Sep 21 | Michigan State

[Buster Bluth]

I'll take it, considering the tone on this forum would have me believing we're due for MAC-level play for the foreseeable future..

 

[rikkitikki08]

I'll take it, considering the tone on this forum would have me believing we're due for MAC-level play for the foreseeable future..

Right? This the sky is falling crowd is ridiculous.....ND is ranked for god sake, and could easily be 3-0

 

[Cackalacky]

You are right; it isn't that useful. I experimented with it but I found that the conversation in a particular thread often stopped making sense without the ignored poster's posts. Basically, if the poster is disruptive enough that you want to put him on the ignore list, he is probably a loud enough contributor to the conversation that removing his posts will make the conversation meaningless. So my ignore list currently has zero people on it. That's just one man's opinion though ... maybe other people like it.

 

[irishfan]

Beat them by 18 two years ago. Beat them by 17 last year. MSU probably doesn't have as much talent this year as they have had either of the last two years. I don't think its going to be easy, but I think we win somewhere around 24-14.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Beat them by 18 two years ago. Beat them by 17 last year. MSU probably doesn't have as much talent this year as they have had either of the last two years. I don't think its going to be easy, but I think we win somewhere around 24-14.

Two years ago: Manti
Last year: Manti

I'm not going to get into the "does ND miss Manti this much" argument.

But, I can say for sure the defense is transitioning into their own personality. We'll see if the transformation holds shape on Saturday.

 

[BGIF]

Two years ago: Manti
Last year: Manti

I'm not going to get into the "does ND miss Manti this much" argument.

But, I can say for sure the defense is transitioning into their own personality. We'll see if the transformation holds shape on Saturday.

"Holds shape" or takes shape? It's been amorphous so far.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

"Holds shape" or takes shape? It's been amorphous so far.

Early morning... Lol

I guess what I meant was, one of the many shapes (lineups) we've used... Holds shape... Opposed to having to continue to search for yet another "shape"

needless to say, takes shape would be a much better expression. Lol.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Beat them by 18 two years ago.

More first downs: Michigan State
More offensive yards: Michigan State (358 to 275)
Third-Down Conversion: Notre Dame
Time of Possession: Michigan State

Go rewatch the game, it was a weird one. George Atkinson's kick returns had a lot to do with it.

Beat them by 17 last year.

I thought 2012's game was a lot like Oklahoma. Took a lead and juuuuust held onto it in a defensive showdown. Notre Dame was 1-14 on third downs.

MSU probably doesn't have as much talent this year as they have had either of the last two years. I don't think its going to be easy, but I think we win somewhere around 24-14.

That score is probably an accurate one (in my opinion). Notre Dame is definitely more talented, but Michigan State has a verrrry impressive defense whose linebackers will be terrors on Saturday. They do match up very well with Notre Dame.

I think the easiest way to say it is that Diaco/Martin/Kelly will certainly have to earn it with a fine gameplan. Dantonio is a fantastic head coach, albeit with an offensive coordinator who drove Ohio State fans wild when he was there.

 

[tko]

We'll know where their heads are when the first play is a handoff up the middle for zero gain.

 

[condoms SUCk]

We'll know where their heads are when the first play is a handoff up the middle for zero gain.

Or a screen pass with the DB's playing pressure coverage and a loss of 2 yards. Sigh


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[irishfan]

I just don't think MSU will be able to move the ball. Their offense is SO boring, it plays into our philosophy on D perfectly. They have no problem doing the run-run-pass-punt (the ol' Willingham 1-2). They barely moved the ball on us last year, and I think it will be a similar game this year.

 

[stlnd01]

This is a team that hasn't beaten a team with a FBS win, with a young QB who'll be making his first road start and no discernible offensive weapons.
They have a good front seven and a smart coach and we'll need to play well. But if we lose this one, we've got serious problems, and I just don't think we're that bad.
I agree with the predictions of a relatively low-scoring game that we win by ten or so.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

More first downs: Michigan State
More offensive yards: Michigan State (358 to 275)
Third-Down Conversion: Notre Dame
Time of Possession: Michigan State

Go rewatch the game, it was a weird one. George Atkinson's kick returns had a lot to do with it.



