Are Fleming and Clifford getting any snaps?

[PurposePitch]

I believe our motion will slow it down. It didn’t seem to slow it down for Boise much, but I think AK was essentially playing with his food since we were superior in the talent department. I don’t think that happens against Notre Dame. We shall see soon enough though.

We haven't been great with the blitz all year, and Allar tends to panic, and doesn't see open receivers under pressure. And other times we get caught in the patented AK deep route situation, where there isn't even any short routes to dump off to.

I hope they figure it out, of course ... but if we don't change it up, our offensive success will depend on calling runs against the blitz and breaking some big ones running through/around the blitzers.

 

[PSU4U]

I'd have to go back and watch but early on, I didn't feel like Boise was blitzing as much as was anticipated. They started to after the 2 fumbles, but I don't remember.

Hopefully we see some counters to it. I think ND blitzes early and until we burn em.

Set the pocket up behind the TE for one. Use roll out screens and short passes to see if we can get them to play honest. Though I doubt they will play honest because those blitzes help cover their weaknesses in the secondary. Will we see more double TE sets from coach K?

 

[ryoder1]

I'd have to go back and watch but early on, I didn't feel like Boise was blitzing as much as was anticipated. They started to after the 2 fumbles, but I don't remember.

Hopefully we see some counters to it. I think ND blitzes early and until we burn em.

I think you're right that ND will come out blitzing and see how we handle it. They want to force an early turnover which is their bread and butter.

We have to be focusing on how to handle the blitz but even with that they will have some success. Need to minimize that success.

 

[PennState_one]

I think you're right that ND will come out blitzing and see how we handle it. They want to force an early turnover which is their bread and butter.

We have to be focusing on how to handle the blitz but even with that they will have some success. Need to minimize that success.

Armchair quarterback here, but I believe we need to be hyper-aggressive and not play to lose. Playing from behind is not Notre Dame's cup of tea. That’s why AK and TA get paid to do what they do, so I trust they’ll have a plan.

 

[lazydave841]

Will we see more double TE sets from coach K?

I don't have the snap counts, but we run quite a bit of it as is. More? I wouldn't say we do. Even if it's working, I don't know that AK will feed it. See throwing on 3rd and 1 vs Boise while averaging 6 ypc.

 

[baircub1!]

After how we performed against the blitz vs Boise you can bet that ND will be bringing extra men early and often.

Allar's going to have to make some quick decisions and throws..

 

[LandoComando]

Allar's going to have to make some quick decisions and throws..

I get what you're saying but that's not our offense

 

[jbenedict]

After how we performed against the blitz vs Boise you can bet that ND will be bringing extra men early and often.

A HUGE concern this Thursday. Drew just cant stand there and get crushed.

 

[baircub1!]

I get what you're saying but that's not our offense

Quick slants can be effective...

 

[LandoComando]

Quick slants can be effective...

Which we don't run

 

[Ward Hog]

But to spring big runs your WRs also have to be active. Evans isn't "that good". ND plays a ton of man defense--we're going to try to spread them out. If you see more of Dinkins it's to protect against the blitz.

12 personnel is great and we have the guys to do it, but we need to keep them spread out and we need for them to play at least one safety far off the ball to protect against the deep route. Only Evans gives us the deep threat and TE's, no matter how good are not as effective way outside because of their lack of short area quickness and speed (vs WR's) and the sideline taking away some of their length advantage. Evans does his job by keeping DB's far away from the runner.

This is why Singleton with his speed and receiving ability makes a difference even when we motion him out of the backfield and run Allen the opposite way. We lose a good blocker in Singleton, but clear space and also cause the deep safety to move a bit in the direction away from the play which gives the line a better opportunity to get to him at the second level and gives the back that split second of extra time to make a move. The goal on most running plays is a hat for a hat which usually leaves the safety uncovered. A foot further from the play can be the difference in breaking the big one.

AK also motions Warren the same way as teams usually have certain players assigned to cover him. If Warren & often Dinkins are stationary at the end of the line or just off the ball, we usually run that way and pull linemen there as well. Our TE's are able to move DE's and stick with linebackers and not just try to get in their way like typical TE's. The o-line has become very good at double teaming and then scraping off onto the linebackers or safeties. We did an exceptional job against Oregon's All American tackle. Safeties and corners usually choose to run around linemen leaving room for a big play.