The outcome against ND is going to tell me a lot about this HC and staff

[Quazzum69]

Don't put ND in the same list as Clemson or FSU.

Didn't Notre Dame play for the championship two years ago?

Clemson has had a couple of nice seasons lately but they're not in FSU's class.

 

[RF2044]

Sees to me we had poor ST for the most part under Marrone and we made the same stupid pre-snap penalties. We lost a lot of games beating ourselves. Nothing much has changed leading me to believe we still have a talent gap. I cannot for the life of me explain that GT game.

That's all very true. Some of the ST issues stemmed from lack of personnel, but some of it was also lack of philosophical focus from the coaching staff [I'm not suggesting that the coaches ignored ST, but they took an almost NFL like approach to it, where ST generally isn't the game changer it can be at the collegiate level].

I also agree that Marrone stressed discipline, but our execution was often exasperatingly poor.

And there is no question that we still have a talent gap, no matter how some would like to pretend otherwise. That gap is closing but we're not where we need to be yet. Even last week, against a peer program in Maryland, the speed difference between their offensive skilled players and ours was stark.

 

[TomND]

I am too old to be realistic. Also - don't want to be!

I don't think anyone knows what ND is yet. Their secondary is not great, their entire O Line has been reshuffled, 6 of the front 7 D are new. Maybe they are a top 10 team, maybe not. What we do know that our secondary is vulnerable and if Golson has a great day we are in big trouble. All this means to me that we have a chance to win but the staff needs to have a good plan on both sides of the ball and the team needs to play with a chip on their shoulder. They have to have a good plan that Hunt can handle and he has to on his passing game. If the game plans are not up to snuff we could get blown out. I will be very disappointed if that happens as this staff is very easy to like.

ND's OLine has been shuffled, but they have all played their positions before. 2 of ND's best players are in the front 7 in Sheldon Day and Jaylon Smith. They are top notch D players and best on the field. From last year to this year ND has 4 new starters in the front 7 not 6. ND's secondary is the deepest position on the team and was rated as their best unit.

I agree that ND is not a top 10 team. We really won't know how good ND is until they play Stanford.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

The score at halftime is going to tell me a lot about this staff. Too many times in their tenure the game has been over at halftime. Let's keep it close in the first. I wouldnt mind a lot of cover 3 early. Let's keep it safe early and hold the blitz looks for late. Let's go Cuse.

 

[RF2044]

ND's OLine has been shuffled, but they have all played their positions before. 2 of ND's best players are in the front 7 in Sheldon Day and Jaylon Smith. They are top notch D players and best on the field. From last year to this year ND has 4 new starters in the front 7 not 6. ND's secondary is the deepest position on the team and was rated as their best unit.

I agree that ND is not a top 10 team. We really won't know how good ND is until they play Stanford.

Here's hoping we really know how good [or not] ND is after today.

 

[Crusty]

ND's OLine has been shuffled, but they have all played their positions before. 2 of ND's best players are in the front 7 in Sheldon Day and Jaylon Smith. They are top notch D players and best on the field. From last year to this year ND has 4 new starters in the front 7 not 6. ND's secondary is the deepest position on the team and was rated as their best unit.

I agree that ND is not a top 10 team. We really won't know how good ND is until they play Stanford.

Rated top unit by whom? ND secondary gave up 27-40 68% for 234 yards against Purdue and 226 yards vs Rice. Even hapless Michigan completed 60% for 189. I grant you they have 6 interceptions ( 3 vs Michigan). We'll see how it goes tonight.

 

[TomND]

Rated top unit by whom? ND secondary gave up 27-40 68% for 234 yards against Purdue and 226 yards vs Rice. Even hapless Michigan completed 60% for 189. I grant you they have 6 interceptions ( 3 vs Michigan). We'll see how it goes tonight.

Before the season it was. By ND's scout site. Without any injuries or suspensions it is a loaded unit.

Russell is an All-American and was considered a 1st rd pick for next year (Suspended). Hardy is a backup who started 2 games last year (suspended). Collinsworth is a 5th year senior who is a captain (injured).

