With the Irish rolling into Boston tonight, it looks like the weather will be a major factor, with rain throughout the evening.
Normally, weather would be a problem for this matchup, as rain makes it harder to pass the ball, and favors the ground game. the Irish have struggled at times to run the ball, and also have struggled mightily to stop opposing teams from running against them.
However, the Irish have a long history of doing some incredible things in bad weather. Remember the Snow Bowl of '93? Or more recently, the comeback win in a monsoon at Michigan State in '06?
The Irish get fired up for games in inclement weather, and I have a feeling that this week will be no exception.
Protect the ball.
Turnovers have killed us in opposing stadiums this year, and in wet conditions, the number of turnovers should go up.
If the Irish can avoid turnovers, I think that they will force Crane into getting sloppy with the ball - he has more INTs than TDs this season.
Find a running game.
If we attempt to throw the ball over tthe top of the BC defense, which is on paper our strength in matchups, we may have a long day. Rainy conditions and poor footing make cuts harder for receivers, and can lead to slipping and falling on routes, which in turn can lead to interceptions.
We need to establish a strong power running game today, so I suspect we will get heavy doses of James Aldridge running downhill and trying to muscle BC up front.
Use the go route sparingly, but take your shots.
Because this game is probably going to turn into a trench warfare type of game, we need to be able to pull the safeties off the line of scrimmage. I'd like to see the occasional long pass, preferably on simple go routes (to avoid slipping and falling as they try to cut), to gash this team for big gains.
Short passes and runs should be the staple, but when we get a chance on second and short, I'd like us to use our speed advantage outside to try and blow this game open.
Stop the running game cold.
Crane cannot beat us with the pass, so I'd like to see us stack the line of scrimmage and bring run blitz after run blitz to keep Crane in the pocket and get penetration into the backfield to neutralize their running game.
Leave our corners on an island against their receivers, and bring the house.
BC won't beat us through the air, and we need to force them into three and outs to take away their home field advantage.
*****
The Irish are evenly matched with this team on paper, but I think Coach Weis called out their manhood this week. The Irish players all seem to have a chip on their shoulder, and if Corwin Brown's attitude is permeated through the defense this week, this thing could get ugly.
Look for the Irish to out-physical the Eagles inside, and then stick the dagger in with some long passes for scores.
Notre Dame 38
Fredo 14
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Irish Blogger Gathering: Illustrated Edition
I've been lazy about including photos in my posts ever since I got this sweet new job, but since the first question this week asks for a picture, I'm getting my lazy rear in gear and posting a (hopefully) professional looking blog with pictures and everything.
1) What photo of some member of the 2008 Irish squad doing something, anything at all, really, says all 1,000 words that need to be said about this team? OR, which photo of some member of the 2008 Irish squad doing something would tell 1,000 lies about this team if you only saw the photo and didn't know better? (Double-secret word score bonus for answering both mutations of the same question)
This photo, to me, speaks volumes about this team. Jimmy Clausen, walking all alone in a sea of criticism, head down, but still with a certain air of confidence amid all of the tumult.
In fact, this photo, to me, is like one of those optical illusion pictures that can be looked at in one of two ways.
An Irish critic, looking at this picture, would see vindication of their ongoing claims that Weis isn't a very good coach, that Jimmy Clausen is overrated, and that the Irish are incapable of beating a good team, 'cause they just don't have the athletes. Just another Irish loss to add to the list of disappointments.
Someone who is familiar with the Irish, however, take a different view of this picture. I see in this picture the tempering of the next truly great Irish player - a potential Heisman and Championship winning quarterback who, as a true sophomore, is just beginning to show his potential. Jimmy is completely unconcerned with the crowd surrounding him, and I imagine that at the moment this picture was snapped, he was probably berating himself for not achieving the perfection he strives for on each play.
Just another loss for the Irish? Hardly. North Carolina is one of 7 teams in the ACC with 2 conference losses, putting them tied for 1st place in the Coastal Division with 7-2 Georgia Tech. They could be a BCS team when all is said and done. And we controlled that game until choking it away late, as young teams are liable to do. And while Jimmy had the worst outing of the year against the Tar Heels, he still threw for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns.
This photo, to me, stands for all of the potential in this team, which is still being tempered for a run at a championship over the next two years. This team was disappointed by this loss, not because they lost, but because they genuinely expected to win. Starting very soon, these close losses will become close wins, and not long after, the confidence from winning will lead to the swagger possessed by the USC's and Texases of the world.
2) Some of you may know that I (domer.mq) am a football stat geek. Which statistic do you think geeks like myself should really be paying attention to this season and why? (Can pertain to ND or CFB in general.)
Average starting field position.
San Diego State (Win) +20
Michigan (Win) +15
Michigan State (Loss) -3
Purdue (Win) +8
Stanford (Win) +6
North Carolina (Loss) -11
Washington (Win) +16
Pitt (Loss) -4
Average starting field position is a stat that doesn't get much pub, but has a huge impact on the game. The ability to make your opponent drive further to score has a direct correlation to your ability to win the game, as evidenced by the stats for the Irish so far this season above.
There are several things that go into ASFP - kick and punt distance, kick and punt coverage, kick and punt returns, turnovers, defensive effectiveness at forcing three and outs, and offensive production to flip field position.
