kwik
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| #1 Posted on 9.9.06 2312.57 Reposted on: 9.9.13 2313.14 | So, is Notre Dame for real yet? Or do we wait and see how they negotiate Michigan next week?
Good win for Ohio St. too, so it should be Ohio St., Notre Dame, and Auburn 1-2-3 in the next top 25.
Meanwhile, in between watching Notre Dame throttle Penn St., I watched Syracuse run 7 CONSECUTIVE PLAYS inside the Iowa 2-yard line in double-OT, and manage to come away with nothing. Granted, Iowa's defense should get some credit for this, but after they plowed the fullback into the line twice, and saw the offensive line manage to hold long enough to get him back to the line, you'd think that the Syracuse coaching braintrust would just run a quarterback sneak or something. 'Cuse picked off 4 passes, and managed to tie the game at the end of regulation on a 41-yard field goal in which the long snapper basically rolled the ball back to the holder, and somehow they lose? Syracuse went to a bowl game in December '04, and since then, they've only won once, and are working on an 11-game losing streak. 1-10, and maybe 1-10 again is not the ideal way to start a coaching career for Greg Robinson. Promote this thread! | | Dutchie
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| #2 Posted on 9.9.06 2331.37 Reposted on: 9.9.13 2332.49 | See how Notre Dame plays against Michigan next week, what they do against a team whose coaching staff will be willing to make adjustments during the course of a game, before deciding if the Irish are for real. Beating Penn State proves nothing - it's just the 5th rebuilding season of the new millenium for PSU, and not a game by which Notre Dame can fairly and objectively be judged. | redsoxnation
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| #3 Posted on 10.9.06 0949.14 Reposted on: 10.9.13 0951.57 | Do we look at Miami and Florida State as severely flawed teams now that Troy takes a lead almost into the last 5 minutes at Florida State? Tennessee barely surviving Air Force at home doesn't make them seem ready to enter SEC play. Notre Dame's defense is vastly improved from last season. But, if their offense continues to struggle early in games, it will catch up with them. No shocker in Texas going down. Vince Young was the entire offense for them last season, and a good offensive game against a North Texas team that had 2 buses break down on their trip shouldn't have changed that opinion. If Iowa doesn't get its QB back, Ohio State should still be #1 when they face Michigan. Just a few games that impact the national title race next week: Notre Dame/Michigan: Toughest game Notre Dame has until Thanksgiving weekend. Michigan wins and they could build up momentum and still have #1 on their schedule to really make a move. Oregon/Oklahoma: Oregon can position themselves as the other Pac 10 power, while Oklahoma puts itself in real good shape with a win, considering how Texas doesn't appear dominant and, since I don't respect Texas Tech, I can't find a 3rd team in the Big XII. Auburn/LSU: They will beat the shit out of each other for our amusement. Winner has inside track on the SEC Title game and good positioning for a national title game shot. Florida/Tennessee: I think Florida blows them out and enters the National Title picture. Nebraska/USC: I see a Saturday Night Massacre here. This isn't Nichols State that Nebraska will be seeing. Clemson/Florida State: Clemson finds ways to narrowly grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. See BC fiasco. Florida State needs to find an offense if they want to be taken seriously in the National Title race.
(edited by redsoxnation on 11.9.06 1057) | Roy.
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| #4 Posted on 10.9.06 1016.06 Reposted on: 10.9.13 1017.09 | Notre Dame might be that good, but Penn State definately isn't that bad. The no-huddle offense at the beginning of the game totally killed the defense, and most of them were sucking wind by the end of the first half. The boys need to work on their conditioning, it seems. I was amazed that Penn State decided to run so much, as most people were talking that ND's defense couldn't keep up with the wide receivers. I was further amazed when almost no adjustments were made on either side of the ball when ND started to run away with the game. The D line was getting no penetration (partly because you could see they were exhausted), yet the same 4 stayed up front most of the game. Some of the play calling was once again suspicious (*cough* Jay Paterno *cough*) what with the suspect option call and the terrible Derrick Williams playing Michael Robinson as quarterback calls. Oh well. There's always Youngstown State next week.
