Lots of good analysis. I haven't watched more than a few plays. I do remember one of the announcers mentioning their QB grips the ball away from the laces. Very unconventional but he does seem to have a pretty good gun.
That USC game is a throwaway other than the fact a bad USC defense stalled ND a bit. It looks like Notre Dame has similar problems that we experience on offense: we have games where we put up big yardage but settle for a lot of field goals. By yardage, ND should have had 28-31 points...ended up with only 22. I find it interesting that they struggled against a truly pitiful defense at that juncture. Of course, I bet penalties and missed assignments probably had a lot to do with it too.
It's not a particularly tall order to ask one of the nation's top defenses to hold anyone to below their season average. Plus, their averages are ridiculously high, especially M. Lee.that's why I put in bold with Barkely at QB. can you honestly say that ND would still hold Lee/Woods under their season average with a 4 year starter , Heisman hopeful under center playing at home???????
I hope you're right. We can't do what OU tried (abandon the run; throw 40+ times). I hope we learned the lesson from UGA; rely on our OL and force them to stop the run; then look for that PA pass.2nd half offensive play calling vs UGA = 14+ point victory. ND does not have the talent UGA has and we can pound them into submission.
most of the ND fans I have talked to have told me the biggest thing that scares them is their ineffectiveness in the red zone. They wind up having to kick a lot of field goals when they should be looking at touchdowns.Notre Dame on offense ranks 76th overall in passing with 218.8 yards per game, 27th rushing with 202.5 yards per game but they rank 76th overall in scoring offense only averaging 27 points a game. Alabama on the other hand ranks 85th overall in passing with 214.5 a game, 20th overall in rushing with 224.6 yards a game and 15th overall in scoring offense averaging 38.5 points a game. ND doesn't seem to have a problem moving the ball but they do not score as often as we do. I can't wait to play them January 7th!!!
Exactly. That's why I'm so confident that Alabama can beat ND by at least 14 if we show up and play as good as this team is capable of playing.most of the ND fans I have talked to have told me the biggest thing that scares them is their ineffectiveness in the red zone. They wind up having to kick a lot of field goals when they should be looking at touchdowns.
I agree with the experience being key.2. One of the biggest things that helps ND is the experience on the team. People think that they are a young team because they are starting a frosh QB, but that's just not the case. They have 8 upperclassmen that start on defense, both runningbacks are seniors, and 4 of their starting 5 O-linemen are seniors. This team is loaded with experience, which is the main reason that they are unflappable down the stretch.
That seems to be the general consensus of the ND faithful as well. Even their own fans don't realize how old they actually are. They will only have 1 returning starter on the offensive line, they will be losing both of their top backs in Woods and Riddick, they are losing their top weapon in Eiffert, and they are losing 2 of their top 3 receivers as well. Defense will be a different story, but there will be some big losses as well. They only have 4 graduating seniors on the D, most notably will be Teo, but they do have several draft eligible juniors as well. They will be solid next year, but they will not have nearly the team they do this year though.I agree with the experience being key.
I heard somebody on tv/radio mention ND being a young team the other day and how they would be a top team next year. I looked at their roster and 8 of the offensive starters are seniors with 3 of those 5th year seniors.
The other RB and a couple of backups are seniors too.
I think a better question is "are they better than TAMU in Tuscaloosa". If the answer is no, then they won't beat us since that was the only game we lost this year.That's the best question we can ask! But other than Bama what team is better? I don't think ND is anywhere close to that.
To take this further - are they better than the first quarter A&M team that beat un in Tuscaloosa? Without that explosive first quarter, we beat A&M walking away, as we outscored them 24-9 over the remaining three quarters...I think a better question is "are they better than TAMU in Tuscaloosa". If the answer is no, then they won't beat us since that was the only game we lost this year.
Notre Dame on offense ranks 76th overall in passing with 218.8 yards per game, 27th rushing with 202.5 yards per game but they rank 76th overall in scoring offense only averaging 27 points a game. Alabama on the other hand ranks 85th overall in passing with 214.5 a game, 20th overall in rushing with 224.6 yards a game and 15th overall in scoring offense averaging 38.5 points a game. ND doesn't seem to have a problem moving the ball but they do not score as often as we do. I can't wait to play them January 7th!!!
Um, nah, A&M isn't as good as that led on. When you take everything that happened in the LSU and us playing them back to back means, to me, that we are better than what happened on the field that day. Hats off to aTm for jumping on the chance to knock us off.I think a better question is "are they better than TAMU in Tuscaloosa". If the answer is no, then they won't beat us since that was the only game we lost this year.
Looking at Georgia's offensive numbers and Notre Dame's I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion. ND has had 4 games where they score 20 points or less. Another 2 where they scored 21 and 22. This is coming with one of the best defenses in the country which should be giving them short fields.They are certainly better than TAMU and UGA on defense, not sure they are better than LSU due to overall team speed. Offensively they are better than LSU and equal to UGA.
to be fair, I don't think anybody said that their offense is elite. they moved the ball well between the 20s , but have difficulties finishing drives. but I do agreed with you, UGA offense is light years ahead of ND.I see that their yardage numbers are high but looking at their scoring output makes me question people who think this is some sort of elite offense. Georgia was 18th in the country at 37.2 ppg Notre Dame is 76th at 26.8 ppg. To me that is not equal.
Yeah sorry about the elite I've spent a little too much time on their message boards. They seem to think that Eiffert and Riddick combined are an unstoppable force.to be fair, I don't think anybody said that their offense is elite. they moved the ball well between the 20s , but have difficulties finishing drives. but I do agreed with you, UGA offense is light years ahead of ND.