Sep 17 | Michigan State

[mick2]

the 17th is officially save our season saturday, gotta do it this weekend. spartan96 i hope you enjoy your time there. wish i could be there. i have a feeling the game could be epic

 

[Irish Houstonian]

And Alabama was ranked #1 for almost the whole season until the Auburn game. They would have absolutely torched any team they played that day.

You're thinking of two years ago. Last year they were #1 for about 4 games until they lost to South Carolina. Then they lost to LSU and then Auburn. Probably should have lost to Arkansas too, but that's football I guess.

 

[BeauBenken]

Thanks appreciate it...we are really looking forward to it being a huge college football fan.

Any advice on best (easiest in/out) parking lot(s) to look for on Saturday?

Maybe someone else on the board can help you. I have only been there once myself (for a game).

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

“@ChiTribHamilton: #NotreDame DC Bob Diaco: Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt absences vs. Michigan "by design" & they'll play "much larger role" vs. Michigan State.”

 

[Old Man Mike]

MSU looks to be the generally most sound team we have played so far [easily moreso than Michigan, but even moreso than Holtz' USF]. That means that stopping turning the ball over is even more important for us now. MSU is however less explosive than either Michigan or USF [due to conventional albeit good QB play and "old fashioned" running]. This may mean that the game resembles old-time ND/MSU smash-mouth, when they have the ball. But when we have the ball, the game should become more "modern" and if we're functioning, we should outscore them. That's my hope anyway. It's all in the lines and the "good hands" [ball security] again.

 

[tdbaum1]

Im looking to go to this game. Two tickets needed. I know I can get them at a broker or auction site, but have already bought for two games on those sites and grossly over paid for the USF game (talked to a scalper selling virtually the same tix for face). If anyone can help out a fellow irish fan please help! Otherwise I'll just go and see about scalping them. Any suggestions would help too!

 

[Spartan96]

MSU looks to be the generally most sound team we have played so far [easily moreso than Michigan, but even moreso than Holtz' USF]. That means that stopping turning the ball over is even more important for us now. MSU is however less explosive than either Michigan or USF [due to conventional albeit good QB play and "old fashioned" running]. This may mean that the game resembles old-time ND/MSU smash-mouth, when they have the ball. But when we have the ball, the game should become more "modern" and if we're functioning, we should outscore them. That's my hope anyway. It's all in the lines and the "good hands" [ball security] again.

Agree in general. By "not explosive" I guess that's subjective....no, we don't have Denard Robinson....but Kirk Cousin has a complete set of weapons around him at his disposal. 3 TE's that all see significant playing time, 3 RB's (our 3rd string RB Larry Caper would start on a good number of B1G teams), lots of depth at WR, good use of FB, etc. I know MSU has a smash mouth mentality....but we typically end up in the top 1/4 of the league in total offense.

I guess from what I saw Sat, ND relies heavily on Floyd which is understandable....[EDIT : Wood your RB is pretty good too] but I just think MSU has a bit more depth on the offensive side and Cousins can mix it up and keep you off balance IF our O-Line can get a push.

 

[irishff1014]

Agree in general. By "not explosive" I guess that's subjective....no, we don't have Denard Robinson....but Kirk Cousin has a complete set of weapons around him at his disposal. 3 TE's that all see significant playing time, 3 RB's (our 3rd string RB Larry Caper would start on a good number of B1G teams), lots of depth at WR, good use of FB, etc. I know MSU has a smash mouth mentality....but we typically end up in the top 1/4 of the league in total offense.

I guess from what I saw Sat, ND relies heavily on Floyd which is understandable....[EDIT : Wood your RB is pretty good too] but I just think MSU has a bit more depth on the offensive side and Cousins can mix it up and keep you off balance IF our O-Line can get a push.

If you are going to give us Floyd in man coverage we will take it all day. But if you double cover him you better be looking for Jones,or Eifert. I still think with the good defensive team MSU has we can still be effective. We need to get Wood going early.

 

[RDU Irish]

Im looking to go to this game. Two tickets needed. I know I can get them at a broker or auction site, but have already bought for two games on those sites and grossly over paid for the USF game (talked to a scalper selling virtually the same tix for face). If anyone can help out a fellow irish fan please help! Otherwise I'll just go and see about scalping them. Any suggestions would help too!

0-2 irish should mean cheap tickets on site. Just scalp them and relax.

 

[RDU Irish]

“@ChiTribHamilton: #NotreDame DC Bob Diaco: Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt absences vs. Michigan "by design" & they'll play "much larger role" vs. Michigan State.”

I think Kelly has been waiting for a traditional set to unleash Beast and Tuitt. This will be the game we see what we've got on D-line and support all of the pre-season excitement we have had. He also has made the point with them that if they don't learn their gaps and assignments, they won't play all of the time. One mission off the line, SEEK AND DESTROY!!!!

 

[irishff1014]

I can't wait to see them get a deecent amount of playing time so we can see how good they are.

 

[BabyIrish]

Along with Tuitt and Lynch, I would love to see the CAT position break out in this game. We have barely heard Flemming, Filer, or Ishap's name called this year. We really need that position to step up.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Along with Tuitt and Lynch, I would love to see the CAT position break out in this game. We have barely heard Flemming, Filer, or Ishap's name called this year. We really need that position to step up.

