saw a few comments and i will be the first to admit im not super hardcore into all the x's and o's so would like thoughts on some things i saw posted other places....

 

"When bama runs a 2 TE set, theres a block on everyone. You may think Te'o is "All That", but lets see how he stands up to a pulling guard that weighs 300+. This O-line has 4 or 5 NFL starters. People dont realize how good they are."

 

"Te'o would be UGA's third best linebacker"

 

"Bama could run the ball at will because they have an NFL ready offensive line. ND is supposed to be great at stopping the run, but they haven't yet seen a ground attack like the Tide's."

...I guess we will see...Teo starts on every team in the country and would've last season and probably the one before also....

 

I will agree though...this offensive line WILL BE like nothing ND has seen...Stanford was very physical...but Alabama is a little more physical (at least along the OL)...It will be a true test for ND...but it will be a true test for Bama also...thats what makes the National Championship so fun to watch

 

I think ND has a good chance, but make no mistake about it this WILL BE the most difficult team ND has played in a LONG time...probably since the bush push game...This Notre Dame team has far exceeded my expectations and I'm just excited to see if they can win this thing...been waiting all 21 years for this game

...I guess we will see...Teo starts on every team in the country and would've last season and probably the one before also....

 

I will agree though...this offensive line WILL BE like nothing ND has seen...Stanford was very physical...but Alabama is a little more physical (at least along the OL)...It will be a true test for ND...but it will be a true test for Bama also...thats what makes the National Championship so fun to watch

 

I think ND has a good chance, but make no mistake about it this WILL BE the most difficult team ND has played in a LONG time...probably since the bush push game...This Notre Dame team has far exceeded my expectations and I'm just excited to see if they can win this thing...been waiting all 21 years for this game

 

thanks for some input, i love the irish and always have but like i said i admit im not so much into all the x's and o's...

saw a few comments and i will be the first to admit im not super hardcore into all the x's and o's so would like thoughts on some things i saw posted other places....

 

"When bama runs a 2 TE set, theres a block on everyone. You may think Te'o is "All That", but lets see how he stands up to a pulling guard that weighs 300+. This O-line has 4 or 5 NFL starters. People dont realize how good they are."

 

"Te'o would be UGA's third best linebacker"

 

"Bama could run the ball at will because they have an NFL ready offensive line. ND is supposed to be great at stopping the run, but they haven't yet seen a ground attack like the Tide's."

When Bama goes into a 2 TE set, they have 7 blockers at or around the LOS. The best way for our D to stop their run is for one or two of our DL to command a double team which will free up our LBs to flow to the fill the hole and get Yeldon and Lacy moving sideways. Our D really flows well to the ball so if we can get them moving sideways, we should win some battles.

 

Having said all that, their OL is really, really good. I think Chance Warmack is going to be a first rounder and Barrett Jones is a stud as well. DJ Fluker and Cyrus Koundijo are great tackles and Steen is no slouch either.

 

Lou Nix needs to play the game of his life, its going to be a war in the middle and if he can disrupt plays like he has all season we can slow them down.

 

We need Lou Nix to play the game of his life because it is going to be war in the middle of the line.

Edited December 3, 201212 yr by Pregame

When Bama goes into a 2 TE set, they have 7 blockers at or around the LOS. The best way for our D to stop their run is for one or two of our OL to command a double team which will free up our LBs to flow to the fill the hole and get Yeldon and Lacy moving sideways. Our D really flows well to the ball so if we can get them moving sideways, we should win some battles.

 

Having said all that, their OL is really, really good. I think Chance Warmack is going to be a first rounder and Barrett Jones is a stud as well. DJ Fluker and Cyrus Koundijo are great tackles and Steen is no slouch either.

 

Lou Nix needs to play the game of his life, its going to be a war in the middle and if he can disrupt plays like he has all season we can slow them down.

 

We need Lou Nix to play the game of his life because it is going to be war in the middle of the line.

