Key to the game

[nd4life211]

Riley bleeping Leonard. This is why we went to the portal! To grab an elite quarterback who could get us over the hump and beat a big dog in a playoff game. We’ve seen the limits of an Ian Book, we’ve seen lesser talented teams like Clemson win with elite quarterback play.

Leonard was recovering from surgery in the spring and started off slow. While he hasn’t been great throwing downfield, he has been more than serviceable since the NIU game. He has been elite at evading sacks, elite at running the football and elite at protecting the football. He’s also thrown some beautiful post routes in the latter half of the season.

When has Georgia been vulnerable? When they face a dual threat. We know they respect Riley’s legs, but do they respect his arm? I say they don’t and I think the Georgia defence could be had for 250-300+ passing yards today. We will see man coverage. Who is going to win their battles? Faison? Evans? Raridon? Mitchell? Harrison? Greathouse? Maybe Georgia native Jayden Thomas?

I believe this to be the simple key to the game. Leonard is the most dynamic quarterback left in the field and if he can continue to develop passing and stretch the defence consistently, it will only open up more room for our running backs. This team can win a title, dependent upon Leonard throwing the ball accurately down the field. This is the first time we will be forced to throw to win since NIU and we just gotta hope Leonard delivers.

If Leonard proves he can be that guy, I legitimately think he can out duel any of the remaining QBs. Go Irish!

 

[Quest4Twelve]

100%

We know Denbrock will want to get J Love loose, but Georgia also knows this. I feel the game plan early needs to be moving the pocket with play action and get the Mitch Evans involved. The Dawgs LB can't be allowed to come downhill to stop the run without paying for it. An example of a play is right here.

 

[Get Nasty]

turnover margin

No to minimal blown assignments both sides of the ball
- Defensively can't give them any easy scores
- Offensively we can't have a bunch of negative plays, especially on first down

Slow the run down with our front 6 allowing for 5 DBs to be in the game confusing stockton

Riley being sharp short game passing, and hit at least 2 balls downfield (over 15 yards in the air from LOS)

Riley using his legs all night, called and not called

 

[Irish_inPSU]

To me its two fold. Both things need to happen for ND to win.

One, the offense, has to be able to sustain drives and score points. Leanard will need to run the ball himself effectively (something Georgia has struggled with this year to stop). But we have to convert 3 downs and keep the chains moving. If we lose that stat, it puts our patchwork defensive front in a bad position. We're undersized compared to the UGA offensive line, we need to keep those guys as fresh and rested as possible.

Second, we have to win the turnover game. UGA has had some issues holding onto the ball this year, we need to exploit this.

 

[hoopsstar12]

Go north and south not east and west. Wear them down. No negative plays. I pray KVA can play on D.

 

[savvyandsassier]

I just think the defense has to dominate. UGA is wounded, they don't have their QB, we have to pounce. I feel like our offense is pretty streamlined and can be pretty effective against anybody. But if we can shut them down, and really hold them, that's what we're going to ride to victory.

 

[Fifthhorseman25]

RL will be the key to the game on offense. If he can keep UGA's defense on their heels with a run threat, it should help open up their defense.
I feel that if RL can rush for 80-100 yards and pass for around 180-190 ND should win.

Defense pressure will be the key. ND needs to shut down UGA running the ball and get pressure on the QB. I am sure AG will have some blitzes etc that their QB has not seen.

 

[savvyandsassier]

RL will be the key to the game on offense. If he can keep UGA's defense on their heels with a run threat, it should help open up their defense.
I feel that if RL can rush for 80-100 yards and pass for around 180-190 ND should win.

Defense pressure will be the key. ND needs to shut down UGA running the ball and get pressure on the QB. I am sure AG will have some blitzes etc that their QB has not seen.

So you want RL to rush for a hundy today? That would be nice, that would definitely be stepping up. Stepping up in the clutch.

 

[kev2225]

Gotta air it out. If we're stuck doing check downs all game, I expect a blowout in favor of Georgia.

 

[Harpo Marxist]

Trench warfare. Gotta win in the trenches on both sides. And, avoid these dumbass penalties. The quarterbacks cancel each other out...neither is going to carry their team. Georgia is already trying to outphysical ND. ND must make them pay with points.