Notre Dame Post Game Show - Final Thoughts And Super Chats Following The Dismantling Of Rice

0:00This is Belie, one network, every topic, everywhere. Pond will stretch of this post game show here in the Irish Breakdown podcast, and we're going to talk big picture thoughts, hand out some game balls on either side, and then obviously wrap the show up with answering super chats. There was one thing that I wanted to ask you, because there's a lot that we don't get to see on the TV copy. Was there, like, anything for Lou Holts in today's game? Nope, interesting. They had a thing on the board where they mentioned all the people that they have lost this past year, and his name was on there, it was like fourth, because it went alphabetical. Before I criticize no name for that, I'm going to wait to see maybe they're waiting till next week in the night game,

1:00and all that to do something, and it is the day after 9-11, and they honored victims of 9-11, so I wonder if they felt maybe it wasn't the right time to do a Lou tribute, but I don't remember his name being mentioned at all outside of just listing him with other people. I had asked a couple people that were in the stands, like, hey, did you hear it? Did I miss something? But I sure hoped that the only thing that they're going to do for Lou Holts isn't to just put Lou on the helmets, and not actually do a tribute in the stadium. Now, the crowd was chanting Lou's name. I hope the no name rectifies that next week. But I'm going to be patient because the day after 9-11, they did honor victims of 9-11, I want to... I could understand why they felt like maybe today isn't the day to do something extensive on Lou Holts.

2:01Let's see what they do next week. Maybe they connect Lou to the Miami game. Maybe they connect them to the Miami game. I wouldn't wait that long. I would wait that long. But maybe it's the next week's the night game. It's Michigan State, a team he played, although they did play against Rice in the 88 season. But we'll see, but no, Trevor, they didn't do that. No worries, I was just curious to see because there's a lot that obviously we don't see on the TV copy of these games. But all good. Fellas, as we kind of wrapped this up, first shut out that Notre Dame has had since 2022 against Boston College. They pick up a big win, 52-0. Let's kind of talk about what this means for Notre Dame. Big picture. Obviously, they're not going to now go out and win the national title because they decimate Rice. But I do think that this means something moving forward a little bit. Sean, I'll pass it to you first. Big picture overall, what do you think this win means for Notre Dame and pertains to this season to move forward?

3:05Well, I know for me, watching this team, it's always good to see the evidence of what you expect and things you feel like this team is going to be able to exhibit on a consistent basis. You know, people joke that the last week that there was some doubt. I didn't, that was never a doubt in my mind. It was 1310. There was no doubt in my mind. And they came out in the second half and left no doubt. They started from the first snap today and left no doubt for the expectant, the role through Michigan State and Purdue and leave no doubt or right to October up until November 7th when you know the rubber meets the role and the final the biggest resistance kind of starts on the way to what I expect to be a undefeated season. But big picture for me of the evolution of the past game, right, which we saw CJ in certain games. He didn't have to last year. They were so dynamic running the ball that he didn't have to, right, but there were certain things that he seemed to struggle like Brian said in the last year, look like he was aiming a little bit, you know, the little tense.

4:16And in a few spots, it still seems like that way, but he has become so masterful in running the offense. And you hear the coaches talk about it. You hear Chris asked talk about how difficult it to go up against him because he sees everything. You can't trick him and you can't rattle him because he knows what's coming. He knows exactly where to go with the football. So that for me is what stands out, having fully confidence that in a tough game, because there is going to come a game even as the we expect the run game to get better. There's going to be a game where that passing game is going to have to come to the forefront. Right, they're going to have to come to the forefront and maybe allow the run game to kind of know right as co-tales a little bit in that particular matchup. But to see a day like today, well, why receivers collecting 357 for yards receiving nine different receivers.

5:19And you see guys like Jordan Faizon get a couple of touchdowns. Mike a Gilbert pin the touchdowns and then you see the young players that we talked about earlier coming in and making plays. You just feel like this offense is finally ready. Big picture for me. This isn't offense as it moves forward. That's ready to get over the home. We've never questioned in big games and big moments when Notre Dame show up. Even if they didn't, you always felt like they were show up defense. Now you feel like they can go up against a team and put up 35 40 points in a playoff game and win it all. Right, so that and you don't feel like they have to dominate running the ball to do.

6:19You don't feel like I'm your perfect example. Indiana did dominate running the ball against my end. But it's certain games against certain opponents. You're not going to be able to do that the way you do it against everybody else. However, when you need to run it, you have to be able to run it. And when you need to pass it, you have to be able to pass it. I think you need to be able to do both. And I think this team has that type of talent to be able to do both in big moments to get it done. That's what I extrapolate from the first two games. Because I think they came out established a run in the second half against Wisconsin. I got it going today. They definitely established the past game. So now let's see a mix of it moving forward some balance in this offense. I think this guy is the limit for this office. I think it break records. Vince big picture, big picture thoughts on the game today, which got. Yeah, you know, I think obviously we've got two games under our belt as far as what we're seeing from this team and, you know, slow start Wisconsin.

7:32Okay, but then they dominated the second half and did what they were supposed to do. And they did what they were supposed to do in this game, you know, rice was an inferior opponent. And Notre Dame came in and made them look like an inferior opponent. And are there things that they can get better at 100%. We talked about them. There's no doubt about it. But big picture wise, the defense never allowed a drive more than six plays. And that was only one. Everything else was five and less. And then the offense scored on eight of the 10 drives. I believe is what it was. So it's like. I'm sorry, it was seven of the 10 drives. One one was a punt. One was the end and one was a turnover on downs. And those were all backups at that point. And so I just I think this team is still growing. I think they're still learning. But I also think this team has gotten over the hump of taking teams too lightly. Of not being ready for games like that was look, that was my fear, I guess is the best word for it.

