NOTRE DAME 17 MICHIGAN STATE 13

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Not at all pretty as ND edges MSU in a battle of the trenches. With State loading the box, only alternative was to pass – oh, let’s skip those down the line passes, someone is going to get a pick 6 one of these Saturdays. Tommy Rees was 14/34 for 142 yards and generally put up a catch-able ball and if not completed at least it drew 4 interference calls which ultimately decided the game.

This was a ho-hum hard to watch game won on Brindza’s kicking. Nothing really newsworthy to write about except perhaps the emerging freshman receivers Robinson – 3 catches and Fuller’s 1 catch, his first of the season. It was interesting to note how State jammed the receivers and forced them to the sideline leaving little room for error but were caught out of bounds. Cam McDaniel had a 7 yd TD run and TJ Jones had another TD catch. ND had 224 yds to MSU’s 250.

ND fans cannot expect Tommy Rees to be Tom Brady–he’s not and while he missed a lot, he threw no picks. Workman like job.

Calabrese had a good game and he and Grace worked well together as the ILB set.

Let’s see what some other games looked like:

  • Wisconsin ran all over Purdue winning 41-10
  • Michigan barely beat UConn 24-21
  • Stanford walloped Arizona State 42-28 uh oh
  • Pitt beat Duke 58-55 real defensive game.
  • USC edged Utah State 17-14

Next 3 weeks will decide the season but unless ND can find a consistent offense and put up a lot of points the future looks mighty bleak.

Notre Dame VS Michigan State

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Traditionally and usually, 3 teams give ND fits despite inferior talent – Michigan State, Pitt and Purdue. This week will not be any different. MSU comes to South Bend with a very good defense (they usually do) and an improving offense banging out over 500 yards against Youngstown State and they found their QB – Connor Cook, who can pass and run. Regardless of who they played – the ND game is very special to their season, so they will be up – sky high.

Notre Dame, on the other hand has stumbled along in their first 3 games with Kelly and Diaco going very vanilla until it’s almost too late. He is relying on Tommy Rees to pass ND out of trouble in the 2nd half of each game and that is not good. Rees is really trying but it is just too much asking him to throw 50 times a game. Rees also can throw 5 picks in a game and since he is so immobile and can’t throw on the run, their is a great likelihood of injury which would end all hopes of a successful season.

Mark Dantonio has an interesting dilemma should MSU win the toss, but will kick off and let his defense blitz Rees unmercifully – make him complete passes behind an under performing offensive line. MSU bottles up the run in this game and ND will have to pass to win.

Notre Dame simply is not getting tough line action from either the OL or DL. I would not risk Sheldon Day(ankle) in this game – I would opt for Kona Schwenke, at least he has played a lot and he deserves a shot as a starter. ND should go with Grace as a starter – time to step it up at this ILB position.

This kid is good but he’s been standing around for 2 tears watching Manti – that’s part of the problem I have with Kelly, he just plays starters and that is no way to build quality depth. On defense, I would also move Shumate to ILB for Carlo & Fox in obvious passing situations and let’s get Jaylon Smith more involved in Blitzing the QB. Finally Tuitt – somehow or other light a fire under him. Many times he is being handled by the OT going one on one.

Kelly cannot rely on this defense to win games, they look confused and unmotivated. Kelly, also has to up tempo this offense and stop fooling around – just get the ball and go and go fast no huddle just for the hell of it.

Don’t have a good feeling about this game which could go either way.

Notre Dame 17 Michigan State 13 or the reverse.

Notre Dame 20 Michigan State 3 Night Game Jinx Over?

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Finally Notre Dame put on a show for a big night game in knocking off # 10 Michigan State. MSU’s only score was a 50 yard field goal. What a defensive display by the entire team but the real kudos go to every player on the front 7. They battered and harassed Maxwell the MSU quarterback and held their big name running back LeVon Bell to 77 yards running.

For Notre Dame, QB Everett Golson ran what appeared to me a helter skelter offense but boy does that kid have an arm. It was tough sledding for the offensive line again but when it really mattered in the 4th quarter they came through in a drive that started on their own 4 yard line and ended with a field goal that basically ended the game–nice going guys.

