Oct 22 | Southern Cal

[irishtrinity]

in the last game for both QBs barkley looked weaker to me... i just hope that carries over into our game....

 

[Chamellion]

I'd be surprised if we got 3 sacks on Barkley, he's a pro passer who knows how to get rid of the ball. We'll pressure and get knockdowns but theres a reason why USC has so few sacks allowed, even with a shaky offensive line.

 

[arrowryan]

I'd be surprised if we got 3 sacks on Barkley, he's a pro passer who knows how to get rid of the ball. We'll pressure and get knockdowns but theres a reason why USC has so few sacks allowed, even with a shaky offensive line.

We dnt need to sack him. If we hurry him when he is throwing, he will make mistakes

 

[koonja]

We dnt need to sack him. If we hurry him when he is throwing, he will make mistakes

Really? As evident in his 16 TDs and 4 INTs? He doesn't make many mistakes.

 

[Chamellion]

Exactly, we need to set him up in a situation where he can make mistakes, just saying don't expect gaudy sack numbers because thats not what playing pro-QB prospects is going to generate. I'll say the same thing for Luck when we get to the Stanford game, but if we can stuff the run game and force them to pass, we can let the DEnds loose, jam Woods at the line and roll a safety towards him, and see how that works out, as he is obviously their Floyd.

 

[arrowryan]

Really? As evident in his 16 TDs and 4 INTs? He doesn't make many mistakes.

It doesnt matter who the quarterback is. They will make mistakes if you pressure them. Did you watch Tom Brady against the cowboys yesterday?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'd be surprised if we got 3 sacks on Barkley, he's a pro passer who knows how to get rid of the ball. We'll pressure and get knockdowns but theres a reason why USC has so few sacks allowed, even with a shaky offensive line.

Really? As evident in his 16 TDs and 4 INTs? He doesn't make many mistakes.

ASU is the only pass defense USC has faced that is even remotely close to ND's in quality, and they managed two picks and two sacks-- one of which resulted in a fumble-- against Barkley.

Barkley is in for a long day against us.

 

[koonja]

It doesnt matter who the quarterback is. They will make mistakes if you pressure them. Did you watch Tom Brady against the cowboys yesterday?

I'm just saying I'd be more than happy if Barkely gives up one turnover. Anything else is house money. We don't even (to my knowledge) know the health of our starting senior DE. Our D-line is great but some of that is because of EJ. Barkley's only been sacked and picked 4 times. They obviously protect him and he protects the ball pretty well.

I still think we're the best Dline he'll face and will face, I'm just saying he doesn't have a history of making mistakes.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Looking fwd to this on sat...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KUZtwUxF3vk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[koonja]

ASU is the only pass defense USC has faced that is even remotely close to ND's in quality, and they managed two picks and two sacks against Barkley.

Barkley is in for a long day against us.

Personally, I thought Cal had a good Dline.

 

[koonja]

It doesnt matter who the quarterback is. They will make mistakes if you pressure them. Did you watch Tom Brady against the cowboys yesterday?

Apples to Brazilian nuts here, but Brady's been sacked 11 times to Barkley's 4.

 

[arrowryan]

I'm just saying I'd be more than happy if Barkely gives up one turnover. Anything else is house money. We don't even (to my knowledge) know the health of our starting senior DE. Our D-line is great but some of that is because of EJ. Barkley's only been sacked and picked 4 times. They obviously protect him and he protects the ball pretty well.

I still think we're the best Dline he'll face and will face, I'm just saying he doesn't have a history of making mistakes.

Ehan Johnson is going to play. I would like for Barkley to have a turnover too. If he gets pressured he will have to throw the ball out of bounce and you cant move the ball when you throw it out of bounce. If he doesnt want to throw it out of bounce he will have to throw on the run or off of his back foot. I dont care who the QB is, if you throw off your back foot you will throw interceptions

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Personally, I thought Cal had a good Dline.

They're good at stuffing the run. Not at getting to the passer.

 

[arrowryan]

Apples to Brazilian nuts here, but Brady's been sacked 11 times to Barkley's 4.

But he as pressured yesterday and pretty much was shut down the whole game except the final two minutes. He threw 2 interceptions because he was pressured

 

[koonja]

Forgive me, I'm just getting nervous. I'm 0-2 while visiting and I'm hoping 3rd time's a charm.

I hope you guys are right, I'm just praying that Barkley (who's having a great year) doesn't carve us up. Our Dline is great but our DBs ehhhh. We haven't looked great against the pass and we're about to face the fastest WRs we'll see all year.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Notre Dame S&P Defensive Rankings:
Overall- 8
Rushing- 2
Passing- 26
Standard Downs- 6
Passing Downs- 29

USC S&P Offensive Rankings:
Overall- 35
Rushing- 68
Passing- 32
Standard Downs- 25
Passing Downs- 50

ND S&P Offensive Rankings:
Overall- 6
Rushing- 7
Passing- 13
Standard Downs- 3
Passing Downs- 3

USC S&P Defensive Rankings:
Overall- 55
Rushing- 74
Passing- 59
Standard Downs- 68
Passing Downs- 65

The obvious take aways are that: (1) USC won't be able to run the ball against us; and (2) USC won't be able to stop our offense at all barring some fluke occurrence.

