Breaking Down the Tape -- ND/Purdue

Notre Dame was inconsistent, confused and very ordinary. The Irish looked exactly like they had over the first four games in the first half against Purdue. Then Charlie Weis went off at halftime and something changed. The Irish looked like a football team -- and one that could at least provide competition to opponents.
So this week's breakdown of the tape was a little bit skewed and for the first time has about equality as far as positives and negatives. As always, negatives first:
Negatives:

• Notre Dame's running game. The Irish still couldn't get anything going. Blocking wasn't great, but this was more on the backs. There are times where Notre Dame had holes to run through, but the backs couldn't get there fast enough. There were two fumbles -- one by James Aldridge and one by Armando Allen -- and that isn't good. Allen's came on a swing pass, but he's a back so it goes there, too. On Allen's fumble, though, the blocking didn't get out in time. Both John Sullivan and Mike Turkovich couldn't get out, leaving Allen wide open to be blasted.
• The Notre Dame defensive front. The Irish cannot stand up to any good offensive lines. Kory Sheets was able to run right up the middle in the first half and gain yards when he needed it. The interior line dominated Pat Kuntz, Dwight Stephenson Jr. and to a lesser extent, Trevor Laws. 
• Notre Dame also struggled to get on the edge when Sheets cut outside. He was able to make big runs out there, often getting into the secondary.
• The Irish pass coverage wasn't great, either. Purdue's Curtis Painter had a mediocre game, but it was more his fault than Notre Dame's defense. On the fifth play of the fifth defensive series, Tom Zbikowski broke on the ball late and would have been burnt for a touchdown except Painter threw high and incomplete. On the 10th play of the 10th defensive series, Painter had an open Dorien Bryant, who had beaten Ambrose Wooden. Painter, though, threw the ball too hard for his open receiver.
• Notre Dame's two interceptions on offense were not good. Evan Sharpley's throw into the end zone on the Irish's final drive was the exact same play as the one before. The ball was overthrown -- although it looked like John Carlson might have cut the route a little short -- and easily picked. With Jimmy Clausen, he was hit as he was thrown and the ball floated right to the defender. It was not a good decision. Also, Clausen should have had another pass intercepted in the end zone but it was dropped.
• Penalties. This has been a problem all year. It cost the Irish again.
• Injuries: Potentially losing wide receiver David Grimes and Clausen is not a good thing for Notre Dame.

Positives:

• Golden Tate. The freshman wide receiver made both Clausen and Sharpley look good. He can adjust to balls in the air -- he did this on his long catch from Clausen in the second quarter -- and has an extra boost to speed up just before the ball arrives. He did this on both of his long receptions from Sharpley. It looked like Sharpley and Tate had better chemistry, just because both of Sharpley's balls to him were right on time.
• Duval Kamara. The other Notre Dame freshman wide receiver showed the ability to be a good possession receiver on slants. Both Clausen and Sharpley used him extensively. Same thing with Robby Parris, who was more of a combination of the two and able to get open for mid-range routes. Sharpley really seemed to play well with him.
• The evolution of the passing game. Notre Dame finally started throwing the ball more than flats, swings and hitches and had success. Expect more of this going forward.
• Evan Sharpley. Clausen was hurt but after watching the tape again, Sharpley's presence really seemed to ignite Notre Dame. He sensed the pocket collapsing and evaded well. He found receivers and hung in the pocket until the last possible second he could throw the ball. That is experience and poise. It is how he found Tate on his touchdown pass and also when he found Carlson a fast route. Seeing Sharpley play like this makes you wonder at least a little about why he hasn't been given more of a shot.
• Jimmy Clausen. Before he left the game with a hip injury he showed signs of progress. We're not completely sure about the strength of his arm -- see his first long pass to Tate, it was underthrown and he had to adjust -- but he showed the ability to make short and intermediate passes. For the first time, he showed signs of being a very capable college quarterback. Clausen's touchdown pass was also very impressive with just the right amount of touch to John Carlson. Tough throw.
• Joe Brockington. The fifth-year senior linebacker put pressure on Painter on Tom Zbikowski's interception and got good pass pressure. Same goes for sophomore linebacker John Ryan. It was the best overall pressure Notre Dame got on a quarterback all season.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Steve]

We were also awful on special teams. Brian Polian (I can't believe he still has a job) should watch tape of Kansas State if he wants see some good special teams play.

[Tracy]

Sharpley and Tate reminded me of Quinn and Samrdzija.. Could be a fun development to watch!!

[Dave S]

Look at the film of the last interception in the fourth quarter. Everyone was focused on the Purdue player making the interception. In front of him, was another Purdue player, not focused on the ball and hitting the ND player while the ball was in the air. This is one reason why the ND player was not closer to the ball and a clear pass inference call in the end zone. It should have been first down on the two-yard line instead of an interception.

[Chris]

It wasn't Brockington who hit Painter and forced an interception by Zibby, it was true freshman Brian Smith - Andre Ware, the worst broadcaster ever, got that wrong, among many other things. Either way, that play was a sign of things to come for our defense once the talent gains experience and more and more of the 3-4 is installed.