Sept 13 | Texas A&M

[Dale]

Is ND more talented than A&M? Pretty equal on 247 team talent average. I do think we’re more complete / proven.

In general I don’t think people respect A&M really more than anything else. They’ve built a playoff caliber roster but have continuously underperformed.

Unfortunate part of a win here is we aren’t going to get a ton of credit if we win, bc with their schedule A&M will be lucky to end up ranked, despite their roster / likely being a top 20 power rated team.

I think this A&M roster is completely lacking of NFL talent, save a few spots like on the OL.

 

[notredomer23]

Is ND more talented than A&M? Pretty equal on 247 team talent average. I do think we’re more complete / proven.

In general I don’t think people respect A&M really more than anything else. They’ve built a playoff caliber roster but have continuously underperformed.

Unfortunate part of a win here is we aren’t going to get a ton of credit if we win, bc with their schedule A&M will be lucky to end up ranked, despite their roster / likely being a top 20 power rated team.

While the 247 team talent average is important, it doesn't take into account transfers in or out AFAIK, of which they've had a ton of transfers out of their most talented players. A&M has had 55 transfers out to P4 schools over the last 3 cycles. In comparison, ND has only had 30 P4 transfers out over that same period. That crazy 2022 class which should be seniors or in the NFL right now for A&M is nearly all gone; only 3 of the 30 recruits remain.

This isn't to minimize their talent. They've got it and Elko is a great coach and if ND doesn't play a good game, they can easily get pipped. But A&M is no where near as talented as what paper rankings would tell you or what the perception is based upon just their recruiting.

 

[IrishLax]

I think we run into similar issues here to what we saw against Miami:
1. Their OL is very good and we will likely struggle to create pressure.
2. Their DL has potential to really get after Carr in passing situations.

The biggest difference is that they are poor tackling through two games which bodes well for ND's running game. Second best thing is that their passing game / WR talent projects to be a lot worse than Miami (with the caveat that they have a QB run game unlike the Hurricanes).

 

[allenm5333]

I think we run into similar issues here to what we saw against Miami:
1. Their OL is very good and we will likely struggle to create pressure.
2. Their DL has potential to really get after Carr in passing situations.

The biggest difference is that they are poor tackling through two games which bodes well for ND's running game. Second best thing is that their passing game / WR talent projects to be a lot worse than Miami (with the caveat that they have a QB run game unlike the Hurricanes).

I do not think there OL is as good as Miami's. I also think their DL isn't as good and win in a different way than Miami. Could play to our advantage

 

[Dale]

I think while Howell is a very good speed rusher that they’ll have to account for, there is something to be said that Bain or a Top 15 pick like Carter for PSU possessed both speed and power. I’m not an OL guru like @Old Man Mike but that is a lot or a Tackle to account for. Knapp and Wagner struggled with two DEs who they only had a 15 pound advantage against in Miami heat. That won’t be the case Saturday.

They should run at Howell directly to loosen things up.

 

[SportsingHard]

When did ND start listing platers by eligibility instead of progress toward graduation?

 

[SDIrishFan]

The one thing I hope is that both the OL and DL have heard for two weeks how they were bullied, outmatched, out-physicalled, out worked by Miami and they take it personally and come in motivated to prove a point.

 

[zelezo vlk]

When did ND start listing platers by eligibility instead of progress towardd graduation?

I think it was this year

 

[SportsingHard]

QB: TBD
RB: ND (but we should factor Reed into this)
WRs: Texas A&M
OL: A&M
TE: has to be A&M?

DL: has to be A&M?
LBs: ND
CBs: ND
Safeties: TBD?

In deciding which team has more talent, you want to count some players twice?

 

[stlnd01]

I think (hope) we call a different game on offense. More running Love/Price at their DL dudes, and more shots downfield. Less of the in between stuff that may have been helpful to get Carr acclimated but maybe less necessary in game two at home.

Likewise, on defense, simplify and attack. We are the stronger, deeper, more balanced team, now with more to play for, at home. We should win this one.

 

[Irish#1]

Is ND more talented than A&M? Pretty equal on 247 team talent average. I do think we’re more complete / proven.

In general I don’t think people respect A&M really more than anything else. They’ve built a playoff caliber roster but have continuously underperformed.

Unfortunate part of a win here is we aren’t going to get a ton of credit if we win, bc with their schedule A&M will be lucky to end up ranked, despite their roster / likely being a top 20 power rated team.

Pretty much describes Miami, right?

 

[Irish#1]

I think (hope) we call a different game on offense. More running Love/Price at their DL dudes, and more shots downfield. Less of the in between stuff that may have been helpful to get Carr acclimated but maybe less necessary in game two at home.

