Notre Dame VS. Stanford

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I’m going to say at the outset that ND is going to roll all over Stanford this Saturday and just might go over 40 points. Why do I feel so confident–I saw them play an undersized Arizona team that put 48 points on them and Stanford needed to go into OT to win. They simply wore Arizona down.

Stanford looked very uncomfortable playing Rich Rod’s fast paced spread offense and gave up big chunks of yardage. If ND can up the tempo they can roll.

I also refreshed myself on last year’s game played at Stanford. Bad Bad game for Tommy Rees and in the first half he threw a pick and fumbled and Stanford led at halftime 21-0 on 3 Andrew Luck passes.

Hendrix started 2nd half and TD pass to Floyd. 21-7. 4th. quarter ND going for a score when Hendrix pass tipped for an interception. With 5 minutes to go in 4th Luck throws his 4th TD. Final 28-7.

Ok this is 2012 and Stanford doesn’t have Luck or the 2 All American offensive linemen and current QB Nunes while not bad is nowhere the QB Luck was.

Stanford only beat San Diego State 20-17, beat USC 21-14 and lost to Washington 17-13 before the shootout with Arizona.

I base my optimistic outlook dependent on no ND turnovers. If no fumbles or picks ND wins easily. They should be able to run and pass against this Stanford “D” hell Arizona bedazzled them.

On defense Notre Dame has to go full out pressure from the first snap and just harass Stanford’s QB the whole game. While he can move around he is basically a pocket passer–so let the dogs feed on him. They haven’t played a team as talented as this ND defense– but all bets are off if Diaco out thinks himself and goes prevent anytime during this game.

I see Cam McDaniel getting his 2nd TD of the season doing cleanup in the 4th.

Prediction:

Notre Dame 45 Stanford 21

Stanford Week

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nd action pic vs miami
Image courtesy of und.com

Well Notre Dame must have arrived since ESPN Game Day will be on hand to cheer Stanford on.

So lets take a look at Stanford minus Andrew Luck–not the same team and very beatable. Now in 2nd year without Jim Harbaugh and their vigor without him has dropped a notch–again ND can beat this team if they can get to the QB junior Josh Nunes.

Let’s look at what Stanford has done this year–they are 4-1 and ranked #18:

  • San Jose State W 20-17
  • Duke W 50-13
  • USC W 21-14
  • Washington L 17-13
  • Arizona W 54-48 OT

After the Washington game their QB Josh Nunes caught a lot of flack and at least the sportswriters were calling for a replacement. The Arizona game put that to rest. Arizona had the game won and Nunes led Stanford back with an OT win. This was a turning point for Nunes who had been wobbly in his other starts. Great confidence booster for him–just what ND needed, would have preferred the wobbly Nunes.

Stanford, as mentioned is not the old Jim Harbaugh gritty Stanford, they don’t have a Toby Gerhart at running back and Nunes certainly isn’t Andrew Luck. Watching their game with Arizona I was impressed how the undersized Arizona defense played them. For all intents they shut down their featured RB Stepfan Taylor and held him to 132 yds. What killed them was Nunes ability to run when flushed out of the pocket.

Stanford relies heavily on their 2 very large TE’s Zack Ertz 6’6″ 253 and Levine Toilolo 6’8″ 268–he really looks like a basketball player playing football. Notre Dame will have a difficult time covering them so the best strategy is to put a fierce rush on Nunes–get to him early and often and he will turn the ball over with interceptions. If he has the time-watch out.

This did not appear to me to be the old Stanford OL & DL and I think we can overpower them in the trenches. We should be able to run the ball after we get them out of the box so Golson must come through in the passing game.

nd defense vs miami
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One thing I noticed about Golson is the way he holds the ball when running–one handed, wrong side to the defense. He is just waiting to get stripped but I’m sure the ND coaches will drill him on that.

Finally a day game, less time for Golson to get the jitters so he could come out on fire. ND is much better than Arizona and this game could be a real signature win for Golson.

Final comments, Carlo Calabrese doesn’t get much press-sorta under the radar but he is playing very well and this could be a big game for him. Also Mike Golic seems to be improving with each game–keep it up Mike.

Notre Dame 41 Miami 3

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What a beat down. Notre Dame finally, finally showed up on offense and Everett Golson finally, finally showed why he should be the ND Quarterback. He directed a very balanced attack against what appeared to be an up and coming, high scoring Miami team and what a pleasure it was to see.

