Excellent post, Jay. At this point you must be sick of hearing that.

Also, love the t-shirt idea. It's really a shame it won't be put into use.
kmfirish | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 6:20 pm | #

We have no choice but to take any positives we can out of this game amidst all of the missed opportunities (great catch, Jay, that we only scored on 4 of our 12 possessions).

For example, we scored the most points against SC than any of their other opponents besides Oregon State. Also, we are far more competitive than the Davieham teams of old (2 years ago was the 44-10 debacle).

The bottom line is they have recruited the best players, regardless of academic standards, in the entire country for several years now. They are young and deep and we're going to have our hands full next year.

The USC program is the pro football team in L.A. and is treated as such there.

Thank God Charlie was immediately on the recruiting trail the Sunday after the game, not returning to campus until this Thursday night.
Andy | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 6:22 pm | #

I thought Bob Davie had a winning record vs SC????
Diesel987 | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 7:01 pm | #

Who says you can't use the t-shirt idea? What if it is ND-UM in the Rose Bowl (I hope not)? We sure could use a mulligan...
Berger | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 7:27 pm | #

A couple of thoughts on the opening SC drive, from memory:

1) On the third down play where Crum showed blitz and got beat over the top, it wasn't that he didn't drop deep enough, it was that he got beat to the spot. I don't remember if the problem was overselling the blitz (and so losing a couple of steps against a straight up the field route) or just being slow getting back.

2) On Jarret's great catch, I thought Booty put the ball was the only way he was getting it in there. My first impression wasn't that they gave Jarrett too much space, it was that they had him covered well enough that an amazing athletic play was required to complete the pass.
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 7:29 pm | #

I thought it might be worth seeing a breakdown of Offensive and Defensive efficiency for Notre Dame from last year to this year. Only competitive drives are counted (see my homepage for national ratings and Game Efficiency explanation) and though they are used as unique "drives" to calculate Game Efficiency for my overall team ratings, returns for scores are ignored in the following breakdown.

Drive Efficiency = (Points / 7) / Competitive Possessions

70 - 99 yard fields:
2005 ND Offense: 0.40145 (79 drives)
2006 ND Offense: 0.33083 (76 drives)

2005 ND Defense: 0.21176 (85 drives)
2006 ND Defense: 0.18072 (83 drives)


45 - 69 yard fields:
2005 ND Offense: 0.37363 (39 drives)
2006 ND Offense: 0.54622 (34 drives)

2005 ND Defense: 0.29323 (38 drives)
2006 ND Defense: 0.39409 (29 drives)


1 - 44 yard fields:
2005 ND Offense: 0.64935 (11 drives)
2006 ND Offense: 0.65079 (9 drives)

2005 ND Defense: 0.46429 (8 drives)
2006 ND Defense: 0.42857 (8 drives)
LaFortune Teller | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 7:33 pm | #

Total Drive Efficiency:

2005 ND Offense: 0.41417
2006 ND Offense: 0.41657

2005 ND Defense: 0.25082
2006 ND Defense: 0.24881
LaFortune Teller | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 7:45 pm | #

Diesel987,

You're right. Davie was 3-2 against SC. He went up against Paul Hackett though, not Petey.
Andy | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 9:09 pm | #

Best t-shirt I saw this weekend, "FUSC". I wonder how expensive Jarrett's luxury housing is this semester.

On the Jarrett TD long pass TD play, literal before as the ball is snapped I managed to say (from section 9, row 50), "Shit, ND just gave up a touchdown," That coverage was so horribly blown I saw it before it happened. Can someone please teach ND's dbs to wrap up when they tackle?

I sure hope ND can figure out how to run block next year. It looks like ND is going to be a 7-10 point dog in what ever bowl game they go to this year.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 9:17 pm | #

Anybody else not impressed at all w/ Munir Prince? For the game that has that 'swoosh' as Charlie calls it, I haven't seen sqaut. Against Stanford and other bottom tier schedule teams he never made anyone miss and looked positively frightened.

Some other blogs have done comparisons between the number of stars of 'SC recruits and of ours. I think a better comparison is USC dept at positions versus ours. Somebody mentioned here a while back that our poor tackling is likely due to being unable to run full spped and tackle in practice, I think this might help. Any thoughts on this or does seem like nothing?
PM | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 9:48 pm | #

'USC depth' , not 'USC dept'

sorry
PM | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 9:49 pm | #

How can you freaking "swoosh" when you can't get past the line of scrimmage. Say what you want, the goat of the '06 ND Football Team is the offensive line......not even close.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see how any bowl game will be very interesting with that lot.
Mike S | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 10:06 pm | #

Is there a coach in the country that could have beat U$C with this ND team?
Tuesday | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 10:38 pm | #

I agree that the offensive line has been miserable this year. (as per Mike S) Brady has been sacked rediculously often this season.

