Sept 25 | Wisconsin

[Rogue219]

Does it matter? Who was in charge of tickets for uga game at ND?

If you can't understand the difference, I'm of no help to you.

 

[Rogue219]

Wisky is the home team, so I'd assume they'd get a majority?

Wasn't aware of this. I would assume so too. Thank you.

 

[IrishLax]

The thing that frustrates me about this game is that last year's team would've been a perfect matchup for Wisconsin and would've beaten them by 2+ TDs. They would not have scored double digit points, and our OL would've neutralized the strength of their defense.

This team is the opposite. We're unfortunately set up to take a lot of negative plays against Wisconsin and to not be able to run the ball. We're going to have to air it out and pray that we create enough big plays. If we try to run it more than like ~30% of the snaps it'll be a disaster. And on the other side of the ball, we're going to be much more vulnerable to "busts" where one of their crappy vanilla running plays or a short pass ends up going for a huge gain.

I'm not optimistic and I expect Wisconsin to win by 2 scores unless the OL and DBs-besides-Hamilton have by far their best game of the season.

 

[arrowryan]

This game is hard for me to predict.

The defense showed me on Saturday, and 90% of the Toledo game, that they're figuring things out quickly. Stop the running game of Wisconsin, because Mertz isn't going to beat you.

Offensively is where it gets tricky. Does Rees and Co. dink and dunk Wisconsin to death with their uber aggressive linebackers? It'll be interesting to see what the game plan is.

One thing I am confident in is the team will be ready.

 

[notredomer23]

Stop the running game of Wisconsin, because Mertz isn't going to beat you.

If I see a single 3 man front on anything other than 3rd and 10 or worse, I will lose my shit.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If I see a single 3 man front on anything other than 3rd and 10 or worse, I will lose my shit.

Yeah, ND's base 4-3 with MTA on the strong side should be pretty stout against the run.

It's Wisconsin. Even when they throw the ball it's through a lot of single read plays. Confusing the quarterback is not the key to stopping the offense.

 

[Irishize]

I suspect ND will face a ton of 3rd & longs this Saturday. As bad as Mertz has looked going back to their 2nd game of last season, he’s due & I’m not assuming he’s going to toss it to the guys in Irish jerseys.

The Badgers D runs a 3/4 and their LB are extremely aggressive at stopping the run. Even if ND’s OL can neutralize the Badgers DL, they aren’t athletic or savvy enough to get the 2nd wave of LB who will be pressing down on the LOS. Don’t be surprised if we see more of both Tyree & Williams in the backfield protecting Coan.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The thing that frustrates me about this game is that last year's team would've been a perfect matchup for Wisconsin and would've beaten them by 2+ TDs. They would not have scored double digit points, and our OL would've neutralized the strength of their defense.

This team is the opposite. We're unfortunately set up to take a lot of negative plays against Wisconsin and to not be able to run the ball. We're going to have to air it out and pray that we create enough big plays. If we try to run it more than like ~30% of the snaps it'll be a disaster. And on the other side of the ball, we're going to be much more vulnerable to "busts" where one of their crappy vanilla running plays or a short pass ends up going for a huge gain.

I'm not optimistic and I expect Wisconsin to win by 2 scores unless the OL and DBs-besides-Hamilton have by far their best game of the season.

This is basically where I'm at. I want to believe that the defense has turned the corner, but we all knew that Purdue's ground attack was absolute trash prior to last Saturday, so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise we held them in check. It was nice to see the DBs step up and play well but for the most part, they were a one-dimensional attack. Easier to call a defense when that's the case.

If we gain 50 yards on the ground, I'd be shocked. If we can't move FSU, Toledo's or Purdue's front 7, how the hell does anyone expect us to move Wisconsin's? One thing is for sure, their offense may not be that scary but their defense is legit. Just look at Penn St. week one. Penn State moved the ball plenty against Auburn last weekend.

I just hope BK and Rees aren't stubborn with the run game if/when it's not working early and often. Use the quick passing game, screens, etc as an extension of the running game and if they start to come up, bring in some extra bodies to give Coan time to hit a double move to Lenzy or Austin. And just pray they catch it this week because holy moly, they were not good last week.

