Bye Week

[IrishMike409]

If we can get by Navy, then we hit the 2nd bye at 7-1.

The first bye week was critical: We got healthy, the OL stabilized, Leonard settled in, the staff settled in too.

This 2nd bye, if we're there 7-1, will be critical too. Get healthy and continue to get the OL right.

I maintain: This is a dangerous team. The defense is elite. We have 3 big-time running backs, and an elite running QB- the offensive attack keeps getting better and better. If the OL is healthy and improves just a bit, then this is certainly a top-12 team in the country.

We can go to the playoffs and knock someone out.

The NIU loss sucked. Horrible week. Aside from that.....Freeman, Golden, and Denbrock have been really good this season. After the injuries, and the NIU loss....this team could've folded. Instead they've gotten stronger.

 

[mva5580]

I think you underestimate how much the QB’s inability to throw is going to matter against better teams. I don’t see them going undefeated the rest of the season, but we’ll see.

 

[IrishMike409]

I think you underestimate how much the QB’s inability to throw is going to matter against better teams. I don’t see them going undefeated the rest of the season, but we’ll see.

No- I see it. We agree.

I've said this since NIU: just run the hell out of Leonard. Pound teams with the running game. 40-50 carries between RL, Love, and Price. If RL gets hurt, then go to Angeli knowing that he can certainly run an O and put up points.

A team that can run the ball and play D....is dangerous. We can win a playoff game, if we get the right matchup.

 

[Golson5]

I think you underestimate how much the QB’s inability to throw is going to matter against better teams. I don’t see them going undefeated the rest of the season, but we’ll see.

Who do we play that's better than TX Am?

Qb is completing like 67% of his passes

 

[BGI User 1596]

Who do we play that's better than TX Am?

Qb is completing like 67% of his passes

Army

 

[Golson5]

Army

Lol

 

[IrishMike409]

This defense is real. The young guys keep getting better. The DL keeps getting better.

 

[scubastevefl]

I know it’s a unit, but the D continuing to be “elite” without Morrison is questionable.

 

[Golson5]

I know it’s a unit, but the D continuing to be “elite” without Morrison is questionable.

Why?

 

[Golson5]

This defense is real. The young guys keep getting better. The DL keeps getting betbetter

3 true Frosh playing huge roles.

Leonard Moore
KVA
Bryce Young

I wouldn't mind seeing a little more Loghan Thomas too

 

[IrishMike409]

3 true Frosh playing huge roles.

Leonard Moore
KVA
Bryce Young

I wouldn't mind seeing a little more Loghan Thomas too

They keep getting better every week. I don't remember Manti or J Smith being as good as KVA their freshman seasons......

We have young emerging stars at all 3 levels on defense. The 25 and 26 units should be outstanding.

 

[Pennick4]

I think you underestimate how much the QB’s inability to throw is going to matter against better teams. I don’t see them going undefeated the rest of the season, but we’ll see.

They will go undefeated. Riley is a tough dual threat QB.

 

[mva5580]

Who do we play that's better than TX Am?

Qb is completing like 67% of his passes

Excuse me if I don’t assume that the same QB that lost at home to NIU will be able to handle the rest of the season unscathed.

 

[IrishMike409]

Excuse me if I don’t assume that the same QB that lost at home to NIU will be able to handle the rest of the season unscathed.

What have you seen or not seen these past 5 weeks that make you think we can't win the rest of our games?

 

[mva5580]

What have you seen or not seen these past 5 weeks that make you think we can't win the rest of our games?

I never said they can’t. They can. Doesn’t mean they will.

Look man I just don’t have the mentality of the typical fanatic fan. There’s zero reason for me to sit here and look at Notre Dame football and have the thought process “They look great! We’re going to win out!” and then if that doesn’t happen, get all upset about it.

If they win, great. If they lose, I have no reason to be surprised and have only myself to blame if I get upset about it. Notre Dame football the last ~35 years gives me little reason to assume victory over ANYONE.

 

[BGI User 1596]

I never said they can’t. They can. Doesn’t mean they will.

Look man I just don’t have the mentality of the typical fanatic fan. There’s zero reason for me to sit here and look at Notre Dame football and have the thought process “They look great! We’re going to win out!” and then if that doesn’t happen, get all upset about it.

If they win, great. If they lose, I have no reason to be surprised and have only myself to blame if I get upset about it. Notre Dame football the last ~35 years gives me little reason to assume victory over ANYONE.

Quit living in reality !

 

[NDinNJ]

They can win out, but this offense and especially RL will not be able to compete vs a top 10 team. A top 10 team will shut down the 5-6 yard dink and dunk plays. RL isn't consistent enough to make long throws, which he'll be forced to make. Unfortunately it will be an early exit from the playoffs.