8:33Now I fully expected Notre Dame to come out and win this game. But there's still that little voice in the back of your head since Marcus Freeman is one and two against FBS teams at home to start the season, right. Like you're like, don't forget about, you know, Marshall and more than Illinois are exactly like, you know, I mean, this is what I'm saying. So like, there's still that voice in the back of your head. And today's performance kind of wiped that out for me, which is good. And we've talked all off season about how this is going to be the next step in Marcus Freeman's maturation process is coaching a football team with a zero in the lost column. What what how does he do that? What does that look like? Because he has coached a football team with losses where the message is simple. Guys, if we lose again, we're done. Like you got to win. Every game is a one game playoff, you know, all these different coaching cliches or whatever, but the message is very clear. The message is very easy.

9:33When you're coaching a team with the expectations that Notre Dame is going to have or has currently and does not have a one in that lost column. What's that message going to be and how does he deliver it and do they listen? Do they take it in? Well, I've got this game now to look back on and they listened. Like he's got them going in the right direction. That's huge to me. Like that, you know, all things aside, that piece of it is huge for me because it shows me that Marcus Freeman understands his role in getting this team to where they need to be and how they need to be focused and how they need to play the game regardless of who's on the other side line. So hopefully that continues obviously because you've got Michigan State and Purdue coming up. I think it will. But that that told me a lot and that tells me a lot about what this team is going to be moving forward. Yeah, I'll keep the short biggest thing for me was focus. And I talked about this all week throughout the shows that we did Brian and it was it was the how how was this going to look?

10:37I understand the I'm Vince. I'm with you. The boys in the back of the head, you know, he's o and three against FBS opponents and home openers. There was no world where I saw another name losing this game quite literally zero. Like I just it was just to what degree was going to be 52 to nothing was going to be 41 to six was going to be 27 to 13. But I just I knew they were going to win this game. I did because what I said all week was yes, I understand the record, but rice is significantly closer to Tennessee State than they were to Northern Illinois. And so the question was just how were you going to look and they came out very fired up, very disciplined and the biggest thing for me was as corrections along the offensive line or needed. But at the end of the day, what this told me was this team is focused. That was something that I was concerned about. We got asked in the offices and all the time, hey, what do you think is the biggest, biggest tumbling block? It's not coaching continuity. It's not level of talent and it's not level of experience. At some point does that fire get extinguished of leave no doubt revenge toward people don't want to see us. Man, I feel bad for anybody playing us. And what they showed today is that fire is alive and well, things to go work on. And I'm not having a conversation with anybody about well, they played this game on today. What I don't care.

11:50I think it just doesn't matter because I know what they did today. Then I thought it was exceptional. So 52 to nothing when Brian, what's your big picture take away here Brian before you before you go. I just want to say this. Not only do we love watching Notre Dame and things like that. We love college football in general. And if anybody's been paying attention the last three weeks. Winning is not easy. Okay. And so, you know, we can revel in the fact that Notre Dame won the way that they won today. Okay. And the fact that Notre Dame has looked good winning the games that they've won because there are plenty of teams that have very talented rosters that are ranked very highly. That have looked very sloppy that have not looked good and some have lost those games. And so if you're an Notre Dame fan, I think you just need to just take a breath. Enjoy as Brian just put the chat enjoy life. That's an okay thing. But winning isn't easy man. Like nothing is a given. I just want to put that out there. Nothing is a given. And enjoy college football because you just never really know what's going to happen. I just want to throw that out.

12:57Yeah, to your point Vince, it's okay to say, hey, this has got to get better without jumping off a cliff of like, well, when they play so and so in two and a half months, they're going to get beat, you know what I mean? It's like, how about you say, hey, look, they got to get better here. But man, a lot of this was good. That's my frustration with and it's a very small group of people in the chat. Most people in the chat are are saying when we talk, Ren game, hey, it's got to get better. This is the reason, but when they talk about the defense is great. And that's where I've been. Look, here's where I'm at guys. Like, I don't know how this team is going to react in week three or week four week five or week six or November 7th or November 21st or January, whatever or February. I don't know how this team is going to react, but what I do know that this team is done in these last two weeks is that's what we can evaluate and and I think today was a great learning experience for us with this football team. Because Sean, it goes back to what we talked about the beginning. We have seen this team come out against opponents like this a lot in and struggle to be locked in until what until like last year when their backs were against the wall because they were going to be in the game.

14:04They dropped a couple games. Trev, you and I talked about this week during our our our keystivictor, I think is when we talked about it. But like, can this group come go out in and in a game like this and be locked in and intense when they don't have their backs against the wall because they've lost to somebody or such and such and whatever. And the fact that this team did that and the fact that they have a defense that sets that tone is very encouraging for me so far. I don't know what it's about keep it rolling, but I don't want to diminish how important that was because it's rice, but that's the point. We have seen this in the past where yeah, it's rice or it's northern Illinois or it's Marshall or it's Stanford who hasn't beaten a team since Colgate in the last year. And then you go back to the Brian Kelly era, they lose to Tulsa, they lose to a South Florida team that had a losing record. And that team had Michael Floyd on it, there is Fleming on it, Harrison Smith on it, Tyler Ifer on it, the O'Ridic on it, Zach Martin on, you know, like we've seen this team come out in games like this and just what was one of the beasts we had about learning for decade over decades.