 

[IRISHMAN]

This is basically where I'm at. I want to believe that the defense has turned the corner, but we all knew that Purdue's ground attack was absolute trash prior to last Saturday, so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise we held them in check. It was nice to see the DBs step up and play well but for the most part, they were a one-dimensional attack. Easier to call a defense when that's the case.

If we gain 50 yards on the ground, I'd be shocked. If we can't move FSU, Toledo's or Purdue's front 7, how the hell does anyone expect us to move Wisconsin's? One thing is for sure, their offense may not be that scary but their defense is legit. Just look at Penn St. week one. Penn State moved the ball plenty against Auburn last weekend.

I just hope BK and Rees aren't stubborn with the run game if/when it's not working early and often. Use the quick passing game, screens, etc as an extension of the running game and if they start to come up, bring in some extra bodies to give Coan time to hit a double move to Lenzy or Austin. And just pray they catch it this week because holy moly, they were not good last week.

yeah over the last 3 weeks I haven't seen anything from the ND offense that leads me to believe that they can move the ball against Wisconsin's D. I don't see them running the ball well but if they can protect Coan then maybe ND can hit a few big plays in the pass game. one thing is for sure if marcus freeman has ND's DL line up with a 3 man front then Wisconsin will eat ND alive with their run game.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I suspect ND will face a ton of 3rd & longs this Saturday. As bad as Mertz has looked going back to their 2nd game of last season, he’s due & I’m not assuming he’s going to toss it to the guys in Irish jerseys.

The Badgers D runs a 3/4 and their LB are extremely aggressive at stopping the run. Even if ND’s OL can neutralize the Badgers DL, they aren’t athletic or savvy enough to get the 2nd wave of LB who will be pressing down on the LOS. Don’t be surprised if we see more of both Tyree & Williams in the backfield protecting Coan.

I could see the opposite proving true.

ND's offensive line is a bit undersized and has gotten bullied by DLs. It's possible Patterson has a great game against the nose tackle and the line's lack of size helps them get to the Wisconsin LBs. I'm not holding my breath, though.

 

[BabyIrish]

This is probably the lease confident in a game I’ve been in a long time. I think it’ll be a close one and very low scoring but I don’t see us winning

 

[tko]

Zero vibe on this game. I just hope I don't witness an immediate 3 and out from the offense trying to "establish the run."

 

[rtrn2glory]

This is probably the lease confident in a game I’ve been in a long time. I think it’ll be a close one and very low scoring but I don’t see us winning

I'm supposed to be the negative one and everyone else is supposed to talk me out of it. Unfortunately........I agree

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm supposed to be the negative one and everyone else is supposed to talk me out of it. Unfortunately........I agree

Bitch please....

 

[EvilleIrish]

Zero vibe on this game. I just hope I don't witness an immediate 3 and out from the offense trying to "establish the run."

You know as well as I do we will take the ball to start and immediately go 3 and out.

 

[IRISHMAN]

You know as well as I do we will take the ball to start and immediately go 3 and out.

then Wisconsin will start their 1st possession on about there own 40 yard line. ND will need a big game from the punt unit in this game.

 

[Dale]

I suspect ND will face a ton of 3rd & longs this Saturday. As bad as Mertz has looked going back to their 2nd game of last season, he’s due & I’m not assuming he’s going to toss it to the guys in Irish jerseys.

The Badgers D runs a 3/4 and their LB are extremely aggressive at stopping the run. Even if ND’s OL can neutralize the Badgers DL, they aren’t athletic or savvy enough to get the 2nd wave of LB who will be pressing down on the LOS. Don’t be surprised if we see more of both Tyree & Williams in the backfield protecting Coan.

Why is Mertz “due”? He’s had one career game doing anything but be average to below average and it was against a bad COVID impacted Illinois team. He shouldn’t be expected to be anything better than average Saturday, if that.

 

[Irishize]

Why is Mertz “due”? He’s had one career game doing anything but be average to below average and it was against a bad COVID impacted Illinois team. He shouldn’t be expected to be anything better than average Saturday, if that.

