Tag: Notre Dame

Navy Week

ND Editor October 26, 2011 Football Tagged Ethan Johnson, Kap Moore, Navy, Notre Dame

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.

USC 31 ND 17

ND Editor October 23, 2011 Football Tagged Bob Diaco, Notre Dame, USC

Way too much hype–sorta like a Cecil B DeMille epic but with a bad ending.

Not going too much into nuts and bolts–just re watch the game. Whole team did not step up–really not ready for prime time. This is not a BCS team.

Next up Navy and cut blocks and option. Diaco really doesn’t have a clue on stopping the option.

N.D. VS. USC

ND Editor October 21, 2011 Football Tagged Notre Dame, USC

Make no mistake about it–this is USC’s Bowl Game as opposed to what Kiffin said about N.D.

USC has brought some weak teams to ND and still won–so this will be no cake walk for ND.

ND offense absolutely must play flawless–NO turnovers and NO stupid penalties. Rees and the OL has to dominate and get up on USC so they are playing catch up the entire game.

On defense ND just has to get to Barkley or else he will shred our secondary. I hope Darius Fleming finally shows up–Shembo should only be in there to pass rush. Aaron Lynch should be greenlighted to get the QB. Like to see Tuitt go toe to toe with LT Kalil USC’s best offensive lineman. Every team ND has played the opponent has consistently gotten outside and you just do not want RB’s with USC speed to get to the corner.

I look for USC to try to exploit all of our ILB’s on quick hits so I would tinker with bringing Z. Motta as LB on obvious passing situations.

Diaco, hopefully will play real aggressive and somehow keep those wide open passes right down the middle of the field from happening.

You do not want this game determined in the 4th. quarter–if it is–USC will win it on Barkey’s arm.

Time to step up:

Harrison Smith
Manti Teo
Gary Gray
Special Teams.

Game will be determined in 1st quarter.

Prediction:

ND 31 USC 24

USC WEEK

ND Editor October 17, 2011 Football Tagged Gary Gray, Navy, Notre Dame, Robert Woods, Tommy Rees, USC

Notre Dame vs USC

The defining moment(s) arrive for this Notre Dame team in the next 2 games.

First up– USC (5-1). First real test for the ND secondary with Matt Barkley at QB. This guy can throw and everyone knows if he played last year USC would have won that game. This is not the powerhouse teams of the Pete Carroll era but they are good enough to beat this ND team. They have a great receiver in Woods, they will try to match him up against Gary Gray as well as the ILB’S.

Barkley is basically a pocket passer–so ND’s pass rush is critical–Aaron Lynch must have a super game.

A lot is riding on this game–ND’s season as well as recruiting–ton of prospects will attend. Atmosphere will be electric and don’t be surprised if the Green Jersey is worn.

Week 2–Navy and the option game. I am not buying that “we planned to give up yards but not points” ND has not solved the option at all–this will be a tough game

The key to both games is ND’s OL play and QB Rees.
Hope the bye week doesn’t put Rees back to game 1–USF.

ND 59 AIR FORCE 33

ND Editor October 9, 2011 Football Tagged Air Force, Andrew Hendrix, Chase Hounshell, Cierre Wood, George Atkinson, Jamoris Slaughter, Jonas Gray, Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, Roby Toma, Theo Riddick, Tommy Rees, Tyler Eifert

This game basically over by halftime with ND 49 AF 16 due primarily to turnovers by AF and an unstoppable ND offensive performance.

ND totaled 560 yards total offense with Rees passing for 4 TD’S 260 yards and the rest by an explosive running game.

The following players scored:
Floyd, Eifert, Gray, Wood, Riddick, Atkinson and Roby Toma–his first as a ND player.

Andrew Hendrix leading rusher at 111 yards which included a 78 yard run–should have been a TD but Hendrix got his feet tangled and fell down at the 1 yard line.

Dominating offensive performance and MVP offense goes to Rees.

Defense was another matter altogether–they were gashed for 565 yards and clearly don’t have a clue how to stop a fast paced multiple style option offense. AF just couldn’t put points on the board when it mattered. Does not bode well for future opponent Navy which cut blocks a lot more than AF.

