There are no excuses for Brian Kelly this week, are there?
Let's look at the game closely.
1. The game is in South Bend. It's not on the road in some hostile enviroment, nor is it a playoff game on a neutral field. Because of the rules regarding fans, the Clemson crowd can't even take over ND stadium, as is the norm in these big games.
2. Clemson will be missing #1 overall NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence (QB), 1st round draft pick Justyn Ross (WR1) leading tackler James Skalski (MLB) and possibly starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis. Clemson is also missing one of their key rotational players at defensive end for the 1st half of the game because Xavier Thomas was tossed for targetting in the 2nd half vs BC.
3. Ian Book is a 22 year old, 3 year starter at QB. DJ Uiagalelei is a 19 year old, starting his second game of his career at quarterback... Plus, Ian Book is simply a winner according to Brian Kelly, so the coach has to be ultra-confident in his guy.
4. Clemson starts a pair of freshmen, Bryan Breese and Myles Murphy, along their defensive line. Both were 5 stars, but surely ND's offensive line of 22 and 23 year old future NFL'ers, with 4 and 5 years of college experience can handle a pair of 19 year old kids... Right?
5. Clemson's perimeter weapons aren't what they have been. They went from Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and Amari Rodgers, to Rodgers as the #1, supported by Cornell Powell, Frank Ladson and Joe Ngata.
6. According to just about everyone, ND has among the best offensive lines in the country, and is much improved at the RB position, with a trio of threats in Williams, Tyree and Flemmister. They should be able to run the ball on Clemson, no?
7. Clark Lea has been pretty awesome at taking away other team's main weapons and forcing the supporting cast to beat his defense. You have to think his main goal is going to be limiting Travis Etienne and keeping Kyle Hamilton over top of a Amari Rodgers.
8. Kelly openly admits that the team has been looking ahead to Clemson since before the Pittsburgh game and that they've been psychologically preparing, as well as practicing to beat Clemson. Clemson, in the meantime, has had to scramble to get a freshman QB prepared, first for last week and now for this week.
There is no reason for ND not win this one, is there?
Let's look at the game closely.
1. The game is in South Bend. It's not on the road in some hostile enviroment, nor is it a playoff game on a neutral field. Because of the rules regarding fans, the Clemson crowd can't even take over ND stadium, as is the norm in these big games.
2. Clemson will be missing #1 overall NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence (QB), 1st round draft pick Justyn Ross (WR1) leading tackler James Skalski (MLB) and possibly starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis. Clemson is also missing one of their key rotational players at defensive end for the 1st half of the game because Xavier Thomas was tossed for targetting in the 2nd half vs BC.
3. Ian Book is a 22 year old, 3 year starter at QB. DJ Uiagalelei is a 19 year old, starting his second game of his career at quarterback... Plus, Ian Book is simply a winner according to Brian Kelly, so the coach has to be ultra-confident in his guy.
4. Clemson starts a pair of freshmen, Bryan Breese and Myles Murphy, along their defensive line. Both were 5 stars, but surely ND's offensive line of 22 and 23 year old future NFL'ers, with 4 and 5 years of college experience can handle a pair of 19 year old kids... Right?
5. Clemson's perimeter weapons aren't what they have been. They went from Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and Amari Rodgers, to Rodgers as the #1, supported by Cornell Powell, Frank Ladson and Joe Ngata.
6. According to just about everyone, ND has among the best offensive lines in the country, and is much improved at the RB position, with a trio of threats in Williams, Tyree and Flemmister. They should be able to run the ball on Clemson, no?
7. Clark Lea has been pretty awesome at taking away other team's main weapons and forcing the supporting cast to beat his defense. You have to think his main goal is going to be limiting Travis Etienne and keeping Kyle Hamilton over top of a Amari Rodgers.
8. Kelly openly admits that the team has been looking ahead to Clemson since before the Pittsburgh game and that they've been psychologically preparing, as well as practicing to beat Clemson. Clemson, in the meantime, has had to scramble to get a freshman QB prepared, first for last week and now for this week.
There is no reason for ND not win this one, is there?
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