General team info

[wizards8507]

What?

I'm saying if this week's poll was based on actual on-the-field performance and not "let's tweak last week's nonsense preseason rankings," we'd be number three.

 

[Huntr]

ND is 8th in FWAA poll. That's the confusion.

 

[Luckylucci]

Please be really good, Ohio State. I don't want to admit how good Notre Dame looks. - SBNation.com

Interesting take.

 

[Luckylucci]

I'm saying if this week's poll was based on actual on-the-field performance and not "let's tweak last week's nonsense preseason rankings," we'd be number three.

Read the article I posted. He agrees.

 

[Huntr]

9th in AP poll.

 

[yankeeND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Malik Zaire was named College Football Performance Awards National Player of the Week.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/641307604812189697">September 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That's great! The scary thing is that I see a lot of room for improvement on the ground for him. You can just see the difference with him vs. our previous QB's. It always felt like if one of them hand command of the team and knowledge of the game they would be lacking in ability or vice versa. Well, not with Malik. He is the total package, and we are gonna cebrate a lot of W's with him as our QB!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

You must be out of kool-aide. I can share mine, I have a lot.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

Huh? Ohio State was down at halftime to a middle of the road VT team until Tech had to throw their backup QB into the fire.

 

[IrishLion]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

Idk, both teams looked mortal to me, at least enough that I would say that Notre Dame IS in their league.

I know I am a homer, BUT:

Bama's defense is susceptible to the pass. If Wisconsin was having success throwing down the field, then I feel comfortable saying that ND could keep the pressure on the Bama secondary much more effectively.

Ohio State's pass-pro was borderline bad. I know it's a VT defense, and that they were bringing extra help a lot, but even when they were only rushing four, VT was consistently pressuring Cardale Jones, which is part of the reason the game was close until Brewer got hurt.

 

[wizards8507]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

Really? You were impressed by those teams? Virginia Tech played two quarterbacks against Ohio State, neither of which would crack the two-deep at Texas, and they managed to score 24 points. Alabama Alabama'ed all over Wisconsin, but there was nothing especially awe-inspiring about it. Yes, I think Ohio State and Alabama are better than Notre Dame. But not in another league.

Regardless, my point wasn't about Ohio State and Alabama. My point is that, based on actual football that has been played in 2015, Notre Dame is better than TCU, Baylor, Auburn, Oregon, and USC. I'll leave Sparty as a question mark.

 

[Luckylucci]

Huh? Ohio State was down at halftime to a middle of the road VT team until Tech had to throw their backup QB into the fire.

Agreed, I definitely didn't come away from that game thinking OSU is some unstoppable force. I thought they looked average in the first half then much better in the second but that wasn't the performance I would look to as world beaters. With that said, we do have to remember they didn't have some important pieces to team last night.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

Slow down friend. Neither OSU nor Bama looked great. Both have some weaknesses that will need to be fixed moving forward. Still early and a lot of football left. We shall see how they do.

 

[IrishLion]

I'll leave Sparty as a question mark.

Disagree; eye-test says ND wins. And everyone know the eye-test is important.

 

[Ironman8]

<script height="381px" width="672px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=hrbzBmdzqgNP1btumzGFasklQE1gkxnx&pbid=5e83fc845d86487e88b6953600eaff54"></script>

 

[Luckylucci]

Idk, both teams looked mortal to me, at least enough that I would say that Notre Dame IS in their league.

I know I am a homer, BUT:

Bama's defense is susceptible to the pass. If Wisconsin was having success throwing down the field, then I feel comfortable saying that ND could keep the pressure on the Bama secondary much more effectively.

Ohio State's pass-pro was borderline bad. I know it's a VT defense, and that they were bringing extra help a lot, but even when they were only rushing four, VT was consistently pressuring Cardale Jones, which is part of the reason the game was close until Brewer got hurt.

Yea, this was literally the perfect matchup for this Bama D. Heavy on the Dline with a one dimensional Wiscy offense. A team that can stretch the field vertically will probably make it much more interesting.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Idk, both teams looked mortal to me, at least enough that I would say that Notre Dame IS in their league.

I know I am a homer, BUT:

Bama's defense is susceptible to the pass. If Wisconsin was having success throwing down the field, then I feel comfortable saying that ND could keep the pressure on the Bama secondary much more effectively.

Ohio State's pass-pro was borderline bad. I know it's a VT defense, and that they were bringing extra help a lot, but even when they were only rushing four, VT was consistently pressuring Cardale Jones, which is part of the reason the game was close until Brewer got hurt.

I think Bama's defense is going to be much improved against the pass and if they can make a team one dimensional... and they should with their front seven... them passes are going to be tougher to make moving forward. It is the mobile QB that usually can give Bama fits by extending plays. I am more concerned with the OL being more consistent. They looked great some possessions and looked pedestrian in others.

 

[irishfan]

For what it's worth, ESPN FPI ranking has us #10 and gives us an 8.6% of finishing undefeated which is actually the 4th highest percentage of any team in the country.

