Oct 27 | Navy

[Sherm Sticky]

Great to see Aaron Banks starting at guard. I still think Banks could play RT at a very high level...

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"He's been emerging." BK on Aaron Banks taking over the starting spot at LG.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1054766164038115328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meh... would have been much more excited had BK said he was ascending.

... or better yet, like Sherm said about a move to RT = Evolving... that would have been the best label.

At least he's not ebbing.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Listening to BGI podcast today it sounds like Navy has abandoned using Perry as their QB so he will return to slot back while Garrett Lewis plays QB. Driskell wondered why they don’t insert Zach Abbey back at QB. Kid ran for 1400 yds last year and averaged more per carry than Lewis.

Found that odd as well. Navy (again) is high on the rushing offense (#3) this year. Guess they are going to try and confuse the Irish D ???

Well - odd no more. Perry hurt his leg last week vs Houston. Looks to be questionable for the game but, naming Lewis as starter this early may indicate Perry is out. Perry had 10 carries for 97 yards vs Houston. Abey had 1 carry for 1 yard.

 

[arrowryan]

Taking Notre Dame plus the points here would be foolish IMO. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I don't think Notre Dame has been very good covering the spread this season.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Taking Notre Dame plus the points here would be foolish IMO. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I don't think Notre Dame has been very good covering the spread this season.

They haven't, we are 4-3 against the spread per ESPN.

BUT, this is the first Navy team in a long time that hasn't worried me much at all.....

Navy is giving up 420 ypg, and 34.3 ppg...and they haven't played anyone of our caliber yet.

On paper, we should win biggly. Which means, you're 100% correct. Give me ND 49, Navy 48.

 

[calvegas04]

They haven't, we are 4-3 against the spread per ESPN.

BUT, this is the first Navy team in a long time that hasn't worried me much at all.....

Navy is giving up 420 ypg, and 34.3 ppg...and they haven't played anyone of our caliber yet.

On paper, we should win biggly. Which means, you're 100% correct. Give me ND 49, Navy 48.

pitt was the fist team I wasn't worried about this year, won't make that mistake again

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

pitt was the fist team I wasn't worried about this year, won't make that mistake again

Really?? Good for you; must have calmer nerves than me. After BSU, I was a nervous wreck heading into Vandy, and even Wake after the 1Q until Book went on a roll. After that performance, I actually felt pretty good about the Trees and the Fighting Enter Sandmen.

.....Then Pitt happened. I feel good about Navy, but the remaining four are giving me a nervous.

We just have an ugly habit of playing down to our competition, and this year seems to be no exception. Get up for the big games, and keep it disgustingly close against the rest.

EDIT: I misread your post. I read it as "Pitt was the first team I WAS worried about this year. My B. Maybe I need some cheaters for the ol' eye ballz....

 

[ulukinatme]

pitt was the fist team I wasn't worried about this year, won't make that mistake again

We tried warning you people! Too many were writing off Pitt as hot garbage, but when it comes to the Irish they almost always come out like it's their Super Bowl. I don't know what it is, but it's been pretty consistent over the course of a decade+. I will say we do have a tendency to play up or down to our competition it seems. Lets just hope the playoff gets expanded in the near future because it's incredibly difficult to run the table in any given year, and it's impossible to do it consistently. There's just too many possibilities for trap games and players can't stay motivated for 12+ games over the course of a season.

 

[Rocket 94]

We tried warning you people! Too many were writing off Pitt as hot garbage, but when it comes to the Irish they almost always come out like it's their Super Bowl. I don't know what it is, but it's been pretty consistent over the course of a decade+. I will say we do have a tendency to play up or down to our competition it seems. Lets just hope the playoff gets expanded in the near future because it's incredibly difficult to run the table in any given year, and it's impossible to do it consistently. There's just too many possibilities for trap games and players can't stay motivated for 12+ games over the course of a season.

Pitt always plays elite competition tough over the last 3 years. See the Clemson and Miami upsets over the last 2 years. Not just ND with Pitt.

 

[calvegas04]

We tried warning you people! Too many were writing off Pitt as hot garbage, but when it comes to the Irish they almost always come out like it's their Super Bowl. I don't know what it is, but it's been pretty consistent over the course of a decade+. I will say we do have a tendency to play up or down to our competition it seems. Lets just hope the playoff gets expanded in the near future because it's incredibly difficult to run the table in any given year, and it's impossible to do it consistently. There's just too many possibilities for trap games and players can't stay motivated for 12+ games over the course of a season.

same with navy, I don't expect a blow out saturday

 

[Dizzyphil]

In the history of the Navy/ND series, this will be the first time the game will be played West of Chicago.

 

[EddytoNow]

They haven't, we are 4-3 against the spread per ESPN.

BUT, this is the first Navy team in a long time that hasn't worried me much at all.....

Navy is giving up 420 ypg, and 34.3 ppg...and they haven't played anyone of our caliber yet.

