College Football Playoff Rankings 2015 (ND #8...)

[ickythump1225]

LOL...

Bama's pass defense is among the best in CFB this season.

The best passing offense you've played all year is Ole Miss and they shredded you guys through the air. After that it's maybe Arkansas? Tennessee? If we met in the playoffs we'd be the best offense you guys have played all year and the most dynamic passing attack by far other than maybe Ole Piss. I'm not saying your pass defense is bad but I suspect that Alabama's pass defense is being inflated a bit by playing poor passing attacks most of the season. LSU, UGA, and Wisconsin all have very poor passing attacks.

None of this is to guarantee a victory or anything like that, but historically Saban's defenses have struggled with spread teams that have dynamic air attacks.

I won't say a single bad word about Alabama's front seven though because they are rock solid.

 

[irishfan]

LOL...

Bama's pass defense is among the best in CFB this season.

We won't even discuss the best front seven in CFB. And depth to keep them fresh the entire game. But that's why we play 'em.

Secondary is fine, but it's easily the weakness of your defense. Saban has never been able to figure out how to shut down a true passing spread (and really a true high-octane spread in general--Auburn/Ohio State clearly have given Saban fits). Somehow that conference refuses to produces top QBs though, so games like JFF A&M and OU and OSU don't pop up often. Hell, he had a whole year to figure out how to stop JFF/Evans and couldn't come close. The teams that line up in a pro-style offense and try and pound the ball against Bama are the worst. He will stop that offense every time. The Georgia/LSU games were over before they even started this year.

I know Bama shot themselves in the foot over and over, but Ole Miss did throw for 341 at Bama this year. OSU went for over 500 yards cause Cardale and Devin Smith could take the top off the defense. WVU threw for 365 last year and they were a very average Big-12 team. We're not going to beat Bama if Saban has a month to get ready for it, but if we meet in the Championship with only 10 days to prep...ND runs the type of offense that historically has given Saban fits.

We're essentially a slightly poor man's version of OSU's 2014 offense with our talent. Fuller is a Devin Smith clone. Kizer/Prosise are a step below Cardale/Zeke but not miles below. Ditto with the OL. Run blocking is worse, but pass blocking is probably a bit better. The rest of the WRs are probably a notch above what OSU had last season. Again, if Saban has a month to prep then I'm sure he will stop us. Only 10 days? We can move the ball if we throw it early and often.

 

[ThePiombino]

The best passing offense you've played all year is Ole Miss and they shredded you guys through the air. After that it's maybe Arkansas? Tennessee? If we met in the playoffs we'd be the best offense you guys have played all year and the most dynamic passing attack by far other than maybe Ole Piss. I'm not saying your pass defense is bad but I suspect that Alabama's pass defense is being inflated a bit by playing poor passing attacks most of the season. LSU, UGA, and Wisconsin all have very poor passing attacks.

None of this is to guarantee a victory or anything like that, but historically Saban's defenses have struggled with spread teams that have dynamic air attacks.

I won't say a single bad word about Alabama's front seven though because they are rock solid.

Thank you for putting into words what I didn't have the patience or energy to do myself. Bama's D is vaunted, no doubt. It will be so long as Saban walks the sidelines. HOWEVER, let's not get it mixed up. SEC is VERY lacking in the passing offense category these days. It's also easier to key in on the ground game when opponents provide virtually zero aerial threat. ND would be one of the more proficiently balanced teams Bama faces. That said, I want nothing to do with Bama.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Dude, your stuff is tired. You have all day and this is all your wife can come up with?

I yawn at you.

Hold up...THAT is what you come back with? LOL!!!! I love you, man. First, since your pathetic argument was ripped to shreds, you have to get personal with me. Then, after your weak take is made to somehow look even worse (still waiting for you to tell me the last time Stanford lost by 40...you know, the score of your ridiculous take), you try and rip my wife? Hahahahaha...dude, you're a gem.

I'll take that as your way of waving the white flag in this whole thing. Stick to bumping threads of recruits we have no shot for and making up stories about how a 4 star WR who USC didn't even make room for is universally known as the top player in all of CA, and stop telling ND fans to not be excited about where the team is. The latter is a much better look for you.

