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The "Ask a Notre Dame Fan" Thread

  • Concussions in back-to-back weeks is extremely scary... he's a great player, I hope this isn't something that plagues him throughout his career.

    thevictor_11

  • magogian said...

    To start the threat, here are my thoughts on the game:

    I am really excited about our upcoming game. I fully expect it to go down to the wire again, except (hopefully) without our kryptonite (Denard R.) succeeding this time.

    Here is how I see the breakdown:

    O-lines - advantage ND RBs - advantage ND WRs - advantage UM (or push if Davaris Daniels and Eifert are healthy and fully incorporated into the game plan)

    D-lines - advantage ND LBs - advantage ND Secondary - advantage UM

    QB - I keep going back and forth on this one. Obviously, Denard is stud, and is both your best and most important player. In any given game, he makes plays of jaw dropping excellence and stupidity. Overall, he is great asset, but is he enough? Last year, ND had to help him out with 5 turnovers. This year's ND team is far less turnover prone (so far). But I still have nightmares of those jump balls he threw in the 4th quarter against us. While our CBs are young and inexperienced, they at least look for the stupid ball when it is in the air. But I am nervous to see them stacked up against your tall WRs.

    Golson is a work in progress but so far has been a clear upgrade from Rees (and with a very high ceiling). He doesn't have near the speed or agility of Denard but he is plenty fast and agile to avoid rushers and make plays. Plus, he has a rocket of an arm, so he can stretch the field in ways that Rees never could. For example, in two plays against MSU,we had a WR get 3-4 yards on the corner while some 30-40 yards downfield streaking for the end zone. Golson just overthrew both a bit. That won't always happen going forward, and teams will be forced to respect it. Also, he has committed far fewer TOs compared to Rees.

    In short, I see ND winning at the lines of scrimmage. I think that will help us a lot against running from your RBs but it is of only limited help against Denard. On the other side of the ball, I think we will have good success running against your D (which we didn't have against Purdue or MSU, which I believe have superior d-lines to UM). And, I see us having great pass protection for Golson. Eifert should be used much more in the passing game this time around. He didn't have a single catch against MSU because he was primarily used in a blocking rather than receiving role. If he is used as a WR, he will demand double-teams and/or rolling coverage to stop him. This should allow our other WRs plenty of 1-1s.

    The scoring will likely be in the high 20s or 30s for both teams. It really comes down to: (1) bottling Denard, (2) how our CBs cover your WRs, and (3) turnovers.

    Thoughts? Questions?

    1. I was almost sure ND was going to win each of the last three years. I don't think they can beat the odds again, but I also think this is the best shot they have had out of these four games.

    ND'S RUN GAME:

    2. ND's rushing attack is not spectacular. Purdue's run D is good, not great. However, C. Wood could affect that greatly. Hard to tell from the first 3 games.

    3. Similarly, it is hard to tell how Michigan's run defense will do. They were heavily out-manned by Bama (who eventually found a back that could beat them). They faced the triple-option. And, then they played nickel coverage against a weak UMass team. They are not great on the DL, but not decidely bad either.

    4. An average run game for ND vs. an average front 7 for UM = push...ND gets about 150 or so yards.

    ND PASS GAME:

    5. ND has a young, but good QB and some okay WRs.

    6. Michigan has a pretty good secondary, minus Countess.

    7. A stronger unit than above on both ND's offense and UM's defense, but ultimately a push =....ND gets about 200 or so yards.

    UM RUN GAME

    8. UM put up 70 yards on Bama despite no Fitz, little use of Denard and trailing by a lot. Otherwise, the run O has looked gooed against two weak teams.

    9. ND has a strong front 7 and limited all the running attacks they have seen.

    10. I think UM is the best rushing attack that ND has seen. But, ND's defense is better than the other teams UM has faced sans Bama. That means potential push or slight edge ND = UM gets about 125 or so yards.

    UM PASS GAME

    11. Denard has looked better, but still has brain farts. The WRs and TEs have evolved. I think it is a pretty good passing attack and better than what ND has faced this year so far.

    12. ND lost another starter in an already weak secondary. They could have been toasted by State if the State WRS play better. I also think Denard's legs also add a level of deception to take advantage of the young guys that they have not really seen. ND will be loading the box to stop Denard.

    13. If Denard is somehwat accurate and limits the picks, I think this is an advantage UM = UM gets about 225 or so yards.

