I was struggling with the title for this week's post-game report and decided to let my gut do the talking. Ughh is pretty much how I felt all day as the Irish won but gave us little to cheer about in my view. Of course the team looked better than last year in general: able to move the ball, got some big stops, came from behind, etc. But you have to look at all that with SDSU filter on because they really should have been steamrolled. If we play like that the next few weeks we go easily go 1-3 for September. In the end I think we won because our superior ND athletes wore down SDSU with size and speed. For example, Golden Tate could blow by his 1/1 coverage all day.
Some of the big questions brought up by the Colonel are thought provoking. The offensive line seemed to provide decent pass protection but the run blocking is still lacking. One thing is clear to me: we have outstanding skill position talent at backs and receivers. If they get the ball past the line of scrimmage we will run up yardage and points against anybody. The turnovers hurt at some key plays but some were just bad breaks or bad luck hits (Allen's helmet to helmet hit for instance). What is most disappointing to me is the Weiss factor on two dimensions. One, he does not seem to get the team mentally prepared to play their best every week. Two, the team does not adjust at halftime and make marked improvements in my opinion. Sometimes it seems that the "pro-style" game plan is too analytical (or too stubborn) to let heart and emotion take over. I don't see that fire in the belly OR when it does appear it is rarely sustained.
Well, good teams improve as the season progresses. Next week should tell us a lot more that yesterday, hopefully it will be something good even if we lose. Just want to see us play up to our potential some week.
As for the band, it was an eclectic mix of Beach Boys and modern rock hits with a cute dance routine. But the highlight/lowlight was a dramatice reprise of the old SNL skit with Christopher Walken playing a record producer of "Don't fear the Reaper" where he wants more Cowbell. Unfortunately, Digger Phelps was playing the role of Walken and was his usual Blowhard self. Not sure why the band programmed that one in the show but it seemed to please the students.
Anway, got to go. Go Irish, Beat Wolverines!
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Yes, we were in "U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi" territory, so the Ughh is right on, Godfather.
I don't know if the "pro-style" takes emotion out of the game. As I noted, our best drive was pretty much a pro-style drive, and the crowd seemed into it. It was a Patriot-type drive and it just dissected the Aztecs. And it had rhythm. It clicked.
Concur on the lack of half-time adjustments. Mr Optimist here expected us to come out in the 3rd quarter and completely take control. Didn't happen.
Yeah, the cowbell thing looked kinda lame on nbcsports.com. Although some other music kept coming through on the link that made it hard to tell wheat was going on, audially speaking.
Here's my take on the offense. We need to average 150 yards per game on the ground. That will allow JC and the 4 Amigos (Tate, Grimes, Floyd and Kamara) to be effective as a passing team. I'll think of a better name for them later this week.
Time for bed.
Keep Blogging people. We've had 5 people post since the game ended. Where's OB? Jenny? Nancy, if there's a way to pop an email to everyone giving them the ability to reset their passwords, that might be a good idea.
Colonel out...
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