Navy – our annual pain in the ass game highlighted by chop blocks, cut blocks and cheap shots. As opposed to Army and Air Force, Navy, in my opinion, plays dirty and always has. The ND players should advise the Middies that for every injury we will take out 2 of yours starting with your QB. Hope Diaco has reminded the defense that when the QB starts to run, he in essence is just another running back and can be hammered. Actually an Option QB should be hammered every play – that’s why it never went over in the Pros.

So with Navy we have a QB that can run well and actually is one of the best passers Navy has had in a long time. Their Fullback is quite a load at 240 lbs so our ILB’s Calabrese and Fox will have to get in the holes fast. This will be a test for the also in the passing game as the fake and pitch could neutralize their run aggressiveness. I have confidence we can control the perimeter as long as we first blast the QB whether he pitches or not. Hit him often enough and he won’t be able to throw.

Navy sitting at 4-2 with a recent win over Pitt but they did lose to Air Force 28-10. ND defense comes together by the 2nd period and shuts the middies down.

ND Offense – it is now evident that GAIII and Carlisle simply cannot adjust to the zone blocking scheme so – do some straight ahead old fashioned block technique if you play them. Actually we should do this the whole game – why go east/west when we outweigh them 75 lbs per man. Put 8 in the box we’re coming anyway. There used to be a time that QB’s hid the ball quite well and no one quite knew who had the ball (TV Cameras often followed wrong back) and I remember the QB’s practiced this – a lot. The quick hitter at the goal line used as well as the 2-3 back set. Quite effective for Lou Holtz. The stretch hand-off to a back 6yds behind the QB drives me nuts and the no back set was designed to get your QB killed.

I really like how we use our Tight Ends but I also really like a big Fullback if just to protect the QB – speaking of which why not put ILB Kendall Moore 6’1″ 244 in there, kid hits like a truck and why waste him riding the rails–make him the lead blocker inside the 5. Hell he might prove to be a good runner.

With all that said Kelly seems terrified to put Rees under center – don’t get that at all.

Onto the game. Navy will get its rushing yards about 260 a game and I think scores first. Worry about the pass – if that opens up watch out. Navy coach every bit as good as Kelly. Lets hope Diaco doesn’t go into a mystic trance. Other than that ND should roll.

Notre Dame 45 Navy 27