Notre Dame Vs. USC | Predictions 2012

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Calabrese and Teo

Fast start, fast start and fast start. Notre Dame must come out uptempo and fast, USC could not handle the offenses of Arizona or Oregon–defense just could not keep up, ND must follow that format and score touchdowns and a lot of them to win.

USC will be all psyched up at the start but their defense will wilt if they are playing from behind. ND can’t let them hang around and the offense must pedal to the metal for 4 quarters. USC defense coach does not know how to handle a fast paced spread offense but ND must score points in just about every possession.

On defense: kill the QB should be the game plan. First start for the 6’4″ 245lb soph–don’t let that fool you–USC does not recruit so so QB’s–they usually get a top 3 guy and Wittek was a 5 star recruit. Constant pressure and heavy hits on him and he will start panicking, but the key is HARD hits just blast him. One defensive player should be assigned to hit him on every play.

Finally, with the lead don’t go prevent like the Florida State game last year which cost ND the game. Give this kid time and he will hit Lee, Wood and Agholar eventually and we don’t have anyone who can run with Lee–so bomb plays will kill us.

Let’s look at their losses:

  • L — 38-28 to UCLA–last week
  • L — 21-14 to Stanford
  • L — 39-36 to Arizona
  • L — 62-51 to Oregon

They lost all their tough games, the rest were nobody’s. What the above shows is points, you just have to out score them. We don’t want a re-run of the 2005 game

So, there you have it, play clean game–no false starts, no fumbles and no stupid picks and just have the ambulance ready for Max.

Don’t think it will work out that way but believe our defense will save us again.

Notre Dame 31 USC 17

Dreams Crushed

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

As our current team rated #1 gets ready for the game that will define their season, I am reminded of past horrors the Irish experienced in the LA Coliseum — there were a lot of them but 2 in particular broke many hearts and crushed dreams:

  • 1964–Ara’s first year brought a juggernaut to LA #1 Notre Dame vs. a 6-3 USC team. ND cruised in first half leading 17-0 and a NC just 30 minutes away. ND lost with a minute left 20-17. that team reminds me of the 2012 team–QB John Huarte All American and soon to be Heisman winner. Star receiver Jack Snow. We have Eifert All American receiver and Te’o(Heisman?).
  • 1970–Notre Dame arrives in LA rated #2 (9-0) and on their way to the NC game against a bad SC team (5-4-1) and lose 38-14 even though Joe Theisman passed for 526 yards in the pouring rain. ND fumbled their way to defeat.

So I am very apprehensive as Saturday approaches–stars just don’t seem to be aligning. Too much going on at SC with 2nd team QB guaranteeing victory and All American 1st team QB allegedly unable to play–I’ll believe this only if he is on sidelines in civvies.

PAST HISTORY–1966 game of the century, 22 All Americans on the field and ends in a 10-10 tie ND vs. Michigan State. Alabama, meantime is undefeated and ranked #3. So ND’s #1 ranking in jeopardy on their way to final game against USC so Ara runs up the score 51-0 to cement #1. In those days ND did not participate in Bowl games and Alabama howled. Too bad but that 66 team would have crushed Alabama–really wished ND would have lifted the ban that year–the whole country wanted that game. Also USC’s Head Coach–the great John McKay vowed that he would never again lose to ND and then he went 8-1 against ND.

Finally, The Last Goddamn Thing We Need supplied By Sports Illustrated.


Notre Dame Sports Illustrated Cover 2012

USC WEEK

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Final regular game for 2012 and Notre Dame is #1, Barkley allegedly won’t play due to an injury to his throwing arm. Hopefully that’s true but don’t be surprised if he has a miraculous recovery if 2nd team QB Max Wittek is not doing very good. Can just see it- Barkley comes in off the bench and shreds ND upsetting #1 and throws BCS into a tailspin.

I think, unfortunately, that Pat Haden will get rid of Kiffen if USC loses to Notre Dame–let’s face it, the guy is a real scumbag and Haden is a straight shooter and sure must not like the record 4 losses when this team was almost automatically going to the Big Game in the pre-season.

They certainly have the players, get great recruits but the 4 losses especially the last to UCLA just might cause the axe to fall if they lose to ND. If Notre Dame beats USC that together with the loss to UCLA is the perfect opportunity to dump Kiffen and clean up the programs mess.

