Notre Dame 29 Pittsburgh 26

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Let me see if I have this right. An 8-0 team ranked 4th in the nation has to go into triple overtime to beat a piss poor 5-4 Pitt team. Am I also seeing a team ranked 4th have 1st and goal from the 2 not only fail to score but actually go backward? Fuck it, this ND team is vastly over rated and is going to get killed by USC. Going and gone is Manti’s Heisman, undefeated season and drop out of top 10.

They can only stop the bleeding if they somehow keep it close vs. USC. For years ND has given the Heisman to USC QB’s and Barkley is now back in it after shredding Oregon even though losing the game. And guess what girls ND is no Oregon.

Don’t feel like I can write anything positive out of this game so I’ll just stop now.

For some videos see und.com ICON clips:

Pittsburgh Week

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Well we start off this week with the good news that ILB recruit Alex Anzalone will be visiting ND this coming Sunday with both parents. He has a game Saturday so he will miss the Pitt game–there is a hurricane though in his neck of the woods. Fingers crossed as he plans to enroll early and little time left to accomplish that. Big win over Pitt would help a lot.

Let’s see what Pitt has been doing this season. New Head Coach Paul Chryst formerly OC at Wisconsin for last 7 years or so. I think he will turn the Pitt program around and you can bet your boots he would like to knock off the # 4 rated team. Pitt always plays ND tough and even our best teams have had trouble with them. They have a good experienced QB in 5th year Tino Sunseri who has 35 starts. They have a quality RB in Sr. Ray Graham plus a big RB recruit in Rushel Shell. So they can pass and run–they could be dangerous if ND not ready.

So in Big East and standing at 4-4 :

  • L–Youngstown State 31 – 17
  • L– Cincinnati 34 – 10
  • W– Virginia Tech 35 – 17
  • W–Gardner Weber?? 55 – 10
  • L– Syracuse 14 – 13
  • L– Louisville 45 – 35
  • W– Buffalo 20 – 6
  • W–Temple 47 – 17

So up and down season but they can score points.

Notre Dame has to pick it up, continue the momentum and not come out flat and sloppy. Time to show we belong with the big boys and blow out the teams we should–starting this Saturday.

Finally time to wrap up recruit Alex Anzalone and get him enrolled.

Pitt Aftermath

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I have already expounded on my take of the Pitt game–lucky win, but so were the losses lucky for our opponents.

Read Kelly’s comments on this game (I’m in control) and Rees is MY QB–okay so what if he is planted in the sod of ND stadium–what is plan B–really no answer except maybe more Frosh will play.

So what do we take from that. My gut instinct–Crist out, Hendrix out and Golson is next in , even if preferable to redshirt him.

I further read this that the Charlie Weis recruits out, namely Crist and Hendrix. Crist and Hendrix are both Pro-set QB’s–so they are out

If I were either, I’d tell Kelly to stuff it–Crist, maybe has 1 yr. eligibility left–Anyone need a strong arm Qb that plays Pro set–same for Hendrix–Charlie Weis wanted this kid real bad and if anything CW knows Qbs–so off to Fla goes Hendrix. Crist one year left goes anywhere he can start.

So that brings us back to the present. We just saw a defense with Pitt that worried about vertical long strike hold ND to 15 pts–every team ND faces will play short knowing Rees can’t throw the long ball.

So mix in the OL woeful pass block ability ND has a real problem–an absolutely piss poor Pitt Db’s took Floyd out of game.

Looking ahead USC and Stanford(with much Better athletes) blanket Floyd and blitz the shit out of Rees resulting in regular picks and fumbles.

The only thing Kelly has going for him is the Defensive side of the ball although Diaco has movie star looks, can recruit, doesn’t have the cojones yet to be outstanding defensive coordinator–hey you have the players–let them loose the entire game.

ND’s future rests on the defensive side of the ball.. Kelly has to get the offensive moving–see how fast we run the offensive–I don’t see it happening against USC or STANFORD.

ND 15 PITT 12

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Your lying eyes are not deceiving you. This game was bloody awful.

It was obvious right from the outset and throughout the game that ND was completely out coached, out played and outhit.

It seemed that the Pitt defensive coordinator was wired into Brian Kelly’s headset. It was also obvious that Bob Diaco was hopelessly confused as were the players.

Rees tossed a pick and fumbled as usual. He had absolutely zero pass protection. I have wondered why previous opponents didn’t just blitz all the time.

I have nothing good to say about the Offensive Line–each would get an F if I was evaluating them.

Defensive Line played well especially Aaron Lynch–that guy could make one of the All American squads by years end. Stephon Tuitt was very good also.

What genius had Louis Nix playing off the line–he also seemed to wear down as game went along. Was not impressed by the play of the OLB’S.

I don’t know what the deal is with Teo–he is not the dominant ILB that was projected by all.

Pitt took Michael Floyd completely out of the game

Offense:

Jonas Gray had a real nice 78yd touchdown run. MVP Offense

Tyler Eifert came through in the clutch.

Tommy Rees while befuddled managed to lead ND for the win.

DEFENSE:

Not impressed except for mentions above.

Carlo Calabrese MVP Defense for game saving pass knock away.

Pitt had like 4th and 38yds to go and Carlo ended up one on one and saved the game. The question I have–where was everyone else in this prevent defense–if that pass completed could have gone all the way.

Field Goal attempt–what the hell was a center doing placing the ball??? I admit I did not pay close attention to the holder until now but it makes no sense to me–at the very least, you want a holder who can move and possibly pass on a bobbled snap.

Pitt should have won this game–better team today.

4 games into the season and now standing at 2W 2L but this team is not improving–sort of treading water–both players and coaches.

Expected much much more but give the Pitt coaches and players credit–they wanted this game much much more and played like it.

What’s ahead–who the hell knows!!!!!!!!!

ND VS PITT

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Which team shows up for this away game at Pittsburgh?

After stumbling around searching for a Head Coach they landed the high octane offense of the Tulsa head coach Todd Graham–we all remember Tulsa from last year but now he has better players.

I briefly watched Pitt vs Iowa and was shocked that Iowa came back to win the game. Prior to that I was impressed by Pitt QB Sunseri.

Nevertheless ND should roll Pitt even though it’s an away game and starts at 12 noon on ABC. Of course, penchant for sloppy play and turnovers could sink my prediction. Somehow or other Rees just has to be able to throw long or defenses will just dare him to and play only short passes–can Rees do it? don’t know but it is hurting this offense. It is also wasting Mike Floyd on just short dumps. This has worked so far but it leaves Floyd open to major hits–we want him in space and not anywhere around hits by Linebackers.

Once again victory rests on the offensive and defensive lines. I’m not worried about the DL but not sold on the OL or Rees.

Aaron Lynch has another monster game and ND rolls.

Prediction:

ND 48 PITT 30