Notre Dame defeated Pittsburgh 23-17 on Saturday in a game where the offense looked good early, the defense stood tall late and special teams were the difference makers throughout. David Ruffer kicked three field goals, including a 50-yard howitzer shot, Barry Gallup foiled a fake punt by the Panthers and Ben Turk dropped two Irish punts inside the ten yard line during the last five minutes to keep the visitors at bay. The win elevated Notre Dame to 3-3 for the season.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring with a short field goal after its promising first possession ran out of steam, but the Irish scored touchdowns on their next two opportunities with long, well-conceived marches. Dayne Crist scrambled for a ten yard score midway through the second quarter for a 14-3 lead, and Notre Dame extended it to 17-3 moments later. An interception by Harrison Smith set up Ruffer from 32 yards, and the Panthers tried unsuccessfully to answer before halftime. A bad snap derailed a 36-yard field goal attempt by Dan Hutchins, who had also missed earlier from 27 yards. These six points would come back to haunt Pittsburgh later in the day.
The Panthers took the second half kickoff and tried a bit of trickery to get back into the game. A three and out series was followed by a fake punt, but Gallup stayed home and tripped up the ball carrier who might otherwise still be running. The Irish took over and were almost unable to take advantage of the short field, but Ruffer’s 50-yard blast made it 20-3.
Pitt came right back to score a touchdown on a slick bootleg by quarterback Tino Sunseri. The key play in the drive was another fourth down gamble that resulted in a 30-yard burst through the stacked Irish line by Dion Lewis. Notre Dame tried to answer, but a holding penalty negated a long pass to Michael Floyd. The game moved into the fourth quarter with the Irish still looking for a knockout punch.
Crist got the ball back and found Theo Riddick on three successive passes to get Notre Dame into scoring territory. The drive stalled in the red zone after two incompletions, but Ruffer continued his mastery of the field goal with a 32-yard boot. The Irish led 23-10 with nine minutes remaining.
On the next series, Sunseri rolled right and hit a wide open Jonathan Baldwin for a 56-yard touchdown that fooled safety Jamoris Slaughter and cut the deficit to 23-17. Once again, the Irish squandered a chance to ice the game. An apparent touchdown pass to Floyd was negated when Riddick was penalized for essentially setting an illegal pick, and the Irish were forced to punt. Turk set the Panthers back to their own ten yard line with 4:45 left, and a third down pass by Sunseri was batted down by Robert Blanton.
Pittsburgh Coach Dave Wannstedt ordered a punt after a timeout to consider the matter, and Notre Dame was again poised to run out the clock. Operating near midfield, a first down run for six yards was inexplicably followed by two failed passes, and the Irish punted it back to the Panthers with 1:37 on the clock. Turk was again able to pin them inside the ten, and the Notre Dame secondary was ready for a desperation heave toward Baldwin. Sunseri’s final pass on fourth down was knocked away by Gary Gray, and the Irish sealed the win by taking a knee.
Notre Dame performed quite well at times in all phases, but the game should not have been close at the end. The Irish hurt themselves with penalties, dropped or poorly thrown passes, and an absolute lack of confidence in the running game when ten rushing yards in three plays is all that is needed to put away an opponent. Relief may be in sight, however, as Western Michigan comes to town next week for a glorified scrimmage.
Let’s review the questions raised in the preview to see how they affected the outcome.
Can the Irish contain Lewis and Graham in the running game? Yes, and this was really the key to victory. The talented tandem gained only 107 yards, and this included a 30 yard gain by Lewis. Of course, it helped that Pitt had to play from behind most of the day.
Will Crist start fast and put up points in the first quarter? Yes. After a poor first series, Crist caught fire and put his team up 14-3 in the early going.
Will Baldwin sneak past the Irish secondary for long gains? Pitt threw deep to Baldwin four times and connected twice. Both successful plays were set up beautifully, but only one resulted in a touchdown. A late first quarter post pattern gained 30 yards but a missed field goal negated the threat.
