Week 3 Reaction - Have we forgotten about the gold?

Notre Dame finally beats Michigan State in South Bend and I'm suprised by my own reaction to the game.  I am not that excited about the game.  Don't get me wrong, I am happy that we won and I'm happy that we are 2-1 on the season.  My problem is, I can't help but think that this team isn't playing up to it's potential.  Notre Dame found themselves fighting off a driving opponent in the closing seconds of the game for the second week in a row.  That would be OK, if they were playing disciplined football.  Much like the Michigan game, the Fighting Irish committed penalties that allowed the opposing team to hang around long enough to have a legitimate chance at winning the game.  Luckily we put a tick in the W column this week thanks to Kyle McCarthy's 3rd pick on the year.

Another seemingly constant theme showed up again this weekend.  Terrible officiating.  Michael Floyd's last touchdown catch of the 2009 football season was ruled an incomplete pass.  Despite multiple replay angles that confirmed the catch, the officials decided to put their heads their rear-ends and ignore the video evidence.  It reminds me of that Buffalo Wild Wings commercial where the ref puts his head under the replay hood and the restaurant patrons tell him to send it to O.T.  What will they do to us next, start tripping players on the field?

I'm not going to be a Charlie Weis apologist any longer.  He may have seemingly "saved" his career for now, but let's not go extending his contract for another 10 years just yet.  Notre Dame's offense was great again, for that I give Charlie credit.  But I fault him for the undisciplined play that we have witnessed that past 2 weeks.  Notre Dame was penalized 11 times or 99 yards on Saturday.  After 3 games we are ranked 100th in the nation in total penalty yards.  I can understand one bad game with a few accidental penalties, but when it becomes a theme I have to question the team's preparation and discipline.  That falls on Charlie.  It seems that his switch to Offensive Coordinator / Head Coach has resulted in lots of Coordinator and not enough Coach. 

Defensive Coordinator John Tenuta is known for his "crazy all-out blitzing schemes" that supposedly create pressure on offenses.  Well, we didn't sack the quarterback at all last game, and only had 4 tackles for losses totaling 4 lost yards.  That is not pressure in my book.  We are ranked 74th in rush defense and 91st in pass defense, which makes us the 96th ranked defense in the country.  Even if we score 34 points per game, those defensive numbers will not take us to a BCS bowl.  This defense has a long way to go, and I am starting to doubt whether Tenuta's defense is the answer.

In my opinion, here is what we "know" about this team:

1. Our offense is capable of scoring everytime they touch the ball.  One of the best O's in the nation.
2. Our Quarterback has a great arm.  He is accurate, has a gun, and is a demonstrated leader.  He showed us his toughness playing through injury on Saturday and should start to enter the Heisman conversations.
3. We now have a pressing need for an additional receiving threat with the loss of Michal Floyd.  He will likely miss the remainder of the regular season as he underwent surgery today on a broken collarbone.
4. Golden Tate is amazing... when he wants to be.  If he gave 100% effort on every play, he and the other receivers would benefit from his hustle.
5. Our Defense isn't as good as we expect.  Our linebackers are solid, bu the defensive line and secondary are not playing to potential.
   
6. Darrin Walls is struggling.  Quarterbacks are gong to his side of the field whenever they get a chance because he hasn't proven that he can cover.  One pump fake and he bights.
   
7. Our Special teams aren't that special.  Kickoff coverage has declined and the field goal / PAT kicking isn't consistent.  

Here's is what we hope to see:

1. A team that plays through adversity and injury.  It was great to see Notre Dame come out of the gates hot on Saturday.  I hope they can continue to play with intensity while improving as the season marches on.
   
2. A defense that adjusts when our blitzing linebackers fail to create pressure.  If we cant get to the ball when we send everyone, then the 9 yard pass plays will march the opposing team down the field.  Our corners are forced to play with a large cushion and the underneath routes are hurting us.  Maybe start dropping linebackers into coverage more often?
3. A more disciplined team.  Penalties are giving opponents too many points and killing momentum.
4. Someone needs to swat that injury bug.  Lets try to keep our key playmakers healthy.  This dynamic offense will become average if we lose anymore impact players. 
5. A win against USC.  This weekend they showed us that they are very beatable.  A win over USC could mean a 1 or 2 loss season, if the defense improves.  That hope is very real.