However, they are not the key problem this season. At the end of the day, it's all about the playmakers. McKnight had a nice recovery but you can't drop the passes he did in the first half. Shark has not been the same this year either. I know that he is getting more attention so some of that is forgivable but he has also had some key drops - going back to the Fiesta Bowl. Zibby had a strong showing returning kicks but he has made way too many mistakes in the secondary this season, particularly for a senior captain.

We need our playmakers to step up and make things happen. They didn't. Jarret did. As Jay said, he was the difference.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 10:52 pm | #

Actually, I do think the O-Line bears the most responsibility for the pain this year. I think Brady just always had a feeling that he was unsafe (justifiable, in the situation) and that shook even the unflappable BQ just enough that he was not the relentless machine of last year. However, while the line bears the most responsibility, they don't bear all of it. Personally, I'd lay the second biggest share on McKnight's shoulders. We simply did not have a viable two-receiver attack all year. I don't think we can blame Jeff as much; he was constantly double- and triple- covered. McKnight just didn't come through when we needed him to to open up the passing attack to more than Carlson and Shark.
Proto | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 11:03 pm | #

Anybody know what the real deal was with Quinn shooing away the phone call? The wonderful announcers kept saying it was because he had to calm down after that last drive or something, but to me it was just poor leadership. For a guy who's supposed to be so "coachable," he sure wasn't showing it there. I'm glad they showed him on the phone a few minutes later, because he was certainly acting like a prima donna for a bit. I hope the NFL scouts weren't watching, although maybe if he doesn't go in the top 3 he'll be able to sit for a year or two and learn NFL football instead of being thrown to the wolves playing for the Raiders or the damm Lions.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 11:19 pm | #

Sorry, Erik but BQ is one of a handful of players that never quit and consistently performed well all season, despite the odds. Prima donna? I think not.
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 11.29.06 - 11:44 pm | #

Prima donna? Because he shooed away a phone that he talk to a few minutes later? Thats stupid. Ever hear of emotions? The guy is 21 or 22 years old in of the biggest games of his life. Poor leadership would be if he shooed it away and sat on the bench by himself. Calming down and then talking shows that he is mature. All world QB Troy Smith who everyone acknowledges as a leader of his peers, wouldn't talk to them after his fumble and pick against UM. Remember, these guys are college kids.
PM | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 12:03 am | #

I have seen every SC game this year and here is an odd thing for you. They have won the coin toss in every game, 11 in a row, and have elected to start the game by kicking off every time. This game was the first time SC has scored on the opening drive of the second half.
Ray | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 12:36 am | #

After the on side kick, I turned to my brothers in the seats and said "we can now add onside kicks to extra points, field goals, and regular kick-offs as things Karl can't do."
paddy | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:04 am | #

I think Jarrett is actually living in a posh high-rise condo on Sunset. He has this huge TV supposedly. He likes to watch his 9 yd. TD catch. Then he watches the one for 5 yds. He watches his one-handed grab over and over...and marvels at how no player was even close to him. Speaking of not being close...he loves the footrace he had with the ND secondary after he caught that 43 yd. touchdown.

But who cares about Jarrett? ND has SAMARDZIJA. He may not be nearly as talented and not win us football games like Jarrett, but it's just so comforting to know he has a much higher SAT score.
the other guy | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:17 am | #

I have lived for several years in the apartment complex that Jarrett lived in last year with Leinart, the Medici, and the claim that its a "luxury" apartment complex is far too generous. I know its the same complex because I bumped into Leinart there before. It has so many USC students, its basically off-campus student housing. (Although I might be a little bitter about the complex because some stupid piano performance major living in the apartment above me keeps playing the piano at 1 am). From the pics I've seen of Georgia's football players "dorms," those are 10x as nice as the "luxury apartment" that Jarrett lived in.

But thanks for the link to Jarrett's sick one-handed catch on youtube.
Jeff | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:45 am | #

About the T-Shirt, if you sneak into Rose Bowl to face Michigan wouldn't "Mulligan" suit you best. There are teams much more deserving than you for the BCS bowls, yet you would get into one.

Eitherways you are gonna get blown by any team you are gonna face. It's the curse for being the most arrogant fanbase.
Mull | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 2:17 am | #

Jay, you obviously have a passion for ND football and have turned it into a full time hobby. Your humor is refreshing and you are not afraid to poke fun at anything even remotely sacred. I hope someday you can turn the passion and hobby into $$$$$, either with a book or some other way where you can express yourself.

