The Extra Point

ND-Stanford Pt. 1

We're trying a little different format this week. Instead of my ugly mug breaking down the video, I'm gonna try something other bloggers do--this typing thing. So the breakdown will be laid out in print for all to see and ridicule, and then ultimately be corrected. It was just taking too long to cut up all the video for such a long TD drive.

So here we are, a perfect example of the Charlie Weis "Death by a Thousand Cuts" offense. There's two minutes before the half, and like a bad rerun... actually no, this is a great rerun. Like that episode of Saved by the Bell where Jesse sang "I'm So Excited" and got real emotional because of her drugs and that pesky eating disorder. That shit was hilarious. If you ever get a chance to see that episode while actually on drugs, you will laugh your ass off, but in a nostalgic sort of way. Unless you were born after 1985, in which case you will probably not know what I'm talking about. But feel free to laugh about it now. Digression! So like a good rerun, just like last year the Irish march down the field before time expires and throw a big 7 on the board against Stanford. Those guys must hate that.

We pick it up a couple plays in after Darius has run for a 1st down. The Tree has a hard time on this drive getting pressure on Quinn, but that's mostly because they don't like blitzing. However, on this play, they send a corner and a LB, and they're picked up pretty well, but man does Quinn react here to the light pressure. Just the sight of a blitzer makes him go all wobbly legged like he got hit with a tranq dart. Charlie goes after the linebackers here with some crossing routes, and they don't have a chance.

ND-Stanford Pt. 2

So the Tree drop 8 and only send 3 after Quinn. Don't they realize that they're playing to his strength! Haven't they watched the tape! The linebacker and the DB are confused by crossing receivers, and it looks like the linebacker stutters for a second on the replay. He just wants to the help the Shark out a little. Give him some room. Selachimorpha helps himself to a first down. See, this is an educational blog. For all you Nobel prize fans out there, or the crowd at a Cal game. Ignore the audio on the clip as Haden keeps rambling something about YAC yards. Apparently the announcers found that pronouncing the word YAC over and over to be really funny. They're like the PG version of Beavis and Butthead. Yeah, it was a really exhilarating game.

ND-Stanford Pt. 3

You see, this is the problem I have with the tv coverage of the ND games. I really would like to talk about something on this play, but I can't. As soon as the ball is snapped, the cameraman zooms in, and you can't even tell what's going on ten yards away. But if you're a fan of Offensive Line play, and I know you are, you get to watch two double teams and near hold!

Charlie just continues to attack the middle, patiently, meticulously marching down the field. You just got the feeling he could have done it all day. That's a great feeling to have on a two minute drive. He'll keep running it until you can beat it. Or until the game is in hand. He's not an insane lunatic like Steve Spurrier. Spurrier looks more and more like a cartoon every day.

ND-Stanford Pt. 5

Tune in if you're a band aficiando. There's just no way to say that without laughing. Stanford comes out in a nickel, and the SS creeps up to defend the crossing route/post route. The Tree only rushes 4, and the LB's sit back, but they still don't do much, and the Irish pick up 5. It looks like Carlson was open here too, and had a better chance of going somewhere. But hey, how can I complain. In fact, it looks like there's a couple of guys open on just about every play on this drive. It's interesting, I didn't see many out routes here, although it's always hard to tell because you can't see much of the field. But we see a lot of crossing routes, and not many out routes, when all we did last week against Purdue was out routes. Any of you strategy gurus care to comment?

ND-Stanford Pt. 6

This play more than any other shows the difference between the athletes of Stanford and ND. This should have been a pick, the Irish should have gone into the locker room up by 4 at halftime, and Charlie should have gone into the locker room flailing around in anger like an orangutan. And this play came after a timeout too. But it's okay, no harm done. But come on, McKnight and Quinn should be on the same page after a timeout. The free safety blitzes, so maybe that dictated a fade to the endzone. We'll never know. I wish I could ask Charlie about that. Actually, instead of that dumb call-in thing they have going on for the press conferences, they should let the fans email some questions. Have somebody screen them and pick out a few, and ask them to Charlie at the end. Stanford is still sending 4, and it looks like one LB picks up Carlson, the middle LB runs over to help out on McKnight after the FS comes up on the blitz, and the weak LB spys Darius. With less field to defend, the Tree gets a little more blitzy, and they almost make a play.

ND-Stanford Pt. 7

Quinn finally takes advantage of the soft cushion on the corners. Just before the snap, the corner takes a few more steps back, trying to defend the jump ball. Quinn takes 3 steps, quick slant TD. Pretty simple. Nice run by McKnight. One thing I noticed, why does Quinn keep lifting his back leg in such a girly way on this drive? He looks like one of those 1950's sitcom housewives who lift their leg when they kiss their husband, which I never understood, how a peck on the lips causes a muscle cramp in the hamstring. Darius plays a role in the play that you might not notice, his route into the flat draws the LB, which opens up the throwing lane on the slant. Looks like Charlie noticed all the spying and the lack of a pass rush, and decided he didn't need to keep Walker back there for pass protection, and it paid off. Cause I always throw a pick to the LB on the slant on the PS2 when I'm not paying attention. Also notice Santucci the center, who just drops to the ground and starts rolling down the field like he's back in Romper Room. A little different blocking technique. Weeeee! On this whole drive you'll notice a lot of our blocking just involves the big guys simply diving to the ground. Nice little break for them. And again, the Irish receivers break the ankles of another safety.

Let me say again how nice it is to feel such confidence that the Irish can march down the field and execute a great 2 minute drive. Some people forget how big of an issue that was during the Davieham years. I remember pulling my hair out in anxiety way too many times.

ND-MSU-let's get some coverage

ND-Michigan Pt.2

It's funny how many comments I saw from Michigan fans on this site and other sites regarding the quick potshot I took at the refs. I find it statistically and realistically improbable if not impossible that ND has been holding 10 times in three games and our opponents have not held once. Our games are officiated by the referees of our opponent's conferences. No conflict of interest here? There were quite a few iffy calls in that game. And man, all these Michigan fans are complaining about my quip on the refs, but wait--I thought it was the fans of scUM who always complain about the refs, and how they were screwed somehow, and they never desrve to lose, and how they never lose 3 games a season (oh wait that was a player who said that, in the middle of a 5 loss season). It's like I can't complain about the refs because I would be stealing their gig. Okay, enough potshots, we're all friends here. Oh who am I kidding, just watch the clip.

ND-Michigan Pt.1

 

 

Download 91806_ndmich_06_pt. 1 WMV Final.wmv

ND-PSU-Tight Ends-For the Ladies too