Aug 30 | Rice

[Irish Insanity]

If we don't put up 50, can we all agree not to use the excuse 'we were saving it for Michigan. ' Seems to happen every year. Then we lose to Michigan.

 

[koonja]

If we don't put up 50, can we all agree not to use the excuse 'we were saving it for Michigan. ' Seems to happen every year. Then we lose to Michigan.

^This.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

If Rice only scores 10 points I'll be ecstatic.

Completely agreed. I'm more worried about defense on Saturday. I know I shouldn't have as much faith in the offense at this point but there are so many big time players in this offense that appear ready to explode.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If we don't put up 50, can we all agree not to use the excuse 'we were saving it for Michigan. ' Seems to happen every year. Then we lose to Michigan.

The best way to score 50 on Rice, I feel strongly, is to establish a running game. I do not believe Rice has the defensive front to play with our offensive line. And if our running backs get past the line without much contact, it is going to be too late. The best way to roll Rice is to run them over first.

But I am always wrong. Anyways.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I'd be surprised if we beat Rice by that much. If we beat them by that much, then either Rice didn't come to play, or we're giving Michigan and future teams lots of looks at our offense in that case...which would be a waste. I expect it to be pretty vanilla after we get up by 3 scores or so, similar to the way we took our foot off the gas after Temple.

Tend to agree here. No need to show everything you have against a team like Rice. I would rather see some long, methodical drives with a few explosive plays thrown in. Time to work on those in-game scenerios against a team the Irish should beat easily. I could see a 3 td victory, no injuries, and nothing fancy.

 

[#1rish]

I'll be at a bachelor party in New Orleans for this. Chances I'll find a bar playing the game? LSU doesn't play till 9 either so that'll help.

 

[EvilleIrish]

If ND just squeaks by Rice, then our season is essentially fucked. I don't see how we can beat anybody, minus Purdue or Navy if we're just getting by Rice. That being said, I don't think it'll be the case. I say it'll be in the ballpark of 45-10. Kelly hasn't had the weapons to put together 50 point barrages, but it has happened.

Navy (56), Air Force (59) in 2011. Navy (50) in 2012.

This year however, he possesses the weapons to do so, and do so frequently.

Like 2012 when we barely beat Purdue and wound up in the title game?

 

[cody1smith]

I may be the minority here but i think they could play is a pretty close game. We are very unproven at most positions. My best guess is its close for most of the game or we flat wax them.

Either we win by less than 14 or we win by 30...... nothing in between.

 

[dublinirish]

congrats on making it to game week everybody!

 

[EvilleIrish]

I may be the minority here but i think they could play is a pretty close game. We are very unproven at most positions. My best guess is its close for most of the game or we flat wax them.

Either we win by less than 14 or we win by 30...... nothing in between.

I think the smart money is on Rice w/ the points. They have had decent teams recently and I think we have all seen enough ND home openers to know the chances of ND running away with it are not big.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I predict someone will win the game, by some score, (that can be represented by combinations of whole positive integers). How is that for being specific?

 

[koonja]

I think Folston and Bryant are going to go HAM and Rice will have no answer, making Golson's PA roll outs unstoppable.

Fill up the kool-aid, it's going to be a great game.

 

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rice's starting TE Cella out 4-6 weeks (ribs) <a href="http://t.co/NozMNyRffP">http://t.co/NozMNyRffP</a></p>— Rotoworld NFL Draft (@Rotoworld_Draft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rotoworld_Draft/statuses/503907428803428356">August 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I think Folston and Bryant are going to go HAM and Rice will have no answer, making Golson's PA roll outs unstoppable.

Fill up the kool-aid, it's going to be a great game.

HAM? Happy ass meat-eater? Horrible ass metrics? Hunting and meandering? Hypnotizing and moral-boosting? Honorable attempted murder? Hot and muscled? Hit and move? Hollering about minutes?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rice's starting TE Cella out 4-6 weeks (ribs) <a href="http://t.co/NozMNyRffP">http://t.co/NozMNyRffP</a></p>— Rotoworld NFL Draft (@Rotoworld_Draft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rotoworld_Draft/statuses/503907428803428356">August 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Don't root for injuries but anything that could help this defense grow confidence is a good thing, right?

 

[ulukinatme]

Last year Rice played TA&M, with a potent offense and how many TA&M starters out for the first half or so? And what was the score? 52-31.

