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Notre Dame’s Punt Return Struggles

Every week I watch Notre Dame and every week I say the same thing, Notre Dame’s punt return game is God awful. This year as Notre Dame is ranked 119th in the country in average yard per punt return. We average a whopping 0.3 yards per return. We have 10 attempts but only have 3 yards to show for those 10 attempts. I’m sorry but John Goodman not a bad receiver but a absolutely horrible punt returner, I have no idea why he is back there? People say because he is sure handed, well I’m pretty sure he muffed a punt against Michigan St. and lucky for him the defense came up huge and had his back because that could have been a huge momentum changer. Notre Dame has a long of 13 yards on a punt return, so saying that when Notre Dame actually returns a punt (fair catches don’t count has an attempt) they usually lose yards, they don’t even get back to where they caught the ball and that is just bad, embarrassingly bad. I’m not putting this all in John Goodman either it’s not his fault, Theo Riddick has -2 yards on punt returns this year also, and the blocking probably isn’t what it should be. I remember seeing Floyd out there the other week to return a punt but I don’t really know if they would start putting him back there? Some of the guys I kinda would want to see get a few shots at it are Roby Toma he has been back there before back when he was wearing #84, Bennett Jackson, TJ Jones I’m sure he could get something going, Austin Collinsworth, maybe Deion Walker he really hasn’t been on the field much since he’s got to ND I know he did it in high school, Cam McDaniel, or George Atkinson III,  these guys are all athletes I would like to see Toma and Jones In particular but really I want to see some new faces in the just see if any of these guys can get something going. Lets hope ND can get things going in the right direction starting this week against USC and have it become some what off a threat or something to make teams watch out for.

ND NEW GEAR

Notre Dame just got some pretty bad ass looking helmets in. They have some serious pop to them and everybody seems to be liking them especially the players. These are the real Notre Dame gold helmets these helmets are for real What a perfect time to get them in USC week baby, LETS GO IRISH!!!

USC WEEK

USC week lets get it boys, just a little video pump LETS GO!

Biggest Notre Dame Fan

This is a video of my dad, he is the biggest Notre Dame fan ever, and he needs your vote to help him win.

http://www.showyourobsessionnotredame.com/SitePages/search_results.aspx?keyword=greg%20dupont

Poll Here!

BYE WEEK

First half season review. Notre Dame is 4-2 and have USC coming up next week. What are the thoughts so far on the season? How do you feel about coaching? Any player that deserve praise or maybe criticism?

Michigan St. vs. Notre Dame

Notre Dame is hosting 15th ranked Michigan St. this weekend in South Bend. Although Notre Dame is 0-2 and playing a top 15 team that is 2-0, they are a 5 point favorite. How this is? I have no idea, MSU has a good team this year and its going to be hard for ND to turn it around against a team like them. Personally I believe ND is one of the most talented teams in the country, I think they can go up and play with anyone and I know they think that despite the 0-2 record that follows them around. ND just needs to proof to the country that they are one of the top teams in the nation, and they can go up and play with the best teams in country (MSU). Lets go Irish lets get it this week! Lets get a big W in South Bend! GO ND! BEAT MSU!!!

Recap: Notre Dame vs. Michigan

This game was a heart breaker for any Notre Dame fan. This game was in Notre Dames hands and some how Denard Robinson and the Wolverines ended up taking right from the Irish finger tips. This is a tough lost for this Notre Dame football team. We had big expectations coming into this year for this talented squad, and 0-2 isn’t living up to those expectations. I don’t know what it is about Notre Dame in the recent years it just feels like they cant win the big games you know? The one big game ND has won against a team in the top 15 was against a questionable 14th ranked Utah, don’t get me wrong the Irish played great and I’m not taking that away from them, but they need to step up and get some quality wins against good teams. This Michigan game just has me questioning myself about this Notre Dame football program that’s supposedly on a rise.

