Nov 7 | Miami

[tko]

I'd like to see us get after Mensah, high havoc. Traore, I bet, wants to respond for his mistake at BYU. His pressure frees up everyone else.

 

[EvilleIrish]

If moore is not on/overtop of Toney we will be in zone. It will be the most obvious tell ever.

I feel like our defensive game plan might be that obvious. Now, we can be in zone or man with moore over top toney and disguise it, but there's no way we're putting sanders/gray on toney and playing man, even with safety help.

What i'm saying, we can play man and some zone, but you have to place Moore over top Toney every single play.

I have good news for you. We are an elite zone team.

 

[Dale]

If McKinney and Tae don’t play, they aren’t gonna win this game. If they do but Moore and Shuler are whatever we saw against BYU, we aren’t gonna win this game. Doesn’t matter what the play calls are. Now if let’s say 3 of those 4 are back to expectations/healthy, you should have a ball game.

 

[EvilleIrish]

If McKinney and Tae don’t play, they aren’t gonna win this game. If they do but Moore and Shuler are whatever we saw against BYU, we aren’t gonna win this game. Doesn’t matter what the play calls are. Now if let’s say 3 of those 4 are back to expectations/healthy, you should have a ball game.

There's zero shot McKinney plays.

 

[PutuporShutup]

If McKinney and Tae don’t play, they aren’t gonna win this game. If they do but Moore and Shuler are whatever we saw against BYU, we aren’t gonna win this game. Doesn’t matter what the play calls are. Now if let’s say 3 of those 4 are back to expectations/healthy, you should have a ball game.

I think Moore being Moore and playing Toney is the most important of all you mention. If that happens I think we have a shot to slow them down defensively.

If Tae doesn't play IMO you have to play obrien and talich instead of shuler.

I'd have moore on Toney with some safety help at times depending on formation and where he lines up.

Then Gray and Sanders on Upshaw and Barkate with safety help a good bit, and some zone mixed in with them. You then have lb/safety covering Lofton at TE where appropriate in man.

Finally the key becomes our front 6 slowing down and making some stops against Miami's Run game.

The only other way we win is special teams/offense explode in a bounce back game and outscore them.

 

[Katzenboyer]

This game feels to me a bit like the 2023 USC game.

ND had just gotten beat rather soundly in Louisville, and USC featured a high-powered offensive attack with Caleb Williams. Vegas kept the Irish as favorites all week, which I couldn't believe, and ND proved my doubts wrong on the field.

Not saying ND will win. But there's a reason Vegas favors the Irish right now, despite how high-powered Miami's offense has looked.

 

[pumpdog20]

This game feels to me a bit like the 2023 USC game.

ND had just gotten beat rather soundly in Louisville, and USC featured a high-powered offensive attack with Caleb Williams. Vegas kept the Irish as favorites all week, which I couldn't believe, and ND proved my doubts wrong on the field.

Not saying ND will win. But there's a reason Vegas favors the Irish right now, despite how high-powered Miami's offense has looked.

I can see the comparison. But Miami is going to also bring a good defense and a way more physical identity than a LR USC team.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Miami desperate to get out of the ACC. Maybe independent is an option

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/college-football-realignment-protect-college-sports-act-bill-drama-miami-president-acc-sec-big-ten-122659182.html

 

[Dale]

Miami’s OL has generally been good and Mensah gets the ball out quick. Sound familiar? Exception has been FSU and Clemson games he has been under much more pressure. Real bodies + OL injuries. BYU has a good OL particularly at C but leads the country in 7 man protections. Miami isn’t gonna do this.

Miami prioritizes short passes and high success over explosiveness. The explosives come from broken tackles or just running away with yards after catch. ND has been very good at preventing explosive plays but giving up too much down to down. Combine that with poor tackling against BYU and you have a problem.

ND should evenly match their power rushing attack.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

At some point ND has to break tendencies. They cant just continue to let Carr check to the same 8 plays, right? Right?

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

At some point ND has to break tendencies. They cant just continue to let Carr check to the same 8 plays, right? Right?

