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It's that simple.
Buckle up.
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I'd be surprised if they don't put up points. ND will put up points but they eat a lot of clock. So you're going to have two teams moving the ball and scoring with "less" possessions. It definitely calls for a close game.
ND will lose this game if they don't bring their A game
UNC had a bye week too. They'll be prepared.
Williams maybe as good a RB as Travis Etienne.
and it's nonsense when pundits talk about UNC's D. They haven't been great all the time but
they're getting better each game.
They also have a lot of weapons on O.
Go Irish!
Those two backs, and Howell at QB, make them very dangerous. I think some ND fans don't realize how explosive they are capable of being.
I think ND's D has been really good this season, with a couple of caveats: pass rush and consistency in CB coverage. So I both agree and disagree with you on the ND D. I think some fans put too much weight on passing yards surrendered, such as in the Clemson game. But ND has shown vulnerabilities that a great offense like UNC could exploit. ND struggles to rush the passer, and CB coverage isn't always strong. It isn't a complete D . . . yet. And I do have some worries about UNC and potentially a rematch with Clemson. I'll go out on a limb, though, that if ND holds UNC under or close to 100 yards rushing, ND will win comfortably -- even if Howell throws for 350+. If Williams and Carter are effective on the ground, ND will have to score a lot and outscore them . . . and unlike some fans, I do worry about the loss of two starting OLs. ND might not be able to afford a quarter-plus of "adjusting" to the new line configuration.
Wanted to note also that Javonte Williams was the kind of recruit that a lot of ND fans would have complained about. He was a low-3* with little recruiting fanfare (ranked as the #1476th player nationally by 247.) Carter was also a 3* recruit, though a little higher up the charts.
these are not the numbers to my super combo lock. They are the points allowed by UNC in its last 6 games. Improving? Concede their RB-in fact they have two ranked in the top ten and their QB has a very quick release and is dangerous both run/pass when he is out-of-pocket. Last year BC came in with 2 of the top 5 RBs, I think, in nation and we clocked them. Lea is more than capable and the D is healthy. We must limit their run game and contain their QB, forcing errors. They are susceptible to pressure, but it has to be disciplined.
But their D is bad. There is no other way to describe it. We are a better balanced team and that will be a big factor. Again I wonder what is UNC's personnel situation? A bye week means crap-look where it got us:2 OLs down. But we are a deep team.
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ND's ability to control the LOS from both sides is the real story of the season so far, I think. Hopefully it is a seamless transition this week on the OL.