 

[Irish Insanity]

They're a year late calling DK a third stringer but the storylines are very similar.

A lot on this board refer to him as that

 

[wizards8507]

This is a crazy, far-fetched, unconventional and brilliant idea. It will never ever (ever) happen, but it would be awesome if they'd let ND schedule a 13th game against the Big 12 champ on championship weekend. (Many years it would be pointless, plus the Big 12 can't even figure out who their champ is all the time, but sill.)

I suggested that a year ago. The Notre Dame - Big 12 Classic. Play it in Dallas or somewhere.

 

[Booslum31]

I thought that maybe their 13th game could always be against BYU...Call it the Holy War.

 

[woolybug25]

Why should we have to play a conference champ when our schedule is set up to where we potentially face multiple conference champs already? We already have better SoS metrics than then the Big12 (and most leagues for that matter). We should be petitioning the NCAA to allow us to play Hawaii or a powderpuff for a 13th game.

Must be Irish victim complex or something... Everybody seems to think we should have to do much more than every other team in the NCAA in order to be fair. lol

 

[ThePiombino]

Why should we have to play a conference champ when our schedule is set up to where we potentially face multiple conference champs already? We already have better SoS metrics than then the Big12 (and most leagues for that matter). We should be petitioning the NCAA to allow us to play Hawaii or a powderpuff for a 13th game.

Must be Irish victim complex or something... Everybody seems to think we should have to do much more than every other team in the NCAA in order to be fair. lol

Agreed.

 

[NDinL.A.]

This is a crazy, far-fetched, unconventional and brilliant idea. It will never ever (ever) happen, but it would be awesome if they'd let ND schedule a 13th game against the Big 12 champ on championship weekend. (Many years it would be pointless, plus the Big 12 can't even figure out who their champ is all the time, but sill.)

I suggested that a year ago. The Notre Dame - Big 12 Classic. Play it in Dallas or somewhere.

Why would the Big 12 ever agree to do that? If Baylor or Okie State win out, they’re almost assuredly in. Imagine having to then play a great ND team to get into the playoffs?
Why take the risk? And what about all the years ND is mediocre or just plain bad? How does a win over that help them?

And what about if ND is undefeated and guaranteed a spot in the title game…what would a game against their champion do to us besides giving us an opportunity to lose our playoff spot and possibly incur more injuries?

And why would the NCAA allow it? It is ND’s choice not to be in a conference. No one else gets an opportunity for a 13th game unless they win their division…why should a 7-5 ND get to play another game when a 7-5 Ole Miss team can’t?

It just doesn’t make sense and will never happen.

 

[RDU Irish]

Why would the Big 12 ever agree to do that? If Baylor or Okie State win out, they’re almost assuredly in. Imagine having to then play a great ND team to get into the playoffs?
Why take the risk? And what about all the years ND is mediocre or just plain bad? How does a win over that help them?

And what about if ND is undefeated and guaranteed a spot in the title game…what would a game against their champion do to us besides giving us an opportunity to lose our playoff spot and possibly incur more injuries?

And why would the NCAA allow it? It is ND’s choice not to be in a conference. No one else gets an opportunity for a 13th game unless they win their division…why should a 7-5 ND get to play another game when a 7-5 Ole Miss team can’t?

It just doesn’t make sense and will never happen.

Statistically, both parties are MUCH more likely to have one loss and 1) move back b/c they have a bye while other contenders win against a high quality opponent. 2) Weak ass strength of B12 schedules can be perpetuated and only one of the teams has to worry about a quality non-conference opponent. 3) ND would guarantee a top 10 opponent to finish the year. 4) winner would almost always get a bump and rarely get jumped.

I actually think B12 has more to gain than ND - as we are seeing a one loss ND gets the nod over ANY one loss B12 and most of the undefeated.

As for an extra game - just add a bye week (preferably after the Navy game).

 

[arrowryan]

What would the playoff look like if Florida, Bama, LSU, OSU, Iowa, and Stanford all lose a game in the last 3-4 weeks? I know that would be crazy but it is definitely possible considering who they all have play still.

