3-0

[ChicagoIrish]

30-14 over Purdue

It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. I'm not surprised at all that we played below our potential after railing Michigan.

Offense looked pretty dry tonight, defense got better and better as the game went on, and other than a few missed tackles, the defense looked good.

Golson: 25/40 259 passing 2 TD's
14 carries 56 yards 1 TD

McDaniel: 9 carries 32 yards
Bryant: 6 carries 29 yards
Folston: 9 carries 22 yards

I'm not so sure about Kelly's play calling, he AGAIN almost completely abandons the run. Also a few more dropped passes from our receivers.

With Georgia and USC losing, we should definitely jump into the top 10. So lets take this win, and use the bye week to get healthier, sure up some things and get ready for Syracuse.

 

[ChicagoIrish]

I'd also like to throw out there that Golson has not turned the ball over yet this season.

 

[jjc2009]

Positives: Defense got better as game went on. Tackling improved a little bit, but BVG started to take them out of their game plan which was to make quick throws to eliminate our rush.

Golson 's feet. His throws were a little less sharp last night and I think he hesitated a couple of times that may have contributed to at least 1 of the four (four?!) sacks last night. But his escapability, quickness and arm strength lead me to believe that if it were Rees back there we very well may have lost last night, given the way everyone else played.

Special teams were for the most part solid. Yes, Brindza missed the 50 yarder that he ordinarily makes and the one out of bounds kick, but that was to end the half so no damage done. He kept their talented returners at bay and gave us 6 pts cushion. Carlisles return to start the game was huge.

We managed 16 point win despite all the negatives below, in a week when a lot of ranked teams struggled against lower ranked or unranked teams.

Negatives: the play calling. Kelly could have balanced it better. Screens, which were effective, esp. against the defense they were running, weren't even used until the third quarter. The O line has issues. They are collectively a talented group, but I think Elmer's transition to RT has been rougher than expected. Hope it works out and I think it will because Elmer is an elite talent. They need to run block better. The injury bug. Our secondary already thinned due to injuries and suspensions, took three more hits (w/Redfield's disqualification) and Carlisle's injury hurt too. Procise is capable, but I've noticed some seperation between the two. Even Procise was hobbling a little late in the game. Trumbetti had lingering head and neck issues probably from the illegal helmet to helmet hit he took that wasn't called because the rule apparently only protects offensive players.

The bye comes at the perfect time. They need to fix these things and get healthy. All in all happy to be 3-0 and on track to be 4-0 going into Stanford week.

 

[jjc2009]

Forgot to add tackling was poor to negatives. We weren't wrapping up and swarming to the ball like we were against Michigan. Purdue was in 3rd and short all night because the first contact guy missed

 

[ChicagoIrish]

You have to expect that Purdue is going to give us everything they have, we are their Super Bowl game.

And you're not going to look smooth every single game, we didn't play that great and still got out of there with a 30-14 win.

Not bad

 

[jjc2009]

You have to expect that Purdue is going to give us everything they have, we are their Super Bowl game.

And you're not going to look smooth every single game, we didn't play that great and still got out of there with a 30-14 win.

Not bad

Understood. We're the only time they are in prime time. That said, I think we haven't arrived yet offensively. It's one thing to say they were trying to mix it up offensively when they were struggling to run, but when we pulled away, we couldn't impose our will in the run game to close it out. Elite teams can do that against the Purdues of the world, even on their best day. We still went empty backfield five wide. And it was said often during the game thread, where were the screens? They were incredibly effective to keep them off balance. There wasn't a lot of creativity in the run game.

That said, some perspective is in order. This is our best 3-0 start, point differential wise since 1970 (according to a poster on another site). Granted, many of Lou's 3-0 starts included wins over very highly ranked Michigan teams, but all in all, this is a positive direction.

 

[bbirish73]

I think 30-14 is pretty good considering all the injuries and ejection. Any word on the injuries? Are they all minor? It is good there is a bye week to heal up.