Because the importance of solid special teams play and playing defense to keep the other team out of field goal range, I dislike the current college overtime system. It removes this critical aspect of the game from the equation, making overtime less of a measurement of the overall quality of the football team. And, no surprise, ASFP for both teams is identical in each overtime.
3) Seeing as how Boston College is nothing but an up-jumped program enjoying the luxury and soft Corinthian leather of an ACC schedule, which team from the current top 25 would you love to see this year's Irish play this weekend in Fredo's stead? Why? Do you think the Irish would win? Describe the game. Paint us a picture! I'll get the popcorn!
Penn State.
Playing JoePa in potentially his last year with the chance to knock him out of national title contention? In Happy Valley against another whiteout crowd? Count me in.
Now, Penn State is a damn good football team this year, and most Irish fans wouldn't give us an icecube's chance in hell of beating the top 5 Nittany Lions in their house this weekend. However, after having watched Penn State and Notre Dame this year, I think the Irish would have a shot in this game.
The Irish would start by taking a page out of Michigan's playbook to get an early lead on the Nittany Lions. However, unlike the times we have laid off the opponent when up 14 points, even God wouldn't get mad at us for continuing to run up the score (more on this later...).
I think the Irish would jump out to an early lead, and then Penn State would methodically work their way back into the football game with their punishing offense. However, the Irish have been very good at not giving up the big play this year, so Penn State would have to work for it's points.
On the other hand, while the Irish might suffer a few three-and-outs, the explosiveness of our receivers would lead to some long scores against an overrated Penn State defense.
I'm picturing a game where the Irish hold a 4 point lead at the end of the 4th quarter, with Penn State lined up on the Irish 2 with 4 seconds on the clock. A light snowfall has begun to fall in Happy Valley, adding some more white to the whiteout crowd. Penn State lines up for the final play in a goal line formation, and runs a dive play up the gut to Evan Royster, who launches himself over the offensive line. And is stopped cold by Mo Crum.
But JoePa has seen this happen before! It was a play action fake! Royster never had the ball, and Darryl Clark is now streaking for the corner of the end zone, with nobody in position to stop him!
Out of nowhere, David Bruton closes from midfield to make a spectacular tackle of Darryl Clark only inches shy of the pylon.
Game over, Irish win!
4) Let's dispose of the gradient colors and subtle vagaries of college football for a moment and answer this question with one of the supplied, absolute answers and a blurb defending your pick. No waffling! The Question: Why is Notre Dame unable to put away games when leading going into half time? The possible answers: 1) ND Players all have a soft, nougat center 2) The Coaches don't want to tick off potential future employers 3) God doesn't think it's classy to blow a team out 4) The ND Fanbase can't really stomach blowouts any more than they could stomach a protracted land war in Asia. Remember, you must pick one and you must defend it with great vigor!
3) God doesn't think it's classy to blow a team out.
I know the question says I can't waffle, but I think that the coaching staff at Notre Dame has an NFL mentality when it comes to protecting a lead. Throwing the ball downfield when you are up by two scores is more dangerous, statistically, than running the ball and using safe, shorter passes to move the ball.
In the NFL, the caliber of play is on a different level, and more conservative play calling shortens the game and increases the chance of your team winning the game.
In college, however, the game isn't as fundamentally sound, and the defense is more likely to give up points to the opponent.
In addition, I don't think Coach Weis wants to place this football program in a position where they are getting criticized for running up the score.
However, to get that ability to close out the game, I think Weis needs to simply increase the cushion at which he changes his playcalling strategy. I think, instead of 14, the margin should be 24 points at which you call off the dogs. Then, you could run the ball and shorten the game, and if the other team gets it back to a two score game, you reopen your offense, which gives you some time to get back into the groove.
By calling off the dogs up only 2 or 3 scores, you create a situation where your offense, after settling into a run mode, has to turn the lights back on, and it is often too little too late by then. (Exhibit 1: End of the North Carolina game.)
5) Tennessee just began celebrating the career of Phil Fulmer today as he announced that he'd been given the opportunity to make it look like resigning was his idea. Certainly, this is a clarion call to ADs across the country to begin worrying over their tea that, should their current HC not work out, they wont get a shot at #s 1-5 on their candidate list. Tell us about an AD who may be looking at this move by Tennessee and acting a bit more aggressively towards a reduction in force of his current football staff now rather than later. And who might that AD be trying to seduce before Tennessee already has a "hand shake agreement" with the guy?
I think that the people at Auburn have to decide what they are going to do with Tommy Tuberville. In a very similar predicament to Tennessee, they have a coach who is very very good, but hasn't gotten his team over the hump. And now, if they wait until season's end to pull the trigger, they have to get in line behind some powers, including in conference, that have been conducting a search for far longer (remember the Irish courting of Urban Meyer?).
As far as who I would be looking at for replacements in Tennessee:
Brady Hoke, Ball State: This guy can flat out coach, as he has taken the laughing stock of Indiana Division I football and made them the best team in the state in a very short time. With the talent sitting there at Tennessee, he'd have to be at the top of my short list.
Mike Leach, Texas Tech: This guy has built a program from the ground up in a BCS conference, and is the hottest coach in the country right now. Good luck trying to get him to leave a program on it's way up, after all the work he's put in, though. Tech's gonna have to open up the checkbook this offseason to keep this guy.
