Opening Night v A&M

[IrishMike409]

Guys- do you feel like Elko has an advantage this first week going against Leonard?

I would assume that no one knows Riley Leonard as well as Mike Elko does. Leonard will be playing his first game in Denbrock's offense. Leonard missed the entire spring, and may not yet have a perfect grasp on the offense. Huge game, on the road, atmosphere will be electric.

Are these all things that Elko will exploit and take advantage of?

Is anyone concerned?

 

[Telx1]

Guys- do you feel like Elko has an advantage this first week going against Leonard?

I would assume that no one knows Riley Leonard as well as Mike Elko does. Leonard will be playing his first game in Denbrock's offense. Leonard missed the entire spring, and may not yet have a perfect grasp on the offense. Huge game, on the road, atmosphere will be electric.

Are these all things that Elko will exploit and take advantage of?

Is anyone concerned?

Much more concerned that he will take advantage of a very inexperienced ND OL. I think we’ll see Leonard using his legs to extend plays and prevent sacks, and hope he is able to punish their aggressive schemes.

 

[FightingIrish44]

I’m not at all concerned. I imagine there must be some sort of very minute advantage in knowing Leonard. However, ultimately, if the receivers get open, and the pass protection is good, what advantage does Elko really have? There’s a bunch of tape of Leonard available anyway.

The only thing I can think of is knowing which throws Leonard is or isn’t good at. Maybe defenders are mentally thinking certain routes? Even with that, it doesn’t come close to guaranteeing which route the defender will see and the defense is looking to take away whatever it’s designed to take away. I think that’s the case regardless of opponent.

Any advantage is negligible at best IMO.

 

[sjb75]

Guys- do you feel like Elko has an advantage this first week going against Leonard?

I would assume that no one knows Riley Leonard as well as Mike Elko does. Leonard will be playing his first game in Denbrock's offense. Leonard missed the entire spring, and may not yet have a perfect grasp on the offense. Huge game, on the road, atmosphere will be electric.

Are these all things that Elko will exploit and take advantage of?

Is anyone concerned?

Mike Elko? I would focus any concerns for game 1 on an OL that has question marks for 2024.

 

[chaseball]

I think the biggest advantage / disadvantage is Mike elko's year 1 versus Marcus Freeman's year 3 with Notre Dame having the obvious 2 year advantage. Notre Dame should win this football game if they are a playoff caliber team

 

[Irishjohn68]

If Elko was still at Duke with the Irish players Duke I would be somewhat concerned. But not A&M.

 

[tkirish]

The good teams find ways to win. ND needs to win. Somehow, some way , just win. Everything else is irrelevant. TAM will be ready , willing and able. ND better be ready. It will be an electric environment. First games are always unpredictable. So just getting the win is the only goal. That has to be the mindset from the head coach to the equipment manager and everyone in between. One singular vision , Winning!! Go Irish !!

 

[Golson5]

If Elko was still at Duke with the Irish players Duke I would be somewhat concerned. But not A&M.

He has a lot more talent at A&M

 

[sjb75]

If Elko was still at Duke with the Irish players Duke I would be somewhat concerned. But not A&M.

TAM is a current 1.5 favorite in Las Vegas for a reason.

This game could go either way.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Elko is a good coach. Better than Freeman. I still think we should win bc our team is good and our coordinators are excellent.

 

[Get Nasty]

Nd D needs to be the obvious difference in the game. The offense has so much talent but first game together in that atmosphere will be tough.

 

[mirer03]

He has a lot more talent at A&M

Better talent but very uneven. The oline in particular was embarrassingly bad last year

 

[Golson5]

Better talent but very uneven. The oline in particular was embarrassingly bad last year

They're projected to have a solid OL this year

 

[echowaker]

Elko is a good coach. Better than Freeman. I still think we should win bc our team is good and our coordinators are excellent.

That's certainly debatable.

 

[BleedingBlueNGold]

Guys- do you feel like Elko has an advantage this first week going against Leonard?

I would assume that no one knows Riley Leonard as well as Mike Elko does. Leonard will be playing his first game in Denbrock's offense. Leonard missed the entire spring, and may not yet have a perfect grasp on the offense. Huge game, on the road, atmosphere will be electric.

Are these all things that Elko will exploit and take advantage of?

Is anyone concerned?

No.

 

[mirer03]

They're projected to have a solid OL this year

Hahahahahahaha.

No. Klein had them all doing generalist work all spring. He had tackles taking snaps trying to figure out how to piece something together. They have a lot of recruiting stars. They have never played above a mediocre game together.

It's a new scheme. With players moving all over the place vs where they were last year. In game one of ND cannot deal with that oline there is a serious problem.

Could they be good solid group by the end of the year? Sure.

Game one? That's a hodgepodge shit show

 

[Golson5]

Hahahahahahaha.

No. Klein had them all doing generalist work all spring. He had tackles taking snaps trying to figure out how to piece something together. They have a lot of recruiting stars. They have never played above a mediocre game together.

It's a new scheme. With players moving all over the place vs where they were last year. In game one of ND cannot deal with that oline there is a serious problem.

Could they be good solid group by the end of the year? Sure.

Game one? That's a hodgepodge shit show

Yeah they're projected to have a solid OL this year

 

[sjb75]

Yeah they're projected to have a solid OL this year

Could the "...projection" be wong?

 

[Irishjohn68]

TAM is a current 1.5 favorite in Las Vegas for a reason.

This game could go either way.

And Vegas is never wrong. And a 1.5 home favorite to boot.

 

[sjb75]

And Vegas is never wrong. And a 1.5 home favorite to boot.

Las Vegas does not build large, opulent casinos at their whim being misguided.

They know what they are doing.

And again. TAM is a 1.5 favorite for a reason.

I cautiously believe Notre Dame will win. I sincerely do.

That said, I would not bet the game..... either on the money line, or taking the points.

 

[Golson5]

Could the "...projection" be wong?

Sure. But that's what is projected

 

[sjb75]

Sure. But that's what is projected

Fair enough.