Truth & Rumors > NCAA
November D returning Irish to elite status?
- Views
- 26032
- Comments
- 98
08:45 AM ET 12.29 | A November surge for the Irish defense could be a sign that Notre Dame is morphing back into an elite team. "That's one of the reasons I want to get on the field to play this game Friday," Irish sophomore linebacker Manti Te'o said via telephone after Tuesday's practice. "A lot of people are thinking about 2011 and what that season can be like. I want to win this game and show people this is who we've become." What the defense became in November, against the likes of Utah, Army and USC, was almost a polar opposite of what it looked like early in the season. ... Projected over an entire season ND's November numbers would place it as the nation's No. 4 rushing defense (93.3 yards per game), No. 6 in third-down defense (31.3 percent conversions), No. 2 in first downs allowed (12 per game), No. 2 in total defense (233.3 yards per game) and No. 1 in scoring defense (7.3 points a game).
Brian Kelly, Getty Images
Truth & Rumors
MOST POPULAR
-
1
Alvin Gentry interested in Clippers job
- Views
- 2512
- Comments
- 346
-
2
Adrian Peterson doesn't believe in gay marriage
- Views
- 1473
- Comments
- 77
-
3
Derek Brassard calls out Brad Marchand
- Views
- 4544
- Comments
- 58
-
4
Michael Vick challenges Colin Kaepernick, RGIII to race
- Views
- 923
- Comments
- 20
-
5
Miami-Florida rivalry losing TV luster?
- Views
- 4931
- Comments
- 18
Michelle Jenneke
Kate Upton
Classic Photos of Miguel Cabrera
Celebrities at the NHL Playoffs
TM & © 2013 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
FanNation.com is part of Sports Illustrated Sites
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines, your California privacy rights, and ad choices
Comments (84) Add A Comment
Here you go Stu!
Deep Creek
Total Comments (17930)
Could be who you played as much as what the domers were doing. I'm not sure the three teams listed were offensive juggernauts toward the end of the year. Sorry OT, but I think we could gather up 11 guys between here and the bus station and be able to stop Utah, Army and USC.
Deep Creek
Total Comments (17930)
+1
PAPA ROCKS
Manchester , TN
Total Comments (3832)
DC, no need to be sorry! The truth hurts, my friend!! LOL.
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23276)
I seen Utah score 3 against Boise St!
PAPA ROCKS
Manchester , TN
Total Comments (3832)
Yeah, and Utah was lucky at that!!
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23276)
No kidding...the spinners will go crazy.
Deep Creek
Total Comments (17930)
Thank you, Sir!
Stuart MacDougal
Indianapolis, IN
Total Comments (4172)
I hear ya on the "quality of opponents" argument, and agree that there's not alot of offensive prowess in those few opponents (hey, as a Gator fan, I KNOW offensive ineptness when I see it). :-/
But in fairness, the ND defense often gave up big yards and points to so-so offenses - so this is likely a decent improvement - and not many would give "Mr Offense BK" much chance of showing ANY D improvement early on in his ND career.
GR=O-6fan
Bumfrack, TX
Total Comments (12300)
Before Utah played TCU, they were averaging 45.25 points per game. Granted, some of their opponents were not known for their defense, but there is something to be said about holding a team to 7 points after it averaged 45 points per game for eight games. Additionally, USC averaged 31 points per game all year. The Irish Defense held them to just 16.
It's true that Stanford beat us like a bunch of Irish red-headed step-children, but we very nearly beat Michigan State and we should have beaten Michigan and Tulsa. Sorry, fellas, but just maybe the Irish are better than you want to admit to.
Stuart MacDougal
Indianapolis, IN
Total Comments (4172)
+ 2
That's the story of a bunch of teams; either played tough competition early on and got beat up, or played quality opponents later and were exposed.
~ All Out ~
Total Comments (1397)
Utah scored the first 3 and then Boise put up 23 unanswered points.
2nd half of the season exposed their soft early schedule.
~ All Out ~
Total Comments (1397)
I heard that 72% of all statistics are made up on the spot!
;)
~ All Out ~
Total Comments (1397)
Quad
~ All Out ~
Total Comments (1397)
If they can beat Miami, then I would somewhat agree with you.
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23276)
~ All Out ~, you're right. The three points were in the first quarter after a Kellen Moore interception. Utah went three and out and then kicked a field goal.
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23276)
I would normally agree, but with the soap opera that is "The U" right now, I'm not sure what to expect out of Miami. Lame-duck/new coach hire bowls are impossible to predict. I think ND is better than they were at the first of the year, but let's be rational calling the Miami game a huge measuring stick game.
WPS
Total Comments (5154)
HM, I agree with you. Bad weather will always favor a a slow team!! LOL.
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23276)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.