I would think the SEC and Big 10 get left out. Would Utah make it?

1.) Clemson
2.) Notre Dame
3.) Utah
4.) Big 12
???

 

[GoIrish41]

What would the playoff look like if Florida, Bama, LSU, OSU, Iowa, and Stanford all lose a game in the last 3-4 weeks? I know that would be crazy but it is definitely possible considering who they all have play still.

I would think the SEC and Big 10 get left out. Would Utah make it?

1.) Clemson
2.) Notre Dame
3.) Utah
4.) Big 12
???

That would be freakin' amazing. ND would have a great shot at winning the NCG this season. ... alas, I doubt Bama loses another game, unfortunately. If we are destined to go play in the championship, we are going to face Bama eventually.

 

[arrowryan]

That would be freakin' amazing. ND would have a great shot at winning the NCG this season. ... alas, I doubt Bama loses another game, unfortunately. If we are destined to go play in the championship, we are going to face Bama eventually.

That's the popular opinion but I wouldn't sleep on Miss. St. this weekend.

 

[TheChosen1]

Dembrock on Sirius XM college sports now

 

[koonja]

Denbrock is sweet.

 

[ACamp1900]

Mike Greenberg sure wants everyone to know he thinks ND is hot garbage...

 

[zelezo vlk]

Mike Greenberg sure wants everyone to know he thinks ND is hot garbage...

Greeny being Greeny

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Mike Greenberg sure wants everyone to know he thinks ND is hot garbage...

Exact quotes? He's also playing off Golic, who has ND in his top 4.

 

[ACamp1900]

Exact quotes? He's also playing off Golic, who has ND in his top 4.

I only listen for like ten minutes or so on my way to work each morning, and only when DP is on break... and I've heard three separate segments, over three straight days of MG going on and on about OU being better, deserving a final ranking above ND and it all being irrelevant bc no way ND beats Stanford anyway... but if by some miracle they do, OU should be above them bc ND is totally overrated... that pretty much sums it all up...

 

[T Town Tommy]

Secondary is fine, but it's easily the weakness of your defense. Saban has never been able to figure out how to shut down a true passing spread (and really a true high-octane spread in general--Auburn/Ohio State clearly have given Saban fits). Somehow that conference refuses to produces top QBs though, so games like JFF A&M and OU and OSU don't pop up often. Hell, he had a whole year to figure out how to stop JFF/Evans and couldn't come close. The teams that line up in a pro-style offense and try and pound the ball against Bama are the worst. He will stop that offense every time. The Georgia/LSU games were over before they even started this year.

I know Bama shot themselves in the foot over and over, but Ole Miss did throw for 341 at Bama this year. OSU went for over 500 yards cause Cardale and Devin Smith could take the top off the defense. WVU threw for 365 last year and they were a very average Big-12 team. We're not going to beat Bama if Saban has a month to get ready for it, but if we meet in the Championship with only 10 days to prep...ND runs the type of offense that historically has given Saban fits.

We're essentially a slightly poor man's version of OSU's 2014 offense with our talent. Fuller is a Devin Smith clone. Kizer/Prosise are a step below Cardale/Zeke but not miles below. Ditto with the OL. Run blocking is worse, but pass blocking is probably a bit better. The rest of the WRs are probably a notch above what OSU had last season. Again, if Saban has a month to prep then I'm sure he will stop us. Only 10 days? We can move the ball if we throw it early and often.

Ole Miss had almost half of their passing yards on two plays - one fluke deflection off two defenders and a helmet and one pass that was actually illegal so the Ole Miss numbers are actually a little misrepresented. Also, the secondary this year is not the same secondary as last year. Only one full time starter from last year is in the secondary. While the secondary is actually the weakest part of the Bama defense , I would not say they are bad at all. Plus, the ability of the DL to pressure the QB straight up has been a huge plus. In the past 4-5 years, the DL hasn't been able to do that but that's simply not the case now. Saban has quietly - if that''s possible - recruited players that can come off the edge and can get to the QB. So Kizer's going to break off and run? Highly doubtful. Bama is the most disciplined two gap defense in the country and Ragland, Lee, and foster have plenty enough closing speed to account for Kizer.