Can Pitt’s retooled offensive line protect Sunseri? Darius Fleming had a textbook sack against tackle Jordan Gibbs, but the Irish had to blitz extra men in order to put any real pressure on Sunseri.
Will Riddick and Jones make solid contributions in the passing game? Yes. Five of Riddick’s receptions resulted in first downs, and Jones made an acrobatic catch of a long pass to set up a field goal.
Will Notre Dame sustain a solid effort for a full 60 minutes? The effort was there on defense and special teams. Effort is not the problem on offense, which still cannot seem to make the plays needed to clinch a victory. The tendency for the coaches to get too cute with play selection is apparently here to stay.
Which team will hurt itself with penalties and turnovers? Notre Dame’s shot itself in the foot with penalties that took points off the board.
Pittsburgh will regret its inability to convert two easy first half field goals in this six point loss, but the Panthers did not deserve to win. The Irish were the better team, and fans will have to be content that they have won the last two games despite turning comfortable wins into nail-biters. The improvement over the last few seasons is that they now manage to stop short of a total collapse. As things stand right now, that will have to be enough.
Tom says:
Let’s hear the naysayers explain this one away.
Here are the facts. MSU will be a top ten team, along with Stanford.
We lost to Michigan in the last minute of the game after we spotted them a half of football with a key injury.
Are other two losses are against Top Ten teams and we were a fluke play away from beating MSU and being 5-1.
If you cannot see the huge difference between a Kelly coached team and Weis coached team – then you do not know much about football and evaluating a football team.
Kevin says:
I’ll have to agree with Tom a bit. What was once called “soft” schedule now appears to have some real bite to it, with a potential top 10 matchup in Utah still left. The team has come a long way against what now appears to be a fairly tough schedule.
Atepesm says:
I call bs.
The change in coaches is debatable, at best.
The biggest difference is that ND’s defense is no longer filled with underclassmen. The defenses coming of age is most likely the predominant factor in any improvement.
jeff says:
I don’t want to sound like a complainer, especially after a win that got the Irish back to .500. But when is an ND coach going to recognize that forcing the other team to burn its remaining timeouts with running plays in the last three minutes of a game when you are protecting a lead is a good thing? CW didn’t do it last year at Michigan and it cost him a game and, quite possibly, his ND position. I know BK can’t be held responsible for Ragone dropping what could have been a game-clinching catch in the flat or the refs calling a “phantom” pick penalty on Floyd’s TD catch. I would just like to see the Irish be able to run the ball when the game is on the line.
IRISH STING says:
There goes my blood pressure again. That last quarter I was on pins and needles along with all the Irish faithful. Thank Heaven for the defense or de javue. Time for a breather, bring on W. Mich.
Utah and USC loom big down the line. A win or two would really cap this season as a total plus between these two.
Looks like Ohio State to the head of the class and then Oregon. TCU and Boise State are on hold till the end of the season as they coast home.
mpsND'72 says:
The Irish are streaking. Next week: Bronco meat. Let’s hear it, everybody! Hooray.
irishhawk50 says:
This year’s team reminds me a lot of last year’s, but the difference was this year they found a way to win where last year they would have found a way to lose. I can’t help but share Kelly’s exasperation when he calls a good play and a player, like Ragone drops that easy pass. I try to remember that these are just kids, but I still curse at the TV set! We are seeing progress, especially on defense. The offense still runs hot and cold and I am still waiting for all the pieces to fall into place, but the team is going forward.
IrishMoon says:
I agree with Jeff. I don’t know why we didn’t run the ball at the end forcing Pitt to use their timeouts. We had been running well in the first quarter and even two runs for negative yardage would have put us in a better position to win than two incomplete passes. I was happy with the play selection early in the game. Even when we went to the pass in the second half, Floyd had two great receptions that will translate into points when we can eliminate offensive penalties (I think the “phantom pick” was a legit call, Theo clearly broke off his route to make the hit). Overall, an ugly win will have to do for now, but we cannot afford to let up on Utah or USC if we plan on emerging victorious. The next four weeks should provide plenty of time to focus on execution and opening up the playbook.