Golson was 17 0f 22 for 186 passing yards distributing the ball to just about every receiver who played and best of all NO interceptions. We also finally got a real look at the offense Kelly wants to run and by run I mean Golson. No doubt he brings another dimension to this offense as he was able to escape sacks by nimbly sprinting out of bad situations.

And, boy did the running game take off. Riddick was his usual productive self but Wood and Atkinson stole the show. Wood went 18 carries for 118 yards and 2 TD’s, only to be outshone by Atkinson who went 10 carries 123 yards with a beautiful 55 yard TD run. Atkinson, blazing speed and seems to run upright–he reminds me of Eric Dickerson of SMU & NFL fame.

Notre Dame had 587 total yards and even Cam McDaniel got in on the fun with 55 yards and the game’s final touchdown.

The defense was in it’s usual shutdown mode helped out by numerous pass drops by Miami’s Phillip Dorsett who dropped 2 beautiful passes that should have been early TD’s. What surprised me the most was the ND defense inability to get pressure on the Miami QB Stephen Morris who had a lot of time and had a number of pinpoint passes dropped. I think Miami will do just fine with the rest of their schedule based on this QB.

As usual Manti Te’o was all over the place, laying punishing hits all over the field but the best hit I saw was Ben Councell OLB laying into a guy on the sideline.

Notre Dame had a 13 to 3 lead at the half and relentlessly crushed Miami in the 2nd half just running the ball and eating the clock. The last drive of the game was McDaniel running behind subs on the OL for the final score. I think ND had 34 first downs to Miami’s 13–total domination.

AP Poll move Notre Dame up to #7 which I think is just about right for now.

So Notre Dame is 5-0 but can’t rest on it’s laurels with Stanford coming up this Saturday. Stanford won an OT shoot out over Arizona. But they look beatable as opposed to the last few years.

Big Game and ESPN Game Day will be at ND this coming weekend.

Final note Charlie got crushed by Kansas State.

Here is a highlight video of the game:

Whiling Away Saturday Afternoon

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I really don’t like night games–here it is 1PM and I really wish game was coming on now. Instead I’m stuck watching Penn State beat up on Northwestern but will catch the Arizona/ Stanford game. Interesting since Stanford next up and Arizona coached by Rich Rod–go Arizona.

Ominous note on recruiting–Alex Anzalone will be visiting Florida for the LSU game. If I remember correctly his father went to Florida. After de-commit from Ohio State he was interested in Penn State until the scandal broke, then interested in Fla and made visit. Finally commits to ND BUT nice game day trip for LSU game makes it 2 visits to Florida. This just is not good news and I won’t be surprised if he flips to Fla.–just too much interest. We should know by Monday or Tuesday.

Don’t pay too much attention to special teams but did note that Miami RB Duke Johnson ran one back 95 yds for a TD. He also has had runs of 54 & 56 yds. for TD’s–he will be a nightmare tonight on short passes. Let’s just hope he goes over the middle and Manti is there to greet him.

Bummed about Anzalone–we had a great LB class for 2013.

Notre Dame VS. Miami Soldier Field Chicago

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Another night game in a big venue–home of the Chicago Bears. Notre Dame coming off a bye week and when that happens they usually come out not just flat but real flat. I think they do the same this Saturday Night. On the other hand Miami coming off 2 big wins over Georgia Tech and North Carolina State will be all jazzed by the big venue and the opportunity to knock off Notre Dame–advantage Miami.

Unless Kelly has been purposely holding the reigns on this offense Notre Dame is in big trouble. He is committed to Golson no matter what and I do think their is muttering by the players that want to win this year, not deal with training wheels on a rookie QB. I believe they think Rees gives them the best chance to win this year.

Let’s take a closer look at Miami. Their Head Coach Al Golden is a rising superstar. He’s been at Miami 3 years, I think, same as Kelly yet he is able to run a fast tempo no huddle offense and Kelly can’t. Yet this is the type of offense that got Kelly the ND job. With the no huddle, fast pace Golden will be able to negate the ND defensive substitutions.

Miami’s OC is Jedd Fisch (also QB coach) who spent 9 yrs. in the Pro’s and his offense is putting up big numbers and points. He knows that he can’t run directly against ND’s front seven so he will try to go over the top with lots of roll-out pass plays and he has the QB to succeed. Outside of the Kansas State game (currently ranked #7) these guys can score a lot.