15:16Certainly since we started doing this show, I'm so sick of this team playing to the level their competition. Yes, sir. So sick of watching right play and today they showed their competition you are not on our level. They didn't just out talent rights. We knew they were going to do that. I had a couple of people at you before the show by the way, I've met a guy before the show today who had an SC shirt on it like the USC logo, SC and then AR ED. Scared my dog, I got to get that shirt. That's really like I just had to see it like Notre Dame came out in this game and they didn't expect rice to be scared. They didn't care for ice is going to lay down. They said no, no, no, we're going to play to our standard. And that's what I was really happy to see is look, this isn't about rice. This is about us. And that was the mindset today. We're going out there to play to our standard. The defense came out today and said, I don't care who this is. I don't care who they play it. I don't care what their record was last year. I don't care about this. I don't care about that.

16:17We're going to play Notre Dame football. We're going to play how we play. And sorry rice, but you're about to catch one. And that's exactly what happened today. And I don't know how the game would have gone. Had the defense not come out that way. But they did. And everybody fed off of it. And so yes, run games got to get better. They need to reevaluate their play calling from a run game standpoint. I want to see this guy be used more. I want to see that guy do this more. I want to see this guy do that more. I think there's all these things that you can look at and say, yeah, they got to get better. But that's kind of a good thing offensively. There's still plenty of things to clean up. And they've they've done played good football. And they've done it so far. But I the mindset was the big thing for me. And I believe this is only the second time that Marcus Freeman has started a two and oh. Yeah, the other time being 2023. And that's because their second opponent was an FCS team, which I don't ever want to see Notre Dame do again.

17:22Yeah, I thought it was really dope to hear Marcus Freeman say he questions certain things about how to prepare this week. Because of the physical nature of that game Sunday night. But then only to get back around his players. That Monday and see how they were. Because he had planned to back off. Did he say like no, no paths on Tuesday or so? No, it's a two. It's something like that. And he said he got around the players and was like, oh no, they're ready to go. Yeah, I think that pours into what Vince touched on is like this team. And when you see the amount of guys that got votes for captain. And this team really has become player driven. Like you hear it. That's so important. But I think this week can be evidence of like how play their locked in like to go to what you guys were worried about. Will they be locked in? Well, when your players are the ones policing it and making sure that everybody's locked in.

18:26Has to be coach his job. But yeah, it has to be a great Notre Dame team that did that great player leadership. I mean, look, my first year of fall in the team was 1988. You can't look at that team and you look at the Tony Rises and the Andy Hex and the Anthony Johnson's and the Mark Greens and the West Pritchets and the Frank Stams and the Pat Terrels and the Todd Light. Todd was even still young on that 88 team. But you just that was a very Dean Browns and that was a very a very player driven leadership squad. And the 2012 team was that way. The 2015 team was that way. And the 2018 team was that way to be a great team. 2024 was they didn't have it early found it. And then that carried them to excellence, the remainder of the year. So guys, I'm happy about this game. I'm I'm thrilled about this game. Am I going to tell you that this team is perfect and no, but that's part of the awesomeness is that this team is not perfect.

19:29So far, they have their team that to me, it can still get a lot better and they've outscored their first two opponents, 93 to 13. They fixed their first shut out since 2022 and did this, you know, it's like what's about dragons, just lay right. This is another dragon to slay. And they slayed it. So now it's about get better and go out next week and get some Michigan State and be better in week three than you were in week two. And then once you do that, you go out and you do the same thing each week. So now the next step is learn from this game. And learning from a game is good and bad. You hey, when you do this boy, you are a dog. They can't stop you. When you do this, man, if you fight for the Mike a Gilbert, you fight for the ball like that all the time, brother, we're going to tell you to ball more. You know, hey, Elijah Burstman, you play with that energy off the line. You do those. Hey, we're going to play. Hey, oh, line, you see when you did this, when you did this, we were money. Hey, defense, when you do this, we're good. And then also, hey, you can't do that. See, when you do this, we get beat. So I think those are things that I absolutely love guys that as a football coach is winning that football game and saying, hey, there's still a lot to learn. We have not peaked as a football team.

20:38And I like the fact that they made the decision to come out and say, hey, we're going to be physical this week. We're going to keep that going because there will come a time to have a week where, hey, this is going to be a mental week of reps week. A week where we're focused on playing for perfection week and perfection weeks are sometimes we're like, hey, we're worried about doing things the right way and getting perfect reps. And in reality, you're using that and it's a mind game because you're going to back off the physicality and you're focusing on, you know, these things because, but you need to let that team develop its DNA a little bit first. And I remember when they did that against ball state back in 2018 when they had that real physical game against Michigan and the next week. First teamers didn't get a bunch of reps and they, and they came out flat. And as we've said a million times when you come out flat, you just can't turn that switch on as we found out plenty times over the years. This is a football team that struggled that lost a Marshall, lost in Northern Illinois, you know, lost the South Florida early in the season, lost a back in 2011, lost her home opener to South Florida, who wasn't even good that year.

21:46This is a team that lost at home, the Tulsa back in the day. This is a team that's come out plenty of times early in the season. And just been like, man, what are we doing here? You know, like what is going on with this football team? And this team came out today and basically before we were to the end of the first quarter, it was like two and a ball game. And that's a great place to be. Let's talk Game Balls real quick here, gentlemen. And then we'll dive into some super chats. Vince, I'm a kick it to you first, my man, because I have not done that yet tonight. So my apologies. But Game Ball on offense and then we'll work our way around the Horn and then we'll do defense. Vince, who gets your Game Ball on offense? Well, since there's four of us, I'm not going to do two, even though I had two written down. Maybe I'll save my two for tomorrow nights. If one of us doesn't say it, then come back to it and give your second. Fair enough. I love that. I'm going to go with the obvious one. I'm going to go and Jordan phase on on offense to touchdowns. I mean, he's really becoming wide receiver one on this team. I love the relationship between him and CJ.

