On to BYU

Looking forward to the match up with BYU I have been focusing more on the Irish than their opponent this week.  Here at Talking Irish we prepare by scouting the opposition, their players, schemes and tendancies.  Since the loss to Pitt and to some extent since the loss to Michigan Irish fans seem to be internalizing the season and the team itself.  Instead of asking; what are the keys for an Irish win or what should we expect from a given team each Saturday we are thinking what will go wrong next or what will happen if they don’t perform well or worse yet lose.

After Notre Dame’s loss to Michigan the Irish knows that another undefeated season was lost and a shot at a BCS National Championship Game was a long shot.  Following the loss to Oklahoma the hopes for a Championship was gone and BCS Bowl appurtenance itself was at risk.  Now all feels lost, a second tier bowl against a subpar opponent will be our fate.  How can this be with wins over three current top 25 teams?  Did Kelly change “the process”, did the players just not execute or did the luck run out?

Out of respect for the seniors that have given us wins and bowl appearances over the past four seasons here is what we should expect from BYU and what are the keys are to an Irish victory.  At 7-3 BYU is a solid team but one that the Irish should beat.  The Cougars are made up of a lot of good players, some very good players and a couple of borderline great players.  The offense if fast moving lead by a very good running attack spearheaded by sophomore duel threat quarterback Taysom Hill.  Hill leads BYU in rushing with 956 yards (averaging 5.8 yards per carry) and 8 touchdowns while passing for 2379 yards and 16 touchdowns.  Hill is supported by running back Jamaal Williams who averages 5.5 yards per carry for 940 yards and six touchdowns.   BYU also boasts a decent (not great) pack of wide receivers.

Defensively the Cougars are led by 6’2” 305lb defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleunan who has 44 tackles, 22 solos, 6 for a loss, 1 pass deflection, one QB hurray and a blocked kick.  He has experience because of his time away on a Mormon mission he was playing college football when the man he will be going up against in South Bend Notre Dame Center Nick Martin was playing freshman football in high school.  Manumaleunun is backed up by outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy who leads the Cougars in tackles for loss and sacks.  Van Noy’s stat line for the season; 56 tackles, 33 solos, 15 for losses, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 7 passes deflected 13 quarterback hurries, 1 safety and 2 fumble recoveries.

BYU special teams do have some special players.  Kicker Justin Sorenson has had 51% of his kickoffs go for touchbacks although his is 0-6 from 50 yards or more on field goals.  Kickoff return man Adam Hine is averaging 29.5 yards per return good for 6^th best in FBS. 

If the Irish defense well against the rush and contain Hill to the packet they should be ok.  Notre Dame needs to have a good ground attack and I feel Folston and McDaniel can both have good games Saturday afternoon.  Kelly and crew don’t need luck or fancy play calling just smart play (no turnovers) and good execution.

The Last Home Stand

Saturday is Senior Day in South Bend.  For many of the Irish Seniors it will be their last game in Notre Dame Stadium, for some they may be offered a fifth year.  Let’s take a quick look at those who will definitely not be back due to being out of NCAA eligibility and what their legacy will be.  The first group of end of the line seniors we are going to take a look at are the Graduate Students also referred to as fifth year seniors and what their legacies may be.

Chris Watt has been a mainstay on the offensive line for the past three seasons mostly at left guard.  As unfair as it is some would say he has been playing in the shadow or maybe Robin to his teammate and best friend Zack Martin’s Batman.  He will however be remembered as a solid offensive lineman who was more than above average.  I would defiantly say he was underrated and deserved to be remembered as an important contributor.

Nick Tausch will be remembered for his freshman year where he put himself in the Notre Dame Record Books; Single-Game Field Goals (Oct. 3, 2009 vs. Washington, 5, t-1st) Single-Game Points (Oct. 3, 2009 vs. Washington, 17, t-1st) Single-Season Consecutive Field Goals (2009, 14, 2nd) Single-Season Field Goals (2009, 14, t-7th) Career Consecutive Field Goals (2009, 14, 2nd).  After 2009 he was leapfrogged and has served has an excellent safety net at the kicking position.

 

Tyler Stockton will be remembered as the biggest surprise to be offered a fifth year.  After being a U.S. Army High School All American; 2009, 2011, 2012 did not see the field and in 2010 he registered one tackle and one sack while appearing in six games.  Stockton should be remembered as a great teammate and for his smile and attitude.