I heard Denbrock was saving the good plays for SMU

 

[jpachuta33]

Calling my shot…

Notre Dame beats the fuck out of Miami, book it.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I heard Denbrock was saving the good plays for SMU

He's saving them all for the playoffs, just like last year.......... just kidding!!


Did I do that right?

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Calling my shot…

Notre Dame beats the fuck out of Miami, book it.

I am flashing back to last week where many were saying ND gonna crush BYU..... I believe we are overestimating our team. Our DC and OC suck .

 

[jpachuta33]

I am flashing back to last week where many were saying ND gonna crush BYU..... I believe we are overestimating our team. Our DC and OC suck .

TBH, before the season even started, the BYU game worried me the most because all we ever heard about was that Miami game in November. Going out west for any Midwest team is never an easy feat; especially with high altitude environments.

I truly believe the coaches, players, and most fans overlooked BYU.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Calling my shot…

Notre Dame beats the fuck out of Miami, book it.

I have this feeling as well. No chance we come out flat footed again. Worst case scenario is our injuries on defense really impact that game. Suppose McKinney, Golden, Brauntae, and KVA are all scratches while Onye, Moore, and Shuler are still hampered by their lingering injuries. We’d basically be at a 6 man rotation for 5 DB positions with two guys playing hurt. That is unless we roll out Zackery/Long/Pouncey, none of whom played against MSU, UNC, or BYU.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Calling my shot…

Notre Dame beats the fuck out of Miami, book it.

If I had a gun to my head and I just these two options:

1) beat both BYU and Miami but both games are close, ugly wins
2) close loss on the road to BYU but then beat the living shit out of Miami

I may actually chose 2.

 

[thekid33]

Miami desperate to get out of the ACC. Maybe independent is an option

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/college-football-realignment-protect-college-sports-act-bill-drama-miami-president-acc-sec-big-ten-122659182.html

I wonder if/when the "super conference" ever happens it's actually just going to be like 10 of the top teams becoming independent and coming up with a plan to play 8-9 games against each other and then having flexibility to schedule their remaining games from what's left of the teams in the "power" conferences and Group of 6 with a rule that maybe they can only play one group of 6 team.

ND
Ohio St
Michigan
Penn St
Alabama
Texas
Texas A&M
LSU
Miami
USC

That's a decent start for a group of independents. Maybe 4-6 other teams could do it too.

If you are the teams "left behind" in the power conferences you can't afford to hold grudges and will need to schedule against them because your league is now closer to a G6 league than not a G6 league and agreements to play against the independents helps keep you on that tier above them.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

TBH, before the season even started, the BYU game worried me the most because all we ever heard about was that Miami game in November. Going out west for any Midwest team is never an easy feat; especially with high altitude environments.

I truly believe the coaches, players, and most fans overlooked BYU.

You may be right. The play where Schuler stopped 10 yards from the BYU receiver and waited for him to accelerate around him as he whiffed on the tackle is a nice summary of that game in one play.

 

[MPClinton22]

I am flashing back to last week where many were saying ND gonna crush BYU..... I believe we are overestimating our team. Our DC and OC suck .

BYU always worried me more than Miami. I think Miami hasn’t been tested at all this year - the game against us is their BYU. No one worth a damn week after week, and then a shock to the system playing a team with a pulse on the road in a raucous environment

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

BYU always worried me more than Miami. I think Miami hasn’t been tested at all this year - the game against us is their BYU. No one worth a damn week after week, and then a shock to the system playing a team with a pulse on the road in a raucous environment

I worry UNC beats Miami and steals our thunder

 

[IrishFanForever23]

I worry UNC beats Miami and steals our thunder

Not happening. I think Florida St. woke Miami up and they roll the rest of the regular season.

 

[YonkersEejit]

And if we can't beat BYU or Miami, we're not winning a road playoff game. Like this 2026 team doesn't have it if that's the case.

That's what I came to the realization this morning. I was on a morning jog and all week I've been listening to the podcasts/post game shows.

