Vols up, Irish down... way down

UT up 17-16 at the half. We had to leave early cuz Becky wasn't feeling well, so we should get home in time to catch the end of the ND game... which Penn State now leads, 31-10. :( But TCU is up 10-0 on Texas!

Comments

[Becky]

Harumph! I'm fine!

[B. Minich]

WE ARE! PENN STATE!

That felt pretty good. Jimmy Clausen looked pretty good for a first time starter, but Notre Dame has some huge holes - they need to protect the QB, and have something resembling a running game.

Can Penn State make a run at the Big Ten title? I think we've got a shot . . . maybe we can end up unbeaten, too, although Michigan still makes me nervous.

Apparently, this season is the first time Michigan and Notre Dame have started out 0-2 ever. Not quite what Wolverine fans were expecting, methinks. ;) This was supposed to be THE YEAR. Now its just the worst year ever.

[B. Minich]

Oh, and no mention of USC (the OTHER USC) beating Georgia today? That's a big win, and a sign that Spurier may just build South Carolina into a contender in the SEC. Typical SEC score, though, even with Spurier involved. I don't think they topped 30 points total.

[thebeef]

The way I see it, Penn State played only an okay game. Three turnovers isn't acceptable. However, the Big 10 appears to be pretty weak, save perhaps Wisconsin. So, I definately think Penn State can make a run for Big 10 champs.

Notre Dame is rotten from the inside out. The O-Line is not simply bad---they are horrendously-terribly-horribly-rancid- bad. And what's more, the guys on that unit have talent. I have no doubt that our coaching is the key contributor to our O-Line suckness. And our O-Line suckness is having a tremendous impact on our overall ability to compete. The O-Line suck is restricting our offensive options, which in turn places our defense in the position of taking the field far too long. Without an improvement in our O-Line play, Notre Dame simply cannot compete. End. Of. Story.

On the bright side, Jimmy Clausen looked great as a Freshman QB. He's the real deal. And I really believe that he has the tools to help him. But with an O-Line that couldn't compete at a High School JV level, our offense is going NOWHERE.

Michigan fans should take solace in the knowledge that UM is going to absolutely embarass the Irish next week.

I felt confident that Notre Dame would have a bad season this year: 7-5 was my prediction, with an 0-3 start. However, I never dreamed that we'd be this bad and that we'd lose so horribly. I don't understand how an "offensive genius" coach can allow an O-Line to suck so very bad.

[Mad Max, Esquire]

One way to help out the O-Line is to burn the defense when it applies pressure. Where the hell was the Tight End? Slants? Option routes? QB draw? Bootleg? Counter plays? I don't think I saw one play meant to draw in the defense only to burn them on a quick pass beyond the line of scrimmage.

I mean, Weis literally used the same ineffective four or five plays over and over again. Flat. Flat. Run. Flat. Three receiver drop in shotgun (usually to be sacked). Where the hell was the "offensive genius" in the play calling? No gadget plays. WAY too safe. Might as well go long and risk the interception if your alternative is 3-and-out every drive.

[texasyank]

Starting from the Saturday before last Thanksgiving, Michigan and Notre Dame have now lost a combined eight games in a row.

Just sayin'.

[B. Minich]

Heh - yeah, thebeef, Penn State played in a beatable manner during the first half, and never did dazzle on offense. This hasn't been the way they've ever played offense while I've been a fan, so I'm not surprised. Their defense made up for it, but we've got to hang on to the ball much better in weeks to come.

Weak year for the Big Ten? Well, yes. We've got Ohio State on a reloading year, so I expect some losses from them. Michigan - well, enough has been said about them. Wisconsin and Penn State look like the top two, with a possible early Ohio State run. When I had looked at the Big Ten this year, I thought this was Michigan's year, honestly. They returned all their big name talent, and most people didn't suspect the horribleness of the defense. However, I thought they had an offense that would make up for it. Now that Michigan is out of the picture (I'm just going to assume they are going to lose more than at least one team in the Big Ten schedule - I don't see a run in them for the title, although it is still theoretically possible, and really the only thing they have left to play for at this point), it is hard to figure out the conference. Again, I'm going to go with either Penn State or Wisconsin to win the Big Ten title. I just think Ohio State is going to either lose more games than those two, or lose the tie breaker between the one who ends up winning.

[B. Minich]

(Just thought of something - remember, Penn State would have contended for the national title in '94 under the current system - and would have done so with Kerry Colins as the QB. Proves my point about Penn State competing with so-so offenses.)