Well Stanford and Coach Smug have an edge of 6-2 over Kelly, both of Kelly's win have come at home in Notre Dame Stadium, both close nail biters. Stanford Coach David Shaw has taken what Harbaugh left him and made it even better. The Tree's have been nationally relevant during his term as the HC. They play a tough hard nosed brand of football, they like to run the ball and they have big TE's who can catch the ball. KJ Costello their QB is an experienced QB, he's not Oliver Luck, but he's played and won big games, he beat us last year. I fear the Tree's. They have a winning culture, they will arrive in Notre Dame Stadium ready to play, and they will be confident that they are the better team. To me the key to the whole game is can our defense get to Costello to keep him from getting comfortable and making those throws to their big WR'/TE's Those guys are great at coming down with the 50/50 ball that they like to throw to them. They killed us last year, we could not cover their receivers. That has to change. As good as our offense looked vs Wake Forrest I can't expect that same level against a solid Stanford team. Our defense will have to hold Stanford down to around 20 points or less. I think we have faced a better defense in Michigan and won. We get Dexter Williams back, but I don't expect him to start or even get as many as 10 carries unless Tony Jones and Jafar Armstrong are not getting the job done. I do expect him to play but given that both Jones and Armstrong needed a lot of reps in pre-season and weekly practices I can't imagine that Dexter has been getting a lot of work with the 1st team or any to tell you the truth. He'll get work this week, but he's still bound to be a bit rusty. OL looked improved at Wake, that's a good thing. It was expected that they couldn't match last years OL with two top 10 draft picks, but we needed steady improvement through out the year. This week would not be a good time to take a step back. I wonder who will start at RG, Ruhland or Kraemer, I'd be a bit surprised if both don't play though. Kelly said Kraemer twisted an ankle in practice, but that's the kind of injury ( unless it's the high ankle) that OL's play through all the time. I'm a tad surprised that the Irish have opened as 3-4 point favorites. The Tree's had a much tougher opponent in Oregon at Autzen last week than the Irish did at Wake. Granted the Ducks had them beat and let them get up off the mat and win, that fumble recovery for the TD turned the game and got the Tree's back in it. But still the recovered from that and had the lead and the clock till the RB fumbled and that was the ball game. Still the Tree's had to go the distance in 51 secs to get the win that shows me that they are a very good and resilient team. A lot of teams would have packed it in at half time. If the Irish win, need another efficient performance from Book, he's not as good at that Duck QB, but he doesn't have to be. Just play like he did v Wake, good decisions, quick throws, accurate throws, good reads. OL will need to continue to take it up a notch. WR/TE's will need to run good patterns and hold on to the ball. No turnovers. If we get that and good defense we should win a close game. If Book is a one game wonder we're toast. If the defense can't get to Costello we're toast. I do expect that stadium to be rockin' on Saturday night. Big game, in prime time, big stage and a lot on the line. Go Irish. ND 24 Tree's 20
We have to account for their edge pass rush. We have to account for their tall WRs. We won't get to Costello on those throws because it's only a 3 step drop or a step and throw from the shotgun. I'm hoping that our DBs are bigger, more physical and athletic than Oregon's. We will need to make them play sideline to sideline defense wearing them down and exposing the quick hitter up the middle. Our LBs have to play downhill and fill the gaps to stop their RB, Love. I wouldn't be that surprised to see us in a lot of press, man coverage throughout the game. Using Wimbush from time to time wouldn't hurt IMHO because he's the kind of athlete that they don't have and he can break big runs.
ND <r>Well after Saturday I feel we have a much better shot at beating the Tree than before. Book puts this into a different perspective. We need to win this game for a bunch of reasons. I need the Irish to win this game cause I just can't stand Shaw. <E></E></r>
:!: :arrow: Wake Forest fired their Defensive Coordinator after last Saturday's game... Shaw is a pant load… The Trees are loaded with big, physical people. They're not fast everywhere, but they're fast on the defensive edges and at tailback. This is where the rubber meets the road...
In the game of who will be the next ND coach, which is played everyday by Kelly detractors. John Harbaugh is a name that is always on the Short List. I'm not sure why, he has no ties to the school, and he's had a long somewhat successful NFL career with a Super Bowl win and while the Ravens haven't exactly been a dominating NFL dynasty they have been a solid NFL team under Harbaugh. Did I say though that he had no connection to the University...well now he does. His daughter will be enrolling next fall at ND to play lacrosse. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bs-va-sp-alison-harbaugh-notre-dame-lacrosse-20180924-story.html
ND <t>I saw the article on John Harbaugh too. I don't think I would complain with him being the next ND coach but I'm not sure that it's much more than a rumor at this point.</t>
Kelly said today that he may well intentionally play both quarterbacks against Stanford. Now there is a recipe for disaster.
ND <t>George, <br/> <br/> I think Kelly saying he will use 2 QBs is just coach speak. Unless things are going really bad for Book, he won’t use Wimbush. Saying you will use both makes Shaw have to prepare for both. <br/> Let’s hope Book looks as good against the tree as he did against WF.</t>
Yeah I think Kelly is saying that just to make Stanford at least spend some time preparing for what Wimbush does. I don't expect Wimbush to actually play against Stanford unless Book is injured or possibly in situations where we are going to run a Wildcat QB, which we really haven't done much of anyway. Also I don't expect to blowout Stanford which would be the other situation where a backup QB gets on the field. I think, baring injury or Book being a 1 game wonder that Brandon's time as a starting QB is done at ND. I expect he'll graduate and transfer. He's not an NFL QB and I can't imagine any school he would go to will transform him into an NFL prospect at QB. He'd be better off figuring out another position and make a move to that in Spring either here at ND or at another school. If Book continues to do well, next year his backup will be Jurkovec.
Great drive to answer the Stanford score. Book looks very good so far. 14-7 Irish Need to get pressure on Costello
What a game, Irish drive 80 yards and Book makes a great play in the redzone Irish lead 21-14 with 39 secs left in the 1st half. Special Teams better cover this kickoff!
Irish 21-14 at halftime. I don't understand Kelly using all his TO's in the lasr 30 seconds...sure maybe Stanford puts it on the ground, but not very likely. Plus on the last play #9 Daelin Hayes came up limping. But what a great 1st half for the Irish offense, Book was very good and well what can you say about Dexter Williams. Irish get the ball to start the 2nd half and it would be big to score again. Irish defense has to get to Costello and get him uncomfortable and sack him a couple of times.
I hope Bars is ok, probably out for the game but we need him . Defense needs to play it's ass off now. Stanford has turned up the pressure on Book.
31 -17 irish. Great drive again. Williams is having a career night for the Irish running the football.