Bern says:
A good win but Crist is very inconsistent. At times he is very good but often he he is tentative. For example he missed a wide open Floyd in the end zone by throwing the ball almost out of bounds for no reason. Rudolph should not be playing. He cannot run – he goes from an All American to a very weak tight end. On defense they have improved but they give up the big play each game. I win over Utah or USC would really make the season.
Lynne says:
The upcoming schedule and mix of opponents will be good for us and hopefully help the offense work out some of its issues. Part of what is missing from the run game is Crist…that TD run was great and we need to see more of that.
Bernie P. ND'74 says:
I think this was our best win from a viewpoint of clicking on all cylinders. We actually did click on all cylinders for the first half, and then regressed in the second half. As for the two pass plays when we were trying to run out the clock, both those plays (particularly the dropped pass) were essentially run plays that start as passes. We are a pass first team, and we need to execute those plays. All he’s got to do is catch the ball and the game is over and all of us are typing different stuff now (e.g., “what a play call!”)
I agree that the illegal pick call was legitimate. Theo needs to remember to be looking at the QB as if he expects to get the pass, rather than look like a heat-seeking missile aimed at the DB. However, the lack of an intentional grounding call in the end zone at the end of the game was inexplicable. Yes, there was a running back in the area, but he was blocking with his back turned. I’d bet that if Crist was in that position, and dumped the ball in the exact same fashion, with AA’s back turned, he’d have drawn the flag and Pitt would have gotten the 2 points. I am concerned that as we return to the national stage, one of these stinky calls is going to be huge (see, Michigan State – Delay of Game call and lack thereof).
Kelly called the team, again, a “work-in-progress”, and I think he’s right. I think I underestimated the depth to which the team had gotten in terms of discipline and will-to-win. I call this their best game yet because they displayed both of those qualities in much more depth than we’ve seen before. Last year, we beat BC and Michigan State by late interceptions in the midst of drives that appeared to be efficiently headed for the winning or tying scores. This year, we beat BC and Pitt by just shutting down their offense at the end of the game. Instead of fortuitous interceptions, our “D” is imposing its will on people. Neither BC or Pitt were offensive juggernauts but this is certainly a step up from last year.
Joe Schulz says:
It is clear that the Irish defense has learned that 3rd downs are key. They play 3rd downs differently, more aggressively — they take it personally and, therefore, win on third down. On offense, if we get a 3rd down, I begin to cringe. We find ways to fail. Until they can personally commit to success on third down, they will continue to sputter. When they do, they will begin to kick the crap out of their opponents. The offensive failure on 3rd down is tied to an absence of “killer instinct.” When you have the man down, you must go for the kill. Anything else gives him hope. Nice guys lose for a reason — they don’t stomp their opponent into the ground when they can. The defense is learning. . . Can we get the offense to do the same?
Jed says:
Here’s the difference: We win and we’re still dissapointed because we didn’t win good enough. The last few years we’ve been happy to get away with a win. Folks, we’re making progress.
The Piper says:
Great call Jed. We’re criticizing all the things we did wrong and got a win. In the past, none of the stuff was ever corrected. At least we now have a coaching staff that is correcting errors week after week.
On a sidenote, I thought this quote from Kelly on Tuesday was the most telling of his first 9mths at the helm:
“You can’t put the ball on the ground in a competitive situation. But what I loved about the [Cierre Wood] is immediately it wasn’t, ‘Well, I didn’t get the call, I didn’t hear it. I was getting a little tired.’ WE HEAR A LOT OF THAT AROUND HERE AT NOTRE DAME, AND WE HEAR ABOUT IT TOO MUCH….”
Wow.
ODog says:
Nominee for Play of the Game: getting the snap off quickly after Armando was stripped of the ball in the 4th quarter with 6+ minutes left (earlier in the drive of Theo’s intereference play). If the Stache had the sense to challenge, Pitt probably would have had the ball on ND’s 35, down 6 points.
bluegold forever says:
Not really. His forward progress had been stopped and the official had blown the whistle. On the replay, you can see the line judge coming into the picture just as the ball was being stripped.
Jim Kress says:
Pitt lost the game. I don’t know that we won it.