Likewise, on defense, simplify and attack. We are the stronger, deeper, more balanced team, now with more to play for, at home. We should win this one.

I hope Denbrock put the WR screen in the freezer.

 

[Free Manera]

Don't throw a shoe at me but I'm pretty sure we're gonna see a bunch of screens again because TAMU is going to be selling out on the run. Their ends are fast and athletic which means they get out of position faster. And they have stunk at tackling in space.

 

[Dale]

Don't throw a shoe at me but I'm pretty sure we're gonna see a bunch of screens again because TAMU is going to be selling out on the run. Their ends are fast and athletic which means they get out of position faster. And they have stunk at tackling in space.

I think we’ll see some, but the screens really had more to do with Heatherman being a 2 high guy safety, not loading the box. Elko is more aggressive.

 

[Crazy Balki]

A&m d line was much different last year. They can get after the passer but are small on the edges. They can't tackle on the back end either. Expect to pound the ball and take shots once they bring the safety down

Much smaller on the edges.

Scourton and Stewart were both 6'4 285. They were bigger than Hinish, who is the starting NT.

Howell is a good 40 pounds lighter than both of them at 245. Searcy is slightly bigger at 255.

Bain and Messidor were closer to Scourton and Stewart, as both were in the 270-280 range. Big dudes but also extremely athletic and twitchy.

I wonder if this is a better matchup for Knapp and Wagner, facing guys who are also athletic and twitchy, but not as physically imposing.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I think we run into similar issues here to what we saw against Miami:
1. Their OL is very good and we will likely struggle to create pressure.
2. Their DL has potential to really get after Carr in passing situations.

The biggest difference is that they are poor tackling through two games which bodes well for ND's running game. Second best thing is that their passing game / WR talent projects to be a lot worse than Miami (with the caveat that they have a QB run game unlike the Hurricanes).

I don't think their OL is as good as the Canes, and I don't think they have a true gamewrecker on defense like Ruben Bain.

As pissed as we are about the playcalling on both sides of the football, Miami won two weeks ago predominantly because Bain was a complete monster.

 

[Dale]

I don't think their OL is as good as the Canes, and I don't think they have a true gamewrecker on defense like Ruben Bain.

As pissed as we are about the playcalling on both sides of the football, Miami won two weeks ago predominantly because Bain was a complete monster.

I think with Miami you have some true difference makers that carries the day. Carson Beck for all the slack he was given when we didn’t have to play him, is a NFL QB. Reuben Bain is a NFL DE. Francis Maigioa is a NFL OL. These are guys that can carry you and elevate those near them and they did. I don’t see that anywhere on A&Ms roster. Not one.

This is why someone like Jagusah could step into the PSU/OSU game and go ham. It’s just different when you’re that level of dude. Alt, Hamilton, etc.

We need Love on offense and someone in defense to be that. Is it Moore? KVA?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I think we run into similar issues here to what we saw against Miami:
1. Their OL is very good and we will likely struggle to create pressure.
2. Their DL has potential to really get after Carr in passing situations.

The biggest difference is that they are poor tackling through two games which bodes well for ND's running game. Second best thing is that their passing game / WR talent projects to be a lot worse than Miami (with the caveat that they have a QB run game unlike the Hurricanes).

Concepcion & Craver are both game breakers. Toney at UM has a bright future but he’s still a true frosh. I suspect they’ll see how UM got separation w/ double moves (even the horizontal ones) vs ND secondary. Granted they may not have the benefit of a wet natural turf like the Canes’ WR did.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I hope the Irish can shut this doucheBag up.



same goes for this degenerate…

 

[PutuporShutup]

Good stuff…

We have to make Reed uncomfortable and hit him and get into his throws while he’s in the pocket.

I don’t think their ol is as good as Miami, but it’s definitely good, and can move hinish with ease. Traore and young need to create havoc with lbs but also containing… the game plan in 23 vs USC and Caleb is what I’m thinking. Create havoc from one area/side and contain on the other side.

We find out a lot about ash as a DC Saturday.

 

[Huntr]

I hope the Irish can shut this doucheBag up.

I mean, win or lose, folks will have something to talk about with A&M.

How they slew the ranked on the road dragon or how they never will. He's not really putting himself out there.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I mean, win or lose, folks will have something to talk about with A&M.

How they slew the ranked on the road dragon or how they never will. He's not really putting himself out there.

Agree w/ your 1st statement.

Disagree w/ your 2nd statement if they lose b/c since they’re trolled as being perpetually 8-4 why would them losing once again be THE story from the weekend?