The end of the Iowa game was a joke. Iowa's defense really stepped up, but the Orange's line and RBs were pretty much worthless, and the coaches thought too much and just about lost the game with play-calling. I think Syracuse blew their load trying to tie the game, too. I was just talking to a buddy the other day about how horrible Syracuse is now, and what a shame that is. | wmatistic
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| #5 Posted on 10.9.06 1320.57 Reposted on: 10.9.13 1320.58 | First, anyone saying Notre Dame's defense is vastly improved needs to take a step back. They haven't played a good offense yet. Penn State is not the Penn State of last year, they are the Penn State of the previous few years before that, which sucked balls. Yes, they really are that bad. Tech's offense was pathetic so again, no real test and yet they scared the crap out of ND. The Irish have great coaching, a great QB, an overrated WR and that's about it. Oh and one great recruiting class. I'd have Ohio State, Auburn and USC ahead of ND from what I've seen and by a good margin.
They may be somewhat better, but they certainly don't appear any different to me. Someone is going to blow them out this year with ease.
I don't even wanna talk about FSU/Troy. Jesus they can use whatever excuse they want...short week, looking ahead, blah blah blah. No reason that should have been a close game. I can only hope Troy has a miraculous season, proving they really were a challenge. But I'm not betting on it. Here we are, week 2, and already my main goal is life yet again is to murder Jeff Bowden.
(edited by wmatistic on 10.9.06 1122) | StingArmy
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| #6 Posted on 10.9.06 1632.51 Reposted on: 10.9.13 1634.14 | Originally posted by wmatistic Tech's offense was pathetic so again, no real test and yet they scared the crap out of ND.
Pathetic play calling in the second half, perhaps, but pathetic offense, certainly not. Calvin Johnson. That's all that needs to be said.
The Irish have great coaching, a great QB, an overrated WR and that's about it.
Overrated WR?? Now I *know* you don't know what you're talking about.
- StingArmy | wmatistic
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| #7 Posted on 10.9.06 1845.10 Reposted on: 10.9.13 1845.24 | Originally posted by StingArmy
Originally posted by wmatistic Tech's offense was pathetic so again, no real test and yet they scared the crap out of ND.
Pathetic play calling in the second half, perhaps, but pathetic offense, certainly not. Calvin Johnson. That's all that needs to be said.
The Irish have great coaching, a great QB, an overrated WR and that's about it.
Overrated WR?? Now I *know* you don't know what you're talking about.
- StingArmy
Actually you need to say more than Calvin Johnson, because while he's a stud he's also all they have. Their QB is absolutly horrible so they're lucky Calvin ever sees the ball much less gets a chance to catch it. That was in no way a test for a defense to be able to call itself good.
Actually with regards to ND's stud WR, yes I think he's got talent. He's a great possesion receiver, but for anyone to say he's a better overall WR than many other guys out there(CJ included) is insane. He's not nearly as fast or agile as those other guys. That's all I'm saying. He's great, but he's not close to being the best in the nation as many are saying, thus he's overrated. | JayJayDean
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| #8 Posted on 11.9.06 0833.25 Reposted on: 11.9.13 0833.57 | Washington played PERFECT football for a half, with no turnovers and one five yard-penalty and was tied with Oklahoma at the half. That is the best showing by a Pac-10 team in a non-conference matchup so far, so I have hope for the rest of the year now. | Mayhem
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| #9 Posted on 11.9.06 0856.01 Reposted on: 11.9.13 0859.01 | Originally posted by redsoxnation Tennessee barely surviving Air Force at home doesn't make them seem ready to enter SEC play
UT also lost 2 defensive starters for the year as well. But on a positive note, QB Erik Ainge was on fire Saturday. It's Florida week, so this will be the real test. | whatever
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| #10 Posted on 11.9.06 0949.52 Reposted on: 11.9.13 0951.02 | Well, OSU showed up and I am quite pleased. However, that was quite the bogus helmet to helmet call. If not for that penalty, Texas probably only gets 3 points.
That said, Texas' rushing game was damn impressive. Also, major props to Colt McCoy. That is one tough guy standing in the pocket and delivering, even with the pass rush coming after him.
GO BUCKEYES! | StingArmy
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| #11 Posted on 11.9.06 1618.42 Reposted on: 11.9.13 1619.26 | Originally posted by wmatistic Actually you need to say more than Calvin Johnson, because while he's a stud he's also all they have. Their QB is absolutly horrible so they're lucky Calvin ever sees the ball much less gets a chance to catch it.