Irish Grab Number One By Crushing Wake Forest 38-0

ND Editor Football Tagged
4

Finally, finally a game we could just relax and enjoy a beat down. Cierre Wood 11 carries for 150 yards including a 68 yard TD run in first series–is it me? I thought Wood was faster than he seemed. This game ended on Wakes 1st series when Carlo Calabrese absolutely crushed a RB who caught a pass over the middle, pursued by Manti and then wham– fumble which led to the 2nd score.

Eifert was just terrific as was TJ Jones and John Goodman. Eifert now # 1 in catches by a ND Tight End.

Wow, Golson has some arm and he seems effortlessly elusive–he ended up with 346 yds passing 3 TD’s and 1 pick. ND’s total yards 584–209.

Defense just smothered Wake, Tuitt sack leaves him just 1 behind Justin Tuck. Great win on Senior Day.

Other news:

  • Baylor 52 Kansas State 24
  • Stanford 17 Oregon 14 in overtime
  • UCLA 38 USC 28 and Barkley hurt.

Drumbeat already in gear to push ND out of Championship game even if they beat a Barkley less USC in less than a rout.

Really wanted to see a ND KSU Championship Game.

Charlie Weis has just got to be mighty proud of this senior class.
Wonder what Aaron Lynch is thinking now.

On to USC–won’t be an easy game and watch what the refs do in this game. Regardless of the QB for USC, Notre Dame has just got to put enormous pressure on him–multiple sacks.

Finally F–K the SEC and ESPN reporters.

Here’s some clips from und.com—enjoy.

Notre Dame VS. Wake Forest | Predictions

ND Editor Football Tagged
2

Last home game of the 2012 season and the final seniors recruited by Charlie Weis. Funny how things work out–these guys are 10-0 and looking for 11-0 against Wake.

Everyone knew what you were getting in 5 star super recruit Manti Te’o but no one knew how terrific 3 star Tyler Eifert would be in the 2009 recruiting class–listed then at 6’5″ 225. But then again no worries since we had Rudolph and Joseph Fauria from the 2008 class. Then Eifert had back surgery and lots of concern he would never play football again. Rudolph left early for the Pros and Fauria left for UCLA. Funnier yet Eifert and Fauria both up for the Mackey Award for best Tight End.

I think you could even debate whether Eifert or Te’o is the MVP on today’s team. Both should go in the first round in April. Really going to miss both.

What the hell has Diaco been doing with this defense–we should be obliterating QB’s with the front seven we have. This bend but don’t break defense almost cost us the Pitt game–oh it’s ok we will stop them when they get to our 20 or just give them a FG–good thinking?? manageable FG missed by Pitt almost made us 9-1. Both Pitt and BC missed a lot of opportunities with receivers wide open. Better start to prep for USC this Saturday by turning these guys loose in first half and then be able to rest them.

Let’s forget about the long drives and play the 2 minute drill the whole first half–let’s score 30 by half time and coast thru the 2nd half but tack on another 20 points. Do I think that will happen–No!!

I think ND will fiddle around and have to go into the 4th quarter to pull out a win. If that happens Bama could jump ND in the polls.

Here’s hoping:

ND 30 Wake 10

Musings | Manti Te’o

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Manti Te’o is getting praise all over the place, and it is well deserved–an inconceivable blend of Catholic vs. Mormon faiths in the most Catholic university in the US. Up for Heisman? Far reach for a defensive player–only Leon Hart won a H at ND but he played both ways–just as good on offensive as defense.

So how does this all end up–capsulized it’s the USC game, this Senior Day might help but it’s USC that will determine Te’o’s ultimate quest at ND. He has to be so dominate that voters can’t dismiss him–Manti vs. Barkley is the ticket, not only for ND but for Manti individually.

It was a close call for ND to sign Manti but outside of his vision we have to give kudos to Brian Polian and the big man Charlie.

If ND can win big time the next 2 games it will let the sails out of the detractors and if ND ends up in the big game and is successful it will cement this kid into all time ND football lore–if they lose, he will be just, a footprint in the college scene.

Let’s hope for a ND sweep all the way for this kid is really special in all ways.

Wake Forest Week

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Senior day and Notre Dame usually comes out and falls flat on their faces, I think we’ll see the same thing this Saturday. This game is their opportunity to prove they belong at #3 and they better take Wake to the shed big time or the the voters (who all hate ND) will push #4 Alabama ahead of them.

So we need vast improvement over the piss poor offense we’ve seen in the last 2 games against really lousy teams.

