Sep 15 | at Michigan State

tommyIRISH23

tommyIRISH23

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I think this works out well for ND bc of the following reasons.

1. Kelly has 2 games of film (Boise St. the most valuable) on MSU's defense from 2012 compared to video thats 4 years old on Purdue's defense.

2. Kelly is familiar with MSU. He has had success against him both in 2010 and 2011

3. Kelly is familiar with Mark D. because he took over for him at Cinci. I have to believe that Kelly has watched 100's of hours on film on Mark D. to see what he had to work with while starting at Cinci.

4. MSU's bread and butter (RB Bell) runs right into our strength (our dline). Their passing game is average at best. This matches up well for us.

I think ND will be more successful moving the ball than this past game. Yeah, we dominated Navy, but that win didnt show us anything about our team. Purdue showed us our strengths and weakness while showing where we can go as a team to win. I think our offense (although I have to say it wasnt that bad this week, we just had long fields to work with plus injuries) will be more balanced and effective this week. I'll bet v-money on it
 
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CarrollVermin

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tdbaum1 said:
From Notre Dame's blog on ESPN. "Asked if he has a No. 1 running back with Cierre Wood back in the fold, Kelly said: "Yes, Theo Riddick."

Notre Dame Football Blog - ESPN

I guess we'll see how it pans out. I just can't imagine Cierre doesn't get the start. Not only do I think he is a better running back at this point in their careers, but then we add Theo as another weapon on the field. I don't know if Kelly is trying to light a fire under Cierre or what.
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You cannot displace Theo after the work that he has done. He has earned the start, IMO, simply by not being stupid off the field.

That being said, I expect Cierre to get plenty of work at the position and help us run against another stout front at MSU.
 
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CarrollVermin

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peoriairish said:
MSU -4
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Honestly expected this to be a little higher. Don't teams usually get 3 points just for playing at home? This match-up has scared me from the onset, and given our uncertainty with injuries, I did expect the line to be at least 9. That being said...Go Irish!
 
rtrn2glory

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iimo the key to this game is going to be more than taking care of the ball, but also moving the sticks enough to win the field position battle. neither offense is elite so it's going to be important to make them earn everything they get and eliminate big plays, get off the field on 3rd down, and moving the sticks enough to avoid putting the defense in a bind

msu's defense is very good and honestly i'm very worried about EG's ability to handle being his first road start.

with that said i also see a low scoring game with the first team to 20, much like yesterday
 
Who'saWildManNow

Who'saWildManNow

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If we put pressure on Maxwell (Hasn't been sacked in first two games) we pull this one out.. Boise forced him into 3 picks and MSU had Bell carry them to victory.

Like we've all obviously stated, the Bell plan lays right into our strength, so I expect some trickory from Dantonio to test our secondary.

Lots of bubble screens, quick slants, play action and maybe a HB toss in there.. They will want Maxwell to get rid of the ball quick with Tuitt/Nix barreling in all night.
 
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tommyIRISH23

tommyIRISH23

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Doesn't Gholsen (MSU's Defensive End) overpursue a lot? Play action and bootlegs all day
 
Who'saWildManNow

Who'saWildManNow

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After looking at highlights, one of the 3 interceptions was not Maxwell's fault.. but I still think if we pressure him they will ultimately have nowhere to go with the ball.
 
Riddickulous

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If Maxwell can connect on a couple of downfield throws and get defenders out of the box, we lose IMO.
 
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RallySonsOfND

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This will be a hostile atmosphere. Sparty stadium at night is LOUD. Will depend alot on how Golson handles the pressure and if we could get on them early and take the crowd out of it (defensive stand, huge KO return, score first drive, etc)

I'm nervous for this game just due to the fact it is Golson's first road start and MSU 'can' be a difficult place to play. but since they have some of the worst fairweather fans in CFB they'll quiet down pretty damn fast if we give them a reason too. lol
 
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arrowryan

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MSU has a running game, that is it. If we contain Bell, then I think we will win.

For some reason some of you think Golson might look like a chicken with it's head cut off. He will be fine against the blitz and i think we saw that yesterday.

Kelly will have a game plan for Golson, Golson won't be asked to do too much. Having 3 solid running backs will help too.

Last years MSU offense was a lot better than their offense this year. Stop Bell, we win
 
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BGIF

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peoriairish said:
I haven't seen an o/u. Where is it set?
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Until the Vegas odds are posted, Sagarin's Predictor Model makes MSU @ home about a 5 point favorite.

MSU 85.91 - ND 84.03 = 1.88 +3.00 Home Field Advantage + 4.88 Say 5 points.

At this point in the season Sagarin gives everybody the same 3.00 HFA.

Whiskeyjack notes that MSU has had the best HFA over the past 2 decades so Vegas may give them a point boost.

BTW, Steele notes that last time ND beat MSU in back to back years was '93 & '94. Vistor has dropped 4 straight.



But then there's that Victory March that notes, "what though the odds"
 
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arrowryan

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Also, since MSU is a running team do you think we switch to the 4-3 again on defense? The more I think about it, the more I like that idea
 
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Buster Bluth

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arrowryan said:
Also, since MSU is a running team do you think we switch to the 4-3 again on defense? The more I think about it, the more I like that idea
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...and play:

SDE: Tuitt
SDT: Nix
WDT: Day?
WDE: Lewis-Moore
 
ryno 24

ryno 24

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The 3-4 is better than the 4-3 against the run because it fills gaps. I think we see more of that against Michigan St. but we dont know.
 
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Grahambo

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arrowryan said:
Also, since MSU is a running team do you think we switch to the 4-3 again on defense? The more I think about it, the more I like that idea
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You can still operate a 3-4 and utilize the run blitz if so choose since run blitizing generally targets gaps at the line. I think they stay in the base package until it proves it's not working.
 
Black Irish

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I am really looking forward to this game. I got the day off surprsingly and I think this will be a close, hard-fought game. It sounds cliche, but the game is going to be won in the trenches. Our lines have to play hard. GO IRISH!
 
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Buster Bluth

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notredomer23 said:
just do what we did last year. they ran for 20 yards..
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You don't "just do what you did last year," ever. That's how you get out-coached and routed.

They did only run for 29 yards last year, so I like the strength of our DL here. But if they were sooo bad last year, they will only improve from that horrible performance.
 
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