 

[Shakin' Down the Thunder]

With the 5 remaining opponents. I expect them to win out. The biggest factor is to not turnover the ball. We have our identity now. Old school, run the ball, play fundamental defense, field position, win turnover battle, make a play on special teams. Denbrock just needs to be disciplined and patient as a play caller. And he was today after that interception.

 

[banmate6]

If we can get by Navy, then we hit the 2nd bye at 7-1.

The first bye week was critical: We got healthy, the OL stabilized, Leonard settled in, the staff settled in too.

This 2nd bye, if we're there 7-1, will be critical too. Get healthy and continue to get the OL right.

I maintain: This is a dangerous team. The defense is elite. We have 3 big-time running backs, and an elite running QB- the offensive attack keeps getting better and better. If the OL is healthy and improves just a bit, then this is certainly a top-12 team in the country.

We can go to the playoffs and knock someone out.

The NIU loss sucked. Horrible week. Aside from that.....Freeman, Golden, and Denbrock have been really good this season. After the injuries, and the NIU loss....this team could've folded. Instead they've gotten stronger.

Great post and I agree for the most part.

I'm still unsure about MF and Denbrock as coaches. I still feel they could have this Irish team playing better. I also think they will get better and evolve...but the loss to NIU still stings snd weighs heavily.

The injuries absolutely don't help. Let's see...I hope for a clean run of the table.

 

[banmate6]

With the 5 remaining opponents. I expect them to win out. The biggest factor is to not turnover the ball. We have our identity now. Old school, run the ball, play fundamental defense, field position, win turnover battle, make a play on special teams. Denbrock just needs to be disciplined and patient as a play caller. And he was today after that interception.

I also think it is this simple.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Golson5]

Excuse me if I don’t assume that the same QB that lost at home to NIU will be able to handle the rest of the season unscathed.

Why? He's also won 6 games as well. We've played 7 games this year, not 1

 

[Golson5]

They can win out, but this offense and especially RL will not be able to compete vs a top 10 team. A top 10 team will shut down the 5-6 yard dink and dunk plays. RL isn't consistent enough to make long throws, which he'll be forced to make. Unfortunately it will be an early exit from the plplayoffs.

Why couldn't Am stop him when they needed to then?

 

[Patrirish]

Don’t underestimate Navy, Army and USC !

Those are three travel games

 

[savvyandsassier]

What have you seen or not seen these past 5 weeks that make you think we can't win the rest of our games?

I guess the fear is if we're behind, or in a shootout, and we need to come back from a ten point deficit in the 4th quarter. And we just can't pass downfield well enough. So we'll just have to avoid that scenario. So far so good. USC just lost to Maryland.

 

[NDinNJ]

Why couldn't Am stop him when they needed to then?

You are going back to game 1 of the season, against a team with a new coach, and again A&M is not a top 10 team. Learn how to read, I said top 10 team.

Why couldn't ND score more than NIU, who just lost to Toledo.

Wow you're dumb.

 

[Golson5]

You are going back to game 1 of the season, against a team with a new coach, and again A&M is not a top 10 team. Learn how to read, I said top 10 team.

Why couldn't ND score more than NIU, who just lost to Toledo.

Wow you're dumb.

Why have we won 6 of our 7 games?

TX am defense is better than a lot of teams in the top 10

Wow you're dumb is right

 

[NDinNJ]

Why have we won 6 of our 7 games?

TX am defense is better than a lot of teams in the top 10

Wow you're dumb is right

Winning 6 of 7 against average to below average teams. You can't read. You're a moron. Why can't you just admit you are wrong about RL. He's not even close to 1st round NFL talent.

 

[Golson5]

Winning 6 of 7 against average to below average teams. You can't read. You're a moron. Why can't you just admit you are wrong about RL. He's not even close to 1st round NFL talent.

Who on our schedule is better than Txam? Who is top 15 right now and number 1 in the sec ?

After you admit you can't stand him because he's keeping your NJ bf off the field. You are extremely biased

 

[IrishMike409]

Winning 6 of 7 against average to below average teams. You can't read. You're a moron. Why can't you just admit you are wrong about RL. He's not even close to 1st round NFL talent.

The thread has nothing to do with RL being or not being 1st round talent.

 

[NDinNJ]

The thread has nothing to do with RL being or not being 1st round talent.

It does when we are discussing how far this team can go with him, and Golson5's proclamations that he is a 1st round talent.

 

[IrishMike409]

It does when we are discussing how far this team can go with him, and Golson5's proclamations that he is a 1st round talent.

It really doesn't. How far the team can go has nothing to do with something Golson said about the QB over the summer.