 

thanks for this perspective, i understand it a lot better now

saw a few comments and i will be the first to admit im not super hardcore into all the x's and o's so would like thoughts on some things i saw posted other places....

 

"When bama runs a 2 TE set, theres a block on everyone. You may think Te'o is "All That", but lets see how he stands up to a pulling guard that weighs 300+. This O-line has 4 or 5 NFL starters. People dont realize how good they are."

 

"Te'o would be UGA's third best linebacker"

 

"Bama could run the ball at will because they have an NFL ready offensive line. ND is supposed to be great at stopping the run, but they haven't yet seen a ground attack like the Tide's."

 

All I hear is "blahblah..blahblahblah...blah...Notre Dame hasn't seen....blahblahblahblahblah"...

 

In all seriousness...

 

Notre Dame was not going to be able to stop Navy's gimmick offense and the Middies would be in prime position for the upset...

 

Notre Dame was barely able to beat Purdue after allowing them to hang around when the game was being controlled by the Irish (and Danny Hope-less was contributing by playing the least effective QB possible...)...but despite the lackluster performance, they did not blow the game after travelling to Dublin and back the week earlier...

 

At MIGHIGAN STATE?!?!?! #10 in the country MSU??? On the ROAD??? At NIGHT??? Surely there was no chance for Notre Dame...they hadn't seen toughness like this yet...they hadn't seen a running back as good as Bell...they would get hats handed to them and knocked out of meaningful bowls games again in September...did not happen that way....

 

Michigan? NO CHANCE....Denard Robinson was 3-0 (with an assist to Tate Forcier) at ripping out Irish hearts and the Irish were VERY vulnerable against Purdue...6 turnovers later and the worst game of Denard's life later, the Irish were STILL unbeaten!

 

Miami? Too FAST....QB and WRs would expose the secondary at last....did not happen....

 

Stanford? Too PHYSICAL, too TOUGH...Stefan Taylor was way too good for the Irish...did not happen (and Taylor did NOT score and there was no "controversy" in the result either!!!)...

 

BYU? They had not faced a DEFENSE like this...there is a upset looming in this "trap game"....uh, ugly sure, but let down? No...did not happen...

 

Oklahoma? Well...combine MSU and Miami and Stanford and you get OU....too fast, too many WRs, too good at QB, too tough, on the ROAD? at Night? In NORMAN? against STOOPS?.....double digit underdogs and it won't be close...did NOT HAPPEN....

 

Pitt, BC, Wake....surely the 3OT PROVES how lousy Notre Dame is, and besides, they ALWAYS lose games to BC that ruin their seasons like '93 and '02 and now!!! DID NOT HAPPEN!!!

 

USC? Those WRs - even with Wittek at QB instead of Barkley - will expose ND's suspect DBs (although exactly who they were still "suspect" to is beyond me)....but IT DID NOT HAPPEN!!!

 

Now Alabama....invincible. Gridiron GODS. Led by Jesus' go to guy for football strategy, Saint Nick the Saban...from the almighty SEC....Notre Dame hasn't seen "insert every player, position and unit from Tuscaloosa here"....

 

34 more days of this...34 more days of Notre Dame being told over and over and over that they do not belong, that its a bigger injustice to have Florida in the Sugar Bowl than the NIU in the Orange because of those undeserving Catholics with their BS legacy and history and irrelevancy....

 

When the game ends, I am going to call about a dozen people who have told me that ND is a paper tiger this year and I am going to scream in their damn ears " ANY F'G QUESTIONS LEFT???"

 

Go IRISH!!

Beat 'Bama!!!

Edited December 3, 201212 yr by SpeedsterX

All I hear is "blahblah..blahblahblah...blah...Notre Dame hasn't seen....blahblahblahblahblah"...

 

In all seriousness...

 

Notre Dame was not going to be able to stop Navy's gimmick offense and the Middies would be in prime position for the upset...

