I think about that often

Anthony Davis

Respectfully, you must have watched a different OU game than I did. We did not generate much pressure off 3 and 4 man fronts. The thing that put their brakes on their offense was Landry Jones missing open looks.

I have to disagree. The Irish defense has consistently brought good pressure with only 3 and 4 man fronts. That’s what allowed them to drop 7 and 8 into coverage against OU and put the brakes on their offense.

Does anyone remember when Anthony Johnson opened the second half by running the kickoff back all the way and the Irish got rolled? The Coliseum crowd will be more intense than that day.

The keys to the game in my view?

Will Kelly feel compelled to feed his inner Mike McCarthy and abandon the run in key series even when it’s working? Yes.

Will Bobby Diaco dial back the pressure allowing Max Namath to pick the Irish secondary apart? Yes, but only in the first half.

Will Brian Kelly watch the Bearcats win over the Panthers tonight after knocking back some bird and convince himself to finally take the training wheels completely off of Tony Rice, Jr. and allow Good-as-Gold-son to run the hurry up 4- and 5-wide scoring machine that made the Bearcats unbeatable? Yes, but not until the second half.

Will Manti Teo have the best game of his Notre Dame career and seal the Heisman deal? Yes.

Will Cierre Wood put the ball on the ground at least once in a critical sitch? Yes.

Will Davonte Neal take a punt to the house in a critical switch? Yes.

Will Brian Kelly exploit the Trojans weak run D with counter-traps and reverses utilizing GAIII and Neal? Yes.

Will the refs give the Trojans every call including multiple phantom holding and pass interference calls? Yes.

Will the Irish win? Yes.

27-23 OT

Will you need a stent afterwards? 1-2 minimum

“Dry field will also benefit SC’s Lee and Woods, but Wittek won’t have time to find them.”

Vannie’s excellent game analysis highlights this as one of the keys to the game. In my view, it is THE key. Bob Diaco regrettably has had a tendency to feel compelled to switch things up by, from time to time, bringing only 3 or 4. However, the Irish have consistently shown throughout the year that they can’t generate pressure on the QB without bringing a backer and a DB off the edge.

If Diaco dials back the pressure, Wittek will pick the Irish secondary apart.

This kid has guaranteed a win. If the Irish don’t put serious pressure on Wittek all day, Wittek will turn out to be Joe Namath and the Irish will turn out to be the Colts.

Write it down.

“Dear god I am nervous about this game.”

“Do not be anxious about anything[, including the Trojans,] but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Phillippians 4:6