The Cardinal is not a very good team with a record of 1-4, but ND has problems on both sides of the ball — with the play calling especially from Golden. He is too clever for his own good and half the time the players don’t know where to line up.
On Offense Rees calls some very dumb plays especially in short yardage situations. He will call plays to run straight ahead with 8 men in the box.
Stanford does have a 6’6″ QB that can and will throw deep.
We need a lot of points every game to win out.
Score Prediction: ND 34 Stanford 17
Here is the Marcus Freeman pre game press conference:
It’s hard to figure out what went wrong with the Trees, but they don’t have the outstanding players of the past. They have a 6’6″ QB who was the 3rd highest QB in that recruiting class that included Trevor Lawrence(1).
In any event, ND has lately out recruited them and they are in a 3 year slide.
Currently, they are 3-8 and have lost 6 in a row, last week losing to Cal 41-11.
So ND is no respect for Kyren and Mayer as semifinalists as best at their position. They should just run up 70 points on Stanford.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 56 Stanford 10
Here is the Brian Kelly pre-game press conference:
Another slow start with the OL getting pushed all over the place. Bad weather helped Stanford get a lead of of 17-7.
ND got very lucky, blocked a Stanford kick and this got the ND offense going. As a result, Stanford fell apart and ND coasted on its defense and the QB play of Ian Book.
Stanford scored only 7 points in the 2nd half.
Ian Book 17/30 for 255 yards and 4 TD’s Kmet 5/77, Claypool 3/63 with 2 TD’s.
ND was once again plagued with false starts – this line needs lots of work.
The Defense was superb but the “O” better play better if they want to win a Bowl game.
Here are the game highlights:
Here is the Brian Kelly post game press conference:
This ND beatdown of undefeated Stanford and their arrogant coach David Shaw was so sweet to behold especially with so many recruits visiting for the game.
ND completely obliterated Stanford on both sides of the ball rolling for 550 total yards and holding The Trees to 3 second half points.
You had to feel for Stanford QB KJ Costello who was battered and harassed the entire game.
Now Book – he has put the team concept into the Offense once again throwing to 10 different receivers. Everybody showed up on offense and the OL was outstanding.
Book finished 24/33 278 yards passing and 4 TD’s. He also had 47 yards rushing. This was the best game plan since Kelly arrived at ND – thank OC Chip Long for that.
RB Dexter Williams returned in a big way going 45 yards for a TD the first time he touched the ball. He ended with 161 yards on 21 carries.
What kind of Defense is this? Everyone played superb from game ball player Jerry Tillery and the DB’s like glue on the Trees receivers. Tevon Coney had a pick and a sure TD but for slipping.
The only disquieting note is the number of injuries popping up. Alex Bars went down with knee issues.
Go watch this game again everything clicked against a top 10 rated team.
Okay, Ian Book had his warmup game so now is the game we find out if he has the QB job for the rest of the season.
We also need to see much more production from our receivers, namely Boykin and Claypool. If they don’t produce, they should sit. The OL must really step up this week.
Stanford is going to try to stop the short passing game and force Book to go long. Okay, that’s what he should do and hopefully we have some down field speed receivers.
They have got to help Book out. He will be helped by having RB speedster Dexter Williams available – that should checkmate Stanford’s star RB Bryce Love.
Stanford has the same team they have every year. Excellent QB and RB as well as big Receivers.
QB KJ Costello has averaged 264 pass yards per game and he has 64% completion rate.
Bryce Love has put up 254 yards, but has been held to only 2 TD’s.
Stanford should have lost to Oregon, but had an incredible 4th quarter.
I’m looking for each team to cross the 30 point mark with ND coming out on top.
Notre Dame 37 Stanford 31
Here is the Brian Kelly pre-game press conference:
