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Taylor's TidbitsPost-Season Analysis Part IWed, 11/28/07 Well, that was interesting. After experiencing the worst season in Notre Dame history (or at least the worst one that any of us can remember), I can finally say that I’m glad the 2007 season is now behind us. This year was fascinating (read: depressing) to say the least, and in many ways, it tested the confidence and patience of alums, fans, and former players alike. I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to bemoaning what transpired this season, and it took all I had in me to keep my mind open and my mouth shut as things rapidly deteriorated. As a grateful member of the Notre Dame family and former member of its football program, I was torn at times between what I saw happening, and what I knew the Notre Dame standard to be. There were several times when I sat down to write this year that I ended up staring numbly at a blank screen. The exercise of trying to not only comprehend what was happening, but also just how to characterize it into words was the cause of many a sleepless night for me. Looking back, I’m happy with the way I walked the thin line between support and objectivity this year, and for those of you I personally talked to or read on our boards, I know I was not alone in this struggle. Although I am a much bigger believer in fixing the problem than fixing the blame, there were some things that transpired this year that just can’t be overlooked. From the get-go, there seemed to be offensive instability due to a number of things that I really feel created the lack of identity that permeated (and I believe exacerbated) so many of the offensive woes for the Irish this season. Whether it was the lackluster results created by the quarterback shuffle, the lack of an offensive identity/run game/ability to pass protect, inadequate special teams, soft edges on run defense, way too many third and longs, gambling play calls highlighted by what many think lost the Navy game, or being consistently outplayed by historically lesser opponents (or teams with much less talent), this year opened badly and only got worse as the season wore on. Wins and losses aside, there were some fundamental issues and themes that seemed to permeate through the Irish program this year … some of which were inevitable (e.g. lack of early cohesion along the offensive line, a struggling QB due to inexperience), and some that were not (e.g. no identity, poor special teams play, and whatever it was that precipitated the need for the “return to training camp” mentality). Let’s take a closer look at some of these and see what we can come up with. BackPost new commentMan, I'm sorry, but we gotta have you log in. That's so we don't get spammed. Appreciate your understanding. Don't have an account?
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Comments
"Of course things can change in ten months"... Correction
garr01 was mistakenly credited with this quote in my post. I was actually quoting gjs, an Irish fan who whose frustration we can all relate to.
garr01's post is one that points out one of the greatest reasons for hope that this team will begin to achieve its destiny. That is a managable schedule relative to the talent level and experience that the Irish will have on the roster next year.
Go ND in 2008!! It's time to hand some of those butt kickings back!
Missing Moore
Aaron,
Thanks for some excellent analysis and the hard work throughout the season. You helped many keep sanity in an insane year, and I hope the fund-raising/charitable side of your LLC is reaping benefits, too.
Charlie good or bad, 9 wins yes or no, all that seems pretty pointless right now. Charlie is our coach, and time will tell. I hope the off season website will contain less bit**ing and speculating and more experienced player commentary. That said, a few unanswered questions . . .
Latina will be evaluated closely, and while Moore is surely turning in his grave, he can't be the replacement. Did anyone work closely with or get mentored by Coach Moore, though? Is there even a "Moore-like" coach out there to consider (aside from all you "Big Uglies" who survived the loving abuse)? Would love your feedback on that.
Again, good work and best wishes.
CW
CW HAS TO CHANGE HIS WAY HE COACHES YOUNG COLLEGE PLAYERS. HE EXPECTS THEM TO PLAY LIKE THE PLAYERS HE HAD IN THE PROS. THE 2007 IRISH TEAM DID NOT SHOW ANY IMPROVEMENT FROM THE FIRST TO LAST GAME.
EVEN IN VICTORY THE 2007 TEAM LOOKED BAD. IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO WATCH THE LAST TWO GAMES. CW MUST LEARN HOW TO COACH THE FUNDAMENTALS REQUIRD TO HAVE A WINNING COLLEGE TEAM. GO IRISH IN 2008. ENJOY READING YOUR COMMENTS.
2008 Season
Very well said Brian. As you lived through it as a student I am sure you have tremendous memories. I was in high school and remember the season well and after reading the "Era of Ara" it is pretty fresh in my mind.
My point is that more fans should be thinking in terms of that type of turnaround in 2008. It has been done and can be accomplished in 2008.
As I recall Ara and his staff accomplished this by: emphasizing team, placing their faith in some untested players (Huarte), reassigning players to different positions (Costa and Snowden)and raising expectations and confidence.
I hope CW speaks to Ara and Pagna about some of those things in the off season and emphasizes them in spring ball.
IMO anyhing less than 8-4 given the schedule, returning talent and 4/5 star recruits is unacceptable and will be a blemish on NDFB.
my 2 cents
This was a perfect storm of a season. The whole Murphy clan ran wild this season, and it started with the opening kickoff with a fumble.
Now it is over. Hopefully the kharmic debt incurred in the BC game of 1992 has finally been paid and all the "Irish luck" over the last 80 years that deserted us this last season or so has had time to build up again.
BC reference - in the 3rd quarter of the 1992 game the Irish were ahead I think 37-0 and went back to punt. It was a fake punt and the kicker (Heinrich?) ran for a first down. A few plays later the camera showed him on the sideline having a laugh with his buddies and then the camera showed the BC players watching this. (Thanks to Chris Collinsworth for pointing this out during the 1993 game).
The lesson? If team A kicks the snot out of team B this happens, but if team A rubs the NOSE of Team B in that snot then a kharmic debt is incurred and only the gods can say when it is paid.
Hopefully with this past season (FINALLY) in the books ND has paid that debt.
time to hit the weights
These guys need to get stronger and tougher. I've yet to see someone really wanna rip someone's head off. Win or lose, the opposing players should wake up in the morning(barely able to move) knowing they played ND.
of course things can change in ten months
garr01 pointed out that "what would change in ten months?" well, I have to assume that CW and his coaches are like every other person who has ever competed or coached at any level of football. You go back and look at tapes and figure out what you did wrong. Then you adapt to ensure you are a better team going foward. Also remember that ND started at least nine freshman this year and and at least that many sophmores. Any football team that goes through this type of season is usually in the same situation of playing kids who aren't ready. This isn't BC with 17 5th year seniors on the team. ND had 14 seniors and thats including the 5th yr guys. Is there one team in the entire nation who had as many underclassmen starting and played as challenging a shcedule? Were their results any different?
That being said, I will not give CW a pass on this season. He needs to adapt his gameplans to the player's strengths. ND lost a good quarterback because he wasn't given the opportunity to run CW's real offense. Throw the damn ball to the all-american tight end, down the middle of the field. Pound the ball with the five good running backs you have on the roster. CW calls some good plays between the twenty's, but he tries to get cute in the red zone. Get a guy/girl who can kick a 45 yard field goal and maybe kick a couple touchbacks on kickoffs during the season,.... ND has a great soccer program. And enough with this Patriots stuff already. There's no reason to go there. Watch freakin game tapes and correct the mistakes. It's been said to death, but teach them to Run, Block, and Tackle. The rest will begin to take care of itself. And finally to the AD, you be the best by playing the best, but can we please get a bye week before the end of October? Stop scheduling all the most winnable games at the end of the darn season. This team can easily win 8-9 ball games next year if they prepare correctly and stay healthy.
You know what really drives me craaazy:
ND is the most scrutinized college FB team on the planet, yet 99.9% of anything we ever read is conjecture or opinions. We don't even get any decent hearsay to whet our appetites for the truth.
How is it not possible that someone in this huge ND community can't get one of the players to open up?? I bet anyone on the 2007 team could tell us exactly why they were such a dismal failure this year - probably in one or two sentences.
Why do we have to be in the dark??
Anyway, in the absence of the truth, let me add my ignorant opinion - it's got to be a lot about chemistry and the sooner the last of Ty's recruits are gone, the better.
