It's an idle week...

[kent dorfman]

...so I'll throw out a hypothetical...here goes...Does anyone here think that Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Bill Parcells, Bill Walsh, etc (In other words an NFL Hall of Fame Coach) could have taken this year's team to a bowl?

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

uh no..... and neither could this guy!

[mr. pony]

Bear Bryant!
'He could take his'n and beat your'n, or your'n and beat his'n!'
Remember?

[ponywhupp9202]

DITKA

[SMU2007]

Phil Bennett. BRING HIM BACK!

[One Trick Pony]

Richard Simmons ?

[jtstang]

OBAMA!!!!

[HB Pony Dad]

Phil Bennett. BRING HIM BACK!

Let's see how PB's "D" holds up against ND!

So since we are idle I give you...

Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame

When: Sat., Nov. 1, 2:30 p.m.
Where: South Bend, Ind.
Preview: Pittsburgh looking to bounce back

Pittsburgh offense vs. Notre Dame defense

RB LeSean McCoy has rushed for more than 140 yards in four straight games and he is the engine that powers the Pittsburgh offense. McCoy can do it all: he has the lower-body strength to pick up yards between the tackles, is quick enough to turn the corner and shows a second gear when he gets a seam. Backup LaRod Stephens-Howling isn't as dangerous as McCoy but the undersized back reads his blocks well and accelerates through the hole. Stephens-Howling can spell McCoy and keep him fresh, but even that might not matter against a Notre Dame defense that held Washington to just 26 rushing yards last week. Fighting Irish NT Ian Williams checks in at 310 pounds and is a stout run defender who anchors Notre Dame's 3-4 defensive front. Pittsburgh lost starting C Rob Houser to a season-ending ankle injury last week and LG C.J. Davis will move over to center with Dominic Williams stepping into Davis' spot. Look for Ian Williams to draw plenty of double-teams as a result of that shuffling, and he is strong enough to occupy two blockers at the line of scrimmage. His ability to do so will make it difficult for the Panthers' interior offensive linemen to reach Irish ILBs Maurice Crum and Brian Smith. McCoy and Stephen-Howling will have a difficult time getting outside as well, as 264-pound WLB John Ryan is big enough to set the edge and SLB Harrison Smith is quick enough to disrupt running plays in the backfield.

Pittsburgh QB Bill Stull was having one of his better games of the season last week against Rutgers until he took a shot to the back of the head and left the game on a stretcher. Stull has been released from the hospital with no significant injuries but is listed as questionable for this week, so it's likely the Panthers will turn to sophomore Pat Bostick. Bostick started the last eight games of 2007 season but has just 11 passing attempts this season and has already thrown a pick. Whether it's Stull coming off an injury or Bostick trying to shake off the rust, providing sound pass protection is obviously important for Pittsburgh this week. Unfortunately for the Panthers, that's much easier said than done. Pittsburgh's pass protection has been leaky at times and Notre Dame's 3-4 front makes it easier for the Irish to mask where the pressure will come from. There is some good news for Pittsburgh fans, though, because Fighting Irish CBs Terrail Lambert and Raeshon McNeil are going to have a hard time matching up with Panthers WRs Oderick Turner, Derek Kinder and freshman Jonathan Baldwin. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Baldwin is averaging 22.6 yards per catch and has outstanding size and deceiving top-end speed.


Notre Dame offense vs. Pittsburgh defense

Notre Dame's 252-yards rushing performance last week against Washington is certainly a positive for the Fighting Irish, but it's important to put that performance in proper perspective. Washington is winless this year and its run defense ranks 116th nationally at 235.6 yards per game. The truth is, Notre Dame has had problems establishing the run this year and this week faces an underrated Pittsburgh front seven. Panthers DEs Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard set the edges well and OLBs Greg Williams and Austin Ransom do a nice job of stepping up on the outside. As a result, the Panthers should have some success containing Notre Dame RB Armando Allen, who is the quickest of the Notre Dame backs. Big backs Robert Hughes and James Aldridge shouldn't find much room to work between the tackles, either, as Pittsburgh NT Rashaad Duncan is capable of anchoring when C Dan Wenger and LG Eric Olsen try to combo-block him up to MLB Scott McKillop. Duncan will have a harder time holding his ground when Wenger and 337-pound RG Chris Stewart try to do the same, though Stewart doesn't show great body control in space and will struggle to get into position when he has to slide off the initial block to pick up McKillop. As a result, the Fighting Irish interior offensive line should have problems getting a body on McKillop and that's when he's at his best. McKillop is an instinctive player who locates the ball carrier quickly, takes sound pursuit angles and tackles well.

The Panthers' secondary had been playing well until it ran into Rutgers QB Mike Teel last week. Teel set a Big East record with five first-half touchdown passes and added another in the second half after throwing just three touchdown passes over the previous seven games. The entire Pittsburgh secondary played a role in the abysmal performance as Ss Eric Thatcher and Dom DeCicco both blew assignments while CBs Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel had problems staying with the Rutgers receivers. The mental errors can be corrected but the matchup problems should continue this week because Berry and Chappel face Notre Dame WR's Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Duval Kamara, and perhaps David Grimes (back injury). Both Panthers corners lack the size to match up with Floyd and Kamara and the quickness to stay with Tate and Grimes out of their breaks. Making matters worse, Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen has made tremendous strides this season and is starting to play at a high level so Pittsburgh has to find a way to get to Clausen and disrupt his rhythm. Romeus and Sheard will test Notre Dame OTs Sam Young and Mike Turkovich off the edge while McKillop and Williams do a good job of timing their stunts in the middle.


