Van, take note below. Anyway, I wanted to address this when I had some time to reply and not punch it out on my phone.
Van wrote:Close ending, but I wouldn't call it a great game, like the Washington-ND or Michigan-ND games. This one was more a case of USC letting off the gas and coasting, then making error after error to allow ND back into the game.
Totally agree. It had a great ending, but was far from a great game. The stupid penalties kept ND in the game more than them letting up, IMO. I think Pete figured he could just pound it down ND's throats after he got up 20. Credit to the front 7 for actually playing well and making a few plays.
Van wrote:Still, that had to be a tough one to lose, especially after coming back and coming close. Condolences for the gut wrenching loss.
The Kardiac Kids, indeed.
ND's coming. They're building something there now, and they've got some nice pieces in place. Clausen's for real, Tate's a monster and Te'o is going to be really good. Having Michael Floyd would've been great too.
This is what is so frustrating. As you noted, ND is getting players and most of those players are developing
on the offensive side of the ball. The defense still remains an enigma. They have highly recruited athletes, but they are playing like ass. Harrison Smith needs to sit down or move back to LB and they need to find a safety that can tackle and play the ball. He has been horrible. Te'o is playing well, and will only get better. Honestly, in this regard I feel bad for Weis. It's not his speciality that is letting the team down. Clausen, Tate, Floyd, Rudolph (even though USC did a great job of negating him), Allen, etc. are all developing and playing well. And he finally has an Oline coach that is getting productive play out of elite kids. He then hires who many think is a top DC, and the defense regresses. It's very frustrating.
Van wrote:Scheduling issues aside, ND should be a legitimate BCS bowl game team next season. They still need to get stronger in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. Both their lines got destroyed today, and that's where the talent disparity now mainly lies between ND and USC. The gap is closing elsewhere, but it's still quite wide up front.
This point cannot be stated strongly enough. USC won this game because they could rush 4 and ND's 5 couldn't block them, and ND could rush 6-7 and get blocked by USC's 5. If ND can pull in the defensive recruits like Chris Martin, Louis Nix, Anthony Barr, etc., this will help to close the gap. They also need tackles like Seantrelle Henderson. Weis can pull in the skill positions, he needs more trenches.
Van wrote:I suppose a moral victory can be claimed here for ND, but man, it's still got to hurt. This was the year, if ever they were going to do it. Clausen will be gone by the time ND gets USC again in South Bend, and Barkley will be a seasoned junior the next time USC comes calling.
One thing's for certain, though. ND didn't quit. They kept fighting, whereas in season's past they would've rolled over and died.
They've got this ship turned around now. They're coming. Hell, Charlie may get 'em there yet. The future is finally beginning to look bright again for ND.
Now, go out and win the rest of your games this year, to help our SOS.
Fuck that. No moral victories. It remains to be seen who will come back for ND next year (Clausen, Tate, Weis, etc.), but one thing I was pleased with was that I didn't feel as if USC was better at every position like they were in 2005. ND is getting there, they just need to figure out if Weis can be the guy to do it. Great game, congrats.
"Well, my wife assassinated my sexual identity, and my children are eating my dreams." -Louis CK
