Sept 21 | Georgia

[gkIrish]

I'm just going to put this here:

Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed said Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book reminds him of Johnny Manziel.

Oh great...forget about underestimating us.

 

[PANDFAN]

I'm not optimistic ND wins this game but I'm not so sure they get the doors blown off them either.

If Georgia calls a good game, commits to the run, gets pressure on Book and wins the turnover battle, they could easily beat ND by three scores.

I'm just not confident Kirby and his staff call a good game. They have a tendency of shitting themselves and making bad decisions against quality opponents, i.e., shitting themselves against Texas and losing a winnable game againt bama with idiotic decision making/game planning. I could easily see them not commit to the run and make bad in game decisions.

I'm not so sure they put a ton of heat on Book. Their defense is talented but they are young and weren't great at getting after QBs last year.

ND has ballhawks on defense, Crawford, Alohi, Elliot, Hamilton, and some playmakers on the defensive line too. They can win the turnover battle.

ND lost by a point and had the ball with a chance to win at the end. That Georgia defense is better than the one ND will see on Saturday. That's largely irrelevant but it suggests ND can play with them.

My gut says Georgia by 10 or less but I wouldn't be shocked if Kirby calls a game that ND can steal, the defense makes a few plays and ND escapes with a one or two point win.

while i agree with you, it is also very important to note Fromm was a true freshman making his debut....my concern is us just not tackling the backs well which we haven't been tackling well/bad pursuit angles etc this season thus far

 

[T Town Tommy]

Now there’s plenty of guys who wear walking boots right up until kickoff but hearing that Tyson Campbell is wearing a walking boot today and not practicing is significant in that they’d probably be losing their #1 All American level CB. He’s a stud so that’d be a big loss.

Campbell's a better tackler than cover guy. He can be had at times in the passing game. Stokes is who I would avoid when passing the ball.

 

[koonja]

Has this Tyson Campbell played at all this year? Was this injury last week?

I'd be completely fine if he stays in that boot.

 

[Irishize]

Finally, I really don't get the Bilal criticism at this stage, especially after the way he played this past Saturday, probably the best game I can recall him playing. Who else would we want to take a flier on before the biggest game of the season? Gimme a break.

I think he deserves plaudits for his game this past Saturday. I did notice (& have heard ND media members mention the same) that when he went unblocked he did awesome but when he did have a blocker on him, he rarely, if ever; was able to shed the block and got swallowed up.

That doesn’t mean it didn’t show Bilal’s athleticism when he was able to avoid a blocker...much props for that. But he’s got to learn to get off blocks when he can’t escape them altogether.

That said, I agree w/ you that he’s the best option we have going into game 3 in hostile territory. Hopefully, he continues to improve & he has proven he can make a play.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Has this Tyson Campbell played at all this year? Was this injury last week?

I'd be completely fine if he stays in that boot.

Yeah he's played in every game thus far.

 

[greyhammer90]

Anyone going to be in Athens and want to buy me a beer? I won't be at the game because I'm not made of money but the excuse to drag the wife down to Athens was too good to pass up.

 

[Irishize]

Yeah he's played in every game thus far.

Isn’t he the CB who was a true frosh last year and got targeted most of the time b/c of the best CB in the nation playing opposite him? He’s had a nice year so far...albeit a small sample size.

 

[BobbyMac]

Woke up, feeling a little woke.

Starting to smell Irishy around the house.

Starting to get a really good feeling about the Irish for Saturday.

Going to sleep on it one more time.

Left a case of empty Guinness cans on the coffee table last night did ya?

How much of the 21-27 point Irish Loss did that Irish aroma erase? You sure it's not just the alcohol talking?

 

[T Town Tommy]

Isn’t he the CB who was a true frosh last year and got targeted most of the time b/c of the best CB in the nation playing opposite him? He’s had a nice year so far...albeit a small sample size.

I don't believe he played in every game last season but he played a lot. He's a pretty solid player overall but I believe his coverage skills are just not quite there yet. He was targeted a lot last year and being a true freshman showed at times. I am sure he has improved but needs to see better competition before he proves he is better at coverage.