I may seem awfully pessimistic after an Irish win, but if we hold true to the goal of being a BCS team, then some things need to improve.  I love Notre Dame football and I would love to see Charlie Weis get the monkey of his back by turning this season into a memorable one.  Now lets have a good week of practice and pound the Boilermakers next weekend.

Go Irish!

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Week 3 - Where's me pot o' Gold?

Week 3 First Impressions

Heading into the season many Notre Dame fans including myself considered the Michigan State game to be the Irish's first "true' test.  Well, that all changed when ND was shocked by the Wolverines.  This week's game isn't the season's first barometer, but instead a measurement of the toughness and resiliency of the Fighting Irish.  Given that both MSU and ND are looking to rebound after suffering heartbreaking loses, I believe this game is pivotal for both team's seasons.  When the final whistle blows on Saturday, one team will walk off the field with the weight of a losing streak on their shoulders, and the other with a sense of renewal.  Notre Dame's high-powered offense squares off against a stout defense that considers South Bend to be it's vacation home.  I think all the drama, emotion and urgency that surrounds this game will equate to an exciting contest come Saturday afternoon.  Not to mention the "must win" scenario for Charlie Weis.  Needless to say, I am anxious for kickoff.

What could go wrong for the Irish?

This Spartan offense is not the 65 rushing attempt, grind-it-out, Big Ten smashmouth team that we saw last year.  That may be the style of ball that Mark Dantonio preferred last year, but I think this team has more weapons than last year's one-man show starring Javon Ringer.  While the Spartans still haven't solidified the starting QB spot, Cousins and Nichol both provide an upgrade at the QB position for State.  Cousins seems to be the reliable arm, while Nichol provides the "happy feet" playmaking ability that hurt the Irish last week.  They have a respectable receiving core headlined by Cunningham that could hurt us if we don't stay disciplined in pass coverage.  While the MSU running game features 2 true freshman, they have the potential to stack up yards, considering our rushing defense is currently ranked 88th in the nation.  If State is able to establish a rhythm on offense and run the ball up the gut for big yards, expect their passing game to hurt ND more than Michigan's did last week. 

Defensively, this team is solid.  While they did allow Central to win last week, I don't doubt that they are ready to make a statement this weekend.  Junior linebacker Greg Jones is a force to be reckoned with, ranking 2nd in the nation in tackles with 29 after 2 games.  Lookout for that guy!  If the Irish O struggles to keep this D off balance, we could have a hard time running the ball.  If they can manage to contain our rushing attack without leaving 8 in the box, the high-octane Irish passing attack could sputter with additional coverage waiting for them.

Michigan State is a well-coached team that always shows up for battle against ND.  They have proven success on our field, and they expect to win.

Where's me pot o' gold? (Keys to the game, or "me pot o' gold")

Notre Dame's offense has been "money" through the first 2 games.  Take away a few bad penalties and some blown calls, and you have an offense that moves the ball at-will.  I expect to see that continue, minus the crap that plagued us in Ann Arbor (oh wait, are the Big Ten officials gonna be there?).  My first key to the game is more mental than physical: confidence.  I want to see this team march out on to the field prepared to defend their turf at all costs.  I want to see a team that is focused and determined.  I want to see a defense that hits like it did in game 1.  Show me some swagger, you're the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, and this is the house the Rockne Built.

Okay, more X's and O's.  The defense needs to create pressure.  That coin fell out of my pocket sometime before last week's game.  Pressure up front will take some of the heat off of our secondary, who will be facing a quarterback that ranks just below Jimmy Clausen on the QB rating chart (assuming Cousins will take a majority of the snaps). Regardless of who is under center for the Spartans, Notre Dame needs to smack 'em around a bit.  Both QB's are are tasting the first playing time of their careers this year.  Lets give them a facemask full of turf and welcome them to South Bend.  The MSU receivers will probably be the best we've seen thus far, so our secondary needs to demonstrate it's maturity by avoiding breakdowns in coverage.

