One Foot Down - 2022 Notre Dame Football: Stanford Cardinal WeekA never-ending discussion about Notre Dame and the greater CFB landscapehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52610/ofd_fav.png2022-10-17T16:31:43-04:00http://www.onefootdown.com/rss/stream/231629652022-10-17T16:31:43-04:002022-10-17T16:31:43-04:00How Notre Dame Football’s 2022 Opponents Fared in Week 7 of the CFB Season
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<img alt="USC v Utah" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Wta7u5MRA4azklPVxIoK3H0vJXQ=/0x0:2926x1951/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71508013/1244006525.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A little more losing</p> <p id="2e3QDY">Here are how each of the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a>’s opponents fared in week seven of the 2022 college football season:</p>
<h2 id="fZZHBb">
<a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com"><strong>OHIO STATE</strong></a> <strong>BUCKEYES (6-0) #2</strong>
</h2>
<p id="Z6Z2t3">The Buckeyes had the week off (to presumably watch Michigan destroy Penn State and vow to return the favor later in the year). </p>
<h2 id="PokbFw"><strong>MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD (3-3)</strong></h2>
<p id="gZO0Pd">Marshall lost to Louisiana 23-13. Not every team on the schedule can be as inviting as Notre Dame.</p>
<h2 id="HGNwF0">
<a href="https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com"><strong>CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS</strong></a><strong> (3-3)</strong>
</h2>
<p id="xS0sx4">Cal lost 20-13 to the <a href="https://www.ralphiereport.com">Colorado Buffaloes</a> — which might be the worst team in the power five this year. </p>
<h2 id="kqFLzS">
<a href="https://www.tarheelblog.com"><strong>NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS</strong></a> <strong>(6-1) #22</strong>
</h2>
<p id="YCYEAc">Drake Maye found Antoine Green for a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the game to give UNC a 38-35 win over the <a href="https://www.dukebasketballreport.com">Duke Blue Devils</a>.</p>
<h2 id="werwG7">
<a href="https://www.vanquishthefoe.com"><strong>BYU COUGARS</strong></a> <strong>(4-3)</strong>
</h2>
<p id="OTLVRT">BYU was absolutely smacked by the <a href="https://www.arkansasfight.com">Arkansas Razorbacks</a>, 52-35. </p>
<h2 id="Ld1IbN">
<a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com"><strong>STANFORD CARDINAL</strong></a> <strong>(2-4)</strong>
</h2>
<p id="t9hiOM">I’m just happy that Notre Dame kept this 16-14 game close in a home loss... (call the cops).</p>
<h2 id="CNZK0X"><strong>UNLV REBELS (4-3)</strong></h2>
<p id="kxYzNY">Notre Dame’s next opponent was trounced by the <a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Air Force Falcons</a>, 42-7.</p>
<h2 id="Itzpv2">
<a href="https://www.nunesmagician.com"><strong>SYRACUSE ORANGE</strong></a> <strong>(6-0) #14</strong>
</h2>
<p id="a72elp">The Orange took out the #15 <a href="https://www.backingthepack.com">NC State Wolfpack</a> with a 24-7 victory. <a href="https://www.backingthepack.com/">NC State</a> looked hopeless with its backup quarterback in the game — but Cuse stays perfect for an ORANGE SHOWDOWN against Clemson. </p>
<h2 id="yUejXv">
<a href="https://www.shakinthesouthland.com"><strong>CLEMSON TIGERS</strong></a> <strong>(7-0) #5</strong>
</h2>
<p id="DrW2Q4">Clemson went to Tallahassee and took care of the <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com">Florida State Seminoles</a> 34-28 thanks to a huge night by Will Shipley. </p>
<h2 id="aeP34i">
<strong>NAVY MIDSHIPMEN</strong> <strong>(2-4)</strong>
</h2>
<p id="c778aC">The Middies gave up 20 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter to lose 40-34 to the SMU Mustangs.</p>
<h2 id="BgSFvy">
<a href="https://www.bcinterruption.com"><strong>BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES</strong></a><strong> (2-4)</strong>
</h2>
<p id="FAKBbY">BC took the bye week to reconsider its Jesuit ways.</p>
<h2 id="z8TluE">
<a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com"><strong>USC TROJANS</strong></a><strong> (6-1) #12</strong>
</h2>
<p id="9jHhtf">The Trojans were handed their first loss of the season by the <a href="https://www.blocku.com">Utah Utes</a> in a thrilling 43-42 game. </p>
<h2 id="Qh0CWb"><strong>OVERALL</strong></h2>
<p id="1YDmyC">Notre Dame’s opponents were a combined 4-6 on the week. </p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/17/23409582/how-notre-dame-footballs-2022-opponents-fared-in-week-7-of-the-cfb-season-irish-nd-news-usc-clemsonJoshua Vowles2022-10-17T12:40:19-04:002022-10-17T12:40:19-04:00OVERREACTIONS from Notre Dame’s 16-14 loss to Stanford
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8m4QVYpb4zwhVF3aQflg7B-cWos=/0x0:4961x3307/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71506814/usa_today_19243182.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Maybe a lot of these weren’t actually overreactions...</p> <h2 id="rGRGhj"><strong>What in the hell did we watch on Saturday night?</strong></h2>
<p id="46c2KQ">I kept asking that question during the game and am still asking it now. The <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> laid a big, fat egg against a <a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com">Stanford Cardinal</a> team they should have beaten by at least a full possession, if not more. Pointing fingers and explanations have been needed, but it’s tough to figure out where exactly to go from here. Fortunately, the Irish play another down team in UNLV instead of jumping right to Syracuse and Clemson in back-to-back weeks. However, as we’ll see from some not-so-overreactions this week, any “lesser” opponents moniker has gone out the window after losses to Marshall and Stanford.</p>
<p id="hQs3TR"></p>
<h2 id="aD9OlF"><strong>ND vs. Stanford: OVERREACTIONS</strong></h2>
<p id="bBfdf2">There were many overreaction online, and rightfully so when there is a game so poorly played like on Saturday night. I chose a few to highlight and maybe some reality checks on these takes.</p>