Gary Pinkel, Mossouri: With the Chase Daniel era coming to a close soon, Pinkel may jump at the opportunity to move to a tradition-rich school like Tennessee, where his offensive prowess will be tested against those stingy SEC defenses.
Todd Graham, Tulsa: Another guy, like Brady Hoke, that knows how to build a program from nothing.
1) What photo of some member of the 2008 Irish squad doing something, anything at all, really, says all 1,000 words that need to be said about this team? OR, which photo of some member of the 2008 Irish squad doing something would tell 1,000 lies about this team if you only saw the photo and didn't know better? (Double-secret word score bonus for answering both mutations of the same question)This photo, to me, speaks volumes about this team. Jimmy Clausen, walking all alone in a sea of criticism, head down, but still with a certain air of confidence amid all of the tumult.
In fact, this photo, to me, is like one of those optical illusion pictures that can be looked at in one of two ways.
An Irish critic, looking at this picture, would see vindication of their ongoing claims that Weis isn't a very good coach, that Jimmy Clausen is overrated, and that the Irish are incapable of beating a good team, 'cause they just don't have the athletes. Just another Irish loss to add to the list of disappointments.Someone who is familiar with the Irish, however, take a different view of this picture. I see in this picture the tempering of the next truly great Irish player - a potential Heisman and Championship winning quarterback who, as a true sophomore, is just beginning to show his potential. Jimmy is completely unconcerned with the crowd surrounding him, and I imagine that at the moment this picture was snapped, he was probably berating himself for not achieving the perfection he strives for on each play.
Just another loss for the Irish? Hardly. North Carolina is one of 7 teams in the ACC with 2 conference losses, putting them tied for 1st place in the Coastal Division with 7-2 Georgia Tech. They could be a BCS team when all is said and done. And we controlled that game until choking it away late, as young teams are liable to do. And while Jimmy had the worst outing of the year against the Tar Heels, he still threw for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns.
This photo, to me, stands for all of the potential in this team, which is still being tempered for a run at a championship over the next two years. This team was disappointed by this loss, not because they lost, but because they genuinely expected to win. Starting very soon, these close losses will become close wins, and not long after, the confidence from winning will lead to the swagger possessed by the USC's and Texases of the world.
2) Some of you may know that I (domer.mq) am a football stat geek. Which statistic do you think geeks like myself should really be paying attention to this season and why? (Can pertain to ND or CFB in general.)
Average starting field position.
San Diego State (Win) +20Michigan (Win) +15
Michigan State (Loss) -3
Purdue (Win) +8
Stanford (Win) +6
North Carolina (Loss) -11
Washington (Win) +16
Pitt (Loss) -4
Average starting field position is a stat that doesn't get much pub, but has a huge impact on the game. The ability to make your opponent drive further to score has a direct correlation to your ability to win the game, as evidenced by the stats for the Irish so far this season above.
There are several things that go into ASFP - kick and punt distance, kick and punt coverage, kick and punt returns, turnovers, defensive effectiveness at forcing three and outs, and offensive production to flip field position.
Because the importance of solid special teams play and playing defense to keep the other team out of field goal range, I dislike the current college overtime system. It removes this critical aspect of the game from the equation, making overtime less of a measurement of the overall quality of the football team. And, no surprise, ASFP for both teams is identical in each overtime.
3) Seeing as how Boston College is nothing but an up-jumped program enjoying the luxury and soft Corinthian leather of an ACC schedule, which team from the current top 25 would you love to see this year's Irish play this weekend in Fredo's stead? Why? Do you think the Irish would win? Describe the game. Paint us a picture! I'll get the popcorn!
Penn State.
Playing JoePa in potentially his last year with the chance to knock him out of national title contention? In Happy Valley against another whiteout crowd? Count me in.
Now, Penn State is a damn good football team this year, and most Irish fans wouldn't give us an icecube's chance in hell of beating the top 5 Nittany Lions in their house this weekend. However, after having watched Penn State and Notre Dame this year, I think the Irish would have a shot in this game.
The Irish would start by taking a page out of Michigan's playbook to get an early lead on the Nittany Lions. However, unlike the times we have laid off the opponent when up 14 points, even God wouldn't get mad at us for continuing to run up the score (more on this later...).
I think the Irish would jump out to an early lead, and then Penn State would methodically work their way back into the football game with their punishing offense. However, the Irish have been very good at not giving up the big play this year, so Penn State would have to work for it's points.
On the other hand, while the Irish might suffer a few three-and-outs, the explosiveness of our receivers would lead to some long scores against an overrated Penn State defense.
I'm picturing a game where the Irish hold a 4 point lead at the end of the 4th quarter, with Penn State lined up on the Irish 2 with 4 seconds on the clock. A light snowfall has begun to fall in Happy Valley, adding some more white to the whiteout crowd. Penn State lines up for the final play in a goal line formation, and runs a dive play up the gut to Evan Royster, who launches himself over the offensive line. And is stopped cold by Mo Crum.But JoePa has seen this happen before! It was a play action fake! Royster never had the ball, and Darryl Clark is now streaking for the corner of the end zone, with nobody in position to stop him!
