Navy Week

ND Editor Football Tagged , , ,
0

Just what we need–losing Kap Moore to season ending knee injury. Do not play Ethan Johnson and possibly lose him due to Navy cut blocking. Freshman must step up and so do all of ND’s linebackers.

Navy is currently standing at 2 W 5 L. Somewhat deceiving since losses by just a few points–only exception a 63-35 loss to So. Miss.

They also almost upset South Carolina at home losing 24-21. Fullback Teich had 93 yds rushing and Navy totaled 274 yds on ground against a good S Carolina team.

This is a nightmare game for ND–Navy averages 400 yds rushing per game and on defense they don’t get tired.

Of all the Academies Navy is the most dangerous especially with this fullback who gashed ND last year.

Talent wise this should be no contest but if ND falls behind they lose.

No confidence in this defensive staff coming up with a plan to stop Navy.

More later.

ND VS. MSU

ND Editor Football Tagged , , , , , ,
0

ND–must win this game or Brian Kelly will be escorted off the field in a straight jacket.

Ok– he comes up the coaching chain–wins everywhere and lands at ND with more talent than he has ever had. Must be thinking this is a joke, compared with Cinn. I can win a national championship easy with these guys and my system.

Then reality sets in. As opposed to Cinn. everybody is gunning for ND–they can lose every game but if they take a ND SCALP, their season is a success.

Now to the present. ND must win this game–they beat themselves 2x–it has to end sometime–the turnovers etc. so it ends against MSU–ABSOLUTELY HAS TO.

Few thoughts:

Manti Teo– right now he is an average linebacker, not really playing any better than Calabrese or Fox. Somehow the OC’s have figured a way to handle him.

The OLB’s have been horrible–they still have big problems with an option attack. Thankfully, State has a more conventional offense.

The keys to winning this game, once again rests on the Line play on both Offense and Defense. Pass Rush against Quarterback Cousins is critical if Notre Dame is to prevail. I look for a breakout game by freshman Aaron Lynch–he has to play a lot and could take that starting position from Ethan Johnson. Stephon Tuitt also shows his stuff.

I believe Notre Dame rolls Michigan State:

Notre Dame 45 Michigan State 28

ODDS AND ENDS ARMY WEEK

ND Editor Football Tagged , , , , , , , ,
1

What I would like to see:

  • Defense–Calabrese(only if 100% healthy) at middle ILB with Teo.
  • Brian Smith–left OLB where he was a force as a Freshman.
  • DL-This is where we must overwhelm with pure physical power. Time for Ethan to finally put together a dominating presence.
  • PASS COVERAGE–can we have one game where we stop the easy long pass right down the center of the field.

OFFENSE–would like to see all 5 OL men blast Army off the LOS and the RB’s have their best game of the year. We will need to run the ball against USC so we might as well start with this game.

Interesting that opponents were picking up our play call signals–only took 10 games for this to dawn on the staff.

For the hell of it BEST PERFORMANCE outside of Floyd. I select Roby Toma.