Miami’s DC is Mark D’Onofrio linebacker from Penn State and a 2nd. round draft pick for the Packers. Coaching stints with Golden at Virginia and Temple. Both Golden & D’onofrio at Penn State when PSU had very good defenses–so they know how to set a defense. I look for them to stack the box just like Purdue and bring constant pressure only with quicker players.

Sure this team has been gashed but they now believe, with their offense putting up big numbers they can simply outscore opponents. They laid 42 points on Georgia Tech (436 passing) and 44 points on North Carolina State 440 passing and 224 running. Take a look at this incredible play against NCS with 19 seconds left.

So unless the Notre Dame offense can control the clock and more importantly score a lot of points I don’t think the ND defense can save them. This Miami team is the fastest group that the Irish will play this year together with the best passer and they are super fast–so a few lapses by the ND defense could prove fatal.

Forget Navy, so I can’t pick a team that could not score at least 21 points in their last 3 games. I look for Miami to wear down the ND defense and run away with it in the 4th. quarter. Miami upsets the Irish.

Miami 34 Notre Dame 17

Miami Week | 2012

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Starting the countdown to Saturday Night here is what we know about Miami:

Head Coach—- Al Golden-has a good pedigree. Played for Penn State as a Tight End & for the New England Patriots. Spent a year at Penn State as linebacker coach. Spent 5 years at Virginia as the DC followed by 5 years at Temple in Phila. as the Head Coach.

His record at Temple 26 W’s vs. 33 L’s and a Bowl Game loss which is nothing short of a miracle. He was pursued by many schools and landed in Miami. In 2011 he was 6-6. For 2012 he is 4-1. This guy can coach period.

2012 Stats:

  • W vs. Boston College 41-32
  • L vs. Kansas State 52-13 (KSU currently ranked # 7)
  • W vs. Bethune Cookman 38-10
  • W vs. North Carolina State 44-37 shootout

So outside of KSU they can put up the points. Their QB Morris can run and pass and he is accurate. He can throw bombs on the money and he has fast receivers.

The question is–can the ND defense stuff the run and get to Morris? Morris is like Denard Robinson except he is an accurate passer and very good on the long pass. I expect Miami to score more than 14 points in this game and if it turns into a shootout ND will lose. If Miami can jump out with a couple of quick scores it might be all over for ND.

The ND offense must put a lot of points up to help the defense for sooner or later the defense is going to get burned. This is a big big game for ND to continue the momentum as they come to the hardest part of the schedule. But we also have a big problem in that we have no offense or offensive identity and can barely get to 21 points. Miami is just going to load the box and double Eifert and dare Golson to pass.

Coach Kelly has the QB situation ass backward–he should start Rees and let Golson play the Tebow role. This kid is just not ready. If Golson knew he wasn’t going to start he could at least sleep the night before and not get himself all knotted up waiting for a night game. Just ease him in situationally.

Kelly just has to do something with the offense soon and make no mistake about it–the players want Rees, you can tell by their body language when he comes in. If he has no plan to run Golson what good is he in this offense.

Bye Week Musings

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I really should not watch other college teams it just makes me depressed. I’ve seen a number of games and not once did I see anyone having a late play called from the sideline nor clock issues that occur in every ND game. I do know one thing–don’t play West Virginia or Baylor for any reason.

I watched the meet the press with Chuck Martin and all I got out of that was nothing wrong with game plan against Michigan just a matter of execution–excuse me, that wasn’t the problem–the problem was the play calling.

Next, Golson just learning and not ready for expanded play book–huh 2yrs in system and only can run a few plays. Well I’m not buying that—–I think it’s the coaching or get a fucking 3 page playbook–sorta like Vince Lombardi.

So I started thinking about Chuck Martin as the OC. While he had outstanding success as head coach at previous stops especially at Grand Valley, from what I can determine he mostly handled the defense.

So why move him from defense to OC–the answer is Diaco who is becoming a hot prospect for other schools. Molnar had to go and he is not missed.

On to Brian Kelly–he’s had great success but the one thing missing from his stint at ND is his previous OC who was with Kelly for 22yrs–Jeff Quinn. No doubt Kelly thought he was coming to ND with him and I’m sure he was surprised that at the last moment Quinn said no and went to Buffalo as head coach.

Quinn looked like a lifetime asst. coach–I mean 22 yrs–so what could possibly make him go to a dead end job at Buffalo? He’s like 4-11 in the yrs there. Could it be that he was the brains behind Kelly’s success–just asking but really seems odd.