Out of nowhere, David Bruton closes from midfield to make a spectacular tackle of Darryl Clark only inches shy of the pylon.
Game over, Irish win!
4) Let's dispose of the gradient colors and subtle vagaries of college football for a moment and answer this question with one of the supplied, absolute answers and a blurb defending your pick. No waffling! The Question: Why is Notre Dame unable to put away games when leading going into half time? The possible answers: 1) ND Players all have a soft, nougat center 2) The Coaches don't want to tick off potential future employers 3) God doesn't think it's classy to blow a team out 4) The ND Fanbase can't really stomach blowouts any more than they could stomach a protracted land war in Asia. Remember, you must pick one and you must defend it with great vigor!
3) God doesn't think it's classy to blow a team out.
I know the question says I can't waffle, but I think that the coaching staff at Notre Dame has an NFL mentality when it comes to protecting a lead. Throwing the ball downfield when you are up by two scores is more dangerous, statistically, than running the ball and using safe, shorter passes to move the ball.In the NFL, the caliber of play is on a different level, and more conservative play calling shortens the game and increases the chance of your team winning the game.
In college, however, the game isn't as fundamentally sound, and the defense is more likely to give up points to the opponent.
In addition, I don't think Coach Weis wants to place this football program in a position where they are getting criticized for running up the score.
However, to get that ability to close out the game, I think Weis needs to simply increase the cushion at which he changes his playcalling strategy. I think, instead of 14, the margin should be 24 points at which you call off the dogs. Then, you could run the ball and shorten the game, and if the other team gets it back to a two score game, you reopen your offense, which gives you some time to get back into the groove.
By calling off the dogs up only 2 or 3 scores, you create a situation where your offense, after settling into a run mode, has to turn the lights back on, and it is often too little too late by then. (Exhibit 1: End of the North Carolina game.)
5) Tennessee just began celebrating the career of Phil Fulmer today as he announced that he'd been given the opportunity to make it look like resigning was his idea. Certainly, this is a clarion call to ADs across the country to begin worrying over their tea that, should their current HC not work out, they wont get a shot at #s 1-5 on their candidate list. Tell us about an AD who may be looking at this move by Tennessee and acting a bit more aggressively towards a reduction in force of his current football staff now rather than later. And who might that AD be trying to seduce before Tennessee already has a "hand shake agreement" with the guy?
I think that the people at Auburn have to decide what they are going to do with Tommy Tuberville. In a very similar predicament to Tennessee, they have a coach who is very very good, but hasn't gotten his team over the hump. And now, if they wait until season's end to pull the trigger, they have to get in line behind some powers, including in conference, that have been conducting a search for far longer (remember the Irish courting of Urban Meyer?).As far as who I would be looking at for replacements in Tennessee:
Brady Hoke, Ball State: This guy can flat out coach, as he has taken the laughing stock of Indiana Division I football and made them the best team in the state in a very short time. With the talent sitting there at Tennessee, he'd have to be at the top of my short list.Mike Leach, Texas Tech: This guy has built a program from the ground up in a BCS conference, and is the hottest coach in the country right now. Good luck trying to get him to leave a program on it's way up, after all the work he's put in, though. Tech's gonna have to open up the checkbook this offseason to keep this guy.
Gary Pinkel, Mossouri: With the Chase Daniel era coming to a close soon, Pinkel may jump at the opportunity to move to a tradition-rich school like Tennessee, where his offensive prowess will be tested against those stingy SEC defenses.
Todd Graham, Tulsa: Another guy, like Brady Hoke, that knows how to build a program from nothing.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Keys to Victory: Wannestache edition
I've been busy the last couple of weeks, and it has really cramped my blogging (jury duty sucks, by the way).
However, I do have a couple of minutes to roll out this week's keys to victory for the upcoming gridiron battle between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Pitt Panthers.
Limit the touches of LeSean McCoy.
There are two ways we can do this - either by getting up early and forcing the Panthers to throw the ball, or by selling out against the run and forcing whichever QB ends up playing to beat us over the top.
Of the two, I'm hoping that we can get an early lead, because LeSean McCoy, much like Javon Ringer who we saw earlier this year, will eventually find a way to gash us if they can commit to running the ball all day.
Gash them over the top.
Pitt has shown a tendency to get burned deep this year, especially in their loss last week to Rutgers. With our receivers, we should be able to use our long passing game to great effect this week.
In order to set up the deep passing game, look for a lot of runs and short underneath passes early in the game to pull the safeties up close to the LOS, and then some go routes and fades for long gains.
Improve consistency in the kicking game.
This should be a competitive contest, and we need to be able to convert drives into points. We can't afford to be going for it on 4th and long like we did against Washington last week. When we stall in the 30-50 yard field goal range, we need to take those shots at field goals, rather than trying to force a conversion.
So there you have it, the goals to victory against the Panthers.
I'm really excited about this game, as I have (almost) all of my favorite people going to the game with me, and we have a big tailgate planned in the Joyce Handicap lot. Feel free to stop by and try to find us if you're in for the game - we should have a Honda Pilot set up with tables and chairs and whatnot.
Notre Dame 34
Pitt 24
However, I do have a couple of minutes to roll out this week's keys to victory for the upcoming gridiron battle between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Pitt Panthers.
