Not to harp on it too much, but I saw it in the 1Q and from that point on, 9 hasn’t been asked to slice in either split flow or wham action, it’s been 87 exclusively. Here he gets the block and opens up the lane for Brown to hit the split flow crease.
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That’s a hold, though it’s not egregious. Called on Miami. Fine, he’s turning and impeding the rush as he hooks him. How about these DB’s who constantly grabbed and held the receivers and were called for it only once (on a blatant trip that saved a TD). He nearly pulls Toney’s jersey off his shoulder pads in the open field, this is textbook defensive holding or PI (depends on if ball is in air). This stretch of time for the officials was a really rough stretch.
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#5 whipped Maigoa with a spin move here. Really nice from him. Don’t love the two outlets like this and nothing in the middle at the sticks from our route concept.
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Bain gets the glory, but this is another play that speaks to the way this defense is rallying to the football in a way that they simply didn’t do last year. Damari Brown jumps their screen they’ve run all night because he has help. That help you can’t see in this screenshot, but he actually gets the third tip after Brown tips it, then the receiver tips it, then Scott tips it, then Bain, who is running from some distance away keeps his motor going and picks it off. Any one of these players takes anything for granted and it falls harmlessly.
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Friends, if 9 can’t block better than this he isn’t going to play a ton, it’s that simple. He’s literally lifted off his fee by one arm of the defender and bullied into the backfield and 27 makes the tackle.
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9 pretty much tackles the RB with his back on this play. He’s straight bullied by 27, who is 6-3, 230 on their roster.
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This is a bad play by Toure here. You’re the force player and have two friends inside. The only place you can’t get beat outside and he runs inside here and lets Love run right by him outside. Can’t have it.
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We saw this all over the Hetherman tape. Low safety opposite RB will be a creeper and insert himself into the pressure package with LB coming off slot as the fifth man. Mike is lining up over the B-gap to protect that gap from exposure. What that means is he has to get all the way outside if the RB releases and he’s already lost leverage. That happens here and it’s an easy completion outside. Good play call by ND, well scouted and saved it for a big spot.
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It’s 2nd-and-1 so I get why Scott is bailing early for a deep shot (that’s a normal time to take a shot) and instead it’s a deep comeback and he’s wide open. Good play call again for that situation, but Miami made it too easy.
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Mesidor spot drops and the QB takes off. 3 just isn’t used to having to change directions like this in the open field. Toure does thump the QB here as he comes across the field.
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I’ve knocked Moten a few times for getting washed down in run defense or for jumping inside when he needs to stay in his gap, but here he knocks the hands down quickly and gets the G off balance and causes a huge intentional grounding penalty.
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Official throws a flag for holding and then after the head official talks to him they decide to say no flag for holding. Ok, my guy, what did you see here to be throwing this flag then?
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I do not know what Mauigoa is doing here. C has the LB, Cooper is just pushing the edge wide and then is responsible for 3. 61 has to stay wide here and loses eye discipline. Beck gets it off, but this could’ve been a 1st down if 61 gets his block. That’s two tonight like this and this just can’t happen on a three-man rush.
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I roasted Toure on live watch, but I think he is just supposed to jam here and then play zone under. It looks like the post safety jump the dig and forgets about the seam. I highly doubt the defensive call is for Toure to carry the TE all the way down the seam without help like McElroy tries to tell you, so I believe this to be on Thomas. Thomas is circled in yellow and for some reason is trying to drive down on the RB at the 24. There is no world in which that is his responsibility.
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He doesn’t tackle Marion here this is a walk-in TD.
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You decide for yourself.
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That’s how you run hard on short yardage, friends.
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Oh man. This is just egregious. 87 & 9 have the LB 27 here and if they just make this block it’s a 1st down and maybe more. 78 is coming to seal and kick out and if Loften just holds this block it’s money. Why would he let him go and try to get to the second level here? Make sure you hold that block. It’s painful to watch this play. So painful in this spot as 27 splits it and makes a TFL. Lofton isn’t even looking at him as he’s trying to get to 8. This was a huge missed opportunity and I know Dawson was dejected. McCoy did make an awful block on the edge as well.
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Bain went full Bain mode on ND last drive and that’ll do it.
By the Numbers:
You might be surprised to see how Miami played their CB’s:
- Scott played 59 snaps to lead the secondary
- Lucas played 38 of a possible 60
- Frederique 34
- Ethan O’Connor played 31 (might surprise you)
- Damari Brown played 25 (and might have been the best guy of everyone)
- Bryce Fitzgerald already getting nine snaps in this one
Overall:
This was a bit more frustrating than I expected, because frankly, Miami was the better team by a decent amount. Realistically, they made some mistakes in the run game that really held them back from more points and less drama. A few coverage busts allowed ND to stay in this game and CJ Carr showed he can run this offense quite well. That QB draw game hurt Miami in the second half and that will be something to watch as we go along this season.
Overall, watching this team play with physicality and a motor that doesn’t stop was encouraging. Seeing how much meat was left on that bone in the run game was encouraging. Watching Toney take over a game as a 17 y/o freshman was encouraging.
Funny, they didn’t show mom at the end of the game after showing her 47 times in the 2H. Wonder why?
Go Canes.