I think this team can and will beat Miami. I trust Carr to not have his worst game ever and I trust Denbrock and Seider to commit to James + Walton (with a heavier dose of Walton). Our backs are against the wall, it's a night game, in November, it's a must win. I trust we'll win...we'll give up a lot of points and yards, but we'll score more. I'm thinking a 35-31; 35-28 type game. Classic, all time game in Notre Dame stadium.

That said, the sobering realization I came to, is that no way in hell would I trust an Ash defense to string together 4 in a row against top level competition. He has failed to prove it, time and time again. Do I think we'll get the doors blown off of us? Certainly not. Any loss will be close and down to the wire. I just can't trust him, his scheme, his play calling to win one or games, much less one. He's so predictable. I heard that BYU's OC knew that the ND defense would audible to zone coverage every time BYU lined up in 12 personnel. It led to easy, off coverage passes to the flats and across the middle. Inexcusable. I thought we were done with this shit after last year's Purdue game...

 

[Dale]

I worry UNC beats Miami and steals our thunder

Can get coin down on it already then. UNC +14.5

 

[PutuporShutup]

That's what I came to the realization this morning. I was on a morning jog and all week I've been listening to the podcasts/post game shows.

I think this team can and will beat Miami. I trust Carr to not have his worst game ever and I trust Denbrock and Seider to commit to James + Walton (with a heavier dose of Walton). Our backs are against the wall, it's a night game, in November, it's a must win. I trust we'll win...we'll give up a lot of points and yards, but we'll score more. I'm thinking a 35-31; 35-28 type game. Classic, all time game in Notre Dame stadium.

That said, the sobering realization I came to, is that no way in hell would I trust an Ash defense to string together 4 in a row against top level competition. He has failed to prove it, time and time again. Do I think we'll get the doors blown off of us? Certainly not. Any loss will be close and down to the wire. I just can't trust him, his scheme, his play calling to win one or games, much less one. He's so predictable. I heard that BYU's OC knew that the ND defense would audible to zone coverage every time BYU lined up in 12 personnel. It led to easy, off coverage passes to the flats and across the middle. Inexcusable. I thought we were done with this shit after last year's Purdue game...

I disagree. Worst case, you just have to get in. Ideally at least hosting a home game.

Ohio state looked absolutely terrible the last regular season game of the year in 2024, losing to 6-5 michigan. Then figured it out over the next 3 weeks of practice and cooked in the playoffs.

ND has so much talent, 3 weeks off you can figure out a lot and get healthy.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Not happening. I think Florida St. woke Miami up and they roll the rest of the regular season.

Miami is also injured, and have Pitt and late UNC game before ND.
They could just get worn down and cold and go back to the old Miami...

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

Not happening. I think Florida St. woke Miami up and they roll the rest of the regular season.

Not how Miami football works. They get bored halfway through the season every year and a drop a game or two they shouldn't like clockwork. Internally that locker room definitely feels like they've beat their rival and a playoff spot is almost assured.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I can see the comparison. But Miami is going to also bring a good defense and a way more physical identity than a LR USC team.

I'm telling you, Miami's defense has not been great. It hasn't cost them because they've played absolute nobodies, but the fanbase has not been pleased with how the defense has looked this year.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Not how Miami football works. They get bored halfway through the season every year and a drop a game or two they shouldn't like clockwork. Internally that locker room definitely feels like they've beat their rival and a playoff spot is almost assured.

Whatever happens in the game, Miami not being "up" for the Irish is the last thing I'd expect.

The program and fanbase do not like Notre Dame. I know we had some blowouts in the early aughts, but Miami will be up for this one.

 

[fightingirish26]

Whatever happens in the game, Miami not being "up" for the Irish is the last thing I'd expect.

The program and fanbase do not like Notre Dame. I know we had some blowouts in the early aughts, but Miami will be up for this one.

Catholics vs Convicts, imo, has turned into one of the dumber things we've ever done. It's free and potent motivation for their fans and, more importantly, their players every time we face off. That built in motivation simply doesnt exist on our side.