Clemson -10.5

[Cackalacky2.0]

I think we win. It will come down to mistakes and defensive stops.

 

[phork]

I think we win. It will come down to mistakes and defensive stops.

Can't expect a JAK freeebie or a Williams long run. Absolutely have to play mistake free football and not leave 1 point on the field.

 

[NDohio]

I am just weirdly concerned about this game. I go into every game feeling good about ND, even games where I shouldn't, but four things about this game are bugging me:

* Lawrence and his ability to run 3-5 times for big gains/touchdowns

* I don't like the swap we have made in the middle of the line. ND losing Patterson and Clemson gaining Tyler Davis(maybe their best defensive player) has me very worried

* The whole Clark Lea distraction

* It's hard to win the rematch when two teams are such a close matchup

I hope I am wrong, just ain't feeling it.

 

[RDU Irish]

Does Clemson go deep early and try to open up the run or do they go full testicles and try to establish the run they couldn't do last time? Frosh threw for almost 500 on us - TL wants some of that action right? We keep them one dimensional and I think we will be OK. Rely on pass again and open up for INT, strip sack and other big play potential for our defense. Nobody they play comes close to our D and their OL is not that impressive.

JOK and KHam are first round talents - let's not sell them short. DL is looking good and deep - we will wear down their OL.

 

[philipm31]

Can't expect a JAK freeebie or a Williams long run. Absolutely have to play mistake free football and not leave 1 point on the field.

I can expect Williams to get a long run, maybe two. Can we expect a long run for a TD on the opening drive? Maybe not, but I can imagine that he still breaks a few shorter runs (like 10-15 yards a pop) that come at key situations. I am more worried about the OL issues that the Irish have now, as opposed to then. OUR DL has to be every bit as stout as it was last game and lock down all aspects of their running game, even Lawrence. That is the one intangible that he has that DJ did not. He can scramble for big yards and key first downs.

However, we do have to play almost entirely mistake free football. That is true, but that is just a given against a team like Clemson.

 

[philipm31]

I am just weirdly concerned about this game. I go into every game feeling good about ND, even games where I shouldn't, but four things about this game are bugging me:

* Lawrence and his ability to run 3-5 times for big gains/touchdowns

* I don't like the swap we have made in the middle of the line. ND losing Patterson and Clemson gaining Tyler Davis(maybe their best defensive player) has me very worried

* The whole Clark Lea distraction

* It's hard to win the rematch when two teams are such a close matchup

I hope I am wrong, just ain't feeling it.

I do not think the Lea situation will be a distraction because HE will not let it be a distraction. The rest of your post, though, yeah, I have the same concerns with their DL getting better and our OL getting somewhat worse. I hope we used our week off to prepare those young men for the game. And Lawrence's ability to run is scary. He may not run as often as Ian but when he does, it can be a backbreaker particularly as they are usually not designed runs.

 

[RDU Irish]

I can expect Williams to get a long run, maybe two. Can we expect a long run for a TD on the opening drive? Maybe not, but I can imagine that he still breaks a few shorter runs (like 10-15 yards a pop) that come at key situations. I am more worried about the OL issues that the Irish have now, as opposed to then. OUR DL has to be every bit as stout as it was last game and lock down all aspects of their running game, even Lawrence. That is the one intangible that he has that DJ did not. He can scramble for big yards and key first downs.

However, we do have to play almost entirely mistake free football. That is true, but that is just a given against a team like Clemson.

Clemson needs to play almost entirely mistake free football, but that is just a given against a team like Notre Dame.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Lea is a professional and that's been restated throughout. I fully expect him to be locked in for the next 3 games. He also knows his alma matter will be watching to see what they're getting. I expect him to be all in and if Clemson beats us, it won't be on the defense unless our corners just get beat like drums and there's no preparation that can prevent that.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Best, but most unlikely scenario:

We win
Bama wins
OSU loses
Iowa St Wins

1. Bama
2. ND
3. A & M
4. ISU

Now we play Bama in Championship instead of semis and not have Ohio St waiting on us.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Best, but most unlikely scenario:

We win
Bama wins
OSU loses
Iowa St Wins

1. Bama
2. ND
3. A & M
4. ISU

Now we play Bama in Championship instead of semis and not have Ohio St waiting on us.

A best case scenario has to include a Bama loss or I'm not in.

