One of the most disappointing stats of the season for Notre Dame so far has been missed opportunities in the red zone. So far this year the Irish are just 4 for 11 in the red zone. Irish opponents meanwhile are 8 for 11 in the red zone so far this season. With 7 trips to the red zone resulting in 0 points in just 3 games, the Irish have left a potential 21 to 49 points on the board already this season. Here is a look at how each trip into the red zone has ended this season.
Red Zone Drive # 1 – San Diego State Game
The first red zone trip of the season came on the first sustained drive of the season for Notre Dame. ND took the ball over at the ND 24 yard line and moved the ball down the field with a nice mix of run and passing plays. Clausen was 5 for 5 on the drive for 60 yards. It looked like we were ready to pound the ball into the endzone before Robert Hughes fumbled at the 3 on a play where his knee could have been down. Still, the first trip into the red zone of the year ended in a turnover – not a good start.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| First and 10 | SDSU 18 | Robert Hughes rush for 1 yard to SDSU 17 |
| 2nd and 9 | SDSU 17 | Jimmy Clausen to Robert Hughes pass for 10 yards to SDSU 7 |
| 1st and G | SDSU 7 | Armando Allen rush for 3 yards to SDSU 4 |
| 2nd and G | SDSU 4 | Robert Hughes rush for 1 yard to SDSU 3, fumble recovered by SDSU |
Red Zone Drive #2 – San Diego State
Armando Allen returned a San Diego State punt 22 yards and drew a horse collar penalty to set the Irish up with outstanding field position. Notre Dame couldn’t do anything with the field position though as Clausen and Tate failed to connect in the end zone. Tate appeared to be wide open, but according to the NBC broadcast, Weis told him on the sideline that his route was an example of how a poor route cost the Irish a touchdown. After watching the play a few times, I’m not so sure it wasn’t just a bad pass. The subsequent field attempt had a botch snap and hold which resulted in another trip to the red zone with no points. At this point ND was 0-2 in red zone attempts.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | SDSU 13 | Jimmy Clausen pass incomplete to Armando Allen |
| 2nd and 10 | SDSU 13 | Armando Allen rush for 5 yards to SDSU 8 |
| 3rd and 5 | SDSU 8 | Jimmy Clausen pass incomplete to Golden Tate in the end zone |
| 4th and 5 | SDSU 8 | Eric Maust rush for loss of 8 yards after failed botch snap on FG attempt |
Red Zone Drive #3 -San Diego State
After an outstanding Kerry Neal interception set up the Irish at the San Diego State 17, Notre Dame gave the ball right back when Clausen threw the fade to Kamara who didn’t seem to be expecting it and then looked like a defensive back who couldn’t spot the ball trying to prevent an INT. This is one play that I was pissed they didn’t review because I watched it several times and the SDSU defender did NOT have possession until he landed out of bounds. Regardless, ND gets the ball inside the red zone to start AGAIN and turns it right over. This made ND 0 for 3 in red zone attempts.
| Down | From | Play |
| First and 10 | SDSU 17 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Duval Kamara intercepted in end zone. |
Red Zone Drive #4 – San Diego State
Notre Dame got the ball at the ND 45 yard line with a 1 point lead and marched down the field. For the first time this season, ND converted a red zone attempt when Clausen hit Grimes with the fade on 2nd and goal. Note that this drive was kept alive by a SDSU offsides on 3rd and 2 from the 12 yard line. At this point ND was 1 for 4 in red zone attempts.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | SDSU 20 | Robert Hughes rush for 4 yards to SDSU 16 |
| 2nd and 6 | SDSU 16 | Robert Hughes rush for 4 yards to SDSU 12 |
| 3rd and 2 | SDSU 12 | Penalty, offsides SDSU for 5 yards to SDSU 7 |
| 1st and G | SDSU 7 | Robert Hughes rush for 1 yard to SDSU 6 |
| 2nd and G | SDSU 6 | Jimmy Clausen touchdown pass to David Grimes |
Red Zone Drive #5 – San Diego State
Notre Dame over in the red zone after a failed 4th down conversion attempt by San Diego State and while this drive technically was a failed trip it really was a success. ND converted a 4th and 2 at the 12 to get a first down which ended the game. The stats at this point though show ND being 1 for 5 in the red zone in this game.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | SDSU 20 | Robert Hughes rush for 6 yards to SDSU 14 |
| 2nd and 4 | SDSU 14 | Robert Hughes rush for 2 yards to SDSU 12 |
| 3rd and 2 | SDSU 12 | Armando Allen rush for no gain |
| 4th and 2 | SDSU 12 | Armando Allen rush for 3 yards to SDSU 9 |
| 1st and G | SDSU 9 | End of game |
Red Zone Drive #6 – Michigan
Michigan threw a backwards incomplete pass which Brian Smith recovered to give Notre Dame the ball at the Michigan 11 for the first drive of the game. ND converted on a Robert Hughes two yard touchdown run after Michael Floyd was interfered with in the end zone on a 3rd and 6. The pass interference was legit as Floyd would have easily caught the pass had it not been for Morgan Trent’s interference. This was a nice conversion and was the type of conversion that a good offense makes. This drive improved ND to 2 for 6 in the red zone on the year.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | Mich 11 | Jimmy Clausen pass incomplete to Duval Kamara |
| 2nd and 10 | Mich 11 | Jimmy Clausen rush for 4 yards to Mich 7 (fumbled and recovered by Clausen) |
| 3rd and 6 | Mich 7 | Penalty, defensive pass interference for 5 yards to Mich 2 |
| 1st and G | Mich 2 | Robert Hughes touchdown run |
Red Zone Drive #7 – Michigan
Michigan was being generous and set up Notre Dame inside the 20 again when they couldn’t field the ensuing kickoff. Clausen ended up hitting Kamara on a fade on 3rd and 6 from the 10 for the score. This was the third time in seven tries that ND used the fade in the red zone. At this point ND was 3 for 7 in the red zone on the year.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | Mich 14 | Jimmy Clausen pass incomplete to Michael Floyd |
