ND vs. USF in Week 1

Submitted by karpodiem on

anyone from Florida follow USF? Will it be a competitive enough game for ND to show a good part of their playbook? Looks to be an Interesting week 1 matchup.

mgokev

August 19th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not...

It's not OT because it involves a future opponent.  Additionally, this is scouting one of our rivals in their matchup the week before our game.  I have no problem with this.  I would have a problem however with threads on Gonzaga basketball...

Fox14

August 19th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^

Certainly won't be a blowout, but i dont think it will come down to late in the game either.  USF's passing offense isn't very good so if they're able to throw the ball, that'll show that ND's secondary needs work.

The biggest question will be whether or not USF can run the ball.  They've got their returning back, Murray, and two great backs who transferred in in Darrell Scott and Dontae Aycock.  If ND shuts down the run, then we'll know their run defense is for real

Logan88

August 20th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^

Interestingly, many posters on this board are seemingly terrified of San Diego State yet just as many completely discount Western Michigan.

I would not be at all surprised if WMU gives UM just as much of a game as SDSU. Alex Carder (WMU's QB) put up better passing numbers (comp %, more TD, fewer INT) last season than Ryan Lindley (SDSU's QB) and Carder/WMU has two returning WR's while SDSU has none.

Note: I am not predicting that UM will lose to EITHER team. I think the margin of victory for UM will probably be about the same in both games at ~14 pts.

NOLA Blue

August 19th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^

Adding two more running backs will not matter if the Bulls can't reload along the O-line.  They lost three starters, two of whom were All-Big East.  One of them (Sampson Genus) now plays for the Packers (non-drafted, signed in July.)  Genus was their center, with 30 starts.

Looks like they have a couple of solid guards coming back on either side of a 315lb senior who lettered twice as Genus's backup.  Tackle looks like it might be decent as well... although check out that dude slated for right tackle.  Redshirt Frosh who lost 60 lbs in the off season and now weighs 299.  I'm not sure if he'll feel strong or weak after losing that much weight.  Any football gurus out there who have dealt with a lot of athletes losing tonnage?

This info came from Scout's team preview of UF and Google.

All in all, with a returning Jr. QB who blew up in the bowl game (after first year with new coordinator, sound familiar?) to keep up some deep pressure on opposing D's, and what looks to be some decent pieces to rebuild an O-line with... maybe those three RBs will have some room to run.  Verdict:  if ND can stop the run, it suggests good run-D out of South Bend.

big10football

August 19th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^

I agree completely that USF has some question marks on the offensive line. That is the unit I am most concerned with, especially going against ND's D-line. They could potentially get manhandled. I'm in wait and see mode regarding USF's offensive line.

Tater

August 19th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^

USF is my "home" team.  They still don't get a lot of recruits who had offers like ND on their lists.  They should be a decent team this year, but ND should be an elite one.  I watched Kelly dismantle USF a couple of years ago with Cincinnati.  It was like watching the surgery channel.  I'm guessing USF keeps it close for a half and then ND wins by a couple of TD's.  

ND, like Michigan against WMU, isn't going to give a lot away.  That should make the score look closer than the game.  If USF gives ND a real football game, be very encouraged.  

hart20

August 19th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^

This is relevant to Michigan football. The more ND shows against USF the better. It givesul the coaches more to gameplan against and it gives us an idea of what we should expect from ND when they play us.

Gobluegr

August 19th, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^

USF has a very mobile QB, he is good at making something out of nothing. This is good and bad news. Good news-We see how ND will handle quick QBs this year
Bad news- ND gets to practice containing a quick QB

Disclaimer: Denard would destroy BJ Daniels (USF QB) in any form of a race.

justingoblue

August 20th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^

Not to downplay Denard's ridiculous speed, but he's not even the fastest on the team on foot and without pads. His strength is that he can get to 95% of his top speed in pads and with a football. Well, that and going from 0-60 in roughly the same time as a 911.

snoopblue

August 19th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^

It's funny when people try to act like they have a clue on what is OT and what isn't. This thread is clearly NOT OT and actually would be a good game to watch.

bklein09

August 19th, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^

I actually think ND could lose this game.

Obviously, I am extremely biased. But I just don't think ND is as good as people are saying. This is still a team that lost to Tulsa and Michigan at home and got blown out by Navy.

The Bulls went 8-5 last year beating Clemson and Miami in their last 4 games. I know they are not world beaters, but they should at least compete. 

Don't get me wrong, it would be a relatviely big upset. But after watching ND the past 5+ years, I would not be stunned if they dropped the ball.

 

phork

August 19th, 2011 at 9:07 PM ^

I'll concede the UM game is a toss up because its UM/ND.  But USF shouldn't be too tough.  10 total returning starters.  NDs D tightened the hell up for the last 4 games and held opponents to 9ppg, and 3.7ypr.  Comparison of opponents shows ND crushed Miami and beat Pitt.  Kelly is not Weis, unfortunately for you.

psychomatt

August 20th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^

It might be reasonable, but that doesn't mean its correct. I would guess that the same Irish fans predicting they won't lose to another "Tulsa" were predicting they wouldn't lose to Tulsa last year. The bottom line is that ND looked better in the second half of their season last year than the first half of their season last year. But the second half of their season last year was easier than the first half. And they still lost to Navy and Tulsa.

jmblue

August 20th, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^

I can't speak for ND fans, but I personally don't expect ND to be a five-loss team this year.  They got a lot better as last season went on, and Brian Kelly has a very successful track record.  I think some Michigan fans in this thread are overly defensive and holding ND to a different standard than they hold our team.  They expect improvement from Michigan because we return almost everybody, but expect ND to stagnate despite returning almost the same number of starters (and actually showing improvement over the course of last year, unlike us). 