Limit the touches of LeSean McCoy.
There are two ways we can do this - either by getting up early and forcing the Panthers to throw the ball, or by selling out against the run and forcing whichever QB ends up playing to beat us over the top.
Of the two, I'm hoping that we can get an early lead, because LeSean McCoy, much like Javon Ringer who we saw earlier this year, will eventually find a way to gash us if they can commit to running the ball all day.
Gash them over the top.
Pitt has shown a tendency to get burned deep this year, especially in their loss last week to Rutgers. With our receivers, we should be able to use our long passing game to great effect this week.
In order to set up the deep passing game, look for a lot of runs and short underneath passes early in the game to pull the safeties up close to the LOS, and then some go routes and fades for long gains.
Improve consistency in the kicking game.
This should be a competitive contest, and we need to be able to convert drives into points. We can't afford to be going for it on 4th and long like we did against Washington last week. When we stall in the 30-50 yard field goal range, we need to take those shots at field goals, rather than trying to force a conversion.
So there you have it, the goals to victory against the Panthers.
I'm really excited about this game, as I have (almost) all of my favorite people going to the game with me, and we have a big tailgate planned in the Joyce Handicap lot. Feel free to stop by and try to find us if you're in for the game - we should have a Honda Pilot set up with tables and chairs and whatnot.
Notre Dame 34
Pitt 24
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Irish Blogger Gathering IV: Bloodbath
1. A loss to Washington would have been spooky, but we were able to pull it out. What was your favorite part of the victory?
The first four drives of the game were the best 10 or so minutes of football I've seen from an Irish team in decades. 3 and out. Touchdown. 3 and out. Touchdown. All with such precision and confidence.
I haven't even cracked my first beer of the game, and we are already completely in control.
Whether that's due more to Washington's sucktitude or our improvement, I don't care. It was beautiful.
2. Charlie's Nasties does a Duds and Studs segment to reflect on every game. Name one player/coach that could have done better against the Huskies and one player/coach that stepped it up.
Dud. Our return game. Not one touchdown. Disappointing against such a hapless squad as Washington.
Stud. The entire defense. Holding the other team on the wrong side of the 50 until the 4th quarter? Damn impressive.
3. Halloween involves people abandoning reality for awhile to dress up and imitate something that they are not. Pick one Halloween costume with traits you would like to see from the Notre Dame football team the rest of the season.
Captain Morgan.
I want to see them play with some swagger and confidence going into the USC game. Act like the latest opponent is just another keg of rum to be discarded after you've finished it.
4. When trick-or-treating as a kid, there always seemed to be at least one house that handed out apples. What aspect of the football team this year is the biggest apple in your candy bag (aka biggest disappointment)?
The return game. I joked about this earlier, but the Irish just can't seem to find that explosiveness in the return game that I was raised on when Tim Brown and Rocket Ismail were returning kicks. Even Zbikowski had a little bit of that flash in his career. Where is my Vontez Duff for 2007?
5. This year, October 31st is coincidentally also the opener for ND's Mens Basketball team (preseason against Briar Cliff). Say a few words about one player that will make have the biggest impact on the success of the team this season (apologies to non-bball fans, but I couldn't resist).
Harangody. While I admit to having a much bigger obsession with my undergrad basketball team, the Hoosiers, I still find the time to keep up with my Irish. And from what I saw last year, the sky's the limit for this kid. He is the kind of talent that elevates the team around them, and his size makes us a much more physical team.
The first four drives of the game were the best 10 or so minutes of football I've seen from an Irish team in decades. 3 and out. Touchdown. 3 and out. Touchdown. All with such precision and confidence.
I haven't even cracked my first beer of the game, and we are already completely in control.
Whether that's due more to Washington's sucktitude or our improvement, I don't care. It was beautiful.
2. Charlie's Nasties does a Duds and Studs segment to reflect on every game. Name one player/coach that could have done better against the Huskies and one player/coach that stepped it up.
Dud. Our return game. Not one touchdown. Disappointing against such a hapless squad as Washington.
Stud. The entire defense. Holding the other team on the wrong side of the 50 until the 4th quarter? Damn impressive.
3. Halloween involves people abandoning reality for awhile to dress up and imitate something that they are not. Pick one Halloween costume with traits you would like to see from the Notre Dame football team the rest of the season.
Captain Morgan.
I want to see them play with some swagger and confidence going into the USC game. Act like the latest opponent is just another keg of rum to be discarded after you've finished it.
4. When trick-or-treating as a kid, there always seemed to be at least one house that handed out apples. What aspect of the football team this year is the biggest apple in your candy bag (aka biggest disappointment)?
The return game. I joked about this earlier, but the Irish just can't seem to find that explosiveness in the return game that I was raised on when Tim Brown and Rocket Ismail were returning kicks. Even Zbikowski had a little bit of that flash in his career. Where is my Vontez Duff for 2007?
5. This year, October 31st is coincidentally also the opener for ND's Mens Basketball team (preseason against Briar Cliff). Say a few words about one player that will make have the biggest impact on the success of the team this season (apologies to non-bball fans, but I couldn't resist).