I thought 2012's game was a lot like Oklahoma. Took a lead and juuuuust held onto it in a defensive showdown. Notre Dame was 1-14 on third downs.



That score is probably an accurate one (in my opinion). Notre Dame is definitely more talented, but Michigan State has a verrrry impressive defense whose linebackers will be terrors on Saturday. They do match up very well with Notre Dame.

I think the easiest way to say it is that Diaco/Martin/Kelly will certainly have to earn it with a fine gameplan. Dantonio is a fantastic head coach, albeit with an offensive coordinator who drove Ohio State fans wild when he was there.

My take on the MSU game: (I know, like everyone wanted to hear the opinion of one more dumb shiit). As goes the O & D line, so goes the game. I was trying to sound a bit historical and grandiose there.

Seriously. I have been watching tape. More than the tape on my eyelids. The offensive line can hold pass block forever. Or so it seems. But their run blocking. Once (I saw) NMartin, twice CWatt, three times RonnieStanley, and a whole bunch of times Christian Lombard, ONLY LOOK DOWN THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE WHEN PULLING, DOUBLE TEAMING OR BLOCKING DOWN.

If they would figure out who they were supposed to block, (and they ain't gonna find 'em on the line as the play develops) and then just run into the right guys, all of us posters could take turns running the ball for Notre Dame. I shiit you not. They are so big, strong, fast, and athletic, oh yeah, and deep, that they can knock defenses into next Tuesday.

But consistently, if you watch the guards, especially Christian, they look the wrong way, block the wrong guy, get caught in a double team with an outside guy, when they ignore a scraping linebacker from the inside that started out where they did, who is just reading their key. Where are the coaches to tell them we would be better off having them just fall down or run to the opposite sideline as fast as they could? This is a little thing that would make a huge difference! If it gets fixed for MSU and OK, watch out!

Of course I am not sure it matters. GeoAIII is doing the same kind of thing, Amir sort of too. They are trying to run away from the guys that they are even with, but have an inside out angle on them. These guys can't catch them. Cam did it right against Purdue, and not one of those guys caught up with him where it counted. Geo had one play that he could have cut in for a TD, but he tried to bounce it out and ran into his lead blockers @ss.

The D-line, (less Sheldon Day) and most of the linebackers, don't understand contain. They don't understand or just don't want to do it. Period. If the D-line settles down and starts playing assignment correct, those things that have hurt us like play action and a few other things will hurt us less. Our DOG linebackers are having a hard time recognizing who the cover in trips, whether wide or tight. The corner has to pick the "other" guy. The IS linebacker has the third and hasn't been a problem. It is the corner, when someone makes a mistake vacillating that cost us at least one key TD this season. We fix these things and our next three games will not be close. We get worse and we may lose them all. We will see on Saturday. Are the coaches and players doing their jobs?

 

[connor_in]

If nothing else, it will be fun watching a bunch of previous games between these two on BIG TEN network this week. Personally, I always love the match up between ND & MSU. Except for a couple of years there, you generally don't have the hatred of a scUM game, but more respect on both sides and usually an old fashioned hard hitting game.

 

[BeauBenken]

I just don't think MSU will be able to move the ball. Their offense is SO boring, it plays into our philosophy on D perfectly. They have no problem doing the run-run-pass-punt (the ol' Willingham 1-2). They barely moved the ball on us last year, and I think it will be a similar game this year.

Their schedule has been easy so far though. They could certainly open it up this game.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Originally Posted by irishfan View Post
I just don't think MSU will be able to move the ball. Their offense is SO boring, it plays into our philosophy on D perfectly. They have no problem doing the run-run-pass-punt (the ol' Willingham 1-2). They barely moved the ball on us last year, and I think it will be a similar game this year.

Their schedule has been easy so far though. They could certainly open it up this game.

It will be interesting. I notice that Purdue had 38 rushing yards against us with only a couple of really positive plays. Michigan didn't fare much better, and without Gardner to Gallon being on fire, they wouldn't have had such a night to celebrate, either!

