Oct 9 | Pittsburgh at Notre Dame

[nd1]

This game can be huge for our defense. If we can shut them down, it will really do alot to boost this defense in terms of confidence and seeing tangible improvements. Our offense also concerns me at times.., I really hope we show some consistency this weekend and make a few big plays. Really hate the turnovers we've had this year. Crist has to be able to make some solid throws as well.

it's not really the down the field throws that worry me. It's more of the short passes( the ball control passes) that crist has been just killing us with. these passes are the easy ones that he's just missing for some reason.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

it's not really the down the field throws that worry me. It's more of the short passes( the ball control passes) that crist has been just killing us with. these passes are the easy ones that he's just missing for some reason.

I agree Crist needs to do alot better at those short passes. I think a little work will be done again to correct this.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

We need to take some pressure of Crist. This was part of the problem with Jimmy. He felt he had to do everything because of a lack of running game. Establish Allen early. Would love to see another trick play like the Goodman one against BC.

 

[ACamp1900]

I wouldn't mind seeing our first big run for a TD in years this weekend... when was the last time ND had a TD run of 50 yards or more??? I honeetly can't remember...


I still can't believe it hasn't happened out of simple dumb luck at some point...

 

[IrishInColumbus]

^^Allen is ready to do just that in my opinion. He tests defenses with every carry and I think you'll see him run a 50-yard+ touchdown at some point this season. You already know he has the wheels, he showed it against Hawai'i on the kickoff return his sophomore year, this year he's shown tough running and an ability to break some tackles. I would be surprised if he didn't.

 

[mick2]

allen always looks like hes a shoelace tackle short of something special. i always think hes gonna bust loose!

 

[IrishinmI]

Did you say "shoelace" ! Damn him!

 

[bert2834]

One of the main reasons we have broken a long one is because of the defenses teams run to stop our passing game which has been really good that last couple of years with the running game being below average.

If we start running the ball well consistently, you will see safeties have to move up closer to the line of scrimmage, then you can break the long runs. When the safeties are backpedaling to get into position to defend the pass, they get about 15-20 yards down the field making it hard for AA to get behind them.

I think this is the main reason AA's longest run in only 30 yards.

 

[ACamp1900]

everything plays into it... poor downfield blocking... no backs that have that extra downfield burst... and gain, and here's what really gets me... we haven't seen just a ****le moment by the defense where they just play all kinds of out of position and give us a huge hole... just sher percentages would have one thinking at some point we would fall into a big run eventually if nothing else... but it hasn't happened since Ty's era I believe.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Meet the Press: Notre Dame Week - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Pitt PC Notes

 

[GreatGolson]

One thing ive seen, and many have said, we dont loose to one dimensional teams, if we can stop their rushing attack and limit the long ball to baldwin (shouldnt be too hard) we can walk of with a W and start a winning streak, hell, lets WIN OUT!!!! haha tooo much koolade for this camper

 

[IrishInColumbus]

One thing ive seen, and many have said, we dont loose to one dimensional teams, if we can stop their rushing attack and limit the long ball to baldwin (shouldnt be too hard) we can walk of with a W and start a winning streak, hell, lets WIN OUT!!!! haha tooo much koolade for this camper

It really wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Notre Dame win out and finish 9-3.

Pittsburgh is a flawed team playing uninspired football right now. Still though, this game is 50/50 for me.

Western Michigan is easy as pie.

Navy will be destroyed by our stout run defense.

Tulsa doesn't have the weaponry to beat Diaco and Co.

BYE WEEK

Utah is good, but Kelly/Diaco have a bye week to prepare while Utah will have just played Texas Christian. This game is 55/45 Utes, but very, very winnable.

Army is also easy as pie.

Southern Cal is playing less inspired football than Pittsburgh. The Irish will be hungry and Southern Cal will have finished getting their asses beat by a vengeful Pac-10. This game is 60/40 Irish.

IF Notre Dame beats Pittsburgh, the Irish will make a run for 9-3. They are too well coached and talented to not do so. People underestimate how much playing Western Michigan, Navy, and Tulsa in a row will help this team's offense gel.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

It really wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Notre Dame win out and finish 9-3.

Pittsburgh is a flawed team playing uninspired football right now. Still though, this game is 50/50 for me.

Western Michigan is easy as pie.

