Can Notre Dame Run the Table?

[PJWhitfield]

Before the season started, most of us (including me) didn't expect N.D. to be 6-0 at this point. In July, I wrote a blog fantasy piece, "What Would It Take for Notre Dame to Win It All?" And people asked me what I was smoking or drinking (it was Kessler's Kentucky whiskey). I'm curious on what the folks here think now: Can we run the table with BYU, OU, Pitt, B.C., Wake Forest and USC ahead?

 

[Zoro]

Kid at ND, spouse USC grad.
Beating USC out here is going to be tough.
We hope so - but don't think so.

 

[arrowryan]

Can it happen? Of course. Will it happen? We will see.

 

[IrishInFl]

^ THIS

 

[no.1IrishFan]

All in.

 

[GreatGolson]

Yes

 

[timm3117]

Beating both OU, and USC on the road will be a very tough task, but not impossible. I'm more concerned that we come out flat and blow a game to one of the teams we should beat. I guess its hard to shake that feeling based on the past few years.

 

[arrowryan]

We need to worry about BYU. We need to take it week by week

 

[RallySonsOfND]

We can beat both OK and USC, due to the fact that our defense keeps us in games when the offense struggles.

BUT those are both road games, and Norman is an extremely difficult place to play.


Can it be done? Absolutely. Will it be done? I think it can be.

 

[CHIDomer9]

We need to worry about BYU. We need to take it week by week

We're not actually on the team, so we can worry about whatever we want. Seems like a nice time to talk about the QB battle for the 2013 season.

 

[arrowryan]

We're not actually on the team, so we can worry about whatever we want. Seems like a nice time to talk about the QB battle for the 2013 season.

Haha yeah true but I was so stressed out last night that I felt like I was on the team!

 

[timm3117]

We need to worry about BYU. We need to take it week by week

And I'm sure that is what the team is worrying about right now. Fans on the other hand get to look ahead, the what ifs are what makes being a fan fun.

 

[timm3117]

Haha yeah true but I was so stressed out last night that I felt like I was on the team!

I haven't been that stressed since we beat FSU, in 93.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

This defense just kept MSU, UM, Miami and Stanford out of the end-zone. Four diverse offenses consisting of power running, aerial assaults and Denard's ability to run.

This defense can run the table. The offense has been inconsistent, especially against disciplined defenses but will have moments of clarity.

IMO, this comes down to OU. They will be the most complete team we face all year. The offense will have to win this game. BYU will be a healthy test for Golson to establish some consistency against a formidable defense..

 

[IrishLax]

Can it happen? Of course. Will it happen? We will see.

Bingo. Assume we have a 50% chance of beating either USC or Oklahoma (generous) away... we'd have roughly a 20% chance of running the table if you chalk up Wake, Pitt, BC as near certain wins and give us an 85%+ chance of beating BYU.

So can it be done? Absolutely. Definitely got a puncher's chance. Our most probable scenario is 10 or 11 wins, though with a loss or two somewhere.

 

[arrowryan]

Bingo. Assume we have a 50% chance of beating either USC or Oklahoma (generous) away... we'd have roughly a 20% chance of running the table if you chalk up Wake, Pitt, BC as near certain wins and give us an 85%+ chance of beating BYU.

So can it be done? Absolutely. Definitely got a puncher's chance. Our most probable scenario is 10 or 11 wins, though with a loss or two somewhere.

The biggest issue now is who starts at quarterback. Something has happened to Rees, this kid is an absolute baller. While Golson has athleticism and potential dripping out of his ears. This is a good problem to have and I agree with the decision that Kelly makes.

Golson will probably start at quarterback but I won't complain if Rees starts.

 

[Buster Bluth]

If they can win at Oklahoma, they can.

Nobody has matched up well with Notre Dame's defense. Oklahoma and USC do.

It is possible though of course.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I predict a 10-2 season with losses to Wake Forest and Pittsburgh.

 

[In Lou I Trust]

If we have any shot at running the table we cannot come out as flat as we did yesterday against teams like OU and USC; they'll burn us early. With our offense lacking at times we could dig ourselves too big of a hole to climb out of. I do, however, have the utmost faith in this team to run the table. If Manti has to carry every single player on his back he will. The heart of this team, and especially him, is undeniable. So glad that he came back to give us one more year of watching him play and mature and I'm glad this team is busting its *** to send him off properly.

 

[Grimm]

To run the table we need the offense to be able to play much better and we need special teams to not put us in bad field position. Both units have played too inconsistently to win the next 6 games without getting some significant breaks (IMO). It seems like special teams should be able to get fixed (what was the deal w all the stupid penalties on sat?), but I'm not as confident about the offense.