As for the USC game, I can't read about it anymore. The pain has numbed me. The lessons to be learned are all there, the weaknesses in the Team all exposed. CW will have to deal with it.

I thank God every day for putting assholes like "Mull" on the planet, how else would we know good from evil, right from wrong, beautful from ugly?
PhilB | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 7:50 am | #

As a side note, have you ever thought of doing a piece similar to the "Villainy" piece, but profile announcers instead? Seriously, whoever came up with the Davie-Musberger team needs to be taken out back and shot. Wasn't Nancy Grace available?

The only thing more depressing than the game was having to listen to BM and Boob all night long. I finally drove my wife from the room with my hundreth "Shut the F*** up BooB!" comment halfway through the 3rd quarter. Why can't westwood one be carried in GR?????
GRNDFan | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 9:20 am | #

Jay, I love this blog and love your game analysis even better. I may not post often but I have read everyone of your analysis .. fabulous job

Regarding the coin toss, USC has not won every one, a few teams have won and taken the ball first in hopes of taking it right to SC.. The true statement is that SC has received the ball to open every 2nd half

Regarding Bob Davie, I know he won at least three games against SC

On the DJ catch that made it 37-17.. When I saw JDB throw that to DJ I yelled WTF!!! as I saw the FB Williams even more open, Williams was so open that I thought (in that 1/2 second timespan) that throwing to DJ was a bonehead move, so I guess I know why I am in the stands every weekend and better not quit my day job

Finally about the USC dept or depth, In every game, USC owns the fourth quarter (Including Oregon State, although they just fell too far behind in the 3rd).. due to depth on both sides of the ball.. Every position but QB and maybe center gets a rotation throughout the game and these guys are all decent off the bench.. in the end it just wears down the best of teams
TrojanHorse98 | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 9:25 am | #

1. I saw Bruton in on at least one play early in the 3rd quarter - it may have even been the end of the 2nd quarter. I don't know if he and Ndukwe were rotating at that point or what. But the fact that Musburger went into "know it all" mode by mentioning Ndukwe was out 20 times - when it took the entire crew a full quarter to figure that out - really pissed me off.

2. Did anyone else notice the rotation that had both Toryan Smith and Mitchell Thomas in the game at the same time in the first quarter?

3. It almost looked like Gioia kicked the ball out of bounds intentionally, to prevent a big return. But as I've said, is it really Gioia's fault that Ty didn't leave the team with any scholarship kickers?

4. Prince is only 170 pounds - hardly D1A running back size, although he'll put on some weight and muscle over time. Still, it's a little disappointing that there weren't any outside runs or pass plays drawn up for him this year (except for that one that Brady was sacked on).

5. LaFortune Teller - thanks for posting the link to your stats site. There go any plans I have for a productive day at work.
Kanka | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 9:51 am | #

One petty complaint about the officiating - USC had 3rd and 13 on ND's 32 up 28-17. The right tackle for USC jumped before the snap; no call, first down USC. USC would have been in a 3rd and 18 from the 37 up only 11 points. USC kicked the field goal to take a 2 touchdown lead. Unlikely to have made a difference but it bothered me nonetheless.
PJC | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 10:06 am | #

PJC, those were your refs I presume... except in the replay booth where they were the wonderful competent P10 refs
TrojanHorse98 | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 10:46 am | #

They were Big 10 refs on the field and a Pac-10 crew up in the booth. I'm not suggesting bias; they just missed a call that probably had no impact on the game.
PJC | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 10:52 am | #

You know the regular season is over when most of the people writing in the comments section are fans of other teams.
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 10:57 am | #

Regarding the P10 ref comments, I was being sarcastic.. I know as well as anyone these are the worst refs in the nation. As I've said elsewhere, obviously the P10 should not be in the officiating business.. as a matter of fact, they (P10) should outsource the entire officiating department from the on field/replay guys to those who sit in the conf. HQ.. outsource it to another conference or something.. these guys are horrendous
TrojanHorse98 | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:03 am | #

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/ne...tory? id=2680928
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:05 am | #

Jay,

Again, great analysis!

I was also curious if Gioia thought that he was kicking to Booty (the other #10) on the onside kick rather Cushing.

Go Irish!!
Paul | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:05 am | #

I saw that guy jump as well, all the way up from the nosebleed section and was thinking the same thing how a 3rd and 18 would help. But that sort of thing happens alot and both teams get away with obvious penalties whether its a hold or movement before the snap. In the end, it didn't matter. Also check out the her loyal sons blog. There is a clip of Charlie after the game telling Poodle "Nice butt kicking," classic Charlie. Glad to see he gives credit where credit is due but you know he'll be back.
PM | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:15 am | #

Actually, Other Guy, it is comforting to know that Shark actually qualifies to go to college. Let's see who gets drafted higher between the two before you start talking smack about who's more talented.

Once again, if you want to root for pure football players, root for a NFL team (oh, that's right, LA can't keep one in town). If you want to root for a college football team, then remember to insert the "student" into the "student-athlete" equation.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:29 am | #

eric, if i remember correctly (re: brady's phone call) that was after the drive where BQ had the 60 yard run. That makes the whole episode much more understandable for 2 reasons

1) Brady played his ass off on that drive. His run was better than any ND back has had since the days of Julius Jones. He was totally winded.

2) after Brady runs his ass off all the way down the field, DW fumbles in the red zone. I'm sure Brady felt the same frustration with DW that we all did. The guys not fast, but generally good and picking off yards and holding onto the ball. On saturday he did neither. If I"m BQ i need a few minutes to settle down cause I'm pissed
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 11:48 am | #

http://theoakschristianlions.pre...ortsonline.com/

It's probably going to be difficult for Jimmy Clausen to develop a winning attitude at Notre Dame. His team has only outscored the opposition 676-93 this year. Aren't they trying? What gives? He also has more touchdown passses than anyone in the history of the state of California. How soon before Beano Cook calls for mulitple Heismans?
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 12:04 pm | #

Binny,

Please, for the love of all that is good an holy in this world, don't ever say that again.

Every go find some wood right now. Knock on it.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 12:11 pm | #

"It was cool because he wore it on the Jay Leno show and it was all fun, like 'OK. He's wearing it.' And then afterward I was like, 'Oh man. That's all I could say, 'Man.' "
-- USC WR Dwayne Jarrett on Snoop Dogg wearing his jersey while getting arrested
ND'90 | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 12:50 pm | #

Jeff -

"Although I might be a little bitter about the complex because some stupid piano performance major living in the apartment above me keeps playing the piano at 1 am"

I feel your pain, man. I spent the entire summer of 1980 in the same house as a sister learning to play the cello. If someone strapped on a pair a cleats and tampled on a herd of cats for two hours, it could not have been more painful to listen to....

Talent at 1am vs. Hideous screeching all day - which is worse?

Good luck Jan. 8th....
GeronimoRumplestiltskin | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:13 pm | #

JohnWA, just when I think you can't come across as more of a dumbass than you already are, you outdo yourself. You are an example of the ND fans that people always make fun of.

Did you actually say that your boy's going to go higher than Jarrett in the draft(assuming of course Jarrett leaves)? In what draft? Baseball? Your boy isn't nearly quick enough to hang in the NFL. And you actually insinuated that he might be as talented as Jarett? Are you kidding me?! Also, calling him "shark" just makes thinks worse.

What the hell are you talking about with the whole NFL thing? I couldn't care less than there's no team there -I'm not from there. If Jarrett hasn't been taking classes, then you can start making claims that he's not a student. Wow you're dumb. Why don't you read up above about what Jeff said before you start making ridiculous accusations that aren't true -and only get spread because morons like you spread them.

Keep squeezing those grapes buddy.
the other guy | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:22 pm | #

hey "other guy", tone it down.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:25 pm | #

Sorry Jay. I love you.
the other guy | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:26 pm | #

Probably the biggest offensive difference between 05 and 06, in hindsight, was the loss of Stovall. Stovall rarely dropped the ball, was the tough inside receiver Rhema wasn't--and he still delivered as many spectacular catches as Rhema did. The drops on conversion downs are as critical as turnovers.
tmb | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:30 pm | #

Why are we saying the the offensive "line" is the cause of our offensive woes when it's actually the offensive Right Guard. I hate to bag on him considering it's not been a good year, but Morton is reason number 1A that our offense has been less productive. He's been a turnstile all year and has brought the rest of the line down with him.
As for The Play, I had the impression that Bruton made the mistake. If you watch it again, doesn't it look like he starts to blitz, runs into Brockington (who looks like he's trying to drop back into zone) and then just kind of sits there? If that were the case, it seems like Bruton might have been expected to be man on Jarrett with Brockington taking the underneath and Richardson (possibly) helping over the top. That was the impression I had.
As for Brady, he didn't take the phone call because he walked into a fat-ass tackle that absolutely crushed him. About a minute after the phone call shot, they show Brady on the sidelines trying to pass and muttering "Fuck Me".
Re-Run | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 1:56 pm | #

Thanks for the various clarifications on the phone call. I don't remember specifically when it occured during the game, so I was looking for the context that would justify his actions. I can see needing to catch his breath before being able to talk. However, if he was simply disregarding the call from his coach because he was frustrated, then that wouldn't be a good thing to do.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 2:28 pm | #

Erik, I wouldn't read too much into it at all.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 2:37 pm | #

As far the USC game goes, it seems like it came down to Jarrett and Booty having career games and we helped with the rest.

