5 Things I Didn’t Like: Miami ’12
It was tough to find five things I didn’t like about a 38 rout of Miami – something I honestly never thought possible heading into the season – but after some careful consideration, here is this week’s edition of 5 Things I Didn’t Like.
No turnovers or sacks for the first time
It’s hard to find things to not like in a 41-3 blowout of a legit opponent, but if I had to nit pick about another dominating performance by the Notre Dame defense, I would have to say that it was a little disappointing to see the Irish fail to register a sack or a turnover for the first time this season. Notre Dame had been collecting both at a rapid pace heading into the game but decided to play conservatively and keep the speed of the Miami offense in front of them. It was a strategy that ended up playing dividends for Notre Dame with the Hurricanes getting frustrated and not being able to put points on the board without the use of the big play.
Miami’s first offensive drive
The only aspect of Notre Dame’s defense that was tough to like was the first offense drive for Miami when the Hurricanes missed out on not one, but two touchdowns solely because Phillip Doresett dropped two passes that Stephen Morris dropped perfectly in his hands. Dorsett blew right by the young Irish secondary on the first one while Zeke Motta let him get behind him and wide open in the corner of the end zone for the second one.
Luckily for Notre Dame, Dorsett dropped both passes and Miami only seriously threatened again on their second drive when a Morris touchdown run was called back for holding, but the sequence was still a little unsettling since Landry Jones and Matt Barkley will surely see those clips and envision what they can do in a similar situation.
Notre Dame’s only punt
Notre Dame only punted once on Saturday, but it was a painful attempt to watch. Pinned up against the back of his own end-zone, Ben Turk got off just a 32 yard kick that set up Miami at the Notre Dame 35 yard line. Amazingly, the Irish defense held strong and kept Miami off of the scoreboard in that instance, but Notre Dame can’t count on the defense to bail them out of situations like that all year.
Turk has really had an up and down season so far. He has had some of his best performances in a Notre Dame uniform, but at the same time, he’s had some moments like Saturday that can’t happen. A senior, 4-year starting punter needs to be able to come through in that situation and help bal out the offense and set up the defense better for success by winning back some of the field position battle. He’s done that pretty well at times this season, but Saturday wasn’t one of those times.
Notre Dame’s helmets
I’m sorry. I’ve largely left my comments on the helmets and uniforms from Saturday go, but the helmets were just awful. Had they been all gold like they were last year I would have been totally fine with them, but the blue portion with the leprechaun was bad. I can appreciate the craftsmanship in putting each one together after watching the video of the making of them, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the aesthetic of the end product.
That being said, I did really like the the rest of the uniform and if the helmets were all gold would have thought that Notre Dame was on to something for the alternate uniforms they intend on wearing for the yearly Shamrock Series games.
And just for the record, I am not a traditionalist who doesn’t want to see any changes at all to the uniforms. I liked last year’s uniforms for the game against Maryland and loved the uniforms Notre Dame wore last year against Michigan. Heck, I am even pro jumbotron and field turf. The helmets on Saturday night though… those need to get put in storage and not brought back out for games again.
The punt return game
I am convinced that the problem with Notre Dame’s punt return game isn’t with the returnman this year. Davonte Neal has speed to burn and has moves in the open field, but he just isn’t getting opportunities to return punts so far this year. I do, however, suspect that the blocking schemes are the main culprit here.
Notre Dame opponents have punted 25 times this season, but Notre Dame has managed just 8 returns on those 25 punts including just one for no gain on Saturday against Miami. There has been some improvement here over last year, but Notre Dame needs to start getting something out of the punt return game to help out the offense from time to time.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
JW-Good points. However, Stanford’s strength will ultimately prove to be its Achille’s tendon. Be patient.
Go Irish! Hooah!
Frank has mentioned this before, but I would have loved to see a shot down the field (or even a bubble screen) for one of the young receivers, particularly when the Irish got a relatively comfortable lead. I’m glad they were able to pound it all second half, but just ONE shot down the field on a play action would have done a lot for the receiver and EG’s confidence if it were to connect. It’d also make upcoming defenses like Stanford, BYU and OK think twice before loading up the box.
Something tells me Stanford is going to load up and be in non-stop attack mode against EG to rattle him and slow down the running game. That’ll call for screens and a few deep shots off of play action.
Good point JW. However, Stanford’s strength will prove to be their Achille’s tendon. Be patient.
Go Irish! hooah!
True: G*d is not a sports fan.
However, His Mother is, and she roots for the team that bears Her Name.
Can we stay on topic around here? Considering what is in the balance?
Actually, God entered history 2,000 years ago, and does not intrude upon games or other trivialities. God did not even intrude into Hitler’s madness because Free Will and the ability to choose between good and evil are the Defining Gift he gave humanity. He does not go back on His word.
Chuckie! Woe unto you! Not true! God did intercede in Hitler’s madness by unleashing His ‘Killer Angels.’ They are called the United States military in vernacular terms. And we all know what Hitler recieved for his evil.
Go Irish! Hooah!
If you notice on punts, they don’t set-up for the block nor do they set-up for the return…they basically just try and elimiate the fake. must be visions of that MSU loss a couple years back! i would love to see them either go after the kicker or give Neal a chance in the return game.
PS – there kickoff coverage has not been as good as last year, either.
STANFORD RUDY AND REVENGE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO STANFORD CAME TO SOUTH BEND WITH LUCK AND THE OUTLAND TROPHY WINNER FROM A CATHOLIC PREP SCHOOL, AND HUMILIATED US. I REMEMBER ON THE FIRST SERIES OF DOWNS THEIR MIDDLE LINEBACKER SOARED OVER THE CENTER INTO THE ND BACKFIELD LIKE THE SCENE IN THE MOVIE RUDY, IY WAS DESIGNED TO HUMILIATE AND INTIMIDATE US. ITS TIME TO GIVE IT BACK TO THEM IN THE TOUGHEST GAME OF THE YEAR. GOD BE WITH US.
On the punting front, Turk has largely underwhelmed his entire career. It will be interesting to see who punts next year; I’m not sure there is a 2nd team punter. Neither he nor Tausch seem to have that grit needed at the BCS level.
As it pertains to returns, I feel sorry for Neal. It’s pretty much him versus 11. Given all the games, and teams fortunes for that matter, that have turned around because of special teams, I’m very surprised this isn’t a bigger focus area for Kelly. I fear lack of interest in special teams will come back to haunt ND sometime this year.
Couldn’t agree more about the returns! I was saying that I thought something was seriously wrong with the blocking scheme a month or so ago, but after this week I think it’s an intentional, almost obsessive emphasis on not allowing a sneaky punt fake to screw us over. Our guys don’t even touch anyone and seem to be holding for something other than a kick to happen. Neal won’t ever get an opportunity to return it if we keep doing this.
Absolutely. Neal looks so anxious to return a punt that I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a costly mistake trying to return one that he otherwise should let go or fair catch.
I understand playing it safe under certain circumstances, but to do so every time seems to be playing it a little close to the paranoid side. Neal looks pretty explosive and it shouldn’t be hard for ND to throw some young, athletic playmakers on the PR team to set up a wedge.
The special teams are weak, so far. The real threat is those two “bombs” Miami threw early and both should have been caught for TD’S. The ‘trees” will definately utilize those plays Saterday.