Ragone should be sent back to the Scouot Team for dropping that last pass. My 9 year old grandson could have caught it. Ragone just made an absolute rookie mistake of looking to run before he had the ball. He almost cost me a $200 projection screen …
All the serious penalites (that cost us point or long gains) WERE AWAY FROM THE PLAY! That is really dumb!! One sign about BK coaching ability will be to see if he ensures that NEVER happens again.
Also, Earth to Slaughter – YOU NEVER LET A RECEIVER GET BEHIND YOU LIKE THAT, you idiot. How he could possibly decide to run away from his assignment and TOWARDS the Pitt QB, when he had no possibility of making a play, escapes comprehension. This should qualify him for the BoneHead of the week award.
Otehr than that, the defense did pretty well. There were a few breakdowns in the interior (DL and LB) that allowed long runs, but those were (mostly) the result of clever blocking by Pitt and the relative inexperience of our LB’s. I hope Teo learns from this and figures out how to avoid being so completely dominated by a pulling guard and/or FB.
Special teams looked OK, although our KO returns are back to the “we suck” level. Apparently, the concept of blocking for the return man has once again escaped the team. Ruffer’s a stud on FG but we need better depth on KO. Is it that hard to find a kicker who can kick the ball out of the endzone or deep enough into the endzone to force a touchback? Other teams seem to find these kids. Why can’t we?
Others have commented on Crist’s inconsistency so I won’t bother. However, it is getting wearing and he doesn’t seem to be improving much.
I’m glad we were on the higher end of the final score but I really don’t this we won the game as much as Pitt lost it.
BTW, I was elated to see MSU crush UM …
Terry says:
Take away some of ND’s dropped passes and this game is a runaway, the way Purdue should have been.I dont like the way Kelly threw his players under the bus after the game. We have a couple of weeks to put it all together before Navy, which will be a tough game.
USC pass defense is horrible. If Crist and the receivers play mistake free by the time this game comes around, this will be an Irish victory
Nate says:
Kelly is not throwing players under the bus. He is just stating the truth, which is that players need to make plays in the critical moments of a game to put an opponent away. He is going to work on that every week because it is the main difference between being mediocre and being a habitual winner.
cgm says:
Agree with Terry that dropped passes (plus penalities) limited a runaway game for ND. Disagree that he thinks Kelly throws players under the bus. Kelly’s history is that of a publically outspoken coach who teaches his players continuously what is expected and praises them when they do right and critiques them when they screw up. He’s not afraid to admit his coaching errors as well (ie not being prepared for the Stanford drop 8 defense) Players thrive under his style because they know its consistently applied to improve them and the team (as seen with all his previous teams).
terry says:
Getting a little better every week. Rudolph will be out this week so we’ll see how good Eifert is and how good Ragone is. Where is Hughes?
Steady progress.
Drasail2 says:
Hughes is a load. Soon enough, we’re gonna need him. Maybe he’s just not Spread-worthy.
Rockett55 says:
For better or for worse they are 500 who thought that a couple weeks ago good win still waiting for them to put a full 6o min game togather but hey considering how they play at times these guys are grinding hope they can keep it up and get something going chance for improvement GO IRISH BEAT THE BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aov says:
Just remember it was Pitt . It nots like we beat SC or Bama it was Pitt.
Norm says:
I look for us to improve but I also look for us to eventually rely on our offense for TOUCHDOWNS and not field goals. I am impressed with the kicker but want TD’S over settling for FG’S.
terry says:
Steady progress – I look for us to be in the top 25 between 20-25 at the end of the season after the USC win. There’s a top 5 recruiting class of RKGs in the pipeline with room for a few more.
BTW – There are two Terrys going right now. I’m the one w/o the capital t. Capital T
Terry also seems to be an intelligent, erudite, enlightened observer if ND football. Must be something in the name.
Sometime there will be a ‘turn the corner’ game. Not yet, but there is progress every week.
BK is the right guy for the job.
terry says:
spelling error – please change ‘observer if ND football’ to ‘observer OF ND football.’
My bad.
