A lot has to go right for ND to beat USC this weekend, but it's very possible. Here's what has to happen for ND to bring home the W.
1) ND's front 7 on Defense needs to play out of their freaking gord. They need to play insane, crazy, crazy, insane defense. Sharp on the assignments, aggressive in the trenches, with solid tackling. This hasn't happened all year, so it's a tall order. But without this, USC will just hand the ball off over and over and over and run for 350 yards and eat up clock and kill us. If the front 7 can force Barkley into passing situations, he'll screw up. Big time. He's a decent talent, but he's been fairly shaky, and in a big game like this, he'll F something up at some point. It's up to our guys to make that happen.
2) ND needs to be smart on offense. This falls mainly on Weis and Clausen. For Weis, this means not feeling like he has to go for it on 4th and 4 at midfield in the 1st quarter. He has to be willing to punt, and play defense. He can't give USC a super short field - they'll make us pay for it. And Jimmy, who's been smart all year, needs to keep making solid decisions. I have great faith that he will. I'm not so sure on Weis.
3) ND has to win the turnover and ST battle. If USC wins either, we're in for a long day. If ND needs long drives over and over, or if USC has a short field all day, it's going to be near impossible for us.
4) The Irish have to establish a running threat of some sort out of passing formations. The wildcat is one thing, and it's a good change of pace. But if USC can just sit back and cover every time Jimmy drops back, the windows are going to be very, very small, which could lead to bad decisions and/or a lot of 3rd and long's. ND needs to gash USC for big gains on the ground early to at least keep the USC LB corps honest.
5) We have to want it more. The place is going to be insane on Saturday. USC is going to be up. ND players, coaches and fans need to be so up they can barely handle it. And then ND needs to unleash all of that for 4 quarters, non-stop.
It's a tall order. USC is a deeply talented squad, and they will not look past ND like they did UW. They'll give us their best shot. ND will need their best shot and more to take home a W this weekend.
Let's do it boys. GO IRISH.
By Trey October 15, 2009 - 9:02 am
The keys i gave to my friend about this game are fairly simple and pretty similar to yours.
The first is: We MUST get pressure with less than an 8 man rush. Every decrement of this figure will increase our chance to win. If we cam get decent pressure with a 6-7 man blitz, i’ll be very happy. If we can somehow get decent pressure with 3-4 man rushes, i’m REALLY happy. If we rush like we did against mich and send 8 men all the time, out comes the rb screen and short slants that walls and gray have shownthey dont cover well. This is one gm where i dont think we even NEED to blitz all that much. Like you said, Barkley WILL make a few bad decisions, so let that happen and just play smart in the meantime.
Second key is: Jimmy has to play at LEAST as good as he has all year. If jimmy has a bad game, we’re toast. This gm is probably worth 3-4 mil for him, hope he plays like it.
Of course, you went the turnover and field position thing too, but i think that goes without saying. Unless youre w virg playing dan hawkins, you cant lose the to battle and come out on top.
Also, the weather forecast may help is. Im really praying for some lake effect snow up there. I read that the last time the prophylactics played in snow was a 40-12 loss in South Bend. Couldnt hurt, right?
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By san diego irish October 15, 2009 - 10:30 am
Considering that ND has to have a good passing day to win, I’m not sure bad weather will help ND.
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By BJDomer October 15, 2009 - 11:05 am
Dear God, if it snows, I will die. Saturday is my last day at Notre Dame before I head back to Florida for Fall break. If He could keep it from snowing for just a little longer, I would be eternally grateful. Besides, it would really hurt our chances. USC is a great running team, with a great rush defense. We are a good rushing team, with mediocre rush defense. As SDI alluded to, we would have to rely more on the run game if it was windy and snowing. In other words, snow would take the game out of our best player’s (Jimmy’s) hands.
Of course, the snow could really bring out Charlie’s creative side. Anybody else like the idea of the wishbone with Tate and Allen at the tailback spots and Hughes at fullback? I’m kidding, of course, but I would love it if Charlie broke that out.
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By undnut October 15, 2009 - 2:47 pm
Weather, schmeather. It’s not going to snow. We’ve got bigger things to worry about, namely points 1-5.
Regarding point 1…I miss Trevor Laws.
Get ‘em up.
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By tjak October 15, 2009 - 9:06 pm
Boys, I know the odds are against us this weekend, but like Coach Weis, I am going all in. Friday, when I go to school to teach I am wearing my number 10 jersey, ball cap, and 4×6 Notre Dame flag. I am playing the fight song and that great video subwaydomer has downloaded, for all my classes. As to what happens Monday, well, let’s just say I’ll let the chips fall where they may. As it stands right now, be damned the odds, GO IRISH! BEAT SC!!!!
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