ChampionshipDefense

I think the biggest key in my mind isn't necessarily whether they can handle the pace, but making the defense more vanilla for our offensive line. Its very hard to have complex defense when you have to line up and play right away. You also can't switch in and out of defenses with this. This plays into Notre Dame's hands in my opinion.

I don't think we are going to go Oregon style fast, but faster than we ever have before. I think this is going to be a huge factor in the game.

I was just thinking to myself, if I was a coach, what would I do to simplify the game for my QB, and eliminate the ability of a defensive coordinator to try and confuse me with multiple looks? How do you let the air out of the crowd? How do you let your Big Offensive line wear down an opponent early in a game? You run the hurry up. Last year, when we played Michigan we had a very slow tempo, and rightfully slow. We played to let our defense win the game. This year, however, I expect us to go full throttle and faster than we have ever before. This is mainly because I think clearly we are deeper than they are, as well as, I think we can simplify the complexities of Michigan's defenses by not allowing them to set up and change their defenses much. I could be totally wrong, but with Rees at the helm, I think this is a real possibility..What does everyone else think?

Has anyone else noticed all the Media guys picking Michigan to win this game, but not ever stating a reason why? This game is really starting to remind me of the Michigan State game from last year. Ranked team on the road. Supposed QB problems. ND not looking Superb the week before (in some's eyes). I feel like ND is supposed to lose just because they are ND and they lose these games. Not because Michigan is better. Maybe I'm just crazy.

I think the real question is what is everyone's definition of holding back? I view holding things back as: 1. Formations/Personnel. Being very vanilla in formations and personnel, means we use the same people for the same formations and run the same plays. I would say we did most of that. 2. Calling the same plays. I think our numerous bubble screens to TJ and running the same running plays in the middle (1 HB counter, just to remind people of it) didn't show anything exotic, especially in the Pistol 3. Little Audibles on defense. When we were going to blitz, even if they knew it we still blitzed. We didn't show them what we like to fall back into in those situations. 4. Little differences in our defensive packages. We didn't show our full potential in the nickel, dime or any other type of defense we could run this year. In fact, until their qb started running, I bet we would have gone only in man coverage just to not show how we were going to run zones. Thats just what I saw, I think holding back can mean different things to everyone. Clearly we didn't run the same 3 plays all game. But we didn't open up the play book or show what we are going to lean on in a pinch.

Whe will beat UM this Week because: 1. We match up very well against them. Our DL is better across the board than their OL Our Secondary is better than their Receivers. Our OL is better than their DL Our WR are better than their Secondary. Troy Niklas.

This is a good point. And I'll say this. ND consistently beat Temple in all one on one match ups. They were able to be play very vanilla and just out athlete Temple, especially in the passing game. I mean We ran simple bubble screens for huge plays because of Niklas' physicality. Gardener, on passing plays, had to use his legs because receivers weren't getting open. Now I understand Gardener is supposed to use his legs in that situation. But Look at a guy like Braxton Miller who we all know can run, but didn't run for most of the game because his receivers continually beat Buffalo.

I don't think Gardener is accurate even in the deep ball. Add in the fact that I don't see Michigan's receiving core consistently beating our secondary, I like our defense in this situation. Just watch this past game against Central Michigan. Gardener stares down receivers blatantly. His other receivers couldn't get open. He ran out of necessity, not because its what he wanted to do. I think that is the key to all of this. Gardener can run, but if he has to run, we have the ability to cover their receivers and still spy. We did it last year, and we are in an even better position in the secondary this year to do it again.

Passing plays into Michigan's strengths on defense. They are undersized on the DLine and at Middle Linebacker. We need to run the ball. If Tommy can get us into the right play (something EG did poorly last year) and recognizes one on one coverage, I think our offense will play very well. If we go in and just plan on throwing for 350 yards, I think we run into problems.

Who scores is irrelevent. What positions score is important. 6 Rushing Touchdowns (2 from the QB), one passing. Receivers didn't get open except when Gardener scrambled. The team is a one trick pony, everything happens through Gardeners legs. CMU put them behind the chains quite a few times, but Gardener was able to beat them everytime. Now I understand stopping a QB like Gardener is hard, but we did it last year. That is why I like our chances.

I recommend watching the whole game. You'll be more confident, than just not worried.

I think we would have if Temple played like CMU. CMU turned the ball over, got a ton of stupid penalties, and looked overwhelmed in the big house. Temple on the other hand played pretty mistake free and controlled what they could. Is that ND playing poorly, or Temple playing well? That's in the eye of the beholder. Or maybe Notre Dame stadium is just an easy place to play at. The biggest take away I got from both games is that ND has multiple threats on offense. And, whether the Defense showed it or not, we saw last year that we have a pretty good defense. Michigan showed me their success is going to depend on Gardener. He is their only true play maker, outside of a guy like Norfleet is all about reverses and Special teams. Yes we should have scored more and we where a groin away from doing that, as well as running the clock out inside the 10. Its going to be a good game, but I think the spread tells me that Vegas likes ND a lot in this one. I mean with all the negativity the media is giving us, all the bad predictions and such, surely the public is going to take Michigan to cover.

As a runner he looked very good against an unathletic CMU team. As a passer I strongly disagree. But hey CFB daily has to build up the game correct?

Don't forget that great TD drive at the end of the 2011 game. Its easily forgotten because of what transpired overall in the game, but when it came down to it, he put together a great drive to get us the lead. We have the defense now (no matter how they played in game one) to prevent a comeback like that again.

CMU did lose their Best QB early in the first quarter, and their best Runningback, and probably best overall player in the first half. Rankings mean nothing this time of year, we can all agree on that. Especially once you get past 50. What is the real difference between 83 and 91 anyway? Watch the Michigan game. They won because their QB was too much an athlete for CM to contain. No one else really stood out on their team. If ND contains Gardener similar to what they did to Denard last year, we should win. But that is a very large If.