 

[Dale]

The same UTSA that lost 42 - 24 to A&M lost 43 - 36 to Texas State. Both are respectable G5 programs, but I’m not sure I buy this revamped A&M passing attack quite yet.

I wonder if they have Moore follow Concepcion (plays outside and slot).

 

[Old Man Mike]

My view is not very complicated nor interesting, because I believe that every outside football source (I mean persons who know anything about play) sees this the same way. We were OK at pretty much everything offensively vs Miami, except one thing. Our OLine absolutely sucked as a unit. {{Craig and Schrauth were fine, and if the other guys had held up, probably very much more than fine. But Knapp, Lambert, Wagner ...WOW ... and barf ... and maybe "barf" had something to do with it.}} I have almost never seen a Notre Dame OLineman play as badly out-of-body-position-control than Knapp, and Lambert and Wagner were not much better. YOW. AND NOTHING CAN WORK UNLESS THIS IS FIXED.

I wish that I could say that it was just Miami, but I don't believe that. These three guys' bodies were all over the place with bad balance, bad initial step (or complete lack of step-to-engage), and feet not matched with center of gravity. It doesn't make any difference if you weigh 330 if your foot position makes you teeter like a 200 pounder. Power comes from the ground through your core and center of gravity. You cannot generate power out of "air" (Why all that leaving the ground to punch someone in "wrestling" is such a joke. When rebounding, I used to play dirty by waiting for my bigger opponent to just leave the court floor, and then hip him into the first row even if he was twice as big --- have to watch out for retaliatory elbows though.)

Back on point: It's Rudolph who has to fix "us". Some of the problem I hope and think was physical health (hopefully not totally conditioning based.) You cannot be cramping in the first half and be healthily ready to play. But even then, Knapp and Wagner played that passing game like they were afraid. Dammit!ENGAGE the enemy before he gets halfway by you. If Rudolph can't get Knapp and Wagner to do this, he's got to try someone else. ... and I don't know what Lambert's issue is. Frankly he just looked clumsy half the time.

We win TA&M and maybe all else if we fix the damm line. You don't get anything done until you fix the damm line. MAYBE now that Denbrock realizes he has a clunker on his hands, he'll design a different offense to try to camouflage that. ... I HATE that the OLine is the stinker on this team. FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NDQuebec]

Good stuff…

We have to make Reed uncomfortable and hit him and get into his throws while he’s in the pocket.

I don’t think their ol is as good as Miami, but it’s definitely good, and can move hinish with ease. Traore and young need to create havoc with lbs but also containing… the game plan in 23 vs USC and Caleb is what I’m thinking. Create havoc from one area/side and contain on the other side.

We find out a lot about ash as a DC Saturday.

According to PFF, their line is not only better than Miami's but 3rd in the nation:

College Football: Top 10 offensive lines entering the 2025 season

Max Chadwick breaks down the the top-10 offensive lines entering the 2025 college football season.

www.pff.com

 

[Dale]

According to PFF, their line is not only better than Miami's but 3rd in the nation:

College Football: Top 10 offensive lines entering the 2025 season

Max Chadwick breaks down the the top-10 offensive lines entering the 2025 college football season.

www.pff.com

If PFF is right, I’ll take the trade off of them being 3rd if we get to perform like the 9th.

Zuhn is a vet but more of a OG playing LT, also banged up. Reed-Adams should be Day 1/2 NFL OG. Bisontis another OG has potential but I don’t know his play as met the hype yet. Magioua for Miami is a good bit better than any of them at OT. Should be a comparable challenge against the run but pass rush I expect to be better.

Prediction for Miami is also wrong in that they predicted the 5 star Okunlola to compete with Bell at LT. Higher upside result happened Bell at LT and Okunlola ended up starting at LG and showed out.

 

[irishnd31]

I hope the Irish can shut this doucheBag up.

Something tells me that his Peter actually Burns.

 

[IrishLax]

Concepcion & Craver are both game breakers. Toney at UM has a bright future but he’s still a true frosh. I suspect they’ll see how UM got separation w/ double moves (even the horizontal ones) vs ND secondary. Granted they may not have the benefit of a wet natural turf like the Canes’ WR did.

Concepcion is a dude, for sure. And he's a guy I hoped we'd get in the portal.

I am not that sold on Craver or the overall depth at WR. I feel like teams that have "one guy" we can play Moore on them and be fine. I think Craver has inflated stats from playing against two unathletic defenses but we'll see.

 

[SoIll]

RUN THE FUCKING FOOTBALL. That is all

 

[NorthDakota]

RUN THE FUCKING FOOTBALL. That is all

Run the ball. Let carr throw beyond the LOS.