Friday, October 21, 2005

BYU v. Notre Dame Prediction

Fall Break, emotional hangover from last weekend, and a week bookended with visits from siblings all conspired to prevent me from completing my usual in-depth analysis of the BYU game.

However, I would be remiss if I didn't attempt some kind of prediction.

BYU has a pass-happy scheme on offense that has the capability of catching our D-backs off guard early, but after the athletes they were covering last week, this week will make the Irish feel like they are playing a really good 1-AA opponent by comparison. I expect them to get a fluke touchdown sometime in the first half, but otherwise be limited to a couple of field goals tomorrow.

BYU's defense is a different scheme than what we have faced thus far: a 3-3-5 formation with two defensive ends and a nose tackle up front, 3 athletic linebackers with a run-stuffing middle linebacker, 2 corners and 3 safeties. This scheme will slow down the Notre Dame offense in the first quarter, but as soon as Brady starts to see the seams in the scheme, this offense will find this scheme amenable to the passing game, despite all of the defensive backs. Charlie will spend much of the first half running the ball inside, trying to force the safeties up in run support and freeing up the wide receivers to attack the deep seams.

While BYU may look impressive early, and will certainly be fired up to play in a hung-over Notre Dame stadium, the depth and athleticism of the team will pull ahead late, and the fans will remember, probably around the third quarter, that:

WE ARE N D.

Notre Dame 48
Brigham Young 10

1 comment:

Prof. Hannah said...

close - your predictions are getting closer