Clausen vs. Mallett

[johnnd05]

Could it be that next Saturday all the Skunkbear fans who said that Jimmy was overrated, they wanted Mallett more after all, etc., etc., get to eat their words?

Their respective stat lines today, FWIW:

• Mallett: 6/17, 49 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
• Clausen: 17/32 144 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT (those last two numbers should be reversed, of course)

Can't wait to see how this one plays out ...

Oh, and btw, in case you needed any more reason to be excited to kick the crap out of UM, there's this:

"We'll be all right," said Michigan's Mike Hart, who ran for 127 yards. "I'm not worried about it. We'll bounce back."

In fact, Hart predicted the Wolverines won't be winless after hosting Notre Dame.

"I guarantee we win next week," Hart said.

Big words for a little man on an awful team ...

 

[Golden_Domer88]

After seeing us get beat by teams with very good defenses that kept our offense off the field and kept our defense out to hang and dry. I feel like we will beat Michigan. There defense is not good at all. There front seven is nothing compared to what we have seen the past two weeks.

On offense they have a decent Oline and WR's. But there QB will be out to injury with Mallett starting. So they will run the ball a lot more. I think Weis will open the play book to Clausen and he will have a field day against that secondary.

ND: 28
UM: 14

 

[KamaraPolice]

I agree, I have no doubt we whoop up on the skunkbears. Although, Mike Hart, in his Kellen Winslowesque prima donna rant, is a gamer. He will come to play and run like a man with a mission.

Although I think Hart goes for 200 yards, Mallet throws 6 interceptions in Notre Dame's biggest crushing in big house history:

Notre Dame 66
Michigan 13

 

[johnnd05]

Yeah, without Henne, I don't see their passing game doing much against us. And if we can gear up for the run, say by having Zibby basically be an extra LB, I think we can put the breaks on Hart a bit. I'll be worried, though, if it's close going into the 4th, because our lack of d-line depth has really been killing us there and Hart is a straight-up workhorse.

As to our offense: the one thing is to remember is that both App. St. and Oregon run mainly spread-style sets, so that seems to be part of what gives Michigan fits. I STILL think we'll put up points on them, though.

 

[johnnd05]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan quarterback Chad Henne did not play in the second half against Oregon on Saturday because of an injury, and he's not expected to face Notre Dame.

"I think he's very doubtful for next week," coach Lloyd Carr said after the Ducks beat the Wolverines 39-7.

(link)

I cannot WAIT to put the hurts on little Ryan.

 

[onenybrother]

The Dame and Michigan playing in a game that don't matter. That's the sad part about this season. Games that not gonn mean shyt.

Let's Go Dame!!!

 

[johnnd05]

The Dame and Michigan playing in a game that don't matter. That's the sad part about this season. Games that not gonn mean shyt.

Let's Go Dame!!!

I don't buy that. We still have a solid shot to get into a bowl, and the chance to beat Meatchicken ALWAYS means something ...

 

[GoIrish41]

I don't think we are in anywhere near the position to be cocky going into Michigan. I doubt this year's team would have beat Ap. St. or Oregon either. This might be our best chance for a win this year, but its going to be a typical ND/Michigan game -- the outcome just won't mean dick.

 

[johnnd05]

I don't think we are in anywhere near the position to be cocky going into Michigan. I doubt this year's team would have beat Ap. St. or Oregon either. This might be our best chance for a win this year, but its going to be a typical ND/Michigan game -- the outcome just won't mean dick.

I'm not being cocky, and I can GUARANTEE you our players won't be. (Remember the way that killed us last year?) I also agree that we would probably be 0-2 against those teams, as well.

That said, I DO think we'll win (chug, chug, CHUG the Kool-Aid!), and it ALWAYS means something when we beat UM.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Irish! BEEEEEEEEEEEEAT Skunkbears!

 

[SillyIrish]

should be a good game next week and I'm looking forward to it. Mike Hart should just keep his mouth shut and win a football game, two losses in a row to unranked opponents when u start #5 is a joke. This couldn't have happened to such a great team and a fan base full of a-holes. I'm loving every second of it.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm calling it a toss-up. In normal years, we would crush their sorry ass. This year, not so normal for us. We'll see what CW can come up in a week.

 

[Timugen]

I'm calling it a toss-up. In normal years, we would crush their sorry ass. This year, not so normal for us. We'll see what CW can come up in a week.

I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but don't hold your breath on this one. Just take a step back and look at what our Noffense has done this year. Again, I'm really not trying to be negative here, but the reality is, unless our D can give us a 3-0 or 6-3 win, our O has not shown us even a glimmer of hope.

To put it in perspective: we all need to take off the homer glasses and put down the Kool-Aid for 5 seconds to realize that our defense scored more in ONE PLAY than our offense has for the entire year.

 

[ant80]

Could it be that next Saturday all the Skunkbear fans who said that Jimmy was overrated, they wanted Mallett more after all, etc., etc., get to eat their words?