Teo says:
Okay, so we’re definitely NOT in a position to call anyone inferior. Western Michigan looks pretty good. And, we’re obviously not very good. It’s hardly a glorified scrimmage.
Cardinal John Newman says:
Well said. Syracuse was sposed to be a glorified scrimmage a couple years back. And BC was sposed to be little more than that in ’93. Western Michigan, Army, Navy…for ALL our games, we better have the chinstraps on tight and playing hard at all times.
terry says:
Cardinal John;
Glad you mentioned the ’93 BC game. I remember that game. In the 3rd quarter when BC was kicking Irish butt announcer Chris Collinsworth mentioned the fact that the seeds for what was happening had been planted the year before in the 3rd quarter when ND was leading BC in the 3rd quarter something like 37-0 and Craig the punter went back to punt for ND, it was a fake and he ran for a first down. Then the camera showed him standing on the sideline laughing with his buddies, and THEN the camera showed the BC players watching ND laughing.
Not a good idea.
The athletic gods notice things like that and on that day a curse was placed on ND and it sprung a year later – the Irish came back scored and went ahead with a few seconds to play and lost on the field goal 41-39. They haven’t been the same since. They need to learn humble and it seems that is happening. I think that Chris Collinsworth’s son coming here might help, but I think we’ll be ok.
You and others might think of me as a silly old coot which I probably am but I stand by that. If you kick the shit out of a team that’s understood. You just DON’T rub their nose in it.
BTW – Congrats on your beatification.
Dave88 says:
ND can only be considered to have “arrived” when they consistently beat top 25 teams and play competitively in the event of a loss. Pittsburgh was an ugly win but a win nonetheless. This game is another case of ND letting an opposing team hang around and almost win the game although it seems that under Kelly ND will find away to barely hang on to win after giving up a comfortable lead. I guess you have to start someplace.
This game also had some horrible calls that makes me think some officials have a serious conflict of interest and have no business officiating an ND game. The 4th down intentional grounding that was called incomplete was beyond words. How can anyone with half a brain consider a blocking back 2ft away from the quarterback an eligible downfield receiver…..especially when the Pitt QB threw the ball straight into the ground?
rockne says:
You are very kind. The Big East officials shortchanged ND time and time again in the Pitt game and to a lesser extent in the MSU game.
Tom says:
terry,
You are dead on concerning not offending the gods. You say football gods – I’ve always said it is offending the Notre Dame Gods, and it can be done in many ways. But whenever it is done – Notre Dame pays the price. Notre Dame must always do things the right way – or she cannot be successful. I believe that Notre Dame finally got the right coach. First he humbled the players and focused them once again on Team. Then he needed to be humbled – which has now occurred. The entire Team is ready to rise up. Rudolph seems to be a good kid, but his stepping down for the Season is probably a net benefit for the Team at this point.
Notre Dame could easily be 5-1 and could easily have had more convincing blow-outs against Purdue, BC and Pitt. It’s difficult to think this all does not have purpose and I think it does. Ty and CW started jumped up high to start and fell far afterwards. With Kelly it will be the opposite trajectory.
Don’t let anyone call you an old coot. You are quite right.
ndwuj says:
Would Boise State and/or TCU still be undefeated having played the exact same 6 games ND just did?
I’m not so sure.
While it is what it is, 5-1 was really doeable. We saw D. Robinson this year really before anybody else did; I’m sure Kelly/Diaco would defend him differently today (lost by 4; Big East refs). MSU is on Kelly/Diaco for the most part, with not defending adequately scheme-wise the only way to lose on that play (never mind the downfield blocks were questionable and the clock ran out; Big Ten refs). Stanford just kicked our butts. We essentially lost to 3 ranked teams with 3-4 ligitimate Heisman candidates. But it is what it is!
The big questions now is can the “bend-over” defense stop USC and Utah and ND unscore them with an offense without Kyle and with tightend “by committee”?
I sure hope W. Michigan reads this and we can jump out ahead enough and quick enough to get some meaningful time to Crist’s backups; love to see Montanna a little.;
ndwuj’71