Nov 7 | Clemson

[rtrn2glory]

Even if Clemson plays terrible they still smoke us.

Bad weather
Clemson 33
ND 17

Good weather
Clemson 47
ND 28

You're giving our offense too much credit in good weather

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

We will be lucky to keep it to within three scores.

 

[ThePiombino]

Even if Clemson plays terrible they still smoke us.

Bad weather
Clemson 33
ND 17

Good weather
Clemson 47
ND 28

How exactly do you see one-dimensional ND scoring 28 against Clemson?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[irish4ever]

We will be lucky to keep it to within three scores.

Based on yesterday against Louisville, make that 4 scores. Clemson will throttle the Irish IF they play that bad on offense against them. The Irish were definitely out coached and out prepared! Damn, that was painful to watch!

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Look at like this boys.....,Clemson doesn’t have shit for game film on NDs downfield passing game. We could totally surprise them!

 

[Dizzyphil]

After watching the game on DVR this morning -



Book has his faults - His receivers could have given him a little help. Rees could have called more slants and screens since the defense had 7/8 in the box almost 70% of the time. Rees also needs to figure out the 'Red Zone' offense - soon.



BK - he needs to really think about 'losing' points. Especially in 'percentage' situations. The Fake FG was ridiculous - line up and go for it that close if your going to go.



The defense played extremely well. I don't think many on here are giving Louisville's offense much credit. I believe before the ND game, their offense was ranked #9 S&P Power Ranking.



BK needs to stop the 'Learning Experience' excuse. Book's in his third-year starting as quarterback, all five starters are back on the offensive line, and has two 5th-year seniors at receiver position. A+ TE's and a Sophomore RB that is very dynamic.


My thoughts.

 

[Circa]

Hey, I'm the feverish one with Covid. I can't even smell and can smell this loss coming.

Yeah I got a cold and can’t smell either. When I get the flu I can’t taste or smell for a week or two.... but when I watch ND football I can smell the roses every morning. We got this game.

 

[Valpodoc85]

I suspect it will be like the Georgia Alabama game yesterday. Close into the half Clemson pulls away after. We still don’t execute on offense and Book is not a big game QB

 

[ACamp1900]

Look at like this boys.....,Clemson doesn’t have shit for game film on NDs downfield passing game. We could totally surprise them!

That was totally accounted for in the 28 point prediction above...

 

[Ndaccountant]

It's clear at this point in the season the most dynamic players for ND are Tyree, Williams, Austin, Lenzy and Mayer.

Maybe it is just me, but I would honestly just scrap the slot WR and deploy a constant two back set. Both Tyree and Williams can be electric both running and catching. Book going deep just isn't going to happen enough for teams to respect it. So the next best thing is use the motion and threat of Tyree and Williams to open the field. Short of that, I really don't see ND beating any really strong teams.

 

[Irish YJ]

It's clear at this point in the season the most dynamic players for ND are Tyree, Williams, Austin, Lenzy and Mayer.

Maybe it is just me, but I would honestly just scrap the slot WR and deploy a constant two back set. Both Tyree and Williams can be electric both running and catching. Book going deep just isn't going to happen enough for teams to respect it. So the next best thing is use the motion and threat of Tyree and Williams to open the field. Short of that, I really don't see ND beating any really strong teams.

Yep.

Give me Mayer, Tremble, Austin, and Lenzy as pass catchers, Williams running, and Tyree satelliting all over the place running and in the slot.

 

[calvegas04]

How is it clear Austin is our most dynamic player? McKinley has done more

 

[irishtrooper]

I was CERTAIN (in my mind) we would be very competitive against GA last year. I’m just as CERTAIN we get creamed against Clemson. I just don’t see us scoring without a couple turnovers in plus territory. I don’t think it’ll happen though. Clemson is a big game team and their coaches almost always has them laser focused and prepared. They seem to be ready and we rarely do against very good teams (with exceptions for GA and a couple others). If it’s cold, it will help a little but they will make our garbage passing game beat them and it can’t.

I’m sad to be this down on the chances in this game. I typically have rose colored glasses, but I think it’s going to be like the last time we played. I do think the scoreboard will appear better, but we won’t ever feel like we have a chance (last time wasn’t as far apart as the final imo).

I see a 27-10ish game going into mid 4th and they add a TD, putting it away. We get a garbage TD in the last minute making it a respectable 34-17 game we never had a chance to win. We’ll fool ourselves believing we are close with Book (we aren’t) and get beat worse in the ACC championship game. We’ll get a decent bowl probably but it’ll be no better until we get a qb that’s blue chip. Book doesn’t have it.

I REALLY want to be wrong, but I’m afraid that I’m right. I’ll be rooting like crazy and will throw down v bucks on the good guys, but it’s going to be bad

 

[Ndaccountant]

How is it clear Austin is our most dynamic player? McKinley has done more

Really?