 

Notre Dame was barely able to beat Purdue after allowing them to hang around when the game was being controlled by the Irish (and Danny Hope-less was contributing by playing the least effective QB possible...)...but despite the lackluster performance, they did not blow the game after travelling to Dublin and back the week earlier...

 

At MIGHIGAN STATE?!?!?! #10 in the country MSU??? On the ROAD??? At NIGHT??? Surely there was no chance for Notre Dame...they hadn't seen toughness like this yet...they hadn't seen a running back as good as Bell...they would get hats handed to them and knocked out of meaningful bowls games again in September...did not happen that way....

 

Michigan? NO CHANCE....Denard Robinson was 3-0 (with an assist to Tate Forcier) at ripping out Irish hearts and the Irish were VERY vulnerable against Purdue...6 turnovers later and the worst game of Denard's life later, the Irish were STILL unbeaten!

 

Miami? Too FAST....QB and WRs would expose the secondary at last....did not happen....

 

Stanford? Too PHYSICAL, too TOUGH...Stefan Taylor was way too good for the Irish...did not happen (and Taylor did NOT score and there was no "controversy" in the result either!!!)...

 

BYU? They had not faced a DEFENSE like this...there is a upset looming in this "trap game"....uh, ugly sure, but let down? No...did not happen...

 

Oklahoma? Well...combine MSU and Miami and Stanford and you get OU....too fast, too many WRs, too good at QB, too tough, on the ROAD? at Night? In NORMAN? against STOOPS?.....double digit underdogs and it won't be close...did NOT HAPPEN....

 

Pitt, BC, Wake....surely the 3OT PROVES how lousy Notre Dame is, and besides, they ALWAYS lose games to BC that ruin their seasons like '93 and '02 and now!!! DID NOT HAPPEN!!!

 

USC? Those WRs - even with Wittek at QB instead of Barkley - will expose ND's suspect DBs (although exactly who they were still "suspect" to is beyond me)....but IT DID NOT HAPPEN!!!

 

Now Alabama....invincible. Gridiron GODS. Led by Jesus' go to guy for football strategy, Saint Nick the Saban...from the almighty SEC....Notre Dame hasn't seen "insert every player, position and unit from Tuscaloosa here"....

 

34 more days of this...34 more days of Notre Dame being told over and over and over that they do not belong, that its a bigger injustice to have Florida in the Sugar Bowl than the NIU in the Orange because of those undeserving Catholics with their BS legacy and history and irrelevancy....

 

When the game ends, I am going to call about a dozen people who have told me that ND is a paper tiger this year and I am going to scream in their damn ears " ANY F'G QUESTIONS LEFT???"

 

Go IRISH!!

Beat 'Bama!!!

 

:whoo: what a speech...

Edited December 3, 201212 yr by SpeedsterX

Diaco's 3-4 defensive scheme is a "2 Gap" defense. Basically the D-line is required to cover 2 gaps...Nix, Tuit, and the rest of the DL need to have the game of their lives.

 

They must win their 1 on 1 battle which makes the OL switch to double teaming at the point of attack...once that happens the LBs now are allowed to run free.

 

Alabama's OL is awesome...this is a tough road to hoe...just 34(?) more days to worry about this...wtf

 

Go Irish!

I was unaware that Alabama is the only team in America that utilizes a pulling guard.

 

Notre Dame should look into this innovative tactical advantage.

We need to use our speed, quickness, discipline and tackling ability and we will be able to hold our own against the 'Bama run game. The size and brute strength of the Alabama o-line is impressive, but watching the game their speed and quickness was not and this is where I think we have an advantage along with our depth along the d-line. I don't think we wear down late in the game like Georgia appeared to do.

So how did Texas AM manage to win with this "NFL" line they faced?

So how did Texas AM manage to win with this "NFL" line they faced?

 

Texas has a pro-bowl line. :gossip:

So how did Texas AM manage to win with this "NFL" line they faced?