2008 Season
Nine victories in 2008 is not impossible, eight is probable. I am a 1963 grad. Our Sophomore year (1960) we were 2-8. In 1961 we won the first three games and were ranked in the top five in the country. We ended up 5-5 but with one point losses to Navy and Northwestern. Senior year 5-5, next year with Hughie Devore 2-7; only 9 games because the Iowa game was cancelled due to the Kennedy assasination.
The next year with an inexperienced quarterback and a new coach we were 9-0 and #1 in the country until we were robbed by a holding call on the two yard line by Pac 10 officials.
We have skill players with considerable experience. The key to next year is blocking and tackling. Although young both lines incurred considerable playing time. Getting back to plain old football fundamentals is imperative and that is where Ara was great. His teams were always fundamentally sound so were Lou's teams. Ara had the best group of assistant coaches in the history of the school,especially Tom Pagna and John Ray. This is where Charlie has to make some decisions. ND cannot ever again look like they don't know how to tackle or block, especially block.
I love the wide open offense but with the OL that he has there is no reason why we just can't ram the ball down the opponent's throat.
Aaron's comments
The real pro and true ND alum that you are I think you handled your analysis spot on. I am still apalled by how inept the offense was. I still believe that with the talent level the ND program attracts it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to play at the level they played this year. Something is truly wrong and in the end the buck stops with CW. Changes MUST be made whether it be coaching, philosophy, teaching, etc. during the current off season. Major changes. To go into 2008 with the same "game plan" so to speak will only result in similiar results from 2007- irregardless of whether was have the #1 recruiting class or not. CW will have 3 of his classes on campus next year. No excuses for lack of talent. PLEASE CW get the help you obviously need. No more embarrassment for the ND program.
Weis Mtg with Patriots
Aaron, enjoy your analysis. Wish you were still out here with the Chargers. My question is this. Charlie is going to meet with Patriots coaching staff, he says to get some straight talk of what he did wrong or right this year. Charlie says these guys will give it to him straight. So No. 1, will he then talk to Ara and Lou to see if they gave him the straight stuff? I mean did those Patriot coachs coach in college? I would think that Ara and Lou could provide more insight to coaching the college game. Second, I hear and read that Charlie's spring and fall ball did not have a lot of hitting and that the college kids need that to learn technique and toughen up. So where were his coaches. Should not Latina, Haywood, Lewis etc sit with Charlie and get him on the right path? Or is Charlie to intimidating to approach? Would enjoy you thoughts on this. What a great website. Thanks for setting it up. Boots
Right On!
I hope the powers that be behind the ND program read your comments and do what they have to do in this regard. CW MUST get some advice and preferably from INSIDE the ND family. Please Mr. White encourage CW to consult with Lou and Ara. There is no doubt they would be happy to help. While the New England coaches are certainly talented they are not coaching under the same circumstances. College ball is obviously different than the pros. No more embarrassment in 2008 - CW PLEASE get some advice on major changes that have to be made to avoid another debacle.
The problem with Irish Football is clear...
all charlie has to do is look in the mirror.
he's lookin' for answers in all the wrong places,
when simply put, he just doesn't know how to inspire and teach all those talented faces...
sorry couldn't resist the chance for a lymrick today.
facts are, ND admin hired a guy without head coaching experience...once again. the problem isn't going away anytime soon.
jonnyjumpinIrish
Post Season Analysis
Mr Taylor
Thanks for your insights all season long and I'm loking forward to your informed opinion on what we need to turn it around. Hope it contains a reasonable time line. Different note relates to your playing days at ND. As a long time fan and complete novice to the Xs and Os of the game outside the obvious, it seems as if we lost monumentaly when Joe Moore was forced out and have never quite got the dominance we used to see from the O-line.Wouls really like to see that facet return to ND. One of my all time favorite phots is you leading a sweep against the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl. Thought then and still do, that I'd hate to be a linebacker or DB with you charging out to clear the way. Thanks for being a great ND man.
Coach Taylor for OLine
Yeah Aaron.....why not help the ole' stomping grounds return to it's glory!!!?!!! As with Charlie, you could speak to these kids actually playing in the NFL!!! You have my vote!!!