Fleming especially; after all the praise he received from the coaches in camp, it's put up or shut up time for him. If he doesn't have a big game against MSU, I'll be inclined to label his time at ND a bust.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Linebackers and even Diaco seem to be playing scared of the fast shifty QB. Well, to my reckoning we don't have any more such critters on our schedule. We have some VERY good QBs, but they are much more conventional, or they run the service academy offense. We should be able to use our power more, and even close on these kinds of guys.

That's me talking with my fingers crossed. But we've got to start playing to smash rather than just contain.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Bill Connelly of Football Outsiders just posted the Week 3 F/+ Rankings here.

ND is 19th. Ranked opponents include: Stanford (11); Michigan (18); and Pitt (20).

 

[ShakeDown]

Bill Connelly of Football Outsiders just posted the Week 3 F/+ Rankings here.

ND is 19th. Ranked opponents include: Stanford (11); Michigan (18); and Pitt (20).

Couple Questions:

I'm no statistician, but it looks like FEI is based on offensive proficiency, with a carrot and stick method added in for SOS. Does that punish teams for offensive turnovers? If it does, is there a red zone or two-minute adjustment?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the stats look skewed towards the offensive side of the ball. Am I missing something? Is GE (the only think I could find that mentioned D) factored into FEI?

Finally, how are the "good" and the "bad" teams determined at this point of the season, as far as adjusting according to opponent strength? I find it interesting that FSU is still top 5, but MSU is at 27.

Interesting website, thanks for the introduction.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Seems like this will be the most diabolical season in football history: a team goes 0-12 and is ranked in the top twenty-five in the nation. If this keeps on, this will be the modern equivalent for the proof for the Existence of GOD, as only the Devil could manage it---and if he proves himself he stupidly proves GOD at the same time. Well, maybe that much good will come of our sufferings anyway. ... Jeez, though, martyrdom ain't no fun.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Couple Questions:

I'm no statistician, but it looks like FEI is based on offensive proficiency, with a carrot and stick method added in for SOS. Does that punish teams for offensive turnovers? If it does, is there a red zone or two-minute adjustment?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the stats look skewed towards the offensive side of the ball. Am I missing something? Is GE (the only think I could find that mentioned D) factored into FEI?

Finally, how are the "good" and the "bad" teams determined at this point of the season, as far as adjusting according to opponent strength? I find it interesting that FSU is still top 5, but MSU is at 27.

Interesting website, thanks for the introduction.

FO's main site can be found here. You can separate rankings for FEI (offensive, defensive, and overall) and S&P (offensive, defensive, and overall). The F/+ is the most complete ranking, as it combines them both.

You can find in-depth explanations of each statistical category by going to the more specific rankings (FEI, S&P, etc.) It doesn't appear to be offensively biased at all.

If you're interested in comparing teams statistically, FO is the only way to do it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

A brief preview of MSU by Dan Murphy of BGI can be found here.

Keith Arnold interviews a MSU blogger for his thoughts on the upcoming game here.

Worth noting:

• MSU runs 60% of the time.
• MSU's rebuilt OL is serious concern. For a run-first pro-style team, everything starts with the OL; if the Irish win that battle, MSU will have a very hard time getting anything going on offense.
• Since last season's game against Tulsa, ND has given up an average of 3.17 YPC. Take out the UM game-- which was really just a couple long scrambles by Robinson-- and the average drops to 2.92 YPC; all against opponents with good rushing attacks.

 

[Buster Bluth]

[*]Since last season's game against Tulsa, ND has given up an average of 3.17 YPC. Take out the UM game-- which was really just a couple long scrambles by Robinson-- and the average drops to 2.92 YPC; all against opponents with good rushing attacks.
[/LIST]

Fact: Notre Dame has one of the best front sevens in the country, even when you don't include Lynch and Tuitt.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Life on the Margins: One Last Call for the Real Notre Dame to Please Stand Up, by Yahoo!'s Matt Hinton (Dr. Saturday).

 

[Spartan96]

Fact: Notre Dame has one of the best front sevens in the country, even when you don't include Lynch and Tuitt.

Not so fast.

Signed,

Nebraska
Alabama
Half of the teams in the SEC

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Not so fast.

Signed,

Nebraska
Alabama
Half of the teams in the SEC

Buster didn't claim we have the best front seven in Division I; but "one of the best" is easy to defend. ND's rush defense ranked 13th last year, and we've held the last six teams we've played to roughly 3 YPC.

 

[IrishBlood81]

You guys see the Uniforms the spartans are wearing for this game? Awesome but totally coping us.

 

[BurningRiver]

Not so fast.

Signed,

Nebraska
Alabama
Half of the teams in the SEC

the SEC doesn't even count anymore. They're basically just an extension of the NFL.

..and they pay like it too.

 

[BurningRiver]

You guys see the Uniforms the spartans are wearing for this game? Awesome but totally coping us.

they aren't for this game. they're for later in the season.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

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[Whiskeyjack]

Golden Tate via Twitter:

All I kno is someone better keep the tradition going and jump into MSU band and tea bag them this week. #jussaying #WeAreND

 

[Riddickulous]

@ShowtimeTate (Golden Tate)

All I kno is someone better keep the tradition going and jump into MSU band and tea bag them this week. #jussaying #WeAreND

No, I'm not kidding. This is an actual Tweet.

 

[Riddickulous]

Golden Tate via Twitter:

Posted it at the same time. Eerie...