Oct 8 | BYU

[Dale]

Something about Thomas leads me to believe he's going to have a good career for us. He's shown flashes to me. Could be totally wrong, but I think he's going to figure it out and continue to improve. I like his size to be able to be at the minimum a Kevin Austin type of career (Sr year Kevin Austin)

Thomas should be able to do his best work around the middle of the field. Mayer takes the middle of the field, when we ever do throw there. I agree he has more in store for him.

 

[NDdomer2]

Impressive that we played like dog shit in 2/4 games and we are still a favorite according to the computers

very favorable outcomes from the way we played OSU

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Impressive that we played like dog shit in 2/4 games and we are still a favorite according to the computers

We've played like dog shit in 6/16 quarters. 62.5% of the time, we've been the team everyone expected us to be pre-season!

 

[FWIrish4]

Impressive that we played like dog shit in 2/4 games and we are still a favorite according to the computers

Vegas agrees as well

 

[sixstar]

BYU going black (not atypical) but with a new black helmet that fades to royal blue at the top.

Looks good and will play nicely against ND's uniforms.

Best part is that their helmet is going to hide all the dents that Estime and Joseph inflict.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Looks good and will play nicely against ND's uniforms.

Best part is that their helmet is going to hide all the dents that Estime and Joseph inflict.

Great now two more of our stars will be ejected/suspended

 

[IrishLion]

Their uniforms are cool as hell... but it looks like a cool alternate Kentucky uniform with BYU logos instead of the UK logo.

 

[Crazy Balki]

No Tobias on the depth chart. Either he really sucks or the offensive brain trust (or lack there of) can't figure out ways to get him on to the field.

ND doesn't tend to change the depth chart until those changes are confirmed on the field prior to that.

Ben Morrison basically started against UNC, but it wasn't until this week that he was officially named the starter.

 

[luckofirish8]

I think there's a good chance this team players better than it did against UNC. It's made marked improvement week by week since the Marshall fiasco, and has shown it can go toe-to-toe with one of the top programs in the nation.

The week off gave them a chance to fine-tune the offense and get Pyne acclimated and get his receivers involved, and get some guys healthier. I also think it's especially important for the OL, because it really gives them time to have those 5 guys consistently work together. Something they really didn't have a chance to do with Patterson out most of fall camp and missing the first game. It also gives them a chance to get Jr and Prince more heavily involved in game planning and have Kiser get more time inside, which he really needs.

This team has a very legitimate opportunity to take a huge step forward this week.

I don't disagree overall, but I do expect BYUs defense to put up more resistance for some reason. I think that if the OL shows up to play, the Irish can realistically defeat any team remaining on the schedule. Admittedly, in my own head that sounds crazy to say after that Marshall game. This team proved last year that even with a "game-manager" at QB, they can compete and win a lot of football game.

 

[Dale]

Merriweather has never been on the depth chart.

It’s been Colzie and Wilkins even with the injuries.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I don't disagree overall, but I do expect BYUs defense to put up more resistance for some reason. I think that if the OL shows up to play, the Irish can realistically defeat any team remaining on the schedule. Admittedly, in my own head that sounds crazy to say after that Marshall game. This team proved last year that even with a "game-manager" at QB, they can compete and win a lot of football game.

If anybody doubted it, the UNC game confirmed it: defend ND by stacking the box.

Until ND comes out and starts punishing teams for playing too close to the LOS I am in very guarded optimism mode.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

If anybody doubted it, the UNC game confirmed it: defend ND by stacking the box.

Until ND comes out and starts punishing teams for playing too close to the LOS I am in very guarded optimism mode.

I like the way Chris Wilson put it in his Rakes report: Basically, after playing three halves of very good football, in a row there's a sense of optimism but it won't take much for the doom and gloom that we all felt the two weeks prior to come back if we lose to BYU and fall to 2-3.

It's basically like a fresh scab; it won't take much for the bleeding to come back

 

[NDQuebec]

If anybody doubted it, the UNC game confirmed it: defend ND by stacking the box.

Until ND comes out and starts punishing teams for playing too close to the LOS I am in very guarded optimism mode.

This is right. One of the main reasons ND ran so well vs UNC is that they didn't stack the box like the previous opponents did. BYU will likely stack the box until Pyne shows that he can pass downfield consistently. Before UNC, the opponents stacked the box and dared Buchner to throw it, which he either refused to do or was inaccurate in doing so. A QB that can be a consistently good passer makes the running game and the oline better because the box cannot be stacked. I think this will be a true test of Pyne's ability to throw downfield successfully. If he shows he can, it will be easier for the oline to block and the RB's to run. If he can't, it could be a long day.

 

[dad4aa]

Neither of you must have watched BYU give up 204 yards at 4.3 yards/rush against a weak ass 1-4 Utah State. I have no worries rushing against BYU.

 

[DONTH8]

Neither of you must have watched BYU give up 204 yards at 4.3 yards/rush against a weak ass 1-4 Utah State. I have no worries rushing against BYU.

