We need all the positive thoughts we can get heading into this matchup with Bama. I've spent the last 12 days coming up with a reason every day for me and my fellow ND friends to be optimistic about our chances (despite all the overwhelming evidence against this being a competitive game). While I won't list them all, I am summarizing my Top 5 reasons, and I invite others to add to the list.
My Top 5, in no particular order:
1. Mac Jones is no Trevor Lawrence. His inability to use his legs plays directly into our defense's strengths. Our front 7 can (and needs to) be ferocious in relation to stopping Harris and making Jones uncomfortable. Jones' passing efficiency drops when he's under pressure. We can take advantage of that.
2. ND is the most complete team on BOTH sides of the ball that Bama will face this season. We're neck and neck with Georgia for the top defense they face, and we're the 3rd highest scoring offense they will face. The 2 other higher scoring offenses they've faced - FL & Ole Miss - have much weaker defenses. The combination on both sides of the ball will be new to Bama. ND is Top 22 in both offense and defense, while Georgia is Top 33 in both, A&M is Top 42 in both, and no other Bama opponent was Top 50 in both. By the way, conversely, Clemson is Top 11 in both while Bama is Top 33 in both, so ND has seen it already.
3. Bama losing All-American C Landon Dickerson is huge. They have yet to play a game this season without him, and to do so against one of the top defenses they'll face will be problematic for them. This is a huge opportunity for ND's defense to be aggressive pushing up the middle and causing disruption, which as previously mentioned in #1, will be an issue for Mac Jones.
4. Bama's #1 deficiency on defense is defending athletic TEs. Well, welcome to TE U! The Top 3 TEs Bama has faced this season put up big numbers: Pitt (FL) - 7/129/1; Yeboah (Ole Miss) - 7/181/2; Wydermeyer (A&M) - 8/82. Mayer and Tremble are the #4 & #6 best TE's individually (statistically speaking) that Bama will face this season. Combined, they're the 2nd best unit Bama will face after Florida's Kyle Pitts. Big opportunity for ND's offense to exploit Bama's defense, put them on their heels, and open up the running game.
5. JOK is the single best defender Bama will have faced this season. Their 2 lowest scoring outputs of the season (Mizzou 38pts & Georgia 41pts) came against defenses with a Butkus Award finalist. And yet, JOK was not just a Butkus Award finalist - he was the winner. He's likely a future Top 15 NFL draft pick, and he will bring a level of versatility to the defense going against this Bama offense that will be a game changer.
Again, let's stay positive in this thread. Might as well! Go Irish!
My Top 5, in no particular order:
1. Mac Jones is no Trevor Lawrence. His inability to use his legs plays directly into our defense's strengths. Our front 7 can (and needs to) be ferocious in relation to stopping Harris and making Jones uncomfortable. Jones' passing efficiency drops when he's under pressure. We can take advantage of that.
2. ND is the most complete team on BOTH sides of the ball that Bama will face this season. We're neck and neck with Georgia for the top defense they face, and we're the 3rd highest scoring offense they will face. The 2 other higher scoring offenses they've faced - FL & Ole Miss - have much weaker defenses. The combination on both sides of the ball will be new to Bama. ND is Top 22 in both offense and defense, while Georgia is Top 33 in both, A&M is Top 42 in both, and no other Bama opponent was Top 50 in both. By the way, conversely, Clemson is Top 11 in both while Bama is Top 33 in both, so ND has seen it already.
3. Bama losing All-American C Landon Dickerson is huge. They have yet to play a game this season without him, and to do so against one of the top defenses they'll face will be problematic for them. This is a huge opportunity for ND's defense to be aggressive pushing up the middle and causing disruption, which as previously mentioned in #1, will be an issue for Mac Jones.
4. Bama's #1 deficiency on defense is defending athletic TEs. Well, welcome to TE U! The Top 3 TEs Bama has faced this season put up big numbers: Pitt (FL) - 7/129/1; Yeboah (Ole Miss) - 7/181/2; Wydermeyer (A&M) - 8/82. Mayer and Tremble are the #4 & #6 best TE's individually (statistically speaking) that Bama will face this season. Combined, they're the 2nd best unit Bama will face after Florida's Kyle Pitts. Big opportunity for ND's offense to exploit Bama's defense, put them on their heels, and open up the running game.
5. JOK is the single best defender Bama will have faced this season. Their 2 lowest scoring outputs of the season (Mizzou 38pts & Georgia 41pts) came against defenses with a Butkus Award finalist. And yet, JOK was not just a Butkus Award finalist - he was the winner. He's likely a future Top 15 NFL draft pick, and he will bring a level of versatility to the defense going against this Bama offense that will be a game changer.
Again, let's stay positive in this thread. Might as well! Go Irish!
