Service Academy alert, watch out below...as in chop blocking or whatever it is that they do that is legal but results in more than the usual number of leg injuries to their opponents. Air Force runs a different offense than Navy these days and different from what they ran under the old coach. Troy Calhoun has been migrating them to more of a multiple offense and using a lot of the things he learned from Shanahan and Kubiak at Denver and Houston (He was the Texans OCoord under Kubiak). They throw the ball more than before but still run the ball very effectively. Last year they put up 350yds running the ball vs Oklahoma at Norman. That's says something about their ability to run the ball, esp against teams that are not familar with their type of offense. The good news is that they are hurting on defense this year and are way way down the list in run defense. Given our running game performance vs Purdue I would say that it bodes well for Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray. I think if our DL can stay focused and do their jobs that we should beat them pretty handily. But if they let them go on long drives it will be a long day. If we have turnovers, it will be even longer. Naturally I would like to see our offense really click and take them out early, and I hope our DL not only plays well but comes out with no leg injuries from their style of blocking. Should be a beautiful day in the Bend I see that game time temp is predicted to be in the mid 70's and sunny. I hope Gip and Sid enjoy the tailgating and the weather. Sid colors were just starting to look like they were changing in Sept when we drove down from Chicago, are they in full bloom now or is it still too early?
This is from the Air Force Scout Site. ___________________________________________________________________________ Posted: Today 5:58 AM Keys to the ND game -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Since the previous discussion didn't amount to much. Lets discuss the finer details. ND's Offense vs AF Defense ND has run the ball well this season when the have committed to it. Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray have the speed to pull away from AF defenders but aren't 5th gear types. Gray is harder to take down and Wood has great lateral speed and will make people miss. Amack must have another amazing game. AF DL played well in the first half against Navy but couldn't keep it up all game long. ND's OL is strong, quick, and heavy. They will pound them and should have success wearing them out. ND often pulls 2 OL into sweeps, crushing DBs and OLBs in their way; I think they will be effective with these plays. The injuries hurt big time. Everyone knows M Floyd; he is all world because he can do it all: catch anything, break tackles, block anyone, and he's fearless over the middle. AF will likely play a lot of Cover 2 with a safety eyeballing him. Someone must also be on TE Eifert at all times, he's Rees' second favorite target. AF must force Rees to throw to TJ Jones and Riddick, who are far less proven. IF AF wants to slow them down, they will need to watch the Pitt game. Pitt often sank 5 into coverage and switched coverage at the snap, confusing young Rees. AF must create turnovers and they can do this by showing a strong run defense but dropping into a confusing coverage. Rees is a turnover machine if things aren't making sense to him. AF cannot just blitz 1-2 guys while going man to man on the WRs. They're DBs aren't good enough for that and ND's OL picks up the blitz pretty well. AF Offense vs ND Defense NDs DL is very athletic this year and has been playing good gap coverage football. Kap Lewis Moore has been a standout (89) particularly on run defense. Ethan Johnson will likely be out due injury. Stud freshman Tuitt and Lynch are solid players but could be burned by AF's effective counter play/confusing style. If TJ is going to throw, he should go after #4, Gary Gray, who has the tendency to not look for the ball. Against Michigan, the terrible passer Robinson lit him up. If AF can establish a run game, ND will be forced to go to man and their DB coverage particularly from the LBs is not their best suit. Up the middle, big #9 will clog things up and Teo is right behind him. I don't think AF will be able to establish the FB dive. This allows ND's defense to spread themselves out a bit to seal the edge. One advantage for AF is ND's OLB are young and make a lot of gap coverage mistakes. Shembo and Fleming are decent pass rushers but I could see them getting fooled and out of position. Special Teams ND has been pretty terrible in all areas this year save 1 TD return by Atkinson. If AF can have a big day, this could really turn the momentum. I don't see AF returning and punts or kickoffs, but they could get a blocked punt/PAT/FG. They also should look to get fumbles on punts/kickoffs. They'll need every bit to win this one. ___________________________________________________________________________ Posted: Today 9:20 AM Re: Keys to the ND game -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slam, I agree that dropping 8 and sending 3 will not do it. Also, sending straight 4 will not cut it. I, too, am unhappy with the way AF played defense against TCU. What I was suggesting was AF needs to show different looks and jump into something else post snap. Rees is smart enough to diagnose what the defense is showing; he doesn't react well once the defense falls into something else entirely. For instance. Show a 5-2 front and cover 1 man on the 3 WRs, one DB on a tight coverage. QB will audible into a pass play. On the snap, drop the 2 DE/OLB into the flats while sending 1 LB and the tight CB on a blitz. CB blitz covered by a safety and the other LB drops into coverage. Its risky but provides pressure and confusion. Pitt had some success with showing man coverage but switching into a cover 2 zone and having LB sit in the alley's. ___________________________________________________________________________ Posted: Today 1:53 PM Re: Keys to the ND game -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't think ND plays sound enough football for this to be a repeat of TCU. But I certainly don't have rosy colored glasses on. ND's offense is like a European sportscar from the 70s. Awesome when it's working but quirky and prone to inflicting problems- you never know what you'll get. Plus Kelly can't help but throw it even though he should just run the ball all day; AF run defense is suspect. The biggest difference between this year's ND is the defensive line; they are not the slow (remember Pat Kuntz in 07?) types anymore. If AF had a stronger DL, I wouldn't feel as negative. Again, the only advantage AF has is the young players on ND's defensive outside (DE and OLB's) and special teams.
Terry, the colors up here are starting to appear. With the beautiful weather forecast for this week and the warm and sunny forecast for Saturday, it should be a great day for the game. We'll be driving up from Indy with another couple.
We will really miss Ethan Johnson if he doesn't play, his experience vs serice academy teams is very valuable.
ND <t>I'll be honest, after what has happened to ND the past couple of seasons, any of these service academies using the triple option scare the crap out out me.</t>
We have an overwhelming advantage in size and athleticism. They will have the advantage in discipline and execution. If we take care of the football we should win by three TDs. If not, anything is possible. Purdue helped out a lot last week; the USAF will not.
Yeah I would agree with George, if we use our advantages we should win handily. But if we come out flat and turn the ball over it will be a long day. Once those service academies get you on the run it's hard to turn the momentum. You have to get on top of them early and keep the pressure on them, they don't quit. Ask Charlie Weis. I'll never forget that one Navy game he didn't lose where he had them on the run but as he was prone to do he took his foot off the gas, didn't want to embarass them and they nearly beat us in the end. I think they got 2 onside kicks and we barely survived. One thing I hope Kelly doesn't do is show these guys too much respect, you know the old they are fighting for our country, etc. Charlie did that and I think it hurt us mentally. It's a football game not the battlefield in some foreign country. I don't want to hold hands with them and sing their alma mater or any of that stuff. Beat the hell out of them!
Still up in the air Tim, Kelly said he was in a boot through yesterday and today they'll take it off and see where they stand. I'd like to see him be ready to play but not start him and see how the game goes and if he's not needed then rest him. The bye week after USAFA will help him to get better and be ready for USC! BTW: Kiffin said in a press conference that he gave the game to us last year. I guess he didn't catch those 4 turnovers that the Irish gave him in + territory. I'd say that evens up the one dropped pass!
ND is a better team than last year, and USC is worse. That idiot is going to eat those words in a couple of weeks.
Even Tenn Tom will be a ND fan Oct 15th!! He'll be right there ready to spoon feed them down his throat!
ND <t>I'm really pumped for the USC game now! Wow, this guy really knows how to hand out the bulletin board material doesn't he?</t>
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