Midweek Musings USC Week

As both ND and USC stagger to last game of the season, the question is who quits first? Don’t know the answer to that question, outside of believing the ND freshman won’t quit – not sure of upperclassmen.

Both teams have significant injuries and I believe USC will start 3 freshman OL. So that could even itself out vs the ND DL. As opposed to fast break spread teams USC is more traditional and their QB Cody Kessler is a pocket passer. That should play into a pressure defense.

The problem for ND is do they have any defensive players left. And that brings me to 2 highly rated players from big time Florida HS:

• DE Anthony Rabasa 6’3″ 250 lb senior. He was promised a chance and was in the mix in the Spring and played earlier this year. This will be his last game and with limited bodies available–put him in the rotation.
• ILB Michael Deeb 6’2″ 240 sophomore. He was behind Joe Schmidt in the Blue Gold game yet seems to have disappeared. I don’t even know if he’s on special teams. He was known a a big hitter sort of like Carlo Calabrese. With the middle of the defense wide open on big runs a big kid like this must be able to help since neither Morgan or Smith can take and shake OG’s. He could at least slow inside runs down. So he can’t cover RB’s in space neither can any of ND’s other ILB’s. Don’t know if either is injured or just in doghouse or bad practice players.
• It’s time for a vindictive Brian Kelly to start Redfield and Shumate. Collingsworth is just physically not able to perform and Tranquill is just to green.

The ND OL is a major disappointment:

• RT Lombard has injuries and just isn’t getting it done–McGlinchy please.
• C Hegarty and LG Martin get no push and frequently get thrown into the backfield. Those 2 lost the Louisville game failing in the double team on the game winning QB draw–Martin was pushed right int Golson.
• LT Stanley cannot handle an outside rush.
• We have a slew of redshirt sophs OL’s all 300 + certainly 1-2 are able to drive block.

Coaching:

• I think a couple will be gone next year from the defense.
• On the offensive side there is a guy named Jeff Quinn fired by Buffalo. He was with Kelly for like 15 yrs as OC–many credit Kelly’s success to Quinn. Kelly wanted him but Quinn banished himself to the dead end Buffalo job.

Last game coming…