Jan 9 | Penn State

[IrishSteelhead]

Line moved back to 1.5 quickly this afternoon. Something going to be announced - wonder if it’s Love out or Carter playing

Hypothetical line against OSU also moved from 7 to 8.5.

What’s funny is at the end of the day, I don’t see either of them being the x-factor in this game at all.

Like not even top 3 for their own team.


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[Irish8248]

When was the last time a stud TE changed the playoff game on their own? Wed have 3 or so nattys by now if that were the case.

Confident if we tackle and swarm
Less confident if we can barely run or pass

 

[MacIrish75]

I think I feel confident by our focus and intensity in the first two playoff games. I like our resiliency this season. I feel like this is a team that is going to play 60 minutes of football regardless so if we get up early we won’t let up and if we happen to get down early, we won’t wilt. The mentally tougher team normally prevails and that’s us. ☘️

 

[GATTACA!]

Here's why I'm confident:

• Their offensive line is average. I think we can pressure Allar all night.
• Their defensive strength - rushing the passer - is negated by the fact that, well, we don't pass the ball very well.
• They're a terrible tackling team. Something like the fifth worst in power 4 conferences, or something along those lines.

I think the teams will exchange a couple short drives to start, based on solid defenses and adrenaline, but I expect ND to eventually start asserting themselves and to break a couple big runs. I think PSU wears down at the end of the game from the Irish's athleticism and the fact that they didn't face anything on this competition level in their two previous playoff games.

Irish by 2 scores.

Jeanty by himself broke 17 tackles against PSU. Boise couldn't capitalize because they were too physically outmatched to be able to have linemen reach the second level. That will not be an issue for our boys.

 

[forkbeard3777]

When was the last time a stud TE changed the playoff game on their own? Wed have 3 or so nattys by now if that were the case.

Confident if we tackle and swarm
Less confident if we can barely run or pass

You can’t think of him just as a stud TE.

- He has more receiving yards than ND’s top 3 receivers (Collins, Greathouse, and Faison) combined.
- He has just has many receiving TDs than Collins, Greathouse, Faison, and Evans combined.
- He’s rushed for 197 yards (4 TDs) and has accounted for 13 total TDs (8 receiving, 4 rushing, and 1 passing).

He’s a very tough, dynamic player that’s a physical mismatch. If Notre Dame is struggling to move the ball and points are hard to come by, he absolutely can change the game whether it be by touchdowns, getting first downs (i.e., field position or putting Penn State in field goal range), keeping the ND defense out on the field longer and possibly tiring them out and ultimately exposing them to a broken or big play and so on.

This is no surprise and he’ll certainly get his plays, but Golden has to do everything possible to get to Allar for pressure and sacks, force errant throws, and so forth.

The best way to stop Warren is to have Allar on his back or face mask in the dirt.

 

[Dale]

You can’t think of him just as a stud TE.

- He has more receiving yards than ND’s top 3 receivers (Collins, Greathouse, and Faison) combined.
- He has just has many receiving TDs than Collins, Greathouse, Faison, and Evans combined.
- He’s rushed for 197 yards (4 TDs) and has accounted for 13 total TDs (8 receiving, 4 rushing, and 1 passing).

He’s a very tough, dynamic player that’s a physical mismatch. If Notre Dame is struggling to move the ball and points are hard to come by, he absolutely can change the game whether it be by touchdowns, getting first downs (i.e., field position), putting Penn State in field goal range, keeping the ND defense out on the field longer, etc).

This is no surprise and he’ll certainly get his plays, but Golden has to do everything possible to get to Allar for pressure and sacks, force errant throws, and so forth.

The best way to stop Warren is to have Allar on his back or face mask in the dirt.

He’s a good TE but I think the aura of him is a tad overrated.

Against Illinois he had 47 total yards, 94 versus OSU, 86 versus Oregon, 39 versus SMU, 63 versus Boise State

Impressive? Sure, but if you leave any game saying hey their best player had 75 yards, do you expect to win?

I really don’t care about his trick play runs against awful competition.

 

[Ndaccountant]

PSU will run 2 or 3 trick plays because that's what pedos do when they can't do anything else. They will probably hit one. Oh well, won't change the beat down they will get and JoePa is getting in the inferno.

 

[LifelongFan]

Less confident but that's how it always works for me. Allar is a good QB and I'm worried USC is the blueprint. Georgia getting a couple of deep passes has me nervous, and no Love is incredibly concerning.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Less confident but that's how it always works for me. Allar is a good QB and I'm worried USC is the blueprint. Georgia getting a couple of deep passes has me nervous, and no Love is incredibly concerning.

PSU receivers are much worse than usc

 

[Free Manera]

Less confident but that's how it always works for me. Allar is a good QB and I'm worried USC is the blueprint. Georgia getting a couple of deep passes has me nervous, and no Love is incredibly concerning.

USC can’t be the blueprint for PSU because they don’t have the horses on the outside. If PSU wins it’s because they run for 150+ and Warren catches a couple TDs.

 

[forkbeard3777]

He’s a good TE but I think the aura of him is a tad overrated.

Against Illinois he had 47 total yards, 94 versus OSU, 86 versus Oregon, 39 versus SMU, 63 versus Boise State

Impressive? Sure, but if you leave any game saying hey their best player had 75 yards, do you expect to win?

I really don’t care about his trick play runs against awful competition.

Maybe so, but he’s had more receiving yards than Brock Bowers had at UGA. Maybe he loaded up on inferior competition, but he’s a legit threat. He’s undoubtedly a first rounder. I wouldn’t mind seeing Watts on him. Again, Warren would make his plays, but having Watts on him would make Allar second guess every throw to him. He’d undoubtedly jump one and pick it too.

 

[Fbolt]

I am hopeful for a pick or two this game.

 

[Wild Bill]

Less confident but that's how it always works for me. Allar is a good QB and I'm worried USC is the blueprint. Georgia getting a couple of deep passes has me nervous, and no Love is incredibly concerning.

Allar's arm has been the difference in maybe one game throughout his entire Penn State career - against USC this season. He was basically throwing against air most of the second half.

Nothing to piss yourself over. Shut down their run game, and if Allar beats you through the air, so be it.

 

[LifelongFan]

PSU receivers are much worse than usc

They are about the same as Georgia's receivers who still got through at times. That's why I am nervous for that possibility when I wasn't for USC.

 

[Gladiator]

They are about the same as Georgia's receivers who still got through at times. That's why I am nervous for that possibility when I wasn't for USC.

They're smaller and less aggressive. UGA receivers had the ability to separate with their bigger, more experienced style.
Penn St. has great receivers, but they're not USC type. The TE Is the guy we need X to contain after the first 5-8 yards, the BIG 12 officials owe us at least 1uncalled face mask to the dirt. I root for #44 to be the 1st.

 

[Irish8248]

Forgive me, Fork, I don't want to edit an entire post on my phone.... but this part is EXACTLY what I was referring to...

"He’s a very tough, dynamic player that’s a physical mismatch. If Notre Dame is struggling to move the ball and points are hard to come by, he absolutely can change the game whether it be by touchdowns, getting first downs (i.e., field position or putting Penn State in field goal range), keeping the ND defense out on the field longer and possibly tiring them out and ultimately exposing them to a broken or big play and so on."

This is ND 2012-2021 to a T! Granted not rushing aspect BUT being the focal point, being the guy with a cape, the guy who bails the offense out, and makes everyone look better because he dominates.... doesn't translate to a playoff scenario. We had TEs who were all world in college to help hide the deficiencies of the other positions on our team and it NEVER worked out. Unfortunately.


..... signed a guy who played TE in college, loves the versatile TE, and believes you need that GUY to make your offense dynamic.

 

[slick7410]

When was the last time a stud TE changed the playoff game on their own? Wed have 3 or so nattys by now if that were the case.

Confident if we tackle and swarm
Less confident if we can barely run or pass

OJ Howard for bama comes to mind, 2016(?). He went nuclear against Clemson for over 200 . But, it’s so rare as you said - it still sticks out.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

We win this game and it’s the best team since 1988 by far

 

[GoldenBoy3]

Less confident but that's how it always works for me. Allar is a good QB and I'm worried USC is the blueprint. Georgia getting a couple of deep passes has me nervous, and no Love is incredibly concerning.

Every now and then even the most impressive defenses give up plays. The bigger key here is that Ped State doesn’t have the WR talent that USC had. Love may be one of the best talents remaining (outside of Jeremiah Smith) when healthy but Price is no slouch. He has better breakout speed to bust one. Oh and don’t forget Riley! I feel every defender sees a doofy white mid and then boom he runs by them.

 

[TracyGraham]

Maybe so, but he’s had more receiving yards than Brock Bowers had at UGA. Maybe he loaded up on inferior competition, but he’s a legit threat. He’s undoubtedly a first rounder. I wouldn’t mind seeing Watts on him. Again, Warren would make his plays, but having Watts on him would make Allar second guess every throw to him. He’d undoubtedly jump one and pick it too.

Wouldn't it be safe to say that Georgia had a lot more options besides Bowers? The receivers at UGA, presumably were leagues above PSU's. If Warren is comparatively the only option, his numbers become less outstanding. In other words, If a TE puts up crazy numbers when surrounded by stud wrs, it is a lot more impressive and indicative of ability than if they are the only high level pass catcher on the team.

It just doesn't impress me especially as a Notre dame fan. ND almost always has top notch tight ends. Yet no one usually thinks ND has some potent passing attack and high flying offense. Relying on the TE can result in a one dimensional passing attack and a top defense should be able to shut it down.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Not to look past Penn State, but ND +8.5 prospective against OSU has me shook. Think we match pretty closely everywhere except those damn WRs. Maybe Texas can help and pull off the upset.

Go Irish, beat Nittany Lions.

 

[irishnd31]

Can't sleep, heading to the airport now.

Go get em brother! Bring home a W

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Can't sleep, heading to the airport now.

Same, I'm getting some coffee and heading to the airport as well.

 

[irishff1014]

I have a much different feel about this game than I did against Georgia. Yes I 100% believe we have that better coaching staff.

But our offense into games In the plays hasn’t been good. Penn State is going to make plays. I don’t necessarily think we will lose but this is going to be a much closer game than most are saying. I am not a betting person but I would take the under.

 

[rtrn2glory]

When was the last time a stud TE changed the playoff game on their own? Wed have 3 or so nattys by now if that were the case.

Confident if we tackle and swarm
Less confident if we can barely run or pass

OJ Howard back in the 2016 Natty game, I think, against Clemson had a solid evening

 

[rtrn2glory]

When is the social media dept dropping a hype video? Gotta be something to link the Reggie Brooks snow game

 

[GoldenBoy3]

I’m hammering the ND spread at the half. The Penn State coaches like to make sure they are losing at halftime. Because at Penn State it's great when you're a little behind in the locker room.

 

[SWirishfan]

Every now and then even the most impressive defenses give up plays. The bigger key here is that Ped State doesn’t have the WR talent that USC had. Love may be one of the best talents remaining (outside of Jeremiah Smith) when healthy but Price is no slouch. He has better breakout speed to bust one. Oh and don’t forget Riley! I feel every defender sees a doofy white mid and then boom he runs by them.

Heck, USC no longer has the WR talent that USC had.
Seems a lot of it went to UGA.

 

[NDPhilly]

We’ll see

 

[NDRock]

I’ve had something come up and won’t be able to make it to the game. I’ve got two tickets available, if anyone is interested. DM me.