22:46So phase on this my offense. And defensively, I am going to go Bryce Young to and have tackles for loss. The kid is the one good thing that Jason Garrett said all night long or all day long was, I don't know how many times he mentioned what we talked to him last night. Well, he talked to Bryce Young last night. And he said when I went to shake his hand, he was he was already 25 feet across the room when I shook his hand because he's so long. I thought that was actually pretty funny, but he is. He's long. He's imposing and he is just coming into his own man. And I love watching that kid play. So those are my two. Love those picks. Sean, who do you got game balls off into defense? I'll start out. Hey, I just think a darn shoe is big hits at the time. I mean, you just set the tone. So I'm going to give it to him, but set in the tone for the defense. And then offensively, I'm going to go off the board and just say all of the young wide receivers that got in. They got opportunities and made plays, made the most of it. And I can't wait to see them battle it out for the rest of the season to see who's going to give reps and real live action moving forward.

23:56I love that. Yeah, I love that completely. Game balls for me. I'm going to just go since there's a lot of candidates for this. I'm going to go Jaden Greathouse. It was great to see him making some contested catches unlike what some of the Texas wide receivers are currently attempting to do right now. But I think it was great to see Jaden Greathouse back out there moving looked great, making contested catches. That was fantastic. Also had tip to Mike Brown, because it wasn't just the Jaden Greathouse show, making contested catches. It was everybody cross board going up and fight for the football. And then defensively, I'm following suit here. Bryson was a monster today. He was absolutely dominant. So those are my two. Brian, who you got? I'm with you guys on defense. I mean, there's you could go Francis brew. You could go J. Norrisbury go Luke Talich. You know, there's a lot of guys can go with. But Bryce was an absolute monster today. So I'm going to give my game ball to Bryce offense. I'm going to see J. Car. The receivers did great, but the guy that was the Maestro leading it and getting the ball we're needed to get to. I mean that that post dropped a Jordan phase on that ball. He went up made a play for that's where that ball needed to be though.

24:59You know, the ball is to Mike a Gilbert great job going up and getting it. But that's where that ball needed to be though. You know, he fit that slant right into Jordan phase on in between kind of tight coverage. You know, getting that ball out to. To Jaden Greathouse getting a ball where needed to go getting it out was good timing. Yeah, it's a minute couple. I want to see him snap a few of those off like that. That that scene throw to Mike a Gilbert get a little bit more zip on that ball. I know you're capable of it because I watched your arm speed on that throw. And I've seen when you let it rip. And I've seen when you're aiming the ball and you're aiming the ball. Let her rip. But he even even with that he was still outstanding today. You know, in this game guys 16 of 20 for I'm pulling the final book up 16 of 20 for what was the 250 six yards right in 53, 53 yards for touchdowns. CJ was outstanding today. Outstanding today. So, but yeah, I thought about going just all the receivers as a whole. You know, I thought about going like kind of all them as well because I thought they play even like Greathouse blocking for Jordan phase on on that that now screen and Jordan's patience on that play the trust he had in his teammates to set the blocks up and then go make a play.

26:08Jordan is playing at a very high level and he's kind of basically saying all you guys have said no name doesn't have a WR one. Yeah, we do and it's number six. You know, so certainly who CJ thinks this is number one in Jordan phase on so far two games has backed him up and said, yeah, this is why. So love what I'm seeing Jordan, you know, so far through two games eight eight catches for 135 yards. Pretty good days. Pretty couple any played what to two two two one half a football this week. So that's it's a good place to be. So good place to be so I am that's where I'm going and then I also want to give a game ball to to to spend Spencer poor for very quickly making me not be worried about every AT field goals. Yeah, very happy about that. Yeah, I'll tell you what the kicking operation is good. But I mean, I was 21. Yeah, but he's never played American football before. Right. You would not if you if you just watched Notre Dame today and you didn't know anything about Jasper Skate, you'd be like, oh, this guy grew up punting his whole life.

27:17Spencer poor at this is an absolute and an absolute dog fell as it's very nice to be in a situation where Notre Dame has a kicker that you don't have to necessarily worry a whole lot about. He drilled that one today and that's a great great feeling. But yeah, it's somebody I make sloppy Joe put this in the chat. The last six quarters. No name is outscorder opponents 80 to nothing. Yeah. The 80 to three in the last six quarters. That's good place to be. Yeah, I mean look, special teams is we didn't really talk about it today because there wasn't really anything to talk about because Spencer poor at this automatic when he lines up for a PAT. It's an easy swing. It's between the upright. Right. I mean directly between the uprights. If you could get maybe a second point for actually drilling it right in the middle, he would get it every single time. So I it there's no point in talking about it right now because he's so automatic and you don't realize what you're missing until Notre Dame goes through the kind of stretch that they went through with their kicking game over the last year and a half.

28:22And now you appreciate it, which is fantastic. So and two different guys kicking off. That was kind of interesting and random all at the same time. But hey, whatever Marty, be honest, didn't they get Michael Drescher later in the game? No, Michael Drescher started the game and started the game. Just missed it had one like three touchdowns in and it was back to Drescher. It was just a weird. It was weird. But anyway, only think something I would notice basically. I love that. I love that. Hey, I do want to do this too. Zach Martin took stole my thunder a little bit. He said, coach is game ball. I'm going to give a coaching game ball today because I always say it's I'll blast you when you deserve to get blast and I'm will give you praise when you deserve to get praise. Chris Ash game plan wise the first two weeks has been absolutely phenomenal. And this is a complicated offense. It's not a super, super talented offense, but there are some athletes there. Jakari Brown's a good athlete. But the game plan the first two weeks have been absolutely flawless and his players are playing hard. Now all the defensive coaches get credit for that. But we blame Chris Ash alone when the defense doesn't have a good game player doesn't play well.