 

[tko]

Please keep a few boats off to the side so we can get back across the lake.

 

[ACamp1900]

My Bulldog is named "UND Mack"... the first part a play off UGA. I'm sure that's bad mojo now in retrospect. I take full accountability.

 

[T Town Tommy]

My Bulldog is named "UND Mack"... the first part a play off UGA. I'm sure that's bad mojo now in retrospect. I take full accountability.

As long as he bites Auburn players like UGA XLVIII or whatever did he will be fine by me.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Teams break through on the big stage, that's how they move into the next tier. This is one of those chances for us and I'm excited. I'll drink a fair amount to suppress the nerves/excitement but these games are necessary.

We could've run the table against a weaker schedule and we still wouldn't know what we have. It's upsetting that we don't have some of the strengths that we had last year but hopefully our new positions of strength can flex on Saturday night.

I think Georgia is better, more complete, deeper team but I don't think that's unilateral. I think we have positions of great depth, we are as complete as we've been in the Kelly tenure (outside of RB) and this has to be the best coaching staff as well.

Hopefully we can punch above our weight class and use this as a transformative game.

 

[Irishize]

I don't believe he played in every game last season but he played a lot. He's a pretty solid player overall but I believe his coverage skills are just not quite there yet. He was targeted a lot last year and being a true freshman showed at times. I am sure he has improved but needs to see better competition before he proves he is better at coverage.

That’s when you know programs like Bama, Clemson, tOSU & UGA are loaded when they can plug in a true freshman 5* last season and not miss a beat. I long for those days but ND isn’t there yet.

 

[BobbyMac]

My Bulldog is named "UND Mack"... the first part a play off UGA. I'm sure that's bad mojo now in retrospect. I take full accountability.

Coulda named him UND Mack Rockne. Great official AKC name.

The Golden <strike>Dome</strike> Dog of Notre Dame

 

[koonja]

Well on this Campbell cornerback. Perhaps he's not the best cover guy but he must be better than his back up.

I'll be hoping he's out - sorry I'm not sorry.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

That’s when you know programs like Bama, Clemson, tOSU & UGA are loaded when they can plug in a true freshman 5* last season and not miss a beat. I long for those days but ND isn’t there yet.

Kyle Hamilton, Jordan Johnson, Chris Tyree, Michael Mayer...

 

[NDdomer2]

That's fair but you also didn't offer an answer to my question. Who would you take a flier on before the biggest game of the year? He made several standout plays against inferior competition like a competent ILB is supposed to. Not saying he is an All-American, but he's likely the best we have at this point.

I wasn't specifically directing to your post as there were others who made similar points.

And it's not that I disagree. Bilal is most likely our best option currently. If coaches didn't feel that way he wouldn't be playing, and if they did want to take a flier it should have been done to start the season so that player would have two games under his belt by now.

My point was more to make it clear that the expected success vs New Mexico shouldn't indicate issues were fixed or results should = future success vs a team the caliber of Georgia.

 

[Irishize]

Kyle Hamilton, Jordan Johnson, Chris Tyree, Michael Mayer...

Yes, i long for the day when a group like that is available to play. Other than Hamilton...I don’t see that with names you listed. Definitely worth looking forward to. Instead, we are told Lenzy can’t be thrown into the fray and have his confidence ruined as just one example of true freshman not being immediate impacts.

Again, if ND had the talented depth that Clemson, tOSU, Bama & UGA have, they would’ve simply plugged in an adequate CB in place for Julian Love when he went down for 3-4 series vs Clemson. Not saying ND would’ve won but I’m confident a talented, experienced CB could’ve prevented being exposed three times for TDs.

The 22 starters for ND have been good to great. But the real test of a champion is what happens when all 22 are no longer available to you. ND is getting there but not there yet.

 

[IrishLion]

I'm really getting crushed by the "Seven Days of Irish" routine right now. This is the part of the week where I start to believe everything is going to go ND's way, regardless of context.

We are currently on 'TUESDAY' of the following chart:


SUNDAY: PESSIMISM
We can't stop the run, we can't run the ball, we can't throw the ball deep, we're gonna die and it's gonna hurt.