Yup. All the BYU fans out here are terrified of their DC sticking to his bend don't break defense. It works if they can get an early lead and teams feel pressured to throw. Historically, he never changes the D, even when the situation obviously calls for it.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Neither of you must have watched BYU give up 204 yards at 4.3 yards/rush against a weak ass 1-4 Utah State. I have no worries rushing against BYU.

If BYU plays those same soft fronts against ND then I expect ND to run the ball well (although 4.3 yds/rush isn't exactly getting gashed).

 

[Crazy Balki]

If BYU plays those same soft fronts against ND then I expect ND to run the ball well (although 4.3 yds/rush isn't exactly getting gashed).

It is when it's up against one of the worst run offenses in the country.

 

[Bluto]

This is right. One of the main reasons ND ran so well vs UNC is that they didn't stack the box like the previous opponents did. BYU will likely stack the box until Pyne shows that he can pass downfield consistently. Before UNC, the opponents stacked the box and dared Buchner to throw it, which he either refused to do or was inaccurate in doing so. A QB that can be a consistently good passer makes the running game and the oline better because the box cannot be stacked. I think this will be a true test of Pyne's ability to throw downfield successfully. If he shows he can, it will be easier for the oline to block and the RB's to run. If he can't, it could be a long day.

Not all of the “box stacking” had to do with the QB’s ability to throw the ball downfield. It had a lot to do with the formations and play calls ND was running out of those formations.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

It is when it's up against one of the worst run offenses in the country.

They're 73rd in rushing yards per game and a mere 7.2 yards per game behind ND. How many teams count as one of the worst run offenses in the country?

 

[Dale]

I think the talk of loading the box specifically against ND is giving a bit too much credit to other teams. Most teams tend to play for the most part their general style of D regardless, and the less talented you are, the less multiple you tend to be.

OSU had the most talent + the stunting is Knowles style. Marshall has been very aggressive scheme versus others too this season. Cal played their normal D against us, which I thought let the OL off the hook, but is what Rees and others focused on with the lack of downfield in terms of Cal’s typical coverage. UNC played all that they “know”.

Just deciding to load the box is more a NFL line of thinking in assuming anyone just can do it. Recruiting makes college teams, outside of the elite, less multiple. Whoever has a third safety that can play in the box or actually carries a SAM LB would be the teams it’d be worried on.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I guess we will see what BYU does with the extended prep week.

My concerns aren't about BYU specifically, but the full schedule more generally. ND isn't going to see passive fronts every week.

 

[tko]

I miss watching Rees audible in to all kinds of good situations

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Neither of you must have watched BYU give up 204 yards at 4.3 yards/rush against a weak ass 1-4 Utah State. I have no worries rushing against BYU.

You’re assuming BYU can’t be better than what they showed on a Thursday night game against an opponent they likely didn’t take seriously based on how bad Utah St looked in their previous outings. Assuming all is well after ND ran all over one of the worst defenses in the nation (that for some reason insisted on running nickel most of the game) is a fool’s errand that could lead to wailing & gnashing of teeth in this thread Saturday night.

 

[tko]

BYU is going to bring it no doubt and I’m sure Hall will be auditioning for a spot on the Heisman stage.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

BYU is going to bring it no doubt and I’m sure Hall will be auditioning for a spot on the Heisman stage.

Hall is the 3rd QB in a row that is likely to run up some rushing numbers due to his ability to take off for a positive gain when no one is open.

 

[tko]

Hall is the 3rd QB in a row that is likely to run up some rushing numbers due to his ability to take off for a positive gain when no one is open.

We need that spy game working. Can Marist stay disciplined?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You’re assuming BYU can’t be better than what they showed on a Thursday night game against an opponent they likely didn’t take seriously based on how bad Utah St looked in their previous outings. Assuming all is well after ND ran all over one of the worst defenses in the nation (that for some reason insisted on running nickel most of the game) is a fool’s errand that could lead to wailing & gnashing of teeth in this thread Saturday night.

It's not just the UNC game. Cal has a good defense, and our offense looked fine against them in the 2nd half. So we've had 6 consecutive quarters of very competent offensive play in line with our strengths as a team.

 

[DONTH8]

It's not just the UNC game. Cal has a good defense, and our offense looked fine against them in the 2nd half. So we've had 6 consecutive quarters of very competent offensive play in line with our strengths as a team.

Eh, I would say 5/6

1Q against UNC was slow...

 

[IRISHDODGER]

It's not just the UNC game. Cal has a good defense, and our offense looked fine against them in the 2nd half. So we've had 6 consecutive quarters of very competent offensive play in line with our strengths as a team.

Didn’t Cal’s defense get smoked by Wazzu this past Sat? Honest question as I just saw the score & didn’t watch the game.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

We need that spy game working. Can Marist stay disciplined?

He did a nice job of that after ND got burned a few times. I was impressed w/ his play.