Jamoris Slaughter the defensive MVP.

Surprised that freshman DL Chase Hounshell, number 50 played although he looked pretty damn good–but burns a year of eligibility.

Overall a win against a good team. 4-2 going into bye week.

Check out highlight video from und.com below:

Click For Video

N.D. vs Air Force

ND Editor October 7, 2011 Football Tagged Air Force, Louis Nix, Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Air Force, I believe will run blitz ND and double Michael Floyd hoping to not only disrupt the running game but at the same time get to Rees.

I think that is the only way AF can hope to counter the size advantage. The problem–don’t think even doubled they can cover Floyd.

Cut blocks = injuries, so ND defense must pummel the OL of Air Force–jam the line and explode into the Air Force OL right at the snap. Notre Dame has to get the DL push before they are cut. Play really really physical. Nix and others should literally be nose to nose with the Air Force line.

The Notre Dame OL has to punish the defensive line–if they do then they win handily.

I look for lots of action and lots of scoring with ND winning big.

Prediction:

Notre Dame 48 Air Force 28

Nightmare Coming to ND

ND Editor October 5, 2011 Football Tagged Air Force, Navy, Notre Dame

For those of you who missed Air Force/Navy game last Saturday here’s a you tube clip of the highlights:

I watched this game and let me tell you Air Force is scary quick. They are a multiple option offense led by Tim Jefferson, who can run and pass and he passes very well –like a 70% completion rate.

They present an instant headache for a defensive coordinator with over 500 yds per game and averaging 39 pts per game.

Their QB has been running this offense for 4 years–he’s expert at it.

For AF it’s really a super hurry up offense and they don’t let up.

You absolutely can’t wait and react–ND’s defensive line is going to have to overwhelm–literally throw the AF offensive line into the backfield to disrupt this attack, and that’s on every play.

The ND offense cannot fool around–the line has to maul and pound them and they have to score TD’s and a lot of them. Will need 40 points to win this game.

Purdue Final Wrap

ND Editor October 4, 2011 Football Tagged Notre Dame, Purdue, video

Great to get this game out of the way with a real beat down. How big of a dickhead do you think Long Snapper feels–gets penalty and breaks his hand.

Want you to check out und.com irish connection–terrific video:

Notre Dame vs Purdue Video

Next up Air Force–4days to the half way mark, then a bye week before USC.

N.D. 38 PURDUE 10

ND Editor October 2, 2011 Football Tagged Cierre Wood, Dayne Crist, Jonas Gray, Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, Purdue, Tommy Rees

Finally a relaxing game for ND fans as Purdue was stomped big time to the tune of 551 yds by the ND offense.

Great running game by Wood (191 yds) including a 55 yard burst for a TD. Jonas Gray finally got more touches which produced 94 rushing yds.

Tommy Rees–no turnovers hit for 3 TD passes and 250 yds passing. Floyd, TJ Jones and Eifert all scored.

Defense held Purdue to 276 total yds.

Special Teams need a lot of work–2 missed field goals and a blocked one could really cost going ahead,.

Somehow the snapper and holder have to get it together. Punt return–non existent.

Tuitt missed the bus for missing a class and that had a ripple effect–Lynch had to play more due to injury to Ethan Johnson(ankle) and what I didn’t know– ND wanted to red shirt Kona Schwenke this year. So a bad decision by Tuitt cost a teammate a year of eligibility.

Crist did mop up duty which surprised me. Kelly apparently asked him if he wanted to go in and he said yes. Real ND man–real high character.

Other than the above–very satisfying win.

I did have the opportunity of watching Air Force vs Navy which made me anxious–both excellent option teams–play fast and intense for 4 quarters yet they don’t seem to tire out at all. ND will have to put up big big numbers to make them one dimensional—red flag games.

USC also seems much improved–damn it!

Make That 16

ND Editor October 1, 2011 Football Tagged commit, Notre Dame, Will Mahone

At last–ND lands a Running Back. Will Mahone a 5’11” 215 lb 4 star from Ohio selects ND over Pitt and MSU.

Need one more RB then about 4 scholies left.