29:33I'm going to give him the credit as the leader of that group that that that team has been locked in. You know, mentally and preparation wise, I think the game plan has been very sound. And this unit is playing downhill hard. So big shout out to coach Ash on the job he's done because obviously he's a guy that we've said, look, I, I need to see it in year two. And will they play downhill with it? They're playing a lot of zone defense and that zone defense is very aggressive and they're playing downhill and playing aggressive. So at least for two weeks, boy, the defense has been absolutely lights out. And and not just because they're talented. It's him putting the talent in position to dominate. Yeah. So I'm giving him a coaching game ball today as well. I love that game ball pick. We talked earlier in the week that on Fandall, rice is over under point. Total. I think for the entire game was over under three and a half. I think I made the joke of like, I don't know if the under is going to hit, but it'd be a heck of a defensive performance if it did. And here we are. I agree. I agree wholeheartedly on that. Mm hmm. For sure. What else? We have some super chats before we get out of here. How we like to end every post game show.

30:38Going order how these came in got one in here from I'd end, but I mean, appreciate the Appreciate the super chat. I then most improvement needed. O line pushing the run game and running game overall not horrible. But if we had to pick one area thoughts. I mean, it's a no brainer. I wouldn't call it horrible, but it was really bad. Yeah, I mean, yeah, it was really bad. But yes, that's definitely without a doubt. The one area that needs the absolute most improvement. I didn't think that the past game was like as bad as people made it out to be last week. I thought the past game was fine last week. They they it was what it needed to be. You know, What's not what they it's not what people wanted to see. They wanted the CJ throwing it down. I get it. You know, and I mean, and we told people before the week that they're not going to do that. But I understand, you know, CJ Heisman trophy when you see him come out and Heisman Welley stood for 40 more yards than what Fernando Mendoza doing his first game last year against Old Dominion, but well, and you know, those other Heisman favorites did not have a good game today. By the way, just but yeah, but I mean, I just I looked at a trev and and and Vince and guys I look I just I felt like

31:44That it was fine. It was fine and and obviously today you come out and you like to world on fire But the run game has been a bit of a problem in the first two games You know second half against Wisconsin was great, but you couldn't build on it this week That's gonna have to get corrected But yeah, if you talk about like the only thing that's like concerning for me That's really the only thing that's been concerning for me everything else is just normal coaching week two You're still in week two. Let's let's keep getting better here and stuff like that that you need to focus on Absolutely Got a super chat in here from Isaiah layman. Appreciate you defense plays with the hair their hair on fire Love Freeman saying they need to play football not football car was sharp and Walton looks the part Yeah, he looked good. I thought I thought Nolan James looked Good for the most part as well today. I think both of those guys looked real sharp today I felt bad for Jay-Van Osborne because he didn't have anywhere to run I mean they just they was happy. Yeah, but he had a couple nice cuts though There was one play where I thought it should have been a TFL and you made a guy miss but yeah, they look good

32:46I mean watch even the young receivers man like just getting him in the game and they're just after making plays and Yeah, it was impressive Agreed Watching Jay-Van Osborne to the rock it dude He looks a lot like Jadari in price just by the way he moves. It's bizarre how much it looks like Jadariin It's yeah, I'll say that and he's gonna be fun to watch Got another super chat in here from my den. Appreciate you man And these games do you think coaches have to tell their other coach? Hey, Sar we had to run it up You know, I'm not that type of guy, but the committee no, I don't I don't think they ran it up at all There's absolutely zero wrong with Putting your backups in the game and having them throw to football and and run your offense They weren't done run like running it up is like okay You're doing flea flickers at the end of the game with your backups and you know what I mean? You're doing those type of things your ones in for way long. Yes Exactly they didn't even they had their ones that they didn't have their starting one they started in the second quarter Yeah, they started putting like more of their number two receivers in and Leonard Moore came out now

33:51Granted taking Leonard Moore out means you're putting Christian Gray in the game You know what I mean, so it's like it's a little bit different, but like They didn't run up scored today they didn't run up score last week you you had your starters and on defense No name what they're gonna not go down a score It's nothing too is like you load the box or run stunt Okay, if you don't want us to to throw the football then don't load the box and run stunt when it when the game's out of hand So I didn't think what Marcus Riemen did today and and you know like you tell him Teddy take your time and things like that Like they did what they did today didn't run wasn't running up score and they scored 10 fricking points in the second half of the game So it's they definitely didn't run up the score C.J. Got one drive in the second half. That's it So no Freeman doesn't have to and if Scott Able is is Bothered by what happened in that game today then he soft and I don't think he was running the score up Is what Mario crystal ball did where you've got the ball with like and you're in your calling timeouts up 77 to 7 That's running up the score correct

34:53But like but Luke Nichol coming in the game and throwing the ball against for the that's not run up score You know like so so I have no problem with it Yeah, I mean they even had the opportunity to add a field goal late and they just let the clock run down like they could if they wanted to They could call a timeout I would have wanted to see him let Teddy play a little bit more pace I didn't like coach Freeman doing that but I also understand why because he's not trying to run up the score in that Situation, but yeah, I would have liked seeing one more touchdown for sure I'll bring up the next one Trevor because this is for you from our guy Chris black Irish 864 Trevor were you happy with the tight ends the Tipped to varying degrees I'm also a very hard person to please when it comes to to that But there's cool to see Cooper Flanagan catch a touchdown. It's nice that Notre Dame's tight end won didn't go an entire season without catching a receiving touchdown Not only took until game number two As far as their performance run blocking There's going to be some things that I have to go through and look on the film when we get the all 22

