Anchors Aweigh for Fightin' Irish

After a short lived panic attack late last week leading up to the game against our historic rival, rumors of mutiny quickly turned out to be nothing that a little smash-mouth football couldn't fix.  In fact, the controversial comments made by Kelly and the even more controversial reactions made by several players may have provided exactly what this team needed to turn the corner.  It presented an opportunity for the players and coaches to sit down and clear the air that has tasted sour to some all season long.  With that behind them, they can cut the proverbial anchor loose and focus on winning football games.

Last Week's Win over Navy may have allowed the Fightin' Irish
 to Finally Cut the Anchor Loose

Speaking of focus, Kelly's teams have accumulated a 6-2 record on the road while playing without all the distractions that accompany football weekends at Notre Dame, compared to a 7-6 record at home.  Take that stat for what you will, but the only two games Kelly has lost away from Notre Dame Stadium were to MSU last year (they ended up with 11 wins) and the Skunkbears this year (in a game we literally gave away).  This bodes well for the remainder of the regular season, which includes games on the road at Wake Forest and Maryland prior to senior night at home against Backup College and the season finale at Stanford.  

While Wake and Maryland have both been dangerous at times this season, we drastically outmatch them.  In true fashion, a horrible BC squad poses no threat.  With a 4 game winning streak at our backs, we will have a real chance to take advantage of our newfound confidence and renewed focus in order to chop down the trees on Thanksgiving weekend.  Not convinced?  Let me remind you that Kelly's teams have not been beaten in the month of November for 3 years.  Luckily for us, Thanksgiving weekend falls in the month of November again this year.

And now to the game at hand, an interesting matchup against a traditionally basketball-centered Baptist school that has recently shown glimmers of potential on the football field.  Wake LB and leader of the Demon Deacon (which is a lame attempt at something as badass as the Fighting Irish, if you ask me) defense Nikita Whitlock had this to say about his first time playing against Notre Dame: "We're little Wake Forest... but don't expect us not to come out and try to punch them in their mouth.  That's what we do."  

There's no way we lose to a school
that such ugly "mascots" call home.

I like the fire of those fightin' words, and I'm expecting a well played game out of Wake.  That still doesn't change the fact that we should be able to dominate if we continue to emphasize our dangerous running attack as we did against Navy.  In his press conference following that steamrolling performance featuring 7 rushing TDs, Kelly admitted that he "put more of an emphasis on the run game in [the red zone], and I think that is the direction we want to keep moving."  I hope he stays true to those words so we can share in the joy of watching a consistently tough team that represents "...a brand of football that [Kelly is] starting to see."

Tonight's Score Prediction:

Fightin' Irish: 38

Demon Deacons: 20

Offensive MVP:  Jonas - The senior back will continue to play like he has something to prove.  Look for him to break a long TD to keep his scoring streak alive.

Jonas playing smash-mouth football against Navy

Defensive MVP: Manti - I've been waiting patiently for the leader of our defense to get his hands on a loose ball with running space ahead of him. Will this be the week?

Get this man the football!

"When Irish Backs Go Marching By"

As the oft-forgotten lyrics of the traditional ND football song proudly proclaim, "...when the Irish backs go marching by, the cheering thousands shout their battle cry..."  This year, more so than those of recent past, two "Irish Backs" in particular have proven the once-famous line true.  For that reason, the Irish rushing attack, which was originally pegged as a weakness by experts during the preseason, just may be the key to the rest of our season.  With little depth behind them, it is up to running backs Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray to share a heavy load as the workhorses that drive our offense.  Luckily, they seem to be hitting a galloping stride at just the right moment.

Cierre Wood has steadily built his game up to a level deserving of the
praise given by Brian Kelly during the preseason when he described him
as a "complete player."  Expect big things out of
"Two Oh" over the remainder of the season.

Through our first 5 games, we are averaging an impressive 5.41 yards per carry and 179.6 yards per game on the ground.  In our most recent game, we racked up 289 rushing yards against a Purdue defense that prides itself on stopping the run.  This bodes extremely well for us as we hit the heart of our season, especially considering both Wood and Gray recorded career highs on the same night.  If they can continue their ways, a mountain of pressure will be lifted off of Tommy Rees's shoulders (see our game against Purdue) as the ability to establish the run early on forces the opposing defense to commit, thus rendering their line unable to go all out rushing the pass and their secondary unable to double-cover Michael Floyd (which prompted the announcer to describe Mike as "a weapon that cannot be stopped" midway through our game in West Lafayette).

Next up, we have a matchup against the most talented service academy team, the ever-scrappy and never-quitting Air Force squad that boasts one of the nation's best rushing attacks with the type of option-style offense that keeps Bob Diaco up at night.  While we know we will be seeing almost nothing but running plays from them, they should expect much of the same from us as we look to exploit their  114th ranked rushing defense with our two aforementioned workhorses.  Hopefully doing so will allow both Wood and Gray to peak in confidence prior to facing the staunch rushing defense of U$C (ranked 37th) after the bye.  Due to that bye, both backs should have had enough rest to get their legs back by the time we play the Trojans.  Thus, I expect Brian Kelly to run them ragged against the Flying Falcons of Air Force.

Gray has been able to bounce back from the costly fumble that turned the tide against the Irish during the opening drive of the season against Southern Florida.  Not only has he proven his ability to pick up tough yards between the tackles, but he showed Pitt that he can be a home run threat as well by breaking a 79 yard touchdown.

As a former running back, I personally prefer run-oriented play calling that allows the backs to develop into a rythm.  I'm excited to watch what Wood and Gray can do against an Air Force defense that our offensive line should have no problem dominating due purely to size differential.  Look for Cierre to build upon, and possibly top, his career high 191 yard performance last week as the line gives him time to choose his holes and make the moves that have launched him into the spotlight as the 14th ranked leading rusher in the NCAA.  When we need tough yards against their gritty defense that we should expect to go all out every single play, Jonas should be able to prove that his past two 90-plus yard games weren't flukes.  If all goes according to plan, we may even get to see some carries from upcoming freshman speed demon George Atkinson III.