Navy will be destroyed by our stout run defense.

Tulsa doesn't have the weaponry to beat Diaco and Co.

BYE WEEK

Utah is good, but Kelly/Diaco have a bye week to prepare while Utah will have just played Texas Christian. This game is 55/45 Utes, but very, very winnable.

Army is also easy as pie.

Southern Cal is playing less inspired football than Pittsburgh. The Irish will be hungry and Southern Cal will have finished getting their asses beat by a vengeful Pac-10. This game is 60/40 Irish.

IF Notre Dame beats Pittsburgh, the Irish will make a run for 9-3. They are too well coached and talented to not do so. People underestimate how much playing Western Michigan, Navy, and Tulsa in a row will help this team's offense gel.

I agree that we have alot of opportunity to gel together offensively during the next four contests before playing the Utes. We must continue to improve our game, and I think after playing Pittsburgh, Tulsa, W. Michigan and Navy we will have alot of confidence and then the bye to fix things that need to be fixed.

 

[IrishLax]

Rest assured, this is the second biggest game of our season.

 

[NDOM]

Ya know what fellas. I'm gonna have to go ahead and pick the Irish in this one. Yeah thats right. NDOM is picking the Irish.

Notre Dame 34
Pitt 21

 

[GreatGolson]

Ya know what fellas. I'm gonna have to go ahead and pick the Irish in this one. Yeah thats right. NDOM is picking the Irish.

Notre Dame 34
Pitt 21

But will he bet on them...

 

[NDOM]

But will he bet on them...

Yeah I'm gonna bet. I'm just keeping my vbucks in the vbank to collect more vinterest before I bet.

 

[dshans]

Ya know what fellas. I'm gonna have to go ahead and pick the Irish in this one. Yeah thats right. NDOM is picking the Irish.

Notre Dame 34
Pitt 21

Holy ****! What's this world coming to?

I feel a tightening in my chest ... a tingling sensation in my left arm ... tell my son that I love him ... he's at the Twins-Yankees playoff game right now so wait a few hours before calling him.

 

[TerryTate]

Kona Schwenke is making moves. He may make an appearance in the near future for the Irish.

 

[Shamrocks and Shenanigans]

Going to the game this weekend. Can't wait. the Irish are 12-0 when my brothers and I are in attendance. Granted, 8 of those games were against Navy. I expect a solid Irish win. 38-20.....Go Irish!

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Going to the game this weekend. Can't wait. the Irish are 12-0 when my brothers and I are in attendance. Granted, 8 of those games were against Navy. I expect a solid Irish win. 38-20.....Go Irish!

Hopefully your brothers will be in attendance with you...., lol Have a great time..., I'm jealous.

 

[mick2]

Kona Schwenke is making moves. He may make an appearance in the near future for the Irish.

awesome i am excited about this kid

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Kona Schwenke is making moves. He may make an appearance in the near future for the Irish.

100% true.

Kelly stated after Wednesday's Post-Practice Interview that Kona Schwenke has been moved up to the varsity level.

He said that Schwenke, Dan Smith, and Christian Lombard are some freshman names that you might possibly hear more of as the season goes on.

Schwenke has a crazy amount of potential.... Plus he is Hawaiian, and God knows they play with the utmost intensity.

 

[IrishInColumbus]

Plus he is Hawaiian, and God knows they play with the utmost intensity.

hahahah can't argue with that. Notre Dame needs a satellite campus on the islands to get more exposure with these fellows.

 

[TerryTate]

Irish hope to block Pitt star with Walls - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Oh Snap.

Baldwin trash talking

 

[nd1]

i hope someone light his *** up this saturday. no need to talk and all that does is fire this d up even more.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Is Walls even going to be covering Baldwin?

 

[jmurphy75]

I think this game will be our turn of the season game, we're about due for both Offense and Defense to be hitting on all cylinders. Plus the added confidence from the W last week!

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Hope Carlo catches Baldwin with his head down across the middle...POW!

 

[Irish Man3]

Walls covered Baldwin last year and Baldwin faired pretty well in the matchup. Baldwin is an amazing WR but he has not been on the same page as Tino. IMO we need to apply everydown pressure and not let Baldwin get behind our defense. He is very capable of doing so and I just hope that he and Tino dont get on the same page against us.