    CONCLUSION

    Close game. It probably comes down to turnovers and/or special teams.

    Peterklima

  • Peterklima said...

    10. I think UM is the best rushing attack that ND has seen.

    MSU and Bell say Lulz

    orionred ●

  • orionred said...

    MSU and Bell say Lulz

    Bell is a workhorse, but not a threat. Denard alone is a better runner...and then you add in Michigan's RBs and....yeah...it is better than MSU.

    Peterklima

  • orionred said...

    MSU and Bell say Lulz

    MSU and Bell lost all credibility on the subject when they crapped the bed offensively Saturday night.

    MrWoodson ●

  • orionred said...

    MSU and Bell say Lulz

    Denard's 350+ yards vs the Irish in the last 2 years say "you don't know what you're talking about"

    signature image signature image signature image

    MSU isn't a very good football program.. takes year of consistent winning to get to that level. - copemoney 1/22/13

    Due51

  • Steve Wiltfong said...

    I don't know how you don't give the QB edge to Michigan. I think Denard is still gaining yards on the Irish defense somewhere.

    ND is better in the trenches than Michigan, but if Denard runs around and makes a lot of plays like he always does against ND, that could be enough to turn the tide.

    Also, ND has had to play well three weeks in a row. It's tough to keep performing at a high level week to week. Not sure ND can beat Michigan unless they play a good game. Not saying they're not capable of playing well for a fourth Saturday in a row, but I agree with kaisercash that the timing of the game works in the Wolverines favor.

    lock

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    David Baas. Super Bowl Champion. Stevie Brown. Interception machine.

    Brady 6

  • I doubt we will consistently run on Notre Dame, it will come down to Denard creating something ad hoc with his legs I think.

    UMSkeletor

  • Steve Wiltfong said...

    I don't know how you don't give the QB edge to Michigan. I think Denard is still gaining yards on the Irish defense somewhere.

    ND is better in the trenches than Michigan, but if Denard runs around and makes a lot of plays like he always does against ND, that could be enough to turn the tide.

    Also, ND has had to play well three weeks in a row. It's tough to keep performing at a high level week to week. Not sure ND can beat Michigan unless they play a good game. Not saying they're not capable of playing well for a fourth Saturday in a row, but I agree with kaisercash that the timing of the game works in the Wolverines favor.

    -1

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    Gringo Mafia Sergeant at Arms - 5 time POTW

    IrishImpact

  • UMSkeletor said...

    I doubt we will consistently run on Notre Dame, it will come down to Denard creating something ad hoc with his legs I think.

    It isn't like he has a history of doing that or anything.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Damaged goods

    MaizeandBlue21 ●

  • If Hoke doesn't incorporate Funchess more into the game plan, he is limiting the offense. I know he isn't great at blocking right now, but he is just too much of a mismatch not to use.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Damaged goods

    MaizeandBlue21 ●

  • orionred said...

    MSU and Bell say Lulz

    roflmao Denard and Fitz.

    signature image signature image

    This is Michigan, fergodsakes.

    Never Lose Hoke

  • Peterklima said...

    10. I think UM is the best rushing attack that ND has seen. But, ND's defense is better than the other teams UM has faced sans Bama. That means potential push or slight edge ND = UM gets about 125 or so yards.

    I disagree with this part, I see no way that ND contains Denard AND Fitz to 125 yards. Denard is worth 100 yards or so, and against ND, maybe more. I'd put the number closer to 200. However I agree with the rest of your post and still believe that the game will come down to the final 5 minutes due to ND winning the turnover battle.

    signature image signature image

    This is Michigan, fergodsakes.

    Never Lose Hoke

  • Never Lose Hoke said...

    I disagree with this part, I see no way that ND contains Denard AND Fitz to 125 yards. Denard is worth 100 yards or so, and against ND, maybe more. I'd put the number closer to 200. However I agree with the rest of your post and still believe that the game will come down to the final 5 minutes due to ND winning the turnover battle.

    I'm a little worried about the run blocking, if they use the run game, it needs to be pure power running, no zone stuff unless it's Denard holding onto the ball. The pass protection has been great, Denard just needs to make the right reads and simple throws.

    Frank Clark needs to have a big game along with Jake Ryan. Hopefully James Ross and Joe Bolden have taken over the starting spots, you can't keep their athleticism off the field at this point.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Damaged goods

    MaizeandBlue21 ●

  • maize&blue21 said...

