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Notre Dame Football Gameday – Pittsburgh 9/24/2011 – Open thread

Sep 24, 2011 /

It’s gameday Irish fans. Make sure you leave a comment during the day with your score predictions, a limerick, keys to the game or just a Go Irish! Check back in during the game for live game chat with other Irish fans giving their own play-by-play reactions. Below are our keys to the game and a gameday limerick to enjoy.

Keys to the Game – How to tell how the day will go

Today’s game vs. Pitt is a game that the Irish should run away with. If we are who we said we were then the dominance needs to start today. Pitt won’t be a push over but today isn’t about Pitt it is about Notre Dame. So here are our things to watch for in the game that will indicate how things are going.

The Good

  • Big plays – The Irish have the talent advantage. It should show in this game
  • New plays. If you see new wrinkles in the offense in this game it is a good sign that Kelly feels comfortable
  • Another QB package for a 1/2 a series. See the reason above and the fact that the Irish have invested the time in a package in practice – why not use it?

The Bad

  • You can tell me who Pitt’s best player is by halftime.
  • Pitt has all kinds of time to throw the ball. If ND can create a pass rush it will all fall down from there for Pittsburgh
  • Multiple TOs from the offense. Don’t want to force coach’s hand again

Gameday Limerick

Game day limerick time:

“Wake up! it’s time for Pitt,
to be on the bad end of some…stuff.
The Irish freight train is coming,
Rees, Wood, and Floyd’s cylinders humming,
and the defense will have Pitt on a spit.”

Gameday thread

That is below and how good it is up to you! Let’s Go Irish!!

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OC Irish 13 pts

On the interception to Eifert, I know they said Rees was late with the throw, but it seemed Eifert just stood there. Was it simply an excellent defensive play? Was it all on Tommy or should Eifert have seen the corner coming? Regardless, Eifert had a great game.

OC Irish 13 pts

Urban Meyer won a NC using different QBs for different situations (Tebow a freshman at the time). I just can't believe we don't have packages with Hendrix or Golson ready to go at this point.

CT 5 pts

@OC Irish

My guess is that running game has been very good, which was Tebow's primary purpose. Also, unfortunately I think the schemes are so different, and you are not only assessing the experience at the QB, but also with the experience that all the frontline players have with the Rees/Crist scheme vs. what I imagine would be Golson/Hendrix.

Also, Kelly would be essentially handing control of the offense over to Golson. It would not be about play calling with him - it would be about his skills and ability to make plays. He's simply not going to do that in a tight game. I think it will be a combination of seeing Golson in action against a weaker team and gaining confidence in him, followed by a situation where Rees is not getting it done and you switch out to Golson without feeling like you are putting the game at risk.

CT 5 pts

The wireless at the Bar was out of commission.

That was as ugly a ND victory as I think I have ever seen.

I don't think you pull Rees with his history of come from behind drives where you are within one score. It's kinda like not pulling some pitchers who get themselves into a jam with base runners, but who have a history of getting out of their own jams.

I think the big difference with pulling Crist is that we were down by 16 and he had not scored yet.

That said - I would tee up Golson for some action against Purdue and see how he does.

The main advantage that Rees seems to have over Crist is his management of the run game. He is also more decisive with his throws - as Tlud mentions, but at this point that may be offset by TOs. I think they are probably a coin flip. Golson had the potential to destroy that Pitt defense - obliterate it. The big worry with a freshman like that is probably TOs, but how can the TO situation possibly get any worse?

tlud 6 pts

I am not sure it is about Kelly's "love" for Rees. I just really don't believe that Crist gives us anything additional. Thankfully on the final drive he was a least hitting second and third options. Where was that earlier. Plus the final two passes on the TD drive were both borderline. The difference was his quick delivery and decisiveness. I am still very disappointed in the missed tackles AND Gray not looking for the pick. GO IRISH!!!!

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

I am not convinced in any way the Rees is the guy now or in the future.

OC Irish 13 pts

I think he has to say that stuff though - he just doesn't have his guy ready yet.

domer_82 5 pts

Thanks for the open thread. Go Irish!

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

"He showed why he is our starting QB" Yeah coach for 1 drive against a crappy Pittsburgh team....stay positive....stay positive...

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Kelly LOVES Rees...maybe to our detriment.

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

A win is a win is a win!

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

For ND fans that is called the victory formation

domer_82 5 pts

I still would have kicked it...make them drive the field.

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

I am behind Kelly on this one

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Even if they don't make it, I like our chances. Urban if we put we will most certainly kick it in the endzone.

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

With a punt you gain what exactly? Let the clock run to 1 and then get the first down and go home.

OC Irish 13 pts

They just can't finish. For cripes sake

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

I think they should go for it here.

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Pitt is going to get the football back but I am not feeling that same doom as I did with Michigan

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

If the Purdue game goes like this I might have to swear

OC Irish 13 pts

Kudos to whoever decided to challenge

OC Irish 13 pts

Yes...heart palpitations and all

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

@OC Irish are you still with us?

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

even with 1 time out they have to punt

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Knee down....liking the idea of 4th and 25...they may punt

domer_82 5 pts

coverage has been good all day. put your pass rushers in there and rush them. Let the LB drop in coverage

domer_82 5 pts

NO WAY...how was he not in the grasp??

domer_82 5 pts

Agreed you got to keep Lynch in there

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Keep Lynch in the game!!

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Would still like to see the pass rush in there

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Exactly ...make a play!

notredame_dame 8 pts

I would rather see Pitt run the clock a bit so I don't have to see us go into prevent offense

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Jackson may not be a great starter but he is a heck of a special teams player

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Lets see #19 in there.

LetsGoIrish 7 pts moderator

Reese saves his job for another week on that drive, for better or for worse

domer_82 5 pts

please don't throw a fade. Hate the fade here.

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