Per Scouts Inc.: ND Better Across the Board
Since you need an ESPN insider account to get this info I won't give a comprehensive breakdown, but out of ten categories Scouts Inc. gives ND the advantage in all but three: defensive line, linebacker and special teams. Oddly enough they give ND's coaching staff the advantage as well.
If you have insider: http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/features/take2?gameId=292550130
September 9th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
GERG beat Charlie with 'Cuse last year...
September 9th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
Bear Jew from Inglourious Basterds?
September 9th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
... the value of getting an insider pass, particularly when the free preview includes the following jewel:
"Michigan doesn't have a proven pass-rusher up front outside of DE Brandon Graham, and Irish RT Sam Young is capable of holding his own in that matchup."
If indeed Sam Young is that good, wouldn't Michigan line BG up opposite the LT or LG?!?
September 9th, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
That sounds somewhat....homerish. GE didn't buy Disney to add to their media outlet, did they?
It seems to me that most of the reviews I see of BG is that he basically has to be double covered to prevent him from eating QB's from the toes up.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
plans to have ABC outbid NBC next time the contract comes up for renewal; and they're trying to pre-sweeten the deal.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^
I do hope they double team Graham, Craig Roh looke pretty good in his first game including a sack.
September 9th, 2009 at 6:50 PM ^
Probably too much to ask them to do the opposite - double team DEATH ROH and leave some poor fool 1 on 1 against BG?
Probably...but it is Jabba the Weis we are talking about here. He might be dumb enough to think this is a great idea - where is my damned phone...
September 9th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
For anyone who IS thinking about getting an Insider account please know that you get one with ESPN The magazine. Those are frequently available via several sites for $1 per year.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:25 PM ^
Does anyone with an insider account want to go look up the categorical breakdown from 2006? I have a hunch it'll look similar.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:31 PM ^
They're two years off their flop season with a more experienced qb. We were where they were last year. Say what you want, proof comes Saturday.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^
i love being the underdog in a game like this
September 9th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^
Definitely. You know players look at that kind of stuff (even when they claim they don't). If it gets in ND's head, it's all better for us. Not only that but it definitely takes the heat off Michigan. When the whole world is against them, they really have nothing to lose, and with a bunch of freshmen and sophomores, this is a great advantage to have.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
They seem to be assuming that both Minor and Cissoko aren't playing or are questionable. Everything we've heard says they're both playing.
If Minor is playing our RBs are better. Frankly, I have no idea how they can say ND's running backs and offensive line are both superior when ND hasn't had a running game in over two years.
I really hope Notre Dame thinks Sam Young can handle Graham one-on-one. Clausen will eat turf repeatedly (and probably toss some easy picks) if Notre Dame tries that. "Holding his own"? Well, one word of those would apply to what Young would probably end up doing in order to keep Clausen from getting destroyed, and the other is what Graham would be doing to Young and Clausen all game long if they want to try to single-block him.
I'd say Weis isn't that stupid, but I won't underestimate the brilliant mind and his "decided schematic advantage" thinking he could get away with it.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:59 PM ^
to think that--so far. I think there is good reason to think their o-line is slightly better (I don't think it is or will be, but...) given our struggles last year. QB is also self-evidently in their favor given true freshman in their second game, WR's is them, and secondary isn't even close--they have actual depth. So I don't see how this is out of line at all, although since I'm not a subscriber I'm only going by the OP description.
That's why winning will be sweet.
September 9th, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
I thought it was free and sponsored by Geico these days?
September 9th, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
Let's hope these analysts' opinions turn out to be as accurate as last week's. We were supposed to struggle against Western, but now they were so weak. Come Saturday evening, I'd love to hear analysts blame it on Charlie Weiss.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:05 PM ^
Why do so many people want to give Weis that extra "s?"
The only answer I can come up with is that it was originally part of his name but he ate it.