 

1.) They played LSU the week before. It's a tough job to play LSU and play against a quality team the next week. LSU plays one of the ugliest and physical games in the nation. LSU is probably the most physical team in the nation.

 

2.) Alabama got confused. They threw the ball more than they passed. Fourth and goal from the 2? If you're Alabama, you run the ball.

 

3.) Turnovers. There's a very old football rule- you can't win -3 in turnovers. I've watched football for 30 years, and I can count the number of times I've seen a team win -3 in turnovers on one hand with fingers to spare. That's high school, college, and pro.

 

4.) Related to number 2, Texas A&M beat Alabama with offense. They put 20 points up on the board in a hurry. This got Alabama out of its game plan. They went 11-18 on third down. That's impressive.

 

5.) Penalties- Alabama had a lot of penalties that really hurt them. I don't think they had a penalty that didn't put them in a bad spot the whole game.

1.) They played LSU the week before. It's a tough job to play LSU and play against a quality team the next week. LSU plays one of the ugliest and physical games in the nation. LSU is probably the SECOND MOST physical team in the nation.

 

Fixed it for you.

 

2.) Alabama got confused. They threw the ball more than they passed. Fourth and goal from the 2? If you're Alabama, you run the ball.

 

You can't run it in on ND from the 2, or the 1, or the 1/2. They'll have to pass.

 

3.) Turnovers. There's a very old football rule- you can't win -3 in turnovers. I've watched football for 30 years, and I can count the number of times I've seen a team win -3 in turnovers on one hand with fingers to spare. That's high school, college, and pro.

 

I'm assuming you are counting the time ND did it this year? And the time they did it in 2010? And the time they did it in 2008? You must not have many fingers.

 

4.) Related to number 2, Texas A&M beat Alabama with offense. They put 20 points up on the board in a hurry. This got Alabama out of its game plan. They went 11-18 on third down. That's impressive.

 

ND is top 20 in 3rd down conversions this year.

 

5.) Penalties- Alabama had a lot of penalties that really hurt them. I don't think they had a penalty that didn't put them in a bad spot the whole game.

 

I don't have much to say about this. Other than they had a bunch of mistakes vs. Georgia as well. And LSU. Maybe they make mistakes against good teams?

Fixed it for you.

 

I think LSU is more physical than your defense. It's not a knock. It doesn't mean they're better.

 

You can't run it in on ND from the 2, or the 1, or the 1/2. They'll have to pass.

 

The response was how did TAMU win against the line. It will be interesting to see whether or not Alabama can run on ND. I'm leaning towards they will. Pitt ran the ball very well on ND.

 

I'm assuming you are counting the time ND did it this year? And the time they did it in 2010? And the time they did it in 2008? You must not have many fingers.

 

- should be +. You should have realized this lol.

 

ND is top 20 in 3rd down conversions this year.

 

Yes, but while you may love to hate on the SEC. The Big 10 and Big 12 teams you play are extremely overrated. Stanford is about the only team you played with a defense.

 

I don't have much to say about this. Other than they had a bunch of mistakes vs. Georgia as well. And LSU. Maybe they make mistakes against good teams?

 

It's more that SEC teams are prone to having undisciplined games- some more so than others.

Some of this is technically right, but with caveats.

 

Yes, Pitt did OK running vs. ND. In the first half when Louis Nix didn't play because he was ill. Once Nix came in, Pitt did very little running the ball and had 22 total yards in the 4th quarter and OT. Nix makes the defense go, take Jesse Williams away from Bama and see how their run D would struggle.

 

No, I meant -3. ND beat Pitt, USC and Navy in the last five seasons being -3 in turnovers. Those aren't the best teams I know, but ND has done what you called nearly undoable three times in five years. I'm sure there are more examples.

 

Got it. Every team ND puts up good numbers against is overrated. But every team the SEC does it against is really, really good. I'll never fathom how the SEC gets such great numbers vs. the likes of W. Carolina, Georgia Southern, Florida Atlantic et al.