You're right that Reggie Ball is not very good at all. However, if you have followed Calvin Johnson's career (which I have) you'll see that it hasn't mattered a lick. He has still established himself as the best receiver in the nation. And that's not just in terms of skill and/or potential: he always ends up with impressive stats because he catches just about any garbage Reggie throws to, over, at, or around him. He's like a bigger, faster, stronger version of Larry Fitzgerald.
Actually with regards to ND's stud WR, yes I think he's got talent. He's a great possesion receiver, but for anyone to say he's a better overall WR than many other guys out there(CJ included) is insane. He's not nearly as fast or agile as those other guys. That's all I'm saying. He's great, but he's not close to being the best in the nation as many are saying, thus he's overrated.
First, I assume you're talking about Jeff Samardzija and not Rhema McKnight. Yes? Second, I certainly don't think he's better than CJ. However, I *do* think he's the second best receiver in the country, and I don't blame too many people that say he's the very best. We're talking about a guy who caught more touchdown passes last year than many Notre Dame receivers catch in a career (Heisman winner and Hall of Famer Tim Brown included). Brady Quinn is a pretty good quarterback but he would look only above average if he didn't have the receivers he has. Samardzija is just flat-out GOOD.
- StingArmy | Quezzy
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| #12 Posted on 11.9.06 1747.47 Reposted on: 11.9.13 1748.03 | I'm honestly not an expert on Samardizja but I am pretty sure a HUGE reason Tim Brown didn't have more TDs is that Notre Dame went 4 - 25 - 1 when he was there, so it's not exactly fair to compare the two. Crappy teams are going to hurt your stats regardless of how good you are.
Maybe Penn State isn't that good, but still, it's not like Notre Dame squeaked by, they dominated like they should, I'd say that's atleast a good sign for the Irish and It's pretty obvious the people who are still doubting them are just Notre Dame haters, and extreme ones at that too because I hate them but even I realize they're good. I don't even expect Michigan to put up that much of a fight next week.
Washington loses to Oklahoma, Arizona gets destroyed by LSU, it's pretty clear that those Pac 10 fans crying about "East Coast biased" have nothing to whine about, the Pac 10 just isn't as good as the other major conferences. The exception of course being USC, might as well pencil in the Notre Dame/USC winner in the Championship game.
Wow, after the wins over Cal and Miami all the experts were suddenly jumping on the Tennessee and FSU bandwagons picking them both to beat Florida. Then this week they nearly go and have embarassing upsets. Meanwhile, Florida gave up a interception on their first possession of the season and went down 0 - 7 and were in "trouble" right off the bat. Since then they've outscored their opponents 76 - 0. Ainge has looked awesome but that makes the near loss to Air Force even more embarassing. If Ainge has to play that well to beat Air Force by 1 point then I can't imagine what he needs to beat Florida because that Leak isn't bad either, just 24 less yards passing than Ainge. The Gators should win, and hopefully the experts will actually talk about Leak, you know the guy who is actually starting, more than Tim Tebow. However, I doubt it's going to be a blowout like redsoxnation suggests, it wasn't a blowout last year when Tennessee was pathetic, so I don't see why it would be a blowout this year. | wmatistic
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| #13 Posted on 11.9.06 1900.24 Reposted on: 11.9.13 1902.04 | Originally posted by StingArmy
Originally posted by wmatistic Actually you need to say more than Calvin Johnson, because while he's a stud he's also all they have. Their QB is absolutly horrible so they're lucky Calvin ever sees the ball much less gets a chance to catch it.
You're right that Reggie Ball is not very good at all. However, if you have followed Calvin Johnson's career (which I have) you'll see that it hasn't mattered a lick. He has still established himself as the best receiver in the nation. And that's not just in terms of skill and/or potential: he always ends up with impressive stats because he catches just about any garbage Reggie throws to, over, at, or around him. He's like a bigger, faster, stronger version of Larry Fitzgerald.
Actually with regards to ND's stud WR, yes I think he's got talent. He's a great possesion receiver, but for anyone to say he's a better overall WR than many other guys out there(CJ included) is insane. He's not nearly as fast or agile as those other guys. That's all I'm saying. He's great, but he's not close to being the best in the nation as many are saying, thus he's overrated.
