Notre Dame Snowflakes: The Defense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

This will be the thread for thoughts and hot takes about the defense and defensive playcalling.

TVG_2.0

September 1st, 2018 at 11:07 PM ^

Really hope people don’t give the defense a pass just because they only gave up three in the second half. ND packed it in just like MSU did last year. They had no reason to take any chances.  Offense was worse, but man what a dissapointment by Don Brown and company. 

DMack

September 2nd, 2018 at 6:01 AM ^

As much as I love the Defense and Don Brown, once again they got punched in the mouth by a bully and it took them too long to recover. We usually don't win, playing from behind.

1. Too many penalties, and a few extended drives, turned into points.

2. Corners struggled against big receivers and seemed outmatched.

3. NDs offense seemed to constantly capitalize on our aggressiveness and over-pursuit.

4. Several teams with mobile QBs have hurt us in the past by avoiding the sack and running.

5. Run defense was pretty stellar except when we over pursued and QB made us pay.

Shout-outs to: Ross, Woods, Gill and Watson, The entire D-Line did great, I think teams are simply using a game plan that uses our aggressiveness against us. This is a coaching issue that has to be fixed because slippery mobile QBs are killing us and it seems planned.

note: Kinnell is still inconsistent. Although he's a sure tackler, He takes the wrong angles, isn't a very good cover guy and gave up a few big plays as did the corners who always seemed to not know when the ball was coming. But for the big TD where he could have knocked the ball down, Hawkins was solid. (An ex-WR is supposed to catch that ball). 

 

CHUKA

September 2nd, 2018 at 12:16 AM ^

Exactly. Not very good at all. People put all their weight into stats and forget that they’re averages. Who cares if you shut down the bottom feeders and get rolled by any above average team.

There’s just something wrong with this program. No matter who coaches, no matter who plays, it’s the same shit - different day. I get my hopes up every year for nothing... I’m about done. 

CHUKA

September 2nd, 2018 at 1:31 AM ^

If we’re talking in terms of the whole team  then no we didn’t get “rolled” (I definitely could have used a better word haha). But I think that’s subjective. I don’t think a team has to drop 50 on you for it to be considered a dominant or at least convincing offense performance.

MGoJackhammer

September 1st, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^

Gonna say it. This is the same as last year. Get ripped in the first half then shut them down in the second half. Great half time adjustments but the weekly game plan is meh. Who knew we were facing a running qb. Everybody. Not sure why this is so. That being said that o-line...ugh.

Smells.Like.Victory

September 1st, 2018 at 11:14 PM ^

Need pressure up the middle. Any good QB will simply step up and let Gary and Chase collide into each other.

Viper seemed to not be involved like the last few years.

Like always we didn't contain outside read 

enlightenedbum

September 1st, 2018 at 11:14 PM ^

Levert struggled in the first half, which was shocking.  Gary and Winovich were over aggressive in the first half, pursued too far upfield, got that corrected in the second half and were dominant.  Dwumfor >>> Marshall, who got way too much time in the first half.  Outside of the one hold by Ross where he panicked and the 3rd and 18 where I think Bush was cramping, LBs were OK.  Thought Woods showed some things in the second half.

Our DT rotation baffled me.

LSAClassOf2000

September 1st, 2018 at 11:17 PM ^

Just so everyone is aware, I've discovered that I can keep these threads at the top of the board far easier than in the previous version of the site, so there is that. 

As for the defense, they gave up:

7.73 yards per attempt in the air

14.17 yards per completion in the air

2.81 average yards per rush

...which doesn't seem totally bad on paper (but not spectacular, especially on pass defense), but paper didn't play that game, of course.

Jeremichi96

September 1st, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^

You had a running qb and you did the opposite of how to contain that... why!?!?! I know its early but this was an all or nothing season for me and I dont see us going anywhere now. That sucks. But its reality. And I usually post on how people have to calm down after a loss. This was the easiest road win in my opinion for us on the year.  Well for the tough games at least. 

snowcrash

September 1st, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^

The defense was pretty good after the first two series, and even the first two series had more unlucky plays than awful plays. This wasn't one of our better games, but I think this unit can be as good as last year's.

BornInAA

September 1st, 2018 at 11:58 PM ^

Sorry Yo,

the almighty UFR doesn't really cut it.

We look good ON PAPER and UFR because we give up 14 points in 3 minutes and then opposing coach goes into turtle mode.

Then we have lots of pretty tackle stats later in the game after the D gave up a hole our O can't possibly climb out of.

The D stank bad 1st half, and yes it was a team effort loss. You cannot spot a top ten team 14 and expect to win.

funkywolve

September 2nd, 2018 at 12:18 AM ^

Agree.  3 of the first 4 drives of the game for ND went:  75 yds for a TD, 96 yds for a TD and 75 yds for a TD.  I think most realistic people expected this to be a low scoring dog fight.  Being down 21-3 halfway through the second quarter was a hole to big for the offense to overcome.

stephenrjking

September 2nd, 2018 at 12:06 AM ^

It was a bad break, the receiver's head going down like that, but the rule exists to make the defenders avoid that and Metellus should have been careful.

BTW Wimbush's long prayer TD was right after that because, as the announcers correctly pointed out, he was going right at Metellus's replacement. Kinda lucky, but that is how the game is played.

The bad call was the PI on Lavert, which should have been OPI. That was a huuuuge pushoff.

The Man Down T…

September 1st, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^

Doesn't help when you rough the QB on 3rd down when it would have been 4th.  Or when you hold the receiver on 3rd down when if you didn't it would have been 4th.  Or...    It was sloppy and undisciplined.  They couldn't stop them on 3rd down FFS.  Crazy.