Irish fans can stop holding their breath now, Michael Floyd is OK after a scary moment last week.  Other than 15 stitches in the knee and a little soreness, he is ready to snatch the pigskin out of the sky.  A key that has been mentioned each week is the rushing game.  I know it's a given, but I have to mention it again.  Another solid performance out of Armando Allen is key to a win.  Oh, and keep the long-balls in the field of play Jimmy.  Do that and you're back to 88% completion percentage.

What do I think will happen Saturday?

I expect the Fighting Irish to respond to the leadership that Jimmy Clausen displayed when addressing his team after last week's loss.  Reports of "maximum effort" being the theme in practice this week lead me to believe that this team isn't going to roll over now that Lou's prediction of an undefeated season is blown.  I see Notre Dame's offense moving the ball well again, hopefully scoring more touchdowns and settling for less field goal attempts.  I think we will see more of Kyle Rudolph this game, as the Michigan State defense pressures Jimmy to get rid of the ball quickly.  Armando will continue to assert himself running the ball and we will control the time of possession stat.  

Defensively I think we will improve slightly in our run-stopping this week facing young RB's.  State will get some points with their newly balanced offensive attack, but I expect our defense to create some turnovers against their inexperienced quarterbacks and runningbacks.

This will be a battle.  Michigan State has planted their flag in Notre Dame Stadium before, but I expect the same will-to-win that Michigan State witnessed during the 4th quarter comeback in East Lansing 3 years ago.  Let me remind you...

A fired up ND team will win Saturday, 28-17.

 

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My Shillelagh - Why I have no respect for MSU

Let me tell you a quick story about the day I lost respect for Michigan State.  The date was September 24th, 2006.  A day that went down in infamy for two reasons: one of the greatest ND comebacks of all-time, and one of the worst displays of sportsmanship that I have ever witnessed.

A good friend and I attended the ND v. MSU game in East Lansing.  We had a great time tailgating and headed to the stadium to grab our seats.  On our walk over, we made a pit-stop at the port-o-potties and encountered a mob of ridiculously drunken MSU students.  Okay, I understand having fun before the game, drinking a few B's and getting rowdy before game time... but this was extreme.  As we stood in line (I was wearing my ND "Tradition" shirt) we had a continuous stream of slurred four-letter words slung at us from all directions.  We took care of business, in separate johns of course, and pushed our way past the friendly locals and shrugged the incident off.

The remaining steps to the stadium were mildly entertaining.  At one point I stepped over a girl (that looked way to young to be inebriated) passed out in the middle of the road .  But the next thing I saw made me want to puke more than a plastered MSU freshman.  A group of elderly, distinguished-looking Notre Dame fans, likely alumni given their garb, were strolling to the gate just outside the stadium when a group of MSU students took notice.  The pack of rabid Spartans proceeded to surround these older Irish fans and start a chant of "F*** you" F*** you!" while circling the frightened group.  Those men looked shocked... and scared.  I've never been that disgusted at a sporting event.  Before we had a chance to break it up, some other bystanders intervened and the crowd disbursed.  That is when I first learned of the lack of class in East Lansing.

Well, needless to say, in the driving rain ND was getting beaten pretty badly through 3 quarters.  Just like the Notre Dame team on the field, we took our share of jabs and shoves in the stands.  I was spit on by people in the stands, punched in the back while standing in line for the bathroom at halftime, and shoved multiple times while inside the stadium.  But when the Irish turned it around on the field and capped the greatest comeback of the Brady Quinn era, 80,000 State fans fell silent.  The jerks behind us stopped shoving, the ND fans perked up, and I quietly marched out of the stadium grinning from ear to ear.  I didn't say a word.  I didn't need to.  Every MSU fan knew exactly what their 3-hour punching bags were thinking.

This Saturday, I don't want ND fans to return the favor.  I want visiting State fans to see what a classy fanbase looks like.

Go Irish! Beat Sparty!

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