Notre Dame came into this game looking like the team I had expected to come out in week 1. Getting ahead early 14-0, our team looked great. The defense made Michigan go three and out twice, then we had an interception on the fourth play of their next drive, then following that they had gone three and out. So our defense was shutting down Denard and our offense had been moving the ball, and even more in fact putting it in the endzone. Michigan gets on the board on a mishap in the secondary, but ND answers back. So by this time ND is up 24-7. The their was another blunder in the secondary and Michigan is in the redzone. Michigan has the ball  3rd and 1 on the 1 yard line, they run up the middle with the full back and ND stuffs him, but he ends up fumbling right into Denard’s hands and he then takes it in for the score. So no big deal ND is up 24-14 going with just under a quarter of play. ND gives Michigan the ball at their 40 and they take it in for the score making it 24-21. ND gets the ball drives all the way down the field to guess what? Fumble at their own 9 yard line, yes another turnover in the redzone. Michigan has another big passing play, only to lead to a what I thought to be a game saving interception by Robert Blanton. ND gets the ball back goes 3 and out. Sure enough Michigan scores a TD and leaves 1:12 on the clock.  The next possession ND some how finds a way to score leaving only 30 seconds on the clock, ND fans are in relief all over the country. Michigan gets the ball at the 20 and second play finds a wide open, I mean WIDE OPEN Jeremy Gallon who brings it inside the ND 20. Then very next play TD Roy Roundtree Michigan wins. Now at this point I don’t know what to do, I don’t really believe what had just happen.

ND Offense

The offense looked good we moved the ball and rushed for nearly 200 yards. We did turn over the ball 4 times though, and even though we should have, you just dont win if you turn the ball over 4 times. The fumble killed us, it really did if we could have just put points on the board it kills all momentum UM has, but instead it gave them exactly what they needed. We have some serious playmakers on offense. Cierre Wood can run the football and looked great. Jonas Gray had a nice little scamper for 38 yards and ended up having a nice little game. TJ Jones and Theo Riddick both had big touch downs, not to mention Theo also Had a TD in the 1 quarter too. Tlyer Eifert had a big firstdown catch and is really a great TE. Michael Floyd is going to be missed, and im really glad Brian Kelly and Tommy Rees are taking full advanted of him. I dont think we’re going to see another one of him for a while unless, we some how land Dorial Green-Beckham. Tommy Rees struggled a little bit throwing 2 INTs and the one fumble really did hurt us. He did move the ball around and throw some very nice passes, he kept the offense moving and you cant really complain because he gave us a chance to win but we couldn’t take advantage of it.

ND Defense

Our defense came out looking great. We shut down D-Rob for 3 quarters and didn’t let him make to many plays with his feet. We did though let him tear our secondary apart. They safety play was very poor missed tackles and blown coverage. Gary Gray got picked apart and had his by far worst game of his very good career. He better get back on track quick, he needs to get his head turned around and find the ball when its up in the air like that. Now we know Michigan St. is going to try and pick on him, which might be a good thing if he can get his shit together before Saturday because we know he is a solid corner I don’t know what was going on last game. The defense needs to clean up some sloppy tackling and hopefully be ok for next week.

ND Special Teams

The punt coverage was not very good and Ben Turk really needs to step it up his punts are shitty flat out. John Goodman is awful back there returning punts. I don’t know what he is doing he basically calls a fair catch every time even when there is no one withing 15 yards of him, and then he doesn’t call a fair catch and loses 5 yards, what the hell are you doing? Why cant we get some one like Tommy Z? What did he have one fair catch his entire career? See he plays like a thug though, John Goodman is a poon in my book put someone else back there who isn’t afraid to make a play.

ND Overall

This game was a heart breaker, really it was all I could do was replay it in my head all night. The team needs to get rid of the turn over bug, give it to some one else. Brian Kelly’s big thing is BCS, if he wants to get there he better get ND’s ass into some serious shape, quick too because 15th ranked Michigan St. is only 5 days away and you know they will be looking to destroy the Irish on Saturday.

