da coach Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 I have only seen the box scores, but Michigan State has been running the hell out of the ball and their coach impressed the hell out of me last year when he turned them around. I know they are young and thin at places (as every team is) but this looks like a formidable opponent...and if we can win this one, it sets us up for a nice run into the meat of the schedule... With winnable games against Purdue and Stanford next, a 5-0 start heading into a wildcard game at UNC...we could come up in the polls... and with winnable games at Washington and home against Pitt, we should leap frog a few teams by then...the we are at a rebuilding BC team and at Navy, thereby bumping us up to a possible top 12 spot...Home against Syracuse... we could enter the USC game undefeated and in the top 10... But we have to win this one first and it looks like the toughest game we will face for the next 8-10 weeks... BCS dreams are alive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Fence Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 MSU has had some really nice talent in the past and they've always played us tough, but their issue has been a tendancy to melt down during the season due to lack of discipline. With Dantonio, he was hired because of his track record and his discipline, and they showed that last year. Also, with the transition at UM, they have been able to bring in some nice talent lately. No question this will be a tough game for us and they will be ready. I hope our guys have a bad taste in their mouths for the few years in the past they have handed it to us. C'mon guys, remember the flag planting!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish21 Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 MSU lost a lot from last season. I think 3 OL, their power RB, best WR and TE are all gone from last year. The two DE's Baldwin and St. Dic are gone and so is their best LB. So they are def not as talented as last year. ND has won the last 3 at MSU. Not saying we win, just something to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGrizz Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 No doubt they will be hard to beat- seeing that they are favored by 8 & 1/2 points! I hope Corwin and JT make them 1 demensional and are able to stuff their strength- the running game, cause I think our secondary can stiffle the passing game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdrdreamer Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 No doubt they will be hard to beat- seeing that they are favored by 8 & 1/2 points! I hope Corwin and JT make them 1 demensional and are able to stuff their strength- the running game, cause I think our secondary can stiffle the passing game. We seem a much faster team on the field. I also have alot of faith in our secondary. It will diffinately take a complete team effort. And they will be fired up for us...we are and always be Notre Dame. Always regardless of rankings...we are a big feather in anyones hat...if they beat us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishGrizz Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 You notice no team that ever beats us says that it wasn't a big win against a historic team? But lately, whoever we beat isn't much. Oh, well. We made our bed over the last few regiemes, now we gotta prove that we are back. Like Charlie said last year, you better get us now(meaning '07) cause we will return.. This is year 1. Next year, even more so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domeanddomer Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 One of the concerns I have with the MSU game, defensively speaking, is ND concentrating TOO much on Jevon Ringer this week in practice and on film. The concern lies with the possibility of sneaky plays for big yardage during the game as we stare at Ringer. I think we will be pretty dang confident with our secondary's ability to play man allowing us to stack the box pretty well. We will need speed to the outside and phenominal tackling on the first hit to keep Ringer under raps. The corners will need to be play makers more in this game than the first two IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest irishrick Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 the way i see it is MSU will win the first half and the Irish will come back and lock up the game in the forth, by 10 points. count on it . go Irish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishCalves Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 the way i see it is MSU will win the first half and the Irish will come back and lock up the game in the forth, by 10 points. count on it . go Irish I see it being pretty close here too Rick. I think this game will be won by the defenses. I dont have a lot of faith in Hoyer, but he is hot and cold. I think we can finally dial up some blitzes that get home now that we'll finally see our base defensive fronts, and maybe we can rattle a QB this week. Feeling something along the lines of 27-17. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest youngon1e Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 MSU is a power running team there QB doesnt run or throw well and we have a young clausen who is improving week by week. javon is basically all we got and our DLine should slow him down enough to get the LB in it. the key to this win is the running game and if we cant stop him we cant win he is most likely going to be on the heisman list if he keeps this up but if we win this his chances will go down. there very beatable but if ND doesnt play a balanced passing and running game to keep MSU defence on there toes like ND did against michigan. Notre Dame will come out with the W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Fence Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Calves - you're sure down on Hoyer. I am of the opinion he plays his best games against us. Keep in mind, last year he threw FOUR (4!) TD passes against us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ND FANATIC Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Calves - you're sure down on Hoyer. I am of the opinion he plays his best games against us. Keep in mind, last year he threw FOUR (4!) TD passes against us. who didn't..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donjuan Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 who didn't..... I think we stopped James Bethel-McCloud--I can't remember his name, but the UCLA waterboy who was thrown into action. I think my mom also threw for 3 touchdowns against us too, so yeah...we sucked last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unconditionally ND Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 With winnable games against Purdue and Stanford next I agree that USC and Michigan St. are probably our toughest opponents, but am I the only one that thinks Purdue could give us fits? They have been putting up some decent numbers despite caving against Oregon last weekend. I know Northern Colorado is not exactly a powerhouse, but Purdue beat them pretty handily. Oregon is no slouch team as their ranking and comeback can attest. I, for one, think we should not overlook the Boilermakers. What say you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest youngon1e Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 true purdue does have a pretty good program this year. its not gunna be an easy season after MSU. every game is gunna have there playing thats gunna give them fits. but yes i agree purdue does have a pretty good program this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Chris Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 The next two games are going to be really tough. Thank God we have stanford in between Purdue and UNC. Otherwise that would be 3 really tough games in a row. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDJoe06 Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I am still not sure what to expect, but think about how in both games we did not have to really open up the playbook. If we play with the focus and intensity that we did last week on D, O, and ST, then we can't lose. That is a tough task. I am so nervous, but i am ready to show our talent! GO IRISH!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donjuan Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 "The Spartans will be the second consecutive Big Ten team to take on Notre Dame when the two meet Saturday. The Irish are 2-0 after knocking off UM 35-17 last week. To fully illustrate Notre Dame's turnaround thus far from last year's disastrous 3-9 record, Dantonio offered this gem: 'Obviously they're 2-0 whereas last year they were, um, not.'" -I read this in the Toledo Blade today. I hope we fight hard this game. What a strong showing could do for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SirJohn Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Great quote and post Don. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ND FANATIC Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 I read this in the Toledo Blade today. I can't believe you read that rag....... This game has scared me more than the UM game all year. It should be a slugfest like it is every year..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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