On breathing easier...

by domer.mq , Monday, February 16, 2009, 20:43 (6084 days ago) @ omahadomer

I had to go back and look at the losses. I'm going to blame that on selective memory and not some sort of memory loss brought on by an exceptionally poor diet.

Anyway, say ND went 8-4, but the 4 losses still occurred against 4 of the teams ND really did lose to in 2008, and those losses still happened the way they actually did in 2008.

Pick 4 and see if we are still breathing that much easier while keeping in mind the goal is a National Championship, and all debates about Weis really boil down to, "Is he equipped to win a NC?"

L to MSU: Offense was inept until Weis said, "F it. Let's throw the ball and bail on the inept running game." Sure, ND "had a chance" in the end, but it was a chance that counted on more "ifs" than is really reasonable enough to make it feel like a "good loss" if there is such a thing. ND's running game looked like we were telling MSU exactly what play was about to be run and then not bothering to try to block that play.

L to UNC: ND looks like they can lock this one up, and then the INT happens, because, as Butch Davis knows, college kids are stupid, and if you keep jumping routes, you're gonna pick a pass off eventually. Then the Irish let a lead melt away, play defense as defensively as possible against a QB who was only starting because the starter was hurt, and only have a chance at last minute heroics because of some iffy officiating. Didn't ND need a roughing the kicker call to "respond" to a score in this one as well?

L to Pitt: "Hey, everyone!" said the Pitt coaching staff, "They can't stop the run!" Oh, and there were some real head-scratchers in this one by Weis. Ultimately, no matter what, you lost to the 'Stache. And you did it by giving up a game.

L to BC: Shut out. 66 yards rushing. Jimmy goes 26-46 with 4 INTs.

L to Syracuse: Looking to put a spark in the offense or something, ND employs the little-known "don't block the NT" scheme. Also, it's a loss to Syracuse.

L to SoCal: 38-0. ND fans start taking prop bets in the 2nd half just to make it sort of funny as they try to drink themselves into Monday. 91 total yards. Weis runs out of ways to tell Carroll that they really kicked our asses after the game.

See, I just can't pick 4 or even just 3 losses and then have a serious discussion trying to convince anyone that Weis is the guy that can win ND a NC. Though I can dig into 2005/06 and start throwing about volleys on how he turned ND into an offense so lethal that they beat most teams by more points than any of those teams' other opponents in those seasons. But in the context of 2008, I just can't find much to hang my hat on.

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Sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick.