ND will beat osu because ND will stop the run and ND will be able to run.

[albundy83]

No, I do not have ND glasses on. What stats?

1. The only thing Day needed to prove was he could beat michigan. So I guess osu is not a tough physical team?
2. Who did osu average 5.5 yards a carry against? Because against TX they only averages 3.3
3. The guy is the same QB. You can talk yourself into whatever you want to. I hope and pray the game plan is built around this "new version of Howard".
4. The ND game plan is not built around Riley. I would take Riley over Howard any day. Including on Monday night.

osu fans will be calling for Day to be fired Monday night. I hope you are surrounded by people that love you on Monday night because it is going to be a long painful night for you and all osu fans.

I listed the running stats of the two RB that averaged 5.2 YPC, i did not list lost yards for the QB because of a few sacks. So, i guess if that 75 yard screen should not be taken in account for Howard's numbers you should not take in an account Love's 98 yard run against IU in his numbers, right?

ND's "gameplan" will be 100% around Riley, are you nuts? The "new version" has been turned over to Howard to utilize his weapons and ask Tenn, Oregon and Texas if they would've rather faced the old version instead of the new! I will stop by once again on Tuesday no matter what happens, i just hope you do if things don't go your way. I'm sure you will have every excuse in the world if OSU wins!

 

[Irish_inPSU]

No, I do not have ND glasses on. What stats?

1. The only thing Day needed to prove was he could beat michigan. So I guess osu is not a tough physical team?
2. Who did osu average 5.5 yards a carry against? Because against TX they only averages 3.3
3. The guy is the same QB. You can talk yourself into whatever you want to. I hope and pray the game plan is built around this "new version of Howard".
4. The ND game plan is not built around Riley. I would take Riley over Howard any day. Including on Monday night.

osu fans will be calling for Day to be fired Monday night. I hope you are surrounded by people that love you on Monday night because it is going to be a long painful night for you and all osu fans.

I usually agree with you on games but this time, I think you're drunk. lol.

OSU has a slight edge on talent, especially at some skill positions that I really worry is going to be an issue in this game for us. Particularly their receiving corp. Now, we may be able to limit and contain Smith, as Texas did, but they have other recievers that we can't let waltz around at the same time. We all know what happened during the USC game when we had to account for more weapons.

OSU's defensive line is full of NFL caliber players. That is going to be a monumental task for our beat up oline to keep at bay. My opinion, we have to be able to move Leonard and keep them guessing on passing downs. We will also need to get the ball to the outside on running plays. We will not, I repeat, will not be able to run right at them between the tackles with any amount of success.

I hate this matchup to be honest. Id have gladly taken Texas, Oregon, PSU in the final over this OSU team right now. To me, a lot of this game rides on the pure genius of our coaches to come up with a plan that neutralizes their offense enough as well as being able to sustain long drives somehow on offense. I just don't think we have the horses for 60 minutes. I hope i'm dead wrong and I will gladly come back here after the game and eat my shorts and admit it to you.

 

[BM16]

I listened to Joe Theismann on Dusty & Danny this morning. Michigan ran the ball 41 times on OSU, Notre Dame ran it 41 times on Penn State. There was a great film breakdown on X from the Orange Bowl, can't remember who did it, but showed how Notre Dame came out in the 3rdQ and started pulling their OL on their run plays and it was a significant factor in them being able to move the ball on the ground better than in the first half.

 

[mmca]

I listened to Joe Theismann on Dusty & Danny this morning. Michigan ran the ball 41 times on OSU, Notre Dame ran it 41 times on Penn State. There was a great film breakdown on X from the Orange Bowl, can't remember who did it, but showed how Notre Dame came out in the 3rdQ and started pulling their OL on their run plays and it was a significant factor in them being able to move the ball on the ground better than in the first half.

Dan Orlovsky, very informative!!!!

 

[Zorich 88]

I usually agree with you on games but this time, I think you're drunk. lol.

OSU has a slight edge on talent, especially at some skill positions that I really worry is going to be an issue in this game for us. Particularly their receiving corp. Now, we may be able to limit and contain Smith, as Texas did, but they have other recievers that we can't let waltz around at the same time. We all know what happened during the USC game when we had to account for more weapons.

OSU's defensive line is full of NFL caliber players. That is going to be a monumental task for our beat up oline to keep at bay. My opinion, we have to be able to move Leonard and keep them guessing on passing downs. We will also need to get the ball to the outside on running plays. We will not, I repeat, will not be able to run right at them between the tackles with any amount of success.

I hate this matchup to be honest. Id have gladly taken Texas, Oregon, PSU in the final over this OSU team right now. To me, a lot of this game rides on the pure genius of our coaches to come up with a plan that neutralizes their offense enough as well as being able to sustain long drives somehow on offense. I just don't think we have the horses for 60 minutes. I hope i'm dead wrong and I will gladly come back here after the game and eat my shorts and admit it to you.

I agree with your points. However, you have to factor in pure grit and the will to win. The mental aspect is just as important as the physical aspect.

I do not believe the osu defense can or will shut down the ND run game. I also believe the ND run defense will force Howard to beat ND which I believe plays in ND's favor.

Howard is a bad play waiting to happen. I have zero confidence in his ability to beat ND. He has 2 of the best WR's in the country. Yet, he often fails to spread the ball around. Howard has questionable confidence. When he gets rattled he has a hard time recovering.

This ND team is one of the mentally toughest ND teams I have seen in a long time. One guy gets hurt and there is little if any drop off.

ND goes down two scores and they never panic. They stay composed and rally as a team.

ND wins because they win the mental game.

 

[Zorich 88]

I listed the running stats of the two RB that averaged 5.2 YPC, i did not list lost yards for the QB because of a few sacks. So, i guess if that 75 yard screen should not be taken in account for Howard's numbers you should not take in an account Love's 98 yard run against IU in his numbers, right?

ND's "gameplan" will be 100% around Riley, are you nuts? The "new version" has been turned over to Howard to utilize his weapons and ask Tenn, Oregon and Texas if they would've rather faced the old version instead of the new! I will stop by once again on Tuesday no matter what happens, i just hope you do if things don't go your way. I'm sure you will have every excuse in the world if OSU wins!

I have not mentioned anything about Riley's numbers. Yes, you always factor in the big chunk plays when looking at stats.

There is no new version of Howard. He is who he is. Nothing has changed. Ask your best WR. How many receptions vs TX?

Smith should have 5-10 receptions minimum every game.

The ND game plan is 100% panned around the run game. Riley will not be asked to win the game. Will Riley be apart of the run game? Of course. However, he will never be asked to win the game with his arm.

 

[albundy83]

I agree with your points. However, you have to factor in pure grit and the will to win. The mental aspect is just as important as the physical aspect.

I do not believe the osu defense can or will shut down the ND run game. I also believe the ND run defense will force Howard to beat ND which I believe plays in ND's favor.

Howard is a bad play waiting to happen. I have zero confidence in his ability to beat ND. He has 2 of the best WR's in the country. Yet, he often fails to spread the ball around. Howard has questionable confidence. When he gets rattled he has a hard time recovering.

This ND team is one of the mentally toughest ND teams I have seen in a long time. One guy gets hurt and there is little if any drop off.

ND goes down two scores and they never panic. They stay composed and rally as a team.

ND wins because they win the mental game.

Howard has played in 3 CFP games and has beaten 5 of the top 10 teams in CFP, A "Bad play waiting to happen" QB does not pull that feet off!

Howard's "questionable confidence" led his team on a 13 play 88 yard drive in the 4th quarter tied at 14 in the semi-finals, i will take that "questionable confidence" every time from my QB!

 

[Irish_inPSU]

Howard has played in 3 CFP games and has beaten 5 of the top 10 teams in CFP, A "Bad play waiting to happen" QB does not pull that feet off!

Howard's "questionable confidence" led his team on a 13 play 88 yard drive in the 4th quarter tied at 14 in the semi-finals, i will take that "questionable confidence" every time from my QB!

I think a lot of howards talent/confidence lies in the weapons he has around him. Point being, they make average QB's look good. Not to say he's an average QB, he's above that IMO.

It will be interesting to see what the ND defense drums up for him. They have been very good at dialing up pressure with a ton of different looks. Its that you have to knock him down every play and rack up sacks. But just affecting him, speeding up his decisions and making him second guess what he saw pre snap could be huge. Bottom line, just get in his head and make him decipher the defensive schemes each down and forcing him to hurry up and get the ball out, negating the recieving talent, could keep ND in this game.

 

[Irish_inPSU]

I agree with your points. However, you have to factor in pure grit and the will to win. The mental aspect is just as important as the physical aspect.

I do not believe the osu defense can or will shut down the ND run game. I also believe the ND run defense will force Howard to beat ND which I believe plays in ND's favor.

Howard is a bad play waiting to happen. I have zero confidence in his ability to beat ND. He has 2 of the best WR's in the country. Yet, he often fails to spread the ball around. Howard has questionable confidence. When he gets rattled he has a hard time recovering.

This ND team is one of the mentally toughest ND teams I have seen in a long time. One guy gets hurt and there is little if any drop off.

ND goes down two scores and they never panic. They stay composed and rally as a team.

ND wins because they win the mental game.

I absolutely agree with the mental toughness and grit sentiment. Its def been a while!

 

[NCDomer1]

OSU is the best store bought team left. Riley will be the wild card of this game being his ability to scramble around and get yards will determine this game. ND will stop the run.
I noticed Riley gets greedy instead of throwing the under route crossing pattern to Faison he tries to go down field , which requires throwing over a line backers head. The jet sweep seems effective. ND needs to control the time of possession just like Michigan did,

 

[BucksLAN]

OSU is the best store bought team left. Riley will be the wild card of this game being his ability to scramble around and get yards will determine this game. ND will stop the run.
I noticed Riley gets greedy instead of throwing the under route crossing pattern to Faison he tries to go down field , which requires throwing over a line backers head. The jet sweep seems effective. ND needs to control the time of possession just like Michigan did,

"Store bought team* they spent their NIL keeping their 2023 roster back for one final season. If that's "store bought" I hope they do that every season.

 

[rrdd2021]

I think a lot of howards talent/confidence lies in the weapons he has around him. Point being, they make average QB's look good. Not to say he's an average QB, he's above that IMO.

Agree. He doesn't have the big-time arm but is very accurate. He doesn't have to be the super QB with all of that massive skilled talent around him

 

[albundy83]

I have not mentioned anything about Riley's numbers. Yes, you always factor in the big chunk plays when looking at stats.

There is no new version of Howard. He is who he is. Nothing has changed. Ask your best WR. How many receptions vs TX?

Smith should have 5-10 receptions minimum every game.

The ND game plan is 100% panned around the run game. Riley will not be asked to win the game. Will Riley be apart of the run game? Of course. However, he will never be asked to win the game with his arm.

Smith was triple teamed quite a few times during the game and Howard saw that and went to other options, that's what makes a good QB. He's getting ready to set the all time completion percentage in a season at OSU, yes, he had terrific talent around him, but he still had to throw the ball. He's not CJ Stroud, but he's also not Allar who can't win a big game! If OSU brings the safeties up in the box like they did against Texas Riley will have to throw. OSU defense is legit at all positions!

 

[Zorich 88]

Howard has played in 3 CFP games and has beaten 5 of the top 10 teams in CFP, A "Bad play waiting to happen" QB does not pull that feet off!

Howard's "questionable confidence" led his team on a 13 play 88 yard drive in the 4th quarter tied at 14 in the semi-finals, i will take that "questionable confidence" every time from my QB!

What you are seeing in the passing game is not, I repeat is not a result of Howard's play. I am a Detroit Lions fan. Lions played the Vikings a few weeks ago.

Leading up to the game all I heard about was Sam Darnold is a great QB. I said No, Sam is an average NFL QB that is surrounded with the games top WR's.

This is exactly what you have at osu. You have an average D1 QB that is surrounded by weapons.

Howard was a backup most of the time at KSU. Howard is nothing more than Sam.

 

[Zorich 88]

Smith was triple teamed quite a few times during the game and Howard saw that and went to other options, that's what makes a good QB. He's getting ready to set the all time completion percentage in a season at OSU, yes, he had terrific talent around him, but he still had to throw the ball. He's not CJ Stroud, but he's also not Allar who can't win a big game! If OSU brings the safeties up in the box like they did against Texas Riley will have to throw. OSU defense is legit at all positions!

No one is triple teamed

 

[albundy83]

No one is triple teamed

Do some research and you will see the screen shots of 3 Texas defenders on him! Smith even posted the pictures to his IG or X account and said "crazy".

 

[Zorich 88]

Do some research and you will see the screen shots of 3 Texas defenders on him! Smith even posted the pictures to his IG or X account and said "crazy".

That is not the reason why he was limited. It was the QB

 

[BM16]

Dan Orlovsky, very informative!!!!

Yes! That is who it was. Really enjoyed that breakdown on their OL play and the play call/design by Golden on Gray's INT.

 

[albundy83]

That is not the reason why he was limited. It was the QB

So who "limited" Smith in the Tenn and Oregon game? Got it, you don't like Howard, but your argument is baseless! Someone had to throw the ball to all those weapons at a 72% clip the whole season! He's guiding a team that's a 9.5 point favorite to win the Natty, obviously Vegas has confidence in his game!

 

[tbonesays]

Ohio State shifted from zone to gap blocking for the playoff., just as I had read. Discussed by the PFF guys at 5:30

 

[Irish_inPSU]

"Store bought team* they spent their NIL keeping their 2023 roster back for one final season. If that's "store bought" I hope they do that every season.

Point being, they paid BIG for this upcoming championship opportunity. Imagine if they fail and lose this game, after spending all that money to win it.

 

[Golson5]

So who "limited" Smith in the Tenn and Oregon game? Got it, you don't like Howard, but your argument is baseless! Someone had to throw the ball to all those weapons at a 72% clip the whole season! He's guiding a team that's a 9.5 point favorite to win the Natty, obviously Vegas has confidence in his game!

8.5

 

[BucksLAN]

Point being, they paid BIG for this upcoming championship opportunity. Imagine if they fail and lose this game, after spending all that money to win it.

Then what does that say about Texas and Oregon who spent more? (and will continue to spend more)

 

[rrdd2021]

No one is triple teamed

Maybe not directly triple teamed but Sark said after the game that many times they double-teamed him and had a 3rd in his area. The problem with that - it opened up Tate and Egbuka who had 15 catches between them along with the passes to the RBs. It's sort of like "pick your poison."

 

[Zorich 88]

Maybe not directly triple teamed but Sark said after the game that many times they double-teamed him and had a 3rd in his area. The problem with that - it opened up Tate and Egbuka who had 15 catches between them along with the passes to the RBs. It's sort of like "pick your poison."

There is no such thing as a triple team. There is no such thing as a double team. This is not basketball. The concept is moving a safety over to help but there are not 2-3 people running the route with any WR.

 

[albundy83]

There is no such thing as a triple team. There is no such thing as a double team. This is not basketball. The concept is moving a safety over to help but there are not 2-3 people running the route with any WR.

Three guys in his area helping the CB is a triple team, call it what you like, but it's still three defenders around him. Do that and the other elite receivers will eat!

 

[BucksLAN]

There is no such thing as a triple team. There is no such thing as a double team. This is not basketball. The concept is moving a safety over to help but there are not 2-3 people running the route with any WR.

Texas had a minimum of 2 sets of eyeballs on Smith just about every single play. You're taking things a little too literal.

 

[BGI User 756]

"Store bought team* they spent their NIL keeping their 2023 roster back for one final season. If that's "store bought" I hope they do that every season.

Ahhh, the Herbie explanation….

 

[rrdd2021]

There is no such thing as a triple team. There is no such thing as a double team. This is not basketball. The concept is moving a safety over to help but there are not 2-3 people running the route with any WR.

Go argue with Sark.......just repeating what he said after the game

 

[Zorich 88]

Texas had a minimum of 2 sets of eyeballs on Smith just about every single play. You're taking things a little too literal.

Initial post claimed triple team. No such terminology in football. Having two sets of eyeballs on a WR does not free up another WR. Committing a safety over the top does free up a WR.

The argument was made by one of your fellow osu fans that the reason one of if not thee best WR in the country only had 2 receptions was because he was triple teamed.

 

[albundy83]

Initial post claimed triple team. No such terminology in football. Having two sets of eyeballs on a WR does not free up another WR. Committing a safety over the top does free up a WR.

The argument was made by one of your fellow osu fans that the reason one of if not thee best WR in the country only had 2 receptions was because he was triple teamed.

 

[Irish_inPSU]

Then what does that say about Texas and Oregon who spent more? (and will continue to spend more)

Says the same thing, they blew a huge amount of money and have nothing to show for it. College football is progressing to the same things as MLB. There is an arms race happening where programs with a lot of money will pay whatever is needed to keep or bring players in to win a title.

Its already clear where the money lies in college football. Texas and Ohio State, two of the largest fan bases in the country. Oregon has all that Nike money laying around. Rumors here in State College say that PSU is gearing up to spend a lot of money themselves to beat OSU, etc. Its going to get worse unless something is done to cap it.

 

[chaseball]

Ohio State shifted from zone to gap blocking for the playoff., just as I had read. Discussed by the PFF guys at 5:30

View embedded media

Kind of off topic, but im loving all of this national media attention ND has been getting as a result of making it to the national title game.