Notre Dame at Michigan Prediction/ Preview

Saturday, September 10th, 2011 the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be taking on the Michigan Wolverines in the Big House for the first time ever “Under the Lights”. College Gameday is in Ann Arbor for this game, and expectations are high. ND suffered a rough loss while Michigan beat their opponent in just under three quarters of play. Since renewing the rivalry the series is tied at 13-13-1, but Brian Kelly and Brad Hoke have played against each other before. Kelly 3-0 against Hoke, and is looking to add on to that streak tomorrow.

Michigan Offense

Michigan’s offense is led by their quarterback Denard “Shoelace” Robinson. He is a freak, great speed, strong arm, and the ability to make plays out of nothing are just a few ways to describe him. He shredded through ND’s defense last year capturing 244 yards through the air and 258 yards on the ground, I would call that a pretty good game. The thing is those stats were put up from Dick Rods offense and first year head coach Brad Hoke now runs a pro style offense. This affected Denard and his stats last week were nothing special throwing for 98 yards and rushing for 46, the new system my not take advantage of all of Denard’s tools and could end up hurting Michigan this year. Michigan has two veteran wide outs in Junior Hemingway and Roy Roundtree, both who have shown to be reliable while having play making ability also. Michigan also has two backs who can break off a big runs at any time, in Michael Shaw and Fitzgerald Toussaint. Michigan really needs to do a good job protecting Robinson because he is a guy they really cant afford to lose in a big game like this.

Michigan Defense

Michigan has a new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison he likes to try and get pressure on the QB, and uses many different blitz packages. The Michigan secondary is a bit inexperienced and doesn’t really stack up on talent. The linebacking crew is really only average, but the defensive line is strong. Mike Martin and Craig are the leaders of that strong line and are expected to stuff the run and get some pressure on Tommy Rees. Michigan did score two defensive touchdowns last week which is very impressive and a major improvement from last year.

Notre Dame Offense

Notre Dame is starting Tommy Rees this week. Over the off season I was big on Dayne Crist but seeing what Tommy did last week and going back and watching the four games he had started from last season I couldn’t be happier with this decision. The Irish offense needs to come out and set the tone early, I think Cierre is our man. If he can come out and run the ball hard and use his speed on the outside I think he is going to have a monster game, 115+ yards and a TD. Notre Dame is going to need to get Riddick some touches early, maybe with a bubble screen or quick slant just to give him a chance to build some confidence. TJ Jones needs to really get focused this week, he had to many dropped passes and mental mistakes, lots of talent just needs to get in the game. Tyler Eifert is going to be Tommy’s man this week, I think he is going to be hands on and have some big first down catches when we need them most. Michael Floyd as we know is an absolute monster and Michigan has some serious problems because no one in the country can cover him, let alone a weak Michigan secondary. One guy I want to see get in the game more this week is Robby Toma, just get him in the game he has done everything right since he’s arrived at ND, let him make a play. All in all Michigan is over matched, ND just has to many weapons on offense.

Notre Dame Defense

Notre Dame’s defense played well last week even being thrown into bad situations. ND needs to get pressure on Denard Robinson because he isn’t the most accurate of all passers, rushing his throws will only make that worse. We need Gary Gray and Robert Blanton to have big games playing tight man coverage and making sure they can throw off blockers when Denard runs their way. The D-line needs shut down the run game and I think Nix has another big game. The linebackers need to be all over the field, I feel Manti has a big game and even forces a fumble. The Irish defense is solid, lets not let Denard rip them to shreds again like last year. If ND can stop Michigan from converting on 3rd down and get at least one turnovers they should be fine.

Notre Dame Special Teams

ND special team were awful last week but this week I think they play great. Ben Turk needs to please have one good game, please! For Theo I really think he runs one back this week, Michigan’s coverage unit showed some holes and if Notre Dame can just get a couple nice blocks he’s gone.

Prediction Time

Michigan comes out and looks good but Notre Dame shows to be a much stonger, well rounded team. The Irish Offense clicks, Tommy has a big game as do his receivers. ND throws for 350+ yards and the rushing attack gains 135+ yards on the ground. Michigan’s defense proofs to be the weak point in this game. Notre Dame 33, Michigan 20