Russell and Collinsworth are both starters. Russell is the units best player and Collinsworth is the QB of the unit.

On top of that Luke (#3 CB) and Redfield (starting FS), Nick Barratti (backup FS) all missed time vs Purdue with an injury (head), ejection, and shoulder injury (Barratti done for the year).

Vs Purdue is sucked because ND was down 2 starters (in the DBs) and then Redfield was ejected (starter #3) and then Barrati onthe very next play blew out his shoulder. That was in the 2nd quarter. Luke missed the 4th quarter with a head/neck injury.

As for Michigan, they have Devin Funchess. Stud. 6'5, 230 lbs had 107 of those yards. Syracuse has no one even close to him. Cuse doesn't have a strong passing game.

 

[Crusty]

Before the season it was. By ND's scout site. Without any injuries or suspensions it is a loaded unit.

Russell is an All-American and was considered a 1st rd pick for next year (Suspended). Hardy is a backup who started 2 games last year (suspended). Collinsworth is a 5th year senior who is a captain (injured).

Russell and Collinsworth are both starters. Russell is the units best player and Collinsworth is the QB of the unit.

On top of that Luke (#3 CB) and Redfield (starting FS), Nick Barratti (backup FS) all missed time vs Purdue with an injury (head), ejection, and shoulder injury (Barratti done for the year).

Vs Purdue is sucked because ND was down 2 starters (in the DBs) and then Redfield was ejected (starter #3) and then Barrati onthe very next play blew out his shoulder. That was in the 2nd quarter. Luke missed the 4th quarter with a head/neck injury.

As for Michigan, they have Devin Funchess. Stud. 6'5, 230 lbs had 107 of those yards. Syracuse has no one even close to him. Cuse doesn't have a strong passing game.

Oh OK. we'll just go home then.

 

[RF2044]

Before the season it was. By ND's scout site. Without any injuries or suspensions it is a loaded unit.

Russell is an All-American and was considered a 1st rd pick for next year (Suspended). Hardy is a backup who started 2 games last year (suspended). Collinsworth is a 5th year senior who is a captain (injured).

Russell and Collinsworth are both starters. Russell is the units best player and Collinsworth is the QB of the unit.

On top of that Luke (#3 CB) and Redfield (starting FS), Nick Barratti (backup FS) all missed time vs Purdue with an injury (head), ejection, and shoulder injury (Barratti done for the year).

Vs Purdue is sucked because ND was down 2 starters (in the DBs) and then Redfield was ejected (starter #3) and then Barrati onthe very next play blew out his shoulder. That was in the 2nd quarter. Luke missed the 4th quarter with a head/neck injury.

As for Michigan, they have Devin Funchess. Stud. 6'5, 230 lbs had 107 of those yards. Syracuse has no one even close to him. Cuse doesn't have a strong passing game.

Better cancel the game then.

How could we possibly match up.

I'm sure your arrogant fanbase was thinking a lot of the same things in '08, when we played at your place.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Excellent post! You succinctly outlined in a few paragraphs what a lot of us feel. Well done, sir!

Indeed, let's be realistic. We've beaten them 2 out of 3 times in the last 10 years. No reason it can't happen again. We played well last week on the plays that didn't matter. LOL

If we can avoid giving up like 4 or 5 big plays, and defend against the run, we should be right in this game.

 

[Libero2]

Honestly we shall see, but I'll be surprised if we can draw any conclusions about our staff based on tonight's game. If we play well (and possibly pull the upset) but lay an egg next week against the Ville, all the good will will be washed away, conversely if we get blown out tonight and them stomp Louisville 2011 style, all confidence will be at an all time high going into FSU.

That said I want the god damn Orange to cut Notre Dame in half and and then trounce Louisville next week for good measure.

In all honesty, how shocking would an Orange blowout be tonight? Like if we win by 20, who on the planet would have called that or have seen it coming? It's the most unlikely outcome of the game, but my god wouldn't it be fun to see? We would need huge games from Hunt, Estime, Ishmael, Custis, Cam, Dyshawn and Ron Thompson for it to even be a consideration, but my god it would be wonderful to see.