Assessing Blame for Notre Dame Football’s Turnovers vs. ASU Part 3

By Matt Heinz @MattHeinz_Rant on November 11, 2014

With three more turnovers to over-analyze, these three mistakes were the most costly. Again, many people are blaming quarterback Everett Golson, but were the turnovers really his fault?

Watch the turnovers here.

Third turnover:

Down 17-3 at the start of the second quarter with the ball at mid-field, Notre Dame was still in a close game. What happened next is tough for any team to overcome. Pick-sixes can change the scoreboard and momentum of a game drastically in just one play. After Marcus Hardison batted Golson’s quick slant pass into the air, the ball was intercepted by safety Damarious Randall who returned it to the house, erupting Sun Devil Stadium and Brian Kelly, who had opposite reactions.

Placing blame on this play is difficult because it requires fans and the media to understand what exactly Kelly wants Golson to read on the play. The ABC cameras clearly showed Kelly chewing out Golson and in his postgame comments.

“You know our offense; I mean we have run and pass routes behind them. Right?” Kelly explained. “And you know, the ball should have been handed off. Everett saw it differently. So that’s coaching too, right? We got to do a better job coaching him so when he sees that look, he doesn’t think that he’s supposed to throw the football.”

If you pause the video at 3:20, you can see the pre-snap read that Kelly had a problem with. With referees not calling ineligible lineman downfield in today’s game, Notre Dame’s receivers run pass routes on many run plays (just like ASU’s first touchdown) while the offensive line blocks like a normal run play. The pre-snap look ASU shows is eight in the box, but only three are to the center’s left. The Irish have Arizona State outflanked to the left which means, like Kelly said, Golson should have handed it to Cam McDaniel.

Conclusion:

Credit for the interception though, needs to go to Todd Graham for incredible scouting. Azcentral.com’s Doug Haller explains why by saying: “They (ASU coaches) noticed on film how the 5-foot-10 Golson threw quick slants. This week, coaches told the defensive line – book-ended by 6-foot-5 senior Marcus Hardison and 6-foot-5 junior Demetrius Cherry – to get their hands up and try to knock down passes.”

Hardison reads that Golson is setting up to throw in Notre Dame’s quick passing game and Hardison stops his pass rush, put his hands in the air and swats the ball. Golson should have handed the ball off and, therefore, can easily be blamed, but what a great coaching job by Graham for getting his defensive ends to realize when to stop rushing and get their hands up. That pickup on film is directly related to Golson’s first two interceptions.

Fourth Turnover:

Down 34-10, the Irish were seeking to get momentum back as they drove the ball quickly to the ASU seven yard line in just over two minutes. Not having much success controlling the pass rush in the pocket, Kelly called a roll-out to Golson’s right. Just as Golson got ready to throw, safety Jordan Simone speared Golson in the back which caused an errant throw to be intercepted by Kweishi Brown in the end zone.

By keeping McDaniel and Ben Koyack in to block, Kelly again used seven blockers to pick up six ASU rushers. Graham sent his four defensive lineman as well as linebacker Antonio Longino and Simone. Blame can’t be on the coach for this one as he had ASU outnumbered seven to six. Blame also can’t be on Golson as he was blindsided as he threw the ball.

Conclusion:

On a roll-out to the right, the running back’s job is to set the edge by double-teaming the defensive end (Hardison) with right tackle Christian Lombard. Hardison destroys both McDaniel and Lombard which forces Golson to stop his roll-out and set up to throw. The reason why Simone came untouched off the backside at the bottom of the screen is because Koyack decided to block Casper the Ghost instead of the free running safety. The play starts at 4:07 on the video and watch Koyack at the bottom of the line. He doesn’t even come close to touching Simone. Next, watch Kelly as he ignores Golson while he and tight ends coach Scott Booker both scream at Koyack. Blame goes to McDaniel, Lombard and Koyack.

Fifth Turnover:

If you think that was Golson’s fault, please stop watching football.

Matt Heinz is a college football writer for www.Rantsports.com.