First, I assume you're talking about Jeff Samardzija and not Rhema McKnight. Yes? Second, I certainly don't think he's better than CJ. However, I *do* think he's the second best receiver in the country, and I don't blame too many people that say he's the very best. We're talking about a guy who caught more touchdown passes last year than many Notre Dame receivers catch in a career (Heisman winner and Hall of Famer Tim Brown included). Brady Quinn is a pretty good quarterback but he would look only above average if he didn't have the receivers he has. Samardzija is just flat-out GOOD.
- StingArmy
Yeah I meant Jeff, I just hate trying to spell his name. Anyway, as I said he is a good player, but I wouldn't have him high on the list of best in college football. Maybe top ten. Probably. But in the bottom half. I'd say CJ, Jarrett, Ginn(despite his inconsistency), Sidney Rice, Pittman, heck maybe even Woods and Jason Hill are more talented than Jeff and that's just off the top of my head. Again, not dogging him so much as trying to temper some of the ND crazies about what they have. Yes his numbers are great, but so are the stats for whoever plays QB at Texas Tech.
To Quezzy, I don't hate ND, I just feel like they are legitmatlly overrated at this point. Name a legit top team they have beaten since Weiss started. Oh that's right they haven't, except this week against a Penn State team no one expected to be top 25 caliber this season. In other words, they may be a really good team, but they have yet to win a big game and until they do ranking them in the top five is premature at best. I personally don't see an improved defense. The linebackers look absolutly terrible most of the time, I mean completely lost other than one young guy they haven't played much. They have zero speed at that position and it's going to kill them. They get no pass rush without blitzing, and while their corners are doing kinda better they make a lot of mistakes still as well. I'm not the only one who's noticed this so expect a good offensive team to really exploit it. Probably USC.
| redsoxnation
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| #14 Posted on 11.9.06 1959.41 Reposted on: 11.9.13 2000.06 | On Tim Brown: Notre Dame began to turn the corner in '87, the season that Brown won the Heisman. He mainly won it on a big game against Michigan State on ESPN in a time when there still were only 3 or 4 games broadcast nationally. Irish fell apart late in the '87 season, culminating in Brown getting into it with a Texas A&M player during a Cotton Bowl blowout. On Notre Dame not beating a good team in the past season plus: When they faced Michigan on the road last season, Michigan was considered a Top 5 team and was a double digit favorite. I'm always of the school of thought that you can't blame a team for what an opponent does after you play them. That is why a team that beat Tennessee early last season should have been credited for a quality win, while Notre Dame shouldn't have gotten credit for a quality win when Tennessee had fallen apart late in the year. As for my belief that the defense is vastly improved from last season: Considering how horrific the defense was last season, I do think it is much better. Not Top Ten, but Top 40, which is a vast improvement from Under 100. | JayJayDean
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| #15 Posted on 11.9.06 2007.54 Reposted on: 11.9.13 2010.08 | Originally posted by Quezzy I'm honestly not an expert on Samardizja but I am pretty sure a HUGE reason Tim Brown didn't have more TDs is that Notre Dame went 4 - 25 - 1 when he was there, so it's not exactly fair to compare the two.
In case anyone thinks he DIDN'T make that stat up, Notre Dame went 7-4 in '84, 5-6 in '85 and '86, and 8-4 in '87.
Originally posted by Quezzy Washington loses to Oklahoma, Arizona gets destroyed by LSU, it's pretty clear that those Pac 10 fans crying about "East Coast biased" have nothing to whine about, the Pac 10 just isn't as good as the other major conferences. The exception of course being USC, might as well pencil in the Notre Dame/USC winner in the Championship game.
I know you're just cranky because we're five days away from UF's annual drubbing from UT, but give me a break. Washington and Arizona are BAD teams, and you're going to use them getting routed by a top-15 team and a top-5 team on the road to say the Pac-10 is overrated? Why not throw WSU's blowout loss at Auburn while you're at it? East coast-bias when it comes to USC or Oregon? Maybe, but saying the whole Pac-10 is crying about the conference being under-hyped based on UW and UA is like saying the Big 12 people are sick of Baylor and Kansas being under-hyped. | Whitebacon
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| #16 Posted on 12.9.06 1335.39 Reposted on: 12.9.13 1336.00 | Originally posted by JayJayDean Washington played PERFECT football for a half, with no turnovers and one five yard-penalty and was tied with Oklahoma at the half. That is the best showing by a Pac-10 team in a non-conference matchup so far, so I have hope for the rest of the year now.
Be ready to feel the PAIN this Saturday.
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