 

[craigk217]

ND Sick Bay Report:


Notre Dame sick bay: Shoulder injury ends Baratti's season | CSN Chicago


Secondary really hurting with Baratti loss ... poor guy just cannot stay 'healthy'. Colly expected back for Syracuse. Full report below:

Notre Dame junior safety Nicky Baratti suffered yet another shoulder injury Saturday night against Purdue and is lost for the season, coach Brian Kelly said Sunday.

Baratti replaced sophomore Max Redfield, who was ejected for targeting, in the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium and injured his shoulder on his first play. A shoulder injury sidelined Baratti for the entire 2013 season and he suffered a dislocated shoulder in this year's Blue-Gold spring game.

With senior captain Austin Collinsworth out with an MCL sprain and senior Eilar Hardy suspended as part of Notre Dame's academic investigation, the Irish were severely depleted at safety against Purdue. Junior Elijah Shumate slid over to play free safety — a position Kelly said he'd taken "no reps" at in practice — while true freshman Drue Tranquill was forced into action, too.

The good news for Notre Dame is Redfield will be back after the bye week for Sept. 27's game against Syracuse at MetLife Stadium, while Collinsworth is expected to return against the Orange as well.

More updates from the sick bay:

— Sophomore cornerback Cole Luke suffered a head injury against Purdue and will go through concussion protocols. Kelly sounded optimistic Luke would be cleared to return to practice this week.

— Senior receiver Amir Carlisle suffered an MCL sprain, though Kelly believed it's a less severe issue than Collinsworth's injury, which has forced him to miss Notre Dame's first three games. Kelly said Carlisle will undergo an MRI on Sunday but is hopeful he'll return for the Syracuse game.

— Fifth-year senior right guard Christian Lombard is dealing with a high ankle sprain and could've played against Purdue, but was held out in an effort to get him closer to 100 percent with a bye week following Saturday's game.

— Freshman defensive end Andrew Trumbetti (head/neck/chest injury) will be "fine," Kelly said, and is expected to be cleared to practice on Monday.

— Sophomore receiver Torii Hunter (groin) remains on track to play against Syracuse, and will work out of the slot during the bye week but is expected to fill in at all three receiver positions upon his return.

-- Senior linebacker Jarrett Grace's leg is fully healed, but he's having some ankle issues and still isn't running naturally. Grace is undergoing acupuncture treatment that Kelly said is helping but he won't play against Syracuse and a timetable for his return remains unknown.

 

[jjc2009]

I think 30-14 is pretty good considering all the injuries and ejection. Any word on the injuries? Are they all minor? It is good there is a bye week to heal up.

Baratti will need shoulder surgery. Done for the year and his career is in jeopardy because he's had multiple problems with that shoulder. It dislocated on one play. Carlisle has an MCL sprain. We might have him back for Syracuse. Both Cole Luke and Trumbetti were neck issues. Don't know the status of either. Lombard has a high ankle sprain that he can't seem to shake.

Good news is we may get Tori Hunter back for Syracuse. Bad news is, we are so thin at safety one of the backup corners is going to have to be moved. If, and this is a big if, Hardy and Russell or Ishaq are found to be either not guilty or the punishment doesn't carry game suspensions, they need them back ASAP. School needs to quit messing around.

 

[Sportsguy9695]

the irish are looking alot better this year then I thought they'd be

 

[whywork2]

I sure hope the suspended players ordeal gets settled soon, I can't believe it's dragged on this long.

 

[craigk217]

... this shit has gone long past the point of 'ridiculous'. Dunno what they're waiting for to be honest. I'd like to think the old adage of "no news is good news" works, but I don't think it might apply in this case.

 

[NDHoosier101]

I sure hope the suspended players ordeal gets settled soon, I can't believe it's dragged on this long.

This, are the guys going to class while waiting to learn if they'll be kicked out of school? I don't understand this situation. The investigation is done, make a ruling.

 

[bbirish73]

if they don't make a ruling before playing Syracuse then something is seriously wrong with those idiots involved. would suck going to class not knowing your fate.

 

[purguy12]

It feels great to be 3-0 and its great to be in the top 10. I like how this team is playing. Offense looks good. Like to see the rushing offense play a little better but Golson has been awesome.