I think this will be the game to see how solid our offense is. Not how flashy, open, or potent. I think we will be keeping it simple, and a bit throttled back. This is the team for the offense to dominate time of possession and bring home the win. Keeps the defense off the field, and shows as little on either side of the ball as possible.

Yeah, I'd like us to score a bunch of points on Rice like A&M did, but I don't see it happening. We've yet to show a fast paced, explosive offense under Kelly. This would certainly be the year to unleash it if it's going to happen, but I'm not going to hold my breath. We came out fast against Temple last year, but once we built a cushion we were content on pulling back and taking it easy so we wouldn't show much.

The best way to score 50 on Rice, I feel strongly, is to establish a running game. I do not believe Rice has the defensive front to play with our offensive line. And if our running backs get past the line without much contact, it is going to be too late. The best way to roll Rice is to run them over first.

But I am always wrong. Anyways.

I'd love to see a focus on the running game to start, and you're right, that's the way to roll a team. If you get the ground game rolling early it'll open up the PA later. We did a poor job establishing the run game last year because we let the opposing defenses dictate what we were going to do. Our play calling was stupid, and we didn't do anything to keep them honest. The only game I can think of where the play calling was smart was against MSU. With the way MSU was cheating up their safeties, we had Tommy chucking the ball towards are receivers on the outside that had single coverage. He made sure the throws were long so they would be safe, and he let our guys try and make a play. Either they made the play, or we picked up another pass interference call for free yards. It was an odd game, but it was smart play calling because our WRs were holding their own against MSU's corners.

 

[ulukinatme]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rice's starting TE Cella out 4-6 weeks (ribs) <a href="http://t.co/NozMNyRffP">http://t.co/NozMNyRffP</a></p>— Rotoworld NFL Draft (@Rotoworld_Draft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rotoworld_Draft/statuses/503907428803428356">August 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Don't root for injuries but anything that could help this defense grow confidence is a good thing, right?

 

[Black Irish]

I can see ND not looking as dominant as they should. It's the 1st game and I'd say Kelly and company don't want to get too crazy and risky off the bat. Use the first game to scrub off the rust, cement fundamentals, and get firing on all cylinders for Michigan.

 

[IrishLion]

Don't root for injuries but anything that could help this defense grow confidence is a good thing, right?

 

[irishfan]

Thinking something like 40-20.

If we can score more than 40 or hold them to under 20, I'll be ecstatic.

 

[irishfan]

Rice is 15-4 the last 19 games. Fun fact for when we inevitably go down 3-0 early.

 

[NCND]

https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1673494

 

[dublinirish]

what time are the 2014 captains announced?

 

[wizards8507]

what time are the 2014 captains announced?

Tomorrow at noon I think.

 

[dublinirish]

Tomorrow at noon I think.

ah cheers, sorry thought it was today somehow

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rice's two defensive ends Brian Nordstrom and Zach Patt will get first career starts. At Notre Dame. Center Matt Simonette, too</p>— Joseph Duarte (@Chronicle_Owls) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chronicle_Owls/statuses/503953947971698688">August 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Booslum31]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rice's two defensive ends Brian Nordstrom and Zach Patt will get first career starts. At Notre Dame. Center Matt Simonette, too</p>— Joseph Duarte (@Chronicle_Owls) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chronicle_Owls/statuses/503953947971698688">August 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Do you think we come out running the ball or are we turning Golson loose right out of the gate?

 

[Riddickulous]

Do you think we come out running the ball or are we turning Golson loose right out of the gate?

I want to see us come out and just run it right down their throats.

 

[Cali_domer]

Do you think we come out running the ball or are we turning Golson loose right out of the gate?

I hope we run it, then run it some more. We have the horses lets ride.

 

[IrishLion]

Do you think we come out running the ball or are we turning Golson loose right out of the gate?

I'd imagine it *should* look like the '09 Nevada game... keep things simple, let your superior athletes simply go out and be better than the other guys. You don't have to put anything too complex on film, and you'll win handily if you simply execute.

But of course, Purdue '10, USF '11, and Temple '13 do not give me hopes that it will actually work out so well.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Do you think we come out running the ball or are we turning Golson loose right out of the gate?

Rice's defensive experience and talent is at DT, WLB and DB. They're weakest at DE and SLB. I expect we'll see lots off-tackle runs to the strongside.

But Rice's defense was better against the run (41st) than the pass (60th) last year, and their weakness at DE this year is going to hurt their already anemic pass rush. So we ought to see some play-action as well once Rice sells out against the run.