Food for thought…

Like most Irish fans, I was happy after Saturday’s game; perhaps more cautiously excited, but nonetheless happy.  Even though the season is just underway, keep this in mind - the regular season is now 25 percent over.  Below are some thoughts I had after the Michigan State game, all made with cautious optimism.

Overall, I would suspect that Purdue was better than advertised and Michigan State may have been a bit overrated.

The running game is back by virtue of Kelly being able to distribute touches.  I would bet Amir Carlisle will not see the field this year, thus allowing for a full recovery and a year of eligibility saved.

Is there a better defensive front seven than Notre Dame?

Thank you to Prince Shembo who is making the comment I made last year legitimate - that he reminds me of Lawrence Taylor.

The young (inexperienced) Irish defensive backs will continue to grow up fast with the season-ending injury to Jamoris Slaughter.  Notre Dame fans have to feel good about this bad situation with the recent play of KeiVarae Russell, Elijah Shumate and Matthias Farley.

Mike Golic, Jr. has played either just well enough to stay or just poorly enough to be replaced.

This was a big win in the recruiting world, as top players with offers from Notre Dame most likely have offers from the Spartans as well.  Beating Michigan would make victories over three Big Ten opponents in a row, which sends an important message to high school prospects.

I thought back to Manti T’eo’s first game as a freshman (he played in his first game but did not start), and I remember thinking to myself (maybe even saying it out loud), “we get this kid for four more years” (including the season he was currently in).  Looking at this year’s young talent, I have the same feeling about several of this year’s players assuming they don’t leave early - Sheldon Day (4 years), George Atkinson (3 years), Everett Golson (4 years), Troy Niklas (3 years), Tony Springmann (4 years), Stephon Tuitt (3 years), Louis Nix (3 years), and  Ishaq Williams (3 years).

1 for 13 on third down conversions…did I read that right?  That ties into Brian Kelly’s “zero is okay” philosophy, but I still want to know how many passes Golson threw out of bounds.  Yes, a throw out of bounds is better than an interception, but a throw out of bounds gives your receivers 0% chance of catching it. There is room for improvement here.

Are the players really buying into Brian Kelly, and perhaps more importantly, should I?

What to Look For This Weekend

Quarterback play.  Both teams have talented but inexperienced signal callers behind center.  It is important for each team that their quarterback stay composed and focused.  Neither one has to win the game for their team, but they need them not to lose it for them.

The rushing game.  At 6’ 2” 244 lbs.,jJunior running back LeVeon Bell is the Spartans’ bread and butter out of the backfield; a battering ram with decent speed (especially for his size).  In two games, Bell has rushed for 280 yards on 62 carries (that’s just over 4.5 yards a carry for those of you looking for a calculator) and four touchdowns.  The simple question is, can the Irish defense contain Bell?  The Irish, on the other hand, will most likely run the ball by committee - Riddick, Atkinson and newly reinstated Wood.  Questions to be answered for the Notre Dame running game include: Will Wood show rust after missing the first two games?  Will Atkinson get and make the most of more touches than last week?  Will Riddick solidify himself as the number one running back?

Tight Ends.  While all eyes may be focused on All-World tight end Tyler Eifert, Michigan State has a less well-known yet potentially dangerous target at tight end as well.  Dion Sims is an up and coming weapon for the Spartans’ offense.  The 6’5’’ 285 lb. junior has 10 receptions this season for 135 yards and one touchdown, and has the potential for a whole lot more.  Sims could make it a long night for the Irish linebackers. 

Line Play.  Here is where it becomes as simple as it can possibly get.  Each offensive line will be going up against impressive D-lines which are big and good, especially against the run.   For Michigan State, watch defensive end William Gholston because you’ll be seeing him playing on Sundays soon.  The Irish need Stephon Tuiit to continue his breakout season.  The defensive lines need to stop the run and pressure the opposing team’s inexperienced quarterback.  See?  It’s simple.