    I'm a little worried about the run blocking, if they use the run game, it needs to be pure power running, no zone stuff unless it's Denard holding onto the ball. The pass protection has been great, Denard just needs to make the right reads and simple throws.

    Frank Clark needs to have a big game along with Jake Ryan. Hopefully James Ross and Joe Bolden have taken over the starting spots, you can't keep their athleticism off the field at this point.

    Honestly, broken plays are probably going to be worth 50+ yards this game, and broken plays WILL happen, especially with the aggressiveness of ND's line.

    signature image signature image

    This is Michigan, fergodsakes.

    Never Lose Hoke

  • Ducksworth said...

    I think it's silly to compare OLs, QBs, DLs, etc. It does us no good if our OL is better than your OL. It only matters what the matchups look like.

    Our OL vs. your DL - advantage ND
    Our passing game vs. your secondary - advantage UM
    Our running game vs. your front 7 - push-ish, depends on Fitz

    Your OL vs. our DL - advantage ND
    Your passing game vs. our secondary - advantage UM
    Your running game vs. our front 7 - advantage ND

    I think both offenses will get points and Denard will pull off more magic at the end to cap off his 4-0 career vs. ND.

    Agree with your assessment everywhere beside your running game against our front 7 and the outcome of course. Look forward to having some friendly sig bets for this game..

    signature image

    star69

  • thevictor_11 said...

    So you think 1 TD, and 3 FG's? Or UM will have to resort to going for 2 pt conversions after ND controls the game throughout?

    Here's the best part... all those guys you've mentioned have played Denard the past few years except for inexperienced DB's, and did a pathetic job of containing him. Add to that fact that Denard has 6'4 Gardner and 6'5 Funchess as his main targets now instead of 5'7 Gallon, and I imagine those jumpballs will workout just fine.

    Tuitt, Williams, and Day have never played against Michigan.

    signature image

    star69

  • CMXI said...

    Got a mild concussion in the 3rd, didn't return. He didn't do anything anyways though.

    That was in the Purdue game not MSU. From what I saw he was basically a decoy in the passing game. Believe he was only thrown to once and drew a PI. His blocking was on point. Eifert definitely wasn't his normal self which was good. Golson had been zeroing in on him the two weeks prior.

    signature image

    star69

  • thevictor_11 said...

    Concussions in back-to-back weeks is extremely scary... he's a great player, I hope this isn't something that plagues him throughout his career.

    It was only one against Purdue.

    signature image

    star69

  • thevictor_11 said...

    Concussions in back-to-back weeks is extremely scary... he's a great player, I hope this isn't something that plagues him throughout his career.

    I hope they can sit him for a few weeks. His career is nothing compared to the effects it will cause the rest of his life. Traumatic brain injuries need time to recover from.

    pappy121

  • everyone talking about denard and fitz in the run game. brady hoke is laughing at you guys; he loves that you guys no nothing about his secret weapon, hoke is about to unleash norfleet into the offense. norfleet getting one carry last week is a sign. hes been saving him for this week. ND is not game planning for norfleet. norfleet in the bubble screen!!! give him a little hole and hes gone.

    Wolverines89

  • Wolverines89 said...

    everyone talking about denard and fitz in the run game. brady hoke is laughing at you guys; he loves that you guys no nothing about his secret weapon, hoke is about to unleash norfleet into the offense. norfleet getting one carry last week is a sign. hes been saving him for this week. ND is not game planning for norfleet. norfleet in the bubble screen!!! give him a little hole and hes gone.

    gorgeous al borges has been cooking something up for ND. norfleet is going to do damage,

    Wolverines89

  • star69 said...

    Agree with your assessment everywhere beside your running game against our front 7 and the outcome of course. Look forward to having some friendly sig bets for this game..

    The front 7 is solid for sure, but a lot of guys making their 1st contributions in only 3 weeks. Michigan is returning the greatest running QB in NCAA history, and a 1,000 yard RB to boot.

    thevictor_11

  • This isn't true. Eifert played all of the MSU game, in fact he had the key block on the 4th down conversion.

    His concussion was mild and in the Purdue game. He was cleared for Mich. St. and should be full go again this week.

    corysold

  • MrWoodson said...

    MSU and Bell lost all credibility on the subject when they crapped the bed offensively Saturday night.

    And their running game against CMU "sucked" too. Two bad running performances and 50 touches to get yards in the other performance. How is that better than Michigan's rushing attack?

    Peterklima

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