Week 1 reaction: Found me pot o' gold!
I found me pot o' gold! The Fighting Irish provided multiple pieces of gold that I, and many Irish fans alike, were looking for in the season opener against Nevada. Notre Dame finally opened a season with a convincing victory. A victory that has began to satisfy months of off-season hope and speculation. I am happy to say that I was half-correct in my final score prediction of 35-24 considering that my error was the result of a zero for the visitors. What a great way to start the season!
So many questions fueled the anticipation that sat like a brick in my gut prior to 3:43 p.m. last Saturday. Will the defense rise to the challenge? Will the offense live up to expectations? This week the answers are yes and yes.
The Irish defense showed up to play, allowing a potent offense to gain little momentum throughout the game. There were times that Nevada moved the ball, picking up yardage in rather large chunks. Just as the defense looked to be on it's heels, they would apply pressure and force mistakes. That is what impressed me most. "Bend, don't break", you've heard it before. The defense showed poise on Saturday... that impressed me. That said, early on in the game I did see glimpses of a young d-line that was pushed around. Luckily our stout linebacking core masked that weakness. The pressure that Tenuta's scheme creates can offset some of the vulnerability that I think the Irish have against a good offense line. All in all, I am thrilled with the defense's effort. Zero points against... you can't get better than that! (on paper)
The offense came to play as well. The passing game forgot that the last whistle blew in the Hawaii Bowl, seeming to pick up right were it left off last year. While I didn't find a 100 yard coin with Armando's face on it in my pot o' gold, the Irish rushed for 178 yards as a team. That is a stat we have been seeking for a long time. Do that a few games in a row and we will start saying that the Fighting Irish have a consistent running attack. Oh, and if the nation didn't know the name Michael Floyd before, they better now. This guy is a freak. Get used to seeing #3 in the endzone folks.
To put all of the positives into context, I have to remind myself that ND was playing a WAC school. Our schedule is NOT as soft as the layperson believes it to be, and most of the teams that the Irish will face will offer more balanced opposition. Notre Dame must step onto the field with the same energy each week.
The very next game is the most important one on the schedule, and the upcoming bout at the "little house that Dick Rod built" will be no sissyfight. I have a whole new "pot o' gold" that I am looking for against the Wolverines. More to come on that subject.
Until then, Go Irish!
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1 comments:
The big question is how good was Nevada? Was this game an indicator of how bad the WAC is or how good the Irish are? I am not sure if we will have that answer this week either.
I would have liked to see a more stout D-line. This game confirmed my fears of being vulnerable to a solid rushing attack.
With ND's big play offense and quick scores, opposing teams could control the time of possession with long drives consisting of a lot of third and short situations. "Bend don't break" is not comforting because against more capable offenses, the "break" will surely be manifested.
Solution? I think Weis is doing the right thing by recognizing instant talent and intensity by announcing the increased playing time of Manti Teo - he is a sure tackle and a major run stopper.
Lewis-Moore will need to get better as the season goes on...I just hope he is a LOT better before MSU. The speed on D will handle Michigan's spread and Forsier will not be as confident (cocky) when he has a healthy serving of the Smith boys and a side of Teo
All in all...I agree with the impressive play of the D as a whole... but I was also impressed with the Trojan rushing attack! (oops did I already mention USC?)
Good stuff bro
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