How can ND beat Bama?

[Guyjin37]

First, put all our attribute points into intelligence and tech. Then, quickhack Mac Jones, reboot optics and ping. Easy. Thanks, Cyberpunk.

 

[IrishDan]

Beating Alabama is highly unlikely because:
1. Outside of Nick McCloud, nobody can cover
2. Shaun Crawford is an absolute liability on defense. He makes 1 good play for every 4 bad plays
3. Tommy Rees is a joke of a playcaller - no imagination, very little adjustments. Do our receiver ever run free...? EVER?
4. When Book has time, will he give our receivers a chance in one-on-one coverage...he didn't yesterday - who cares if they are covered - give them a damn chance for a catch, a P.I., a hold...anything
5. Most importantly - losing a Center is very close to losing a QB. Everything changed when Patterson went out.

However, we have the heart. We have the talent to compete. We have shown that we can beat top-tier teams this year. And do not underestimate Alabama losing Dickerson - Notre Dame will cause havoc for the new Center. It may just cost Alabama the natty...I'm telling you, centers are easily the 2nd most important player on the field.

Go Irish!

 

[Junkhead]

Do we even want to beat Bama? Just to play Clemson again?

 

[DCDomer]

 

[Chicago Domer]

Can we play JOK at safety? Who would play er Rover then?

 

[Chicago Domer]

What was the starting OL versus Clemson 2?
Did Kraemer play?

 

[NorthDakota]

There's only one way the Irish can beat Bama. They must copy the Patriots game plan versus the Rams in 02.

On defense we have to hold, pass interference, and mug their receivers on
EVERY.
SINGLE.
PLAY.

Early on it'll be 10 and 15 yard penalties, but eventually the refs will stop calling it.
They can't throw flags on every play and it will set a precedence for the rest of the game.

It will work if Kelly is bold enough to try it.
What do we have to lose?
It will frustrate Bama, possibly cause them to lose their composure.

On offense Kelly HAS to get some speed on the field. At least put them in the game. That will force Bama to keep at least one safety out of the box.

Id be fine with the mugging strategy. Is it dirty? Nah...thats football. I pulled that shit all the time in high school. Whats the worst they can do? Lol throw a 15 yard flag against a slow guy against a future pro bowler.

Let's goooo

 

[tko]

How someone with Lenzy's speed can't be utilized outside the hash marks is beyond me. I can't think that Rees is obtuse enough to not think of it, so it must just be something with Lenzy's abilities. Which partially falls on coaching for not developing him enough

"soft tissue" concerns

 

[IrishRazor82]

Can we play JOK at safety? Who would play er Rover then?

I was thinking Lenzy at safety over Crawford. Why not? (I know this is probably a bad idea, but why not?).

 

[Crazy Balki]

The problem wasn't receivers getting open. Guys were open.

Book just reverted to his old self. He was rattled and wasn't willing to take chances like he did in game 1.

 

[irish4ever]

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!

Good thing early signing period is over!

 

[irish4ever]

Do we even want to beat Bama? Just to play Clemson again?

Ain't gonna happen, but uh ... yeah!

 

[notredomer23]

Hypothetically, ND somehow beats Bama only to lose to Clemson in the Final let's say 34-17 this time. How is the season viewed? It would suck to lose two championship games, but also would mean that they beat the champion once as well as getting game monkey off their back by beating Bama.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Hypothetically, ND somehow beats Bama only to lose to Clemson in the Final let's say 34-17 this time. How is the season viewed? It would suck to lose two championship games, but also would mean that they beat the champion once as well as getting game monkey off their back by beating Bama.

Uh, an absolute success.

Yeah, losing in the big game sucks. But you upset Alabama, CFB's biggest dynasty, and hand Saban his first bowl game loss since 2014. You then establish credibility and respect for the program on a national scale. Nobody can claim ND didn't belong.

I can't see it happening. I'm basically just hoping ND can hang with Alabama and not embarrass us...again.

 

[IRISHMAN]

Covid

ND will need Covid to play a major roll in this game otherwise ND will get thrown around like a rag doll in front of everybody.

 

[NDFAN420]

How can ND beat Bama?

Early NFL draft declarations.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Bottom line is we need more speed on the field. I think moving JOK to the middle is a good option and putting someone with more speed at Rover. Bama is going to make us defend the whole field and sorry but Drew White and Shawn Crawford on the field will make that an absolutely impossible task.

