Bowl Bids

[dad4aa]

This game has the potential for a lot of street cred with recruiting. Not even sure we have to win for that to happen since so many people think Urbie is such a coaching god and they are the defending NC. Hanging with them in a very close game like Stanford and Clemson could also go a long way in recruiting for those players that want to complete for NC AND play school.

 

[phork]

This game has the potential for a lot of street cred with recruiting. Not even sure we have to win for that to happen since so many people think Urbie is such a coaching god and they are the defending NC. Hanging with them in a very close game like Stanford and Clemson could also go a long way in recruiting for those players that want to complete for NC AND play school.

ND absolutely has to win this game. Otherwise its "Oh look ND, over rated again can't win a big bowl".

 

[ThePiombino]

Watch them shred our defense for 35+

Which half?

 

[ThePiombino]

Joe needs to be limited to covering the boundary. That is all.

Unless we're serious about winning. Then he should be limited to covering the bench. NEED ATHLETES IN GAMES LIKE THIS.

 

[dad4aa]

ND absolutely has to win this game. Otherwise its "Oh look ND, over rated again can't win a big bowl".

Will agree to disagree. If OSU would beat us 24-23 by kicking a FG with no time left...no one would say we were overrated and didn't belong. Obviously I would prefer a victory but we cannot due is lose big.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Joe needs to be limited to covering the boundary. That is all.

No. He needs to relegated to carry the water.

 

[Cackalacky]

ND absolutely has to win this game. Otherwise its "Oh look ND, over rated again can't win a big bowl".

Yes. It is is this exactly. We have to get this elite bowl game off our back.

 

[philipm31]

No. He needs to relegated to carry the water.

I do not trust him with that either.

 

[philipm31]

People thinking that we do NOT need to win this game must not remember the last time ND won a January bowl...meaning they were born after Jan. 1994.

But I honestly do not think that we can beat OSU. They are too talented and they will be UP big time for this game. Last time we had a shot like this, we got manhandled on national TV and we are likely never ever going to live that down..unless we win this game, period.

No moral victories about taking the defending national champs down to the 4th quarter.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Do you all remember the last time Notre Dame was in the fiesta bowl? This game could turn out to be very similar.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EifertPower]

Yes. It is is this exactly. We have to get this elite bowl game off our back.

Agreed. If we played a brilliant, flawless game and lost on a fluke play the narrative would be "same old ND". If we play horrendous, but get some lucky calls and Ohio State blows the game the narrative will be "ND is back and is for real"

 

[EifertPower]

People thinking that we do NOT need to win this game must not remember the last time ND won a January bowl...meaning they were born after Jan. 1994.

But I honestly do not think that we can beat OSU. They are too talented and they will be UP big time for this game. Last time we had a shot like this, we got manhandled on national TV and we are likely never ever going to live that down..unless we win this game, period.

No moral victories about taking the defending national champs down to the 4th quarter.

I think Ohio State will be the best team we played all season but I'm excited for the challenge.

 

[dad4aa]

People thinking that we do NOT need to win this game must not remember the last time ND won a January bowl...meaning they were born after Jan. 1994.

But I honestly do not think that we can beat OSU. They are too talented and they will be UP big time for this game. Last time we had a shot like this, we got manhandled on national TV and we are likely never ever going to live that down..unless we win this game, period.

No moral victories about taking the defending national champs down to the 4th quarter.

If you think OSU is as talented as the 2012 Alabama team...I want what you're smoking.

This is a useless argument. Do you not think ND will be up for this game? We are two plays away from an undefeated season and #1 ranking. This is redemption time.

 

[texbender]

Great opportunity for team to finish out their "what if" season with a win over a good program that allows you to measure yourself against. I believe it's a winnable game, but OSU will definitely come to play, too.

 

[philipm31]

If you think OSU is as talented as the 2012 Alabama team...I want what you're smoking.

This is a useless argument. Do you not think ND will be up for this game? We are two plays away from an undefeated season and #1 ranking. This is redemption time.

Actually, we should be the #1 team in the land undefeated if our HC could have done basic addition during the Clemson game and our DC did not have JOE SCHMIDT covering their slot WR.

Back to your other question though, do I think this team is as talented as 2012 Bama? Overall, NO. But at the QB, WR and RB positions, hell yes, they are every bit as talented.

They also have a VASTLY SUPERIOR Head Coach than we do.

And their D has been underrated, I think. They tinkered with their O all year but give them a month to prepare and we could very easily get chewed up.

For example, that Watson run for 38 yards to kick off the first Clemson TD would be a score by OSU's Miller. So if we blitz every other play when we do not have the horses to do so (even when healthy), yes, we could get shelled every bit as hard as we did against Bama.


I may be overreacting, but I just think that them having Meyer is a major difference, as well as a month to prepare for BVG--whose defense gives up so many big plays a game, it is saddening to think of how many OSU could hit just in the first half--yes, OSU could hang 42+ on us. I love how the Fox guys were saying that BVG was the master of the exotic blitz, and that it was difficult to get a bead on where the blitz was coming from; and yet, I do no think we really hurried Hogan much and/or sacked him. So imagine how easy it will be to dissect where our blitzes come from in over a month of film study.