MONDAY: PERCEIVED REALISM
We're probably going to lose a respectable game to a team that is a bit more well-rounded than our own. They run well, and we are inexperienced on the interior of our front 7. It's a bad matchup.


TUESDAY: TENTATIVE OPTIMISM
You know what, if we just scrap the run game and commit to airing it out, we might just win this thing. Use shallow crossers and screens as an extension of the run game on first down, then target Claypool deep or Finke at the sticks to move the chains.


WEDNESDAY: ROSE-COLORED GLASSES
We're gonna win the game. I feel good. ND is tired of The Narrative, and BK scripts a play sheet with the best of them. We ready.


THURSDAY: DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
Fvck UGA and fvck the SEC. Long has been toying with them via film. We're gonna see two-back triple options and RPO's all day. Okwara is gonna have four sacks when we get a two-score lead. NATIONAL STATEMENT TIME.


FRIDAY: UNCERTAINTY
I've gone over every scenario in my mind, and I have no idea what's going to happen.


SATURDAY: TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
Just nerves and fear and excitement and agony and thrill and love for football and psychological torment. AND we have to wait a full day for the biggest game of the season through the conflicting emotions. Football is wonderfully terrible, or terribly wonderful.

 

[Irishize]

Listening to the BGI podcasts and Driskell is confirming one of my fears. And anyone who has read or listened to Driskell knows he’s a positive guy in regards to ND. I’m sure the nature of being a coach aids that as well.

His point w/ the OL is that three of the starters (both guards & the center) and most of the backups struggle w/ firing off the ball. He uses the phrase “catching blocks” and not truly moving the LOS. When it’s one or maybe 2 players struggling w/ this, his point is that extra work/discussion is needed to clarify things as they may just be slow on the updake. When it’s as many as he’s seen (throw in Mustipher when you go back to last season), it points to the coaches involved. Whether the coaches directions aren’t being understood or they’re just incorrect. He included the TE blocking as well.

He noted that ND’s OL last season & likely this season can do well the way it is IF they play a team that runs a base defense. He cited Stanford, Vandy & FSU last season.

However, when a defense mixes in a lot of movement (i.e., slants, twists), ND’s OL struggles. That’s what NM did & that’s what D’s w/ inferior talent must do to compete. It’s also what elite defenses do when playing elite offenses.

So, if ND’s OL can’t get their footwork issues worked out by this Saturday, it could be a long day. He said it’s possible but based on the past 15 games, he’s not comfortable saying it’s probable.

Driskell wasn’t badmouthing & didn’t questions hires, etc but if this continues it will point to another one of BK’s cronies as the culprit. Harry Heistand had big shoes to fill, so I think most fans gave his successor the benefit of the doubt...but for how long? Who knows maybe it’s something else but what Driskell pointed out made sense to this layperson.

 

[Irish#1]

Woke up, feeling a little woke.

Starting to smell Irishy around the house.

Starting to get a really good feeling about the Irish for Saturday.

Going to sleep on it one more time.

You forget to shower?

 

[Irish#1]

Teams break through on the big stage, that's how they move into the next tier. This is one of those chances for us and I'm excited. I'll drink a fair amount to suppress the nerves/excitement but these games are necessary.

We could've run the table against a weaker schedule and we still wouldn't know what we have. It's upsetting that we don't have some of the strengths that we had last year but hopefully our new positions of strength can flex on Saturday night.

I think Georgia is better, more complete, deeper team but I don't think that's unilateral. I think we have positions of great depth, we are as complete as we've been in the Kelly tenure (outside of RB) and this has to be the best coaching staff as well.

Hopefully we can punch above our weight class and use this as a transformative game.

I'd rep you, but I've got to spread the love first.

 

[Irish#1]

Well on this Campbell cornerback. Perhaps he's not the best cover guy but he must be better than his back up.

I'll be hoping he's out - sorry I'm not sorry.

Are you sure? I remember you thought Joe Schmidt shouldn't be starting.

 

[koonja]

Are you sure? I remember you thought Joe Schmidt shouldn't be starting.