Really hard to single out one individual but Manti Teo was simply outstanding. Could name others but every player was jacked and played lights out—so give the entire defense the game ball. Also some great individual players stepped up on offense but here I give the game ball to Golson who passed for a TD and ran one in as well. As usual the MSU team had to show lack of class when trying to rush the QB when we were just taking a knee to run out the clock–actually it was just one guy but Dantonio should have yanked that kid.

The numbers weren’t pretty and the offensive line has to pick it up but then again I don’t know how real the MSU or the Purdue defenses are–will have to wait to see how they do as season progresses.

I can’t help but wonder what Aaron Lynch is thinking now while he sits out a year. If everything jells for both the offense and defense as we move along, if we had Lynch in the defensive line rotation with what we have now this team might have ended up playing in the BIG GAME.

Tip of the hat to the entire Notre Dame team–way to go guys–this game was, to quote our VP “a big f—–g deal”

Other great news Stanford beat USC 21-14. The bad news is that we still have to play them both.

Checking in on Charlie Weis and Kansas–really not too bad a loss to a good TCU team 20-6. Crist passed for 303 yards had one pick but also fumbled as he was heading into the end zone–old habits die hard. He also missed several 3rd down throws. I’m still hoping he has a really good year–classy kid.

Finally a few clips from und.com for your pleasure.

Notre Dame Vs Michigan State | Predictions

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Michigan State Spartans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Tickets

Let me start this column by saying MSU does not get the type of quality recruits that Notre Dame does, no one talks about what great classes they get each year. What they do get are hard nosed, tough kids that play 60 minutes. So, in all actuality these games should not be close but they always are. Why, great coaching.

They always play with a chip on their shoulders for the simple reason very few of them get offers from Notre Dame, Michigan or Ohio State. Feeling slighted they are jacked and out to prove they belong when they play these 3 teams. OK, so much for that–moving onto Saturday’s game.

Night game–ND does not play well at night games period. They always come out flat on offense and the “D” wilts in the 4TH quarter. Too late, Too tired–who knows. When you carefully look at this years edition of both teams–you think ND blowout, but that, of course depends on what ND team shows up(yearly refrain).

MSU got tattooed at Notre Dame last year 31-13 but interestingly out gained the Irish 358 yds -275 yds with a quality QB in Cousins who also threw a pick on ND’s goal line. The guy they have now is only starting his 3rd. college game(just like Golson) and should be a feast for this ND front seven. They should be able to shut down both the pass and the run, provided Diaco plays aggressive for all 4 quarters and doesn’t lapse into a prevent defense as he tends to do too often.

Advantage Notre Dame.

MSU defense–they have one guy on the DL to worry about 6’7″ 285 DE William Gholston–remember their All American NG Jerel Worthy now a pro but even with him ND was able to run inside last year. Expect lots of blitzing from MSU to rattle Everett Golson so look for roll-outs quick hitters. Probably MSU will Imitate Purdue and stack their defense which could help ND in this game.

Notre Dame on offense. Hoping that the ND OL got the full purple faced Kelly at practice this week. You take MSU’s Gholson out of the game by running right at him or away from him with frequent cut backs. Go wide but most of all play fast then faster. Since GAIII is so valuable with great speed I’d try him at WR–just race down the field, with Davonte Neal trailing–nothing but speed on one side with Eifert also going long on the opposite side–get the safety’s out of the running game.

The big question–the ND offensive line. What do we actually have–let’s see.

  • LT Zack Martin SR 6’4″ 304—touted by some for All American this year
  • LG Chris Watt SR 6’3″ 310–also highly regarded
  • C Braxton Cave 5th yr 6’3″ 304–some All American vibes
  • RG Mike Golic 5th yr 6’3″ 300–journeyman
  • RT Christian Lombard JR 6’5″ 309 since arrival considered a phenom

Just what every team wants –an experienced OL with quality at each position. Golic is the soft spot but after 5 yrs in system he should be able to at least get in the way once in awhile. Backup at guard Connor Hanratty + 300 lbs sophomore–do you play him?

No mention of Tate Nicols 6’8″ 320 with kneecap problems.

Advantage Notre Dame (maybe). As I said–all on paper but not on the field.

Prediction: Only if ND jumps out early.