35:55But nothing that they did today stood out I would have a little bit better of an opinion on it if Thai Washington didn't drop that seam route because that was a gorgeous throw And that's just that was tough See, she had two balls dropped today by the way you want 16 to 18 and had two drop passes Yeah Six and a 20 and a two drop passes Yeah, so I'm an overall if I were to give him a grade I'd as of right now like a P minus But I got to go see what they did in the run game because that could change my opinion But it was good to see Cooper Flanagan catch a touchdown for sure. Yeah two games two tight-end touchdowns How about that? Love it How about that? Got a super chat in here from Sean Stewart. Appreciate you Sean great job. They started fast enjoyed my first Notre Dame football game go Irish Love it nice awesome beautiful day for football man. It was a little warm, but it still yeah, that was September football man. That was good stuff Super chat from a Clayton, appreciate you Defense played great Adon as a first-rounder Nolan James is quick some small things to clean up with overall solid performance go

36:58Irish a great Notre Dame coverage IV Appreciate you a Clayton very very much. No, I I mean, I don't know Don first round or not You'll see how the season plays out and how he tests, but he's a heck of a football player That's for darn sure and yeah, Nolan James has great feet. He just looks very confident I think Nolan is the guy that can run more of the mid zone stuff But even him I still want to see him get downhill and be able to bounce a duo or cut back a duo and run some counter stuff but You know the the timing the run game is a whole we'll have to get better and I think that it will But yeah, it was a It was I always stuff to clean up in two games always stuff to clean up in two games Absolutely LSU just do a pick six to Louisiana Tech and they've been great so far this season But stuff happens, you know, you got clean stuff up and you get better at it and you learn from those mistakes and sometimes as a coach You don't want your team to not play well, but you also In certain or you know, you also kind of like hmm kind of had what we had I'm climbing guy we didn't have that drive or we scored every single time so we can look back and say

37:59You know like you're Mike Denbrock. I'm kind of glad we had that dumb personal foul and missed this mistake Is now I have something to kind of to use to kind of come on guys, you know that kind of thing So yeah, that was my one nitpicky thing about the offense They're streak of getting an offensive penalty and then the drive essentially ending right then and there is still alive Because it happened today, so definitely some stuff to clean up for sure Super chat from our guy Trevor rocket big super chat appreciate you man great showing today in The home opener The speed and aggression showed by the lads was impressive looking for to next Saturday night against an old rival for the megaphone Brian vent Sean Trevor outstanding job as always love IB and IB nation Sean do you remember the last time that Notre Dame and Michigan State played inside Notre Dame Stadium? Do you remember what happened that day? Do you remember what year that was there's a little payback expected for Michigan State was 2016 was that the The fame has passed in affairs game with

39:00Yeah, I remember that game. It's a game also where Fair fair enough you look at that game. It's fair to say miss you stayed out playing over the day No, I'm talking 2016 is the year they beat them 26 years of the year that Michigan State beat Notre Dame and that was the Brand-Bang order The 20 the 2013 no the 20 14 game. Yeah It's where Brian Van Gorda thought it'd be a great idea on third down to drop Geron Jones and J Hayes in the coverage Yeah, so again just some demons you got to exercise fellas demons got to exercise. I thought you were saying it Michigan State was looking for revenge instead of no Notre Dame lost to Michigan State the last time they they got them on their home field So definitely some things to lock in on and focus on get them rocking and rolling Super chef from UT Irish our guide Drew Rani appreciate you. Hey fellas

40:01I have come to love these post game shows especially when we get all four of you for me great win I know we will have people that are unsatisfied, but Notre Dame handled business bring on the Spartans. Yes, sir No doubt about it. No doubt about it long season left people always being satisfied, but It's under that I appreciate why though because the standard has been set so high and so like to that point I appreciate it I just think that there's a line that we tend to cross from time to time, but I would rather be able to convince people that this team is actually good You know, and I mean like that. That's a good space to be in I Mean Trevor look I have no problem with anybody in the chat talking about how the run defense is gonna have to get better if this team is gonna get where they need to get to Because I would agree Mike and Mike where it's like okay We have me how many how many years Sean did you and I talk and did we do we do things together or Vince you and I do shows together where we were like Why are Notre fans settling for this crap?

41:04Mm-hmm. That's one of the biggest complaints of Brian Kelly error. I have no problem underneath fans saying hey I think this team is gonna be great and I expect them to score 70 on rice. Okay, cool But when you turn it into oh, then they're gonna get smoked by Miami November It's like okay. How do you maybe they do maybe they don't have no clue you don't know either That's right and get kind of crosses the line or when you can find no joy and all the things they did because all you want to do is folks on the Things to improve on but there's absolutely things that I got to get better and no they they're not gonna go 12 16 and 0 or 15 and 0 and when the natty if the run game looks like it did the first two games in the rest of the year, but That's why you go to practice and thank goodness That we're allowed to actually get better and practice on things that we're not great at right now as a football coach. It's wonderful Yeah, I think the level of this standard has been It's been a valley No, they fans have had to endure And You know, I think the extension was during the