Harangody. While I admit to having a much bigger obsession with my undergrad basketball team, the Hoosiers, I still find the time to keep up with my Irish. And from what I saw last year, the sky's the limit for this kid. He is the kind of talent that elevates the team around them, and his size makes us a much more physical team.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Keys to Victory: Willingham Edition
Here is my key to victory this week:
SHOW UP.
This is a horrible Washington football team that can't do anything right. They've got a lame duck coach, have lost their star player, and have no defense to speak of.
Now, when I say show up, I mean that this team needs to come out and play the same kind of football that they do in practice against the second string, 'cause that's about how good the Huskies are in Willingham Year 3. In fact, with Charlie's recruiting, our second team may even be better than Washington's #1 guys.
That said, this is the kind of game that it is far too easy for a team to look past. We have a tough Pittsburgh team rolling in to South Bend next week, and we have a long plane ride to get out there to Seattle. The guys have been off for a week, and might have some rust to knock off.
This team needs to come out and play smart football, taking care of the ball and executing within themselves.
I don't care what Willingham does to exhort his players, I don't care if they stole a copy of Coach Weis' playbook. There is NOTHING that this Washington team can do to beat Notre Dame this week. Nothing.
Only Notre Dame can beat Notre Dame this week.
Go Irish.
Notre Dame 45
Washington 0
SHOW UP.
This is a horrible Washington football team that can't do anything right. They've got a lame duck coach, have lost their star player, and have no defense to speak of.
Now, when I say show up, I mean that this team needs to come out and play the same kind of football that they do in practice against the second string, 'cause that's about how good the Huskies are in Willingham Year 3. In fact, with Charlie's recruiting, our second team may even be better than Washington's #1 guys.
That said, this is the kind of game that it is far too easy for a team to look past. We have a tough Pittsburgh team rolling in to South Bend next week, and we have a long plane ride to get out there to Seattle. The guys have been off for a week, and might have some rust to knock off.
This team needs to come out and play smart football, taking care of the ball and executing within themselves.
I don't care what Willingham does to exhort his players, I don't care if they stole a copy of Coach Weis' playbook. There is NOTHING that this Washington team can do to beat Notre Dame this week. Nothing.
Only Notre Dame can beat Notre Dame this week.
Go Irish.
Notre Dame 45
Washington 0
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Irish Blogger Gathering: Tailgating Edition
1. You're having some beers and brats outside Notre Dame Stadium, just chilling with friends. If you could have one Notre Dame player or coach drop by to share a drink, a brat and some stories with you, who would it be?
No question, I would pick Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. His Miami-ND story about the brawl before the game alone would be worth it. And he does a great Lou Holtz impression.
Honorable mention: Stonebreaker, Zibby, Laws, or Kuntz. These guys always struck me as being just a little bit off their rocker, and I'm sure that they could all pound beers with the best of 'em.
2. What was your best experience ever with a tailgate party?
Again, this one wasn't hard. A couple of years ago, my buddy Brad and I were headed to a game (I don't recall which one, as the game was during the Willingham era, when the tailgating was more important than the game itself...)
We parked in the lot that now comprises the softball stadium, and the guys next to us were down from Canada. Those crazy Canadians had 5 cases of beer - and there were only 4 of them. We all sat around getting blasted, and the Canucks were more than happy to share their Natty Light with us. Their over the top use of cliched Canadian phrases ("Take off, eh!") combined with their genuine love for Notre Dame football (one of them shared his Leprechaun tattoo with us - thank god it was on his chest and not in some nether region) made it one of the most enjoyable and pure tailgating experiences of my life.
A close second came last year, when I stumbled upon a bunch of my law school classmates that had come in for a game. I had gotten wasted well before I met them, and some random person had given me a free hat with what appeared (to my drunk ass) to be a picture of Che Guevara on the front of it. I rambled on at length about how I was a rebel with my Che visor on. When I sobered up the next day, I realized that it was actually a Geico caveman visor. Also, my classmate Steve Shim (middle of picture) and I were completely tanked as we walked to the stadium together. I got in and found my seat, and had sobered up enough by the fourth quarter to realize what was goin on. Later on, I asked Shim how he enjoyed the game, and despite leaving him AT HIS GATE, he confessed that he never achieved making it into the stadium.
And I still say I was robbed in the voting for Biggest ND fan, Sara (pictured, right).
Fun times.
3. There are lots of great tailgate experiences around the country - what school's tailgate tradition do you most want to experience?
The one tailgating experience that intrigues me the most is "The Grove" down at Ole Miss. Tailgating in suit and tie? Sign me up.
4. Indiana decides that their drinking laws are far too un-draconian, and drinking is now forbidden on Saturdays. The Excise Police stop by your tailgate, and proceed to dump out the liquor you were attempting to hide from them. What do they pour out?
Well, they probably poured out some Rum, Vodka, and a ton of beer. While Miller Lite is my beer of choice, I'll drink just about anything. Start with a screwdriver, move on to rum and diet, then level off with a steady stream of beer until game time.
5. OK, I couldn't leave it alone completely. How do you feel about the impending end of the Coach Willingham era at Washington?
While everyone at Notre Dame saw this coming (the guy is lazy at recruiting, and average at best as an X's and O's coach), I couldn't be more frustrated by the lack of acknowledgement that maybe ND knew what they were doing when they let him go. I want just one of the multitude of writers and sportscasters that blasted the Irish for letting go of Willingham and tossed around accusations of racism like they were Halloween candy to grow some cohones and admit that they were completely and utterly wrong.
