Nov 26 | at Stanford

[Jason Pham]

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<br><strong>Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Stadium (Stanford, CA)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
5:00 PM PST

<img src="http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2&pictureid=16"><img src="http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2&pictureid=17"></strong>

 

[Riddickulous]

Stanford scrimmaged on 8/21. Some tidbits...

- Andrew Luck was 12/16 for 115 yards.

- Offense was "crisp and efficient".

- Looks like they may have a redshirt freshman starting at tackle.

- Freshman defensive back Wayne Lyons has played "like a veteran".

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Stanford scrimmaged on 8/21. Some tidbits...

- Andrew Luck was 12/16 for 115 yards.

- Offense was "crisp and efficient".

- Looks like they may have a redshirt freshman starting at tackle.

- Freshman defensive back Wayne Lyons has played "like a veteran".

Really wanted that kid.

 

[TDHeysus]

I just got 2 tickets for this game. I will be there with my GF....it will be only the 2nd ND game I have seen in person. The first being UCLA at the Rose Bowl in '07....

the defense should be firing on all cylinders by this time of the season

 

[irishtrain]

Too far away to even think about but something tells me this team will not have the record at the end of the season that everyone thinks they will. If the 'Irish are healthy I think they win this game and the young guys will not be freshman by this time of the year.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Too far away to even think about but something tells me this team will not have the record at the end of the season that everyone thinks they will. If the 'Irish are healthy I think they win this game and the young guys will not be freshman by this time of the year.

I have a really hard time seeing more than 4 losses, and that's assuming they lose all the close games.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Their record will be fine, but that doesn't mean they will be that good. Just look at how much fluff is on the schedule:

vs. San Jose State
@ Duke
@ Arizona
@ UCLA
vs. Colorado
vs. Washington State
vs. Washington
@ Southern Cal
@ Oregon State
vs. California
vs. Oregon
vs. Notre Dame

They have a >80% chance of beating everyone who isn't bolded. They will be something like 9-1 or 10-0 heading into their game with Oregon.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Pre-Snap Read: A College Football Blog

Fixed

 

[Riddickulous]

Good opportunity to scout them. On ESPN now.

 

[NDPhilly]

What's Zona's record?

 

[Riddickulous]

What's Zona's record?

1-1, I think.

 

[NDPhilly]

Looked it up and they Beat Northern Arizona (ugh) and got crushed by Oklahoma St at Stillwater.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

CardinalReport via Twitter:

Stanford LB Shayne Skov will miss rest of 2011 season with knee injury per Coach Shaw. Skov was leading tackler for Cardinal

Huge blow for the Cardinal defense.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

CardinalReport via Twitter:



Huge blow for the Cardinal defense.

No doubt. He was their Luke Kuechly. Tackling machine.

 

[BeauBenken]

What year was Skov? A junior?

 

[Riddickulous]

Still have Luck to deal with.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Still have Luck to deal with.

After handling MSU, I'm less worried about stopping Luck than I am about moving the ball against Stanford's defense. The loss of Skov improves our prospects there considerably.

 

[beryirish]

HUGGGEEE blow losing Skov....5-star recruit beast

 

[BobD]

I'll be at this game with my wife, still full of turkey and wearin my gear!

 

[BGIF]

What year was Skov? A junior?

Yes, Jr. He was expected to leave for the NFL draft but will likely return now for the '12 season.



Stanford Cardinal lose leading tackler Shayne Skov for season - ESPN

By Kevin Gemmell
9/19/11

...

His 19 tackles lead Stanford this year. He was also the team's leading tackler last season.

Following the game, one player referred to Skov as "the leader" of the defense. Stanford's run defense ranks second nationally through three weeks, allowing 36 yards per game.

Skov, from Guadalajara, Mexico, was a Pac-10 honorable mention performer last year after recording a team high 84 stops -- including 50 solo tackles. He shined in Stanford's victory in the Discover Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech last season, notching 12 tackles and three sacks.

The responsibility likely falls to redshirt sophomore Jarek Lancaster and true freshman James Vaughters to fill in for Skov.

Outside of Heisman Trophy hopeful Andrew Luck, there might not have been a more important Cardinal player than Skov, the unquestioned leader of the defense and a projected NFL draft pick.

"He's the emotional leader of the defense. You can't replace that," safety Michael Thomas, the defensive captain, said after the game in Arizona.

Skov's contributions go well beyond tackles and sacks.

The middle linebacker relays most of the calls to teammates and oversees audibles at the line of scrimmage. The signature eye black that Skov spreads liberally around his face and his mini-mohawk cut also had become staples on the Stanford defense, giving an academics-first university a bit of an edge.

...

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Skov is a stud...hate to see any player have this sort of injury.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Stanford looks good.. but beatable. They rely on 2 TE power sets to dictate the pace of the game.

Our OL wins the battle in the trenches due to a size and experience advantage.

Our DL is a strength and should hold up well against the run. Being that Stanford will line up in a ton of power sets, our LBs will be needed to really shut down the run and cover the TEs.

I think this game comes down to the pass rush we get on Luck and how our secondary plays.. because he doesn't miss open targets.

 

[Buster Bluth]

That's a fair evaluation. A looooooong way to go until then.

 

[Veer option]

That's a fair evaluation. A looooooong way to go until then.

Yes there is.

 

[Riddickulous]

Luck will pick our secondary apart with those tight ends.

 

[BobD]

Luck will pick our secondary apart with those tight ends.

Yep, our goal will have to be to keep him on the run or on his @ss as much as possible.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

That's a fair evaluation. A looooooong way to go until then.

Yes there is.. thankfully

 

[Ironman8]

Stanford WR Chris Owusu just took a huge hit to the head for a second week in a row, and was taken off the field in a stretcher. Not a stretch to say his availability may be in jeopardy for our matchup in a couple weeks. Can never be too careful with health especially when it comes to head injuries. Hope he makes a full recovery.

 

[Vernon98]

Good opportunity to scout them.

 

[military_irish]

Owusu out for Oregon with concussion. Still looking into his symptoms to determine if he should be done for the year. He has had three concussions in the last 13 months. He is 3rd in reception yards for Stanford. 2nd in receptions on the team.

ESPN Owusu Out Against Ducks