Jersey Irish Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 College game day barely mentioned the No. 3 team in the land, but when they finally did, the Irish were trashed as not the 3rd best team in the nation and "just a placeholder for Ohio St." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithInIrish Forever Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 College game day barely mentioned the No. 3 team in the land, but when they finally did, the Irish were trashed as not the 3rd best team in the nation and "just a placeholder for Ohio St." unfortunately 12-7 is a recipe for national reporters to take the easy route and scoreboard watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dardo Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Isn’t that the exact type of sentiment all of the boards had had as well? And for good reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndmike88 Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Can't argue with ESPN. Anyone who thinks the Irish are the #3 team in the country are fooling themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishwavend Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Yup. Did you watch OSU? They’re better than us because we don’t have a high level qb. Book is the definition of average...maybe slightly above... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawaiiirish Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 i expect us to be 6 and 0 when clemson comes to town...biggest game of the year so far in college football....and NOT ON ESPN ......so they can complain about our overrated team all they want.....it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING....sure we are not likely to beat clemson but thats why we play the games! aloha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcubby Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 ESPN is always bias due to the NBC contract...it is what it is...we are still below Clemson, Bama, and OSU until we beat one them. Obviously, the Clemson game is huge. And I’m OK with that. To be the man...you have to beat the man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Gloves Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 i expect us to be 6 and 0 when clemson comes to town...biggest game of the year so far in college football....and NOT ON ESPN ......so they can complain about our overrated team all they want.....it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING....sure we are not likely to beat clemson but thats why we play the games! aloha No that’s why all other teams play the games. ND plays big games to get curb stomped on the national stage and get mocked by all the ND haters out there. We are overrated and not even close to being the #3 team in the country. We are more in the 9-15 range if we are being realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd2000 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 No that’s why all other teams play the games. ND plays big games to get curb stomped on the national stage and get mocked by all the ND haters out there. We are overrated and not even close to being the #3 team in the country. We are more in the 9-15 range if we are being realistic. Most years, I’d totally agree. This year college football looks really watered down and most teams don’t have a defense. There are probably only 4 or 5 really good teams that we couldn’t hang with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndmike88 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Until Kelly wins THE game against a top ranked opponent (Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State...) ND will not be taken seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrown_9999 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 ESPN is always bias due to the NBC contract...it is what it is...we are still below Clemson, Bama, and OSU until we beat one them. Obviously, the Clemson game is huge. And I’m OK with that. To be the man...you have to beat the man. ND v Pitt game was on ABC, part of ESPN/Disney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrown_9999 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Until Kelly wins THE game against a top ranked opponent (Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State...) ND will not be taken seriously. Coming in to yesterday, ND's opponents had just won a combined 3 games versus FBS teams. I agree that Kelly needs to actually win a "big" game in order for folks to give ND any respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Gloves Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Most years, I’d totally agree. This year college football looks really watered down and most teams don’t have a defense. There are probably only 4 or 5 really good teams that we couldn’t hang with. I think for sure there are 4-5 teams that are head and shoulders better than ND this year: Bama, Clem, Georgia, OSU, Fla. however, I think there are some other teams that I think are better than ND but maybe not clearly better: Mich, Ore, Okl, Tex, UNC, and maybe Wisc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tneun89 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I think for sure there are 4-5 teams that are head and shoulders better than ND this year: Bama, Clem, Georgia, OSU, Fla. however, I think there are some other teams that I think are better than ND but maybe not clearly better: Mich, Ore, Okl, Tex, UNC, and maybe Wisc. I agree with the first part, except wouldn’t include UF with the others. I don’t think ND would beat UGA, but it would be close. They wouldn’t score more than 2 TDs against ND’s defense (but our offense would really struggle against their defense). UF would be a good game - they’d probably be favored but I don’t think it’s an easy win for them at all, especially not with their defense. Michigan and Wisconsin looked good, but they’ve only played one game. Too early to tell. Oregon has talent, but they had a lot of key players opt out, including their best player and half their secondary. So, not sure what they’ll look like. Not sure what Oklahoma and Texas have done to make them better than ND. OU is 3-2 with losses to Kansas State and Iowa State. Their offense is good, but not on the same level as past years. Their defense is still awful. Texas is even worse. They lost to TCU and OU. And their only Power 5 wins were against Texas Tech (63-56 in OT) and Baylor (27-16). I think Oklahoma State would be the only Big 12 team that could potentially beat ND. I’ve watched a good amount of UNC this year and think they’re a good team and expect a competitive game with ND later this season. They’ve got a lot of talent on offense, but their defense is suspect. They were getting smoked by FSU until a huge fourth quarter comeback, but still lost. Still, I think they’re a talented team and really the only team of this group that I’d be nervous to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Gloves Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I agree with the first part, except wouldn’t include UF with the others. I don’t think ND would beat UGA, but it would be close. They wouldn’t score more than 2 TDs against ND’s defense (but our offense would really struggle against their defense). UF would be a good game - they’d probably be favored but I don’t think it’s an easy win for them at all, especially not with their defense. Michigan and Wisconsin looked good, but they’ve only played one game. Too early to