On paper, we should win biggly. Which means, you're 100% correct. Give me ND 49, Navy 48.

The key to us scoring a lot of points in this game will be getting Navy's offense off the field with several three-and-outs. Over the past several games with ND, Navy has eaten up a lot of clock with their methodical option attack. Our offense can't score a lot of points if they aren't on the field. If Navy's offense limits our offensive possessions by controlling the clock, we won't be scoring 40 or 50 points. If our defense can get their option offense off the field, we should be able to rack up a lot of points against their defense.

With that said, I'm predicting a 31-17 victory with a close first half and limited ND offensive possessions. I hope I'm wrong. I'd like to see our defense totally shut them down, and our offense dominate at the line of scrimmage with both Dexter and Jafar running for over 100 yards.

 

[NDShark]

Uninformed person speaking....are we optimistic or pessimistic with our ability to set the edge? We've had a great pass rush this season, but I'm not sure how related that is to containing an attack to the interior of line.

 

[IrishLax]

The way you beat Navy handily is by not punting and not kicking field goals. You go for a TD every drive, and then after you've gotten 1 or 2 stops the game is over.

 

[IrishLion]

The way you beat Navy handily is by not punting and not kicking field goals. You go for a TD every drive, and then after you've gotten 1 or 2 stops the game is over.

That's why I'd caution laying that fatty on ND covering lol.

All it takes to turn the game into a four-quarter slog is a single, unlucky, ill-timed incomplete pass on third down, followed by Navy's one competent QB hitting a homerun on the ground by finding an unlucky, ill-timed crease.

Suddenly Navy's up by one score, and they're gonna bleed 75% of the game away with FB-dives while you try to recover that score, never mind getting the lead back and adding cushion to get them out of their comfort zone.

(For the record, I think we smash them. But if there's one game I'm not betting on, it's the game where my team is facing the triple option. The triple option puts all three phases of your game on a knife's edge in the first quarter.)

 

[EvilleIrish]

That's why I'd caution laying that fatty on ND covering lol.

All it takes to turn the game into a four-quarter slog is a single, unlucky, ill-timed incomplete pass on third down, followed by Navy's one competent QB hitting a homerun on the ground by finding an unlucky, ill-timed crease.

Suddenly Navy's up by one score, and they're gonna bleed 75% of the game away with FB-dives while you try to recover that score, never mind getting the lead back and adding cushion to get them out of their comfort zone.

(For the record, I think we smash them. But if there's one game I'm not betting on, it's the game where my team is facing the triple option. The triple option puts all three phases of your game on a knife's edge in the first quarter.)

Saw today that Navy is 33-14 ATS as a 20+ dog since 1980.

 

[Irish#1]

Uninformed person speaking....are we optimistic or pessimistic with our ability to set the edge? We've had a great pass rush this season, but I'm not sure how related that is to containing an attack to the interior of line.

We should be okay given our quickness and speed on the edge. If they can't get outside, they're forced to either pass or run between the tackles and we know they can't pass. We've been pretty stout against the inside and outside.

The key is to win the coin toss and score a TD on the first possession, then stop Navy on their first series. Rinse and repeat. Need to force Navy to play catch up.

 

[bkess8]

Who all is going to the game? Wouldn't mind meeting some of you for a beer!

 

[BobbyMac]

Who needs two tickets, 10 rows up in the west endzone next to Crusader?

You'll be close to the action and you'll leave the game with full knowledge of every future 3* in the state of Idaho's class of 2023.

No italics.

 

[Irishize]

We should be okay given our quickness and speed on the edge. If they can't get outside, they're forced to either pass or run between the tackles and we know they can't pass. We've been pretty stout against the inside and outside.

The key is to win the coin toss and score a TD on the first possession, then stop Navy on their first series. Rinse and repeat. Need to force Navy to play catch up.

This will be Lea’s first game calling the D vs triple option as far as I know. Navy always has a wrinkle they throw into their offense vs ND. Sometimes it may be from 8-9 seasons prior. How Lea adjusts to that wrinkle will be key.

 

[arndtjc]

Who all is going to the game? Wouldn't mind meeting some of you for a beer!

I’m planning on camping out at Rosie O’Grady’s, an Irish/Chicago themed dive bar a few miles south of the stadium to get nice and toasty before heading to the game. Anyone of you fine folk are more than welcome to join in the festivities!

 

[NDRock]

The way you beat Navy handily is by not punting and not kicking field goals. You go for a TD every drive, and then after you've gotten 1 or 2 stops the game is over.

So don't kick a field goal halfway through the 4th Q to pull within 1 point? Seems reasonable.

 

[NDty9]

This will be Lea’s first game calling the D vs triple option as far as I know. Navy always has a wrinkle they throw into their offense vs ND. Sometimes it may be from 8-9 seasons prior. How Lea adjusts to that wrinkle will be key.

