Perhaps I'm slow, but I'm angry
We are a huge dog to OSU. Depending on the service, I've seen 14.5 - 15.5 points.
This pisses me off.
I get it. We've failed so many times on the big stage in frequent years. OSU has an outstanding marquee QB and phenomenal receivers. They have recruited dudes exceptionally well in recent years. But we are just supposed to ignore the Michigan game, where scUM ran wild and pestered Stroud all day long?
Call me a homer, but I'm going large on ND +15. I'll be there in the stands.
GO IRISH!
Replies to: Perhaps I'm slow, but I'm angry
The Spring Game was not reassuring ar QB or kicker
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Did you see Ohio St. vs Utah?
That offense is scary. If ND can win the turnover battle they have a shot. If OSU wins it the crowd will be a major factor and the floodgates will open. If it's a wash Rees needs to play keep away and just move the chains. Golden shoud take a page out of the Barry Alvarez playbook. Play a zone for the most part and keep the ball in front of them. The Irish have some guys that can bring heat without the blitz.
Re: Did you see Ohio St. vs Utah?
We've gotta start getting those athlete in the secondary from FL and TX like when Davie was Def. Coordinator, he was masterful at A&M and Notre Dame on Defense although as a Head Coach his offenses were rather vanilla.
Curious...what did you see as masterful at N.D. on defense?
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I think he was alluding to Davie’s masterful hand and footwork on that 7/11 hotdog machine
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Coffee on keyboard.
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DO NOT get jakers started on Bob Davie!!!
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Yes, I saw Utah score 45
...with a depleted defensive backfield against a team that featured two 1st round WR picks, they inserted a coverted RB to play CB. They were helpless against the OSU passing attack.
Not sure how much we can draw from that game.
Oleve & Wilson both sat out.
That's how loaded OSU is. They stockpile playmaking talent. Some guys came down on Kelly because of how bad ND got smoked in the playoffs. Notre Dame does not get those type of kids.
I do believe ND can run against OSU. That's how Oregon and Michigan beat them. I know the new DC
is supposed to be great, but the front 7 is where OSU is the weakest. I liked what Freeman said about a more powerful running attack. I only hope Rees can purge all that was bad about Kelly's offense and just find ways to put the ball in the hands of the playmakers.
Agree
BTW - OSU features LB Tommy Eichenberg, brother of Liam of the Miami Dolphins / Notre Dame. The Eichenbergs are from Cleveland.
Hope we can establish a running game. I agree that's likely the key.
Hopefully they can be successful on the edge.
Then send Audric up the gut.
As others have noted, ND has to earn the right to a smaller point spread. There are games that leav
e me feeling optimistic that ND will make this game competitive...two close losses to UGA, nearly beating #1 FSU, fighting a highly ranked Clemson team until the very end. ND has played well against highly ranked teams, yet they are all losses. If Kelly were still at ND, a loss would be expected. I hate to put so much pressure on a kid, but much of this game rests on the shoulders of Buchner. If he surprises to the upside, I see a close loss. If he shits the bed, I see a blowout.
Is that the Clemson game where they had 13 players out.?
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No. It was a game at Clemson during, I think, Kaizer's first year.
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Oh yes. I put the blame on Kelly’s game plan for many tight of “ should have won “ games.
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I see a kicking game. Does ND have one? Buchner should do okay so long as the OLine does well.
Special teams.
I think he can be alright if he's used correctly. I still question his accuracy. I hope I'm proven
wrong. If he is asked to pick apart a defense, I think it could be a long day. I'll be more confident if he's a game manager who just distributes the ball and runs 8 or 10x's per game.
Angry? 1. as noted, ND hasn't played as a winner in any big games for 30 years. 2. are people
supposed to ignore this fact? 3. why not see it as a blessing - incentive and bulletin board material for the team.
4. it looks like easy money for those who take ND (as you noted).
Just sayin'.
Until this program can prove they can beat a Top 5 team or even win a major bowl
This is what it is. They couldn't even beat Cincy at home for crying out loud. I have no problems with the current spread. Irish have too many question marks going into the first game. If this Irish program wants the respect in big games, they have to earn it. The Ohio State game is a good jumping off point.
Patience. I remember Lou's first painful year... and he did not start with OSU on the road.
He lost more than he won but the mood was an 180 from the year before... and THEN!
Agree on the mood
That was my Senior year. I can't do it justice, but we were watching a complete transformation of the program. It was palpable, from the first game against #3 Michigan in which a BS call on Joel Williams' TD catch was ruled out of bounds, to John Carney's missed FG as time expired - there was NO QUESTION that ND was back.
5 of our 6 losses were by a total of 14 points.
Culture, attitude and desire cannot be measured.
I feel good about the spread bet against OSU and believe a W is not unreasonable.
Homer Nigel
EDIT: Just look at that beautiful grass field. Kills me. Get off my lawn!
In Lou's first meeting with the team, he changed the culture instantly.
When Lou entered the room, he saw C Chuck Lanza slouched back in a chair, with his legs propped up on another chair. Immediately, Lou kicked that chair away, and screamed at him and told him to sit up. You could hear a pin drop. From that moment on, the players were in his clutches. Gone were the undisciplined days of Fuzzy Faust. The results on the field were plain to see.
No, but he did start off w/ a VG Michigan team, at home. Almost beat those rascals too.
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I believe we moved up in the polls after that
game, which I seem to recall was the first time that had happened.