 

[Golson5]

It does when we are discussing how far this team can go with him, and Golson5's proclamations that he is a 1st round talent.

No it's because you're obsessed with me that you keep bringing it up

You keep mentioning top 10 teams. These are possible Playoff teams

Miami
Iowa state
Byu
Boise
Texas am
Indiana
K state

We can beat and score on any of those teams

There's others that are either not great on Defense that are Playoff type teams or that we can beat like Ped State, Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss.

We need to get into the Playoff first. Win out and there are plenty of matchups out there for us that we can win and advance

 

[NDinNJ]

No it's because you're obsessed with me that you keep bringing it up

You keep mentioning top 10 teams. These are possible Playoff teams

Miami
Iowa state
Byu
Boise
Texas am
Indiana
K state

We can beat and score on any of those teams

There's others that are either not great on Defense that are Playoff type teams or that we can beat like Ped State, Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss.

We need to get into the Playoff first. Win out and there are plenty of matchups out there for us that we can win and advance

Not with a QB that hasn't shown he can throw farther than 10 yards with accuracy and stretch the field. If anything the defense will carry this team farther, the offense currently is a liability.

 

[NDinNJ]

It really doesn't. How far the team can go has nothing to do with something Golson said about the QB over the summer.

We are discussing the team and their play. QB has been far from complete. Great running, decent short to intermediate passing, atrocious vertical passing. If he was touted as 1st round NFL talent he'd be considered a complete bust.

 

[Golson5]

Not with a QB that hasn't shown he can throw farther than 10 yards with accuracy and stretch the field. If anything the defense will carry this team farther, the offense currently is a liability.

The offense is definitely a weaker unit we have one of the best defenses in the country. But we could absolutely beat any of those teams

Again with the QB lol. You never mention the OL or not having any WR that scares a safety.

But it's okay, we know your obsession

 

[chaseball]

If we can get by Navy, then we hit the 2nd bye at 7-1.

The first bye week was critical: We got healthy, the OL stabilized, Leonard settled in, the staff settled in too.

This 2nd bye, if we're there 7-1, will be critical too. Get healthy and continue to get the OL right.

I maintain: This is a dangerous team. The defense is elite. We have 3 big-time running backs, and an elite running QB- the offensive attack keeps getting better and better. If the OL is healthy and improves just a bit, then this is certainly a top-12 team in the country.

We can go to the playoffs and knock someone out.

The NIU loss sucked. Horrible week. Aside from that.....Freeman, Golden, and Denbrock have been really good this season. After the injuries, and the NIU loss....this team could've folded. Instead they've gotten stronger.

You make a really good point about the injuries theyve really piled up and Notre Dame keeps producing like a top 10 team anyway.

 

[savvyandsassier]

Great post and I agree for the most part.

I'm still unsure about MF and Denbrock as coaches. I still feel they could have this Irish team playing better. I also think they will get better and evolve...but the loss to NIU still stings snd weighs heavily.

The injuries absolutely don't help. Let's see...I hope for a clean run of the table.

I missed most of the third quarter, but for the first half boy, we were carving them up! It seemed like, what do they call that, a 'masterclass', of how to scheme effectively around a shitty-passing dual threat QB, and not let it ruin your season. I feel like Denbrock is like a wizard. I wasn't it expecting to require such delicate play-calling, if you will, but it turns out it does, on account of RL's erratic downfield passing, and yet that's exactly what we're doing. Maximizing our capabilities, good play calls, timely play calls and where we could by totally stymieing ourselves with exasperating incomplete passes downfield that cost us points, instead we're comfortably cruising past a totally decent team like GT.

So while I personally do appreciate and enjoy an expansive passing offense, can't complain too much about what we're accomplishing. This is two weeks in a row where we're rolling, almost with contemptuous ease. And it's the offense almost that's carrying us. And RL still got away with throwing a ridiculous interception, on a totally inaccurate downfield throw.

 

[Golson5]

You make a really good point about the injuries theyve really piled up and Notre Dame keeps producing like a top 10 team

Very good recruiting and very good coaching

 

[NDinNJ]

The offense is definitely a weaker unit we have one of the best defenses in the country. But we could absolutely beat any of those teams

Again with the QB lol. You never mention the OL or not having any WR that scares a safety.

But it's okay, we know your obsession

We've seen receivers open downfield all season long, and RL had hit on less than a handful. The rest he either didn't see them, or was inaccurate. That's the reality. It's not an obsession. I'm pointing out ND's weakness. A playoff team will be able to limit this offense. ND's only hope will be the defense, which I'm fully confident in.

 

[chaseball]

Very good recruiting and very good coaching

The talent is subpar but the coaching has been excellent once we fix the talent side of the equation Notre Dame will finally be able to graduate from the second tier