No question, I would pick Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. His Miami-ND story about the brawl before the game alone would be worth it. And he does a great Lou Holtz impression.
Honorable mention: Stonebreaker, Zibby, Laws, or Kuntz. These guys always struck me as being just a little bit off their rocker, and I'm sure that they could all pound beers with the best of 'em.
2. What was your best experience ever with a tailgate party?
Again, this one wasn't hard. A couple of years ago, my buddy Brad and I were headed to a game (I don't recall which one, as the game was during the Willingham era, when the tailgating was more important than the game itself...)
We parked in the lot that now comprises the softball stadium, and the guys next to us were down from Canada. Those crazy Canadians had 5 cases of beer - and there were only 4 of them. We all sat around getting blasted, and the Canucks were more than happy to share their Natty Light with us. Their over the top use of cliched Canadian phrases ("Take off, eh!") combined with their genuine love for Notre Dame football (one of them shared his Leprechaun tattoo with us - thank god it was on his chest and not in some nether region) made it one of the most enjoyable and pure tailgating experiences of my life.
A close second came last year, when I stumbled upon a bunch of my law school classmates that had come in for a game. I had gotten wasted well before I met them, and some random person had given me a free hat with what appeared (to my drunk ass) to be a picture of Che Guevara on the front of it. I rambled on at length about how I was a rebel with my Che visor on. When I sobered up the next day, I realized that it was actually a Geico caveman visor. Also, my classmate Steve Shim (middle of picture) and I were completely tanked as we walked to the stadium together. I got in and found my seat, and had sobered up enough by the fourth quarter to realize what was goin on. Later on, I asked Shim how he enjoyed the game, and despite leaving him AT HIS GATE, he confessed that he never achieved making it into the stadium.And I still say I was robbed in the voting for Biggest ND fan, Sara (pictured, right).
Fun times.
3. There are lots of great tailgate experiences around the country - what school's tailgate tradition do you most want to experience?
The one tailgating experience that intrigues me the most is "The Grove" down at Ole Miss. Tailgating in suit and tie? Sign me up.
4. Indiana decides that their drinking laws are far too un-draconian, and drinking is now forbidden on Saturdays. The Excise Police stop by your tailgate, and proceed to dump out the liquor you were attempting to hide from them. What do they pour out?
Well, they probably poured out some Rum, Vodka, and a ton of beer. While Miller Lite is my beer of choice, I'll drink just about anything. Start with a screwdriver, move on to rum and diet, then level off with a steady stream of beer until game time.
5. OK, I couldn't leave it alone completely. How do you feel about the impending end of the Coach Willingham era at Washington?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Irish Blog Gathering: Domer Law enters the fray
1. With our beloved Irish on the bye this weekend, how much college football will you be watching Saturday and what games are you most looking forward to watching?
Well, I have to work that morning, and I have a date that evening, so I'm not sure how much, if any, football I'll be watching this weekend.
That said, I am most looking forward to the Texas-Missouri game. Mizzou is coming off of an extremely disappointing loss which appears to have derailed their national title and Heisman hopes. Texas is coming off a big win over the top team in the land in a huge rivalry game.
This game spells a classic trap game for Texas. Look for Mizzou to pull away in a shootout.
2. Not to look too far ahead… but in looking at the 2009 schedule, do you think the Irish will be set up for a title run if they continue to improve each week as they are doing now?
The Irish will be in the conversation next year, as the talent on this team continues to grow. Most players make their biggest leap from their sophomore to junior seasons, and with all of the talent in our sophomore class, this team looks poised to do special things next year.
The lack of senior leadership next year may cost us the national title, but we'll be right in the mix - sitting in the same place as a Missouri or Ohio State this year.
3. If you could take 1 recruit we missed on from each of the last 4 years (1 from each year), who would they be and how differently would this team look like right now if we had gotten that 1 player each year? (Note, the players should be players the Irish either led for at one time or were at least a finalist for).
I'm a bit of a recruitnik, so it didn't take me long to come up with this list.
2005 - Lawrence Wilson (OSU) - It's hard to argue with Frankie on this one. He was willing to commit to Willingham, and Weis couldn't hold on to him after Willingham's abrupt exit, stage left. This loss laid the seeds for the struggles we are continuing to have on the defensive line.
2006 - Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) - Again, hard to argue with the second big whiffer on the D-line in the second straight year. McCoy is a beast and the lack of a playmaker on the D-line behind Trevor Laws is becoming more and more apparent.
2007 - Greg Little (North Carolina) - I would have liked to go with one of the Illini recruits that got away, either Martez Wilson (another D-lineman) or WR Arrelious Benn. But the one that really sticks in my craw is Greg Little. Maybe it's the timing of how it went down, or maybe it's my lingering hatred of Butch Davis from his days at Miami, or maybe it's the fact that we lost out to frickin' North Carolina, but I feel like Greg Little's athleticism and size would have been a great addition to this class.
2008 - Etienne Sabino (Ohio State) - The loss of Omar Hunter hurt, but the player I really wanted from this class was Etienne Sabino. He seemed like a solid Irish lean through much of the recruiting process, but ultimately I think wins and losses swayed him to tOSU.
