Game week is here. The Longhorns will be in South Bend for the 1st time since 1995 when Ron Powlus and the Irish pummeled them 55 -27. I was at that game. Sorry to not be at this game, but tickets are just sky high. Texas: Longhorn fans are hoping that year 2 of the Charlie Strong defense will keep this game close and provide an opportunity to win in the 4th qtr. They fear what the Texas offense might do. Tyrone Swoopes was terrible in stretches last year including the last 2 games, he had his moments though. He does have a very strong arm. Longhorns will start 2 freshmen on the OL, they are very good but freshmen. Longhorn fans are hoping that Zaire in his 2nd start will not be up to the defense Texas will throw against him, they feel like he's not a proven passer and that will allow them to over play the run and force him to beat them with the part of his game that is least developed. They do not fear the Notre Dame defense, and I don't blame them if they looked at the last 6 games of the season. Bottom line, they think they have a chance with the Strong defense if Swoopes can just be steady and not duplicate the last couple games of the year where he was just terrible. He was worst than Golson vs USC in the game vs TCU and Arkansas.
ND <t>It may be close but if Zaire plays well, the Irish will win. If Texas feels like they need only worry about the rush, Malik may surprise them. I think he's a better passer than some are giving him credit for.</t>
:idea: :arrow: I may be wrong, but I don't think this one will be close. Malik has some very fast receivers, great TE's and a solid, experienced Oline. I think the Lhorns might be in a heap of trouble in this one...
Normally, I'm the only unguarded eternal optimist here. Every year, I feel like we have the ability to go 10-2 or 11-1. I never say undefeated because I believe it's the kiss of death. This year, I don't "hear" the angst of past years among us ND guys, the concern that we might be an 8-4 team, 9-3 at best. My optimism has faded into the canvas of happy thoughts. Guarded though it may be, optimism abounds among the ND family on the Skybox. GO IRISH!
I agree with Jim. The Irish are deep, talented and experienced on both lines, WR, LB, DBs and RB. This team will be very difficult to beat. It is tough to predict scores with them because of Kelly's tendency to shut down his own offense in the middle of Q3. They are a 9.5 - 10 point pick at the moment. I will say ND-38 Texas-20
On paper we should win, I don't think it will be easy though. Texas has plenty of athletes and I do believe Charlie Strong is an excellent coach. Anybody remember South Florida? On another topic there was a 30min show last night on NBCSN about the ND offseason. It covered the kids who went to South Africa and also it covered a couple of motivational things the staff did for the team. They brought in the guy from Lone Survivor who addressed the team and they also brought in a group called The Program, they are motivational trainers all of them are either Navy/Marine and Army special forces types. I think they were at ND for a couple of days working with various athletic teams. This featured of course the football team, but I read on UND.com that they also worked with the womens soccer team. It was a pretty good program, next week Showtime will be starting their weekly series on the team. I'm more than a little wary of that one to tell you the truth. I like those shorts of the team after games where they show the pre-game, halftime and post game shots of the locker room, but that's about as far as I think it should go.
Good to hear the arrogance is still alive and well on the 40 acres... That offense should fear a PEEWEE defense!
Notre Dame released its official two-deep depth chart Tuesday afternoon. Depth Chart Notes -Daniel Cage is the No. 1 defensive tackle. Jerry Tillery is No. 2. -Durham Smythe is the No. 1 tight end. The remaining tight ends are all listed as the No. 2s. -Colin McGovern is the second-team right guard. Mark Harrell is the No. 2 right tackle. -C.J. Sanders is the starting punt returner. The freshman is ahead of Will Fuller. -Sanders, Amir Carlisle or C.J. Prosise will return kicks. -Carlisle and Torii Hunter Jr. are both listed as the No. 1 slot receiver. -Corey Robinson and Chris Brown are both listed as the No. 1 W-receiver. -Equanimeous St. Brown is the No. 2 X-receiver behind Fuller. -Jonathan Bonner will back up Isaac Rochell at strong-side defensive end. QB 1. Malik Zaire 2. DeShone Kizer RB 1. Tarean Folston 2. C.J. Prosise Tight End 1. Durham Smythe 2. Tyler Luatua OR Nic Weishar OR Chase Hounshell OR Aliz'e Jones Wide Receiver -- Z 1. Amir Carlisle OR Torii Hunter Jr. Wide Receiver -- X 1. Will Fuller 2. Equanimeous St. Brown Wide Receiver -- W 1. Chris Brown OR Corey Robinson Left Tackle 1. Ronnie Stanley 2. Hunter Bivin Left Guard 1. Quenton Nelson 2. Alex Bars Center 1. Nick Martin 2. Sam Mustipher Right Guard 1. Steve Elmer 2. Colin McGovern Right Tackle 1. Mike McGlinchey 2. Mark Harrell Weak-side Defensive End 1. Romeo Okwara 2. Andrew Trumbetti Nose Tackle 1. Daniel Cage 2. Jerry Tillery Defensive Tackle 1. Sheldon Day 2. Jay Hayes Strong-side Defensive End 1. Isaac Rochell 2. Jonathan Bonner Will Linebacker 1. Jaylon Smith 2. Te'von Coney Mike Linebacker 1. Joe Schmidt 2. Jarrett Grace OR Nyles Morgan Sam Linebacker 1. James Onwualu 2. Greer Martini Cornerback 1. KeiVarae Russell 2. Devin Butler Cornerback 1. Cole Luke 2. Nick Coleman Strong Safety 1.Elijah Shumate 2. Drue Tranquill 3. Avery Sebastian Free Safety 1. Max Redfield 2. Matthias Farley Punt Returner 1. C.J. Sanders 2. Will Fuller Kick Returner 1. Amir Carlisle OR C.J. Sanders OR C.J. Prosise Punter 1. Tyler Newsome 2. Jeff Riney Kicker 1. Justin Yoon 2. John Chereson Holder 1. DeShone Kizer 2. Montgomery VanGorder Long Snapper 1. Scott Daly 2. Hunter Smith OR Nic Weishar
ND <t>I put myself in Sid's "guarded optomistic" group. In years past I would have looked at this game on paper and along witb JO'Co declared saturday we are just going to kick their butts. Not so now. we should win but I've learned to wait until its over to be make bold statements cause I dont like eating crow. Hopefully the lads will give me lots of confidence after tbe first game.<br/> <br/> Go Irish!</t>
Everyone is expecting the ND OL to be outstanding this year. I hope we're right. As a crusty old coach in Ann Arbor once said, "if you control the offensive line, you control the football and if you control the football you control the game." We need to control the football and give the D rest time on the bench. Last year teams ran hurry-up plays against us because our defensive leader was injured and we had depth issues. This year we're a deep as we've been for some years and there's plenty of experience too. Still, winning the time of possession war will be important.
Gipper, No question in my mind that the OL controls the outcome of any game. We proved that against Alabama and Oregon. Good luck this year, you might very well be in the playoffs!
Thank you Don I'd wish the Bucks good luck but they don't need it. When you have that much talent and coaching you don't need luck.
One thing I hope to not see is timeouts called especially after a TV timeout. That's the most infuriating thing to me.
I hate it when there is a commercial after a TD and then following a touch back on the kick off, they go to another commercial.
Not really discussed here, but this week ND announced we were getting video boards in the Stadium as part of the Crossroads project which as ND fans know is a comprehensive upgrade and additions to the stadium. Will include the luxury boxes and seating along with other things. It's not without controversy to say the least. Many still long for the day with the old ND Stadium of pre-1997, 59K seating and no electronic scoreboards and of course grass field.