Nov 3 | Northwestern

[johnnycando]

Laurinitis is a douche canoe.

CTE onset, commenced.

 

[Irish YJ]

I was thinking about this replacement as intriguing as well, considering NW's well documented struggles running the ball and Simon's strengths in coverage.

Even if he doesn't start, I"m sure he will get plenty of PT Saturday at Rover at the very least.

Their RB has popped off two 100+ yard games in a row.

They've got a respectable defense. S&P+ rates them 31st against the run, 37th against the pass, 54th on standard downs, and 17th on passing downs. That matches up pretty well against our offense, so I doubt we'll hang 40+ on them.

But their offense is hot garbage: 105th overall, 114th rushing, and 83rd passing. Against our 6th ranked defense, the Wildcats are really going to struggle to move the ball.

I'd say while their D is better than most we've played (second to scUM), they are probably overated via stas. They haven't played a team with a good balanced O at all this season. They played PU before the QB swap. Wiscy is almost as lopsided/unbalanced as Navy. Bottom half on INTs and Sacks.

On O, they are 27th ypg passing, so not bad. Their running game has been much better the past two games. IIRC, their starter went down early in the season. The new RB has had two straight 100+ yard games. Regardless, not scared, but I think they are currently much better than 105th overall.

 

[TomHaverford]

ND wins by about 10. NW already shot their wad last week vs Wisconsin. They aren't the kind of team to get up for two big games for 60 full minutes in a row. They are wildly inconsistent.

 

[irishtrain]

I don't think this is a close game-either The Irish lay an egg and get walloped or they knock the wild out of the wildcats.

 

[Irish YJ]

from donbest.com

Northwestern
Date Pos Player Injury Status
10/29/18 K Drew Luckenbaugh Undisclosed is probable Saturday vs Notre Dame
10/29/18 WR Solomon Vault Undisclosed is probable Saturday vs Notre Dame
10/28/18 RB John Moten IV Lower Body is "?" Saturday vs Notre Dame
09/24/18 RB Jeremy Larkin Undisclosed is out for season


Notre Dame
Date Pos Player Injury Status
10/03/18 OL Alex Bars Knee is out for season
09/14/18 LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Foot is out for season
09/02/18 DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa Foot is out indefinitely
08/30/18 CB Shaun Crawford Knee is out indefinitely

 

[ND88]

I think Kelly has a prime opportunity to exorcise a big demon this weekend, and that demon is getting outcoached by Fitzgerald. Fitzy gets his squad prepared to be a buncha dicks vs ND, especially in the spoiler role. He relishes these moments when he can call us a buncha arrogant preps and remind all his boyz that ND broke their mother’s hearts with their rejection letters. I hope Kelly isn’t preaching his “business-trip” mentality bs. He needs to go full-Brey on this ND squad like he’s unleashing a caravan of hostile mental patients about to go Halloween on NW.

 

[irishtrain]

I think Kelly has a prime opportunity to exorcise a big demon this weekend, and that demon is getting outcoached by Fitzgerald. Fitzy gets his squad prepared to be a buncha dicks vs ND, especially in the spoiler role. He relishes these moments when he can call us a buncha arrogant preps and remind all his boyz that ND broke their mother’s hearts with their rejection letters. I hope Kelly isn’t preaching his “business-trip” mentality bs. He needs to go full-Brey on this ND squad like he’s unleashing a caravan of hostile mental patients about to go Halloween on NW.

Yes-needs to be this way the rest of the way out--like the first 30 min against Navy

 

[GATTACA!]

from donbest.com

Tranquill?

 

[Irish YJ]

Tranquill?

yup, i was surprised not to see him. they are normally pretty accurate. i even checked a few others like statfox and others.
either they dropped the ball, or BK fully expects him back.

usatoday list Drue but says he is expected to play.
they also say Mack is ? as of today with concussion like symptoms.

USA today is not an easy copy/paste, but here's the link. There's plenty of NW players (more than DB lists).
https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/injuries/

 

[Irishize]

Mack is likely out if he’s in concussion protocol as that usually lasts a week per ND’s protocol.

I’m sure Tranquill wants to play but they need to rest him if there’s any question he has any lingering pain or lack of mobility or it will get worse & aggravate him the remainder of the year.

BK said Drue was questionable but not doubtful. I’m guessing game time decision.