<div id="1Ok3lD">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tobias ran two of the best routes you’ll see all year for a TD. Then Rees doesn’t put him back into the game. It’s not the players! It’s never been the players! It’s coaching! <a href="https://t.co/bGzNVJ6qJH">https://t.co/bGzNVJ6qJH</a></p>— Bruce Straughan (@bruce_straughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruce_straughan/status/1581684401112768513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="fSkXe8">This is a take I can somewhat get behind, but I don’t see the whole statement as accurate. It was VERY strange that Tobias Merriweather caught that great TD catch at the start of the fourth quarter and then didn’t see the field again. It is definitely fine to call out Tommy Rees for his coaching, but it’s a two-way street. The right players need to be played AND they need to perform well. I don’t know why Tobias didn’t see the field again, and this is coaching. This take on the players here of mine is not about Tobias, but it is about needing the players to do their job.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FireRees?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FireRees</a> and at this point Freeman can go too. What does Freeman do besides recruit?</p>— FREE TOBIAS MERRIWEATHER SZN (@HTownIrish69) <a href="https://twitter.com/HTownIrish69/status/1581458530388713472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="634uES">As I mentioned above, Tommy Rees absolutely needs to be called out for the game plan and the play calling on Saturday because a lot of it was head-scratching at best. However, this issue as it stands right now is not just two sides of a spectrum. There is somewhat of a middle ground, and I think we can call out Tommy and criticize what he has done. His seat should be warm at best and pretty scalding hot at worst, but you can’t go the fired route just yet. Also, I’m not even sorry - calling for Freeman’s job is insane at this point. It’s frustrating, and it is justified to criticize, but the calling for firings right now is just not it.</p>
<div id="OT8SCp">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame stadium fans should be ASHAMED!That place was dead the entire game. The 12th man doesn't exist. Absolutely pathetic how quiet it was. If you sat during that game, don’t even come back ever again. PATHETIC</p>— crai Go☘️ND (@craiGo574) <a href="https://twitter.com/craiGo574/status/1581630494772318208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a>
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<p id="ZmVY1L">I was in the stadium on Saturday night. I have to be honest - I did not have this experience. I was in the southwest corner of the stadium, and my section was loud, standing, and our parts of the stadium were getting into the game a lot. It’s a bit tough when the team is putting on that performance to get everyone to be going nuts. People were making noise, and from my view, it seemed the crowd was trying to do everything it could to will the team to even get a FG to win on that last drive. It was just brutal play causing the fans to be quiet. Also, I wouldn’t tell people not to come back because the crowd this coming Saturday could be WOOF.</p>
<p id="8uTuv0"></p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/17/23408642/notre-dame-fighting-irish-14-stanford-cardinal-16-overreactions-rees-freeman-bad-offenseMatt Greene2022-10-17T01:33:23-04:002022-10-17T01:33:23-04:00OFD Podcast: Notre Dame loses to Stanford and Tommy Rees is stuck in the tower
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<img alt="notre dame football" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SSwoodHBA2wymzdJ88FrASCCKjc=/0x175:1050x875/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71504966/image_2022_10_17T04_04_21_469Z.0.png" />
<figcaption>Mist and shadow | Brendan McAlinden</figcaption>
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<p>Bring me oil and wood</p> <p id="8cJZdb">Brendan and Jude set forth on a podcast journey to figure out just what in the Middle Earth happened to the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> on Saturday in an embarrassing 16-14 loss to the <a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com">Stanford Cardinal</a>. In this episode:</p>
<ul>
<li id="k1bgal">HELLO!</li>
<li id="akS8kN">This is a Syracuse podcast now.</li>
<li id="gTrXLp">Basically - the absolute frustration of the game overall.</li>
<li id="E1qfc8">Why did Notre Dame do the things they did with Audric Estime?</li>
<li id="qfn87X">Ridiculous penalties and mental errors.</li>
<li id="c6ansn">The targeting of Michael Mayer. </li>
<li id="FxVLdB">The rise of Tobias Merriweather. </li>
<li id="gyNxKb">Notre Dame’s offense doesn’t really exist in the first quarter.</li>
<li id="LzJXtj">Notre Dame’s stubborn refusal to understand that the tape is out.</li>
<li id="m3kcH7">Tommy Rees and the tower that he lives in.</li>
<li id="nGN4PZ">This is the quarterback and receiver room that the Steward has created. </li>
<li id="GC25UI">Lack of playmakers on defense is a thing and it’s a problem.</li>
<li id="jow8Ge">Other college football games that day were wonderful and made Notre Dame’s night look even worse.</li>
<li id="UqUzKp">Y2J</li>
<li id="OWxy0C">Two things can be true at the same time. </li>
<li id="Tj74pR">Tennessee... mixed feelings and mixed drinks.</li>
<li id="WIFm6X">The weird power dynamic between Tommy Rees and Marcus Freeman.</li>
</ul>
<p id="R0gd29">And plenty more weaved in and out of the show.</p>
<p id="VOMOqj">Please RATE and REVIEW! All reviews left on Apple Podcast will be read on the next OFD Podcast (we forgot one this week). </p>
<div id="vVVksq"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" scrolling="no" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VMP6757492197" width="100%"></iframe></div>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/17/23408332/notre-dame-loses-to-stanford-and-tommy-rees-is-stuck-in-the-tower-college-football-nd-news-recapJoshua Vowles2022-10-16T21:00:00-04:002022-10-16T21:00:00-04:00Three things we saw in Notre Dame’s loss to Stanford
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Gp0mwSuILFtTPP0PBcnKI5gxRHs=/0x0:5708x3805/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71504445/usa_today_19243393.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A bunch of steps back</p> <p id="q0J0xg">Count me as one of the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> fans who came out of the Shamrock Series game thinking this team had coalesced after a hellish start, and actually managed to get excited about the team looking forward. The offense had shown increasing efficiency and production and the defense had performed well against a pair of good offenses and with two weaker opponents heading into some big games in the back half of the year there was a real path back to a decent stature on the national stage...</p>
