Notre Dame-Michigan...making sense of it all

Submitted by noahtahl on
One game down and now its time too compare the 2 team defenses, both Western Michigan and Nevada's, who took it on the chin UFC style in their games against Michigan and Notre Dame, as a way to gauge what might happen this Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Lets first look at Notre Dames red headed stepchild , Nevada.

Nevada returned 7 starters on  defense. The  rush defense was above average but that was a case of why run on em when you can throw it at will on the #119 ranked pass defense...yes #119.Take a moment to compose yourselves as  if this was  not the worst pass defense in the country, it was pretty damn close.

On to scoring defense where a deeper look into Nevada's opponents from last year and where these opponents ranked in offense for the whole year makes an even more compelling argument that Nevada's defense just sucked.

Being rated #99 in scoring defense looks bad enough but when you give up 48 points to the #64 ranked offense( New Mexico St.), 42 points to the #68 offense ( Maryland ),  31 points to the #75 offense ( Louisiana Tech ),38 points to the #72 offense ( Hawaii ),and 41 points to the #18  ranked offense( Boise St. ). I can cut them some slack for the 69 points Missouri laid on them as Mo. was the #8 ranked offense. The numbers kind of jump out at ya, hence the # 99 scoring defense ranking.

All of a sudden emu boy doesn't look so intimidating.

On to Michigan's directional in state opponent, Western Michigan.

Western returned only 3 starters from a defense that ranked #87 in total defense, #52 in pass defense, and #62 in scoring defense. Especially lame number in the total defense category and slightly below  average in scoring defense but somewhat understandable when you look at some of the offenses they faced.

#12 ranked offense Nebraska, scored 47, #10 ranked scoring offense Rice, scored 38, #19 offense Illinois, scored 17, #17 offense Ball St., scored 45, and #23 ranked offense Central Michigan, scored 38.

The defensive numbers show a large advantage in favor of Western Michigan as the opponents they faced last year combined for a total offense rating of 16.1 and 37 points scored against. As for Nevada's opponents, they combined for a total offense rating of 50.8 and an incredible 45.4 points scored against.

The numbers heavily weigh in favor of Michigan's 31-7 defeat of WMU as a more impressive performance and puts Notre Dames offensive numbers against Nevada in perspective.


Jimmy Clausen's performance against the lamest of lame defenses also included his typical 4-5 balls where he just flings it and hopes for the best. 2 near interceptions in the first half alone,2 sacks, and his usual impersonation of NFL Films " Football Follies".

Meanwhile, Tate and DRob present quite a challenge to any defense with their different skill sets while still being an open book to the fans and coaches alike.Does Tate ever get rattled? Can DRob play mistake free with so little time in this exremely complicated system? Will someone hide Sheridan's uniform before the game?

So looking at this past Saturday's games for both Michigan and Notre Dame, the numbers tell a tale of misplaced enthusiasm for the Domers and a case of cautious enthusiasm for the Wolverine Nation.

Hopefully, Michigan will make this 2 in a row on its way to 13-0!! Go Blue!!

MGOARMY

September 9th, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^

Great diary, had no clue nevada's pass d was that bad. Clausen looked great against nevada and hawaii, but now I see why. I can't wait for saturday, this game feels as big to me as any I can remember vs ND. The Big House will be rocking, GO BLUE!!!!

noahtahl

September 9th, 2009 at 1:17 AM ^

The Nevada Qb passing stats from last year were 'Steven Threet' like at 54% completion but very effecient with 22 td's and only 7 picks.The offensive line this year had to replace 4 starters and we know all to well how that goes.

The Nevada offense actually moved the ball well in the first half as they made it into the red zone twice and into Notre Dame's side of the field 4 times but credit Notre Dame for bending and not breaking.

As for Clausen, in 2 games against Michigan he has yet to complete at least 50% of his passes and his lack of pocket presence leads to a high percent of interceptions.

To sum it up, their are as many question marks for Notre Dame as there is for a younger Michigan team but I would rather go to battle with the 'Dynamic Duo' of TForce and DRob over 'Emu Boy'.

Ty Butterfield

September 9th, 2009 at 12:46 AM ^

I did rewatch the first half of the WMU game and the Michigan D did look good. Still, our secondary scares me a lot. Donavan Warren seems to be the king of the pass interference penalty at the worst possible times. I do think Jimmah is overrated, but I also think that the ND receivers are better than any that WMU had. So maybe it will all even out? I forgot that Syracuse beat ND last year and GERG was the head coach, so hopefully that will only help Michigan. I just hope our offense can move the ball. The lack of production in the second half worries me. However, many people have pointed out the Coach Rod was playing things close to the vest and did not want to give ND any additional look at the offense. I hope this is the case.

they are who we thought they were

Yostal

September 9th, 2009 at 7:58 AM ^

I wonder if Donovan Warren was being extra aggressive in the second half, perhaps purposefully finding the line on what would be called for pass interference, to give Notre Dame something to think about in the game film and make them think that he might be worth throwing at. He was lulling them and hopefully will make them pay on Saturday. Phase II: The Lulling Phase.

R Kelly

September 9th, 2009 at 10:59 AM ^

With all due respect I really don't think that he was thinking about ND that much during the game. For the most part players just go out and read and react, he happened to be a little bit too aggressive, but with the lead you can afford to make some of those mistakes. Lets all just hope that A. he doesn't make them again this week, or B. We have the kind of lead where it won't matter if he does.

RONick

September 9th, 2009 at 1:11 AM ^

Cautious optimism is the key. While I am extremely excited after the performance against Western, I still don't know what to think after last year.

maizenbluenc

September 9th, 2009 at 8:01 AM ^

On the bright side, both sides get to talk smack again without feeling like they're beating on a downtrodden charity case.

(Of course I am hoping we beat them soundly, and the Domers again become a downtrodden charity case, if for any other reason than I just can't stand Weiss' personality.)

tmiller

September 9th, 2009 at 8:25 AM ^

The good thing about any mistakes that our secondary made (i.e. Woolfolk and Floyd biting on the long TD) is that they get desicted over-and-over again in film. They learn from them so that they "try" not to let them happen again. The long bomb will be a good learning experience.

Go Blue!

Tater

September 9th, 2009 at 8:55 AM ^

Warren lost his poise a little bit in the second half. I am convinced that this resulted in the ref throwing the second flag as a "one-upsmanship" move. I am pretty sure that he has been and will continue to be "coached up" about the politics of players and refs all week. Warren looked good for most of this game and will be fine against ND.

Steve in PA

September 9th, 2009 at 10:15 AM ^

"Will someone hide Sheridan's uniform before the game?"

Almost laughed and sprayed coffee on my laptop.

I like your analysis, but it reminds me too much of last year when we were trying to convince ourselves why we would win the next one. I hope and pray we get this one.

If we do, I think it will be the end of Weiss. Maybe before the end of the year.

noahtahl

September 10th, 2009 at 12:48 AM ^

Since Michigan laid 31 in one half, the fact that W Mich returned few starters would be a moot point. Now if Michigan had scored 14 or less in the first half it would be a major concern.

Now does having only 3 starters back from a mediocre defense who faced 4 top 20 offenses lead to assuming that Michigan's 31 first half points were easy to come by or does a team that returns 7 starters from a defense that faced 2 top 20 offenses, 1 of whom laid down 69 points,explain why Clausen had a 2,000 Qb rating.