Not basing it on Mertz per se but we all can recount below avg QBs coming in and having a career day vs ND and then never being heard from again. I should have worded it that way vs “he’s due”

 

[pumpdog20]

I took Wisconsin -5.5. Unfortunately, not as a good luck jesture like Purdue. I'm expecting to get paid this time.

Just a horrible matchup with our crappy OL.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I took Wisconsin -5.5. Unfortunately, not as a good luck jesture like Purdue. I'm expecting to get paid this time.

Just a horrible matchup with our crappy OL.

What about their horrible O against our D?

 

[IRISHMAN]

What about their horrible O against our D?

imo it'll depend on the ND offense. if ND cant sustain any drives on offense and is constantly going 3 and out its going to put a strain on the ND defense.

 

[arrowryan]

The more people doubt the Irish here, the more confident I get.

 

[Wild Bill]

What about their horrible O against our D?

I wouldn't go as far as saying their offense is horrible - yet. I think they can run the ball. They ran all over Eastern but that's Eastern. The Penn State score is a bit deceiving. They moved the ball better than PSU but they just didn't finish the drive - missed FG, a fumble and two picks. Hopefully we can force some turnovers and get the same result.

I think it's a close game and that probably favors Wiscy b/c they have been able to run the ball more consistently than ND but who the hell knows this year. Maybe the defensive makes a big play and scores or specials teams can come up with the big play.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The more people doubt the Irish here, the more confident I get.

That makes one of us haha.

Hope you're right. Ugly slug fest. Can Coan make enough plays downfield? More than they did against PU, and against a better defense? That's what's giving me pause.

 

[Irish#1]

You know as well as I do we will take the ball to start and immediately go 3 and out.

It's an Irish tradition!

I actually like our chances. I think you'll see more of Buchner running the RPO to keep their LB's in check. Look for Tommy to utilize KW & CT in checkoffs when their LB's crash. Mayer should get some looks over the middle as well.

 

[Dale]

I think ND’s run stopping performance will look a bit different than PSU. PSU’s DL is average and their LBs and S Brisker are good. That’s why in that game and Auburn you saw a lot of 3,4, 5 yard runs but not 8, 10, 15. ND has a high stuff rate, as led by our DL. The #s say we do give up second level chunks though, as seen in the missed tackles. Wisconsin won’t be able to Navy-like, as Kelly alluded to, march 3-4 yards if we can stuff first down and at least not give up a chunk on second. Melusi runs hard though so priority will be tackling for sure. If they can sure that up I like our chances to call their offense poor

 

[arrowryan]

That makes one of us haha.

Hope you're right. Ugly slug fest. Can Coan make enough plays downfield? More than they did against PU, and against a better defense? That's what's giving me pause.

Rees has shown enough that we should trust him to have a solid game plan.

Do I think Notre Dame is going to light up the scoreboard? No. But I think they’ll move the ball enough to win.

 

[Dale]

I wouldn't go as far as saying their offense is horrible - yet. I think they can run the ball. They ran all over Eastern but that's Eastern. The Penn State score is a bit deceiving. They moved the ball better than PSU but they just didn't finish the drive - missed FG, a fumble and two picks. Hopefully we can force some turnovers and get the same result.

I think it's a close game and that probably favors Wiscy b/c they have been able to run the ball more consistently than ND but who the hell knows this year. Maybe the defensive makes a big play and scores or specials teams can come up with the big play.

By the same “deceiving” token though, Clifford missed a couple easy ones. So agree the RZ % was missed opportunity but PSU missed some wide open TDs in the pass game. Hopefully Coan and company don’t

 

[Luckylucci]

If we come out and play sound/base defense, we'll have a shot to win because I don't think Wiscy will be able to move the ball efficiently on this defense. If we come out with an over aggressive game plan and get beat for some chunk plays because of it, I worry we'll get in a hole we can't get ourselves out of.

 

[ThePiombino]

We may have A LOT of questions, most specifically on the OL, but people are giving Wisconsin way too much credit IMO...