| 2nd and 10 | Mich 14 | Robert Hughes rush for 4 yards to Mich 10 |
| 3rd and 6 | Mich 10 | Jimmy Clausen touchdown pass to Duval Kamara |
Red Zone Drive #8 – Michigan
Notre Dame’s longest drive of the season was aided by a Golden Tate 60 yard catch and run on a quick slant. The long pass set the Irish up at the 16 and after two James Aldridge runs netted 15 yards, ND was at the Michigan 1. On first down Haywood called a play action pass to Kyle Rudolph. A Michigan defender came off the line completely untouched and nearly sacked Clausen. The pressure and hit was enough to cause a pretty bad floater from Clausen. Luckily pass interference was called and on 1st and goal from the 1 Robert Hughes pounded it in. Definitely didn’t like the play call here. First two plays in the red zone netted 15 yards on the ground so why go to the play action? The conversion improved ND to 4 for 8 in the red zone and was the last time ND converted a red zone opportunity.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 2nd and 1 | Mich 16 | James Aldridge rush for 7 yards to Mich 9 |
| 1st and G | Mich 9 | James Aldridge rush for 8 yards to Mich 1 |
| 2nd and G | Mich 1 | Penalty, defensive pass interference for 0 yards to Mich 1 |
| 1st and G | Mich 1 | Robert Hughes touchdown run |
Red Zone Drive #9 – Michigan
After Gary Gray got his first career interception and returned it to the Michigan 17 yard line, Notre Dame ran the ball three straight times for 9 yards and decided to go for it on 4th and 1. The play call? Another play action pass to Kyle Rudolph. This time the pass was intercepted. At this point the game was clearly in hand, but why call play action here? It didn’t work last time down here so why try it again? Give it to Hughes and let him get the first down. This trip to the red zone made ND 4 for 9 on the season.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | Mich 17 | Robert Hughes rush for 1 yard to Mich 16 |
| 2nd and 9 | Mich 16 | Robert Hughes rush for 7 yards to Mich 9 |
| 3rd and 2 | Mich 9 | Robert Hughes rush for 1 yard to Mich 8 |
| 4th and 1 | Mich 8 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Kyle Rudolph intercepted in end zone |
Red Zone Drive #10 – Michigan State
Notre Dame was driving in the 3rd quarter when Clausen hit Floyd was a nice gain to the Michigan 14, but Floyd fumbled the ball before going down with MSU recovering. Sadly, this drive at the end of the third quarter was the first trip into the red zone for Notre Dame against Michigan State. Hard to get too mad at Floyd for fumbling considering he is a true freshman and playing very well, but this was the third trip into the red zone that resulted in a turnover. ND was 4 for 10 at this point.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 2nd and 8 | MSU 20 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Michael Floyd for 6 yards, fumble recovered by MSU |
Red Zone Drive #11 – Michigan State
With Notre Dame down 9 and driving down the field in the fourth quarter the Irish reached the red zone on a Jimmy Clausen to Michael Floyd 11 yard pass. On 2nd and 10, Clausen hit Kamara for what would have been a first down, but an illegal motion penalty on James Aldridge negated the play and push ND back outside the red zone. Instead of first and 10 just outside the 10, ND faced a 2nd and 15 from the 23. Two incompletions including another near interception later, ND lined up for a 41 yard field goal which Brandon Walker hooked wide left after a bad snap. This was the second trip this season to the red zone which ended with a failed field goal attempt. The failed conversion also push ND to 4 for 11 on the season.
Drive Play Sequence | ||
| Down | From | Play |
| 1st and 10 | MSU 18 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Duval Kamara incomplete |
| 2nd and 10 | MSU 18 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Duval Kamara complete for 11 yards negated by illegal motion penalty |
| 2nd and 15 | MSU 23 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Michael Floyd incomplete |
| 3rd and 15 | MSU 23 | Jimmy Clausen pass to Golden Tate incomplete |
| 4th and 15 | MSU 23 | Brandon Walker 41 yard FG missed – wide left |
@ Dumer Dumer
Oh yeah, the sky is falling @ 2-1.
The “chicken wing” comment is moronic.
I suppose Charlie forced beer down those dim-wit’s
throats.
Laptop Gate, Suuuuuuuuuuure. We won the game on this technologically superior advantage……….over blown nonsense.
Ty could not win nor with Washington 0-3, Good for Charlie! 4-1 out of last five.
Where’s Ty’s progress?
The only fraud I see is you. A preposterous fan. Any more
esoteric trivia?
This is atrocious. Charlie Weis is sinking Notre Dame football faster than he can down chicken wings. Values are going out the window, players getting arrested more often, HE HAS BROUGHT CHEATING TO OUR PROGRAM (laptop-gate)!
He won the first 2 years with Ty Willingham’s players, now he is getting exposed for the fraud that he is.
O-line can’t run block. what does anyone expect? It’s simple, your linemen block, your backs will pick up yards. They will be able to score in the red zone.
Weis talked about weight gain. I want to know what the strength stats are. Benches, squats, leg press, clean and jerk. then I want to know what kind of agility training and pliometric excercises these guys have done over the last year.
Finally, I’d like to know if any of the coaches understand what Aaron Taylor talked about last year relating stories of how the coaches instilled values of toughness and going beyond.
You see camera shots of the linemen’s eyes after a play and you see a bunch of guys wondering why it’s happening to them. That’s how you fail in any life endeavor, not just football. Take it to the other team guys.