Oct 19 | Southern Cal

[Buster Bluth]

I didn't catch the game, but looking at the highlights and seeing how they were up 28-3 (and then 38-17) before giving up late TDs, I'm not sure what you guys see.

Silas Redd is back, Marqise Lee could/should be healthy. This will be a brawl.

 

[Buster Bluth]

USC giving up 360+ yards passing and over 500 yards of total offense to Arizona.... the Irish should score at will on USC.

Doubtful.

 

[dublinirish]

yep my prediction is a 3 point win for Nd and nothing more.

 

[CarrollVermin]

I don't see where some the brash confidence comes from. These guys have more talent at WR than we have seen all season and are finally playing without Kiffin to screw it up. Not to mention, they own us at home as of late. This isn't the team that lost to ASU anymore. I have genuine concerns about next Saturday, especially given their renewed levels of confidence.

 

[Emcee77]

They are still not a disciplined football team, but they looked re-energized last night, for sure, from what I saw. We'll need to focus, limit mistakes and play good football to beat them. We can't count on them to beat themselves like I'd hoped; they look like a team that will make mistakes but that will make a lot of plays too.

 

[rtrn2glory]

things couldn't have worked out better for them...got through the circus of the last few weeks got a big win last night regardless of the opponent, stats, and score...now they have a few extra days to get healthy before they come to south bend with the "us against the world" mentality that seems to coincide with firing a head coach. don't care what the score/stats are next saturday as long as we win.

 

[woolybug25]

I know it seems like USC is turning the corner at the right time, but I still don't buy that we dont just work over this team.

We have two weeks to get guys like Tuitt and Day healthy. We have two weeks to put new quirks into our gameplan. We have two weeks to study USC while USC had to plan for yesterday's game.

We are going to be rested and ready for this game. It's at home and the biggest game of the year. If we win next Saturday, it's likely that we walk into Palo Alto with 9 wins under our belt and looking to take down the Tree and get a BCS game.

I think we win this game.

 

[rtrn2glory]

idk if it's likely we win 9 games if we win this one...i'd go with very possible, but i see exactly what you're saying.

i just think BYU and at Pitt are going to be very tough games for us. i do like the fact that we play the service academies back to back that way we get the triple junk out of the way all at once.

 

[woolybug25]

idk if it's likely we win 9 games if we win this one...i'd go with very possible, but i see exactly what you're saying.

i just think BYU and at Pitt are going to be very tough games for us. i do like the fact that we play the service academies back to back that way we get the triple junk out of the way all at once.

I'll will be fuming mad if we lose to BYU or Pitt. Both of those teams are hot garbage.

I also think "likely" is indeed the right terminology. We will be heavy favorites in every game but Stanford if we win next week.

 

[NDohio]

idk if it's likely we win 9 games if we win this one...i'd go with very possible, but i see exactly what you're saying.

i just think BYU and at Pitt are going to be very tough games for us. i do like the fact that we play the service academies back to back that way we get the triple junk out of the way all at once.

Come on now, we need to focus only on U$C. One game at a time!

 

[rtrn2glory]

uhhhhh have you seen us play at all this year?

to say we'll likely win any game left on our schedule is a lil over the top imo, but we're allowed to disagree.

 

[greyhammer90]

Honestly I'd really like it if we were able to go 10-2 and still not play in a BCS game. It'd be nice if we could play a team on our level for once. I know we'd probably be reduced to a terrible bowl if we don't make BCS though but I really don't think this team has a shot (at the moment) against the other teams that would make a BCS bowl. I could see Clemson, FSU, UGA, LSU and Oregon all shredding us. The last thing the program needs is another embarrassing loss for people to look at during the offseason as representative of our whole year.

 

[rtrn2glory]

if we can end up 10-2 that means we beat stanford...so at that point i'd play anybody not called alabama, LSU, Georgia, or Oregon

 

[woolybug25]

uhhhhh have you seen us play at all this year?

to say we'll likely win any game left on our schedule is a lil over the top imo, but we're allowed to disagree.

That's fair.

But I promise you that we will be close (if not certainly) double digit favorites in all of those games (which very well may be the definition of likely). Could there be a slip up? Always. But to say that it's likely is unfair. This team has only lost to Michigan and OU, to say that there is more than a 50% chance that we will lose to an academy or BYU/Pitt is pretty harsh.

 

[rtrn2glory]

you honestly think we'll be double digit point favorites against both of those teams? if that's the case vegas has a lot more faith in this team than i do.

p.s. thanks for the discussion...very boring day at school

 

[woolybug25]

Honestly I'd really like it if we were able to go 10-2 and still not play in a BCS game. It'd be nice if we could play a team on our level for once. I know we'd probably be reduced to a terrible bowl if we don't make BCS though but I really don't think this team has a shot (at the moment) against the other teams that would make a BCS bowl. I could see Clemson, FSU, UGA, LSU and Oregon all shredding us. The last thing the program needs is another embarrassing loss for people to look at during the offseason as representative of our whole year.