Against the bad defensive teams, the offense has looked good. Until the Stanford game, against the good defensive teams we at least took care of the ball, but didn't look overly effective. Against OU and USC we probably need to be able to score at least 21-24 points in one of those games, if not both of them. The question for me is whether Golson is capable of making this happen this season? If Golson had stayed in the Stanford game, would we have the victory now? For me, to have a shot a running the table Golson has to protect the ball and when (if) we are having trouble putting points on the board in a 2 or 3 series in a rown, we need to be willing to use Rees even more liberally then has been the case so far this season.

 

[ulukinatme]

I predict a 10-2 season with losses to Wake Forest and Pittsburgh.

Haha, I like it.



Oklahoma worries me more than USC, but not by much this year. I think if we play smash mouth football like we did yesterday and like we did against them in So Cal in 2010, we can come away with a win against USC. USC doesn't play well against power teams. Oklahoma...it's going to take a complete game for certain.

 

[rocket66]

If they can win at Oklahoma, they can.

Nobody has matched up well with Notre Dame's defense. Oklahoma and USC do.

It is possible though of course.

How do those teams match up well? Unless you're joining the media and discrediting the secondary that has played great thus far, I simply disagree that those teams match up better. They are overall better teams than ND has probably seen, I can agree with that, but as long as ND's defensive line can continue to put pressure on the qb, anything is possible. Both Barkley and Jones have shown to make mistakes against good defensive lines when they're under pressure.

If anything, I think ND is a mismatch for THEM. It's time to start giving some credit to this team beyond what the media is trying to lead everyone to believe.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

I am somewhat worried about BYU (Tough D and can run the ball), i am REALLY worried about OU (alot of great athletes), i am REALLY REALLY worried about one of the "lesser" talented teams (Pitt Wake) since ND tends to lose focus on teams then should beat. Lastly $C healthy is still one of the elite teams in FBS. I watched them last night and they will hit you in the mouth.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I am somewhat worried about BYU (Tough D and can run the ball), i am REALLY worried about OU (alot of great athletes), i am REALLY REALLY worried about one of the "lesser" talented teams (Pitt Wake) since ND tends to lose focus on teams then should beat. Lastly $C healthy is still one of the elite teams in FBS. I watched them last night and they will hit you in the mouth.

We have beat the two bad teams that we have played by a combined 91-13. This isn't the same team as the ones you're apparently thinking of.

 

[jakerbluegold]

The homer/eternal optimist in me says we can.

That game just about killed me BTW. Good thing I wasn't drinking, or I probably would have destroyed something.

I haven't looked forward to watching this team as much since '93.

I'm trekking from Iowa for the BYU game next weekend, and every week the excitement builds.

 

[Irishnuke]

Possible but not likely.

 

[ndfi78]

The biggest issue now is who starts at quarterback. Something has happened to Rees, this kid is an absolute baller. While Golson has athleticism and potential dripping out of his ears. This is a good problem to have and I agree with the decision that Kelly makes.

Golson will probably start at quarterback but I won't complain if Rees starts.

It's called being a Junior

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I'm not sure I agree with the thought that Oklahoma and USC match up well with our defense. Both have been suspect on the offensive line, and both have QB's that can't scamble.

Our secondary has been playing great, and as long as our defense keeps bringing pressure, we have the advantage against any team, especially teams like SC and Oklahoma who have protection and blocking problems on their fronts.

Golson will have to get better at a few little things. He doesn't have to become a heisman contender over the next 6 games, he just has to play a little smarter.

-He has to be able to spot 1-1 mismatches in man coverage,

-see the window thats open every play while our TE is streaking straight down field and put the ball inbetween the MLB and safety.

-hold on to the ball and SLIDE. No need to be a hero.

Part of me wishes we had some cupcakes on our schedule so he could get into a groove

I think his best game will be against SC. He will have BC, Wake, and Pitt to practice against.

Oklahoma's defense is not as good as Stanfords, we should be able to be more run heavy, and balanced.

CW needs to play much more. And we need to take pressure of Golson with screens..etc some easy high percentage throws.

I am more worried about our Oline blocking (Golic and any TE besides Eifert) than I am about Golson. I dont blame the kid for having happy feet yesterday.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Possible but not likely.

Yeah, besides BYU being a classic trap game (you know how hard it is to get up for so many damn games in a row??? Thank God for the bye week, but this team has had to be 'on' for 5 straight games. Seriously on. No Towson or Bowling Green or the 4 straight patsies that OSU got to play AT HOME to start the year. You're coming off a huge high right now, and a very capable (and angry) team awaits, with OK on the road the next week. Classic trap game, so you gotta be very careful if you're ND.

And then there's Oklahoma. That's where I think we have our first loss, unfortunately. Besides their great passing game, they are almost unbeatable at home (KSU did it though), and they are on fire right now, playing with a ton of confidence. And with so many teams losing, they'll see a win against ND as a chance to get back into title contention. That's gonna be a helluva challenge for ND.

And then you USC looming at the end (but LOTS can happen until then, esp with injuries, so I'll wait on that one)...

 

[BobD]

Question #1. Can we beat BYU


When you're walking through a mine field, if your number one focus isn't your very next step, you're as good as dead.