Not to be technical, but I think Pat's comment about the pre-snap look-off on Floyd's touchdown is not entirely accurate. The reason the safety ran in that direction has to do with the Stanford defense called on that particular play. They blitz all their linebackers, which required them to roll one of their safeties up to cover possible check-downs out of the backfield, or to the tight end. The other safety had to drop deep to cover the middle of the field. In other words, Stanford gambled for a sack, and lost. ND stayed in max protection, and Jimmy was smart enough to throw deep to Floyd, who was on the side of the field opposite from where the deep safety rolled. The pre-snap look could have been a part of this chess match, but it was a smaller part.
irish fan | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:31 pm | #

UNC's employed that umbrella, keep-them-in-front-of-us secondary defense all season. However, Connecticut's receivers were able to get past it at times, and were running open. Frasier just couldn't get them the ball, or didn't recognize the coverage.

Most of UNC's drives have also been set up by good returns by Tate. Also, this is a team that doesn't seem to be able to play 60 minutes. Miami was able to drive down the field on them in the last minute and only lost on a fortuitous bounce off the receiver's hand into the DB's. Virginia Tech was able to rattle off 14 unanswered in the second half to hand UNC their only loss on the season.

Sexton may be undefeated this season as a starter, but I don't think he's seen a blitzing defense like ours in his two games. I will be interested in seeing how he reacts to Kuntz bearing down on him, ready to eat his spleen, when the O-line breaks down.

Also, UNC's running woes are on par with our own. The only running attack they can muster is usually achieved by attacking the edges, so I look for McCarthy to have yet another phenomenal day in the tackling department.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:33 pm | #

I'd have to go back and rewatch it, but I believe Jimmy also looks left after the snap before looking off and passing to Floyd. The safety isn't just rolling to the middle-- he's anticipating a throw to Tate. That was my take on it, anyway.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:41 pm | #

Taking another look at it, you're probably right irish fan.

I suppose the bigger thing I took away from it was that Clausen is doing a better job of not staring down his primary receivers and is looking off defensive players more. That the Stanford safety was already running away from Floyd only helped.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:48 pm | #

Jay,

I disagree. Clausen audibled into that play because he noticed that Stanford was rotating into a man free look with the free safety coming up to play man coverage on Rudolph (who stayed in for protection) and the strong safety rotating into a single deep zone. Clausen noticed that on his hard count when the strong safety made a motion toward the middle of the field; it was pretty subtle but noticeable. After he noticed it, he audibled and told Floyd to run a go route. Clausen then did look left both pre- and post-snap to keep the safety in the middle of the field. It was really good quarterbacking.
PJC | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:49 pm | #

I was at the NC - RU in September. NC played like sheet in the first half, save for a long td that was basically uncontested. RU's qb was a mess in that game too...threw 3 or 4 picks.

I really believe ND is going to roll NC tomorrow.
RedMahoney | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:54 pm | #

Not to pleased with the 5-1 Freudian slip, Jay
goose | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 3:56 pm | #

PJC, we're actually in agreement. I was just pointing out the look-left that Clausen gives, even after the snap, that planted the safety on that side of the field and prevented him from making a play on the fade.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 4:04 pm | #

In middle WR screen to Tate would be a great call.
The Butobi Brothers | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 4:14 pm | #

Cant wait for tommorrow.


Diesel Knight where you at???
Mexican Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 4:46 pm | #

Where has Voice been hiding? I want to hear his opinions on this game.

If UNC doesn't have a potent running game, I think we can take this one pretty easily, as long as we don't develop a case of the turnovers. We might not even have to worry about BW fieldgoals.

Play your game, ND, and you'll be fine.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 6:04 pm | #

2nd 'chance' game.

Our first shot to 'step-up' was at East Lansing. We showed potential, but also our propensity to fold.

Let's not make UNC up to be any powerhouse because of the win over UConn. Few of the voters are aware that the Huskies' starting 'O' was recuperating back home.

Even so, this is good for us becuase we've already played 5 games, are on the road, and we'll be facing one of the three best coaches we'll face all year. You can be certain that BD will key on our OL's inability to rush block.

Seems to me like this will be the game when we either a) pay heavily for being unable to run, or b) show a national TV audience that we have home-run potential [Floyd, Clausen, Tate], strong defensive ability, and are learning, once again, how to look and play like Notre Dame.

We pay more for the weak schedule than the poor OL blocking; their coach is better than ours; but, maybe we have the nation still watching on our final drive (read, a 'win' for now).

Notre Dame 24

North Carolina 27

Go Irish
FightingGrandmoms | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 9:35 pm | #

either I fast-forwarded too much or it's the wrong link...didn't see Davis talking about the Irish.

My take on the Clausen-Floyd bomb: when Jimmy fakes the snap (from the shotgun) his old high school teammate and safety, Wiser, moves his hips and shows Jimmy where he'll be running. the other safety was already coming up to blitz. Jimmy audibles and actually yells something to Floyd (on NBC you can hear him yell "jibberish, jibberish FLOYD!")

Then he looks off the safety and it was quickly 6 pts. I've watched the play so many times since last saturday my tivo is skipping. Props to Clausen.
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 9:49 pm | #

Good work, Felipe.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 10:51 pm | #

The one thing I do NOT want to see at all during this game is any screen passes to the RBs. Flares, swing passes, angle routes...fine. But don't run the screen pass. This defense is way too fast in its reactions to use slow developing plays.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 10.10.08 - 11:41 pm | #

Agreed, Brad. We most likely WILL run one, though, and my fear is that it will go for six points, one way or the other. Either, Allen will turn and dodge the first and only tackler that will present him with an obstacle, or he'll watch helplessley as the defender sprints off with the pick-six. To me, the risk is too great to run this play against UNC, but I'm not a multi-millionaire head football coach with something to prove, either.
Marc | Email | Homepage | 10.11.08 - 8:23 am | #

PJC, I hadn't read your post. Your analysis is spot on. that's what I took away as well. And yes, the other safety was coming up to handle Rudolph.
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 10.11.08 - 9:56 am | #

I see this morning where NC has gone from a 7 point favorite to a 9 pointer. Dammit, I'd love to see the Irish get some credibility by winning today.
gwzimm | Email | Homepage | 10.11.08 - 11:44 am | #

Bright spot: ND covered the spread.
Fr. Brian Stanley | Email | Homepage | 10.12.08 - 6:13 am | #