Their respective stat lines today, FWIW:

• Mallett: 6/17, 49 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
• Clausen: 17/32 144 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT (those last two numbers should be reversed, of course)

I don't know where you're getting your statistics from, but Mallett threw an interception. It was tipped off of Mario Manningham.

 

[johnnd05]

I don't know where you're getting your statistics from, but Mallett threw an interception. It was tipped off of Mario Manningham.

Yeah sorry, I just typed that one in wrong.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I think it will be a good matchup. I just pray to God we win. Go Irish!

 

[johnnd05]

I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but don't hold your breath on this one. Just take a step back and look at what our Noffense has done this year. Again, I'm really not trying to be negative here, but the reality is, unless our D can give us a 3-0 or 6-3 win, our O has not shown us even a glimmer of hope.

To put it in perspective: we all need to take off the homer glasses and put down the Kool-Aid for 5 seconds to realize that our defense scored more in ONE PLAY than our offense has for the entire year.

I don't disagree entirely, but we played two REALLY good defenses, and Michigan's has looked anything but. I think we'll put up some points next week, no doubt about it.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

We better put up some points. Its pretty sad when your defense has a touchdown and your offense doesn't going into your third game of the season.

 

[Timugen]

I don't disagree entirely, but we played two REALLY good defenses, and Michigan's has looked anything but. I think we'll put up some points next week, no doubt about it.

Michigan's D looked so bad because those 2 teams' strengths played to the Skunkbears' weaknesses on D. Meeshigan just doesn't have the team speed/coaching to match up well against a spread. That, we are not.

Yes, at times their D just looked completely lost yesterday, but a lot of times they just simply got outplayed. Dixon looked like Batman out there.

 

[johnnd05]

Michigan's D looked so bad because those 2 teams' strengths played to the Skunkbears' weaknesses on D. Meeshigan just doesn't have the team speed/coaching to match up well against a spread. That, we are not.

Yes, at times their D just looked completely lost yesterday, but a lot of times they just simply got outplayed. Dixon looked like Batman out there.

Did you say Batman? I know I've already done this once before, but ...

It's uncanny ...

 

[ant80]

Quick question for anyone with inside information: Since ND is playing Michigan next week, are there any indications that Jones might start considering Michigan's weakness against mobile quarterbacks?

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Quick question for anyone with inside information: Since ND is playing Michigan next week, are there any indications that Jones might start considering Michigan's weakness against mobile quarterbacks?

Nah...I think there's a better chance of Spinner starting next week than DD. Charlie seems like he's locked on one guy and that is Jimmy.

 

[kjones]

It's uncanny ...

I'm pretty sure it's the X-men who are uncanny....

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Nah...I think there's a better chance of Spinner starting next week than DD. Charlie seems like he's locked on one guy and that is Jimmy.

I agree. Its Jimmy's team now.

 

[CLEARWALL]

Just beat Michigan and shut their asses up, thats all I ask. It will make everything all better. I dont care if we only beat Navy, Stanford, Duke, etc and end up in the Alamo Bowl...just wipe the shit eating grin of the skunkbears.

 

[Tennesseeirish]

I agree, I have no doubt we whoop up on the skunkbears. Although, Mike Hart, in his Kellen Winslowesque prima donna rant, is a gamer. He will come to play and run like a man with a mission.

Although I think Hart goes for 200 yards, Mallet throws 6 interceptions in Notre Dame's biggest crushing in big house history:

Notre Dame 66
Michigan 13

WOW!! R u serious?

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

This should be a pretty interesting QB battle.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Spinner would be pretty good. I just hope he doesn't drink too many beers or ogle the cheerleaders too much. Both can be a distraction.

 

[mlcspinner]

 

[piyachi]

I think Clausen ends up with the better stat line in this game regardless of the final score.

1 - JC is better than Lurch at this point. Just in terms of development for reads and pocket presence.

2 - We have what amounts to a better pass D. Yea the spread embarrassed scUM, most of that won't carry over in my opinion BUT our pass D has looked pretty solid, even against the nasty trio PSU has (yea I know Morelli is awful). Even if it is a slight edge, it isn't helping Lurch.

3 - When you have a back like Hart, he is going to get a lot of touches. If Carr has any sense....jury is out on that - then it will be Hart all day. In other words look for fewer than 20 attempts in the game.

4 - Jimmy has already had more experience, facing at least some of two extremely hostile D's. Nobody can convince me that Oregon's D was really that good.

5 - Scheme. Weis knows how to help QBs and as this unit gets better I think people will start to (re)recognize this. As he sees what has worked and what hasn't I think the gameplan that revolves around the Talented Mr. 7 will evolve.

Oh and I think Laws might cut down that 6'8" tree and take it home for Christmas.

GO IRISH

 

[johnnd05]

3 - When you have a back like Hart, he is going to get a lot of touches. If Carr has any sense....jury is out on that - then it will be Hart all day. In other words look for fewer than 20 attempts in the game.

...

Oh and I think Laws might cut down that 6'8" tree and take it home for Christmas.

LMAO ... but where did the nickname "Lurch" come from?