Their coaches aren't married to less talented players like ND's staff.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Listening to the BGI podcasts and Driskell is confirming one of my fears. And anyone who has read or listened to Driskell knows he’s a positive guy in regards to ND. I’m sure the nature of being a coach aids that as well.

His point w/ the OL is that three of the starters (both guards & the center) and most of the backups struggle w/ firing off the ball. He uses the phrase “catching blocks” and not truly moving the LOS. When it’s one or maybe 2 players struggling w/ this, his point is that extra work/discussion is needed to clarify things as they may just be slow on the updake. When it’s as many as he’s seen (throw in Mustipher when you go back to last season), it points to the coaches involved. Whether the coaches directions aren’t being understood or they’re just incorrect. He included the TE blocking as well.

He noted that ND’s OL last season & likely this season can do well the way it is IF they play a team that runs a base defense. He cited Stanford, Vandy & FSU last season.

However, when a defense mixes in a lot of movement (i.e., slants, twists), ND’s OL struggles. That’s what NM did & that’s what D’s w/ inferior talent must do to compete. It’s also what elite defenses do when playing elite offenses.

So, if ND’s OL can’t get their footwork issues worked out by this Saturday, it could be a long day. He said it’s possible but based on the past 15 games, he’s not comfortable saying it’s probable.

Driskell wasn’t badmouthing & didn’t questions hires, etc but if this continues it will point to another one of BK’s cronies as the culprit. Harry Heistand

big shoes to fill​

, so I think most fans gave his successor the benefit of the doubt...but for how long? Who knows maybe it’s something else but what Driskell pointed out made sense to this layperson.​

 

[BobbyMac]

Listening to the BGI podcasts and Driskell is confirming one of my fears. And anyone who has read or listened to Driskell knows he’s a positive guy in regards to ND. I’m sure the nature of being a coach aids that as well.

His point w/ the OL is that three of the starters (both guards & the center) and most of the backups struggle w/ firing off the ball. He uses the phrase “catching blocks” and not truly moving the LOS. When it’s one or maybe 2 players struggling w/ this, his point is that extra work/discussion is needed to clarify things as they may just be slow on the updake. When it’s as many as he’s seen (throw in Mustipher when you go back to last season), it points to the coaches involved. Whether the coaches directions aren’t being understood or they’re just incorrect. He included the TE blocking as well.

He noted that ND’s OL last season & likely this season can do well the way it is IF they play a team that runs a base defense. He cited Stanford, Vandy & FSU last season.

However, when a defense mixes in a lot of movement (i.e., slants, twists), ND’s OL struggles. That’s what NM did & that’s what D’s w/ inferior talent must do to compete. It’s also what elite defenses do when playing elite offenses.

So, if ND’s OL can’t get their footwork issues worked out by this Saturday, it could be a long day. He said it’s possible but based on the past 15 games, he’s not comfortable saying it’s probable.

Driskell wasn’t badmouthing & didn’t questions hires, etc but if this continues it will point to another one of BK’s cronies as the culprit. Harry Heistand had big shoes to fill, so I think most fans gave his successor the benefit of the doubt...but for how long? Who knows maybe it’s something else but what Driskell pointed out made sense to this layperson.

Makes you wonder how Joe Staley and Jason Kelce ever overcame Quinn. He should have left them at TE and FB so they could've been Pro Bowlers at their original position instead of becoming practice squad meat.

 

[greyhammer90]

Makes you wonder how Joe Staley and Jason Kelce ever overcame Quinn. He should have left them at TE and FB so they could've been Pro Bowlers at their original position instead of becoming practice squad meat.

That's definitely a hang-up in the narrative. Nobody should have expected Quinn to be as good as Harry, because that would be nearly impossible, but it's hard to believe that he's forgotten how to coach OL at (at least) an acceptable level.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm not ready to rule out Quinn, but I seriously think we should have considered bringing Warriner back in instead of letting him go to Michigan. Maybe his recruiting sucks, but he can coach OL. He was a reason our running game got back on track under BK and he left a nice foundation for Harry to build on.