Comments on: Irish, Spartans Set for Battle

By: Joe Todaro

Joe Todaro — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:35:28 +0000

In reply to Joe Todaro. Man did I get ahead of myself - we have Standord and BYU before Oklahoma !!

By: Joe Todaro

Joe Todaro — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:10:40 +0000

How about this :

Notre Dame defeats Michigan and Maimi and goes into Norman undefeated to face Oklahoma – shades of the past when Notre Dame went there, I believe it was 1947 or 1949 and beat Oklahoma 7-0 and stopped a 49 game winning streak for Oklahoma. LETS GO IRISH !!!!

By: Jeff D.

Jeff D. — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:00:07 +0000

It’s only halftime but that was the best ND defensive effort since Holtz. I pray that it continues.

By: Jason C

Jason C — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 19:50:05 +0000

In reply to 13. Well Put 13, also look back to this same game last year. 31-13 against a top 25 team. I have been a fan of Kelly since Cinci, and I think a lot of people forget Kelly put 22 athletes on the field week in and week out and let speed dictate the game. He has built this Irish team the same way. His first recruiting class are really only sophmores, Charlie had a lot of the class locked in before Kelly got to South Bend. We play a lot of young, talented, pure speed players, and Kelly knows how to get them in a position to win. Go Irish.

By: Jason C

Jason C — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 19:40:48 +0000

In reply to John Vannie. Solid work John. I am a fan first and always pick the Irish to get the W. That being said I respect your work, and you are on the money with your prediction this week. I happen to think the weakness of Sparty's Special Teams, and GA3 bringing kicks back will give us a chance to go into sparty world and come home with a doughnut in the loss column. Defense is the word of the day, if they play solid up front and control the run game we will blow them out for the second year in a row. Good work John, I look forward to reading your posts for the rest of the year. GO Irish!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:43:01 +0000

I have a fear that the State defense is just going to be too much to handle up front. Our offensive line struggled so readily last week and this is a whole new test this week. According to Todd McShay on ESPN, this may be the best defense in the country outside of the SEC. Not good for an offense that struggled to move the ball against a decent Purdue team.

I think we really have to unleash the legs of Golson tonight early and in doing so keep the defense somewhat honest. If Golson just sits back in the pocket all night it will become a beatdown, bu if we can get him on the perimeter and keep the MSU defense from pinning its ears back, we can keep it close and have a shot to win.

We also need a receiver to stepup big to keep the defense from tripling Eifert all night and it would be nice to see us surprise some folks by rushing for maybe 200 yards against that vaunted front seven.

I don’t see it and I foresee a 27-17 Michigan state win; although I hope I am very wrong

By: tbonesays

tbonesays — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 10:14:57 +0000

In reply to ccb. BSU had open receivers but could not hit them. We need to pass run pass.

By: Fitz

Fitz — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:44:53 +0000

Notre Dame 20 Michigan St 14. Irish win by virtue of a strong defensive performance. Te’o needs to have a monster game and we must come out ahead in turnover margin. Golson needs to start doing more than merely running the offense and avoiding mistakes. He needs a couple of big, key plays. If he under performs look for Rees to come in earlier than he did versus Purdue. Go Irish!

By: poundtown

poundtown — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:26:33 +0000

Boise State team replaced 17 starters…and a QB who hasn’t started a game ever. This game will be close, neither team is proven. Great write-up.

Kelly’s game plans are getting deserved criticism in my opinion.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:25:49 +0000

I am really confused about this ND team after 2 games. I think that we definitely have enough talent to win this game but the coaches have to execute a game plan to effectively run the ball and take pressure off of our QB. It is completely fine if Purdue blitzes like crazy last week, I would have welcomed it. In that case lets throw screen passes and welcome that blitz all day long, and throw over their heads for big gains. I don’t remember seeing 1 screen pass last week do you? If they did them, it wasnt very much; but we have to get GAIII into the game somehow, he is too valuable to not get touches. And some of our quick sweeps and pitches to the RB did work against Purdue last week. It is just not effective to run right up the middle against them, and the same can be said for MSU. MSU will do a similar game plan to Purdue. Who wouldnt after watching that game last week and seeing ND’s offensive line struggle like that. EG has to do a better job at pulling the trigger on those isolated one on one match ups to Eifert and Nicholas. He cant think too much about it, he just has to go out there and play like the talented kid we know that he is. I think he would benefit and build confidence from those screen passes. I don’t know if many people would agree with this, but I do think that we can utilize Rees in certain situations and have a successful 2 QB system because I do see alot of Upside to having Rees on the field too. I know his history has been inconsistent with turnovers, but I really do think he is calm and cool at game management and does have some QB talent to make good reads and be a great leader too, as he showed last week against Purdue. He came off completely cold from bench and delivered for us. Not many kids can come in and do that, especially when some people were against him and even booing him. He is a gamer. His reads were so quick. He got the ball out quickly when he needed to and read the Purdue defense correctly. I know it was just 3 passes but he contributed to a win. I like his record too. I’m not saying that Tommy should start by any means, EG should start. But certain packages can benefit from Rees. If anyone can work this 2 QB system effectively its coach Kelly. Just from his track record at previous schools like Cincinnati. Whether he can do that at ND remains to be seen, but lets hope. I know this might sound like a stretch but I don’t believe this game will be very close. Either MSU blows us out or we blow MSU out. I think that it will be close in 1st half, but 1 of the 2 teams will come unglued and self destruct. I think the score will be similar to last year. Hopefully with A win for ND. I feel our Qb’s are better than MSU’s. So I am predicting us to win. I know its bold but I will say ND 27, MSU 13. And blow out is relative. You know what I mean. Beating State by 2 TD’s is a blowout I consider with these circumstances. We must block better. Go ND!