last year we opened against SDSU and as we all remember our young, not real confident team, pounded it till we almost let that game get away and opened up to get em in quarter 4-----the NEVADA wolfpack is a midling WAC team-- that did HOWEVER get to a bowl game last year with a pretty fair offense, albeit an unsuccessful effort---so many will see this opening game as anything but a lock--- here is the last 5 years ranking for NEVADAs recruiting-----09-#110--08--#109--07-#105--06-#82--05--#106----yes we have a long wait for kickoff but the players wont change---NEVADA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY WITHIN 30 points!!--- and the IRISH will set a different tone then last years stumbling bumbling start ,against a team whose coach cound't tell if we were better then CALPOLY---- I GUARANTEE you wont here anything like that in 09!

nevada has a real good rushing offense but their defense flat out stinks. ND should move the ball at will threw the air but i'd like to see ND pound the ball for 6-7 yards a pop. i don't know how good nevada's passing game is but if they can't pass the ball then ND will load up on the run and just dare them to pass.

last year's nevada team also had an nfl prospect at WR if i recall correctly. he seemed to make that team tick. in the bowl game they took him away and seemed to struggle.

I'm actually afraid of Nevada b/c their strength (running) matches up well with our weakness and because it's crucial for us to build off the bowl game confidence.

 

They run the ball well with their slightly gimmicky "pistol" formation (basically shotgun with the RB behind the QB instead of next to him). Our weakness on D the last few years has been stopping the run and i expect that to still be the case this year.

 

It's true that we shouldn't be worrying about a team like Nevada, but that's life right now. I'd love it if we didn't have to bring 8 guys on every play to shut down the run against a crap team, but time will tell. Let's just say I don't want Kyle McCarthy to be the leading tackler this year.

 

But right now we have a young DL (without a coach) and inexperienced LB's (with the exception of B Smith). Can't afford to take the lowly Wolfpack for granted.

unr will be a tougher test than sdsu in terms of the talent on the team. saying that, i believe charlie & co. will win decisively in order to: a) instill confidence in the guys that they can win by multiple scores b) use as many weapons as possible to instill fear for future opponents and c) instill confidence in the players that they're improving and that the respective schemes (o,d) are lethal when executed properly. i'm getting excited for next september already!

have to shake the mentality of the last two years guys--- this is no longer a team of rookies-- nevada is nowhere as good as the rainbow warriors--- we will BURY this team---i guess alot of fans are from missouri and i can appreciate that--- but this team and more importantly THIS PROGRAM--will turn the corner in a BIG WAY THIS SEASON!---nevada is just a WARM UP GAME which is as it should be--- as far as our defense goes, yes we have no dline coach, but we will have a coach we will be happy with very soon---we have a fast excellent seasoned secondary--- the best group of linebackers in many many many years--- and a DLINE with plenty of young talent and quality players------ it will take alot more then the nevada offense too push the 09 version of the ND defense! and the ND offense will be explosive from the GET GO!

We really need to set the tone with this game. A flat start will be a poor showing and will again raise doubt as to the strength of our program with Charlie at the helm. I'd love to see a Pitt showing ala Charlie's first year. Have a season similar to that one and end with a bowl victory and I'd be a happy Domer.

We are going to drill Nevada!!!

As the resident expert on Nevada (followed them since 1973) I will give you some quick notes on them.

 

Strengths - Very experienced coach who has been in a lot of big games...

Program has played big teams before and will not be in awe of ND...

Likes to run, but has a decent passing game and can make the big play.

Has one of the best running quarterbacks in college football.

Team usually plays with above average intensity and discipline.

Deep at running back...no injury or fatigue issues there

Has a long history of big comebacks...

 

Weaknesses - Mainly 2 star athletes which create the usual mismatch problems against top

programs...

Defensive backfield has speed issues versus top receivers.

Defensive line has depth and size issues. (like most mid-majors)

Clock management has been a problem...especially in big games.

Play selection can be shaky at key times in a game.

 

(No of-fense' Hawaiiirish, but quality wise Nevada is exactly like the warriors. Reverse the Hawaii emphasis on passing versus the run and you have Nevada.)

 

Overall -

 

Pre Aloha Bowl ND - ND squeaks out a close one as Nevada throws an interception to

Walls in the end zone. Result - Can you say 2008 part deux.

 

Post Aloha Bowl ND - ND whips Nevada (just like Hawaii) and keeps them under 200

yards rushing and 150 yards passing. Result - There's a new

fightin Irishman in town. And his name is...(fill in the blank)

 

Let's roll in 2009.

