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ND wins easy today

Zorich 88

I've posted how many times?
Dec 7, 2006
6,583
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Good first game opponent to have. QB making his first start ever needs this type of opponent. Get the confidence up before the real game next week.
 
I don't think ND wins easily today........I haven't posted since the stupid loss to Duke last year--bundislega, formula 1 and the tennis channel were far better sport than ND football in 2016--but I will take this opportunity to make a few--probably bs--speculative remarks in honor of the upcoming repeat dismal season.

First, anyone in Texas who is reading this, our prayers are with you and your family.

Second, good luck to the football team--you're probably going to need it this year. You, the young men who make up the team, still have my support regardless of the Ws and Ls.

Third, I don't think the ND offense is going to be capable of scoring a lot of touchdowns this year. We have a lack of proven playmakers (with the exception of ESB, who actually seems to be more of a possession receiver) and the red zone woes are likely to continue with an inexperienced QB. Justin Yoon--who seems reliable--will be kicking a lot of field goals in 2017. So I think it's likely we will only be scoring in the neighborhood of 16-19 points per game. Hard to win with that kind of scoring output unless you have a stellar defense.

Fourth, I don't think we have a stellar defense--the ND defense isn't going to be any better this year than last year; they are going to have trouble keeping teams below 20 points per game--including Temple--and are going to have a hard time getting off the field on 3rd downs. There is simply a lack of speed and talent on defense that cannot be schemed for regardless of the defensive coordinator.

Fifth, special teams--can things get any worse! Probably not, no where to go but up this year. Punt receiving team--don't let the ball touch your body unless your going to catch it or recover it; punt team--tackle the guy with the ball or a least make it look like your interested in doing so. Yoon is the only bright spot on special teams, maybe consider letting him field punts and go out on punt coverage if the ugly special teams trend continues.

Last, a tell-tale sign that an ND coach is just about gone is not having a legitimate, big time back-up quarterback on the roster--and here we are yet again. If ND is 2-4 at the bye week, I'm not sure Kelly finishes the season, although I don't know who would be declared an interim coach with the random assortment of coaching drek we have currently. Certainly, if ND finishes 3-9 (my prediction for the season) he is done. I think Kelly is probably a good guy, but the "perspective" he has gained with the family issues he has had to deal with the past 8 years--this is pure bs speculation and just my opinion based on 20+ years in health care--have diminished his killer instinct to the point where it has affected his decision making--I saw it last year with the way he ruined the QB situation, and also with game-management decisions against Texas, Duke, and Navy. I think he'll do well on the speaking tour, though.

So invest in the alcoholic beverage company of your choice, hunker-down for another banal (3-9) season, and hope the admin 1. has already had drinks with Stoops and/or Harbaugh and 2. decides if they are all-in for 21st century college football--perhaps we'll get the answer on the new jumbotron today.

my ranting and babbling is done

go irish (sigh)
 
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