<div id="fafcBL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.092%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3oriO5t2QB4IPKgxHi" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="7ub9yh">In a flash, the <a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com">Stanford Cardinal</a> arrived in Notre Dame Stadium and exposed those visions for the vapor they were, knocking the Irish down to 3-3 and again establishing that this team has quite a bit of growing to do before it can be relied upon to win week in and week out - regardless of the competition. A week after defeating a ranked team on a neutral field, the Irish were utterly shut down and defeated at home by an abysmal 1-4 squad whose coach was likely on his last legs prior to the game. What do you even say to that? Let’s put my last three brain cells to work and try to find three coherent thoughts:</p>
<h1 id="NleW9g">The Great Offensive Disappearing Act</h1>
<p id="iVIeaS">Dispatch - put out APBs on the following individuals:</p>
<ul>
<li id="e1I7Ts">Drew Pyne, 70-80% accurate quarterback</li>
<li id="Ki4G7K">Lorenzo Styles, playmaking wide receiver</li>
<li id="6ir0AG">Braden Lenzy and Chris Tyree, known owners of game-breaking speed</li>
<li id="PR6TOl">Zeke Correll and Josh Lugg, adequate players of interior offensive line positions</li>
<li id="Ma6L3r">Tommy Rees, creative and responsive play-caller </li>
</ul>
<p id="bWDYz0">Subjects were last seen boarding a plane departing the city Las Vegas, NV on the night of Saturday, October 6. They were thought to be headed back to their home in South Bend, IN but have not been seen by friends, family, game attendees or television viewers.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KdfqjmRO1UpnImzD96R_tnekzvw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24114510/usa_today_19243300.jpg">
<cite>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="9ffHsE">Indeed, only Michael Mayer and Tobias Merriweather seemed to remember who they were on Saturday night, with the rest of the Irish offense sleepwalking their way to defeat. Sloppy, undisciplined, confused - practically every member of Notre Dame’s offense regressed on Saturday night, and it’s a testament to how bad Stanford is that the Irish <em>still </em>probably would have won this game if not for Audric Estime’s soul-crushing fumble in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to pick any person or phenomenon to blame for the offensive abomination we saw on Saturday night, so let’s just say for now: it’s all of them, and it’s all of it. It’s coaching and play-calling and execution and everything else one might imagine - because Saturday night this team showed none of it. </p>
<h1 id="pfo1A4">TACKLE HIM</h1>
<p id="150jJv">Those were the words I found myself shouting time and time again as Stanford plodded along on offense Saturday night. The Irish defense was not the primary culprit in this defeat - indeed, their performance was the only reason the Irish were in this game at all - but they did allow Stanford to chew up a huge portion of the clock (time of possession favored the Cardinal 36:07 - 23:53) on non-scoring drives where they nonetheless racked up tons of yards and converted one first down after another. These conversions frequently came on slow-mesh runs by Casey Filkins or short passes where ball carriers for Stanford eluded multiple Irish tacklers and stretched short plays into just-long-enough gains. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/b2MS_Ra7C9EGQKQfS5MQoZIGkxA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24114554/usa_today_19243256.jpg">
<cite>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="vbTOi9">This was a problem on a night where the Irish were clearly working some kinks out offensively and <em>needed </em>additional possessions to get points on the board. Add to that no turnovers, despite the fact that the Cardinal were not exactly careful with the football (I counted three different occasions on which the Stanford either recovered their own fumble or were saved by rule technicalities or officiating) and you have a defense that merely succeeded in not losing the game for the Irish rather than helping them win it. The aggression, pressure and playmaking we had seen the last few weeks simply were not there. </p>
<p id="NrYRX2">No doubt part of this is a result of mounting injuries and, again, this effort still should have been sufficient to win the game. But with the offense as Jekyll-and-Hyde as it is, the Irish will need more from their defense moving forward.</p>
<h1 id="n4rvOw">There is No Standard</h1>
<p id="jD5vTG">Halfway into Marcus Freeman’s first season at the helm for Notre Dame, we have seen the following outcomes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="gwfmfJ">
<a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a>: Valiant effort in close road defeat vs. elite opponent</li>
<li id="eL1nMo">Marshall: Inexplicable loss at home vs. G5 nobody</li>
<li id="4nOhoZ">Cal: Just-good-enough win at home vs. mediocre Power 5</li>
<li id="XWcxg6">North Carolina: Dominant win on the road vs. now-ranked, above-average Power 5</li>
<li id="eFcO7i">
<a href="https://www.vanquishthefoe.com">BYU</a>: Solid win at neutral site vs. ranked independent that now has three losses</li>
<li id="59hrET">Stanford: Home no-show vs. bottom-tier Power 5</li>
</ul>
<p id="tTVvxQ">Looking at these results, there is only one pattern that is even somewhat coherent: this is a team that plays <em>worse</em> when when the pressure and stakes are <em>lower</em>. Put them on the road against difficult opponents and they can play at their opponent’s level. Put them at 0-2, staring down the barrel of a disaster season and needing a win to save their coaches’ jobs, and they will find a way to pull the game out. Put them at home against a bad opponent with things looking up and they will...still play to that opponent’s level, and there’s absolutely no guarantee of them pulling it out. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Stanford at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8o03l7S6TsGCJD3jxmYforYb5wk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24114618/usa_today_19243184.jpg">