 

Thanks for listening,

That is all...

have to shake the mentality of the last two years guys--- this is no longer a team of rookies-- nevada is nowhere as good as the rainbow warriors--- we will BURY this team---i guess alot of fans are from missouri and i can appreciate that--- but this team and more importantly THIS PROGRAM--will turn the corner in a BIG WAY THIS SEASON!---nevada is just a WARM UP GAME which is as it should be--- as far as our defense goes, yes we have no dline coach, but we will have a coach we will be happy with very soon---we have a fast excellent seasoned secondary--- the best group of linebackers in many many many years--- and a DLINE with plenty of young talent and quality players------ it will take alot more then the nevada offense too push the 09 version of the ND defense! and the ND offense will be explosive from the GET GO!

 

Hawaii I like your thinking, that's what I've been feeling all along. We'll be an experienced team next year.. No longer do we have to field freshman out of necessity, unless they're just that GOOD. We have a lot of unknowns on our DL, but I'm excited about depth, we'll be able to throw bodies in and out. Not to mention I feel that the linebacker position will be a strength next year. We'll also be super athletic... very fast on Defense, I'm seriously not worried about the spread, or pistol. Darin Walls is a LOCKDOWN corner, and I expect RJ to be the same way. I expect us to run away in this game.. So much to the point that a close game has not crossed my mind.. IMO, I just feel this team has turned the corner.

Bingo!!!!!

I am going to go against the grain and disagree with you guys here.

 

I think CW will do the same thing he did last year and run a plain vanilla offense against them. He doesn't want to tip his hand to other schools as to what he want to do offensively. We all saw this last year in the first game. Until he needed to press more, (4th quarter) he pushed the gas peddle just enough to get a W. Just my 2 cents.

I am going to go against the grain and disagree with you guys here.

 

I think CW will do the same thing he did last year and run a plain vanilla offense against them. He doesn't want to tip his hand to other schools as to what he want to do offensively. We all saw this last year in the first game. Until he needed to press more, (4th quarter) he pushed the gas peddle just enough to get a W. Just my 2 cents.

 

I agree with you that CW's pattern is to not show "too much".. but I agree with Hawaii that he needs to smash the Wolfpack in a humiliating way to build confidence.

I am going to go against the grain and disagree with you guys here.

 

I think CW will do the same thing he did last year and run a plain vanilla offense against them. He doesn't want to tip his hand to other schools as to what he want to do offensively. We all saw this last year in the first game. Until he needed to press more, (4th quarter) he pushed the gas peddle just enough to get a W. Just my 2 cents.

 

This is one argument I have never bought. This will be Charlie Weis' 5th year here, plus 20+ years in other places, do you think he still has a bunch of "tricks up his sleeve" that other coaches don't have video of? Come on, by know we all know Charlie Weis' MO, same play out of multiple formations and personel groupings trying to capitalize on matchups. I'm still a huge believer, in particular when it comes to college football, that "it isn't the X's and O's, it's the Jimmies and the Joes."

 

Also, do you think it is worth saving those amazing tricks and possibly losing a game to a marginal mid-major team? (Which is basically what we almost did last year with SDSU) I think you should play EVERY game to destroy the other team. Cuz when it comes right down to it, regarless of who you are playing, if everyone beats the guy across from you every play, you will win 9 out of 10 games.

Edited February 13, 200916 yr by SDIrishFan

This is one argument I have never bought. This will be Charlie Weis' 5th year here, plus 20+ years in other places, do you think he still has a bunch of "tricks up his sleeve" that other coaches don't have video of? Come on, by know we all know Charlie Weis' MO, same play out of multiple formations and personel groupings trying to capitalize on matchups. I'm still a huge believer, in particular when it comes to college football, that "it isn't the X's and O's, it's the Jimmies and the Joes."

 

Also, do you think it is worth saving those amazing tricks and possibly losing a game to a marginal mid-major team? (Which is basically what we almost did last year with SDSU) I think you should play EVERY game to destroy the other team. Cuz when it comes right down to it, regarless of who you are playing, if everyone beats the guy across from you every play, you will win 9 out of 10 games.

 

Actually, always thought that this type of thing was common place among coaches (not just CW). Why show a formation(s) or play(s) against a weaker opponent when you plan on using something similar against a harder opponent?

 

I think if you ask BSU they would say that some plays were worth saving. -Not the best example in the world but look at some of other games over the years. UM getting beat by Appy St. You think UM was running all the plays in the playbook?

I'm waiting before I make any conclusions about strengths vs. weaknesses on D or O. And I'll certainly be waiting before I make gameday predictions.

 

Remember, a year ago we were going to "pound it", and we ended up abandoning the run for entire quarters and just chucked the ball around the yard just to get by. A lot can change in a year's time is my point.

 

In particular, for the spring Ill be watching to see if the Dline takes a step up (a lot of guys that sat out last year, we'll see if someone makes a Harrison-esque impact there), who emerges at LT, and how Tony Alford impacts the patience of our RBs.