Yes, Jimmy Clausen threw two blatant interceptions and had a fumble that put UNC in great position to score, but Clausen's mistakes could have been easily covered if the Irish had a decent kicking game.
Instead, the Irish were forced to go for fourth-and-long well inside field goal range, costing the Irish three valuable points.
There were multiple areas of the Irish game against UNC that could have been improved. Haywood could let the running game go and stick with our bread and butter, passing.
Jimmy could actually look off his receivers, but instead, Jimmy prefers to stare them down and throw interceptions and multiple potential interceptions. The Irish could have chosen to try to get a first down on second-and-seven instead of trying to throw a fade to Golden Tate toward the end zone over 30 yards away.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Yes, there are things the Irish team could have done, but ultimately, the kicking game is killing us.
It is unacceptable when a kicker is making 25 percent of his field goals. Kickers have one sole purpose in practice: KICK!
Maybe the coaches need to put the kickers through Oklahoma or other tackling drills to toughen them up. Right now, they are weak-minded, sensitive players who are easily overcome by the eyes of a crowd.
They really need to keep life in perspective. They have a single job.
Could you imagine one of our kickers trying to run across the middle of the field watching the ball, trying to make a catch, and knowing someone is about to kill him? It wouldn't happen!
Coach Weis needs to do something drastically different with the kickers, like he did with the team's practices last year when the team couldn't block.
Because we can't kick field goals, we are forced to go for it on fourth down, no matter how far away a first down might be. If, instead, we had a kicking game and not a head case who can't make a field goal, even if the posts were twice as wide, the Irish would have been down by two points against UNC.
Two points!!! The Irish would have been in great shape to kick a field goal and escape from Chapel Hill with a win.
No, we have to settle for a loss, because one position on the team has an inherent inability to exert the slightest competence. Our kickers can't kick, and it finally cost us!
comments (4) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
They could throw the ball more. That might work.
about 1 month ago
your kicker's stats this game:
1 for 1 a 42 yarder, made all 3 PATs
he did what he was asked to do
from about 1 month ago
The ultimate problem is the coaches had no confidence in him at a time when we really could have used the points. There's been a cumulative effect throughout that year that finally cost us. The kid makes all of his extra points. He just can't make a field goal. He is 2-8.
about 1 month ago
If Notre Dame's defense doesn't allow UNC to move down the field with 56 seconds left in the second quarter and kick a field goal you have the same result.
write a new comment