Nov 8 | Arizona State

[Whiskeyjack]

Anyone thinking Onwualu might just stay on the field in a 4-2-5 alignment, and take Morgan off?

A week ago I'd have felt great about this match up, as BVG wants to play in the nickel as much as he can. Now, not so much.

My thoughts exactly. As Murtaugh put it in his review of the Navy game, "[w]e may be running out of magic." I expect Schmidt's absence to be sorely felt against ASU.

 

[Irishcop]

Does ASU have a decent defense? Or is ASU of the we are going to out score you mentality?

 

[NDohio]

I remember the angst we all had going into this game last year. And then freshman LB Jaylon Smith played lights out showing his athleticism in containing a dual threat QB.

Could this be the coming out of another frosh LB? I hope so. This is the game of the year for ND.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Does ASU have a decent defense? Or is ASU of the we are going to out score you mentality?

It looked like a tire fire against UCLA, but it has steadily improved since then. Most of the advanced metrics rate their defense in the 35-40 range. We'll get our points, but it's going to be very difficult to keep the score down against ASU. Get ready for a shoot-out.

 

[Irishcop]

It looked like a tire fire against UCLA, but it has steadily improved since then. Most of the advanced metrics rate their defense in the 35-40 range. We'll get our points, but it's going to be very difficult to keep the score down against ASU. Get ready for a shoot-out.

Great another heart attack Saturday. At least I don't have to wait until 8:00 pm for this one.

 

[tko]

Great another heart attack Saturday. At least I don't have to wait until 8:00 pm for this one.

Amen Irishcop!!!!!! I can't take the 8:00 p.m. stress fests any longer!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

IMO, ASU could be ranked anywhere from 10-12 going into this game. Great chance for ND to step up and prove they belong.

 

[Irish2155]

Amen Irishcop!!!!!! I can't take the 8:00 p.m. stress fests any longer!

We may be done with 8pm games depending on what they do with USC. It shows at TBA but I'm sure it'll be a later start.

 

[tko]

We may be done with 8pm games depending on what they do with USC. It shows at TBA but I'm sure it'll be a later start.

ABC will want to get their ND pimp on, so that will likely be 8 p.m.

 

[Irishcop]

We may be done with 8pm games depending on what they do with USC. It shows at TBA but I'm sure it'll be a later start.

The USC game at night doesn't bother me so much. Besides a few game here and there lately it's always been a late game. Kind of tradition for me. However this year night game schedule is crazy. On the other hand in the past when ND has lost the 3:30 games it just destroys the rest of the day.

 

[Irishcop]

Amen Irishcop!!!!!! I can't take the 8:00 p.m. stress fests any longer!

Ha. Yeah my wife hates it. I'm on edge all day long.

 

[pkt77242]

Ha. Yeah my wife hates it. I'm on edge all day long.

That is why we have beer.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Ha. Yeah my wife hates it. I'm on edge all day long.

Tell her to take care of it herself if she hates it that much.

 

[Irishcop]

Tell her to take care of it herself if she hates it that much.

Ha. She is just like I am only on Sunday's. She is a huge Saints fan. We almost split up back in 2006 when LSU beat ND in the Sugar bowl. She is also tigers fan.

 

[Guest]

Anyone thinking Onwualu might just stay on the field in a 4-2-5 alignment, and take Morgan off?

A week ago I'd have felt great about this match up, as BVG wants to play in the nickel as much as he can. Now, not so much.

I would rather have an experienced LB playing slightly out of position than a true frosh for the whole game. I think they will rotate and try to get Morgan some reps since he will be needed for the rest of the season.

 

[Irishcop]

That is why we have beer.

Apple pie is my game day drink of choice. Then beer.

 

[Irish#1]

I would rather have an experienced LB playing slightly out of position than a true frosh for the whole game. I think they will rotate and try to get Morgan some reps since he will be needed for the rest of the season.

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm glad Morgan will be playing in this one. His speed will help against a DT QB.

 

[koonja]

I'm excited to see Morgan play. I expect he'll be a blitzer on a lot of passing downs so that he doesn't have to worry about coverage.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm glad Morgan will be playing in this one. His speed will help against a DT QB.

It also caused him to overrun several plays against Navy which led to large gains. I have a very hard time imagining our defense functioning better without Schmidt QBing the front-7. How important has his on-field leadership been to the defense's success thus far? We'll find out soon.

I'm excited to see Morgan play. I expect he'll be a blitzer on a lot of passing downs so that he doesn't have to worry about coverage.

Assuming Graham's staff didn't miss the UNC game entirely, I doubt BvG is planning on being able to substitute much on defense.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/DevilsDigest">@DevilsDigest</a>: Graham feels that ND's offensive and defensive lines are the best ASU will see all year</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/status/529353494193795073">November 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And while we're on the subject, FO rates our OL and DL as 25th and 19th, respectively.

 

[Buster Bluth]

And while we're on the subject, FO rates our OL and DL as 25th and 19th, respectively.

Gotta hand it to Hiestand, the OL has really come into form the last few weeks.

 

[Guest]

Gotta hand it to Hiestand, the OL has really come into form the last few weeks.

After the early season struggles running the ball, it has gotten much better and it looks good going forward.

 

[Luckylucci]

It also caused him to overrun several plays against Navy which led to large gains. I have a very hard time imagining our defense functioning better without Schmidt QBing the front-7. How important has his on-field leadership been to the defense's success thus far? We'll find out soon.



Assuming Graham's staff didn't miss the UNC game entirely, I doubt BvG is planning on being able to substitute much on defense.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/DevilsDigest">@DevilsDigest</a>: Graham feels that ND's offensive and defensive lines are the best ASU will see all year</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/status/529353494193795073">November 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And while we're on the subject, FO rates our OL and DL as 25th and 19th, respectively.