 

[Irish YJ]

didn't realize they had a sort option

2018-10-30 Alize Mack TE Mack is experiencing concussion-like symptoms and his status versus Northwestern is in question. Ques Sat
2018-10-28 Drue Tranquill LB Tranquill is expected to play Saturday against Northwestern despite an ankle injury. Prob Sat
2018-09-30 Alex Bars OL Bars is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL and MCL in his knee. out for season
2018-09-14 Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB Owusu-Koramoah is sidelined with a foot injury and will miss the remainder of the 2018 season. out for season
2018-09-02 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa DL Tagovailoa-Amosa has been diagnosed with a broken foot and is in danger of missing the remainder of the season. Out indefinitely
2018-08-30 Shaun Crawford CB Crawford has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. out for season
2018-08-16 George Takacs TE Takacs has been sidelined for undisclosed reasons and it is unknown when he will make his season debut. Out indefinitely

2018-10-28 Drew Luckenbaugh K Luckenbaugh has an undefined injury but will likely suit up against Notre Dame on Saturday. Prob Sat
2018-10-18 Solomon Vault WR Vault has missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury but will likely play Saturday against Notre Dame. Prob Sat
2018-10-15 John Moten IV RB Moten IV has missed the last two games with a leg injury and it is undetermined if he will play Saturday against Notre Dame. Ques Sat
2018-10-11 Nathan Fox LB Fox has missed the last three games for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear if he will partake in the game Saturday against Notre Dame. Ques Sat
2018-10-05 Greg Newsome II DB Newsome has missed the last four games with an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will take the field Saturday against Notre Dame. Ques Sat
2018-08-28 Jalen Brown WR Brown has been unavailable for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear when he will make his season debut. Out indefinitely

 

[IrishFaninTX]

I love how delusional other team's fans are. NU loses 3 games, including to Akron, but the fans on Rivals keep discussing how mediocre we are because of the PITT game (mentioned Vandy and BSU, too). And they all think Michigan is much better and we should have lost that game. We have a let down game after a big win over VTech (at the time) and still win the game but they lose to Akron and 2 other games and we are the overrated team. Not sure where they think an 8-0 team who beat a top 5 opponent should be ranked but apparently top 5 is way too high. Even top 10 was too high for some. NU is good and likely are tougher opponent left but like the VTech fans, they are still flying high off the last time they played ND in 2014. News flash, this is nowhere close to the same team as 2014. And we haven't lost half our defense to injuries. Wasn't that the Frozen 5 year, too? Or was that 2015?

 

[DONTH8]

I love how delusional other team's fans are. NU loses 3 games, including to Akron, but the fans on Rivals keep discussing how mediocre we are because of the PITT game (mentioned Vandy and BSU, too). And they all think Michigan is much better and we should have lost that game. We have a let down game after a big win over VTech (at the time) and still win the game but they lose to Akron and 2 other games and we are the overrated team. Not sure where they think an 8-0 team who beat a top 5 opponent should be ranked but apparently top 5 is way too high. Even top 10 was too high for some. NU is good and likely are tougher opponent left but like the VTech fans, they are still flying high off the last time they played ND in 2014. News flash, this is nowhere close to the same team as 2014. And we haven't lost half our defense to injuries. Wasn't that the Frozen 5 year, too? Or was that 2015?

Correct, the 2014 season was the year of the Frozen 5. Cole Luke and Cody Riggs were our DB's that year.

 

[Irish#1]

I don't put much into the 2014 results. These teams are almost totally different in makeup and we're not missing players and banged up lin 2014.

I will be surprised, happy but surprised if TranQuill plays. My guess is he's not on the injured list because BK doesn't want to tip his hat any. If he does play, I can see him getting subbed out on passing downs.

 

[Irish YJ]

I don't put much into the 2014 results. These teams are almost totally different in makeup and we're not missing players and banged up lin 2014.

I will be surprised, happy but surprised if TranQuill plays. My guess is he's not on the injured list because BK doesn't want to tip his hat any. If he does play, I can see him getting subbed out on passing downs.

I almost hope they start with him on the bench, and only put him in if things aren't going well.

 

[Irish8248]

I don't put much into the 2014 results. These teams are almost totally different in makeup and we're not missing players and banged up lin 2014.

I will be surprised, happy but surprised if TranQuill plays. My guess is he's not on the injured list because BK doesn't want to tip his hat any. If he does play, I can see him getting subbed out on passing downs.

Watch the replay from 2014. Everything that could go wrong, did, and everything right went for them.

Their Kicker had a career long of 30 prior to the game but nails 3 from 40+

Mr reliable Cam McDonald who I don't think ever fumbled, coughs it up

Brindza was clutch but missed in OT I believe

Chris brown clearly down at the 1 somehow called a fumble.

