How can ND beat Bama?

[tussin]

Is it even possible to win this game? What is the recipe for success?

 

[NDRock]

Covid

 

[drayer54]

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End of thread

 

[drayer54]

Serious post- in the air.

Ole Miss and Florida are the only teams that made Bama look human on defense. They did it through the air.

I don't think you stop Harris- you just have to outpace them. Not sure we have the horses for that so ND winning will require a serious advantage in time of possession and turnovers.

 

[Rudy89]

They can’t.....we are gonna be the laughingstock of college football again.

 

[Riddickulous]

An act of God.

I predict a win.

 

[NDRock]

Serious post- in the air.

Ole Miss and Florida are the only teams that made Bama look human on defense. They did it through the air.

I don't think you stop Harris- you just have to outpace them. Not sure we have the horses for that so ND winning will require a serious advantage in time of possession and turnovers.

Yeah, we match up terribly with them. Our passing game and pass defense are the weakest parts of our game and what is needed against Bama. Without several turnovers and luck I can’t see this being close. Will be shocked if we can score over 14 points on offense.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Realistically, I don’t see any path to victory. The best case scenario is to keep the spread under 28. If they do that, it will be a great achievement.

 

[notredomer23]

Don’t stop saying Hail Marys between now and then.

In all seriousness ND has to play their best game of the year and Bama come out flat. Will that happen? Prob not. Let’s just hope it’s competitive.

 

[rikkitikki08]

ND wins if they score more points then Alabama

 

[Irishman77]

This years team achieved more than I thought. Book played elite for a month.

Good for recruiting to make the playoffs but getting throttled every time we play an elite team that is healthy sucks!

 

[Free Manera]

Psychological warfare. Have to incite targetings and unsportsmanlikes until they don't have enough players left to field a team.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I think Alabama is the worst possible matchup for Notre Dame and they'll get slaughtered. Notre Dame has a terrific defense, but their Achilles heel is pass defense and Alabama is going to exploit that all day.

Notre Dame cannot win a shootout and frankly cannot even get into a shootout against Alabama. This is 42-14 all over again sadly.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

I mean if there's a massive COVID outbreak and we face their scout team than maybe.

 

[Free Manera]

I mean if there's a massive COVID outbreak and we face their scout team than maybe.

Their scout team has more 5 stars than ND. Kind of kidding but not really.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Realistically? They would have to underestimate us to the point that we get a couple early touchdowns coupled with some quick defensive stops. We get a lead and they play tight and get sloppy.

But even then, I can't see them continuing to let up points and not score. If we somehow jump out to an early lead, I have a feeling it would just be us trying to hang on to it as they slowly climb back.

The other option is just a bunch of lucky plays. Tyree takes back a kickoff, someone gets a pick six, we're able to get a scoop and score, or a defender slips leading to a big play. And we would need all of these to break our way.

 

[ThePiombino]

Well I'll pose this question - does Florida win yesterday with ND's defense? If so, the answer is to mimic what Florida did. This is clearly not the Bama defense from 2013. I just don't know that 2 weeks is enough time for Book to crawl back out of his hole after seeing his shadow last night.

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[Free Manera]

To be serious, ND needs to find a way to score 42 points. Because Bama is scoring that many.

That means big plays. No chance you can have prolonged 15 play drives over and over.

Get speed on the field on offense, that is the only chance of winning. Lenzy, Johnson, Watts, and Tyree probably need a shot.

I know you don't want to give freshmen their first real reps in the playoff, but this is a house money situation. ND cannot win without a bunch of big plays.

 

[ColinKSU]

I could come up with ways they can beat Alabama, but that’d just be a thought experiment. The reality is they’re going to get their asses kicked.

 

[tussin]

To be serious, ND needs to find a way to score 42 points. Because Bama is scoring that many.

That means big plays. No chance you can have prolonged 15 play drives over and over.

Get speed on the field on offense, that is the only chance of winning. Lenzy, Johnson, Watts, and Tyree probably need a shot.