<cite>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="LR8lKV">Notre Dame fans have been fixated for many years on winning the big games, as the team repeatedly disappointed under the brightest lights while consistently winning overall. And we hoped that Freeman would be able to motivate his teams to show up in those games where his predecessor’s teams had shrunk, and to some extent we have seen that. We know the Irish can play at a higher level than what we saw on Saturday because we saw it against North Carolina, BYU, and Ohio State. But one of the most underrated challenges of coaching at a high level is keeping your team focused and intense even when the pressure isn’t on and the odds are already in their favor. Because in college football, where every opponent is gunning for you even - no, especially - when you are the favorite, you have to bring that to every game or you will be beaten.</p>
<p id="BII3Qd">In this, Freeman has so far been a failure. In the games where everything should be going their way, the Irish look flat, soft, uninspired and, bizarrely, <em>scared. </em>Consistently playing to a high standard is the difference between great teams and forgotten ones, and it is something that eludes this team. Until Freeman figures out how to bring that out of his players, this season is going to continue to be a roller coaster for the Irish.</p>
<p id="DUyQeK"></p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/16/23407596/notre-dame-football-three-things-we-saw-against-stanford-irish-cfb-marcus-freeman-nd-news-irishMatt Boomer2022-10-16T19:19:45-04:002022-10-16T19:19:45-04:00The Joker Origin Story: Notre Dame Football’s Loss to Stanford
<figure>
<img alt="Stanford v Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rn-P2TTziyB-LQQLpEuGryZY488=/0x0:2834x1889/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71504184/1433697802.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Why so serious?</p> <p id="wDjARD"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>’s (3-3) 16-14 home loss to Stanford (2-4, 0-4 Pac-12) is about to send me on a Joker-level insanity spiral. So the following scene played out inside my head conspicuously akin to the interrogation scene from the classic 2008 movie “The Dark Knight.” Enjoy. </p>
<div id="LPWrln"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jane6C4rIwc?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ZVJJyH"><em>Scene: Open on an interrogation room at a police station. COMMISSIONER ADAMS (“Commissioner”) takes a seat at a table opposite NOTRE DAME JOKER (“Joker”).</em> </p>
<p id="Y4HMGP">Commissioner: Notre Dame lost at home to Stanford last night.</p>
<p id="pCQUjK">Joker: (smugly) Of course they did. </p>
<p id="0ob2pJ">Commissioner: Why did you get everyone’s hopes up that the Irish would be 6-2 going into the Clemson game? </p>
<p id="3Q1aQZ">Joker: Me? I didn’t say anything? Who were <em>you</em> listening to? Hmm? One of <em>The Athletic</em>’s pundits?</p>
<p id="qmfVCK"><em>Commissioner is stoic and silent.</em></p>
<p id="PJuw7r">Joker: Does it depress you, Commissioner? To know just how unpredictable this Notre Dame team really is? Does it make you second guess whether you should pay for Peacock just to watch the UNLV game this week?</p>
<p id="yYfppu">Commissioner: What bowl is Notre Dame going to?</p>
<p id="ijTwBe">Joker: Who will they beat in November? </p>
<p id="09ijj1">Commissioner: Why does that matter?</p>
<p id="3rAA5T">Joker: Well depending on how the rest of the season plays out, it’s possible that Notre Dame could go to <em>a</em> bowl, or <em>none</em>.</p>
<p id="Bq6BYc">Commissioner: If we’re gonna play games, I’m gonna need a cup of coffee.</p>
<p id="7zWbxx">Joker: Ah, the good-fan, bad-fan routine?</p>
<p id="j1VMKX">Commissioner: Not exactly.</p>
<p id="4uNEu0"><em>Commissioner exits and behind Joker appears MARCUS FREEMAN (“Freeman”)</em>, who slams Joker’s head onto the table as he walks around to face Joker.</p>
<p id="JyiIQq">Joker: Ah! Never start with the head! That’s a targeting penalty, and J.D. Bertrand should know all abou–</p>
<p id="wSMJyw"><em>Freeman slams his fist on Joker’s hand.</em> </p>
<p id="vo2SRt">Joker: (processing the latest hit without pain) There you go.</p>
<p id="ne6MDV">Freeman: You wanted me. Here I am.</p>
<p id="GSdn6q">Joker: I wanted a breath of fresh air coaching Notre Dame football. And you haven’t disappointed. You’ve lost four of seven games as a head coach. Two of those were at home to Marshall and Stanford, who haven’t even beaten another FBS team this season. Even to a sicko like me, that’s bad.</p>
<p id="b7VjRD">Freeman: What were your expectations for me this season?</p>
<p id="cpby7t">Joker: At the very least an offense that wasn’t so predictable. And boy have you changed things. We never know what we’re getting with this circus.</p>
<p id="Vwn7FG">Freeman: So you want me to fire Tommy Rees?</p>
<p id="m7TvlG">Joker: (laughing) I don’t want you to fire Rees. What would I do without him, huh? Go back to blaming Brian Kelly for not developing quarterbacks? No. No, no! No, Rees is the scapegoat I need for this team always being unprepared.</p>
<p id="2GY3MF">Freeman: I’m telling you, it’s not preparation! It’s execution!</p>
<p id="sTekoZ">Joker: Don’t talk like Kelly, you’re not him! Even if you’d like to be. Unlike him, you actually believe it’s possible to win a national championship at Notre Dame. In their eyes, that makes you a freak. Like me. <br> Everyone loved it when you said all the right things and made the rounds on every ESPN morning show. But you knew that when the chips were down, the Notre Dame fanbase would crucify you. <br> You see, these “loyal sons and daughters” of Notre Dame — their loyalty is conditional. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. Their emotions are a rollercoaster that hinge on how well their team performs. Just watch. Once you lose the rest of the marquee games on your schedule, they’ll say they should’ve hired Matt Campbell instead.<br> See, I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.</p>
<p id="nPx6eS"><em>Freeman grabs Joker and drags him over the table. </em></p>
<p id="Jfpmcl">Freeman: What do you want from me?</p>
<p id="QTJm9I">Joker: You have this philosophy of being an offensive and defensive line driven program, and you think it’ll save you.</p>
<p id="AISIQD"><em>Freeman holds Joker up against the wall.</em></p>
<p id="JYK0EW">Freeman: It’s all I’ve ever known.</p>
<p id="0Dw7QV">Joker: Oh, well that’s gonna have to change once you realize the truth.</p>
<p id="pn4zYy">Freeman: Which is?</p>
<p id="JeDl42">Joker: The only way to compete for national championships in college football is to have 20 five-stars like Georgia or competent receivers, and you have neither.</p>
<p id="aNN9Wk">Freeman: I’m addressing it.</p>
<p id="eYaVNH">Joker: Well there’s only six games left this season so you’ll have to figure something out quick if you want to save it.</p>
<p id="JDzISA">Freeman: “It”?</p>
