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luckofirish8
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I couldn't be happier...let's play some football.
[September 2, 2006] #2 Notre Dame (0-0) at Georgia Tech (0-0)
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SillyIrish
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I can't believe it's almost a week away because I'm still hung over from the Fiesta Bowl.
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Comparing Tech's Johnson and Irish star
It's impossible to predict much about Notre Dame's game at Georgia Tech on Saturday, but it's a good bet neither team will get out of Bobby Dodd Stadium without completing a pass, which happened in 1975 and '76, when the Yellow Jackets didn't connect once (and won in '76 without even making an attempt).
Notre Dame has the nation's leading returning wideout, senior All-American Jeff Samardzija (77 catches last season), and Tech returns All-America junior Calvin Johnson, whom some draft experts feel is the nation's best wideout.
At 235 pounds, Johnson is heavier than Samardzija, who weighs 218, but they're both 6 feet 5 and quite similar beyond that. Body types suggest they're possession receivers, but both are much more than that, two outstanding athletes with great hands who can be nightmares for opposing defenses.
Here's a comparison between them:
CALVIN JOHNSON
His statistics may not overwhelm: 48 receptions for 837 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman, 54 for 888 and six as a sophomore. But Tech threw only 418 passes last season. He had 27.4 percent of the Yellow Jackets' catches, Samardzija 26.2 percent for the Irish.
The nature of Johnson's catches is impossible to miss, however, and besides, numbers don't mean everything for a receiver who can also play small.
"He's very fast, very quick and very smart," Tech receivers coach Buddy Geis said. "There are receivers that are fast that are not quick. By that, I mean he can take you up the field, but when he has to he can get separation on an in-route, or a comeback, which makes him exceptional.
"Big receivers have a tendency to run, and once they get going they can go, but he can burst you up the field at 18 or 20 yards, and come back as good as any 6-foot, or 5-11 receiver I've had. To have control of his body at his age, he's done all the right things in his life, I can tell you that."
Longtime NFL scout Gil Brandt said Johnson generates uncanny straight-line momentum for a player his size.
"He's everything you want in a wide receiver. He's tall, has great speed," Brandt said. "Calvin averages right at 17 yards a catch, so he's pretty good. Johnson reminds you a lot of a Jerry Rice or Terrell Owens in that once they make a catch, they accelerate and pick up more yards."
JEFF SAMARDZIJA
Samardzija, a part-time pitcher who was drafted in the fifth round by baseball's Cubs this summer, might climb into the top of next year's NFL draft, too.
Amazing for a guy who was no higher than No. 3 on Notre Dame's wide receiver depth chart before last season.
But junior Rehma McKnight tore up a knee in the Irish's second game, and Samardzija took off, setting school records for yards (1,249) and touchdown receptions (15) in a season. He, too, has outstanding body control and can separate, but he might not quite have Johnson's vertical leap.
"He's going to be one of the interesting players of all time in the draft," Brandt said. "If the draft were today, I think Samardzija would be a top 10 pick. He's another big receiver playing in a very friendly passing offense.
"He may not be quite as fast as Johnson, but I think sometimes you're fooled by a person's speed."
Now that Tech coach Chan Gailey has turned over his offense to Patrick Nix, Gailey watches tape of opposing defenses and offenses.
He can tell Samardzija won't be easy to double team.
"[McKnight] was their leading receiver the two years prior to that. They're both very productive players, very good athletes," Gailey said. "On top of being athletes, they're very productive. They're a really good 1-2 punch."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It's impossible to predict much about Notre Dame's game at Georgia Tech on Saturday, but it's a good bet neither team will get out of Bobby Dodd Stadium without completing a pass, which happened in 1975 and '76, when the Yellow Jackets didn't connect once (and won in '76 without even making an attempt).
Notre Dame has the nation's leading returning wideout, senior All-American Jeff Samardzija (77 catches last season), and Tech returns All-America junior Calvin Johnson, whom some draft experts feel is the nation's best wideout.
