#16 Stanford @ ND

[therepublican]

Thoughts on this game? Irish are coming off another 4th quarter loss.

ESPN posted this article today.
Notre Dame (1-2)
The dilemma: Kelly's first season at Notre Dame hit potholes the past two weeks as the Fighting Irish lost to Michigan 28-24 on Denard Robinson's last-second touchdown run and 34-31 to Michigan State when the Spartans executed a fake field goal for a touchdown in overtime.

The good news: The Fighting Irish had a chance to win both of those games before failing to finish. Quarterback Dayne Crist has a good grasp of Kelly's offense and has completed 60.4 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

The bad news: The Irish are about to face the meat of their schedule, starting with Saturday's home game against No. 16 Stanford. After hosting the Cardinal, Notre Dame plays at Boston College and hosts Pittsburgh.

The verdict: Notre Dame is too good on offense -- and Kelly is too good a coach -- for its season to collapse. As long as the Irish win one of their next three games and win the games they're supposed to win down the stretch, Kelly's first season will end with his team playing in a bowl game.

[mister b]

Stanford by 3+

[Red_Dog]

Stanford wins this one on the road. Stanford is a very good team, they will probably be top 2 in the Pac-10 this year. I see maybe another long year in ND if they don't pick up their play and finish games, this game is 4 quarters for a reason!

Stanford 35
ND 17

[Hoggy]

I am going with ND in this one. They are due and playing at home will give them an advantage.

[Peake]

Standford 24
ND 21

[Orange and Brown]

I have seen both teams play and Stanford will be to much for the Irish!

The Cardnal is the real deal.

[therepublican]

Floyd must be a factor in this game and would love to see him be dominant in this one. I think if he does this he is a huge problem for Stanford.

[Peake]

Not to be a butt but thank you captain obvious. You have the best wr in the country, he should give everyone fits.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Stanford has no reason to drop this one.

[therepublican]

Not to be a butt but thank you captain obvious. You have the best wr in the country, he should give everyone fits.

I am surprised you say this because your a MIchigan fan and if you watched the ND vs. Michigan game you would have seen Floyd wasn't a factor. He had five receptions and zero TD's. The week before that against Purdue he had 5 receptions also and zero TD's. Last week vs. Michigan St. he had 2 TD's..and they still lost but it was a battle and it took a fake field goal by MSU to win. So, my point was that Kelley must get him more involved or else I think they will lose. He is the difference maker.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Man these Notre dame threads are quiet when I stay away and don't get Republican and Dutchman all fired up.

Michael Floyd should be used more.
Either Kelley isn't calling his number...which is dumb
Or, Crist is checking off of him...dumb again
Or, maybe Michael Floyd isn't quite as good as advertised and can't get the separation needed from the #1 CB to get
Crist to throw him the ball...which is probably not all true.

Jim Harbaugh has the style to run it up if he gets the chance and not think twice about doing it.

ND will finally have a great QB playing on their field...
...bad thing is he plays for Stanford.

I think Stanford wins the game, I don't think by more than 10 though.
But, if ND can't stop Stanford, watch for Harbaugh to try and hang 50 on the Domers in front of touchdown Jesus.

[Peake]

I watched a good deal of this game. Give the ball to Floyd. I don't know why they don't throw to him 80% of the time. Jesus, give him the ball. Best WR in the country and they won't give it to him. Crist relies to heavily imo on Rudolph. Don't get me wrong the kid is probably the best TE in the country, but he looks for him first when he has a Moss like player out on the edge.

IMO there is no excuse for this offense not to be scoring points. They are far too good not to be putting up big numbers. The OL must be a little soft or something.

[Hoggy]

Wow......3 straight losses for the Irish!

[seofan_via_dublin]

I watched a good deal of this game. Give the ball to Floyd. I don't know why they don't throw to him 80% of the time. Jesus, give him the ball. Best WR in the country and they won't give it to him. Crist relies to heavily imo on Rudolph. Don't get me wrong the kid is probably the best TE in the country, but he looks for him first when he has a Moss like player out on the edge.

IMO there is no excuse for this offense not to be scoring points. They are far too good not to be putting up big numbers. The OL must be a little soft or something.

Your starting to sound like a bit of a ND fan there Peake. lol

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

dutch will tear you up dubs, lol. he is a dear buddy of mine. but he knows notre lame has lost it's luster. it has to be tough on golden domers, but they'll be back.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Lots of bark, zero bite.
But he means well!

[Peake]

nahhh, just realistic.

Maybe Floyd sat on his butt in the offseason and didn't do anything idk. Just seems very odd that an offense that has the best wr and te in the country can't put up points.

[seofan_via_dublin]

I think Floyd is a great talent too, but maybe Kyper and McShay are wrong yet again and the hype outweighs the reality.

That comment will be twisted and taken badly by ND fans, but answer me this before you blast me:

You have what people think are the best WR and TE in the country, you have a coach that is considered an offensive mind,
Kelly's system is designed to be a passing system that uses it's weapons and scores quickly.

If the hype is deserved, and the system is in place, then why aren't the results happening?

[therepublican]

OK, well I am the first person to defend the Irish and the first person to criticize their efforts.

Yesterday, they stunk. Harbough absolutely accomplished his game plan and the Irish or should I say O line and Crist looked terrible. They are doomed for trouble until they finally meet Western Michigan, Tulsa, or Army...this first bulk of the season (playing some of the Best teams in the Big Ten) is killing their ability to get the "Kinks" out before meeting their match (not that would make a difference this season).

Kelley showed a few signs of Weiss (which I still say should be the coach now) by making no adjustments after half time. I was looking for a no huddle O, but the game only got dominated more and more by Stanfod.

Fact is, Stanford is really good. I believe the new AP poll tonight put them at #9? Which I thought was a HUGE jump from sixteen after beating a 1-2 Irish?? I think Dubs would agree with that!

On a positive note, M T'eo is a freakaloid..I think any big time team would love to have him and he played a great game. The Irish D looked great, but you can only protect so many 3 and outs from your offense.

We still have

@ BC
Pitt
Utah
Navy
USC

It was ugly...

But I was able to sleep though because OSU put up 73 on Eastern Michigan, Wisconsin thumped Austin Peay, and Michigan smeared Bowling Green :S :S

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

did you forget our win over mymammy.