4. If Notre Dame could only land 1 more recruit on each side the ball in this recruiting class, who would you like it to be? (Again, it should be someone we have a reasonable chance with).
Xavier Nixon - we need to continue to load up on the big uglies to build a foundation for the long-term success of the program. Although the word on the street is that we are not going to land him, I'd like to see us step up our recruiting efforts. We all know that nothing is set in stone until signing day.
Manti Te'o - although I like the young kids on the depth chart at linebacker right now, there is nothing like competition to motivate players. Te'o would be ready to play walking in the door, and would (once again) be a solid foundational player for the long term success of the program.
5. If you could take one of Notre Dame’s bowl losses since the 1994 Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M and turn it into a win, which one would it be? Why? And What if any impact do you think that win would have had on the Irish.
I have to go with the 2005/06 Fiesta Bowl. I was at the game, and we were in a position to be able to win that game late in the fourth quarter. In fact, I felt that the Irish were the more consistent football team out there on that day, and would have won if they could have held OSU's big play ability in check.
The win would have given that team the signature win it needed to propel them into the offseason, thinking about the one that got away against U$C. We had the offseason hype, and I think that the entire 2006 season is different if we win that game.
*****
So there you have it, my first foray into the Irish Blog Gathering.
I should have some time to blog this weekend, as the apartment is almost finished and I don't have any major plans like I have for the past 2 months. Maybe a little midterm report card is in order.
Well, I have to work that morning, and I have a date that evening, so I'm not sure how much, if any, football I'll be watching this weekend.
That said, I am most looking forward to the Texas-Missouri game. Mizzou is coming off of an extremely disappointing loss which appears to have derailed their national title and Heisman hopes. Texas is coming off a big win over the top team in the land in a huge rivalry game.
This game spells a classic trap game for Texas. Look for Mizzou to pull away in a shootout.
2. Not to look too far ahead… but in looking at the 2009 schedule, do you think the Irish will be set up for a title run if they continue to improve each week as they are doing now?
The Irish will be in the conversation next year, as the talent on this team continues to grow. Most players make their biggest leap from their sophomore to junior seasons, and with all of the talent in our sophomore class, this team looks poised to do special things next year.
The lack of senior leadership next year may cost us the national title, but we'll be right in the mix - sitting in the same place as a Missouri or Ohio State this year.
3. If you could take 1 recruit we missed on from each of the last 4 years (1 from each year), who would they be and how differently would this team look like right now if we had gotten that 1 player each year? (Note, the players should be players the Irish either led for at one time or were at least a finalist for).
I'm a bit of a recruitnik, so it didn't take me long to come up with this list.
2005 - Lawrence Wilson (OSU) - It's hard to argue with Frankie on this one. He was willing to commit to Willingham, and Weis couldn't hold on to him after Willingham's abrupt exit, stage left. This loss laid the seeds for the struggles we are continuing to have on the defensive line.
2006 - Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) - Again, hard to argue with the second big whiffer on the D-line in the second straight year. McCoy is a beast and the lack of a playmaker on the D-line behind Trevor Laws is becoming more and more apparent.
2007 - Greg Little (North Carolina) - I would have liked to go with one of the Illini recruits that got away, either Martez Wilson (another D-lineman) or WR Arrelious Benn. But the one that really sticks in my craw is Greg Little. Maybe it's the timing of how it went down, or maybe it's my lingering hatred of Butch Davis from his days at Miami, or maybe it's the fact that we lost out to frickin' North Carolina, but I feel like Greg Little's athleticism and size would have been a great addition to this class.
2008 - Etienne Sabino (Ohio State) - The loss of Omar Hunter hurt, but the player I really wanted from this class was Etienne Sabino. He seemed like a solid Irish lean through much of the recruiting process, but ultimately I think wins and losses swayed him to tOSU.
4. If Notre Dame could only land 1 more recruit on each side the ball in this recruiting class, who would you like it to be? (Again, it should be someone we have a reasonable chance with).
Xavier Nixon - we need to continue to load up on the big uglies to build a foundation for the long-term success of the program. Although the word on the street is that we are not going to land him, I'd like to see us step up our recruiting efforts. We all know that nothing is set in stone until signing day.
Manti Te'o - although I like the young kids on the depth chart at linebacker right now, there is nothing like competition to motivate players. Te'o would be ready to play walking in the door, and would (once again) be a solid foundational player for the long term success of the program.
5. If you could take one of Notre Dame’s bowl losses since the 1994 Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M and turn it into a win, which one would it be? Why? And What if any impact do you think that win would have had on the Irish.
I have to go with the 2005/06 Fiesta Bowl. I was at the game, and we were in a position to be able to win that game late in the fourth quarter. In fact, I felt that the Irish were the more consistent football team out there on that day, and would have won if they could have held OSU's big play ability in check.
The win would have given that team the signature win it needed to propel them into the offseason, thinking about the one that got away against U$C. We had the offseason hype, and I think that the entire 2006 season is different if we win that game.
*****
So there you have it, my first foray into the Irish Blog Gathering.
I should have some time to blog this weekend, as the apartment is almost finished and I don't have any major plans like I have for the past 2 months. Maybe a little midterm report card is in order.
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