tell. Oregon has talent, but they had a lot of key players opt out, including their best player and half their secondary. So, not sure what they’ll look like. Not sure what Oklahoma and Texas have done to make them better than ND. OU is 3-2 with losses to Kansas State and Iowa State. Their offense is good, but not on the same level as past years. Their defense is still awful. Texas is even worse. They lost to TCU and OU. And their only Power 5 wins were against Texas Tech (63-56 in OT) and Baylor (27-16). I think Oklahoma State would be the only Big 12 team that could potentially beat ND. I’ve watched a good amount of UNC this year and think they’re a good team and expect a competitive game with ND later this season. They’ve got a lot of talent on offense, but their defense is suspect. They were getting smoked by FSU until a huge fourth quarter comeback, but still lost. Still, I think they’re a talented team and really the only team of this group that I’d be nervous to play. Yeah I’m not saying the second tier of teams I mentioned are for sure better than ND, but what I’m saying is that I think it is very much possible that those teams could beat us. I think we would struggle against teams that have potent offenses. Okl, Ore, Fla, UNC, definitely fit that mold. If a good team stacks the box and makes us one dimensional to pass the ball, I think we will be exposed. We have been fortunate so far that the teams we have played aren’t very good offensively to put up points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmfinsd Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Yeah I’m not saying the second tier of teams I mentioned are for sure better than ND, but what I’m saying is that I think it is very much possible that those teams could beat us. I think we would struggle against teams that have potent offenses. Okl, Ore, Fla, UNC, definitely fit that mold. If a good team stacks the box and makes us one dimensional to pass the ball, I think we will be exposed. We have been fortunate so far that the teams we have played aren’t very good offensively to put up points. I don't disagree with your first opinion. I respectfully disagree with your second opinion that includes a team that's played 1 game, two 2 loss teams, a team that hasn't even played yet, and a team that got beat by a team we dominated. Don't see the support for the opinion. I'm not too concerned about teams that are good offensively. ND's defense is pretty good and shouldn't give up a lot of points unless something weird happens. I'm more concerned about really, really good defensive teams that, as you point out, could stack the box and then expose ND's passing game woes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Gloves Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 I don't disagree with your first opinion. I respectfully disagree with your second opinion that includes a team that's played 1 game, two 2 loss teams, a team that hasn't even played yet, and a team that got beat by a team we dominated. Don't see the support for the opinion. I'm not too concerned about teams that are good offensively. ND's defense is pretty good and shouldn't give up a lot of points unless something weird happens. I'm more concerned about really, really good defensive teams that, as you point out, could stack the box and then expose ND's passing game woes. I understand your point. I just think all those teams I mentioned can put up points on our defense. Even if our D does a decent job, I think they can still score. My concern is with our anemic passing game we would not be able to keep up on the scoring. It is really tough to produce offensively if a team is completely one dimensional which is what I think we are against a good team. So even if our D plays well but a team still manages to score 20-24 points I think we could be in trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Chris Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 I don't disagree with your first opinion. I respectfully disagree with your second opinion that includes a team that's played 1 game, two 2 loss teams, a team that hasn't even played yet, and a team that got beat by a team we dominated. Don't see the support for the opinion. I'm not too concerned about teams that are good offensively. ND's defense is pretty good and shouldn't give up a lot of points unless something weird happens. I'm more concerned about really, really good defensive teams that, as you point out, could stack the box and then expose ND's passing game woes. This is exactly what worries me, and exactly what’s going to happen. Clemson is going to man up on our not-so-explosive WRs and load it up and try to force us into 3 and out after 3 and out. Book is going to have to play his greatest game ever. I will say that I think our O line can give Book the time he needs (occasionally), and I think we have two pretty damn good RBs. If the defense can keep it close then there’s a chance. I have seen ZERO to tell me that special teams might work some magic, so turnovers could play a huge role. I just haven’t seen anything that tells me things are going to be different this year, but that is sometimes when the unexpected happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrown_9999 Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 This is exactly what worries me, and exactly what’s going to happen. Clemson is going to man up on our not-so-explosive WRs and load it up and try to force us into 3 and out after 3 and out. Book is going to have to play his greatest game ever. I will say that I think our O line can give Book the time he needs (occasionally), and I think we have two pretty damn good RBs. If the defense can keep it close then there’s a chance. I have seen ZERO to tell me that special teams might work some magic, so turnovers could play a huge role. I just haven’t seen anything that tells me things are going to be different this year, but that is sometimes when the unexpected happens. Have faith in Brian "Big Game" Kelly. He just destroyed Pitt and will have his team ready like he has for every big game at ND. If, by small chance, the Irish fall to Clemson, the only reason will be that his players did not execute Kelly's perfect game plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtLeastMySisWasIrish Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 This is exactly what worries me, and exactly what’s going to happen. Clemson is going to man up on our not-so-explosive WRs and load it up and try to force us into 3 and out after 3 and out. Book is going to have to play his greatest game ever. I will say that I think our O line can give Book the time he needs (occasionally), and I think we have two pretty damn good RBs. If the defense can keep it close then there’s a chance. I have seen ZERO to tell me that special teams might work some magic, so turnovers could play a huge role. I just haven’t seen anything that tells me things are going to be different this year, but that is sometimes when the unexpected happens. Zero from Special Teams? We have a solid kicker and did you forget the the 2TD's scored off punt blocks, Botehlo and Foskey? 14 pts isn't too shabby. Maybe you're just focused on return yardage but Tyree has shown some flash while we have a walk on returning punts who's basically told to simply not muff the punt. Now that Keys is finally healthy, expect it to improve. GO IRISH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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