I hate it when pundits analyze a game by stacking like positions against one another... A QB v. QB matchup never occurs in the game, nor does RB v. RB, OL v. OL, etc. So it doesn't matter [for example] if your defensive line is better than my defensive line. What matters is whether your defensive line is better than my offensive line, and vice versa...
The "mostly untested" headline also reeks of laziness and/or poor research. So splitting games with the #2 team in the nation and smothering one of the top 5 offenses in the country constitutes "mostly untested"? Um, okay...
Alabama clearly has an advantage in raw talent and coaching in this game. Both teams will miss their starting centers—question is who will take advantage of that weakness in the other teams' offensive front. ND needs to bring pressure early and often in the hopes of finding some way to rattle Jones and minimize the damage he can do targeting Smith downfield. Most importantly, we need to see the version of Ian Book from the first Clemson game—the one who is willing to take chances with his throws and trust his receivers to make plays. If he holds onto the ball too long again, it will be a long day for the Irish...
All indications point to this being a tough hill for ND to climb, but that's why they play the games. I think we see a much better Irish performance than we did in the ACC championship, making for a competitive game. The question is whether the Irish can put together enough strong performances on both sides of the ball to pull the upset. Were I a betting man, I'd take the points—but I wouldn't put money on ND in a straight up bet to win.
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performance than against Clemson as well. I think Bama MIGHT be easier to scheme against given that Mac Jones doesn’t run. TLaw destroyed ND with his legs which opened up everything else. ND shut down UNC - a team that also had elite skill position players but a QB that wasn’t a huge threat to run. Bama’s better than UNC but they are both Top 5 offenses. .The biggest difference is that Bama’s OLine is much better than UNC’s so getting pressure on Mac is going to be more difficult.
Even mediocre dual-threat QBs have given this defense fits at times so in hindsight, TLaw shredding the D in the first half shouldn’t have been a surprise.
Worried about the offense. The offense is what almost never seems to show up or impress in big games.
linebacking core is mediocre. Our offensive line is arguably the second best unit in the country behind Bama’s and our front 7 is as good as it gets. JOK and White are great and good respectively. The other LB position has been a toss-up but not nearly enough to say that it’s a mediocre group as a whole. Secondary is problematic for sure. I get that a Bama fan wrote it but when PFF had our Oline rated as the best in the country prior to Patterson going down...Article lacks research and I really don’t understand some of the conclusions
how the finish many of their games.
Bama is a Tsunami that just doesn't end. They are taught to be assassins from start to finish no matter the opponent.
ND has a very talented group but they are not assassins. The day ND makes that switch they will dominate.
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But he should be playing. Saying we have a problem at center would have been accurate...
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That is a huge loss. ND playing a "Goliath" like 'Bama, really needs the OL to be a strength. The loss of Patterson is enormous. That said, hopefully Kraemer is 100% back from his surgery, . . a full go. And I hope Correll is 100% now too.
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Don't follow Ohio State. Playing fewer games might have helped insulate them some from injuries.
Patterson's loss for ND is big is all I'm saying.
Brian Kelly will one day be remembered for helping to usher in a more dynamic brand of spread-based, pro-style offense. A lot of what Alabama is doing now under Steve Sarkisian hearkens back to concepts that were originally being rolled out in multiple places simultaneously, including Central Michigan.....:
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