OK it's that damn option, we have been struggling with it when Navy brings it to town, and Ga.Tech coach Paul Johnson is the master mind of that scheme. He has better athletes at Ga.Tech than Navy. Same ole same ole..cut blocking, and just relentless pace of the game coming down hill at you. Ga.Tech has scored 134 points while only giving up 16 in their 2 wins, but you have to also take into account they played a FCS team in Alcorn and a mediocre to bad Tulane team. Also you have to remember even with those better athletes, Ga.Tech is 60-35 under Johnson so it's not like these guys are in the same class as Alabama and Ohio State. They're a tough out, and last year they had a great year won 11 games and beat SEC opponent Miss State 49-34. Justin Thomas is back at QB and he passed for 1500 yds and ran for almost 1000 yds. He might be the best option QB that Johnson has ever had either at Ga.Tech or Navy. So I hope BVG can figure out something to stop him. That's always the name of the game with a team like Ga.Tech, stop them early and score on them to get a couple of td's up on them and never let up, their offense like that of Navy and Air Force really is less effective in coming from behind because that have so many of those time consuming 16 or 18 play drives. Those long time consuming drives even if they don't end up with scores limits your possessions and make it almost imperative that you score almost every time you get the ball because you are not going to get the ball as many snaps as you usually do against a normal offense. I have a feeling we'll be OK with Kizer on offense, Prosise is a real weapon and he has plenty of targets at WR/TE. It's BVG's defense can they handle the option, can we handle the cut blocks, can we avoid the injuries that seem to crop up when you play an option team that cuts blocks so much. That's going to be the key BVG's defense. BTW I know its sacrilegious to say this, but so far this season I'm not seeing much out of Joe Schmidt. He's all over the media, he's the captain, he's a spokesperson, but I'm wondering if he's as good this year as he was last year before the injury. Doesn't seem like it.
To stop the option a defense has to be very disciplined. It especially puts pressure on the D backs who end up in single coverage because of run responsibility assignments of the LBs. Number one job is to stop the FB once that's done the QB and back need to be covered. Depending on the position of the DE the QB will either cut inside or pitch out. I'm not sure whose the better defender for the Ga. Tech. option, Schmidt who will be in the right position or Morgan who if he is in the right position will blow up the play.
I'm guessing it's the injury to Zaire, probably with Zaire we'd have been the +3 you usually give to fairly evenly matched teams for the home field advantage.
I see where you have lost a starting Tight End for the season (Smyth) Things are not looking up for the Irish for sure!
Well fortunately for the Irish we have a decent depth chart at TE, so it's a bummer for Smythe but the loss of Jones, Folston and Zaire much more critical to the team success. I saw where somebody said he was hurt on the score off of the fake FG, but it sure is hard to see anything bad happening on that play. But then Folston was not hit when he hurt his knee, and BYU QB Tayson Hill was hurt running into the endzone in Neb untouched, UCLA DT Eddie Vanderdoes was hurt celebrating a TD in the endzone with a teammate.
ND <r>Geez, could we get any more bad news? Wait.....I said that after saturday's game. <E>:?</E></r>
It's circle the wagons time for the Irish, Tim. Injuries and poor play by the Irish vs UVA have put a lot of pressure on the team/coaches. BVG who was loved last year after the Mich game and doubted after the USC game seems to be on the ropes with fans for sure. His defense just didn't look good vs UVA, and he didn't exactly shut down the Navy option last year. Team leadership will be critical, young inexperienced QB will need the support and confidence of the team. There was mention that the team worked some in fall camp on preparing for the option since we play both Navy and Ga.Tech this fall. I hope it pays off. I hope the cut blocks don't take out any defensive players, that style of blocking is legal and players should know how to play it, but still I hate it.
They haven't talked to Joel!! http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13658542/notre-dame-fighting-irish-playoff-hopes-remind-cfp-committee-ohio-state-buckeyes
Wow...get your hanky's out before you watch this preview of tonights Showtime episode on ND football. <iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" scrolling="no" src="http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid3671166871001/?bctid=4486604955001&autoStart=false"></iframe>
Durham Smythe is done for the year. In just two games the Irish have lost their QB, TB, TE and nose guard for the season... http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/2015/09/15/2015-over-for-smythe/
ND <r>considering that I've already mentioned we would need to outscore GT to win the game, and with Zaire out now I really doubt that ND can win this game. I know, I'm usually the most optimistic one here and it's VERY hard to even hear myelf say something like that but the way the team played on defense and offense saturday I just don't see it happening. Kiser may turn out to be quite good but he just hasn't had enough reps/game experience to do this. I hope I'm wrong but right now I just don't see us putting up the point needed to win this game cause GT is gonna get theirs with that damn triple option crap. <E</E></r>
Good article on Mike Sanford on ESPN... http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13630869/meet-quarterback-whisperer-notre-dame-deshone-kizer I hope he's whispering the right stuff into Kizers ear! The hardest part of this game is knowing that Ga.Tech is going to possess the ball a ton and probably get 30 pts, and that their high time of possession will limit our possessions. So if we are going to have to out score them we are going to have to virtually score every time we get the ball. That's a tough hil to climb. Last season they put a lot of points on some very good teams at the end of the year. They were 3-1 vs their last 4 opponents who were all ranked, including Miss State in the bowl. Only FSU escaped with a 37-35 win ..that's the kind of game we are going to have to play on Sat.
Stop all this negativity and listen to the JIFFER! Notre Dame is 15 to 20 points better then the Engineers...especially a home.
Showtime episode Tues was powerful, the shots of Malik before the game, then the shots of Malik in the Locker room in tears after the game, the shot of Kelly talking to his parents. Powerful stuff. Burn the Boats boys.
This is no surprise. http://www.journalgazette.net/sport...otre-Dame-freshman-QB-will-see-action-8823892
From what I've read about Wimbush, he's really talented. Since they have to burn his redshirt let's let him feel the fire.
As always you have to prepare your #2 guy, it was true for Kizer and now it's true for Wimbush. Wimbush is reportedly athletically the best of the 3 QB's on the roster, but of course a true freshman who didn't enroll early so he didn't get a Spring to get up to speed. I'll be surprised if he gets in the game vs Ga.Tech. If he does it'll be because Kizer is injured or it's a blowout. But next week vs UMass he'd better get some snaps in the 2nd half, they were beatend 48-14 by a Colorado squad that is not esp good. So the Irish need to take care of business in the 1st half and sometime in the 2nd half put him out there for a few series or maybe even the whole 4th qtr. BTW: For those of you who don't have Showtime in your cable package you may be able to watch the episodes online at this link. 1/2 hour episodes and they have both been very good. http://www.sho.com/sho/a-season-with/home
I'd recommend the Showtime series based upon what I've seen in the first 2 weeks. Like Sid, I was worried about it being a bit of TMI. Instead, it's a rather insightful look at what it's like to run a college program. Corey Robinson is a Renaissance man who plays the ukulele. You can tell by the expression on Autry Denson's face that they didn't have any ukulele guys when he played. Zaire wasn't just a leader, he was a force. The rest of the senior captains will have to pick this team up and carry them. Schmidt just might be insane and appears up to the task. Max Redfield is disturbingly silent considering how violent he is on the football field. There's a lot of mellow guys on the team and poor Terry Jillery, I mean Jerry Tillery. Being a freshman is tough, but his play to date has been out standing. If Cage/Tillery maintain the A gaps and our LBs hold to their responsibility then I think we're in good shape.