A lot of national podcasters, youtubers, media outlets that i respect have published a ton of ND related content this past week and its been nice to get a wide variety of opinions from these outlets on the ND football program.

 

[BucksLAN]

Ahhh, the Herbie explanation….

It's the truth. Is it bad to spend your NIL money to keep draft eligible guys back for one more season?

 

[chaseball]

Says the same thing, they blew a huge amount of money and have nothing to show for it. College football is progressing to the same things as MLB. There is an arms race happening where programs with a lot of money will pay whatever is needed to keep or bring players in to win a title.

Its already clear where the money lies in college football. Texas and Ohio State, two of the largest fan bases in the country. Oregon has all that Nike money laying around. Rumors here in State College say that PSU is gearing up to spend a lot of money themselves to beat OSU, etc. Its going to get worse unless something is done to cap it.

ND has the 2nd largest fan base in the country behind only OSU

I also fail to see any issue with the wealthiest programs leveraging their wealth into better rosters. This has been the way college football has operated since its inception. The fact that the players are now getting a larger and larger piece of the pie is a good thing. Its called progress.

 

[Irish_inPSU]

ND has the 2nd largest fan base in the country behind only OSU

I also fail to see any issue with the wealthiest programs leveraging their wealth into better rosters. This has been the way college football has operated since its inception. The fact that the players are now getting a larger and larger piece of the pie is a good thing. Its called progress.

ND is one of the wealthiest programs and they sure aren't stacking championships up. Why? Sure there has been quite a bit of money sunk into recruiting efforts by schools but NIL is different. You're paying players, like emoployees and the NFL does, to play football for you. You're paying them off to keep them in school another year so you have the correct pieces in place to run at a title.

I promise you, you will see the same 4-5 teams now. ND could very well be one of those teams too, considering we don't really know what they spend as they don't disclose that number.

College football is not the same any more, it doesn't have the same meaning in that regard. Its semi pro football, which is fine I guess. But I say if a kid is making 2 million a year to play football, he has enough money to pay for his tuition and forfeits any scholarships or free rides he may have gotten. But thats for a whole different discussion.

 

[savvyandsassier]

ND is one of the wealthiest programs and they sure aren't stacking championships up. Why? Sure there has been quite a bit of money sunk into recruiting efforts by schools but NIL is different. You're paying players, like emoployees and the NFL does, to play football for you. You're paying them off to keep them in school another year so you have the correct pieces in place to run at a title.

I promise you, you will see the same 4-5 teams now. ND could very well be one of those teams too, considering we don't really know what they spend as they don't disclose that number.

College football is not the same any more, it doesn't have the same meaning in that regard. Its semi pro football, which is fine I guess. But I say if a kid is making 2 million a year to play football, he has enough money to pay for his tuition and forfeits any scholarships or free rides he may have gotten. But thats for a whole different discussion.

They're not going to do that though. The scholarships will stay. Some punitive action the schools would be taking to their unnecessary, spite-fueled competitive disadvantage, and no school would ever do that. Because if they did, it would be regarded I would imagine as an insult to the player, as well as whatever financial hit it represents, and if one school did it, by following some misguided, self-defeating principle, and it hurt them in anyway in their recruiting efforts, other schools would not follow in their turn, and would continue to offer scholarships to recruits.

 

[BGI User 756]

It's the truth. Is it bad to spend your NIL money to keep draft eligible guys back for one more season?

No it’s not. But funny how Herbie had to get that out last week ….

But Downs, Howard, McLaughlin , and Judkins were expensive

 

[BucksLAN]

No it’s not. But funny how Herbie had to get that out last week ….

But Downs, Howard, McLaughlin , and Judkins were expensive

I'm sure they weren't cheap but there's some narrative that OSU went out and bought their roster when in reality they just got a few really talented guys. Our transfer class last year isn't even close to what a team like Oregon is bringing in this year. I don't think Will Howard was ever expensive either, I saw somewhere that Riley Leonard cost more and he was in higher demand.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Yes, simple football. Nothing fancy just good hard nosed football.

Michigan used this same strategy. When osu struggles it is because their run game was shut down.

Rush for over 150 and hold them to under 150 and ND wins.

Also make Howard beat us. He is not a super star. He has great WRs but against Michigan he looked bad and even against TX he was not great. Remember, they had a 75 yard screen play to the RB just before half time. Outside of that he only had 200 yards.

TX took Smith out of the game.

Michigan and Oregon beat them by forcing them to pass and daring them to run.