Nov 24 | at Southern Cal

[BobD]

Bring it home boys!

 

[Patulski]

Our defense is most comparable to Stanford's, so I'd use these stats for reference.

Except that Golson >>> Nunes, and USC will be without Barkley.

To be fair to USC, against Stanford they were without their excellent center Holmes. Still, UCLA put a lot of pressure on Barkley. Barkley ended up with a 53% completion rate (20-38) and 2 interceptions while also throwing 3 TD's for 301 yards. UCLA did a nice job of coverage as well at times. For comparison purposes, UCLA's RS Frosh QB was 22-30 for 234 yards, 1 TD and 0 int's.

 

[Grahambo]

Perhaps the announcers were referring to their three losses, where USC allowed 35 points in the 4h quarter. They ended up giving up a crucial 4th Qtr TD against UCLA.

I wouldn't be upset with 35 4th quarter points of our own.

 

[BobD]

They keep showing in the scroll on ESPN that USC has ended our undefeated seasons 6 times.....they'll be able to show that on Sunday as well.

 

[Grahambo]

They keep showing in the scroll on ESPN that USC has ended our undefeated seasons 6 times.....they'll be able to show that on Sunday as well.

I've noticed a trend on the radio as well. Most of the pundits speaking were talking more about the 'if' ND loses scenario then they were ND is #1 talk.

The way it was being spoken about just kinda made me feel they were pushing 'ND losing' in the psyche more then anything else. Of course it was positive slurp SEC slurp talk too.

 

[ickythump1225]

I've noticed a trend on the radio as well. Most of the pundits speaking were talking more about the 'if' ND loses scenario then they were ND is #1 talk.

The way it was being spoken about just kinda made me feel they were pushing 'ND losing' in the psyche more then anything else. Of course it was positive slurp SEC slurp talk too.

Yeah I don't recall near as much talk about #1 going down when Alabama and KSU where holding that spot.

 

[ACamp1900]

Yeah I don't recall near as much talk about #1 going down when Alabama and KSU where holding that spot.

In fairness two straight weeks the top spot lost... So it's gonna be discussed,.. And neither of the other two were so close but playing their biggest rival who has just happened to beat them 9 of the last 10, compounded with that rival having a history of spoiling title campaigns...

Point is, it's a clear theme they can run with

 

[koonja]

Who cares if all they talk about is us losing this final game. Good. Let them downplay what we've done. Then the nation will tune in and we can again show them why we're the #1 team.

 

[Black Irish]

I liked seeing how much Golson was airing out long balls against Wake. I've read that USC has a young, sub-par secondary. I'm hoping Kelly is planning to have Golson pick the Trojan DBs apart to go along with the ground-and-pound run game.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I liked seeing how much Golson was airing out long balls against Wake. I've read that USC has a young, sub-par secondary. I'm hoping Kelly is planning to have Golson pick the Trojan DBs apart to go along with the ground-and-pound run game.

The Trojans' pass defense (22nd nationally) is good. Their rush defense (49th nationally) is not. If we're going to gash them, it will probably be on the ground.

 

[Grahambo]

The Trojans' pass defense (22nd nationally) is good. Their rush defense (49th nationally) is not. If we're going to gash them, it will probably be on the ground.

Which is something we do quite well. I see a game plan similar to OU both offensively and defensively.

 

[BobD]

WE GET NO RESPECT!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Kiffin:

 

[PraetorianND]

Who cares if all they talk about is us losing this final game. Good. Let them downplay what we've done. Then the nation will tune in and we can again show them why we're the #1 team.

It's so much better being the underdog. Keep it up. Keep that chip on our team's shoulder and watch as we come out and prove why we're #1.

 

[eNDzone]

Does Mark May have to wear a leprechaun suit if ND wins this game?

 

[Riddickulous]

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Does Mark May have to wear a leprechaun suit if ND wins this game?

YES!

 

[BurningRiver]

I have nothing against this Wittek guy personally, but I will be disappointed if he doesn't spend more time face down in the grass than upright, and while he's upright I hope it's because he's running for his life followed by a certain Hawaiian linebacker. I hope after every 3-and-out he's picking dirt out of his teeth and eventually his team quits, just like they claimed we quit last year.