They literally forced the ball to Javon all game against a pedestrian secondary and he struggled. They dialed up one specific pass play to Austin and made a man miss and took off down the sideline. Just watch that play and tell me Javon could do that. Nothing against him personally, but Austin has more wiggle and athleticism.

 

[Irish YJ]

Really?

They literally forced the ball to Javon all game against a pedestrian secondary and he struggled. They dialed up on specific pass play to austin and made a man miss and took off down the sideline. Just watch that play and tell me Javon could do that? Nothing against him personally, but Austin has more wiggle and athleticism.

Yep. Love Javon. He's an incredible blocker, and hard worker, but he's pretty limited in areas.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I was CERTAIN (in my mind) we would be very competitive against GA last year. I’m just as CERTAIN we get creamed against Clemson. I just don’t see us scoring without a couple turnovers in plus territory. I don’t think it’ll happen though. Clemson is a big game team and their coaches almost always has them laser focused and prepared. They seem to be ready and we rarely do against very good teams (with exceptions for GA and a couple others). If it’s cold, it will help a little but they will make our garbage passing game beat them and it can’t.

I’m sad to be this down on the chances in this game. I typically have rose colored glasses, but I think it’s going to be like the last time we played. I do think the scoreboard will appear better, but we won’t ever feel like we have a chance (last time wasn’t as far apart as the final imo).

I see a 27-10ish game going into mid 4th and they add a TD, putting it away. We get a garbage TD in the last minute making it a respectable 34-17 game we never had a chance to win. We’ll fool ourselves believing we are close with Book (we aren’t) and get beat worse in the ACC championship game. We’ll get a decent bowl probably but it’ll be no better until we get a qb that’s blue chip. Book doesn’t have it.

I REALLY want to be wrong, but I’m afraid that I’m right. I’ll be rooting like crazy and will throw down v bucks on the good guys, but it’s going to be bad

Nailed it

 

[Free Manera]

If you really want to have a shot to beat Clemson, you play Jordan Johnson and Xavier Watts from game 1. Maybe they are ready by the game. They have gamebreaker potential. With Mayer, Tremble, Tyree, and Williams, you could certainly find some good matchups. However, of course they could make lots of freshman mistakes and cost you the game. Or even cost you a game against a lesser opponent. But beating Clemson at least once is what this season is about.

If you're hoping to just not get embarrassed, you play guys like Skworonek and McKinley and hope you can slowly move the ball and keep the score down.

 

[fightingirish26]

If you really want to have a shot to beat Clemson, you play Jordan Johnson and Xavier Watts from game 1. Maybe they are ready by the game. They have gamebreaker potential. With Mayer, Tremble, Tyree, and Williams, you could certainly find some good matchups. However, of course they could make lots of freshman mistakes and cost you the game. Or even cost you a game against a lesser opponent. But beating Clemson at least once is what this season is about.

If you're hoping to just not get embarrassed, you play guys like Skworonek and McKinley and hope you can slowly move the ball and keep the score down.

You have a point when it comes to Skowronek and McKinley...but suggesting Johnson and Watts gives us a better chance to beat Clemson is misguided at best. Kelly has given Tyree and Mayer major roles on offense this year. If any of the freshman WRs were ready, they would be on the field.

 

[Free Manera]

You have a point when it comes to Skowronek and McKinley...but suggesting Johnson and Watts gives us a better chance to beat Clemson is misguided at best. Kelly has given Tyree and Mayer major roles on offense this year. If any of the freshman WRs were ready, they would be on the field.

1. How do you know and 2. then get them ready because they are potential NFL players and McKinley and Skrowonek are not. I'd rather have a shot of winning with athletically gifted players than concede defeat with guys Clemson's 3rd stringers can cover in their sleep.

 

[fightingirish26]

1. How do you know and 2. then get them ready because they are potential NFL players and McKinley and Skrowonek are not. I'd rather have a shot of winning with athletically gifted players than concede defeat with guys Clemson's 3rd stringers can cover in their sleep.

Kelly is keeping them on the bench because he hates winning.

Interesting you want to skip from McKinley/Skow to the freshmen. Austin/Lenzy not athletically gifted enough?

 

[NorthDakota]

1. How do you know and 2. then get them ready because they are potential NFL players and McKinley and Skrowonek are not. I'd rather have a shot of winning with athletically gifted players than concede defeat with guys Clemson's 3rd stringers can cover in their sleep.

Yeah I'd like to see the most gifted dudes on the field, if that means simplifying the offense I'd be good with it, although maybe thats not the holdup. Under any circumstance, I'd like to see ND flex on some clowns.

Mayer better have about 10 targets in the Clemson game. I think it's fair to say he's probably the type of guy you can't really cover without leaving holes elsewhere.

