Georgia Tech hasn't exactly faced good competition, so expecting their performance to dip isn't crazy talk. Triple option is all about timing, I think it's realistic to think, if Notre Dame doesn't shit the bed, that their timing will be affected. I also don't think the Virginia game was as alarming as many on here do.
We also don't know how good their defense is, and Notre Dame has the OL and skill position talent to score on any defense, backup QB or not.
Ultinately I think it's a toss up game.
I'm predicting a close win. While I respect GT and their offense, they really do not have top-level talent across the board. Recruiting rankings are not everything and they don't apply as much in their triple option, but theoretically we have more talent than them at just about every position.
--Kizer looked a little skittish, but a full week with BK and 1st-team reps will be huge for him. It should also be much easier coming in at home than it will be trying to hold on to a win on the road in a hectic environment.
--Bob Elliott in theory has been prepping for the triple option just about the entire season. We easily have the athletes to shut it down.
--I think also our defense buys in this week with triple option prep much more than they would for a Navy game. The combo of losing Zaire and playing the #14 team in the country should have everyone locked in all week.
--Lastly, BK is great with young QBs. I think he is 14-1 here with a true frosh or redshirt frosh QB. I think he keeps it simple, and we move it fairly well against GT.
More of a gut pick than anything, but I think we win 27-20.
Nothing like clear thinking in a game day thread! "It smells like victory!"
Seriously, great points, gentlemen!
Va., would have beat some people last week. And wait to see, I bet they finish up-field in their ACC division.
Second of all, Va., totally broke with their tendencies, (or the tendencies of their coaches.) This neutralized most of the Irish game-planning. So you are playing an inspired team, away, and your game plan is worth fecal material.
Plus, we all know ND spent time on the triple-option last week. For the good or bad.
This is the game the players and coaches were looking for.
Kizer explained his first rusty play. Other than that I thought he looked as good as any skilled player, save CJ and Will.
So the kid gets thrust into a come from behind, two-minute drill, on the road, at night, and throws a 39 yard game winning touchdown, all the while managing the clock as effectively, or more effectively than any ND quarterback in recent memory.
Also from his interview, and both of you guys inferred this in your posts, DeShone is an intelligent, observant, and extremely cool quarterback. And he pointed out the secret to "Va., screwing up Malik, and ND's passing game : They played their db's way back, and forced the short throws! Might have worked against Malik, but not so much with Kizer. He has better visibility of the whole field of play, and once he gets his footwork un-fucked, I think he will start running through his progressions faster than most recent ND quarterbacks.
Nobody will guess him to be the runner that he is, just wait.
More that the "passionate and emotional" Zaire, and the "whatever" Golson, Kizer plays like a machine. He really has a take what he can get attitude. He may not "win" many, but he is "hard to beat!"
Once he gets comfortable, plays like his pass over the middle to CJ will become an regular sort of thing. He has pocket presence and the ability to widely distribute the ball.
Most important, he believes he can do it. Scratch that. He knows he can do it. This guy, once he and the receivers get used to each other, may click very well. Am I saying he is better than Zaire or Golson? Definitely not. But he may be a quarterback with better attributes to maximize the receivers ND has.
And Last But NOT Least : The chances of GT being able to sit back on the routes and disguise their coverage for as long as Va., did are almost nil.