I know you don't want to give freshmen their first real reps in the playoff, but this is a house money situation. ND cannot win without a bunch of big plays.

It's not in CBK's DNA to make a big switch like that, as much as I'd love it.

 

[Free Manera]

It's not in CBK's DNA to make a big switch like that, as much as I'd love it.

Yeah. I think what we are going to see is an attempt to not get blown out by eating clock running the ball and dinking and dunking. Which will result in getting blown out.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The Irish have an above average DL. That's a start. Get creative with the pressure packages, tell the corners they're on their own, keep everything in front of you, and don't let Bama's OL get in the second level blocking for the run. Get a few timely turnovers, score TD's when you get in the red zone, and slow the game down on offense. It's a tall task but that's why you play them. Now, enough of the negative talk and tee it up.

 

[NDRock]

Maybe we can get Sark drinking again.

 

[BabyIrish]

We win by playing our brand of football. Win the battle up front. Win the time of possession. Have a balanced offense, and create turnovers, the same recipes it takes to win any game. We can do it. Will we? Only time will tell

 

[pumpdog20]

Book has to throw the ball up and let his WRs attempt to make plays. They aren't going to be open, so he needs to trust them. There are big and strong enough to win contested throws.

Only way we have a chance.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Defense
A. Clark Lea is really dedicated to the job;
B. The defense responds to Lea and wants to make him proud;
C. The DLine(s) play ferociously great, allowing the LBs to shine;
Offense
D. Alabama's blitzing isn't as good or as smart as Clemson's was;
E. They stack vs Williams, and spy vs Book, trying to mimick Clemson's blueprint. But Kelly/Rees invent a few plays aimed at that pattern --- maybe involving pocket moving and quick throws out of that to the TEs. The blueprint requires the dbs to defend our receivers without help. Being faster, they can, but not necessarily on quicker throws. This could involve leaking Kyren out.

This is the opposite of 2012. Then Saban could game vs an unchanging target. This time Saban already thinks he knows exactly the blueprint to engineer, but Kelly doesn't have to remain monolithic --- since in most ways we have nothing to lose, "going for it" with novel offensive schemes should allow freedom.

 

[IrishRazor82]

COVID is our best chance

 

[ND88]

Kelly and co have never done well when they start to feel entitled. The entitlement is gone and every player on the team knows it or should know it. So just go out there and play your ass off for no other reason than it’s football and it’s a game that you’re fortunate to keep playing.

 

[irishtrooper]

Get pressure without having to constantly blitz. Have good run fits. Little bit of luck. They’ll make plays, but try and limit the huge chunks. Get pressure with DL. Maybe a lucky turnover or two.

On offense. Use guys that can run to stretch out their defense. Ole Miss and Fla showed the Bama defense can be had. If we try to run right at them, we’ll struggle.

I’m not buying that we can’t even compete. I’m not as convinced as some here that LOSING BY FOR TOUCHDOWNS is somehow an accomplishment or would be a surprise.

I’m disappointed with our game too. Mac Jones isn’t TL. I think Bama is better at WR, but a huge issue for us vs Clemson was TL’s running. We just couldn’t stop that and the WRs and Etienne. So we just kinda didn’t stop any. All that being said, we only gave up 34 to that juggernaut vs I think 33 last time in regulation. And that’s with the struggling on offense.

Basically we need Book to play like he did against Clemson the first time. The defense to tackle well. Win special teams. Get a turnover or two (block a punt maybe). I can see a path to win, but Bama just has more, easier paths. They are obviously better talent wise and have more margin for error. ND can beat them and I expect to give them more than most of us “fans” do.

 

[WilliamWallace]

Each and every player who steps on the field will have to play to their fullest potential. If they can’t elevate their level of play it will be a punishing game. My biggest question is can the coaches get these guys motivated after yesterday. Unfortunately I’m not sure they can. BK isn’t the right person for that job.