 

[notredomer23]

Can't expect a JAK freeebie or a Williams long run. Absolutely have to play mistake free football and not leave 1 point on the field.

No Williams long run gets negated by Book holding onto the ball this time as he scampers into the end zone.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Best, but most unlikely scenario:

We win
Bama wins
OSU loses
Iowa St Wins

1. Bama
2. ND
3. A & M
4. ISU

Now we play Bama in Championship instead of semis and not have Ohio St waiting on us.

I would have to think ND would get some love for #1 in this case. Alabama would have beaten a three loss UF team, who would be lower in the rankings than Clemson.

BUT, since the committee is so bias towards the SEC, they'll keep it how you have it.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I would have to think ND would get some love for #1 in this case. Alabama would have beaten a three loss UF team, who would be lower in the rankings than Clemson.

BUT, since the committee is so bias towards the SEC, they'll keep it how you have it.

But Bama also boatraced A&M, the #3 team in the country in this scenario

 

[phork]

Best, but most unlikely scenario:

We win
Bama wins
OSU loses
Iowa St Wins

1. Bama
2. ND
3. A & M
4. ISU

Now we play Bama in Championship instead of semis and not have Ohio St waiting on us.

There is no way a 2 loss team should get in. Ever.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

There is no way a 2 loss team should get in. Ever.

I agree here. So, you're going to take a team that lost to a top four team twice (hypothetically) and reward them with a chance to beat them a third time, for all the marbles?

No thanks.

 

[philipm31]

Clemson needs to play almost entirely mistake free football, but that is just a given against a team like Notre Dame.

That too.

But I do not want to leave any narrative out there other than ND played flawlessly and deserves to be in the CFP.

But mistake free from college students is highly unlikely. So MORE mistake free than Clemson.

 

[rtrn2glory]

A best case scenario has to include a Bama loss or I'm not in.

You're prolly right

 

[philipm31]

I would have to think ND would get some love for #1 in this case. Alabama would have beaten a three loss UF team, who would be lower in the rankings than Clemson.

BUT, since the committee is so bias towards the SEC, they'll keep it how you have it.

Right now, Florida has two losses, so even if they lose to Bama, which is likely as hell, Bama will not have beaten a 3-loss Gators team. They will have given the Gators their third loss.

The Aggies have no games left, so I do not see how they jump to #3.

 

[philipm31]

But Bama also boatraced A&M, the #3 team in the country in this scenario

Yeah I cannot see them getting a second shot at being beaten even worse by Alabama.

 

[philipm31]

You're prolly right

Agreed. But do you REALLY want to see a 2-loss SEC titlist JUMP ND to #1? Because YOU KNOW that is what will happen to the Irish. Hell they probably would bump ND to #3 in that SECnario.

 

[ulukinatme]

Good locker room motivation

This. Motivate the team, Ian especially likes a chip on his shoulder. Keep tellin' 'em how they aren't going to win this. I always get a bad feeling when we're favored anyway.

 

[ulukinatme]

Who would really want to see Clemson-ND part III anyway? Unless its in the national championship I wouldn't, 2 is enough. I'd rather see how we matched up with a different team.

Playing Clemson a third time is definitely asking a lot. How do you get up for a third one? Can you imagine beating them twice and somehow Clemson still winds up in the playoff? That feels like a no win scenario. They've got more talent, you have to figure they should win more times than not anyway. Fortunately if we pull out a win Saturday that should be the end of it.

I'd be all for playing another team in that scenario, I don't like the idea of playing tOSU this year. Any other year fine, they'll always have more talent being a football factory that "doesn't come to play school," but this year they've got the benefit of playing half as many games so they're nursing fewer injuries. They had more time to condition, more time to train prior to the season, they really shouldn't be included in the playoff talk.

 

[NDohio]

I am just weirdly concerned about this game. I go into every game feeling good about ND, even games where I shouldn't, but four things about this game are bugging me:

* Lawrence and his ability to run 3-5 times for big gains/touchdowns

Check

* I don't like the swap we have made in the middle of the line. ND losing Patterson and Clemson gaining Tyler Davis(maybe their best defensive player) has me very worried

Check

* The whole Clark Lea distraction

Check

* It's hard to win the rematch when two teams are such a close matchup

Check

I hope I am wrong, just ain't feeling it.

Unfortunate, but I pretty much felt this way all last week so Saturday was not quite as disappointing for me.