Do I think that they will? NO. Do they have the horses to do it? Hell yes.

Do we want to get into a shootout with this team, though, is the question, because with the RZ issues that Kelly has never once corrected in the last five years, then we need to be scoring from the 30 on out since we cannot score in the RZ.

TOs in the RZ have been our Achilles heel for years, so I am scared we falter because of ineffectual playcalling and results down there.

I hope we pull out the victory, of course, but an actual one, not a moral one.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Actually, we should be the #1 team in the land undefeated if our HC could have done basic addition during the Clemson game and our DC did not have JOE SCHMIDT covering their slot WR.

Back to your other question though, do I think this team is as talented as 2012 Bama? Overall, NO. But at the QB, WR and RB positions, hell yes, they are every bit as talented.

They also have a VASTLY SUPERIOR Head Coach than we do.

And their D has been underrated, I think. They tinkered with their O all year but give them a month to prepare and we could very easily get chewed up.

For example, that Watson run for 38 yards to kick off the first Clemson TD would be a score by OSU's Miller. So if we blitz every other play when we do not have the horses to do so (even when healthy), yes, we could get shelled every bit as hard as we did against Bama.


I may be overreacting, but I just think that them having Meyer is a major difference, as well as a month to prepare for BVG--whose defense gives up so many big plays a game, it is saddening to think of how many OSU could hit just in the first half--yes, OSU could hang 42+ on us. I love how the Fox guys were saying that BVG was the master of the exotic blitz, and that it was difficult to get a bead on where the blitz was coming from; and yet, I do no think we really hurried Hogan much and/or sacked him. So imagine how easy it will be to dissect where our blitzes come from in over a month of film study.

Do I think that they will? NO. Do they have the horses to do it? Hell yes.

Do we want to get into a shootout with this team, though, is the question, because with the RZ issues that Kelly has never once corrected in the last five years, then we need to be scoring from the 30 on out since we cannot score in the RZ.

TOs in the RZ have been our Achilles heel for years, so I am scared we falter because of ineffectual playcalling and results down there.

I hope we pull out the victory, of course, but an actual one, not a moral one.

2012 Bama vs 2015 OSU

McCarron > Barrett

Cooper > any Buckeye WR by a mile

Lacy/Yeldon is at least equal to EE

Bama OL > OSU OL


OSU DL > Bama DL

Bama LBs > OSU LBs

Bama CBs = OSU CBs

Bama Safties > OSU Safties

The only position group on the field for this year's Buckeyes that are better than 2012 Bama is the OSU DL. And even then, Bama had way more depth than this year's Buckeye team. There really isn't much of a comparison IMO. Plus, OSU hasn't played but one game that I would even consider a complete game and that was against Michigan... who aren't as good as we probably thought.

Now... with all that said, ND has some good match ups going for them against the Buckeyes. You start your post by saying the Irish should be #1 in the land and then give a lot of reasons why they probably won't beat OSU. Not quite following you on that. OSU doesn't have a WR in their group that can stretch the field vertically. Stop EE and your chances of winning increase dramatically. Will it take a complete game in all three phases for the Irish to win? Yep. But it isn't impossible either. And Urban being this grand coach... BS. He has plenty of tendencies and is a creature of habit. OSU will not do much more in the bowl game than they did in the regular season. A few wrinkles here or there, but not much more.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

2012 Bama vs 2015 OSU

McCarron > Barrett

Cooper > any Buckeye WR by a mile

Lacy/Yeldon is at least equal to EE

Bama OL > OSU OL


OSU DL > Bama DL

Bama LBs > OSU LBs

Bama CBs = OSU CBs

Bama Safties > OSU Safties

The only position group on the field for this year's Buckeyes that are better than 2012 Bama is the OSU DL. And even then, Bama had way more depth than this year's Buckeye team. There really isn't much of a comparison IMO. Plus, OSU hasn't played but one game that I would even consider a complete game and that was against Michigan... who aren't as good as we probably thought.

Now... with all that said, ND has some good match ups going for them against the Buckeyes. You start your post by saying the Irish should be #1 in the land and then give a lot of reasons why they probably won't beat OSU. Not quite following you on that. OSU doesn't have a WR in their group that can stretch the field vertically. Stop EE and your chances of winning increase dramatically. Will it take a complete game in all three phases for the Irish to win? Yep. But it isn't impossible either. And Urban being this grand coach... BS. He has plenty of tendencies and is a creature of habit. OSU will not do much more in the bowl game than they did in the regular season. A few wrinkles here or there, but not much more.

Thank you TTT, it's incredible how snake bitten our fan base is.