Michigan State Q & A

 

Here are some questions posed on ND Nation that I though we here at Talking Irish would respond to.  ND Nation Questions are in bold and Talking Irish responses are in italics.

Which team will need reinforcements to stop the run and leave itself vulnerable to the pass?

Both probably will and both will be burned at least once because of it.

Can the Irish offensive line rebound from a poor performance against Purdue?                    

They have to and will.

Which young quarterback will best avoid mistakes and execute in the passing game?         

Not by much but Golson should play a bit better under pressure.

Will MSU’s changing defensive alignments force Notre Dame to burn its timeouts?

Yes, it will also continue to throw Golson off at the line of scrimmage but not as much as last week as he grows and learns in game situations.

Can Cierre Wood reenergize the Irish ground game?

No, that is up to the coaching staff and the offensive line.  Wood will however bring a positive for to the Irish ground attack.

Which kicker will perform best under pressure?

Kyle Bindza.  I have the feeling he is better in pressure situations then common ones (which is not always a good thing).

Will Eifert and his fellow receivers get open against the MSU secondary for big plays?

Yes.  Will they get passed to and catch those passes?  That is a different question.

 

What a win will take

Football is a relatively simple ground acquisition game - move the football and prevent your opponent from doing so.   Obviously coaches schemes, coordinator stunts, and even player injuries lead to twists and turns that can very quickly make the game much more complex week to week.  There is an awful lot that can be dissected in this match-up but the key to victory remains simple.

Whichever team has a better game from their offensive line will win the game.  Drawing from that, the team that wins the rushing game will win on Saturday.  Although the Michigan State defense may have only one sack in their first two games, they have also surrendered zero offensive touchdowns.   For the Irish, they must do better than giving up five sacks as they did last week against a good (not as good as Michigan State) Purdue defense.  If you thought Short was good, wait until you get a load (and at 6’7” 280 lbs. he is a good sized load) of defensive end William Gholston.  They must ensure the running game gets back on track with Wood coming back in the fold, and Atkinson needs more touches than he got against Purdue.

As for the Spartans, they have a Heisman candidate caliber running back in Le’Veon Bell who will need to be contained, as their quarterback has potential and is as talented as he is inexperienced (sound familiar?).  If the Irish can push around the Michigan State offensive line enough to pressure Spartan quarterback Andrew Maxwell, they can rattle him into mistakes.  However, if Michigan State’s O-line can give Bell room to work and protect Maxwell, it could be a long day for the Irish.

As for predictions, the winner will not need to score a ton of points (21 could easily win the game), it will be very physical, and the team that has a better game from their offensive line will win the game. 

Purdue Review: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

PREFACE:  At least once a year I am upset with a Notre Dame win for one reason or another.  However, the win over Purdue left me upset for several reasons. 

Good

The Irish Won.  After the 0-2 start last season, fans should be pretty happy starting this season 2-0.  I caution the ND Nation and be aware that the Spartans and the Wolverines  are coming up fast.

Everett Golson passed for 289 yards, completing 21 passes on 31 attempts with 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions.

The Notre Dame offense completed 24 passes to 9 different receivers for 324 yards.

George Atkinson had a kickoff return for 32 yards.

2 interceptions returned for a total of 47 yards.

Golson’s confidence (which will be under scrutiny after Kelly inserted Tommy Reese) and touchdown dive.

Notre Dame’s defensive front three combining for 4 sacks (Tuitt-2, Nix-1.5, Lewis-Moore-.5)

Bad

The rushing game:  52 net rushing yards, 1.4 yards per rush, 55 yards lost rushing.

3 fumbles (luckily, only 1 lost)

Penalties: 8 for 52 yards, 2 personal fouls on two stupid late hits by two team captains.

The Irish defense allowed Purdue to go 3 for 3 on fourth down.

The number of players that came out at one point or another for “injuries.”

Ugly

The Notre Dame offensive line allowed 5 sacks losing a total of 40 yards.

The way Golson carries the ball (this may be more scary than ugly)

Notre Dame’s final interception as time expired.  Take a knee, end the game, don’t risk a fumble.