Zack Martin after redshirting his freshman year will go down as one of the best offensive linemen in Irish history.  He will also set the record for the most games played and most consecutive games played and most games started by any Notre Dame Player in history.

 Dan Fox  appeared in 13 games each of his seasons heading into his fifth year after redshirting his freshman year.  He will, in addition to his hair will be remembered for his tag team efforts with Carlo Calabrese.  Because of solid but not outstanding statistics his efforts will be underrated.

Carlo Calabrese will be forever linked with Dan Fox at the middle linebacker position.  He will be remembered as a stereotype rock head linebacker from working out in the off season at a place called House of Iron as well as his threatening the police with his incident with Tommy Rees.

Overall these players will be better remembered for their senior season as a whole going to the BCS Championship rather than their Graduate season. 

BYE Week

This bye week offered Irish fans the opportunity to take some time this weekend to focus on some other things besides watching her loyal sons take the field.  Clean out the garage, rake leave visit family, etc.  I took this opportunity to visit my Alma Mater (Springfield College) it induct a new school president, congratulations to Dr. Mary Beth Cooper (two doctorate degrees, two masters degrees but only one bachelor’s degree) as well as visit the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.  However I could not escape my thirst for college football and watched as much as I could especially games that were somehow contracted to Notre Dame.

First were teams that some sites are predicting to face the Irish in a possible bowl matchup.  Bleacher Report suggesting the formerly Brian Kelly lead Cincinnati facing the Irish in the Pinstripe Bowl whereas CBS Sports has Notre Dame facing Rutgers in NYC.  Other Bowls being bounced around include the Poinsettia in San Diego and Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, let’s hope for the former.  Other opponents mentioned are the Boston College Eagles and the Duke Blue Devil, both interesting matchups; B.C. a rival Catholic University and Duke another academically respected sports school with very high graduation rates.   

The Cincinnati Bearcats beat Rutgers 52-17 this Saturday to go to 8-2 on the season with games against Houston and Louisville to finish the season.   Meanwhile the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers dropped to 5-4 with games against UCF, UConn and USF still on the schedule.  Boston College became bowl eligible Saturday with a 38-21 victory over the N.C. State Wolfpack moving to 6-4 wrapping up with Maryland and Syracuse over the next two weeks.   Finally Duke has looked strong this season at 8-2 with an impressive 48-30 win against Miami on Saturday.  There would be a unique storyline with any of these potential matchups.

The other group of teams I focused on this weekend were the opponents of Notre Dame, those already played and those to yet to come.  Many of these teams left me scratching my head wondering what this year could have been with a few changes in play calls, player health and a little luck.  Pitt, the team that ended Notre Dame’s BCS hopes lost 34-27 to a 5-5 University of North Carolina putting themselves at 5-5.  This only solidifying the belief that the Irish should have never lost to Pitt and raising the question; were the Irish unlucky or unfocused last weekend.  Either way it does not make the Irish look like an upper tier team.

Navy a team the Irish barley beat by four points became bowl eligible with a 42-14 beating of Southern Alabama.  Navy’s win may help the Irish in the computer rankings but its overall record only confuses Irish fans even more with a win over Pitt and 35-7 loss to Duke.

The USC upset of #5 Stanford could have really helped Notre Dames BCS argument if they did not have three losses.  Thank goodness the Irish played the Trojans when they did as USC has been playing like a top 10 team lately.  Note: USC is #25 in the USA Today Poll and #23 in the AP Poll.

#19 in the AP Poll and #22 in the USA Today Poll Arizona State is 8-2 after a win over Oregon State.  This is a team that the Irish beat this season making the Notre Dame faithful more frustrated.

Oklahoma kept rolling to 8-2 with a 48-10 trouncing of Iowa State.

Michigan State at 9-1 after 41-21 win over Nebraska is another raked team (#13 AP & USA Today Polls) that Notre Dame beat.  This is more frustrating than ASU.

Purdue still stinks at 1-9 after losing 21-45 to Pen State yet Notre Dame can only beat the Boilermakers by a touchdown.

Michigan a team that manhandled the Irish matched ND’s 7-3 record after beating Northwestern 27-19. 

Even in a three point loss to (then #17) UCF the Temple Owls looked impressive for a 1-9 team.

Notre Dame has beaten three top 25 teams; MSU, ASU and USC yet they are unranked due to poor performances in wins against Purdue and Navy in addition to its loss to Pitt.