Leinhart on 4th and 9

[TexVerticalAgg]

If anybody has a story that explains what Leinhart saw at the line of scrimage on 4th down, please pass it along. That audible was pretty gutsy.

[bigjkt405]

He saw single coverage, with a blitz. Thats their automatic audible. Slant and go, dback kept inside hip, which meant no real help from safety.

[TexVerticalAgg]

Maybe I am imagining things but it looked as if ND was in zone and then tipped off their coverage before the snap and revealed man/blitz. Leinhart audibled when he saw that the coverage was man. That is what I thought when watching the play. I needed some verification though. That was quite the mismatch the wideout had.

[JPar]

He made a great throw, but the DB was there. He missed the ball by an inch or two, and the WR made a great catch - great concentration.

DB should have made the play. After that, the Irish D looked rattled, especially after that questionable sideline mess. They didn't have enough time to compose themselves. Weis should have called a timeout to set up right.

[anewbng]

I WAS THERE!!! Timeout was called just before the play. The last TO for USC.
Why play man. GIve up the 10yd. curl, but have Safety help up top. The DB was 1 on 1. I would have made USC work all the way down the field w/ no timeouts but thats why the coaches get paid the big bucks.

WHat defense do you call on NCAA 06 on 4th and 9?

[+Ca[N]o[N]iKaL+]

I WAS THERE!!! Timeout was called just before the play. The last TO for USC.
Why play man. GIve up the 10yd. curl, but have Safety help up top. The DB was 1 on 1. I would have made USC work all the way down the field w/ no timeouts but thats why the coaches get paid the big bucks.

WHat defense do you call on NCAA 06 on 4th and 9?

Ha ha, PA Read from SG Spread.

[firety89]

That was the best throw he made all day and Wooden was so close to getting his hand on that pass. That was one of the worst moments of my life when I thought we had won and then we ended up losing. What can you do? All I can say is WE ARE BACK! (We being ND)

[Arnie71488]

what happened IMO is that they came out in singleback-3wr slot strong offset, which is 1 WR on the left, and everyone else on the right, reggie bush was offset to the right by about 4 yards which IMO made the safties who were in cover 2 roll their coverage to the right cause they thought that they were gonna get the ball to reggie bush somehow, so then the CB was on an island with no help, simple or complicated as that.

[seanranel]

IMO all the DB had to do what turn around and jump to get the ball....I will never understand how DB's think they can defend the pass with their back towards the ball. Like that one interception Leinart threw in the end zone. It would have been a TD if he threw it higher and it didnt bounce off the DB's back.

I'm one of the biggest ryde or die ND fans and I've never counted them out even when they were like 6-6 that one season and getting their *** kicked when Davie was coaching. And i'll be the first one to say they lost this game on their own just like the Mich. St. game. They gave themselves a chance to win but didnt pull finish it. Three things caused them to be in the position to let USC win....

Fasano being wide open, catching the ball and then fumbling....

Quinn and the fullback mix up on that one possible 3rd down conversion when the fullback was wide open but stopped running and Quinn overthrew him because he thought he was going to keep running....

The next play they missed a gimme field goal that would have put them up by 10 I think.

Not to mention the TD's that bush scored on were practically all on the same damn play....some kinda off tackle play to the left side.....Pete Carroll saw some kinda weakness on the ND left side and it was exploited big time.

ND played awesome and kept USC on their heels the whole time...I hope they can keep up that level of intensity because if so, they should definately be in the top 5 next year considering most of their team is coming back.

Hate to threadjack but I just had to get this out....Leinart just doesnt impress me as a QB, I think he's over hyped and will get his *** handed to him in the NFL. I think he's only been successful because he was in the right place at the right time. Hell anyone can be USC's QB and win with the team they have...not that it's Leinart's fault for being on an outstanding team, I just want to see how good he is with a normal team where he has to actually make plays instead of just hand off to "thunder and lightning" or throw it up and any of his receivers will get it.....ok i'm done ranting and raving....

[Farmer]

Hate to threadjack but I just had to get this out....Leinart just doesnt impress me as a QB , I think he's over hyped and will get his *** handed to him in the NFL. I think he's only been successful because he was in the right place at the right time. I just want to see how good he is with a normal team where he has to actually make plays instead of just hand off to "thunder and lightning" or throw it up and any of his receivers will get it.

You're entitled to your opinion, but you strike me as JUST a die hard ND fan and nothing more. BOTH QB's came to play and withstood/overcame tremendus pressure to lead their teams and give them a shot to win. I'll be the first to tell you that I hate ND, always have, always will; but even I have to admit that Quinn looked and played like a Heisman candidate/winner that saturday. He impressed me a hell of a lot, and that's from a football lovers point of view. On each teams final 2 scoring drives, both QB's:

Made proper LOS reads/audibles.
Executed to precision.
Made the correct throw to the open man.
Stayed in the pocket to allow routes to develop.
Kept their teams composed and focused.

The one pass that Quinn didn't complete hurt ND, but it wasn't his fault. The FB sat down instead of going upfield.

Leinhart made a Pro Bowl NFL QuarterBack throw on 4th and 9 to keep the drive alive and give his team a shot at winning. More so, he showed major gall in audibling to that route in that hostile of an environment on the road. And twice in the final 14 seconds of the game he put his team on his shoulders and took 2 very risky chances at winning the game. Which he did.

Quinn did the same thing, stood tall in the pocket, made the throws when he had to. Made the correct audibles, hit the open man, called the right play from his wrist band. Put his team on his shoulders and led his team down the field on their last scoring drive and took it upon himself to see to it that they scored. Which they did.

If anything, being a football lover and one who likes to see a good clean hard fought game from both teams; I noticed this:

USC
Showed they do have the heart of a champion.
Showed they can overcome a powerful opponent in their home.
Showed they can compete in a hostile environment.
Showed they aren't smoke and mirrors.
Showed Reggie Bush is the real deal as far as being labeled a "Game Breaker".
Showed Leinhart deserved the Heisman.
Showed Leinhart should be in serious consideration for the Heisman again.
Showed Reggie Bush is definetly a Heisman candidate.

Notre Dame
Showed they are not the same team as last year.
Showed they can over come adversity in a game.
Showed they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Showed the talent they have in Quinn and their HB. ( cant think of his name ).
Showed they are not to be counted out again.
Showed they are capable of moving the ball in the air.

While I still can't stand ND, I have a new found respect for them.



-Farmer

[seanranel]

You're right, I'm a DIE HARD ND fan but you're right on another thing....Leinhart and Quinn both played extremely good. I just think that Leinhart SHOULD play well considering his surrounding team and that he's way overhyped. Once he goes to the NFL he's going to fall apart I think simply because he's pretty much had everything handed to him. And what showed me he wont make it in the NFL was him staying for a 5th year when he had already graduated, won the heisman and a championship....c'mon man. Time to grow up and stop playing college seriously. I dont think he wanted to come out with the other good QB's of college football that year honestly.

Just to clear up any possible thoughts of bias, I dont think that Quinn will be a good NFL QB either....I think he has a better chance at one than Leinhart because Quinn started out with nothing and has evolved to the QB he is today. Leinhart's play has leveled out and that's where mr. hollywood pretty boy falls short.

Then again I could be wrong....if and when I am I'll step up and admit it....but until then...