42:08Brian Kelly era But sometimes you can mistake the ascension for the peak Mm-hmm, and that's where you know, you start to settle as you talked about But now is very reminiscent you and I Can correlate events week we can connect this to what we thought with Luke looks very similar In a lot of ways very similar in a lot of ways. I remember watching Games back then wonder and Know today doing in the first half and Lou Now just sleepwalking games against scenes and trash and then they were just a little teams out You know and a second half similar to last week, so Well, they'd have games like today, but it'd be reversed. Yeah, yeah But then points in the first half and then put a team away in the second half. Yeah, yeah, then Touched on something early in the man just Coming out and just getting these The teams out of the way We're not playing around with you. We're bigger with better with faster

43:12You don't belong in a field with us like take your check and go home You Got to catch one today and then deliver it. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely Super chat in here from our guy Tyler Evans appreciate you man I'm glad that I'm a Notre Dame fan that an organ ducks fan today and let's relax and enjoy the season Thanks I be yeah, Trevor. I'll tell you what man I cannot wait till our Tuesday show where we kick off our Tuesday show recapping week one That's gonna be a lot of fun. Yeah, a lot of fun still a lot of football to be played tonight But yeah a lot to discuss today Oregon just who boy and I'll tell you right now if it wasn't for the Oregon defense given them a Defensive touchdown and then giving them another drive at the one yardline that game might not have been close. Yeah Yeah, yeah Super chat from Robert Matika appreciate the super chat Robert safe to say cam Williams isn't gonna be involved I don't know that he was healthy today because I saw him without his helmet a lot today

44:15So maybe not I have no idea it's the second game of the year, but I Have to think that he would have gotten snaps before some of the freshmen or Very ended the game with Teddy Gerard. I don't think he was healthy like they wouldn't put every receiver on the field except for Cam Who was running with the two of the last practice we were at I don't know that was that was right I saw him over there catching for Teddy Gerard Yeah, and he didn't look like he was even full padded. He dammit helmet on he like it was him and Quincy Porter catching for the quarterback's warming him up So I don't know that he's healthy. I'm gonna look into that, but I The fact that he didn't play at all Like at all Tells me he wasn't healthy today or he wasn't clear today Super chat from David Ingalls appreciate you David. It's great to see the band back together. It's always I Love Andrew and driving Andrew McDonough does a phenomenal job, but it was fun to be on the show today with you guys It was Always nice having you. Yeah, thank you, sir. Thanks for allowing me to be on the show with you guys

45:19I love having you on your show. Please can I be on my show today? Please please guys. No any time you ask nicely. Thank you. I begged a little offered bonuses Speak my language I Think it vents do anything for money. So you're right now. So happens to get five kids Never do that how much Makes me think of the member of the book Sean I see did you read is when you were a kid because what same age how to eat fried worms remember that Elementary Vince would have been that kid they would have ate the fried worms and we did just have it off from a buck 50 You know, I mean he'd like all right cool. Let's go. I'll do it. Let's roll All right, Vince. Let's see what you'll do for five dollars if you had to rank With the offensive line the super chat from our guy Zach Martin If you had to rank the biggest issues with the offensive line one constant shuffling of the O line two scheme and three

46:24Teaching and technique for five dollars Mr. Diderio Oh, man, recognize. Yeah, this is like a this is like a bicell hold right? So this is right up my alley or right of our alley and I was breakdown. So I appreciate that one Zach I'm stalling because they are all an issue at this point the constant shuffling I think they're gonna get that worked out. I don't know that there there wasn't really constant shuffling today I think there was a minor injury And so obviously they had to bring in a you know a stylus press god came in at right tackle But that wasn't a coaching shuffling. I think they got it right. They had Sullivan absur out there at right guard And then they got Ashton Craig out at half time put Joe outing in so I mean obviously that made sense So I put that one as myself put that one as the third More moving forward than first game because I think that was a major issue in the first game So hopefully that's the the cell moving forward. I would say

47:25What was it technique and then teaching were it or I'm sorry the scheme and then teaching and technique I think right now Scheme is the number one problem So I'll buy that one and I will hold the teaching and technique I'm gonna go number one. I'm gonna go the constant shuffling on the offensive line because It's the shuffling that you did throughout camp and throughout the first week that led to why your offensive line is not really showing the kind of juice That it needs to show right now and I think very close behind that is is the scheme. I don't think that they're doing a great job of Playing to the coaching to the players strengths, and I think slightly behind that is the teaching technique because You know obviously this is what your line did. This is how you prepared them to play and it's not like a guy had a bad day or two I've said this to you guys all time Sean you've heard me say some many times when one or two guys does something It's that one or two guys not doing they need to do when the entire line plays a certain way. It's what they were prepared to do Whether you intentionally wanted to play that way or not something about how you prepared them this week

48:29Caused you to do it and you couldn't really fix it in the second half like you had like you did last week And so yeah, I think that I think it all goes together Zach I don't know that I would even say I don't know that we should rank them all because I think they all go together But if I had to rank them I'd actually go in the order that you have them But it's like they're all very close They all kind of go together because it's harder to To get the teaching and technique down when you do have as much shuffling I mean we've seen styles press god line up and play left tackle right tackle and right guard in the last two weeks. Yeah That's not fair to him. That's not fair to styles my opinion right I think that's part of it Agreed kind of sticking along the lines of trench play here We have a super chat from carry later appreciate you. Thank you. I be for the show Can't wait to see how the D line keeps building but offensive line run needs some tweaks I love the old line overall is this starting to look like a line driven program. What's next go Irish? Sean on defense. They certainly are Yeah, you say that again and I think on defense. They certainly are