Comparing the Irish offense to JFF and the Auburns of the past is a stretch. The Irish offense isn't even close to those type of spread offenses. Outside of Fuller, there isn't one receiver that has the ability to separate consistently. No TE to fill the seam - although that wouldn't matter as we have LBs that can cover most any TE. RB out of the backfield? Nope. Foster has proven time and again he has little issues getting the RB slipping out of the back field.The Irish would probably have difficulties running the ball so that leaves Kizer and Fuller to account for. Somehow I think Bama's defense can do that.

What seems to be lost in all the talk is that Irish defense. And just being honest, that defense isn't close to being a very good defense. I like Bama's chances running the ball on the Irish and once the Irish have to commit eight guys in the box, Coker has shown he has enough in him to pass the ball effectively enough.

The game - if played - will ultimately be decided where it always is and that's in the trenches. And I would take Bama every time on that and love my chances.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Secondary is fine, but it's easily the weakness of your defense. Saban has never been able to figure out how to shut down a true passing spread (and really a true high-octane spread in general--Auburn/Ohio State clearly have given Saban fits). Somehow that conference refuses to produces top QBs though, so games like JFF A&M and OU and OSU don't pop up often. Hell, he had a whole year to figure out how to stop JFF/Evans and couldn't come close. The teams that line up in a pro-style offense and try and pound the ball against Bama are the worst. He will stop that offense every time. The Georgia/LSU games were over before they even started this year.

I know Bama shot themselves in the foot over and over, but Ole Miss did throw for 341 at Bama this year. OSU went for over 500 yards cause Cardale and Devin Smith could take the top off the defense. WVU threw for 365 last year and they were a very average Big-12 team. We're not going to beat Bama if Saban has a month to get ready for it, but if we meet in the Championship with only 10 days to prep...ND runs the type of offense that historically has given Saban fits.

We're essentially a slightly poor man's version of OSU's 2014 offense with our talent. Fuller is a Devin Smith clone. Kizer/Prosise are a step below Cardale/Zeke but not miles below. Ditto with the OL. Run blocking is worse, but pass blocking is probably a bit better. The rest of the WRs are probably a notch above what OSU had last season. Again, if Saban has a month to prep then I'm sure he will stop us. Only 10 days? We can move the ball if we throw it early and often.

Our best hope is that we could get up early like OU did vs Bama and make them pass the ball, because I see us trying to stop Derrick Henry for 4 quarters going VERY poorly. Problem is that when this happened, OU had the pass rush to punish Bama's mediocre pass blocking OL, I don't know if we can say the same. We play Bama's game, we loose every time, and even with a bit of luck and an explosive offense it's hard to get up quickly on Bama's defense.

 

[RDU Irish]

LOL...

Bama's pass defense is among the best in CFB this season.

We won't even discuss the best front seven in CFB. And depth to keep them fresh the entire game. But that's why we play 'em.

SEC quarterbacks suck - which has nothing to do with Bama having a great pass defense I am sure. Who have they played that has a decent run AND pass game. An actual offense with more than one threat? I am asking honestly because I am too lazy to look it up. Bama's strength - front seven and well coached - played perfectly to neutralize LSU, IMO.

 

[koonja]

Mike Greenberg sure wants everyone to know he thinks ND is hot garbage...

He's a moron. Between him not realizing what's really going on in CFB (teams stacking their schedule with nobody's early on to get ranked high), and his constant need to feel morally superior and 'above sports' in his social rants, he can take a hike. He's so focused on appearing smarter than anyone in the room that he doesn't see things clearly. There's something insecure about people who think they need to appear smarter compared to the people who are secure and don't need to prove anything.

 

[T Town Tommy]

That's the popular opinion but I wouldn't sleep on Miss. St. this weekend.

Miss State seems to always play us hard so I would agree. We almost always play them after LSU and it seems Bama goes through the motions and plays pretty flat. State is always a physical team and Dak is pretty good so I expect a fight on Saturday for sure.