 

[Free Manera]

Kelly is keeping them on the bench because he hates winning.

Interesting you want to skip from McKinley/Skow to the freshmen. Austin/Lenzy not athletically gifted enough?

Of course they are. But one of them is coming off not playing for two years and the other keeps getting hurt.

 

[RDU Irish]

52 points at the half - LOL. That is what a dominant team does to inferior competition. No doubt they could have won 38-7 by running the whole game if they wanted to. There is value in striking fear in the hearts of future opponents with such an utter asswhipping of a P5 opponent.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

I’m already fatigued from the narrative.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pass plays of 15+ yards (ACC):<br><br>▪️ Clemson - 45 (first)<br>▪️ Notre Dame - 16 (last) <a href="https://t.co/PV9eZM9FE4">pic.twitter.com/PV9eZM9FE4</a></p>— PFF College (@PFF_College) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1318226920937578498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

My hope with an orange bowl win, some enjoyment of an 11-2 season is possible if we consider Clemson maybe a generational team.

 

[NDRock]

Flip the quarterbacks and who is favored?

 

[fightingirish26]

Flip the quarterbacks and who is favored?

I am trying to be as unbiased as possible. Notre Dame is favored. Also assume Clemson's no. 2 and 3 aren't there because they'd both be ahead of Book.

I'd probably take Clemson's defense. Although, JOK and Hamilton start on every single team in the country. A Book led offense is so one dimensional, the ND defense could force him to throw and sell out to stop the run. We stopped Clemson's rushing attack very well in the playoff, save one long Etienne TD. Clemson's WRs are better but Book wouldn't see them.

Our offense immediately becomes balanced, so Clemson couldn't sell out to stop our rushing attack like they will (and will do successfully) in a few weeks. Lawrence can see everything and make purely insane throws. He wouldn't leave points on the field. A lot of what ND gives up at WR they mostly make up for at TE. Give Lawrence Austin/Lenzy/Tremble/Mayer and he is a happy man.

 

[fightingirish26]

Also, it's purely hypothetical but it's another example of why QB is probably even more important than head coach. Yeah, Kelly isn't in that elite tier of head coaches to have the team in the playoff year in year out. But as we have seen with Clemson under Watson and LSU under Burrow, you just need an elite QB and a very good team around him to win/truly compete for a natty in any given year. Our team (sans QB) is super comparable to 2015 Clemson and 2019 LSU.

 

[ulukinatme]

Also, it's purely hypothetical but it's another example of why QB is probably even more important than head coach. Yeah, Kelly isn't in that elite tier of head coaches to have the team in the playoff year in year out. But as we have seen with Clemson under Watson and LSU under Burrow, you just need an elite QB and a very good team around him to win/truly compete for a natty in any given year. Our team (sans QB) is super comparable to 2015 Clemson and 2019 LSU.

It's not like coaches don't try to find and land the next Trevor Lawrence. Burrow is a great example, passed over at tOSU and wins a championship elsewhere. Finding such a QB can be like getting lightning in a bottle. You can get a guy like Can Newton, win a championship, then find yourself ousted two years later like Chizik. Bottom line is it's hard for just about everyone to find the next big gun slinger. There are no guarantees, and most big stars seem to transfer these days if they don't get the reigns in a year or two.

The good news is you don't need a once in a lifetime QB to win it all. AJ McCarron was a game manager and nothing more, and Alabama walked all over us in that 2012 game with him at QB. Cardale Jones was a one hit wonder that was filling in. It certainly helps to find that great QB, but in any given season there's probably no more than 3-5 truly elite QBs, so most schools are in the same spot we are.

 

[fightingirish26]

The good news is you don't need a once in a lifetime QB to win it all. AJ McCarron was a game manager and nothing more, and Alabama walked all over us in that 2012 game with him at QB. Cardale Jones was a one hit wonder that was filling in. It certainly helps to find that great QB, but in any given season there's probably no more than 3-5 truly elite QBs, so most schools are in the same spot we are.

Right, but when you don't have that elite head coach/program you do need the QB. ND will never have a program like Clemson/Bama/OSU under Kelly, or possibly any coach. So, we can't ride a game manager to a natty. An elite QB can win with a very good, but not elite, supporting cast. Like ND has.

 

[ulukinatme]

All this talk about Book and Clemson. It's a strong likelihood that they're gonna load the box not necessarily because of Book, but the fact none of these WRs have really stepped up yet.

Hopefully Austin gets his sea-legs soon, or Lenzy gets healthy and becomes a pleasant surprise because otherwise we're gonna have to hope our running game can find a way to get yards against a stout D.

Book could play out of his mind, but with a poor WR group he's not going to keep Clemson's D honest without some legit playmakers that will stretch the field.