This is where I'm at. Until I see it happen, there is no way I believe we should expect it.

 

[T Town Tommy]

From my outside perspective, losing Schmidt is a huge loss. He seemed to thrive in BVG's defensive scheme. Not to be lost, his ability to set the defense was huge. It's like losing your center on the O line. We may not see the effects as being obvious... but the effects will be there some plays. Time for some others to step up. I am confident they will. Hate it for the kid. If anyone got every bit of his potential out while on the field, it was Schmidt.

 

[CarrollVermin]

If we are at the point where we lose a guy and our season is over, then we have to re-examine where we are in year 5 of the Kelly era. Injuries happen. Yes we are thin, but this board has been nothing but doom and gloom for the last three days.

 

[CarrollVermin]

Further, this game will be won on the front lines. If we can pressure like we did a year ago and be a little exotic with our blitz packages, I like our chances. Offensively, if we continue to run the ball the way we have, I like ball possession and taking their offense off the field. But, reading the last few pages, we shouldn't even bother to show up on Saturday...may as well head to the Belk Bowl with our collective tail between our legs.

 

[Irish Jacky]

Style Points Rehab?

Style Points Rehab?

Amazing how much the various ND boards are going on about how a 1-loss ND gets into the playoff, and how little is being said, so far, about the ASU game this Saturday.

Other than FSU, this is the best team we'll play all year. If they win, we're cooked. If we win, particularly if we win convincingly, we more than neutralize the USNA game in the style-points criterion.

ASU has wins over Stanford (26-10), Washington, USC and Utah. They got destroyed by UCLA 62-27. They are ranked 11 or 12 in the polls. Other than FSU, they are most likely the best team we play all year. They'd probably out-rank us if it weren't for the UCLA beatdown.

We need to get over USNA and get focused on ASU. How do we beat these guys? I think we have to outscore them. They are going to score on us; they are averaging @ 34.5 PPG. We'll have trouble covering their WR's. Kelly's not a great runner, but he can avoid sacks and is not a Rees-type where the legs are concerned.

It's all really about our QB, I think. If Everett plays a great game, we win. If he turns the ball over twice or more, we don't win.

How do you see it?

 

[gkIrish]

Amazing how much the various ND boards are going on about how a 1-loss ND gets into the playoff, and how little is being said, so far, about the ASU game this Saturday.

Other than FSU, this is the best team we'll play all year. If they win, we're cooked. If we win, particularly if we win convincingly, we more than neutralize the USNA game in the style-points criterion.

ASU has wins over Stanford (26-10), Washington, USC and Utah. They got destroyed by UCLA 62-27. They are ranked 11 or 12 in the polls. Other than FSU, they are most likely the best team we play all year. They'd probably out-rank us if it weren't for the UCLA beatdown.

We need to get over USNA and get focused on ASU. How do we beat these guys? I think we have to outscore them. They are going to score on us; they are averaging @ 34.5 PPG. We'll have trouble covering their WR's. Kelly's not a great runner, but he can avoid sacks and is not a Rees-type where the legs are concerned.

It's all really about our QB, I think. If Everett plays a great game, we win. If he turns the ball over twice or more, we don't win.

How do you see it?

There is an ASU-specific thread already. I'm going to merge this with that thread.

 

[NDohio]

I feel fairly confident that J Smith can really help get us in the right defensive calls. He and J Schmidt have seemed to really been on the same page this season and hopefully he takes the lead role and get Morgan going in the right direction.

Morgan's speed and athleticism is exciting. After watching him Sat. I was thinking about how different it may have been if he were the one blitzing FSU and J Winston. Schmidt had clean lanes to get to the QB but he was just a few steps too slow and Winston got the passes off. Would Morgan's speed have made a difference?

I am not saying we will not struggle at times, I just feel good about Jaylon stepping up mentally and Morgan's skill set being a huge asset.

 

[irishfan]

I'm always tempted to think of some keys to the game, but it pretty much just rides on Golson. Like every other game.

I'm thinking 52-38, we win. ASU is good, but we easily have more talent than them, and have the better QB.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If we are at the point where we lose a guy and our season is over, then we have to re-examine where we are in year 5 of the Kelly era. Injuries happen. Yes we are thin, but this board has been nothing but doom and gloom for the last three days.

There are a few factors at work here. Our expectations have increased. Pre-season, our defense projected to be a major liability, with many writing 2014 off as a "rebuilding" year in preparation for 2015, when we'd make a serious title run. Instead, our defense has come together in lots of unexpected ways, so a title run this year seemed tantalizingly plausible. Among the major defensive revelations that made this 7-1 run possible are: (1) Schmidt's leadership at MLB; and (2) BvG's uncanny ability to addresses weaknesses in our base personnel through situational substitutions. Unfortunately, due to Graham's up-tempo offense and Joe's broken ankle, we'll have to do without both of those advantages for the first time all season. Concern is justified.

But it's worth noting that we're basically gambling with house money at this point. We weren't even supposed to be in the national title conversation anyway, so ND fans have lots of to be thankful for regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game.

Further, this game will be won on the front lines. If we can pressure like we did a year ago and be a little exotic with our blitz packages, I like our chances.

We have not been very good about generating pressure with our base personnel, and it's likely that Graham will not allow BvG to utilize his exotic blitz packages very often.

Offensively, if we continue to run the ball the way we have, I like ball possession and taking their offense off the field.

Agreed. I think we'll score plenty of points against ASU. The question is whether or not we can slow down their offense.

But, reading the last few pages, we shouldn't even bother to show up on Saturday...may as well head to the Belk Bowl with our collective tail between our legs.

Hardly. I've been quietly confident about this match-up all season. But our struggles against UNC and Schmidt's injury have shaken that confidence, and with good reason I'd argue.