<p id="8zIgKJ">Joker: You know, for a while there, I thought you really would finish with a top-5 recruiting class...</p>
<p id="3SxGHe"><em>Joker begins laughing maniacally. Freeman flips him on the table before taking a chair and shoving it under the room’s door to keep others out.</em></p>
<p id="cWpXBA">Joker: Look at you go!</p>
<p id="bJXI08"><em>Freeman approaches Joker once again.</em></p>
<p id="lXAd2y">Joker: Do you really think C.J. Carr is going to reclassify to 2023?</p>
<p id="y5dOye"><em>Freeman slams Joker’s head into the glass.</em></p>
<p id="rLihTq">Freeman: We can still finish in the top 5!</p>
<p id="R0AKkL">Joker: You already lost Keon Keeley. Is posting seven wins going to convince Peyton Bowen to stay committed. </p>
<p id="HyGg0H"><em>Freeman punches Joker.</em></p>
<p id="e7cl5d">Freeman: We can still win nine games!</p>
<p id="FiV8ZA">Joker: You have a choice to make. Keep practicing every week the same damn way and showing up on gameday flat as a day-old <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/secret-base/21571198/mountain-dew-reviewed">Mountain Dew</a>, or actually do something to earn your multi-million-dollar paycheck.</p>
<p id="gqvoLw"><em>Joker laughs as Freeman punches him again.</em></p>
<p id="bUhZrh">Joker: You have nothing. No resume of success to lean on...</p>
<p id="VNcJ9j"><em>Freeman grabs Joker and lifts him face-to-face.</em></p>
<p id="CUbocM">Joker: But don’t worry! I’m gonna give you a couple of hints. And that’s the point. I’m on your side. </p>
<p id="cs8iRX">If you want your program to be appealing to good wide receiver recruits, then when your only freshman wide receiver records your only passing touchdown of the game, give him more than zero snaps the rest of the night. Lighten up your practices just enough that your captains don’t keep dropping like flies to injury. And start playing your young, athletic defenders since your veterans keep getting torched on the perimeter in third-and-long situations.</p>
<p id="rETspp"><em>Freeman storms out of the interrogation room, past Commissioner.</em></p>
<p id="l96q3K">Commissioner: What are you gonna do?</p>
<p id="zv0ZHc">Freeman: Choose the first option and keep doing the same damn thing every week.</p>
<p id="rxms9N">Commissioner: Copy that.</p>
<p id="Q3dnaq"> </p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/16/23407749/the-joker-origin-story-notre-dame-footballs-loss-to-stanford-college-football-cfb-nd-irish-batmanHayden Adams2022-10-16T16:57:53-04:002022-10-16T16:57:53-04:002022 College Football Data Review: Notre Dame VS Stanford
<figure>
<img alt="Stanford v Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DiThcBcn91Wsp9cQVkDLDIFSZtk=/0x0:3371x2247/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71503747/1433721302.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The data story coming out of Notre Dame’s Week 7 loss to Stanford.</p> <p id="U9ZG78">That was really tough to watch. </p>
<p id="4Lrr7B">In the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/12/23401608/2022-college-football-preview-notre-dame-vs-stanford-cfb-stats-data-projections-nd-analysis-sports">preview article</a> to the Stanford game, I noted that the Cardinal were coming into the weekend with a mixed bag of a resume and that made it hard to chart out in detail what a <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> victory would look like. I still called an Irish win, though. Because I had no idea that such a dysfunctional mess would end up taking place under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium. </p>
<p id="R0Y87Q">In the pit of my stomach, I felt that a return to the team’s early season form, even after the solid wins against UNC and <a href="https://www.vanquishthefoe.com">BYU</a>, would come. <strong>I hoped that it would at least come staggered and not all at once to completely tank a game, though. Alas, the college football fates had other things in mind. </strong></p>
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<p id="R4skoy">So let’s see what the data has to tell us about that ugly Week 7 loss to the <a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com">Stanford Cardinal</a>. </p>
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<h2 id="vQZcOA"><strong>Another Low Scoring Affair</strong></h2>
<p id="0NQYC8">Neither team came into the matchup blowing the numbers off the scoreboard. <strong>Through Week 6, Notre Dame averaged around 25 points per game and Stanford averaged 29 points per game.</strong> A lot of us were hoping that we’d see the Irish offense build on some of the cohesion seen during the BYU game and change that scoring trend but that was far from the case. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UM32uprpmnRg_9PVjs4_IFRXH-s=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113943/Trend___Points_by_Quarter.png">
<figcaption>Scoring summary from the Week 7 Stanford game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JfwsEE7OYjBjwxoYs1kOJn3svc0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113954/Pass_and_Rush.png">
<figcaption>Key data points from the Week 7 Stanford game. </figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="m9fMiK"><strong>The only silver lining in this area was that Notre Dame’s defense (it’s not all roses) managed to hold the Cardinal to their lowest total points per game so far this season.</strong> Their only touchdown came in the first quarter but successful field goals in each remaining quarter allowed Stanford to stay ever so slightly ahead of a Notre Dame offense that seemed trapped in a scoring desert. It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that they reached somewhat of an oasis and Notre Dame count the end zone in two consecutive drives. <strong>A late turnover on downs sealed the deal for the scoring struggles to fully turn the corner, though.</strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/t1_5gCT7zv9U4GEK9huYhJPh6Ok=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113946/Drive_Summary___ND.png">
<figcaption>Notre Dame drive summary from the Week 7 game against Stanford.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I_nhpmQZ3CDtRhhIeTzORNRtIyE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113948/Drive_Summary___Marshall.png">
<figcaption>Stanford drive summary from the Week 7 game against Notre Dame.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ZOGxaf"></p>
<h2 id="zk3Kre"><strong>Yardage Drought for both Sides</strong></h2>
