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Message: [QUOTE="Upstate, post: 1139487, member: 48"] So, instead of trying to defend Austin Wilson as the true starter, calling for HCSS and GMC to get fired, trying to convert Hunt into a linebacker, and downplaying the offense so far, let's talk about the ND game. Notre Dame is playing its first "road game" of the season, with two weeks of prep and a matchup with Stanford above the Orange horizon. They've won games vs. Rice, Michigan and Purdue. Now, CMU was a team that beat Purdue pretty handily, same with ND. But ND really had some problems through the first 3 quarters against a very poor Purdue team. Purdue didn't muster 300 yards of offense, and ND didn't strike north of 400, either. It wasn't a pretty game, but Purdue hung in there, even with a very poor rushing display. So, I guess the question is: How can SU hang in this game with ND? I don't think this ND team is comparable with some of the other top-10 teams we'v seen in previous years. Namely USC, FSU, Clemson. They were outgained 280-289 by a bad Michigan team, though they still won 31-0, and couldn't gain 2ypc in the contest. Golson really hurt them through the air, throwing 3 TDs. Against Purdue, Golson was sacked 4 times and held to ~4ypc. We've heard from CMU fans about Purdue's blitz scheme and getting to their QB Rush; can Syracuse do the same? I'm not really thinking this is going to be a game as far out of reach as most will believe. This isn't '12 ND. Their run game seems suspect outside of Golson -- it feels more like a 1-man show. He can throw the ball and hurt you in a number of ways, and ND will always put out a good enough defense to frustrate you in a number of ways. Personally, I think this game is going to need to be played similar to the UMD game on offense. Run a lot of plays, but more specifically, run a lot of running plays. If SU can keep up its torrid pace to go along with its spectacular OL, they can really force ND into playing a lot of men. Luckily, SU has a QB in Hunt who's smart with when to take a hit, when to slide and when to extend for a first down. He's made many a heady play in that regard. By establishing the run early (and during the first half), SU can work the play-action/zone read more effectively in the second half while the D hopefully bends but not breaks. As discouraging a performance the Maryland game was, we saw that the offense can move the ball at will in the middle of the field. A break or two SU's way, and the game is in the bag. It'll take fewer mistakes, but this game is completely winnable against an overrated and untested ND squad. I think the team wants it and knows it can run the ball. And when you can run the ball, you've always got a chance. [/QUOTE]

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