 

[arahop]

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

2-3 elite five stars per class and to continue the current model of the last 4 years.

 

[ulukinatme]

OK, if you're gonna go old school, then REALLY go old school. In 1896, Auburn students put grease on the train tracks in town and the train carrying the Georgia Tech team slid through town and out the other side, forcing the GT players to walk back into town.

That is absolutely hilarious, I had to look it up for more info!

https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2...a-tech-second-best-in-college-sports-history/

 

[ulukinatme]

The problem wasn't receivers getting open. Guys were open.

Book just reverted to his old self. He was rattled and wasn't willing to take chances like he did in game 1.

Ahh, no. I mean, yeah, Book could have taken some 50/50 shots and was certainly more gun shy, but the guys were not open all day. I lost count how many times Herbie and Fowler mentioned there was nothing open downfield, and there were plenty of other plays like that where they didn't have to mention it. Couple that with the struggles in pass protection given our beat up OL, it was a recipe for disaster.

I'm glad our receivers started to step up mid season, but this is not a group of world beaters. It's one of the weakest group of receivers we've fielded in awhile, our starters lack speed and separation. It's painfully obvious when you see some of the talent we've faced this year, some of our opponents have some nasty weapons that we currently lack.

 

[tussin]

I'm glad our receivers started to step up mid season, but this is not a group of world beaters. It's one of the weakest group of receivers we've fielded in awhile, our starters lack speed and separation. It's painfully obvious when you see some of the talent we've faced this year, some of our opponents have some nasty weapons that we currently lack.

Exactly -- that's why I don't see a path to a close game given how this offense is currently constructed. We will need to score 40+ in regulation against Bama and that's simply not happening with this group.

With no real big play threats on the outside, nothing is easy for this offense and we need to earn every single first down. It's fine when you are as well-coached as ND and playing ACC scrubs, but it simply won't work when you start playing the juggernauts.

 

[IrishRazor82]

That is absolutely hilarious, I had to look it up for more info!

https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2...a-tech-second-best-in-college-sports-history/

Is there a good book that discusses the deep history of the SEC and all of the rivals? I'd buy it.

 

[NDohio]

Kidding aside, they’re sending players home over Christmas so anything is possible.

I was stunned when I heard Saban mention that. There is no way all of these guys are gonna act responsibly.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Kelly and Rees go old school Kelly and come out with some 4 and 5 WR sets. Really spread them out and see if Book can make it happen. Because this is right. This will all come down to, can ND score enough to stay in the game and make it one possession in the near the end of the game.

Would be fun to see. Run it super fast tempo too. Book has the smarts to call the game from the pocket and move fast, fast, fast...Won't happen...

 

[Old Man Mike]

The portions of the game that I watched on re-run showed that the OLine did their job. Clemson was clever: they rushed their DEs wide but did not overcommit them. That meant that Eichenberg and Hainsey would keep them wide but that's where Venables wanted them --- so that Book could not roam outside the cup. In the middle, Kraemer and Banks pretty much warred it out trying to keep the DTs from getting push. That however was also OK with Venables, as he wanted a tight secure-from-scrambling pocket, from which Ian would be forced to deliver in tightening traffic. So Clemson's DLine did what they were asked while paradoxically so did NDs OLine (I'm talking about passing plays --- on running plays the box was simply stacked against that.... linebackers and safeties fast to the ball.)

Venables put Ian in Jail and counted on our receivers not getting open against single coverage. They didn't (despite what some might think.) You aren't going to just fling it somewhere without even seeing the separation. When Ian DID see it he completed almost all of his passes, but without deep speed separation, they were short non-gashing passes. By the way, Venables blitzing sometimes used clever stacks of blitzers which was hard on the OLine but extra hard on Kyren getting anything done. Since it was that hard for him, I'm guessing that they didn't want to risk Tyree. I can easily be wrong about all of that.

In my opinion, the OLine did pretty much what it was asked against a VERY good defense being called by a VERY good DC using a beautifully thought through plan. This plan stole the running game, stole the Book scrambling game, and stole the Book creative game. Our next opponent will surely try to redo this plan. Kelly MUST work on things which defeat that "pinched pocket" and stack-the-box pattern. We NEVER seem to move the pocket as a design. I believe that we must. Something must be done to disturb that simple pinching pocket pattern. Ian really doesn't want to hang around in a shrinking pocket cup, but he needs air to create. Also, by the way, it has been my opinion that Ian really doesn't want to keep the ball on options, but almost always will hand it off rather than run himself from that position. (Despite being as good a runner as he is.) Run PASS options might be more "attractive" to him.

