Reeling and squabbling after a devastating loss to Navy, the Notre Dame football team heads to Pittsburgh to take on the ninth-ranked Panthers on Saturday night. Dave Wannstedt’s team is 8-1 on the season after easily dispatching Syracuse, but there is no chance they will take the Irish lightly. Led by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the entire city is intent on showing extraordinary support for Pitt this weekend as the Panthers pursue their own BCS dream.
The Irish players have attempted to show solidarity this week in the aftermath of public player criticism of the defensive schemes run against the Midshipmen. As a consequence, starting nose tackle Ian Williams will not start at Pittsburgh and it is unclear whether he will play in the game.
Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate and Kyle McCarthy ultimately accepted responsibility for the loss on behalf of the players, but the smoldering remnants of internal strife remain palpable on campus. Irish assistant head coach Corwin Brown fanned the flames by calling out Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo for encouraging illegal blocking methods against his defense, and he went on to defend his team’s game plan. This circling of the wagons is usually a bad sign that significant cracks are forming in a program’s foundation.
Meanwhile, Coach Charlie Weis hopes to have tailback Armando Allen and guard Trevor Robinson back for this game, but tight end Kyle Rudolph injured his shoulder last week and will not be available on Saturday. The defensive line will be thin without Williams in the middle, which may enable Pitt’s running game to wear down Notre Dame’s front as it did in last season’s quadruple overtime victory.
Despite the furor surrounding Weis and the team this week, the Panthers represent the perfect opportunity for the embattled coach to quiet his critics with a rare win over a ranked team. Weis and Wannstedt began their respective college coaching careers five years ago with an Irish victory in the same venue, and observers will compare the trajectory of the two programs after this one is in the books.
NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. PITTSBURGH’S DEFENSE
Once again, the Irish must run the ball well to win. Navy proved that the passing game alone, no matter how prolific, cannot guarantee a win. There are simply too many opportunities for error for a heavy aerial assault as opposed to running the ball downhill against an opponent. Failure to sustain the ground game caused Notre Dame to surrender a 14 point lead at home last year to Pitt, and this facet of the game is even more critical on the road. With Allen back and both Robert Hughes and Theo Riddick in the wings, the Irish need to feed them the ball numerous times throughout the evening.
Robinson’s return will help solidify the line if he is ready to return after an ankle sprain. The biggest concern remains at tackle, where Paul Duncan and Sam Young must win their matchups against Pitt’s stalwart ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard. To make matters worse, Mick Williams has 13 tackles for loss this season from the defensive tackle position, and the team has combined for an impressive 38 sacks. Notre Dame has recorded only 18 to date.
Clausen will continue to have Tate and Michael Floyd at his disposal, but Mike Ragone will fill in for Rudolph at the tight end position that is suddenly very thin. The Panther secondary is led by veteran safety Dom DeCicco, who leads the team in tackles. The overall unit has played well in spots, but they have also been burned on a fair number of occasions. Expect Wannstedt to employ the soft zone employed by previous Irish opponents to take away the long scoring pass and dare Weis to run.
Clausen and his receivers are good enough to prevail, but the game will probably come down to how much pressure the Panthers are able to apply to Clausen in the pocket. The front four has been able to get the job done all season, but there are other quality players on this defense. Linebacker Greg Williams is a talented sophomore who can blitz as well as drop into coverage. His 51-yard interception return for a touchdown last week broke open the game against Syracuse. Williams is flanked by Adam Gunn, a senior who production is well above average.
PITTSBURGH’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE
The Panthers have achieved balance between the run and the pass behind a solid offensive line and senior quarterback Bill Stull. While Irish nemesis LeSean McCoy now works for the Philadelphia Eagles, freshman Dion Lewis has stepped in to the lineup and run for 1,139 yards. The team averages 187 rushing yards per game, or 50 more than Notre Dame. Pitt also averages 5.1 yards per carry, which meets the standard of excellence in any league.
Stull does not throw as frequently as Clausen, but his 68% completion rate and only four interceptions against 17 touchdowns speak volumes about the effectiveness of this offense. Jonathan Baldwin is the home run threat in the passing game, while tight end Dorin Dickerson is an extraordinary possession and red zone receiver. Dickerson set a Pitt tight end record for touchdown receptions in a season last week by recording his tenth. The other wideout is Oderick Turner, who is talented but not as consistent as the others.
