So what? Good theater... 10.27.2009

So what? Very interesting… 10.27.2009

Notre Dame Football certainly makes for good theater. Just look at the Boston College game. They stop a big run team; but gave up third and long; forced five turnovers; but again made a freshman’s look like a veteran; the defensive line and linebackers have become the tacklers; but BC’s one and only play maker always seemed to get open.

It’s like they opened Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, except you know what you’ll get - a combination of progression and regression in which progression wins out five of seven times.

Blue Gray Sky pointed to the best example of the team’s biggest shortcoming. They said “Boston College completed passes of 24, 23, 22, 7 (TD), 20, 33 and 28 yards on 3rd and 4th down.” They skipped mentioning the inability to stop a 4th and seventeen in the game’s final minutes.

That’s about 179 yards on eight plays (22yds pp). Take away half of these and you get only 89 yrds gained on four plays. Take the deal and “run, Forrest run!” If it was a deal that is.. So what does it take?

At this point it is almost not worth dwelling on. The 2009 team will likely go down as the team that gave chunks. Not exactly bend, don’t break. Just chunks. Most of these chunks come right in the middle of the field. This may not be an accident either. The sidelines have been protected in recent games and the corners and safeties aren’t being beaten deep. That with an improving run defense, usually means something will give.

I believe the middle field is the give because they don’t have what they need there, yet. It ruins your stats but you win five out of seven games, so far. During one of those losses, the run defense wasn’t stable. USC exposed the talent gap narrowed, not closed. But ND can win games. ND is a good team because of it.

Weis is correct when says that they need to stabilize the secondary. I have a feeling he’s on to something. He must have liked some combination they tried on Saturday against BC. My guess is Sergio Brown at one of the safety positions is the weight that will stabilize. I’m not saying he’s the star back with NFL talent. But he does seem to be in the right place and can tackle. He nearly had two INTs in the middle of the field – the sore spot.

The other option I feel will be Gary Gray. Right out of high school Gray looked like a cover corner. He is beginning to play that way. Even when the completed pass was on his guy, he was there in good position to make a play.

Kyle McCarthy I thought was great at free safety. He had two interceptions and read the plays very well! Keep him there. That leaves either Robert Blanton or Darrin Walls, and perhaps Raeshon McNeil, all of whom I think have played well enough recently stabilize the secondary.

Sadly, even with the starting position on the line, Harrison Smith still looked like he doesn’t understand the assignments. How is this possible? Perhaps something personal is going with the kid and it distracts him. He certainly looks distracted and has all season. But he may not be the only one.

Whose job was it to cover Rich Gunnell on that 4th and 17? You couldn’t tell in the replay. It may have been a zone defense, but come on! Who do you think he’s going to throw to? Zeke Motta, a freshman, had his man covered – it was under the play, but he knew his assignment. In fact, on Brian Smith’s interception that closed the deal, the pass was again going to Gunnell. At least Smith paid attention. But are the assignments that tough?

Missed assignments may be the reason the pass rush looks on step behind. We think they are slow developing, but it could be that the QB can find someone open. It works both ways.

That’s enough with the defense for now.

What about the red zone offense? I do think it has suffered since Michael Floyd went down. I guess Deion Walker doesn’t have the jump/fade down yet, because you think he’d be a good option for that. Robby Parris would have had the TD if he turned to his left first to align his hands. With Floyd missing it’s easier to watch two guys, Golden Tate and Kyle Rudolf than three.

But why does Armando Allen come out of the offense in the red zone? He’s a threat to run inside, outside, and catch as well. He has a touchdown pass for crying out loud! When Robert Hughes is in the backfield, everyone knows he gets the ball. To my disappointment he doesn’t have the Jerome Bettis or Marc Edwards ability to punch it through when needed (the two point conversion this year, he was carried by a guard and a tackle). Allen has better vision as well and can adjust better. Heck, why not?

But success is coming a little at a time. Another monkey on the back has been removed from this team with beating BC at home. Washington State is an opportunity to improve the team and build confidence. The objective should be to get the starting offense, or some of it off the field early and give the inexperienced guys some action.

But again, as we know the vacillation of positive and negative happenings on this team brings much anxiety to the likes of us. If there isn’t any anxiety next week in some form, we’ll likely worry that something was wrong. However, I’ll take a big win, just like I’d take half the productivity of the opposing offense.

There is a challenge to be met next Saturday. WSU has a freshman quarterback. Will there be more improvement Saturday? I don’t know. But I have a feeling they’ll be throwing the ball to the middle of the field. Let’s see some stabilization and less theatrics!!