Monday, September 1, 2014

Game Review - Rice


After letting a day go by we re-watch the game and note things with the ability to rewind if needed.

I don't know if it is the shoulder pads but Golson looks bigger / bulky up top.

Amir Carlisle looks more than comfortable running back kick offs.

Cody Riggs is a punt return god compared to years past with a 23 yard return.

Golson is extending plays at least giving the Irish a chance.

On defense when Jarron Jones gets his arms up if he is not deflecting passes he is altering their path.

30 yards for Cody Riggs on his second punt return, yeah he could work out.

Greg Bryant looks good early.  He like to run forward.

Being aggressive with the defensive backs could be dangerous when defending passes over the middle.

True freshman Andrew Trumbetti gets after it.

How was Zack Wright that open when rushing only three on Rice's first touchdown?  Answer: poor communication on the part of the Irish defense (loss of Russell, Collinsworth and Grace).

Brian VanGorder has fire in the belly.  He was not happy with his defense as they came off the field after giving up a score.

I like the big chunk play call Golson to Fuller for a 75 yard TD right after a Rice score.

Jaylon Smith gets all over the field.

Greg Bryant returns punts like re runs out of the backfield; go, go , go.

Kyle Brindza needs to make the easy field goals.

Passes over the middle seems to be a weak spot for the Irish defense.

C.J. Prosise needs to make the catch midway through the 2nd quarter for a touchdown.

Cole Like looks good for his first career start but still making mistakes because of poor communication.

It's good to score a touchdown with 3:18 left in the first half when the Irish were in the red zone instead of a field goal.

The pass defense, especially over the middle keeps looking suspect.

with 21 seconds left in the first half I love the aggressive play calling.  Fuller should have adjusted and caught that pass.

Golson bought time and made something happen.  It should have been Prosise's second TD reception of the day.

I love that Sheldon Day dropped into coverage picking up the running back.

Nice pick up by James Onwualu to stop the fake punt.

Dropped pass by Ben Koyack needs to be caught if he his going to carry on the Tight End U. tradition.

On Golson's third TD Bryant may have gone the wrong way but maybe it should go into the playbook.

The red zone scoring is MUCH better.

Not a good defense on the Rice screen at all at the start of the fourth quarter.

Greg Bryant needs to learn about the fair catch.  It may not have burned him against Rice but it will.

Folston looks good in the second half as Bryant did in the first.

As the Irish second team defense is playing ; Freshmen Daniel Cage at the Nose and Nyles Morgan at the Inside Linebacker position look promising (if not big) for the future.

Not thrilled with Nicky Baratti giving up  a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Yep Malik Zaire can run.

Not to be outdone by the running abilities of Greg Bryant.

Baratti makes up (a little) recovers a fumble for the second turnover forced by the Irish defense.

1-0 Michigan up next.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Simple Observations - Rice

Here come the Irish
With week one against Rice in the books we defiantly saw some things worth noting.  One snowflake does not make a blizzard however the Irish are off to a good start and look like they are heading in the right direction.

Golson
Golson is good to go.  Everett looked pretty good for a guy who has not taken a snap in a game in 600 days.  He looked good in the pocket, he made his read, checked off as needed and moved with a purpose as opposed to just scrambling.  Let's pump the breaks on any Heisman talk but if he keep playing this good we can have that type of discussion in six weeks.

Greg Bryant looks like the real deal and with four years of eligibility after redshirting last season Notre Dame's running game looks solid (especially with Folston) for years to come.


Bryant on the return
The kick return game has risen like the Phoenix from the ashes.  After years of a dismal punt return game the Irish looked more than good with Brant (3 returns for 31 yards and a long of 18) and Riggs ( 2 for 49 yards with a long of 25) back there.  Amir Carlisle returned two kick off for 49 yards with a long of 36.

Will Fuller
Although Will Fuller had the lion's share of receptions with four (one for 75 yards and three more for a total of 10 yards and a touchdown the lead receiver is yet to be determined with seven players catching passes.

For the first game the team looked disciplined with only two penalties (both off sides) for a total of 10 yards.


The defensive line will be rotating bodies throughout the game.  Young players including Cage, Blankenship, Trumbetti, Rochell, and Matuska will work with Jones and Day to keep the D-line fresh.


Ziare
The defensive backfield (linebackers included) needs to do a better job communicating or they will get lit up by a good passing team.

Malik Ziare will be in Golson's rearview mirror.

Michigan will be a much tougher test.