st down, 1 yard run on 2nd down.
4. 3rd and 2, converted with a 4 yard run. Was 3rd and 2 after a 5 yard completion on 1st down, 3 yard run on 2nd down.
5. 3rd and 3, converted with a 6 yard run. Was 3rd and 3 after 2 passes on 1st and 2nd down.
6. 3rd and 8, not converted after a 7 yard run. They did convert the 4th and 1. Was 3rd and 8 after a pass on 1st down incomplete, 2 yard run.
7. 3rd and goal from the 8, converted for a TD on a pass. Was 3rd and goal after an incompletion, then run for no gain.
8. 3rd and 6, converted with a 23 yard pass to the TE. Pass on 1st incomplete, run on 2nd for 4 yards.
9. 3rd and 1, converted with a 2 yard run. Pass on 1st down for 9, pass on 2nd down incomplete.
10. 3rd and 2, not converted after a 1 yard run. They did convert the 4th and 1. Pass on 1st down for 7, run on 2nd down for 1.
11. 3rd and 2, converted with an 11 yard pass. 8 yard pass on 1st down, penalty on 2nd, then 10 yard pass after penalty set up the 3rd and 2.

Under no circumstances, AT ALL, were they converting 3rd and short because they kept us off balance running. Their backs only had 21 carries the whole game, and I just listed 7 of them above when it was 3rd or 4th down. They had 6 instances of a 3rd and 3 or less, every single one of those came after a completion on 1st down. Every single one.
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They were running in those short yardage plays. Not throwing on every down.
 
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