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I think you're selling the strong 2019 finish short. by rockmcd

Just because you're not playing against a ranked opponent (Navy was ranked FWIW) doesn't mean we should totally disregard the result. One sign of a great team is its ability assert its dominance over a weaker team and not let them hang around until the 4th quarter. To me, that's the difference between the 2019 and 2021 teams.

After a three game stretch in which the Michigan debacle was bookended by narrow home wins over USC and VT, these were the results of the final 5 game stretch:

38-7 @ Duke, who finished 5-7. That game was already 21-0 midway through the 2nd quarter.

52-20 over Navy, who was ranked #21 on gameday and finished 11-2 and ranked #20, despite the loss. That game was 38-3 at halftime.

40-7 over BC, who finished 6-7. That game had a slower start, as we were down 7-6 midway through the 2nd quarter, but we led by 9 at halftime and it was a 33-7 blowout by the end of the 3rd quarter. Total yards were 501-191.

45-24 @ Stanford, who finished 4-8. Another slow start that turned into a blowout. An early 17-7 deficit turned into a 4 point lead at halftime, 11 points by the end of the 3rd quarter, and the 21 point final margin was reached with 5 minutes left, before the teams traded TDs at the very end.

33-9 over Iowa St in the bowl game. Iowa St finished 7-6 but that record was a result of losses by 1 points to Iowa (10-3), 2 points @ Baylor (11-3), and 1 point @ CFP semifinalist Oklahoma (12-2). This game was over when we went up by 21 points two minutes into the 3rd quarter. Given Iowa State's performance against the top teams in its league, not even the most pollyanna ND fan predicted that we'd win by 24 and outgain them 455-272.

Sure, these weren't playoff contending opponents but they weren't "buy games" either. I don't think there are many teams that would have beaten all 5 of those teams consecutively by 20+ point margins, and in hindsight I think it was a sign of things to come in 2020.

The main reason for that late season run was a defense that only allowed 7 TDs in the final 5 games. I guess the 2021 team has a chance to repeat that, having allowed no TD's in either of the last 2 games, but I'd argue that these last 4 opponents (considering the injury to UVA's QB) are even shittier than the last four 2019 opponents, and I expect this year's average MOV's to be lower.