It’s good to get back in the regular IBG routine once again. Getting out of the weekly grove with a bye is always jarring.
As a reminder, our IBG members are: Mike Coffey from NDNation, Frank Vitovitch from UHND.com, Aaron Horvath from the Official Fighting Irish Blog, and the IBG godfather himself, the Subway Domer. We have all asked each other the same questions and we are here to give you the answers.
It’s another hate week in my mind. Let’s burn some trees.
My question: While Stanford’s rushing offense has been struggling this season (ranked 70th nationally), their defense certainly hasn’t (ranked 1st). How do you feel about the Golson-led offense against the Cardinal defensive unit?
NDNation shows some cautious optimism.
Subway Domer wants an air raid.
Fighting Irish Blog thinks 20 is the magic number.
(more links to come as they are posted)
UHND.com
(Subway Domer) The national narrative hasn’t changed much. Notre Dame hasn’t played anyone with a pulse, and big bad Stanford is coming to town as the odds on favorite. The only thing that can change this perception is a win over the Cardinal–or would it? Would an Irish victory over Stanford in the eyes of pollsters and the CFB Playoff committee give more credence to the season thus far? Why does any of this even matter if it doesn’t really matter? Meditate on that.
Meditate? Ok, let me go zen here.
To hell with the national narrative and the polls.
Also, I don’t believe that anyone on the CFB Playoff committee is too sold on anyone yet. I’m sure they keep running tabs on their top 10, but I have a feeling after the end of this month, that’s when the debate picks up.
I’m sure beating Stanford will open up the national eyes. Michigan did as well until they laid an egg and a half against anyone with a pulse. Stanford could end up being the same so who knows.
My philosophy on polls is always the same: win ’em all and make the decision easy for them. See also: 2012.
(Aaron Horvath, Fighting Irish Blog) What does it mean to you that Notre Dame was able to overcome 5 turnovers and still thoroughly and soundly defeat an ACC opponent?
A few different things:
- Syracuse is not good.
- The defense did a hell of a job not going into panic mode.
- Everett did a good job of not completely falling apart.
- We have some explosive weapons on offense to pull that off.
- Seriously, Syracuse is not good.
As far as it being an ACC opponent? Meh, doesn’t move the needle. Has more to do with my mindset that I mentioned above though: beat ’em all regardless of conference or rank.
(Mike Coffey, NDNation) There seems to be two schools of thought on David Shaw – one saying he’s riding Harbaugh’s remnants and will come down to earth shortly, the other saying he’s an apple sitting very close to the tree and should be able to sustain Stanford’s recent success. To which school do you belong and why?
I don’t think Shaw is as good as Harbaugh, but I don’t think he’s terrible either. In that same vein, I don’t think he’s going to sustain the heights they’ve been at, but I see them being in the playoff conversation more often than not.
I know it sounds like I’m straddling the fence here, but honestly, the biggest thing with Stanford right now is that their talent hit a slight decline. Keyword: slight. This isn’t as dangerous of a Stanford team (70th in rushing blows my mind honestly even this early) as previous years, but they definitely have weapons.
I think Stanford’s got a good thing going. They have a plan and they are sticking to it. The similarities between Harbaugh and Shaw prevented a full rebuild with a philosophy change and I think that was incredibly smart. With that said, I guess I lean more towards that Shaw is an apple close to the Harbaugh tree.
(Frank Vitovitch, UHND.com) After Torii Hunter’s debut and the the return this week of Amir Carlisle, how do you forsee the Notre Dame wide receiving rotation working out this weekend and beyond?
Without a doubt, I believe Amir reclaims his slot spot. I believe our best receiving weapons are Fuller, Amir, and Robinson, in that order. They will easily see the most snaps going forward. I definitely think Torii is going to make an impact somewhere, it may just some time. Perhaps we will see him in four-wide sets on occasion, but don’t forget about Brown and Prosise as well.
On another note: man, the WR corps is performing better than my wildest expectations to this point. Next man in indeed. These guys are fun to watch.
- Epilogue - January 3, 2022
- HLS Podcast Finale - January 2, 2022
- The Final Fiesta: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State NCAA ’14 Sim - December 31, 2021
Bayou Irish
I know that our schedule looks decidedly less-difficult today than it did when we kicked off against Rice, but I am growing frustrated with the pundits who are beginning to hold it against us. When we kicked off against Michigan, most of the nattering nabobs gave their collective nod to the Wolverines. I think, in fact, that our comprehensive victory over them will be viewed similarly in time as UM’s loss to App. State. Not only did we beat them, but we soaked their timbers in gasoline and left burning cigarettes all over the house. Stanford comes in, as it does, as a monolith of smash-mouth football. Our win over them in 2012 was epic. Our loss in 2013 was impossibly delayed until the game’s waning moments as we continued to have a chance throughout. Unfortunately, for the pundits, a win Saturday will say “more” about Stanford’s shortcomings than it will about Notre Dame’s rising. Given the playoff system, what was true is even more so now: just win.