I would find it very unlikely that if we won 10 games that we would be left out of the BCS. Last year they put NIU in the Fiesta. There is always room for a 10 win Notre Dame.

 

[Joee]

I'm not a betting man, but if I was I'd bet it all on the Irish. Granted Turnover Tommy has to stay home and Touchdown Tommy has to show up but it's certainly not the Poodle days when the USC talent level was so superior that I could've coached the Trojans to a victory.
Those were dark times but no one can say ND is out of their league going against these guys.

 

[PANDFAN]

I know it seems like USC is turning the corner at the right time, but I still don't buy that we dont just work over this team.

We have two weeks to get guys like Tuitt and Day healthy. We have two weeks to put new quirks into our gameplan. We have two weeks to study USC while USC had to plan for yesterday's game.

We are going to be rested and ready for this game. It's at home and the biggest game of the year. If we win next Saturday, it's likely that we walk into Palo Alto with 9 wins under our belt and looking to take down the Tree and get a BCS game.

I think we win this game.

i just took a look at the highlights and then reviewed the play by play...kessler had 2 bombs of 60+ one was nelson who just flat out ran past everyone to make a catch where the ball wasn't even close to being where he was and then second to madden was poor tackling (looking like the michigan game)...anyways take away those 2 plays from kessler he was 13/28 for 172yards 46% completion against a weak @ss zona team that has only won games agaist UTSA,N ARIZONA,UNLV

 

[woolybug25]

i just took a look at the highlights and then reviewed the play by play...kessler had 2 bombs of 60+ one was nelson who just flat out ran past everyone to make a catch where the ball wasn't even close to being where he was and then second to madden was poor tackling (looking like the michigan game)...anyways take away those 2 plays from kessler he was 13/28 for 172yards 46% completion against a weak @ss zona team that has only won games agaist UTSA,N ARIZONA,UNLV

 

[Bogtrotter07]

To me, talk about the rest of the season comes down to habits. And SC with it's receivers will tell all. I am not much worried about the inside run. Only a little for the outside run.

A) Do ND defensive backs learn to find the ball and turn to make a play?

B) Does Bob and Brian, opt all in and remove all of their runstopping inside linebackers who, on a passing down can't catch a cold, let alone a defensive back out of the backfield? When they could put a big defensive back in? Or both Ben Counsell/Romeo Okwara outside and Jaylon over the middle?

There were two times against ASU on third and long that Jaylon Smith was not in, and one time that Ishaq Williams was playing middle linebacker on 3rd and 20. I love Ishaq, and he is doing a lot of things great (most) this year, but he will never be a cover linebacker on a teams best athlete.

On offense with some teams, we are just going to be able to throw the tops off of them. But the Pac teams left on our schedule, and one or two other teams, play action, with shorter to intermediate routes, and a few crossing routes over the middle, would be cool, too.

 

[IrishLax]

Better aggresive play calling by USC without Kiffin, very talented defensive front... defense will have to show up in a big way if Lee is healthy and then it's going to fall on the OL/Tommy to win this game. Kind of a scary proposition. With Golson I'd take us in a landslide.

 

[irishfan]

Honestly I'd really like it if we were able to go 10-2 and still not play in a BCS game.

10-2 would get us in a BCS game no matter what. I've seen a lot of people on ESPN speculate that 9-3 would still get us in a BCS game, although I have a tough time seeing that. We'd have to be in the Top 14 of the final BCS to be eligible. We'd have to impressively win the next 5 and be ranked ~10 and then lose a tight one to Stanford. I guess it could happen though, Oregon State was 9-3 and ranked #13 in the final BCS standings last year, with wins over Wisky and UCLA and losses to Oregon, Stanford, and Washington, and a pedestrian schedule outside of that.

I'd hate to see us overmatched in a BCS game, but I'd also hate to see us dumpster dive and be a 20 point favorite in a crappy bowl after finishing 9-3.

 

[greyhammer90]

Better aggresive play calling by USC without Kiffin, very talented defensive front... defense will have to show up in a big way if Lee is healthy and then it's going to fall on the OL/Tommy to win this game. Kind of a scary proposition. With Golson I'd take us in a landslide.

Key to the game. If we get OU Tommy, it's gonna be a long night and we might lose. If we get ASU Tommy, we'll blow them out for the first time in years.

I just really want the guys to come out of the tunnel with some EMOTION.

THIS IS A BIG GAME, GET EXCITED. YOU ONLY GET 4 CHANCES TO PLAY THESE *SSHOLES IN YOUR CAREERS.

 

[NDdomer2]

they beat a team they should beat, don't know how that makes them some new and improved team.

You would have more fun winning than losing to wsu too wouldn't you.

Arizona's passing attack is god awful and they couldn't protect to save their lives. Constantly rolling out and throwing lollipop jump passes. Our oline alone will change "how inspired" their D looks.
If we don't use a similar gameplan as ASU against these guys I will have some serious questions.

