After last week’s loss to Arizona State my good friend Lisa thought it would be a good idea for me to pen some thoughts, opinions and air some frustrations with you about our football team as we move into the home stretch of the college football season …
(Deep breath) Here goes …
I would like nothing more than to write some phenomenally brilliant masterpiece for you to digest, especially after Saturday’s loss. Instead, I think the best thing for me to do is look at the big picture objectively and without being too presumptuous suggest you do the same.
First, let’s be realistic … our season isn’t over. National Championship hopes?? Absolutely smashed … let’s move on. We’re a good 7-2 football team with three legitimate opponents left on our schedule; all three of which can beat us if we don’t get over our “Heatstroke in the Desert.”
Northwestern comes into the Bend having nearly clipped a ragged Michigan team and is looking to right the ship and close the season on a positive note. At 3-6 the Wildcats have lost half of said contests by 8 points or less … safe to say we’ll need to play all four quarters to get it done there. Northwestern is still a well-coached spoiler that we can ill afford to take lightly. Not looking ahead on the schedule will be the key in this one as the Wildcats’ defense has surrendered 120 points in its current four game skid. Expect Golson and company to get it back on track offensively with at least a three touchdown win for the Irish.
Prediction: Irish 34-10
Next up Louisville; who in my opinion at 7-3 is one of the best teams we’ll face all year. The Cards come to town having beaten “The U” in Miami, lost to Clemson by only 6 in South Carolina and most recently came up on the short end of the latest Jameis Winston escape (whoa … did I just say that???). The Cards squandered a three touchdown lead in a painful loss at home to the ‘Noles … committing the bulk of their miscues in a 35-10 second-half beat down.
Our defense is currently donating a less than impressive 42 ppg. in the last four games, although a fair share of those points should fall squarely on the shoulders of our bizarrely inconsistent offense.
Not chill… so not chill…
With Louisville’s offense coming to town boasting a respectable 31.6 ppg. there is cause for concern. Question is; “How soon can our young’uns grow up?” Let’s all hope very soon. This one will be a good one.
Prediction: Irish 34 – 30
Last on the table is that other school out in California, you know, the one who’s mascot is a common form of contraception. Yeah…ummm… those…err …guys. I’m gonna try to be objective here but be forewarned it’s not very likely.
Southern Cal gets the benefit of home field advantage in this one and quite frankly that could be the difference given our abysmal 0-2 record on the road. Quietly, the Trojans may very well be one of the most talented, under-performing teams in the country … blame that one on the “Hurricane Kiffin Effect” we spoke about the last time we visited. The Trojans’ inconsistent offense displays flashes of explosiveness with an average of 38 ppg. in their six wins for the season. The Trojan defense showcases some of the best talent in the nation including safety turned linebacker Su’a Cravens playing behind All-American and sure first round pick Leonard Williams on the defensive line.
As much as this may be one of the vilest things I ever say … (sigh) … this one’s a toss-up. Our offense though sometimes exciting and fast-paced still needs to gel up front. Anyone can see from a far that somethin’ just ain’t right with our front five. What will our remaining opponents see when they put on the film and truly “break us down?” Defensively we’re just as schizophrenic; pitching a shutout against Big Blue (although no one knew how God awful they were at the time)and then gifting 43 and 39 points to North Carolina and Navy respectively …. Both in winning efforts! Late penalties and miscues decide this one.In my mind … my Irish win.
Prediction: Irish 24-21
Sorry, guess I kinda got caught up in the statistics of it all … wait … where was I? Right …
It’s my humble opinion that in order for us to win out and for our Irish to charge into bowl season with an impressive 10-2 record there are a few things that our team needs to accomplish. I borrowed these “things” from Coach Holtz so I’m betting they’re spot on.
The Plan
- Out Hit – We have to be the most physical team on the field (offense, defense & special teams)
- Great Fundamentals – We have to perform … how we’re coached to perform
- Seven Areas
- No Turnovers – Ummm … Everett are you listening son? Protect the damn ball!
- Big Plays – Let’s make some on offense and create some on defense
- Missed Assignments – That’s just mental … get it done
- Third Down – Offense move the chains … defense get off the field
- Foolish Penalties – Duh
- Goal Line (Red Zone) – It’s really very simple we score while keeping them from scoring
- Kicking Game – Always the X Factor of a football game … who cares the most?
- Togetherness – We have to play for each other … believe in each other
- Don’t Flinch – Always believe that we’ll find a way to win the game … no question
If we can do these things, which are the things great teams do, we should be sitting pretty for a great bowl bid … strap yourselves in peeps it’s gonna be a wild end of the month! It ain’t over yet!
Sláinte
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