I don't usually condone running up the score, but **** SC. Let's win this game 100-0.

 

[johnnykillz]

I don't usually condone running up the score, but **** SC. Let's win this game 100-0.

Amen!

Time for redemption,

 

[ickythump1225]

Which is something we do quite well. I see a game plan similar to OU both offensively and defensively.

Exactly, control the ball and the time of possession. Woods and Lee can't score if they are on the sideline. We can allow the underneath stuff, nothing over the top, make them go 10+ plays down the field. USC is a very undisciplined team. Going 10+ plays for them without penalties or a turnover is hard for them. I actually think the drives we had against Boston College are the model. They were long drives that ate up clock. If we come in and ram down their throats for 80 yards and 6 minutes right away it'll further demoralize a demoralized team.

 

[IrishLion]

Looking for some slip screens to Theo/Cierre on the first couple of drives to take advantage of what is sure to be an aggressive USC defense.

Haven't seen any screens to RBs all year, so hoping BK dusts them off for this contest. Then again, has anyone heard BK mention this at all? Is there a reason we haven't seen any screens to RBs? Just not a part of the offense anymore?

 

[jimmymac]

Looking for some slip screens to Theo/Cierre on the first couple of drives to take advantage of what is sure to be an aggressive USC defense.

Haven't seen any screens to RBs all year, so hoping BK dusts them off for this contest. Then again, has anyone heard BK mention this at all? Is there a reason we haven't seen any screens to RBs? Just not a part of the offense anymore?

I think there are two reasons we dont run a lot of screens (just my opinions). First, screens in general require great timing, and I don't think Kelly has had the confidence in Everett up to this point. Second, screens require the quarterback generally to dump the ball over a tall free-attacking defensive end. The truth is Everett is a relatively short quarterback, and I think the type of pass required for a rb screen just is not one that best uses Everett's skills.

 

[Irish#1]

The Trojans' pass defense (22nd nationally) is good. Their rush defense (49th nationally) is not. If we're going to gash them, it will probably be on the ground.

You have to take those stats with a grain of salt. How many rushing plays versus passing plays have the Trojans faced? It could be their pass defense is decent because everyone runs on them skewing the numbers.

 

[IrishLion]

I think there are two reasons we dont run a lot of screens (just my opinions). First, screens in general require great timing, and I don't think Kelly has had the confidence in Everett up to this point. Second, screens require the quarterback generally to dump the ball over a tall free-attacking defensive end. The truth is Everett is a relatively short quarterback, and I think the type of pass required for a rb screen just is not one that best uses Everett's skills.

Good points, though I would say that those silly bubble screens to the WRs (the TD pass to Jones against Pitt comes to mind) require even greater timing and judgement. It's a farther throw, meaning Golson must realease properly or else it's 1) a fumble or 2) getting your WR blown up by the unblocked defender.

If he can time these throws, where he's waiting on a WR to realease and then circle back to the LOS, I think he should be able to time a slip-screen properly.

However, that still does not address your point about Golson's size, which seems to be a very likely reason as to why we haven't seen many screens from the backfield.

 

[KPENN]

I don't usually condone running up the score, but **** SC. Let's win this game 100-0.

I hear what you're saying, but with all that's at stake I'd take a 2-0 win.

 

[IrishLion]

I hear what you're saying, but with all that's at stake I'd take a 2-0 win.

But what about style points?

 

[DSully1995]

I hear what you're saying, but with all that's at stake I'd take a 2-0 win.

YUP, were the only undefeated so any win is good enough

 

[TheChosen1]

I think there are two reasons we dont run a lot of screens (just my opinions). First, screens in general require great timing, and I don't think Kelly has had the confidence in Everett up to this point. Second, screens require the quarterback generally to dump the ball over a tall free-attacking defensive end. The truth is Everett is a relatively short quarterback, and I think the type of pass required for a rb screen just is not one that best uses Everett's skills.

Been saying this all year.

 

[aubeirish]

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[RallySonsOfND]

HIS NAME IS MANTI not Monty.