<p id="50jzzH">Neither team blew the roof off in terms of total yards. Stanford ended up settling in around where it’s been through its last three games with 385 total yards. <strong>ND jumped a bit off the cliff, though following up the 496 total yard performance against BYU with just 301 total yards this game.</strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HUALvNcmuecIdieTpG6Za5-YXTo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113951/Trend___Tot_Yard.png">
<figcaption>Total yard trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<h2 id="RDIrR6"><strong>Passing Game as the Main Culprit</strong></h2>
<p id="XTKRG3"><strong>The Irish’s struggles at the quarterback position and moving the ball through the air reared their ugly heads with a vengeance.</strong> ND put up extremely close to a season low of 151 passing yards against Stanford. The responsibility bread crumb trails can be picked up from a few different places but the trail leading toe Pyne is likely the most defined. T<strong>he Notre Dame quarterback came into the game completing upwards of 70% of his passes. Tonight, though, he threw for an astounding 48% completion rate.</strong> Tanner McKee didn’t have a Hall of Fame game but he outshone Pyne in a way that we had gotten accustomed to see going in the other direction the last couple of games. With that kind of performance at the quarterback, the rest of the offense’s woes were almost destined to show up. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jc7LIePmXX8XKzUvDPb4CRrbfA0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113955/Trend___Pass_Yard.png">
<figcaption>Total passing yard trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_f4FvXhmsjsFquMcmLzb-UBNmfg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113957/Passing.png">
<figcaption>Passer comparison from the Week 7 Stanford game.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<h2 id="kQ7Gzp"><strong>Some Support from the Rushing Game</strong></h2>
<p id="7F3kzm">Although it didn’t provide an overwhelming amount of relief, Notre Dame’s rushing game did make what could’ve made a bad game worse. <strong>Just by the numbers, the rushing game didn’t fall off as steeply from recent performances than the passing unit. </strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_lz1BqkaHGATC_jvk4cksmveDA0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113959/Trend___Rush_Tot.png">
<figcaption>Total rushing yard trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iZLU08qfOoEECTIOAKIBfFDP7lQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113960/Trend___Rush_Avg.png">
<figcaption>Avg. yard per rush attempt trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0sY9NjCR1ExdKFK9MpirQXHUXuw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113961/Trend___Rush_Att.png">
<figcaption>Rushing attempt trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="BBdJ58">The total number of carries was relatively evenly spread across the running backs with Logan Diggs tallying up the most carries. <strong>Estime got 1 fewer carries than Diggs but they matched each other with overall output, tallying up 57 yards a piece.</strong> Drew Pyne used his wheels a bit more this game and it helped in some crucial moments that don’t really show up in the data.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/500dAv_XCH9EwH4_Dt38T7v-BFQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113962/Rushing.png">
<figcaption>ND rushing details from the Week 7 Stanford game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="0eYQbr"></p>
<h2 id="ASYfwT"><strong>Back to the Drawing Boards for Receiving</strong></h2>
<p id="lL2CSs">The BYU game was a big one for Michael Mayer and we even got to see some of the other receivers jump more into things. </p>
<p id="GSZxKM">I guess if I’m being honest with myself, <strong>despite his swag and that great head of hair, you can’t expect that kind of kind of performance week to week from Mayer.</strong> He still led the unit in overall production but was largely contained and the rest of the receivers couldn’t find a way to get more involved. Tobias Merriweather had a flash but <strong>the lack of consistency in catching balls or getting yards plague the team’s performance.</strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zOsJ-x8a2BAv5b96WFB9VeyHFcQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113984/Receiving.png">
<figcaption>ND receiving details from the Week 7 Stanford game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DyKaA0YSimcKc5n9l0l06PSsY3A=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113967/Reception___Trend.png">
<figcaption>ND receiving trend through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<h2 id="O99cNP"><strong>The Ball Movement Saga Continues</strong></h2>
<p id="TLkQlf"><strong>Moving the ball has been a challenge for the Irish offense throughout the season and most of the improvements we had seen in recent weeks got wiped off the board against Stanford.</strong> The team had only 16 first downs and converted on only 25% of its 3<sup>rd</sup> downs.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RTs5Z3PPRSiFTAtSd6vHCiEZecc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113968/Trend___1st_Down_.png">
<figcaption>First down conversion trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SpkfiTnQSy3B9zblULksB-g0lc4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113970/Trend___3rd_Down_Conv.png">
<figcaption>Third down conversion trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<h2 id="1kwrLq"><strong>Turnover Betrayal</strong></h2>
<p id="f5dvGU">The story of turnovers for both teams in this game was mind boggling. </p>
<p id="575UMx"><strong>The Cardinal came into the matchup with a total of 13 turnovers on the season but walked away from this week’s game with none.</strong> The Irish had done a really good job of turning the ball over up until this point but ended the game with zero interceptions (silver lining?) and 2 lost fumbles. Beyond the official stats, though, <strong>the ball was flying all over the place for both teams throughout the night and I’ve got to believe that some folks on the staffs were considering taking It back to the Little Rascals and just gluing the football to carriers.</strong> Given Notre Dame’s issues with converting, these ill-timed fumbles almost guaranteed that the team would be on the wrong side of things when it was all said and done.</p>
<p id="N73E4o"></p>
<h2 id="3hkg5I"><strong>Less than Stellar Defensive Performance</strong></h2>