Go beat the buckeyes. Yes, it's a tough game for us but so was Death Valley with a RS Frosh making his first road start and despite 4 - 2nd half TOs, countless drops and botched 2 point conversions, we still only lost by two. And they are currently ranked #1 in the country (although I don't think they are the most complete team).

Our players, who we always claim have more academic rigors will have 2-3 weeks without schoolwork to focus only on prepping for this game. Kelly is a very good coach and we're sitting in the position to knock off the 2014 National Champs.

It's been a great season and could be even greater around 5 pm on New Year's day.

 

[ickythump1225]

2012 Bama vs 2015 OSU

McCarron > Barrett

Cooper > any Buckeye WR by a mile

Lacy/Yeldon is at least equal to EE

Bama OL > OSU OL


OSU DL > Bama DL

Bama LBs > OSU LBs

Bama CBs = OSU CBs

Bama Safties > OSU Safties

The only position group on the field for this year's Buckeyes that are better than 2012 Bama is the OSU DL. And even then, Bama had way more depth than this year's Buckeye team. There really isn't much of a comparison IMO. Plus, OSU hasn't played but one game that I would even consider a complete game and that was against Michigan... who aren't as good as we probably thought.

Now... with all that said, ND has some good match ups going for them against the Buckeyes. You start your post by saying the Irish should be #1 in the land and then give a lot of reasons why they probably won't beat OSU. Not quite following you on that. OSU doesn't have a WR in their group that can stretch the field vertically. Stop EE and your chances of winning increase dramatically. Will it take a complete game in all three phases for the Irish to win? Yep. But it isn't impossible either. And Urban being this grand coach... BS. He has plenty of tendencies and is a creature of habit. OSU will not do much more in the bowl game than they did in the regular season. A few wrinkles here or there, but not much more.

Don't forget:
Nick Saban>>Urban Meyer

 

[gkIrish]

Don't forget:
Nick Saban>>Urban Meyer

Not sure I agree with that. Urban beat him head to head last year and I think Urban got the best of him while he was at Florida, too. Could be wrong about that though.

 

[JSBusch]

Not sure I agree with that. Urban beat him head to head last year and I think Urban got the best of him while he was at Florida, too. Could be wrong about that though.

I'm not sure if that's coaching or style. I'm also not sure the difference matters. Bama's defense has struggled in recent years against a good spread pass attach with speed on turf. It seems like Meyer's system is designed specifically to beat Saban's style of defense with the massive LB corps. They'll meet again.. so there'll be other opportunities to evaluate.

 

[philipm31]

2012 Bama vs 2015 OSU

McCarron > Barrett

Cooper > any Buckeye WR by a mile

Lacy/Yeldon is at least equal to EE

Bama OL > OSU OL


OSU DL > Bama DL

Bama LBs > OSU LBs

Bama CBs = OSU CBs

Bama Safties > OSU Safties

The only position group on the field for this year's Buckeyes that are better than 2012 Bama is the OSU DL. And even then, Bama had way more depth than this year's Buckeye team. There really isn't much of a comparison IMO. Plus, OSU hasn't played but one game that I would even consider a complete game and that was against Michigan... who aren't as good as we probably thought.

Now... with all that said, ND has some good match ups going for them against the Buckeyes. You start your post by saying the Irish should be #1 in the land and then give a lot of reasons why they probably won't beat OSU. Not quite following you on that. OSU doesn't have a WR in their group that can stretch the field vertically. Stop EE and your chances of winning increase dramatically. Will it take a complete game in all three phases for the Irish to win? Yep. But it isn't impossible either. And Urban being this grand coach... BS. He has plenty of tendencies and is a creature of habit. OSU will not do much more in the bowl game than they did in the regular season. A few wrinkles here or there, but not much more.

I realize that you are biased, but honestly Barrett is far more talented than AJ ever was.

Braxton Miller is learning to be a WR, but clearly he is not Devin Smith, or Cooper, but outside of Amari, I think it is pretty much a wash.

My point is that at those 3 positions, their TALENT level is pretty much a wash.

Were they as talented overall, at each position? No. But they could put an epic beatdown on ND if they feast on our D's tendencies on giving up huge plays in the passing and running game because everyone knows exactly where the blitz is coming from, despite BVG being a grand wizard of the "exotic blitz".

 

[ndfi78]

philipm31, I think you are forgetting that we can score with anyone.

 

[Legacy]

If teams had to have winning records to go to bowls, we'd drop from 40 to 32 games this year - SBNation.com

 

[philipm31]

philipm31, I think you are forgetting that we can score with anyone.

Except in the RZ.

To say we can score with anyone in the country is nice, but it not actually accurate, because if it were, then we would be in the playoff, period.

Turnovers are what killed us in both big games this year. In fact, in every single big game that we lost in the BK era, TOs, particularly in the RZ have been killer. Kelly has still not addressed that and we are six years into his tenure. So, while it is nice to say that we can score with anyone, it is not meaningful unless we have 0-0 TOs this game.

Any TOs could be catastrophic to this team's desire to pull off an upset of the defending national champions.