At 235 pounds, Johnson is heavier than Samardzija, who weighs 218, but they're both 6 feet 5 and quite similar beyond that. Body types suggest they're possession receivers, but both are much more than that, two outstanding athletes with great hands who can be nightmares for opposing defenses.
Here's a comparison between them:
CALVIN JOHNSON
His statistics may not overwhelm: 48 receptions for 837 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman, 54 for 888 and six as a sophomore. But Tech threw only 418 passes last season. He had 27.4 percent of the Yellow Jackets' catches, Samardzija 26.2 percent for the Irish.
The nature of Johnson's catches is impossible to miss, however, and besides, numbers don't mean everything for a receiver who can also play small.
"He's very fast, very quick and very smart," Tech receivers coach Buddy Geis said. "There are receivers that are fast that are not quick. By that, I mean he can take you up the field, but when he has to he can get separation on an in-route, or a comeback, which makes him exceptional.
"Big receivers have a tendency to run, and once they get going they can go, but he can burst you up the field at 18 or 20 yards, and come back as good as any 6-foot, or 5-11 receiver I've had. To have control of his body at his age, he's done all the right things in his life, I can tell you that."
Longtime NFL scout Gil Brandt said Johnson generates uncanny straight-line momentum for a player his size.
"He's everything you want in a wide receiver. He's tall, has great speed," Brandt said. "Calvin averages right at 17 yards a catch, so he's pretty good. Johnson reminds you a lot of a Jerry Rice or Terrell Owens in that once they make a catch, they accelerate and pick up more yards."
JEFF SAMARDZIJA
Samardzija, a part-time pitcher who was drafted in the fifth round by baseball's Cubs this summer, might climb into the top of next year's NFL draft, too.
Amazing for a guy who was no higher than No. 3 on Notre Dame's wide receiver depth chart before last season.
But junior Rehma McKnight tore up a knee in the Irish's second game, and Samardzija took off, setting school records for yards (1,249) and touchdown receptions (15) in a season. He, too, has outstanding body control and can separate, but he might not quite have Johnson's vertical leap.
"He's going to be one of the interesting players of all time in the draft," Brandt said. "If the draft were today, I think Samardzija would be a top 10 pick. He's another big receiver playing in a very friendly passing offense.
"He may not be quite as fast as Johnson, but I think sometimes you're fooled by a person's speed."
Now that Tech coach Chan Gailey has turned over his offense to Patrick Nix, Gailey watches tape of opposing defenses and offenses.
He can tell Samardzija won't be easy to double team.
"[McKnight] was their leading receiver the two years prior to that. They're both very productive players, very good athletes," Gailey said. "On top of being athletes, they're very productive. They're a really good 1-2 punch."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Óglaigh_na_hÉireann
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Vince Young
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Could that be 7:00pm Central Time?
irishnd31
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This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen.
jiggafini19
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Remember this one?
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Just a friendly bump to our official game thread.
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Man, that's pretty sad.
KMac151993
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When is the gameday thread going to start?
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You're in it. What do you mean?
KMac151993
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I just thought there would be a new one since this one is already 5 pages and usual game threads go at least 5 pages...I didn't know how big of a thread you wanted.
Tyrone Davieham
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KMac151993
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I already miss Tony Roberts.....
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DukeDomer
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Agreed!
I really hate Brett Musburger!!
I really hate Brett Musburger!!
KMac151993
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Its put up or shut up time for the Irish!
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luckofirish8
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Game Time Hell Yeah!!!
KMac151993
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I dunno if I approve of the Shark taunting the crowd there....Weis looks confident as hell.
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DukeDomer
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say hello to George West!!
KMac151993
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where was the hold?????
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DukeDomer
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They called McKnight. They didn't show the replay. ABC in midseason form already!
KMac151993
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Its not ABC its ESPN...ABC is no longer involved with College Football at all.
KMac151993
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rhema blew that kid up...i have no clue where the official saw the hold.
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DukeDomer
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I know, but to me ABC is ESPN & ESPN is ABC.
KMac151993
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we are playing terribly sloppy