I will say , It seems that so far this season, Lea's mid-game and especially halftime adjustments have been GREAT!

 

[Irish YJ]

Looks like the week off did ND good in terms of injuries.

Perry is Navy's biggest rusher, second biggest passer.
Williams is their second leading receiver and decent part of their rushing attack.


From donbest.com

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

Navy
Date Pos Player Injury Status
10/21/18 SB CJ Williams Undisclosed is "?" Saturday vs Notre Dame
10/21/18 QB Malcolm Perry Leg injured last game, is "?" Saturday vs Notre Dame
10/01/18 LB Travis Kerchner Knee is out for season

 

[ulukinatme]

I’m planning on camping out at Rosie O’Grady’s, an Irish/Chicago themed dive bar a few miles south of the stadium to get nice and toasty before heading to the game. Anyone of you fine folk are more than welcome to join in the festivities!

I can vouch for this man, he's a good dude! Bring him some Yeungling for me.

 

[Luckylucci]

I’ve seen it mentioned a few times so just wanted to chime in but our DE’s “containing the edge” against the triple option is not the same as it is against regular offenses. In most cases, against a triple option, your “edge” defenders will be responsible for the QB, meaning they actually want to force the pitch outside and do so as fast as possible. Where a LB/S can run the alley and make a play on the pitchman. So if/when a pitch goes outside for a gain, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad play on the “edge” defender, it more than likely meant the defender responsible for the pitch was at fault. Maybe late reading his keys and getting to his spot, not getting off blocks, etc.. With that said, you do need the edge defenders to force that decision as fast as possible.

I would assume we are very aggressive with attacking the various mesh points and trying to force decisions versus letting them string the plays out. Similar to what we did with Wake Forest.

 

[BGIF]

This will be Lea’s first game calling the D vs triple option as far as I know. Navy always has a wrinkle they throw into their offense vs ND. Sometimes it may be from 8-9 seasons prior. How Lea adjusts to that wrinkle will be key.

I will say , It seems that so far this season, Lea's mid-game and especially halftime adjustments have been GREAT!

I recall Diaco saying that Navy used "wrinkle" that they hadn't used before after an ND lose. The Navy OC or Niumatalolo responded that Navy used the same plays that they had used earlier in that season. Apparently Diaco's pre-game prep missed that.

Despite that I never understood why if he had missed a play or plays in pre-game planning why he could not adjust his defense during the game in the First Quarter, the Second Quarter, The Third Quarter, nor the Fourth Quarter.

May Lea's adjustments continue to have success.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

FEI projects a 37 point Irish victory, with a 99% chance of at least winning outright:

.990 Notre Dame Navy 46-9

 

[Irish8248]

I’ve seen it mentioned a few times so just wanted to chime in but our DE’s “containing the edge” against the triple option is not the same as it is against regular offenses. In most cases, against a triple option, your “edge” defenders will be responsible for the QB, meaning they actually want to force the pitch outside and do so as fast as possible. Where a LB/S can run the alley and make a play on the pitchman. So if/when a pitch goes outside for a gain, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad play on the “edge” defender, it more than likely meant the defender responsible for the pitch was at fault. Maybe late reading his keys and getting to his spot, not getting off blocks, etc.. With that said, you do need the edge defenders to force that decision as fast as possible.

I would assume we are very aggressive with attacking the various mesh points and trying to force decisions versus letting them string the plays out. Similar to what we did with Wake Forest.

To add to this, option football is about controlling the LOS and gap control.... if our DEs get more than 2 yds deep of the LOS we lost that play. If they're getting pushed back then we lost that play. It's very important for the DEs to control the LOS and slow play the qb to make a pitch. They call this stringing the play out. As for our interior, they'll have to do a great job with gap control. That means pushing the LOS into the backfield no more than a yd or two and not allowing the C/G combo to work effectively.

Pressure in an option offense is about as opportunistic to an offense as pressure in a screen game is

 

[OhioIrish31]

To add to this, option football is about controlling the LOS and gap control.... if our DEs get more than 2 yds deep of the LOS we lost that play. If they're getting pushed back then we lost that play. It's very important for the DEs to control the LOS and slow play the qb to make a pitch. They call this stringing the play out. As for our interior, they'll have to do a great job with gap control. That means pushing the LOS into the backfield no more than a yd or two and not allowing the C/G combo to work effectively.

Pressure in an option offense is about as opportunistic to an offense as pressure in a screen game is

Love the discussion about stopping the option. In years when we've had trouble (and lost) with Navy we had trouble stopping the full back...it was infuriating. He needs to be hit at the LOS every play whether he has the ball or not. When he doesn't get the ball he becomes a blocker at the second level...Joe Schmidt experienced this big time. Other than that, the aforementioned gap control and force the early pitch and clean up come into play. If Navy's FB averages 5 yards on first down (as in the past) we will be in for another frustrating Saturday.