Our remaining games with our % chance of victory:

at UVA (86%)
vs. GT (76.5%)
vs. UMASS (98.2%)
at Clemson (56.4%)
vs. Navy (97.2%)
vs. USC (59%)
at Temple (85.9%)
at Pitt (85.7%)
vs. Wake Forest (96.9%)
vs. BC (94%)
at Stanford (60.1%)

 

[ACamp1900]

wow, so they have us favored in every single game then?? or am I misunderstanding the data?? Also hard to wrap my mind around GT at 76.5 % but Stanford at 60%... that seems quite a bit off imo.

 

[wizards8507]

wow, so they have us favored in every single game then?? or am I misunderstanding the data??

You're reading it correctly. They actually had us favored in every game in the initial preseason FPI, then we lost a couple when Golson transferred, and now we're back projecting as the favorite in every game.

Also hard to wrap my mind around GT at 76.5 % but Stanford at 60%... that seems quite a bit off imo.

FPI is completely mathematical. There's no "eye test" or other such consideration. It's based on offense/defense/special teams efficiency, as well as metrics like returning starters, coaching experience, etc.

 

[ACamp1900]

FPI is completely mathematical. There's no "eye test" or other such consideration. It's based on offense/defense/special teams efficiency, as well as metrics like returning starters, coaching experience, etc.

I get that... Still boggles the mind tho...

 

[wizards8507]

I get that... Still boggles the mind tho...

Maybe home/away is weighted heavily.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I hear what you are all saying. Bama I'm less weary of, think ND can match up to them. But, when OSU get's all of their offensive weapons back, I don't see how this Notre Dame defense or any defense in the country can stop them when they are on.

I do think Notre Dame offense can score on OSU defense. I think Stanley and big Mike can neutralize Bosa. Maybe the best way to beat OSU is by ball control?...

 

[phork]

Honestly...Watching OSU and Alabama Notre Dame isn't in their league yet. I don't see how Notre Dame on their best day could beat one of those two teams on mediocre day from them. I'll be satisfied with a New Year six bowl this year please.

I watched VT hang with OSU until OSU murdered VTs QB. Barrett is the right QB for OSU, not Jones. I like NDs chances with either team right now.

Barring any unforseen injuries coming up you better believe ND is in the top 4.

 

[IrishLion]

Maybe the best way to beat OSU is by ball control?...

Or hope and pray that, for some ungodly reason, they only hand the ball to Zeke 4 times in the first half, allowing you to keep it close and tee off on Jones in the pocket.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I hear what you are all saying. Bama I'm less weary of, think ND can match up to them. But, when OSU get's all of their offensive weapons back, I don't see how this Notre Dame defense or any defense in the country can stop them when they are on.

I do think Notre Dame offense can score on OSU defense. I think Stanley and big Mike can neutralize Bosa. Maybe the best way to beat OSU is by ball control?...

I think it is a bit too early to be comparing teams. A whole lot of football to be played. Teams are never as good - or bad - as their first game goes. After 4-5 weeks we should have a better feel for how teams are improving or not improving.

 

[ACamp1900]

I think our tests will be the three big games, (which go for most teams), and more so can the key guys all stay healthy and can the team as a whole avoid the rash of injuries that plagued us recently... ND doesn't have the elite depth that the tOSUs or Bamas have where they can go next man in with little to no drop off...

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think it is a bit too early to be comparing teams. A whole lot of football to be played. Teams are never as good - or bad - as their first game goes. After 4-5 weeks we should have a better feel for how teams are improving or not improving.

I understand what you are saying.

But OSU is a different case. The talent on the OSU team is insane. The high 4 and 5 star kids on that team is mind blowing. not to mention they have the best coach in the country.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I understand what you are saying.

But OSU is a different case. The talent on the OSU team is insane. The high 4 and 5 star kids on that team is mind blowing. not to mention they have the best coach in the country.

They didn't look all that impressive to me... especially on defense. The VT QB was torching them until he went down with an injury. The VT DL was also getting a pretty decent push. I think the game would have been a little closer if the QB didn't get hurt. Remember, this is pretty much the same team as last year with a few additions. They have a cake walk through the B1G minus Mich St so I don't really know how good they will really be. Their toughest games will probably be in the playoffs... that's exactly why their "great" coach jetted to the B1G. He couldn't consistently beat the second "greatest" coach and he only wanted to have to win one or two games a year to get to the NC game. The Buckeyes are good... but I don't think they are not beatable. I would like our chances if we lined up against them tomorrow... next week.... or the end of the year.

 

[Redbar]

I think it is a bit too early to be comparing teams. A whole lot of football to be played. Teams are never as good - or bad - as their first game goes. After 4-5 weeks we should have a better feel for how teams are improving or not improving.

Completely agree. The teams that will be there at the end are the ones that get better every week, not the ones that looked best the last week. With that being said, if we can get better every week we will be in the playoffs come January.