After the bowl game last year I stated how long it had been since I felt so nice after a big game. This was another very nice feeling, albeit not quite as big of a game but the opener is always a bit of a mystery each year.
First a couple band/campus highlights. ND just sold out the game on Friday, kind of unusual for an opener I think. ND band show including tunes by Earth/Wind/Fire, Chicago, and the end-credits dance tune from "Slum Dog Millionaire". The last one was a crowd pleaser as you might imagine. Regular band announcer is overseas visiting his son in the military so there was a sub announcer, Dick Nolan (radio guy) who will also be at the Michigan game. The two teams engaged in a pre-game group hug to demonstrate sportsmanship (what the heck was that?). Maybe because of that Oregon - Boise State punching incident?
The colonel always has his legal pad with him during the game so I tried to keep a couple notes on my BB to remember my observations. Simple high level grading: Clausen = A, Oline = B, Defense = B, Weis = A. Jimmy had no bonehead plays, always threw to the right guy, looked very good. Lots of time in the pocket was great but run blocking still needs to improve, next week will tell us more on the run game. Defense pitched a shutout against a decent offense. The yards/play was high for Nevada but they made a few key mistakes and had a couple bad breaks. They really should have scored some points given the way they moved the ball at times. But you have to enjoy our first shutout in 5 years. Charlie gets an A for play calling and for having the team mentally ready. We played hard on every down.
Other observations: Michael Floyd is a stud, cannot be covered 1/1. If Tate, Floyd and Rudolph stay healthy we will give defenses fits. Loved to see a few tackles for losses by the D, really upset Nevada's flow. Defensive backfield closing speed is impressive, should help keep big plays down. Very few penalties, terrific! Several good looking freshmen contributed
Concerns: Lacked a little killer instinct in 2nd half. Losing the line of scrimmage on defense too often. Why does Charlie call those gimmick direct snap plays when the regular offense is clicking just fine? While we did okay on short yardage runs, run game was not dominant. A little too much showboating or taunting by the defense: have to watch from going over the line there.
Overall a terrific day and I am very encouraged. We have some tougher games ahead for sure, but if we play like we did yesterday we will win most of them.
Go Irish! Beat Wolverines!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
The "group hug" was done at all games this weekend in the name of sportsmanship. Hopefully it was just this weekend. Doesn't make sense before the game, if you ask me. Didn't help at Boise State, as you noted.
While it is the first shutout in Charlie's 5 seasons, it's actually the first for ND in seven years. Last one was 2002 vs Rutgers.
I really wish we would have attempted a field goal or two on friendly turf. Hope my bad feeling about that isn't warranted at Ann Arbor.
Post a Comment