ND vs Stanford Pre Game Thread:

[purguy12]

Lets Do it. 1st big test for this team. This game will tell us more about ND and what this team can do. I feel a win here and this team can go 11-1 or 12-0. Loss her at 10-2 and 9-3 it might be. I cant wait for this game. happy its a home game. I really want to be 6-0 when we play FSU.

Lets Go Irish

 

[Irish7478]

Stanford is #1 in the country in total defense and scoring defense. I think Golson's mobility might be the key to this game. I would say that I think Stanford will put their efforts into stopping our passing, so I think that considering that they wont be worried about our running attack, it might be possible for Bryant or Folston to break off one or two long gains.

 

[purguy12]

Stanford is #1 in the country in total defense and scoring defense. I think Golson's mobility might be the key to this game. I would say that I think Stanford will put their efforts into stopping our passing, so I think that considering that they wont be worried about our running attack, it might be possible for Bryant or Folston to break off one or two long gains.

Golson cant make mistakes like last week. he needs to be smart with the ball. Is folston ok after the injury?

 

[bbirish73]

this game is all about Golson on offense and our defense being able to force Stanford to 3rd and longs.

 

[purguy12]

Collinsworth is back but to be honest he shouldn't start. Stay with what works. This D has been great.

 

[ChicagoIrish]

Defensive battle in this one

I'm thinking it's going to be like a 21-17 type of game. If we don't turn the ball over, then I think we'll come out on top.

 

[Shield-Thread Killa]

SPECIAL TEAMS...

With such closely matched teams on stats, schedule, and talent...

It boils down to SPECIAL TEAMS and of course half time adjustments...

 

[purguy12]

Yes it will come down to special teams and turnovers. Who ever wins those battles wins the game.

 

[bksballer89]

20 points should win the game for us

 

[jjc2009]

Keeping Stanford out of 3rd and short will be the key. Make Hogan beat us with his arm. They have a solid O Line, but we have proven to be pretty good against the run. I am more concerned about our offense. The teams that have gotten to Golson have done so by blitzing extra players and disguising them well to fool our O line, but that has left a lot of 1 on 1 matchups. Stanford's front 7 are good enough to create pressure without having to bring in extra guys. They can keep their safties back. Golson doesn't like to go over the middle much, I'd hope they can exploit Koyack or the slot receiver on seam passes. He turns it over like he did last week, lights out.

 

[socaljim242]

To close to call. Stanford is tough and you wont run consistently but I can see a few big runs. They are gonna
go after Golson and play tight on your WRs. If you can not turn it over you can win a close one. Might come down to coaches decisions. Historically BK team hasn;t stepped up and Shaw has been good in some big games and not so good in others. Your QB can put his name in the Heisman mix with a big game.

 

[jjc2009]

To close to call. Stanford is tough and you wont run consistently but I can see a few big runs. They are gonna
go after Golson and play tight on your WRs. If you can not turn it over you can win a close one. Might come down to coaches decisions. Historically BK team hasn;t stepped up and Shaw has been good in some big games and not so good in others. Your QB can put his name in the Heisman mix with a big game.

I admit, Kelly is not the best gameday coach. He's good for 2-3 headscratcher plays a game. Shaw strikes me as a coach who is pretty unimaginative. He has a formula, and he dogmatically sticks to it. I'll give him credit. He doesn't have an Andrew Luck, and I think he's well away of Stanford's academic limitations (they're equal to or even greater than ND's), so his team seems to be built around ground and pound running and stifling defense. Not a lot of great team speed, but can control the tempo of games. But he's as predictable as the mail, and he's really never going to fool anyone with his playcalling. Stop the running game and you can beat him. They were atrocious in the red zone against USC this year because he seemed over-commited to the run game. I saw very little play action, there was nothing to throw of SC's defense, they had a few untimely turnovers and that's why they lost that game.

 

[bbirish73]

Stanford's defense is awesome but I think we will be able to move the ball if Golson stays patient. Golson is good enough to take what the defense will give him. Stanford will be committed to stopping the run and Will Fuller will demand a safety over top. I look for a lot of underneath passes and picking up a lot 6-7 yards a pop. Whoever is playing in the slot is going to have a big game in my opinion. As long as ND is patient and takes care of the football, we should be fine offensively. We are underdogs at home so lets leave it all on the field and not make any mistakes.

 

[purguy12]

I cant wait for this game. I think being at home will help this team big time. Being their 1st big game its nice to have the fans on your side. Is it sat yet? LOL




lets Go Irish


We need to run the ball. Clock management.

 

[whywork2]

I was surprised to see the Vegas line has Stanford favored by 2 points at Notre Dame. I've watched the lines for many a year and thought this spread was strange. Being that Notre Dame is higher ranked and playing at home.

 

[purguy12]

my lines im getting in NJ is ND giving 1 1/2

 

[jjc2009]

I was surprised to see the Vegas line has Stanford favored by 2 points at Notre Dame. I've watched the lines for many a year and thought this spread was strange. Being that Notre Dame is higher ranked and playing at home.

Vegas is selling to the "ND hasn't played anyone yet" betters. There are many of them. I think if they had more convincing wins against Purdue and Syracuse, it would be a lot different (like ND -7), but a medicore showing against Purdue and a solid, but ridiculously mistake-filled game against Syracuse has caused most to think our record is fool's gold right now. Just hope the team can prove them wrong. A lot of people lost money on us in 2012 too.

 

[craigk217]

Golson ... early & often! I think this is why BK has kept the playbook on Golson pretty much closed so far ... he's been saving it for the Stanford game against a very stingy Stanford D. If Stanford crowds the box (as I excpect) and stuff/contain EG and our stable of RBs, then BK needs to resort to the short pass game using RB screens/TE slants.

I swear, I do not understand BK's reluctance to use screen passes to our talented RBs. He was finally calling some of them in the 2nd half of the Purdue game and having HUGE success with them. This could be the game where he may be forced to, since I think Stanford will give us fits in the running game.

If the D keeps playing like they have since the Rice game, I have no real concerns in that area. Keep stopping the run and don't get pushed around ... and don't give up the big pass play.

A couple have already mentioned the special teams ... this is gonna be huge, b/c I also believe this is going to be a tight, defensive game. Whoever wins on special teams is going to have the upper hand and I'm still not totally sold that our Irish have come out of the duldrums in this aspect of our game even though it has had some shining moments.

Finally, if we put the ball on the ground like we stupidly did against 'Cuse, turn out the lights, the party's over.

I fully expect to have no voice left after this game as we will be screaming at Stanford's O all game long!

GO IRISH!!!!

 

[purguy12]

last week it was the most WR screens I have seen Kelly run. I hope we see more.

 

[craigk217]

^ Yup