49:33Yeah, the history of the open offensive line tells you that more than likely they're gonna be a good offensive line We talked about how talented they were and the promise they had to possibly be in a lead offensive line and climb into that Joe Moore award Conversation So like you said they got they have time to get it right on the offensive line, but that defensive line after two games Man and we expect guys like Cheyenne to get better Oh, yeah, and you did from last week to this week just just how he came off the ball is comfort level. Yeah We say the transfers to get better I mean Frances Brue has another level to get to brother. Oh my goodness. I was thinking the same thing Man he's gonna get better I'm just disappointed none of y'all got the you can say that again and I said it again and there was no reaction I was like I thought that was gold fellas. I'm sculled. I'm sculled

50:45Now look the defensive line has been good the last two years and I don't think Al Washington got enough credit for how good the D line was the last two years, but it's another level right now these first two games Like it's a whole another level like Somebody today was talking about how you know, man I wish I had John Henry daily and and he's had two really good games for Michigan so far Big win for Michigan today But and he's been a very I'm saying the thing like that dude wouldn't start right now for another day And he he has played very good. He wouldn't start for the end three eight tackles and three tackles for lost against Oklahoma I don't know the start for not him right now You know, no, I would have taken that three-man rotation in a heartbeat, but Yeah, I mean they're they're playing out a whole different level right now on a D line and again It's early there are Tion will hopefully become more consistent and You know you're gonna get Jason O'Neill back at some point time. You know Rodney Dunham was I mean good night

51:47Watching Ebeneezu Tade run down the field on kickoff coverage like he's a flip and linebacker I'm like okay Logan Thomas has been good if we didn't talk about him on the D Loan down. It's been real solid the first two games, you know and Oh, yeah, it's dude it guys. It's and I think the fact that some of those D lineman got better in week two is a Testament to this team being locked in that they didn't like well, you know, it's rice You know, there's like hey, we didn't we played well, but we we can play better. Let's play better That's a great sign so that this is what a D line driven defense looks like through two weeks now you got to keep that going But for what we've seen this is what a defensive line driven program looks like it's not true for the offensive line The offensive line does not so far look like a line driven program but I'm not ready to panic yet. It's still early and And you know like I thought that O line would need some time to get going But they're behind even where I thought they would be when we talked about needing to get going and

52:51So they're gonna have to find some answers here real quick No doubt about it Last super chat of the night here fellas before we get out of here super chat from go Irish appreciate you if Cider doesn't know how to utilize more than two running backs. What's Denbrox roll in this? Hey, Johan We need to figure out a way to get so and so on the field them more And then you sit down and you have a plan for how to do that Every third series I want to get so and so on the field Okay, where it's going? This is what we're gonna do Yes, it's not that complicated if you if you if you believe that they need you need to have that so Yeah, could be worse guys could be an organ fan could be a Texas fan so But but no, I mean it's a it's a and we've seen them do that before in the past But I also I'm also not ready to kind of panic on that yet because I do think key journey is still kind of working back from the knee injury

53:53And I think maybe there's some reason for that so I'm not ready to have that conversation right now Because maybe that is you know like look let's let's be a little bit patient I I think part of it goes with the game plan if you're gonna run mid zone all day I don't know that it's like let's run mid zone today cool You know what else we need to do let's get our 235 pound back in there all and run mid zone all day like Part of it is your scheme doesn't fit where I think he could thrive and again, that's also part of the problem That you're not really scheming it. That's not J1 ciders fault You know and so they're gonna have to figure that stuff out guys You're gonna have to figure that stuff out but again, it's part of the evolution because Maybe in practice they were good at these things You know maybe that they did think that hey, you know Well, yeah, we're not doing great on that right now, but that's because we're going against our defense So you know that that sometimes that can be a problem like hey when we play different competition That's not our D line will be better running that well now you've had two games of data You'll get back in and you'll make some corrections and changes and and that's what I say like look

54:58Yeah, be critical of the run game, but let's not assume this is what it's gonna be all year But you also just can't say well, let's just let's just keep doing it and we'll get better at it No, you got to practice a little different you need to mix things up a little bit differently. So We'll see how it goes, but I I'm very curious see what the DL line looks like next week against Michigan state That's gonna be a good test because that's a that's a big physical defensive line It's a quality defensive line and their D lines played good football first two games So that'll be a good challenge for this offensive line and then a couple weeks after that You got North Carolina who's got a very good defensive line and a big defensive line So you will have some tests before you get to BYU and and you'll certainly have tests before you get to Miami Because you'll also be why you in the mix there Did they hang on to win today? By the way, why you I'm not sure And those are back and forth game with with Arizona. Yeah, we'll see what those Yeah, BYU won 2018 14 out there down they were down 17 14 17 14 and half time but out scored air zone of

56:0310 nothing in a second half. Yeah, it's good defense. Yeah, it's good defense Yeah Well, good deal. Well folks that'll do it for it this post game show 10 more to go and I believe Brian Vince Upon for the review tomorrow evening correct. Yes, sir 7 p.m. Right Vince is that what we decided seven on Sunday Yeah, we sure did only the eight o'clock on Monday because it was Monday, but yeah seven o'clock. Yeah, seven o'clock, baby Love that we'll be sure to tune in all the more reason to be subscribed to this channel and have that notification bell hit on your way out of this show Be sure to hit that like button share this podcast with your friends family anybody that you know loves Notre Dame in college football as much as you do Big win for Notre Dame this evening 52 to nothing first shut out since 2022 Cannot wait till tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. Listen to Brian and Vince go upon for the review take a deeper dive into this game So until next time that is Sean that is Vince that's Brian I'm Trevor. Be sure your premium message board subscriber at boards at irisbreakdown.com, but until next time see you guys back here very soon

57:05If you liked the show, please take a moment to rate review and subscribe It really does help the show to grow. Thank you for listening