Will Kelly be patient enough for the running game this weekend?

[IrishBlooded]

Clemson has been very successful against Wofford, Appy St, and Louisville in shutting down the run game. At the beginning of the game, when everyone is fresh and there isn't as many holes in the defense for big runs, will Kelly be patient enough to scheme some runs? And sustain drives?

Think this game will be very cliche.
1. The best way to defeat Watson, is to keep him on the bench.
2. The team that has the best performance from their secondary, and most likely wins the time of possession game, will win this game.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Not in his DNA and Fuller is on the outside - just hope DK doesn't underthrow him.

 

[gipper04]

I think he will. ND has had very solid success on the ground YTD, with over 200 every game.
Clemson seems to play the pass to prevent explosives, and their LB core is not great against the pass. They seem to play an aggressive attacking LB style.
I think Kelly and Sanford may go more to the short passing game toward the middle of the field and try to get the LBs to back off, and bring the DBs forward. That will open the running lanes and even the longer passing game. If it works, ND could be in good shape.

The key is to keep the turnovers at 2 or under for the game.

 

[kellyirish35]

Clemson has been very successful against Wofford, Appy St, and Louisville in shutting down the run game. At the beginning of the game, when everyone is fresh and there isn't as many holes in the defense for big runs, will Kelly be patient enough to scheme some runs? And sustain drives?

Think this game will be very cliche.
1. The best way to defeat Watson, is to keep him on the bench.
2. The team that has the best performance from their secondary, and most likely wins the time of possession game, will win this game.

Good point about the secondary play - I said the same thing a few days ago

I hope this is not pie in the sky but ND might have a national champion level running attack - not sure anyone can "shut it down " LSU could not and it now appears that game was in fact a snap shot of what we are seeing now . LSU gave up 117 yds per game on the ground ND gouged them for 250 . Kizer will have to be part of the show on Saturday .

 

[88ND]

Good point about the secondary play - I said the same thing a few days ago

I hope this is not pie in the sky but ND might have a national champion level running attack - not sure anyone can "shut it down " LSU could not and it now appears that game was in fact a snap shot of what we are seeing now . LSU gave up 117 yds per game on the ground ND gouged them for 250 . Kizer will have to be part of the show on Saturday .

but remember that shredding was contributed by Malik sharing carries from the qb spot. Kizer is a tiny fraction of Malik in the running dept.
However, Malik was not setting the world afire against VA. Kizer forced to come in due to injury did win us the game, no?
I'm the first to point out he is so Damn heavy footed and I've yet to see him throw a deep in route, but the guy hasn't lost yet.

 

[HRC08]

I'm cautiously optimistic here.

 

[floridairish]

Depends if Procise goes backwards or forwards. Patient is another word for stubborn, ND is not going to win being consistently in 3rd and 7+ on the road at a place like Clemson. If it's working that's fantastic, ND just rushed for the most yards in 23 years. It it's not working, throw the ball to the talented athletic TE and WR corps.That's why you recruited them.

 

[Pennick4]

Coach Denbrock is calling the bulk of the plays.

 

[TurnoverMachine]

Probably not. He never is. I would like to see his OL impose its will for once and pick up 3 and short on the ground multiple times. UVA stuffed the run every time in those 3rd/4th down and inches situations a few weeks ago.

 

[coolirish9]

Kelly said yesterday on the college sports channel on Sirius xm that Clemson will load the box with there safeties to stop the run and that it will basically be on the wrs to win there one on one battles with the dbs in this game

 

[IRISHJD98]

Why will we need to be patient with the running game?

Lets just play already!

 

[gipper04]

Probably not. He never is. I would like to see his OL impose its will for once and pick up 3 and short on the ground multiple times. UVA stuffed the run every time in those 3rd/4th down and inches situations a few weeks ago.

Really? ND had 254 yards on the ground, averaging 7.4 per carry with only 2 carries over 25 yards. Which means they average 5.9 on 32 additional carries.

Their lowest total for the year was 214. I doubt that ND's rushing game will be an issue.
Clemson will likely try to take away the long passes and blitz a lot to pressure an "inexperienced QB".
I will be ND looks to the short pass in the middle to back off the LB blitzes, which will open up the running game.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

With the weather forecast for Saturday's game, the Irish may have to be patient running the ball.

 

[IRISHJD98]

In all serious, with talk of "Death Valley" and "The Hill" their players run down, it kinda makes you wonder how well their field drains.

 

[SiberianKnightmare]

New QB, very wet conditions, on the road, with arguably the best Oline in the country.....he better be freaking patient with the run game.

 

[echowaker]

Probably not. He never is. I would like to see his OL impose its will for once and pick up 3 and short on the ground multiple times. UVA stuffed the run every time in those 3rd/4th down and inches situations a few weeks ago.

the king of uneducated drivel. do you even watch the games ?

 

[floridairish]

To quote Alex Gibbs the Greatest OLine Coach in NFL History, " You can't run it into 9. Don't do it"
It does not matter how good your O Line may be, if they have more helmets than you, you are not running the ball against a team like Clemson, Rain does not hurt the passing game, wind hurts the passing game, Rain is actually an advantage because the receivers know where they are going, and the defensive backs are just reacting.

I suspect ND will come out throwing and try to hit some big plays before the field gets all chewed up, then rely on the defense, kicking game and the running game late to close out the game.

 

[Pennick4]

If they put 9 in the box, Fuller will win the Heisman on Saturday.

 

[coolirish9]

again our wrs will have to win there one on one battles with the d-backs Saturday if they want to win the game because of Clemson loading the box to stop the run. that is what Kelly said yesterday in an interview on Sirius xm

 

[Granite45]

Clemson has been very successful against Wofford, Appy St, and Louisville in shutting down the run game. At the beginning of the game, when everyone is fresh and there isn't as many holes in the defense for big runs, will Kelly be patient enough to scheme some runs? And sustain drives?.

Certainly getting his share of criticism after the game for being too patient with trying to get the run nib game going.