 

[Rogue219]

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

Bring back Floyd, Fuller, Clapool, the Martins, Tuitt, Lynch, Rochell and hope for a major Covid outbreak followed by a Tommy Tuberville recall.

 

[ND88]

The X-factor is always Saban in these matchups. As much as I respect Kelly, Saban is a better coach who is ruthlessly competitive and fields disciplined teams in the biggest moments.

 

[Irish#1]

There's only one way the Irish can beat Bama. They must copy the Patriots game plan versus the Rams in 02.

On defense we have to hold, pass interference, and mug their receivers on
EVERY.
SINGLE.
PLAY.

Early on it'll be 10 and 15 yard penalties, but eventually the refs will stop calling it.
They can't throw flags on every play and it will set a precedence for the rest of the game.

It will work if Kelly is bold enough to try it.
What do we have to lose?
It will frustrate Bama, possibly cause them to lose their composure.

On offense Kelly HAS to get some speed on the field. At least put them in the game. That will force Bama to keep at least one safety out of the box.

We are ND, yes they can.

 

[NDdomer2]

can we merge this with the game day thread?

I know its "make a thread" time of year. but seems like discussing how we can beat Bama is a solid topic for the game thread vs....Bama.

 

[Irish#1]

The portions of the game that I watched on re-run showed that the OLine did their job. Clemson was clever: they rushed their DEs wide but did not overcommit them. That meant that Eichenberg and Hainsey would keep them wide but that's where Venables wanted them --- so that Book could not roam outside the cup. In the middle, Kraemer and Banks pretty much warred it out trying to keep the DTs from getting push. That however was also OK with Venables, as he wanted a tight secure-from-scrambling pocket, from which Ian would be forced to deliver in tightening traffic. So Clemson's DLine did what they were asked while paradoxically so did NDs OLine (I'm talking about passing plays --- on running plays the box was simply stacked against that.... linebackers and safeties fast to the ball.)

Venables put Ian in Jail and counted on our receivers not getting open against single coverage. They didn't (despite what some might think.) You aren't going to just fling it somewhere without even seeing the separation. When Ian DID see it he completed almost all of his passes, but without deep speed separation, they were short non-gashing passes. By the way, Venables blitzing sometimes used clever stacks of blitzers which was hard on the OLine but extra hard on Kyren getting anything done. Since it was that hard for him, I'm guessing that they didn't want to risk Tyree. I can easily be wrong about all of that.

In my opinion, the OLine did pretty much what it was asked against a VERY good defense being called by a VERY good DC using a beautifully thought through plan. This plan stole the running game, stole the Book scrambling game, and stole the Book creative game. Our next opponent will surely try to redo this plan. Kelly MUST work on things which defeat that "pinched pocket" and stack-the-box pattern. We NEVER seem to move the pocket as a design. I believe that we must. Something must be done to disturb that simple pinching pocket pattern. Ian really doesn't want to hang around in a shrinking pocket cup, but he needs air to create. Also, by the way, it has been my opinion that Ian really doesn't want to keep the ball on options, but almost always will hand it off rather than run himself from that position. (Despite being as good a runner as he is.) Run PASS options might be more "attractive" to him.

For the most part the O-line held up well, but Lugg was definitely a noticeable drop off.

Tommy showed his immaturity as a OC in the Clemson game. When we failed to complete that 4th & 1 he showed his emotions when he grabbed his head. After that I think he got away from the game plan some. We didn't see the same play calling we did up to then. He needed to show more patience and stick with what was working as the game was still close at that time. Given he has two weeks, like he did for the first Clemson game I hope that's enough time to put something together to make us competitive.

 

[NDRock]

On a more serious note, I think ND needs to embrace the underdog role in these type of games. Kelly has done a great job getting the team to take a workmanlike approach to each game during the regular season. Kind of a “we are who we are” approach and that works great for most games. It has made us consistent and have great success the last four seasons.

We need to go more “Boise State” in these type games. Too often we just run our same shit and get out-talented and out-coached. I thought for sure we’d see an Avery Davis pass in the last game or something different. I’m not saying run a bunch of trick plays but you’ve got do do something different to get Bama “thinking” on D and not just totally prepared for what’s coming. Rest assured, they will be totally prepared if we run our same stuff. I’m not sure Kelly has it in him.