As for their offense. Some have pointed out that the Kessler kid didn't play as good as it seems. Hit a couple bombs (they threw enough I would hope they could hit one or two) to Nelson, who was clearly faster than anybody on the Arizona team. He may be faster than us too but the margin for error will be significantly less. They have a lot of depth at rb, but some bumps and bruises. Arizona dline made some nice penetration plays throughout the game, no reason to think we won't do the same.

I expect us to put up 30 minimum to be honest. Can they hang for a whole game, I guess we will find out.

 

[NDWorld247]

I didn't catch the game, but looking at the highlights and seeing how they were up 28-3 (and then 38-17) before giving up late TDs, I'm not sure what you guys see.

Silas Redd is back, Marqise Lee could/should be healthy. This will be a brawl.

Arizona is not a good football team, and neither is USC. That's what I saw.

I think this game plays out one of two ways:

1.) We get off to a fast start and demoralize an undermanned USC team. Win comfortably in a game that's never really a game regardless of the score, like last year.

2.) We come out sluggish, as we've been prone to do this season, and we find ourselves in a brawl. I still like our chances in this type of game against an inferior opponent.

i just took a look at the highlights and then reviewed the play by play...kessler had 2 bombs of 60+ one was nelson who just flat out ran past everyone to make a catch where the ball wasn't even close to being where he was and then second to madden was poor tackling (looking like the michigan game)...anyways take away those 2 plays from kessler he was 13/28 for 172yards 46% completion against a weak @ss zona team that has only won games agaist UTSA,N ARIZONA,UNLV

Better aggresive play calling by USC without Kiffin, very talented defensive front... defense will have to show up in a big way if Lee is healthy and then it's going to fall on the OL/Tommy to win this game. Kind of a scary proposition. With Golson I'd take us in a landslide.

It seemed like USC's game plan was big play or bust. They got their running game going later in the game, but I'd guess most of those 15 incompletions were 20+ yard attempts.

My keys to the game:

1. Get off to a fast start. We can't let them hang around.
2. Limit the big play defensively, which is what we try to do every week. Bend but don't break will beat this team.
3. Slow down their pass rush by pounding the ball and incorporating more play action. Need to protect Tommy.

 

[CarrollVermin]

We've seen this script before...two years ago. We had a bye, a night game, and it was a "big game" atmosphere. Then we laid an egg.

I hope Kelly learned something from that. This game already has my stomach in knots. A win here and yes, we should be nine wins going to Stanford with a Fiesta Bowl bid on the line.

 

[phork]

I know it seems like USC is turning the corner at the right time, but I still don't buy that we dont just work over this team.

We have two weeks to get guys like Tuitt and Day healthy. We have two weeks to put new quirks into our gameplan. We have two weeks to study USC while USC had to plan for yesterday's game.

We are going to be rested and ready for this game. It's at home and the biggest game of the year. If we win next Saturday, it's likely that we walk into Palo Alto with 9 wins under our belt and looking to take down the Tree and get a BCS game.

I think we win this game.

Kelly is no Saban in regards to 2 weeks to prepare.

I'll will be fuming mad if we lose to BYU or Pitt. Both of those teams are hot garbage.

I also think "likely" is indeed the right terminology. We will be heavy favorites in every game but Stanford if we win next week.

Errr, BYU almost beat us last year. They are still a top25 defense. This is the only game that worries me. We know who Stanford is and generally the rest. But BYU is a legitimate BCS buster for us.

I would find it very unlikely that if we won 10 games that we would be left out of the BCS. Last year they put NIU in the Fiesta. There is always room for a 10 win Notre Dame.

If ND is eligible, ND will be in. I look back at the UM vs VT decision in 2011. MSU beat UM and lost in the BIG championship which then elevated UM to a BCS game where MSU got the JunkBowl. UM and VT were picked because, outside of the BCS championship game, BCS games are made to put butts in the seats. Period. And who does that just about as well as anyone in the nation? ND.

 

[NDohio]

I know it seems like USC is turning the corner at the right time, but I still don't buy that we dont just work over this team.

We have two weeks to get guys like Tuitt and Day healthy. We have two weeks to put new quirks into our gameplan. We have two weeks to study USC while USC had to plan for yesterday's game.

We are going to be rested and ready for this game. It's at home and the biggest game of the year. If we win next Saturday, it's likely that we walk into Palo Alto with 9 wins under our belt and looking to take down the Tree and get a BCS game.

I think we win this game.

Player tendencies maybe, but basically last night's game will be the only film that matters for true game planning purposes.

 

[Cackalacky]

I think we are a better team overall, but I have a feeling this will be a brawl again. If we stop their run game and force Kessler to pass without giving up big plays I think we can win easily.

I like having the bye week to install and run some new wrinkles as well. If we come out without any imaginative play-calling, we could be in trouble.

Big x-factor for me is who is calling the offensive plays now. It definitely is more fast paced and open than Kiffin.

 

[ulukinatme]

6-7 in the box and have them play the run (unless they're in 5 wide, which would be doubtful since their receivers are all hurt), and put a safety and our best corner on Agholor, we should do well.