There is a non-trivial chance that ND is better than we are right now, and that the game with them will be very difficult.  I'm bracing for that game to be a dogfight.

bklein09

August 19th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^

Irish likes to make a lot of excuses for why his team loses to horrible teams at home. In fact ND nation makes excuses for everything. 

Everything bad that happened was due to A, B, C reasons that weren't the teams/Kelly's fault.

Everything good that happens is proof that Kelly is resurrecting the program.

Losing to Tulsa wasn't their fault. Injuries, yada, yada, yada...

Getting stomped by Navy wasn't their fault. 

Losing to Michigan twice wasn't their fault. Refs, boohoo, Cryst, boohoo...

Killing a kid wasn't their fault.

A player raping a girl wasn't their fault.

Floyd getting a DUI wasn't their fault and was handled in the "right" way.

It goes on and on...

bklein09

August 19th, 2011 at 11:32 PM ^

Nope, not 12. 

Nice job actually responding to my post that you domers make excuses for everything.

I seriously cannot wait for the excuses that surface when ND loses some games this season.  I can't even imagine what they'll be. Something outrageous I'm sure.

 

phork

August 20th, 2011 at 6:34 AM ^

I'll take a shot at this...

Tulsa was on Kelly.  Should have been a FG, get the win, get out & move on.

Getting stomped by Navy, the defensive coaches took the full brunt of that disaster.  Our guys were not ready to play that game

As for losing to Michigan, there are no excuses for that.  Its embarassing to lose to a UM team that was historically bad on defense 2 years in a row.

The school admitted wrong doing in the Sullivan case.  Paid its fines, set up a scholarship fund in his name, installed remote cameras.

There was no rape, if you have read anything about the story.

Floyd was responsible for his DUI, was indefinitely suspended from the team until he satisfied whatever criteria was set out.  First time offense, you want him kicked out of school?  Or should we wait until a 2nd offense, multiple probation violations and then just redshirt him for a year until we actually need a WR for a tough 2012 season that will lack an experienced playmaker at the position?  Oh wait, you already did that.  Glass Big House.

jericho

August 20th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^

I was actually agreeing with you until you got to Floyd.  Either you are stupid or just plain lying about this being his first offense.  This is his THIRD alcohol related offense and they seemed to be getting worse.  He skated with no punishment at all.  None.  In fact it sure looks to me that ND is encouraging its players to get in trouble, because the coach will do nothing.  Face it.  If Floyd was a run of the mill wideout he would have been suspended for several games at the least or gone from the team at the most.  Kelly is weak and the players now know it.  Try again.

phork

August 21st, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^

2 drinking under age?  Are you really going there?  Please keep trap shut until you can actually defend Stonum's punishment.

As for encouraging players to get  into trouble, you are defintely stretching a bit Mr. Armstrong.  Kelly is no more weaker than Mr. Hoke.

hart20

August 20th, 2011 at 1:56 AM ^

How can you even blame the loss on that? That game was 100% on Kelly. You had a great field goal kicker, perfect on the year, available to kick at a spot well within his range. Kelly's the one who wanted to take a shot at the endzone to try to win by a larger margin. The smart call would have been a run up the middle and a timeout, not a 35 yard hail mary. That loss is on Kelly.

bklein09

August 19th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^

This is typical domer talk.

Kelly is not Weis? Ok, declares the ND fan after one 8-5 year that included multiple embarrassing losses. 

Kelly may indeed do much better than Weis, but you might not wanna get your hopes up too high there big guy. Otherwise, your administration may give him a 10 year, 20 million dollar extension, unfortuantely for you. How much are you guys still paying Weis by the way?

Also, I like how you pretend that the last 4 games are the only thing that's indicative of what team you will have this season. Somehow the other 8 games don't matter?

I have no doubt that you will likely beat USF. I think you have a good chance of beating us as well. But I can't believe your arrogance in stating that USF "shouldn't be too tough". Have you even watched your program the past decade?

bklein09

August 19th, 2011 at 11:27 PM ^

SirJack, you're right, ND did seem to get stronger toward the end of the season. 

BUT, their schedule isn't quite set up like ours is. Michigan played most of their easy games early in the season, with their last 8 games including 3 teams that went 11-1 and and SEC team.

ND played their toughest games early in the season IMO and finished with an good but not great teams. Thats another reason I think the performance in those last 4 games might be a bit of a mirage.

I think if ND played Wiscy, OSU, and Miss State in their last 4 games there may have been a different result. Just my opinion.

Irish

August 19th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^

 

So expecting to win the first game is arrogant for a ND fan but you have no doubt ND will likely beat USF so what exactly does that make you? 

Don't confuse arrogance for confidence in this team, especially the defense

The total offensive rating for ND's final 4 opponents, 34th.  USF's final total offense rating: 105th.  

Average yards allowed in those final 4 games: 268 yds, USF was 1-2 when held to that yardage, with the 1 coming against rutgers.

Average points allowed in those final 4 games: 9.75, USF was 0-3 when scoring 10 pts or less last season

Some real arrogant stats the NCAA collects