Yanking Golson*.  I know it worked out and there are reports of an “injured” hand, but I don’t care.

Irish fans booing Tommy Reese coming into the game.  Although I did not like it and was dazed and confused, don’t boo.

The lack of accessibility of players to the media after the game.  Only Zack Martin and Manti Te’o were made available.

*I am not anti-Reese

Last Minute Purdue

The Talking Irish staff, much like the Fighting Irish, enjoyed our trip to Ireland but are happy to be back home for Purdue.  Notre Dame will be in the friendly confines of South Bend while we will be comfortable at Shamrock Jack’s.

Not unlike last week against Navy, the keys and game plan for an Irish win over the Boilermakers is relatively simple.

Control the line of scrimmage.  Although Purdue will put up more size, speed, strength and talent than the Irish saw last week on both lines Notre Dame will win this battle.  If the running backs can get past the D-line they will encounter a subpar linebacker crew.  Sticking with three down linebackers (Prince Shembo and Ishaq Williams) will play a more pivotal role at the line.

Complete the short passes.  Especially to backs (running and slot) and tight ends, picking on Purdue’s soft spots at linebacker.  Why challenge the Boilermakers’ talented cornerbacks?

Neaten up the Special Teams.  Missing extra points and not handling punts can take the wind out of our sails real quick.  Although the Boilermakers’ special teams looked even worse last week, watch out for their kickoff return game, which led the nation last year.

Force Purdue quarterbacks (whoever is on the field for the Boilermakers at the time) to feel uncomfortable and don’t let them be athletic or confident.

Even though I have seen some ESPN staff (who at best dislike Notre Dame) put the Irish on upset alert, I like a 20+ win today in South Bend.

Also Note:  Purdue committed FIVE turnovers in their win last week against Eastern Kentucky.  If they do that against the Irish, Notre Dame will win by 40+.

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Purdue Preview

The Purdue Boilermakers should offer a better challenge for the Fighting Irish this weekend for the home opener in South Bend than the Navy Midshipmen did for the opener in Dublin.  Even though the Boilermakers will be a more formidable opponent, I do predict that the Irish will be 2-0 after this Saturday. 

Purdue comes into the season with optimism and for more reasons than having a head football coach named Hope (16-21), now entering his fourth season with the team.  The Boilermakers won their final two games and three of four games last season, including a 26-23 win over Ohio State and finishing with a 37-32 Little Ceases Pizza Bowl Win (Purdue’s first bowl appearance since 2007) over Western Michigan.

Offensively, like the Irish, Purdue has three options at quarterback, where unlike the Irish who want to select on QB and stay with him, Purdue will plan on playing multiple quarterbacks during a game and possibly have two of them on the field at once.  Senior Caleb TerBush won seven games as a starter last year and will probably be the “starter” for Purdue this season. Sixth year senior Robert Marve will definitely see the field after several successful ACL surgeries as he is an athletic talent who can run Purdue’s offense.  Third option Robert Henry, who is also returning after ACL issues, may also line up at receiver and/or running back.

Purdue has a solid offensive line but it does lack depth, which could definitely favor the Irish as they have depth on the offensive line and will be able to keep fresh legs on the field throughout the game to wear down the Boilermakers along the line of scrimmage.  Their running backs and receivers will be a step up from Navy, but nothing too dangerous except against the inexperienced Irish secondary, which will be an issue all season.  Let’s hope that Notre Dame uses these first two games to learn, grow and develop as much as possible in a short period of time.

Defensively, the Boilermakers are experienced across the front line running a 4-3 led by defensive tackle Kawann Short.  Unlike the Irish, Purdue has two strong and experienced cornerbacks that defend the pass well.  I do, however,  like this game to be an opportunity for Tyler Eifert to dominate and for Golson to develop confidence in his (short to medium ) passing game. 

Their high point is their kick return game as sophomore Raheem Mostertt, who led the nation last year with an average of 33.5 yards per kick return, including four for over 70 yards and one touchdown (99 yards).

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