The key to beating USC

[88ND]

The one thing that will determine win or lose against USC is very simple.

Our pass rush. Especially if we can do it by rushing just four.

If Darnold can eat lunch and have a lucky strike back there before any real pressure...he will dissect our defense gangster style.

Let's get a pass rush and make his world miserable.

 

[Bodizephax]

The one thing that will determine win or lose against USC is very simple.

Our pass rush. Especially if we can do it by rushing just four.

If Darnold can eat lunch and have a lucky strike back there before any real pressure...he will dissect our defense gangster style.

Let's get a pass rush and make his world miserable.

I agree 88 ! And I think Elko will have some blitz packages that will mess Darnold up !!

 

[justified1]

The one thing that will determine win or lose against USC is very simple.

Our pass rush. Especially if we can do it by rushing just four.

If Darnold can eat lunch and have a lucky strike back there before any real pressure...he will dissect our defense gangster style.

Let's get a pass rush and make his world miserable.

They lost more 2 DT’s - can SC even field a team? SC might be worse off than NC was.

 

[gkall24]

How is their o line? Hopefully we can get pressure with our front 4 so we don't have to blitz much. Don't want to put our guys in one on one situations with their speed and give up the big play. We have been doing a good job of playing bend but don't break.

 

[IrishInOntario]

They lost more 2 DT’s - can SC even field a team? SC might be worse off than NC was.

SC has gotten a lot healhier offensively. Both offensive linemen they were down, including their left tackle, will be back and they're only expected to be starting one freshman. Defensively, Porter Gustin is out, but their linebacking core is intact, as is a very good starting secondary. Rector has played well in the place of Gustin. They are missing two interior DL, but the Trojans are in far better shape than North Carolina was and their depth is much better and significantly more talented.

That said, they struggle against the run. I expected their experienced DC to get an extra hat in the box, especially on first and second down. ND will get their rushing yards but St. Brown, Claypool, Smith and Stepherson are going to have to make some plays against Marshall and Jones in single coverage. Wimbush also has to make those throws. ND isn't going to win simply running the ball. If they can't back those safeties off from flying down into the box, It's going to be tough sledding.

 

[justified1]

SC has gotten a lot healhier offensively. Both offensive linemen they were down, including their left tackle, will be back and they're only expected to be starting one freshman. Defensively, Porter Gustin is out, but their linebacking core is intact, as is a very good starting secondary. Rector has played well in the place of Gustin. They are missing two interior DL, but the Trojans are in far better shape than North Carolina was and their depth is much better and significantly more talented.

That said, they struggle against the run. I expected their experienced DC to get an extra hat in the box, especially on first and second down. ND will get their rushing yards but St. Brown, Claypool, Smith and Stepherson are going to have to make some plays against Marshall and Jones in single coverage. Wimbush also has to make those throws. ND isn't going to win simply running the ball. If they can't back those safeties off from flying down into the box, It's going to be tough sledding.

Gustin is a LB. How could the LB crew be intact and be missing it’s best starter?
Rector has played reasonably well but both he and Houston do not defend the run very well.
Houston is barely 210 lbs.

The returning players have missed significant time are may or may not be ready for extended playing time.
If the OL was not having problems, most likely, neither would Sam be playing as he is.
Fatu is likely out also. He was in an auto accident yesterday. He is in concussion protocol.
And yesterday 1 player (DT) retired due to injuries.
SC’s depth is in underclassmen with little or no experience.

 

[South Bender]

Need not only a pass rush, but have to contain Darnold and/or actually sack him. He is very dangerous and seems very comfortable when he's chased from the pocket.

 

[twalsh]

They lost more 2 DT’s - can SC even field a team? SC might be worse off than NC was.

But their starting point was much higher than UNC's.

 

[twalsh]

Need not only a pass rush, but have to contain Darnold and/or actually sack him. He is very dangerous and seems very comfortable when he's chased from the pocket.

More dangerous when the play breaks down and he scrambles.

 

[justified1]

But their starting point was much higher than UNC's.

Yes, SC had a more talented starting roster. But, injuries have decimated both teams.

 

[KJ23]

Comes down to Wimbush pass game....Need to run and pass against USC, NC St., and Miami. They are to good to just line up and run...Our D will be solid.

 

[Ara64]

Avoid USC's lightening kill shots like last year. We were down by one and in the blink of an eye they were leading by 17. We played them even the rest of the way. Avoid the disastrous turnovers and returns.

 

[88ND]

Avoid USC's lightening kill shots like last year. We were down by one and in the blink of an eye they were leading by 17. We played them even the rest of the way. Avoid the disastrous turnovers and returns.

This is critical as well. Ahd not to forget this USC has faced adversity dating back to the rose bowl game. So while they might be playing sporadically they do know how to win a big game.

This Notre Dame squad is sort of in uncharted waters.

 

[TAN1973]

One key would be...allow me to play... softball season is over...Another critical key would be... let’s not shit the bed!!!!!!

 

[Toby Smart]

IMHO, the defense must tackle and not let these USC guys bounce off of missed tackles for extra yards or even run free for long gainers. Robert Jones scares the Sam Hill out of me and the thought of him running wild is not too appealing. BTW: I heard Eric Hansen say that there are eight players with the last name of Jones on both rosters. First person to name all eight players wins a free pass to the Ricketts private suite for game seven of the NLCS.

 

[TAN1973]

If we play clean football... we win!!!!

 

[IrishInOntario]

Gustin is a LB. How could the LB crew be intact and be missing it’s best starter?
Rector has played reasonably well but both he and Houston do not defend the run very well.
Houston is barely 210 lbs.

The returning players have missed significant time are may or may not be ready for extended playing time.
If the OL was not having problems, most likely, neither would Sam be playing as he is.
Fatu is likely out also. He was in an auto accident yesterday. He is in concussion protocol.
And yesterday 1 player (DT) retired due to injuries.
SC’s depth is in underclassmen with little or no experience.

They play a 30 front. Gustin plays the standup defensive end, OLB hybrid. Since he has been injured they have played Rector with his hand on the ground, changing the look of the front. I agree they aren't great against the run at all, but they have an intact front which has shifted to more of 40 look.

 

[88ND]

IMHO, the defense must tackle and not let these USC guys bounce off of missed tackles for extra yards or even run free for long gainers. Robert Jones scares the Sam Hill out of me and the thought of him running wild is not too appealing. BTW: I heard Eric Hansen say that there are eight players with the last name of Jones on both rosters. First person to name all eight players wins a free pass to the Ricketts private suite for game seven of the NLCS.

We've been tackling night and day compared to the last three years.

However outside of OSU two fiestas ago this is the most talented opponent we are seeing since that game so we'll see just how improved we really are on defense.

 

[tbonesays]

Need not only a pass rush, but have to contain Darnold and/or actually sack him. He is very dangerous and seems very comfortable when he's chased from the pocket.

I watched SC play Wazzou and Utah and Darnold's scrambling was really the only thing they had keeping them alive. I trust Elko will have a lb in place to jar the ball loose.

 

[Pennick44]

I think the key is to score more points.

 

[Telx1]

I think the key is to score more points.

Succinct, accurate, and to the “point”!

 

[DieHard_Irish]

I think the key is to score more points.

Yup I agree, I'm going with score more points