Irish face the Mids at ND stadium this week. It's the same as always a team that we should beat, but the guys better come ready to play 4 qtrs because the Middies won't quit till the last whistle. Ohio State found out you have to stay focused and play them 4 qtrs to beat them. While they lost to Temple last week, they beat Wake Forrest the week before and that was the same Wake team that almost pulled the upset with Miami this past weekend. So Navy is a legitmate team. The key on defense is as always, play your assignment and stay in your lanes as soon as you break down they will break the play. On offense we just have to play our game. Last year Charlie had them right where we needed them and took his foot off the gas and they made a valiant comeback in the 4th qtr and could have beaten us. Hopefully he won't make that same mistake again this weekend. The problem he'll face though is there will be a point that if Crist were not injured he could put him in and let him run the offense, but now he has only Sharpley and Evan has not taken many snaps except as the Scout team QB. So he may have to play Jimmy longer than he wants, hopefully nobody steps on his right foot (toe) as Pitt is up next and that will be a big game and we really need Jimmy as healthy as possible.
Taking his foot off the gas is common, reocurring theme with Charlie. It almost bit him against Stanford last year as well.
Hopefully we are in a position to pull Clausen, and go with Sharpley and the wildcat (or Wild Leprechaun as it is known in our office).
Dayne Crist: Torn ACL will be operated on soon, most likely gone till the summer of 2010. Michael Floyd: Cleared to play against Navy. If Clausen goes we have Nate Montana the backup at Pasadena City College as our new #1 QB for the Spring! Terry
Crist <r>Crist:torn ACl, unbelievable turn of luck for Crist and ND. Another reason why you need to get a QB in your recruitng class every year. Maybe we can talk Hendrix or Rees into coming in early. <E>:cry:</E></r>
Unfortuneately neither Hendrix or Rees will graduate in Dec and so they couldn't come in Jan even if they wanted to come. I predict John Goodman and Nate Montana will be the QB's in the Spring. Sid said that he saw Goodman play as a HS Sr. at QB and that he was really good.
Guys! Stop it! Contrary to popular opinion, the sky is not falling. It's a setback, but life will go on, and the team will continue to improve. Crist will come back in the summer, and he will continue to get better, whether he is the backup in 2010 or the starter. Trust me. OK, don't trust me, but even though a year from now I won't say I told you so, you will know in your bones that I'm thinking it. :twisted: Terry, re: Goodman. when I saw Goodman at QB in HS, I described him as fully capable of playing well at the D-1 level.
They are legit and one of the things that makes them so difficult at this point in the year is that you haven't seen their offense and you can't prepare against their offense.....you can see it on film. You can have your scout team run it....but your kids just can't run it as efficiently and effectively as their kids and certainly not at game speed.......assignment, assignment, assignment. Dive, QB, pitch, dive, QB, pitch...oops, first down....again. It can be maddening.....
One advantage that the Irish have when it comes to Navy is that they play them every year. Instead of learning it's just a refresher course. They were a real pain in the ass when Johnson was there. He's giving a lot of ACC teams fits.
ND <r>O.K here's my optimism showing again but I'm with Sid. Let's see first what the full extent of Crist injury really is. If it's a full blown torn ACL repair then we are looking at 6-9 months for a return to playing status. If that's true it's around May or at the latest August. Let's say June(optimistic). Although he will miss spring ball, he would still be ready to go for the fall. If the injury is not as severe as everyone thinks right now maybe sooner. <E></E> <br/> <br/> Secondly, I'm not convinced JC is leaving for the NFL.....I know, I know everyone else say he is but.... <E></E></r>
I'm amazed at how quickly some of these young kids heal. I thought for sure Floyd would be out for the season. He may suit up this week. So as far as JC is concerned, if we make it to a January bowl maybe......nah, just kidding.
Crist is done for the year in all probability and Jimmy's turf toe can take him out of any game at any time for the remainder of this season. That leaves Sharpley and Goodman. It sounds like El Sid is endorsing, at least in theory, my angle of running Goodman out of a "Gator" type offensive scheme. He runs real well...
Hey I got my annual email from el Jiffo disrespecting the Naval Academy Football Team. This from a guy who's team played Eastern Illinois this season, if the Irish or the Huskers played E.Illinois he'd be all over us.
Actually, George, that's not what I'm saying, but if that's what the coaching staff decides will work, then I'm all for it. What I'm saying is that Crist's injury, while serious, is not the end of the world for him or the team. We have a solid foundation and will continue to get better, with or without Clausen, and with or without Crist for spring practice. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it. :wink: Terry, thanks for that medical analysis. It's very educational and comforting at the same time.
Interesting regarding Golden Tate. He is no doubt having a great year as a WR, probably should be a 1st Team AA and the Bilitinokoff (sp?) winner this year. But that hasn't shielded him from some criticism that he's a hot dog and an unsportsmanlike flag waiting to happen. Coach D over on Irish Sports Dailey has criticised his on the field demeanor and now Tim Prister has taken his shots at Golden as well. This is a pay article so I won't bother to post the link and just a paragraph. Pretty unprecedented for a player of his stature to be called out by writers from his teams websites.
Thankfully, his short term memory issue won't allow him to carry on two e-mail campaigns at once. I haven't received an anti-gun e-mail in months! :wink:
Weis said in todays Press conference that Goodman will be the slash position QB/WR. Said that he (Goodman) will not get a lot of snaps at QB this week because they need to get Sharpley all the snaps that they can.