Category: Football

The Irish completely battered Navy in this season opener and Everett Golson played as well as could be expected. He has a tendency to stare down receivers and to look too often for Eifert. But, expected that safe comfort zone. He did find Troy Niklas on nice pass and catch and DeVaris Daniels had a few nice receptions.

The offensive and defensive lines just overwhelmed Navy. Ishaq Williams caused 2 fumbles, one of which was returned by Stephon Tuitt for 77 yards. Manti was all over the place and had a pick. Both running backs Riddick and Atkinson had a pair of TD’s. Roby Toma ran for a TD and Eifert also scored.

No sense going into the stats, the score says it all. The running game really hummed and the passing game was also OK for a first game. Lots of highlights in this game, but nothing can top Tuitt’s 77 yarder. So all in all a satisfactory start.

Big problem areas–special teams especially getting down field on kickoffs. The pass defense is a nightmare come alive. Navy receivers were wide open and in one sequence, 3 completions, 3 plays and touch down.

Conclusion, Notre Dame simply must outscore everyone from here on out and the defensive line must get to the upcoming QB’s or we are in a bad bad situation. I don’t have any idea how we can fix the CB’s shortcomings. But nice to win the opener and this win was important.

The Notre Dame Football team leaves tonight for Ireland led by senior captains Kap Lewis Moore, Zack Martin, Tyler Eifert and Manti Te’o for what, on paper, should be a blowout. Notre Dame has a slew of returning lettermen and probably outweigh the Middies by at least 50 lbs. per man. However, Navy has a remarkably successful option attack and always brings a punishing fullback(see the 2010 game).

Defensive co-ordinator Bob Diaco seemed to shut this attack down last year but the truth of the matter is, the ND offense scored 56 points forcing Navy out of their run oriented attack trying to play catch up. The same thing could happen again this year but with an unknown Notre Dame QB playing his first game, I doubt it.

Navy has a great option oriented coach in Ken Niumatalolo who has had plenty of time to prepare for this game and just by tweaking a few things could give the Irish defense fits. Also, look for the Navy “D” to blitz like crazy to force Golson to pass. How Golson handles this pressure will determine the outcome of the game.

Navy could pull the upset by getting ND early in the season before Golson can settle down. If Navy can hold the ball and eat the clock they can win this game.

Notre Dame has the far superior talent, but far too often they don’t live up to their billing and they have no Michael Floyd to pull this game out for them.

So, really anything can happen but I see Navy sticking in with the Irish for the first half and being slowly worn down by the fourth quarter and ND escapes with a win.

Prediction:

Notre Dame 28 Navy 17

This game gives me the creeps for all I can think of are injuries. Further, I cannot understand why the cut block is allowed in college football. We have the size but the Navy OL can negate that blocking from the knees to the ankles. The Notre Dame DL will spend all game trying not to get injured. Manti Te’o admitted to be worried about a knee injury when playing Navy.

So Bob Diaco has to come up with a defensive game plan that just overwhelms Navy’s offense as he did last year. He was greatly aided by the Notre Dame offense putting up 56 points to Navy’s 14. But, in 2010 Navy crushed the Irish 35-17 in a game where the Navy fullback ran all over Notre Dame’s defense including Manti Te’o.

Navy has a very smart and savvy coach so Diaco better be on his “A” game. If Navy can keep it close, and run the clock, Notre Dame is in big trouble. He also better have a plan “B” which he didn’t have in 2010. The last thing we need is a Diaco brain freeze.

Since Navy went to option football they have been relatively successful having played and beaten some big time programs. Charlie Weis lost to them twice including the 2009 game when he had Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate by a score of 23-21.

For Notre Dame to win this game they have to score a ton of points and I’m just not sure they can do that. Just can’t rely on the defense, the offense has to play extremely well with no turnovers. I think this game will be closer than most anticipate, with the never give up Navy teams we’ve seen in recent years

Historically, the record is Notre Dame 71-11-1. During the 30’s, say from 1932-1942 the games were very close. 1944 Notre Dame lost 32-13, and in 1945 played to a 6-6 tie. Then the players returned from the war and usually crushed Navy. Notre Dame did not lose from1946 to 1955. Navy won in 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1963 when Roger Staubach was the quarterback. That’s interesting since Roger wanted to go to Notre Dame, and if I recall correctly Ara wanted him to play receiver .

Next Navy win was 2007 against Charlie Weis in 3 over times 46-44. The rest we know.

Game prediction coming in a later post.