Kicker
Thanks for this year, Aaron. You've helped lower my blood pressure and get me through so many sad Saturday's this past season. Question: Why can't ND get a decent place kicker? We usually give away 35-40 yards on kick offs and field goals are a joke! Why should recruiting a powerful, accurate kicker be such a tall order for us?
new OL coach
So Aaron,
How about putting down the pen and picking up the sled. ND could sure use your expertise, and make these top recruits top players. And who knows maybe you could use your down time to keep this site one of the best that us ND fans are lucky to have
Legends of South Bend site design
The mustard-colored pages of your site are attractive, but make reading difficult. A lighter shade would be a big improvement.
Asaph Schwapp
Have I missed good play by Asaph Schwapp that keeps him playing so regularly.
I seem to see only missed blocks, 1 and 2 yard runs (all three seasons) and fumbles. Once or twice I've heard the announcer talk about a good block he threw but is his performance as pathetic as it has looked to me?
Charlie seems to have a mindset about how tough he is.
Can anyone tell me where to look to see what seniors are eligible to return next year and what freshmen from the 2006 season did not play.
Excellent Analysis
Aaron, it has been very difficult to not damage my TV this year. I think Weis is a great coach, but he still has a learning curve and as much as I hate to say this, I think it was good for his ego as well as the ND faithful. With so many underclassmen on this year's team I kind of feel there is a fine line to walk on how hard you can be with them and not get them too far down? I also don't think you can put them in a box and say well if he would have used full pads and had full contact during practices things would have been different.
In my own opinion, I feel that this team never had any confidence. I do think next year will be a complete turn around of this year and I would expect something like 9-3 with that schedule. I also would like to see some great games and the gamebreakers (Tate & Armando) some plays in the open field.
Interested in reading your continued analysis
Also wondering, how long are the typical spring and fall camps? With the supposed return to physicality and work on fundamentals during these periods, do you think it is resonable to expect a high level of improvement?
Strenght of Schedule
Aaron, good analysis and I will be looking forward to the follow-ups. In addition to having a young, inexperienced team this year, we had a brutal schedule. Everyone but Duke and Stanford had a winning record. Next year, six of the teams on the schedule had losing records in 2007 - San Diego State, Stanford, North Carolina, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. That alone bodes well for 2008. We should be very competitive against all these teams plus Purdue, Michigan State and Navy. I won't predict that we will win 9 games but it is not out of the question.
Keep up the good work with your blog.
You have got to be kidding????
On WHAT basis do you think we can win 9 games in 2008. More freshman coming in? Come on! Get real! We were not competitive AT ALL in 2007 and just because the calender moves 10 months do you think we will be better and more able to compete? Remember, we LOST to NAVY, PURDUE AND MICHIGAN STATE this year. What will change in the next 10 months to prevent this from happening again? Unless there are MAJOR changes to the program over the off season ND will lose most of its games again next year. What did you possibly see to think we can all of a sudden become competitive even against lesser competition?? We were dead last in many offensive categories in ALL of college football(1-A). What will change? Just because you want it to (as I certainly do as well) does not make it happen. CW must get some help. He appears to be over his head in the college game. Without this help and major and significant changes the results next year will not be much better. Read the column posted on ndnation.com from the Chicago columnist about the "echoes still not awake"!! He makes a lot of sense. Rah Rah will not get it done. CW needs to makeover his entire system and get in some new coaches if necessary if we have a chance in 2008.
Thank you Aaron for all the
Thank you Aaron for all the comments and words of wisdom this season. I have enjoyed reading what you have to say about the Irish this season. I remember when you played and am looking forward to the Irish returning to the team they were at that time. Keep up the good work and God bless you.
Post Season
Agree with MartyIrish...can't wait for your Part II analysis. Can't wait for next year. Thanks for working around the (writing) blocks, and hope next year's blitzers aren't as successful.
Thanks Aaron
I have really enjoyed your site.
I think the analysis you give is by far the best.
Probably because you have Been there done that.
Thanks