Wake is another really lousy team at 5-5 — brief recap what they’ve been doing:

  • Lost to Florida State 52-0
  • Lost to Clemson 42-13
  • Lost to NC State 37-6 last week

I don’t care what anyone else thinks– our OL is just not that good on a consistent basis and if they had to go against the Bama DL I doubt we would have 50 rushing yards. So can Hiestand do anything with them–I really hope so.

We don’t need a squeaker we need a blow out–see the above losses. Anything else puts their #3 spot in jeopardy. For the offense’s moral they need a big output before heading to USC. They need 50 to silence the haters and SEC voters.

Notre Dame 21 Boston College 6

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Is there any way ABC can run more commercials? Seriously, just show commercials and leave 15 minutes and just give us highlights of the game.

Notre Dame just doesn’t know how to demolish weaker teams and this hurts 2 ways–1- ranking in polls and 2- not getting the backups any serious experience. It, right now hurts Manti in the Heisman race–tough enough as a defensive player and even with 6 picks if he had a few td’s as the result it would help his cause. Needs unbelievable next 2 games.

We have 2 games left and we will need blowouts against Wake and USC to have any hope of playing for the championship. And we have to get it THIS year–we lose too many seniors for 2013 to be the year.

Consider Defense–we lose Te’o, Kap Moore, Zeke Motta,Kona Schwenke probably Slaughter and the possibility of Louis Nix declaring early–could also lose Calabrese and Fox although I think they return.

Offense–Line–Golic and Cave definitely, Zack Martin ans Chris Watt possibly. That leaves only 1 starting lineman returning and the backups have no experience. Riddick gone and I think Wood goes also. Eifert gone and a handful of others who have had a lot of experience–that’s why it has to be this year.

It is just too damn hard to get this close. We have to roll the next 2 games and just hope KSU or Oregon lose a game.

Getting back to the BC game–ho-hum for all 4 quarters–the ND players just going thru the motions and with Wake at 5-5 probably a similar outing. Then USC–how the hell do we outscore them–Barkley to Lee all day.. ND just has to get some real fire–that’s just 2– 60 minute opportunities for a chance of a lifetime.

All you need to know about the BC game–see Irish Connection videos.

Notre Dame VS Boston College

ND Editor Football Tagged
0

Before I comment on this game I have to vent a little on the disaster that occurred here in NJ as well as NY. No preparation at all by US, State or local Govt’s. This whole situation is being run as if the US is a 3rd World country.

You should see this fucking place–many still without power and utilities a fucking mess plus no gasoline!!! The great guys from all over the country who came here get my special thanks, think it was a crew from Georgia that got my power back after 6 days–thanks guys. But just 2 blocks away–still out of power, know why–no telephone poles and crews from all over the country just standing around and can’t do anything. No fucking telephone poles–you gotta be kidding me–is this the US???

Fucking idiot awards:

  1. Obama, election photo op.
  2. Christy all mouth and fat ass.
  3. Napalitano Homeland Security–clueless.
  4. Cuomo NY–all mouth.
  5. Nanny Bloomberg-totally clueless but has banned 16 oz sodas–so he’s really on top of things.

Had to vent–just be aware any disaster anywhere in the US–you are on your own.

Now onto Boston College. Head Coach Spaziano will be gone at end of season. They have just 2 wins–so it looks like we will just roll them. If ND shows up like the Pitt game we are in trouble. BC is not at all in awe of ND nor it’s super stars, they know they can win if they just play tough and out physical ND–they have done it before. Night game, National TV, At Home, Nothing to lose and win one for Coach Spaz will make BC tough to beat–it’s cold up here also.

BC offense led by QB Chase Rettig 6’3″ sr. who can pass–441 yds against Miami in opener. He has good receivers WR’s Amidon and Bobby Swigert. TE Chris Pantale 6’6″ 255. If Rettig is hot-watch out. Believe game plan for them–out physical ND, get ahead by passing and make ND play catch up.

On defense, they have a really good MLB in Nick Clancy 6’3″ 232 and they have coach Spaz, who is an excellent D coach–they will load the box,blitz and make Golson beat them on the run–just like Pitt but I believe the BC guys are tougher than Pitt, so that’s a problem right there. WATCH OUT for ND injuries in this game.

For ND, Golson will never get the playbook so just let him run around sandlot style–that’s all he knows and in my opinion all he will ever be–sandlot. I hope to Christ someone is working with Kiel.

I think BC QB Rettig lights ND up and ND blows a lot of opportunities making this a close game that is settled in 4th quarter.

Notre Dame 27 BC 21