I did some tape studies that I mentioned in my last post, but I thought I would address the elephant in the room. (The one besides our bro, T-town Tommy!) I cannot tell you how many times I have seen Louis or Stephon being held this year. In the Purdue game it was at least three out of five plays. And I don't mean little, mamby-pamby stuff, either. I am talking grabbing jerseys, hooking pads and arms, and while the good guys slip that, grabbing the shoulder pads that stick out of the uniforms, and holding on for dear life. If someone wakes the fvck up and says something to the officials, I bet our defensive line all of a sudden starts looking much faster!

 

[ACamp1900]

This team is flat out too talented not to put a solid game together in four games... I expect things to come together in a big way...

Go Irish

 

[ulukinatme]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>A year ago at this time, I was hearing all about how Le'veon Bell could not be stopped.</p>— Knute Rockne (@Rocknes_Ghost) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rocknes_Ghost/statuses/380078622528114688">September 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[ACamp1900]

I will say this much.. you talk about the mother of all swing games... I don't think I can remember a game that potentially impacted the outlook of the season so drastically...

if MSU wins this game, would anyone really argue against 6-6 being possible?? If they win, the BCS is still possible... at least for now...

 

[GATTACA!]

I will say this much.. you talk about the mother of all swing games... I don't think I can remember a game that potentially impacted the outlook of the season so drastically...

if MSU wins this game, would anyone really argue against 6-6 being possible?? If they win, the BCS is still possible... at least for now...

Absolutely, I think looking at this schedual you can break it down into 3 groups of 4. A loss this week puts you at 2-2 for the first set. I could easily see 2-2 or 1-3 for the next block. And the last group could be 3-1 or 2-2. So in my opinion if we lose this week it will be a struggle to get to 8 wins.

If we win convincingly, and straighten out out D against MSU we can roll into OU and ASU. Win those and I think 10-2 is obtainable.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> is one of 6 teams in the top 20 of both passing attempts and sacks allowed. That'll be tested against MSU: <a href="http://t.co/dduLI8o8zz">http://t.co/dduLI8o8zz</a></p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/380415339256741888">September 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>2016 IN QB Noah Wezensky (<a href="https://twitter.com/N_WezenSKY">@N_WezenSKY</a>) added to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> visitor list for Saturday's game. (Premium) <a href="http://t.co/6xgw4X8Gh8">http://t.co/6xgw4X8Gh8</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/statuses/380407009721335808">September 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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of Fort Wayne Bishop Luers

 

[GoIrish41]

This is the game in which ND will get their groove back. ND 35, MSU 7.

 

[Ironman8]

I want more of this:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Htr2UloK-5A?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[NDohio]

This team is flat out too talented not to put a solid game together in four games... I expect things to come together in a big way...

Go Irish

Whoa! Who hacked your account?

 

[IrishLax]

I want more of this:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Htr2UloK-5A?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It gets better ever time I hear it. Valenti has been defined by this rant... it is literally his greatest professional achievement and it's about half of his Wikipedia article.

When he says the DC should be replaced by H.R. Pufnstuf and Teddy Ruxpin I absolutely lose it. Just so damn funny on so many different levels.

 

[Emcee77]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> is one of 6 teams in the top 20 of both passing attempts and sacks allowed. That'll be tested against MSU: <a href="http://t.co/dduLI8o8zz">http://t.co/dduLI8o8zz</a></p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/380415339256741888">September 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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What a weird stat. I mean you'd expect a team with a lot of pass attempts to allow more sacks. I'm surprised there aren't more teams in the top 20 in both categories.

Our pass protection has been generally really good this year, I've thought.

 

[ulukinatme]

There was also the slap that came from that game

And MSU defending their 50 yard line after the game because they thought we'd stoop as low as they did to plant a flag on their turf after a win. Instead they just stood there looking stupid:

I miss John L Smith

(I Removed the MS Shamepaint of JLS)

 

[IrishLion]

What a weird stat. I mean you'd expect a team with a lot of pass attempts to allow more sacks. I'm surprised there aren't more teams in the top 20 in both categories.

Our pass protection has been generally really good this year, I've thought.

I think top 20 of sacks allowed means they have not allowed many sacks.

 

[ACamp1900]

Whoa! Who hacked your account?

MSU 53 ND7