Key individual matchup
Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy vs. Notre Dame ILB Maurice Crum

Crum does a good job of locating the ball carrier and rarely takes false steps so he is generally in good position to make the play when teams run between the tackles. However, getting to McCoy and getting him to the ground are two very different things. McCoy can make defenders miss in the hole and he has the balance to bounce off arm tackles so Crum must consistently break down into a sound tackling position and wrap up on contact. Crum will have the advantage once engaged, as he is a strong tackler capable of stopping McCoy's forward momentum, but it will be a different story when McCoy runs outside. Crum lacks the range to beat McCoy to the corner and he must be careful not to fly outside too early in an effort to mask this weakness because McCoy is an effective cutback runner who reads the defense well and can change directions quickly.

Special Teams

Pittsburgh K Conor Lee has been solid, connecting on 11 of his 13 field goal attempts and notching a long of 44 yards earlier in the year. Luke Briggs kicks off for the Panthers and is averaging 62.4 yards per kickoff and with two touchbacks in 38 attempts. P Dave Brytus is averaging 41.7 yards per punt and he's placed five of his 24 punts inside the 20-yard line. Stephens-Howling and Aundre Wright return kickoffs for Pittsburgh and Stephens-Howling has been the more productive of the two, averaging 21.4 yards per return and recording a long of 34 yards. Aaron Berry will handle the punt returns and he's averaging just 5.4 yards per return. Considering Notre Dame has covered kickoffs well and no FBS team is giving up fewer yards per punt return, it is unlikely any of the Panthers return men make much of a splash this week.

Notre Dame K Brandon Walker has struggled, hitting on just four of 10 field goal attempts overall and only three of eight on attempts from 40 yards and beyond. Ryan Burkhart will handle the kickoff duties. He is averaging 61.1 yards per kickoff and has yet to record a touchback in 36 attempts. P Eric Maust is averaging 41.7 yards per punt and he's placed nine of his 24 punts inside the 20. Allen and Tate will field kickoffs for the Fighting Irish and Allen has fared better thus far, averaging 22.1 yards per return and recording a long of 53 yards. He will also return punts and he's averaging a sound 9.4 yards per punt return. Though the Panthers have done a good job of covering kickoffs they allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown earlier this year and can't afford another breakdown in this game.

Scouts' Edge
The big question heading into this game is which quarterback will be taking snaps for Pittsburgh. If Stull is unable to play Bostick will make his first start of the year in a hostile environment and on national television. While McCoy will continue to run hard and keep the Panthers in the game they will have to move the ball through the air at times. Making matters worse, Notre Dame's pass rush should apply consistent pressure all afternoon. Meanwhile, Clausen has made great strides and faces a Pittsburgh secondary coming off a dismal performance. In addition, he has an abundance of weapons at receiver and Notre Dame has done a better job of protecting him this year than last.

Prediction: Fighting Irish 27, Panthers 24

[One Trick Pony]

OBAMA!!!!

Yeaaa! If you get hurt each family saves $2500.00 on thier medical bills.

[mrydel]

OBAMA!!!!

Yeaaa! If you get hurt each family saves $2500.00 on thier medical bills.

Not the family that has to pay the $2500.

[One Trick Pony]

OBAMA!!!!

Yeaaa! If you get hurt each family saves $2500.00 on thier medical bills.

Not the family that has to pay the $2500.

Get over it allready he's the next man in the white house.
Will see what happens.
This thread has been officially high jacked

[mrydel]

OBAMA!!!!

Yeaaa! If you get hurt each family saves $2500.00 on thier medical bills.

Not the family that has to pay the $2500.

Get over it allready he's the next man in the white house.
Will see what happens.
This thread has been officially high jacked

I am not saying he will not win. I am saying that I am pretty sure I will be one of his chosen people who will get to redistribute his weath to those that do not have enough. Glad to know that you are expecting to get some of the money.

[One Trick Pony]

I am not saying he will not win. I am saying that I am pretty sure I will be one of his chosen people who will get to redistribute his weath to those that do not have enough. Glad to know that you are expecting to get some of the money.[/quote]


I don't need your money, or anyone else’s and I'm not afraid to share mine.
I’m sure you don’t want to compare net wealth on this board.
You can’t take it with you.

[Pony Soup]

OBAMA!!!!

VOTE MCCAIN

[mrydel]

I am not saying he will not win. I am saying that I am pretty sure I will be one of his chosen people who will get to redistribute his weath to those that do not have enough. Glad to know that you are expecting to get some of the money.

I don't need your money, or anyone else’s and I'm not afraid to share mine.
I’m sure you don’t want to compare net wealth on this board.
You can’t take it with you.[/quote]

But I can sure as heck determine who gets it and more importantly who deserves it.