As for the overall season:
On the offensive side of the ball was it:
1. The oline not giving enough BQ enough time (they certainly struggled with quick athletic teams) or
2. BQ taking a split second too much time, hurrying or over-throwing the ball (the protection seemed to work when he had the 5 receiver set and the 2 minute drill) or
3. Trying to get one of the receivers open (I agree that we missed Stoval for the end zone fade and Carlson in the USC game as the middle of field seemed open ala several of BQ's runs) or
4. Not having a strong enough running game to set up the passing game (there was one comment that PC felt CW was using the same scheme that he did at NE and that he had become fairly predictable, certainly the swing pass to JS wasn't working against USC).

On the defensive side, was it:
1. Not having a great secondary to stay with a quick receiver or
2. Not having a great pass rush giving the QB too much time to get some open or
3. Not having a great defensive scheme which could overcome all of our weaknesses.

The kicking and Return teams speak for themselves.

I'm not sure you can pin it on any one of those areas and it was different areas in different games which had to be frustrating to CW. It would be an interesting analysis if you compared this year to last year in some of those areas. Hopefully, CW can figure it out before the Bowl Game and next year.

Go Irish!!
Paul | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 2:54 pm | #

I can beat both stories of annoying college neighbors. Instruments? Nothing.

I lived a floor beneath two female shotput throwers on my college's track team. Now I'm not trying to knock female shot throwers, but these women were quite large. Not fat, just large. Like defensive tackle large.

Every damn morning for a year, at 5:00 AM, they got up to JUMP ROPE. This was a shitty apartment as it was, but large women jumping rope directly over your bead at 5 every morning (especially those morning when I seemed to have terrible hangovers, which were often at that time) was enough to push a man to murder. I'm not gonna lie, I thought about it.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 4:07 pm | #

Regarding Stovall's hands, I think absence makes the heart grow fonder... I remember him being a bit unreliable on the wide open stuff even last year, although he was still a quantum leap above '04. That said, I still have the impression that he and Samardzija never did get blanketed the way Rhema and Samardzija sometimes have this year.
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 4:20 pm | #

What are the odds:

1) Polian returning for 2007?

2) Minter in '07?

My $.02:

Polian ~ 40% stay / 60 % go (please!).

Minter ~ 85% stay / 15% go.

Chances of cutting them after 2007 season (more ugly losses)?

1) Polian: 10% stay / 90% go

2) Minter: 45% stay / 55% go

Go Irish! Win a bowl game (please)
ThELoStBoY | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 5:30 pm | #

Well, given that Polian is out visiting recruits with Weis right now, I would think that is a sign he is not on the way out.

"Oh, by the way, that coach you just met? He's gone now."

http://www.theunion.com/article/...PORTS/ 111290094

I would agree that our special teams have blown goats this year, though.
Lo-fi | Email | Homepage | 11.30.06 - 10:09 pm | #

I agree that a bad cellist and fat shotput throwers doing jump rope in the morning is definitely worse. However, my point was more that it was a complete joke by newspaper writers to call our complex (aka Dwayne Jarrett's apartment complex) a "luxury apartment complex" when its almost as freaking noisy as a dorm. If anybody had chosen to come and visit the site (or at least interview students about the site) they would have realized how wrong they were.
Jeff | Email | Homepage | 12.01.06 - 4:25 am | #

Dever looks like a good recruit, but scheduling an official visit to ND in December? Couldn't he have come in May or June? :o)
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 12.01.06 - 12:55 pm | #

Dunno where he's coming from, but with luck, he'll get the full winter travel experience with lengthy delays at O'Hare. :p
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 12.01.06 - 10:12 pm | #

Erik '04,

I think the main reason that Dever didn't schedule a visit earlier is because he apparently was a relative unknown in the recruiting world (at least thats what I read at some recruiting site). Every year there are guys who for whatever reason (injury, playing time, location, etc.) don't get the typical hype that typically starts around most top recruits' sophomore or junior year. Dever apparently is one of those guys, who has taken the recruiting world by storm later in the game than most.

A great example of a guy like this is Julius Jones, who didn't get nearly the hype he deserved going into his senior season.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.02.06 - 1:09 am | #