ND 38 MSU 17

Redemption Time

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This week featuring Michigan State at night is the time for Notre Dame’s offensive line to show something more than the false praise heaped on them going into the season. Remember the concern that LT Martin and LG Watt would bolt early for the NFL, well forget that–neither would be drafted. And center Cave looking at an All American spot and contesting for the Rimington award–forget that too. Golic, while a nice guy with a good pedigree is simply not good enough to start. Next, the phenom Lombard that the coaches have been drooling over–reality set in.

This entire OL simply is not good enough to play with the big boys. They were mauled and abused by a good(not great) Purdue defensive line. Perhaps with one exception–Chris Watt at Left Guard they were a complete embarrassment and looked completely lost, in other words they got the s–t kicked out of them again–recall last years USC and Stanford games where they looked scared and played that way. They just do not show up when it counts especially in night games.

I thought with the addition of the new OL coach Hiestand, with Pro experience that was all to change. All we hear about him is what a nice guy he is and players like him. Well, after last weeks beat-down, does he have it in him to act more like Joe Moore and give them a brutal week of practice–ask Aaron Taylor what that was like.

Next, Defense. This is the type of offense that Carlo Calabrese can finally live up to his potential. MSU relies heavily on the run with big time running back LeVon Bell 6’2″ 245 lbs. If ND’s defensive line plays like expected both Calabrese and Te’o should have great opportunities to each have great games.

Carlo it’s time to step it up. Forget last week, I’ll write that up to rust. The 7 tackles were good but you did not have a good game and a non factor in all actuality. Let’s hope Diaco gives you the opportunity for redemption.

I don’t know why Kelly seems to have no interest in big Fullback types. I think Hughes or Jonas Gray would have scored near the end on Riddick’s run to set up the field goal.

So, another night game, an exposed OL and holes in the defense plus playing away, with MSU looking for revenge plus a very good coach in Dantonio spells a lot of trouble for this ND team.

With 20 recruits in the bag and a few more excellent recruits along with playing at night as an underdog, it’s critical that ND win this game.

ND 31 MSU 13

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Finally the first win–although errors persistently continue.
This was a very good win but major concerns still exist and we kept MSU in the game for too long.

Go back and replay the game and you will see a marked difference between the halves. Still not playing 4 quarters of solid football–but I’ll take the win, it’s a start

Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton were outstanding.

Teo was Teo and Michael Floyd is the best WR in college football.

Here come the freshman: George Atkinson took a kickoff to the house.
Tuitt, Niklas and Williams showed flashes but tentative which is understandable.
Aaron Lynch is a phenom–he simply could not be blocked. Star rising faster than Teo’s.

The OL finally played some real smash-mouth for the most part–can’t put my finger on it but 1 of the 5 is not playing up to snuff.

Re-play the game and ask yourself “where would we be without Michael Floyd?”

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2012 recruit # Number 15 commit WR Chris Brown 6’2″ 200 lbs.from South
Carolina.

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1st commit for 2013 OT Steve Elmers 6’6″ 300 lbs from Michigan–yes!!!!!

ND VS. MSU

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ND–must win this game or Brian Kelly will be escorted off the field in a straight jacket.

Ok– he comes up the coaching chain–wins everywhere and lands at ND with more talent than he has ever had. Must be thinking this is a joke, compared with Cinn. I can win a national championship easy with these guys and my system.

Then reality sets in. As opposed to Cinn. everybody is gunning for ND–they can lose every game but if they take a ND SCALP, their season is a success.

Now to the present. ND must win this game–they beat themselves 2x–it has to end sometime–the turnovers etc. so it ends against MSU–ABSOLUTELY HAS TO.

Few thoughts:

Manti Teo– right now he is an average linebacker, not really playing any better than Calabrese or Fox. Somehow the OC’s have figured a way to handle him.

The OLB’s have been horrible–they still have big problems with an option attack. Thankfully, State has a more conventional offense.

The keys to winning this game, once again rests on the Line play on both Offense and Defense. Pass Rush against Quarterback Cousins is critical if Notre Dame is to prevail. I look for a breakout game by freshman Aaron Lynch–he has to play a lot and could take that starting position from Ethan Johnson. Stephon Tuitt also shows his stuff.

I believe Notre Dame rolls Michigan State:

Notre Dame 45 Michigan State 28