Ok, onto defense and the mystic Bob Diaco. Looking great but then again he’s got great players. But then he does crazy thing like in the Fla. State game and goes all prevent which cost ND the game. From here on out teams are going to go into a passing frenzy and these teams and have the QB’s to 3 step and fire away..

Now let’s talk about the QB situation. Clearly Golson is a practice wizard apparently–but that does not translate into game play. He freezes and panics and throws into double and triple coverage. Sure defenses are forcing him to pass but that is all he will see in all the games going ahead. Rees had to bail him out in 2 games so far.

Rees, now a junior and maybe, just maybe everything is coming clear to him this 3rd year in the system. I think he has earned the start against Miami–another night game. So start Rees–he has won a good number of games in his career and if he has gotten his bad plays out of his system, maybe he’s the guy.

Weave Golson in slowly, a few series here and there and see how he does. I don’t think he can take the pressure and the offense knows it–but does Kelly.

This 3rd year is Kelly’s Waterloo–he simply can’t get by with just 8 wins again.

Manti On Cover Of Sports Illustrated

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Manti Teo Sports Illustrated Cover

After playing the best game of his career against Michigan, Manti for the 2nd week in a row was named The Ronnie Lott Impact Player Of The Week which propelled him to the SI Cover. Now this could be good or bad–a lot of jinxes associated with being Cover Boy. Let’s hope Manti slides by this downside.

He certainly deserves these accolades and boy does he represent ND in a positive light. Now there is also some Heisman talk–c’mon ND publicity dept start the promotion.

Next Manti was named The Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player Of The Week. Great honor– for Bednarik was an All American at the University of Pennsylvania and an All Pro with the Phila. Eagles.

Here’s short video of Chuck Bednarik for the youngsters out there.

Manti going full out should easily win the Butkus Award, perhaps just before the Heisman.

Also for the youngsters here’s a short video on Dick Butkus All American at Illinois and All Pro with the Chicago Bears. Butkus from Chicago really wanted to go to ND but at the time ND frowned on married players–so off to Illinois. Enjoy the video.

Final Thought Heading Into The Bye Week

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I think we were all led to believe that with Charlie Molnar shuffling off to UMass that, finally, the offense would be more explosive this year. After all, with the appointment of Chuck Martin to new OC the offense would be much more productive since he and Brian Kelly think alike. Just look at the high octane offenses and scores both Martin and Kelly ran up at their previous stops. We think alike blah blah.

Well look at what we have–a dreadful offense output with the exception of Navy. When lining up against guys their own size eh– sort of wilted. Lethargic in most of the games, this experience OL –3 previous starters, a journeyman 5th year guy and one new left tackle.

If you watched the Michigan game, you will see all of our next opponents using the same strategy against this ND offense. There seems to be some disconnect on everything going on with this offense. The play calling looks timid with no imagination, almost a lazy and sloppy approach. The players often look confused about the play–even the line don’t seem to know who to block.

With all the blitzing, Kelly is forced to use the Tight Ends as blockers but that takes your All American tight end out of the offense. Troy Niklas is doing a pretty good job blocking but here again a big target out of the offense. The other experienced TE Ben Koyack is a pretty bad blocker but his greatest asset coming out of High School was his size, speed and hands. He really was a wide out and probably did very little blocking.

What you could probably do to strengthen the OL and free up Eifert is put a jersey with an 80 on it on that giant Tate Nichols. He really is a tight end forced into the tackle position but he’s like 315 lbs and I think we need to get him on the field–healthy so let’s get him on the field while we can. He has a knee cap problem so let’s at least get something out of this guy.

Quarterback–if you are not going to run this guy then let’s get a tall passing QB in there. 5 star freshman QB’s starting all over the country. If all your running QB is doing is just handing off, hell anyone could do that– Kiel could do that along with 3 step drop and fire away. Also get rid of that long hand-off and try to hide the ball better with the play action.

I simply do not understand what Kelly is doing and I don’t think anyone else does either with the exception of Rees. What type of offense takes 3 years to learn? I’ve never seen any team that the QB’s only know a hand full of plays–I just don’t get it, but I do know I just don’t like it.

If these guys are all square pegs just go back to basic I formation offense or hell just run the Holtz option offense–just make it easy for your players to play–make the line splits wider and spread them out.

Two weeks to get this offense fixed.