 

[T Town Tommy]

SEC quarterbacks suck - which has nothing to do with Bama having a great pass defense I am sure. Who have they played that has a decent run AND pass game. An actual offense with more than one threat? I am asking honestly because I am too lazy to look it up. Bama's strength - front seven and well coached - played perfectly to neutralize LSU, IMO.

The closest team was probably Tenn with Dobbs and Hurd.

 

[tussin]

Mike and Mike is an awful show.

 

[Cackalacky]

Mike Greenberg sure wants everyone to know he thinks ND is hot garbage...

2015 Football Power Index
RK TEAM W-L PROJ W-L WIN OUT% CONF WIN% REM SOS RK FPI
1 Oklahoma, Big 12 8-1 9.7 - 2.3 17.4 18.4 1 26.0
2 Baylor, Big 12 8-0 10.6 - 1.4 15.8 37.4 4 25.6
3 TCU, Big 12 8-1 9.9 - 2.1 19.3 9.7 40 23.9
4 Alabama, SEC 8-1 10.7 - 1.9 26.9 38.7 42 22.9
5 OSU, Big Ten 9-0 11.8 - 0.9 31.8 50.4 17 22.8
6 Clemson, ACC 9-0 12.5 - 0.5 54.8 71.1 59 22.5
7 USC, Pac-12 6-3 8.5 - 3.8 33.6 19.3 23 22.0
8 Notre Dame, FBS Indep. 8-1 10.3 - 1.7 36.1 -- 53 21.5
9 LSU, SEC 7-1 9.1 - 2.1 19.3 11.9 9 21.5
10 Ole Miss, SEC 7-3 8.2 - 4.0 21.9 9.6 2 20.1
11 Stanford, Pac-12 8-1 10.7 - 2.3 20.0 56.8 12 20.0
12 Tennessee, SEC 5-4 7.7 - 4.3 73.9 0.0 89 19.8
13 Oklahoma State, Big 12 9-0 10.6 - 1.4 11.4 34.5 11 18.7
14 Florida, SEC 8-1 10.7 - 2.3 17.8 38.1 44 18.0
15 Miss St, SEC 7-2 8.5 - 3.6 9.7 1.5 3 17.3
16 Michigan, Big Ten 7-2 9.0 - 3.2 14.7 11.6 22 16.9
17 UCLA, Pac-12 7-2 8.6 - 3.5 4.1 4.4 15 16.5
18 FSU, ACC 7-2 9.1 - 2.9 27.5 0.0 56 16.5
19 UNC, ACC 8-1 10.2 - 2.7 7.5 27.6 18 15.5
20 Georgia, SEC 6-3 7.9 - 4.1 22.7 0.0 28 15.5
RK TEAM W-L PROJ W-L WIN OUT% CONF WIN% REM SOS RK FPI
21 Utah, Pac-12 8-1 10.4 - 2.2 12.7 19.0 41 15.3
22 Michigan State, Big Ten 8-1 10.0 - 2.2 8.9 9.4 45 15.2
23 Texas A&M, SEC 6-3 8.0 - 4.0 16.8 0.0 63 14.4
24 Wisconsin, Big Ten 8-2 9.6 - 2.5 56.7 2.6 60 14.1
25 Boise State, MW 7-2 10.5 - 2.4 65.7 72.0

He is well known for quoting and using ESPN's FPI... You all know how I feel about that. It is so favoring Big 12 right now and pretty much everyone in the country knows the BIG 12 is not great.

 

[IrishLion]

The closest team was probably Tenn with Dobbs and Hurd.

Hahahaha

 

[Woneone]

The closest team was probably Tenn with Dobbs and Hurd.

That's a Tennessee team that played an average Oklahoma defense (with similar athletes) who held them to 50 less yards for the game than Alabama did, and it went to two overtimes.

I'm not saying Alabama's defense is "bad". I think they're really, really good. I just don't think they've been tested at all (other than Ole Miss), so it's hard to make all these judgements without seeing something more against a quality offense.