<p id="8H0AbL">The defense did its part in keeping the Cardinal’s offense from scoring as much as it could but <strong>just didn’t look like the unit we’d been accustomed to seeing. </strong>There were a lot of short stretches where they made big plays, got pressure and provided much needed hope for the fans. Those were accompanied by periods where they just couldn’t completely shut down Stanford’s passing game and comparatively deeper receiver corps. <strong>They don’t get a gold star from me for this weekend’s performance but other than a complete shutout I’m not sure what more we could’ve expected from them.</strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VM6DXQQZx_DoeejOsgph2eZylaI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113974/Trend___Sack.png">
<cite>Defensive sack trend and comparison through Week 7.</cite>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T-r2Ehezk90CwsZiFwheqa9vquk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113976/Trend___Loss_Tack.png">
<figcaption>Defensive tackles for loss trend and comparison through Week 7.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="aJKYha">It wasn’t a good game and definitely one I won’t be replaying anytime soon. I know there’s a ton of doom and gloom coming out of the loss but I’m not in complete distress. <strong>Minus the turnover issues, there wasn’t a ton of new bad that we haven’t seen so far from this season’s team. </strong>We’ve seen a lot better and I can’t deny that somewhere, that capacity is still there. Just really wish that things wouldn’t have broken down like this all in one game. <strong>Oh well.</strong></p>
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<p id="ltOcQ6"><strong>Cheers and Go Irish!!</strong></p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/16/23407259/2022-college-football-data-review-notre-dame-vs-stanford-advanced-stats-offense-defense-irish-ndJoBro132022-10-16T12:20:35-04:002022-10-16T12:20:35-04:00Irish lose to Stanford 16-14. Who needs to be fired?
<figure>
<img alt="Stanford v Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k9EXs459UYcxG4wXQV8PuqxV1GM=/0x0:4225x2817/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71502901/1433721587.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Who’s to answer for the crime of loosing to the Trees? </p> <p id="gSqooE">Going into last night, there were quite a few different outcomes I was fully prepared to talk about and give my opinion on. I must admit I feel like I have nothing to talk about regarding this game even after a few hours of letting it soak in. The energy to sift through everything that happened is going to be very difficult to muster but, I am going to try. The difficulty with trying to break down this game is that it seemed like so many things went wrong, but when you look back it feels like nothing happened. Almost like the game never happened at all or it was some distant dream despite being played just last night. On top of that this team’s performance varies wildly from snap to snap, drive to drive, quarter to quarter, and game to game. So it is hard to truly get a feel for who this team is or wants to be. Even though the offense had made a lot of strides since the beginning of the season, we knew coming in that they had yet to have a lot of success early. And the defense while mostly performing strongly so far this year, still had yet to remedy the meltdowns that kept them away from being a great unit. There is no love here for Brian Kelly, but this is what I think some people forgot when he left. These wild variations in team performance against lower-tier opponents were a thing of the past. As fans, we must come to that realization and make sure we remind ourselves there may be some growing pains for a bit until things get fully figured out. So you will not hear me suggest Freeman isn’t the guy or a mistake was made in his hire. Do other adjustments need to be made that may or may not include firing other coaches? Yes, but we are going to try to stay away from knee-jerk reactions to a rough loss. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Stanford v Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_8ZzKUHFtiZcNqKkR3RqBx_tOVI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113782/1433721698.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="ed4EhF">I feel like whenever I talk about the defense my mind instantly directs towards the same sentence “All in all they were fine.” It is maddeningly frustrating that I cannot seem to think of any other way to explain this unit. On the surface overall I think we look awful, but by the end of the game, their ppg allowed hasn’t been too concerning. For instance, thinking back to last night’s defense all that comes to my mind is a million missed tackles. If you asked me purely based on what I remembered from the plays themselves, I’d say this defense gave up 28-plus points. They didn’t though, they held the Cardinal to their lowest point total this season by almost a touchdown (6 points). The issue is those missed tackles, breakdowns in coverage, and other mental lapses if remedied, would allow this team to be at an elite level. They are giving up 19.7 ppg right now, and I do not doubt that number would be closer to 10 if the execution were up to standards on those few plays. Injuries have slowly but surely started to pile up so we can give them a little bit of slack in that department, a silver lining with that would be getting some of these talented young players some experience. I have concerns about the defense but nothing I see is detrimental or cause for long-term concern, yet.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 15 Stanford at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AE_B6psoV63DUFxg3kZMHI6NFN4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113783/1244008282.