He are some of Notre Dame's possibly Defensive Strategies for A&M:

1. Take away A&M's Offensive line.
-- Loading the box with 7 defenders - Trying to Dominate the line of scrimmage
-- Limiting the A&M running game - Less open gaps to run through (Loaded Box)
-- Forcing Marcel to throw the ball quicker & to shorter routes (less explosive plays)

2. Take away A&M's explosive passing plays of 20 yards or more.
-- Playing Man-to-Man press coverage with their CB's Leonard Moore and Christian Gray
-- Force A&M to beat you with it's players other than KC & Mario

3. Taking away (limiting) A&M's QB running opportunities (RPO's) with Marcel.
-- Having a LB or S to play a spy role on Marcel for his QB runs.
-- If you force Marcel out of the pocket, his passing completion percentage goes down.

4. Overall Strategy - To limit A&M's running game and QB runs.
-- You have a good chance to Win the game, if you force A&M into a short passing game.
-- Basic objective of every football game - Easily said, but harder to pull off...

Run and pass.

boyfriend said:

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ND will start the game by loading the box to stop the run like they did last year. We will have to prove that we can pass on them to open up the run game. We couldn't do it last year and they completely shut down the offense.

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THIS. Last year they had talented upperclassmen all over the secondary. This year they are young and inexperienced all over the secondary. They have two true sophomores starting in the secondary (neither were a national 300 player per 247 as recruits but they're athletic). They also have 2 true freshmen in the 2-deep in the secondary who could push for playing time this year. They held Miami to 3.1 YPC but Miami was able to throw the ball consistently.

Beck had a QBR of 85.3 in the game. Last year no one did that well and only 3 QBs broke 50 against them so it looks like that inexperience is showing early.

I think they will also probably try to score more points than us, as well.

I hope ND tries to rely on blitzes to beat us. I think Reed is pretty good with quick screens and dump offs to RB/TEs.

Their best bet would be mixing up pass coverages and putting a spy on Marcel. If he takes too long to find anybody open, our o-line will struggle to protect him even if they're only rushing 3. If he also has a hard time scrambling on his own, then we can expect a lot of sacks/throwaways.

Take away the run and the short passing game. That's what everyone is going to do to us

boyfriend said:

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ND will start the game by loading the box to stop the run like they did last year. We will have to prove that we can pass on them to open up the run game. We couldn't do it last year and they completely shut down the offense.

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I don't think there is any way that Marcel has the kind of game that Weigman had. He threw 2 INTs and was 40% completion!

Logos Stick said:

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boyfriend said:

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ND will start the game by loading the box to stop the run like they did last year. We will have to prove that we can pass on them to open up the run game. We couldn't do it last year and they completely shut down the offense.

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I don't think there is any way that Marcel has the kind of game that Weigman had. He threw 2 INTs and was 40% completion!

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Yea I don't think so either. Plus Marcel can hurt you with the QB run and our WRs this year are dudes. I think we hit a few explosives against them in the passing game.

ziggyb said:

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The Ball

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your virginity

Ball control. They will run the ball all game to try to keep our O off the field. Ags stopping the run is the key.

halfastros81 said:

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I think loading the box and forcing Reed to beat them will be their plan. Receiver room looks a lot different this yr for us. Get them to back off the Los and then we will run some. As Elko has already said, we'll go as far as the OL takes us.

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That's been the gameplan against A&M for the last 8 years. Until the Ags start scaring defenses with the pass, it will continue to be the gameplan.

some say best defense is a good offense.

they are also going to pound the rock over and over and over. Mix in some play action and probably a few deep shots. They will be content to eat up clock and keep our offense off the field.
They'll likely score a good bit doing this and if anything it will wear down our defense so in the 4th quarter they move/score at will

trip98 said:

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some say best defense is a good offense.

they are also going to pound the rock over and over and over. Mix in some play action and probably a few deep shots. They will be content to eat up clock and keep our offense off the field.
They'll likely score a good bit doing this and if anything it will wear down our defense so in the 4th quarter they move/score at will

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You would think so but they only ran 28 times for 93 yards against Miami. This includes only 33 yards for Jeremiah Love who some had mentioned as a Heisman candidate pre-season. Here's hoping he doesn't get back on track vs us.

Hubert J. Farnsworth said:

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halfastros81 said:

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I think loading the box and forcing Reed to beat them will be their plan. Receiver room looks a lot different this yr for us. Get them to back off the Los and then we will run some. As Elko has already said, we'll go as far as the OL takes us.

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That's been the gameplan against A&M for the last 8 years. Until the Ags start scaring defenses with the pass, it will continue to be the gameplan.

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8 years?? Probably about 40 years with an outlier or two here and there.

I wanna start strong, I wanna score 1st, and I want our defense to really step up and shut them down. I watched their game last week and they are beatable!!

I'll be there and they better play well.

BTHONOTREDAME!!!

Easy. Note Dame will put 8 in then box and make us pass to beat them. We should do the same. It'll come down to who makes more play/mistakes in the passing game.

our dignity

rootube said:

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trip98 said:

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some say best defense is a good offense.

they are also going to pound the rock over and over and over. Mix in some play action and probably a few deep shots. They will be content to eat up clock and keep our offense off the field.
They'll likely score a good bit doing this and if anything it will wear down our defense so in the 4th quarter they move/score at will

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You would think so but they only ran 28 times for 93 yards against Miami. This includes only 33 yards for Jeremiah Love who some had mentioned as a Heisman candidate pre-season. Here's hoping he doesn't get back on track vs us.

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I don't think our front 7 is as good as Miami front 7

Divining Rod said:

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our dignity

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How can they take what we no longer have?

They are going to play man coverage and load the box. Our WR room is much better this year. OL has to hold up in pass pro. I believe our WRs can beat their CBs this year.

Mule said:

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Divining Rod said:

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our dignity

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How can they take what we no longer have?

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well done sir

Win the LoS and contain Marcel. That is what anyone who has been watching will do. If we have less than 100 yds total rushing (RBs/Qb) it does not mater if the WRs pop a couple big plays or even TDs. They win the LoS they win the game. Look for loaded box and SPY early on would be my guess. We have to run the damn thang...

Or Reed shows them he CAN beat them with his arm and backs them the hell off the LOS.

Also , I think we will do the same thing . Load up the box and try to make their redshirt fish QB beat us with his arm.

this was a really good read last year and ended up being pretty nails on how the game played out.

This year looks like pressure on reed and a loaded box will be the ticket. And broken record but, we have to tackle.


https://irishsportsdaily.com/s/26093/scouting-report-texas-am

That's a lot to do for a defense on every play.

krosch11 said:

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this was a really good read last year and ended up being pretty nails on how the game played out.

This year looks like pressure on reed and a loaded box will be the ticket. And broken record but, we have to tackle.


https://irishsportsdaily.com/s/26093/scouting-report-texas-am

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They must have forgot about our road win against UF with Marcel.