Our Defense was like a sieve, especially in the middle.

This game was a doomsday kind of game and they needed OT to win. Not saying it can't happen again but I actually feel better about this game now. I get 2014 isnt 2018, but cmon, I have better odds of winning that billion jackpot

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Seems like most "experts" are preaching the "upset alert" narrative for the Irish this weekend.

I LOVE it. These boys always seemed fired up to play when the narrative starts to turn against them. scUM week 1, Stanford week 4, VT week 5.

Go out and make a statement against a respectable, yet inferior opponent. I just hope we don't start slowly and let their confidence build.

 

[IrishLax]

Watch the replay from 2014. Everything that could go wrong, did, and everything right went for them.

Their Kicker had a career long of 30 prior to the game but nails 3 from 40+

Mr reliable Cam McDonald who I don't think ever fumbled, coughs it up

Brindza was clutch but missed in OT I believe

Chris brown clearly down at the 1 somehow called a fumble.

Our Defense was like a sieve, especially in the middle.

This game was a doomsday kind of game and they needed OT to win. Not saying it can't happen again but I actually feel better about this game now. I get 2014 isnt 2018, but cmon, I have better odds of winning that billion jackpot

Don't forget Brian Kelly going for 2 for no reason whatsoever.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Don't forget Brian Kelly going for 2 for no reason whatsoever.

Who could forget?

 

[tadman95]

If there is ever a statement game (for this year), it has to be here. At some point Notre Dame has to show it is ready for the big time, in November. If not now against a good Northwestern team, then when? it playoff football from here on out. Show us you want it.

 

[Irish YJ]

If there is ever a statement game (for this year), it has to be here. At some point Notre Dame has to show it is ready for the big time, in November. If not now against a good Northwestern team, then when? it playoff football from here on out. Show us you want it.

winning @USC is still the biggest game of the remaining IMO.

 

[arrowryan]

Every game from here on out is the biggest game of the season. If the team stumbles at all, the remaining games become much less important.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Every game from here on out is the biggest game of the season. If the team stumbles at all, the remaining games become much less important.

Preach.

 

[shortynd01]

The whole season is a playoff for the Irish. They cant afford to lose one game ever. Not being in a conference determines that.

 

[Irish#1]

winning @USC is still the biggest game of the remaining IMO.

Not yet, but could be in four weeks.

I feel good about this game and FSU. I'm more concerned with Syracuse at this moment. They took Clemson to the wire and have only lost two games. Plus this is a road game for the Irish regardless of who the home team is.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Just now noticed that the game is on ESPN. F*ck

 

[Irish YJ]

ND depth chart for NW

https://www.onefootdown.com/2018/10...-chart-drue-tranquill-buck-nickel-julian-love

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The whole season is a playoff for the Irish. They cant afford to lose one game ever. Not being in a conference determines that.

Huh? If they go 11-1 in 2015 or last year, they are more than likely in.

Alabama won the NC last year without playing in their conference championship.

Being in a conference isn't the end all be all. SOS matters, and, unfortunately, this year's SOS took a big hit with fUSC and FSU falling flat on their faces this season. Combine that with Stanford and VT, though both solid wins at the time (Stanford top 10, VT ranked road win), they've fallen off since as well.

But the bolded is a terrible hot take.

Most years, I'll take our 12 against anyone's 12 or 13.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I love how delusional other team's fans are. NU loses 3 games, including to Akron, but the fans on Rivals keep discussing how mediocre we are because of the PITT game (mentioned Vandy and BSU, too). And they all think Michigan is much better and we should have lost that game. We have a let down game after a big win over VTech (at the time) and still win the game but they lose to Akron and 2 other games and we are the overrated team. Not sure where they think an 8-0 team who beat a top 5 opponent should be ranked but apparently top 5 is way too high. Even top 10 was too high for some. NU is good and likely are tougher opponent left but like the VTech fans, they are still flying high off the last time they played ND in 2014. News flash, this is nowhere close to the same team as 2014. And we haven't lost half our defense to injuries. Wasn't that the Frozen 5 year, too? Or was that 2015?

You gotta love how they say that Duke is a really good team but VaTech is horrible. If only those two could play each other so we could see how much better Duke is. Oh wait, they did. Duke lost 31-14.

 

[EvilleIrish]

FEI has us as 6 point winners, Sagarin has us as 11 point winners, and Bill C has us as 13 point winners...FYI