Remember the MSU game? It'll be like that, but nastier for USC. We repeatedly stuff their run game to put them in passing downs, then we pin our ears back and get after Barkley. They may have some success with short passes out to the edges for a bit, but no team can make a living off of those.

ND is an -8 pt. favorite for a reason.

 

[koonja]

Notre Dame S&P Defensive Rankings:
Overall- 8
Rushing- 2
Passing- 26
Standard Downs- 6
Passing Downs- 29

USC S&P Offensive Rankings:
Overall- 35
Rushing- 68
Passing- 32
Standard Downs- 25
Passing Downs- 50

ND S&P Offensive Rankings:
Overall- 6
Rushing- 7
Passing- 13
Standard Downs- 3
Passing Downs- 3

USC S&P Defensive Rankings:
Overall- 55
Rushing- 74
Passing- 59
Standard Downs- 68
Passing Downs- 65

The obvious take aways are that: (1) USC won't be able to run the ball against us; and (2) USC won't be able to stop our offense at all barring some fluke occurrence.

Remember the MSU game? It'll be like that, but nastier for USC. We repeatedly stuff their run game to put them in passing downs, then we pin our ears back and get after Barkley. They may have some success with short passes out to the edges for a bit, but no team can make a living off of those.

ND is an -8 pt. favorite for a reason.

I feel better now.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I'm just saying I'd be more than happy if Barkely gives up one turnover. Anything else is house money. We don't even (to my knowledge) know the health of our starting senior DE. Our D-line is great but some of that is because of EJ. Barkley's only been sacked and picked 4 times. They obviously protect him and he protects the ball pretty well.

I still think we're the best Dline he'll face and will face, I'm just saying he doesn't have a history of making mistakes.

You must not be paying much attention to him then. This year, with the weak competition he has faced, he's done a great job of limiting mistakes (throwing 20 hitches a game doesn't hurt). But as far as a history of making mistakes...you damn straight he has that:

* Senior year in high school - Was an INT machine. 18 INTs, including 6 multiple INT games and two 4 INT games. Threw 4 INTs in his final playoff game.

* Freshman year - 14 INTs

* Sophomore year - 12 INTs

* Practices and scrimmages - throws a ton picks there as well, much to the chagrin of fans and writers.

The problem is he hasn't had a coach yet that puts his foot down on those bonehead throws he makes. Petey let him do it, and he has been given free reign by KiffyCakes as well. Kiffy has been a bit more adamant about turnovers, but not much more.

When he sees a real D-Line, he tends to force things. Yes, he's done better this year, but he killed them in their only loss with 2 back-breaking picks and a fumble. We'll see how he does this weekend.

 

[IrishMoore1]

I'm really worried about Gary Gray

 

[koonja]

I'm really worried about Gary Gray

I never really was. He's always been in perfect coverage position. He's always on the receiver's hip and a combination of great catches and not getting your head around (easy to coach and fix) will make you look stupid. I think he'll be great for the rest of the year.

However, Zeke Motta against fast receivers is very scary.

 

[IrishMoore1]

The thing is though, Gary Gray was by far our best corner last year. He's played better since Michigan, but with Barkley under center, I'm a bit worried.

SC will def be taking shots down the field. We need to unleash the BEAST.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The low for Saturday is 39 degrees at the moment. Take that info however you want.

 

[rocket66]

I'm really worried about Gary Gray

This.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Freebie from Inside the Irish. God I hate Kiffy.

Kiffin talks Irish, looks back at last year | Inside the Irish

“This one is different because of the feeling of letting so many people down,” Kiffin said about the 20-16 defeat. “So many players and coaches have been involved to maintain that streak over the years, and then for it to be right there, and so many opportunities for us to win that game. Even with a back-up quarterback and a back-up right tackle it was right there. So it was tough.”

Of course, Kiffin doesn’t mention that the Irish were short their starting quarterback Dayne Crist, one of the best tight ends in the country in Kyle Rudolph, starting wide receiver Theo Riddick, running back Armando Allen, and the heart of their defensive line in Ian Williams, not to mention Carlo Calabrese and Jamoris Slaughter.

 

[koonja]

The Game, Part II: ND-USC

 

[Grahambo]

ND Monogram Club
@NDMonogram ND Monogram Club
Rumors are circulating that there could be some A-list stars on campus this weekend for the big USC tilt - stay tuned for details! #Musings

 

[Grahambo]

The thing is though, Gary Gray was by far our best corner last year. He's played better since Michigan, but with Barkley under center, I'm a bit worried.

SC will def be taking shots down the field. We need to unleash the BEAST.

Just me personally, I think if you roll Harrison Smith to his side with Blanton and Slaughter/Motta on the side of Woods, things can be okay.

That's also a key, will Barkley even have enough time with the pressure coming at him.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Like Whiskey alluded to earlier, USC will not (like everyonelse on our schedule) be able to run the ball effectively..

I expect to see a lot of screens and quick throws from USC initially and then the long ball in panic mode.

They will probably do okay between the 20s but it's gonna get seriously difficult for them in the red zone.

 

[Otto]

Forgive me, I'm just getting nervous. I'm 0-2 while visiting and I'm hoping 3rd time's a charm.

Don't worry. This is my 2nd game in person. I am 1-0!

My good juju outweighs your bad juju by at least 7.8 points.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

For some reason I'm really nervous for this game. A loss would be devastating.