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="kbw8RH">The offense on the other hand may be leaning a bit further on the concern scale. They have benefited from me not writing immediately after the game though. I have pushed back on the fire Tommy Reese train, stating I think it’s a knee-jerk reaction to things we have not experienced as a fan base in quite a few years. Last night I started to think that I may have to throw my hands up. There is no way you can score 14 points against Stanford and not have people ask about your job, not at <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>. It’s completely inexcusable, right? Take a step back real fast, I said after last week’s game Pyne had an X-factor that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. However, I also said that I know the limitations we have with him under center. In the previous 2 games for some reason, the opponent hasn’t taken the best TE in the country as seriously as I probably would have. Pyne’s biggest issues are his height and lack of a full progression unless given a full minute in the pocket. This causes him to have to stare down Michael Mayer, or if given enough time, sit in the pocket until someone slides into a space in the defense and it’s easy to pitch and catch. So if you were a defense and you see a QB with these limitations (oh and also you notice the refs are not going call a PI if their mom’s life depended on it) what are you going to do? We are going to be aggressive in coverage on every ball that comes our way, and he is not going to get the ball to #87. That is was Stanford did that <a href="https://www.vanquishthefoe.com">BYU</a> and UNC failed to do. This lulled us into a bit of a comfort zone with Pyne, but I know I was not the only one who thought we could not continue with this exact formula. I told the guy I was watching the game with (NFL guy, hadn’t watched much of, if any ND) before the first drive, we are gonna get to 3rd and 8-10 and then Mayer is going to run a 7-10 yd out or in and he is gonna throw it every time. It is so predictable and eventually, you will run into a crew that is going to allow receivers to be mugged without calling almost a single PI, it’s a guarantee. Combine all of that and it is recipe for disaster, especially with a backup QB who is not an exceptional athlete. So, let’s go back to the one in charge and someone whose name will be on many Notre Dame fans’ tongues this week. Shockingly my concern with him is not in the play call department. Outside of the 2nd and long runs, there were more plays that I yelled “nice play call” rather than “what was that?”. My issues come with the lack of development with our QBs. I do not expect Pyne to come out and be Tom Brady or anything, he’s our backup and we all have to remember that. But you have to think he would know by now you cannot stare down Mayer all game, or where the freaking first down marker is on your last chance 4th down. It’s his (and others previously) lack of development that brings me pause with Reese. It also seems to me that lack of development is the last issue that is to be fixed from the Kelly regime, something Reese’s whole career centers around. Just saying. </p>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 15 Stanford at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JMhmtXkFjg-WI9eBa6zdqLLJUbg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24113785/1244008319.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="OmcnKo">Yes, the officiating was horrendous, and it is the closest I’ve come in quite some time to putting a loss on the refs. I truly considered a whole paragraph of venting about it because it was very bad. But being able to put my frustrations about the defense and offense on paper proved to be therapeutic for me. I feel similar to the way I felt after the Marshall game. Extremely disappointed, but in the realization that things are different than they have been since ‘16 and before that ‘09. We are going to go through feelings regarding this program good and bad that we have not experienced in quite some time. The only difference between how I feel now and how I felt a month ago, my confidence in Tommy is starting to shake a bit. He still has to work with a backup QB for the rest of the season though, so I say we put down the pitchforks and torches for now. Don’t put them away, just put them down for the time being. </p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/16/23407094/notre-dame-football-irish-lose-to-stanford-16-14-who-needs-to-be-fired-cfb-nd-freeman-rees-pyneJoseph Babey2022-10-15T22:52:36-04:002022-10-15T22:52:36-04:00QUICK RECAP: Stanford stuns Notre Dame with a 16-14 win over the Irish
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<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It was a terrible game</p> <p id="NAqTCQ"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> has had trouble this season getting off to a good start, and they got off to a terrible start against the <a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com">Stanford Cardinal</a> and were shutout in the first half. The Irish managed just 106 yards on 23 plays in the first half, with 2 three and outs, a turnover on downs, and a fumble. </p>
<p id="WYnZrP">It was brutal. </p>
<p id="UvQm7r">Meanwhile, the Cardinal weren’t lighting the world on fire offensively, but their first drive of the game went 66 yards on 8 plays for a touchdown. Stanford would add a field goal as the second quarter came to a close, and the teams went into the lockers with a 10-0 advantage for David Shaw’s boys.</p>
<p id="jeWRiN">Notre Dame’s offense couldn’t manage to put anything together, and the defense started falling apart from injuries — and the tackling was something out of a junior high game. </p>
<p id="ZjZUBI">It looked like more of the same to start the second half. Stanford and Notre Dame exchanged punts, and then Stanford put together a drive of 48 yards to score on another field goal, and the 13-0 lead that came with it. </p>
<p id="0MQLuA">The Irish were finally able to answer on their next possession. The Irish went 75 yards on just 6 plays, and a 10 yard Audric Estime touchdown run put the Irish on the board. The Irish stopped Stanford for a turnover on downs on the next Cardinal drive and took over on their own 40. Six plays later, Drew Pyne hit freshman wide receiver Tobias Merriweather for a 41 yard touchdown reception to put the Irish up 14-13.</p>
<p id="J7GGWf">Stanford answered the Irish touchdown with a 51 yard drive that ended in another field goal for a 16-14 score. The drive was aided by the replay booth which overturned an Irish fumble recovery. </p>
<p id="8PsxlJ">Now down 16-14, Notre Dame started moving the ball once again, but an Audric Estime fumble after the Irish gained 54 yards, gave Stanford the ball back again. Notre Dame’s defensive issues tackling, and more tomfoolery from the officials saw the Cardinal drive the ball down and kill off some clock, but the Irish were able to force a punt from their own 38 yard line to get the ball back. </p>
<p id="8EaHcY">Notre Dame was able to get one first down, but on 4th down, Drew Pyne threw the ball to a receiver in front of the sticks. It was low, no defensive pass interference was called — and that was game.</p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/10/15/23406669/quick-recap-stanford-stuns-notre-dame-with-a-16-14-win-over-the-irish-drew-pyne-score-football-ndJoshua Vowles