Wannstedt will run the ball against Notre Dame’s front, particularly if Williams is not utilized. Even if it is not successful early, history suggests he will stick with the ground game in anticipation of reaping fourth quarter dividends when he is trying to keep the ball out of Clausen’s hands. Stull will look for Dickerson on third down and will try to hit Baldwin deep when the Irish are concentrating on stopping Lewis.
Pitt starts three seniors on the interior of its offensive line, and left tackle Jason Pinkston is very highly regarded. This group has allowed only nine sacks all season, so Notre Dame’s undersized rushers will have a difficult time applying pressure even in obvious passing situations. The Panthers will move the ball in this game, but the Irish defense must find a way to keep them out of the end zone. The linebackers need to do a better job of fighting off blocks, but they will need an inspired effort by the linemen in front of them.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Once again, Notre Dame can help itself by winning the field position battle. Pittsburgh is barely average in punting efficiency and in the return game, and the Irish need to focus on this area to tilt the odds in their favor. The Panthers have also experienced a spate of fumbling problems on their recent punt returns, so additional effort to apply pressure downfield is recommended. Cameron Saddler is the main return man, and is joined by Aaron Smith and Ray Graham.
Dan Hutchins performs the punting and place kicking duties for Pitt, with generally good results. His numbers are solid in the field goal department, but his distance is just average. Notre Dame’s Nick Tausch hopes to get back on track after missing two makeable field goal attempts last week, and Irish fans are still hoping for a breakthrough in a kickoff or punt return with Riddick and Tate. Eric Maust and Ben Turk continue to battle for the punting job each day in practice, but neither has been consistent enough to seize the job on a permanent basis.
SUMMARY
Notre Dame’s offensive linemen were more highly recruited than their Pittsburgh defensive counterparts, but they must play up to their potential to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. On the other side of the coin, the Panther offensive front appears to be more than a match for the depleted Irish, who will need more than a better scheme after giving up 348 rushing yards to Navy.
While Clausen has been patient by throwing mostly short passes against defenses designed to limit his range, Weis has not showed the requisite confidence in his ground attack to see it through. Instead, he
prefers to live and die with his quarterback. Protection and field position will be critical to Notre Dame’s chances, but Notre Dame will not win if it is outgained on the ground by a wide margin.
Let’s look at a few questions that will help determine the outcome:
Will Notre Dame’s run/pass mix indicate a greater degree of balance and success in the ground game?
Can the Irish protect Clausen?
Can the Notre Dame defense hold Pitt to less than four yards per rush?
Which team will gain an advantage from special teams?
Can Notre Dame stop the Panthers in the red zone?
Will Stull be able to maintain a high passing efficiency?
After a tumultuous week, will the Irish be emotionally high or flat for this game?
Which team will be most successful in the fourth quarter?
Does Pitt deserve a top ten ranking?
PREDICTION
The Panthers will be emotionally charged and already appear to have a physical advantage at the line of scrimmage. This combination does not bode well for the Irish, whose skill position talent may not be enough to keep pace unless the ball bounces their way or Pittsburgh makes uncharacteristic errors. Clausen will carry his team a long way on his back, but the ground game or a special teams surprise will have to surface for Notre Dame to pull out a win.
Stull is not as accomplished as Clausen, but he doesn’t have to win the game through the air. In the end, the team that runs the ball best will win, and that needle points to Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH 34 NOTRE DAME 24
Anonymous says:
My prediction: Pitt 35, ND 10
Our defense will be atrocious for another week.
ND will go 0-3 in the next 3 weeks to end the regular season
Anonymous says:
35-0. Irish Victory! Trounce! Weis and Clausen return for the 2010 National Championship run. Wake up the echos!
Anonymous says:
No way Pitt puts up 34 against the Irish. The rushing yards the Irish gave up last week mean nothing since Pitt is not running the triple option. Also, forget Pitt stats going into this game, their schedule has been weak.
No way Pitt should hold ND to 24. If Weis can figure out how to score TD's in the red zone, ND should win. This game comes down to ND's red zone production and turnovers. Weis needs to roll out all those plays he's been holding in reserve – show Pitt some things they did not see on film.
ND will not be flat. The coaches will be more animated than ever – their jobs are on the line. Ian Williams will play – you can take that to the bank.
An remember, the Irish have Golden Tate – enough said.
Anonymous says:
I think it is going to go one of two ways. Pitt big or Irish big. My heart says Irish 38 Pitt 21.
Anonymous says:
Good prediction.
Anonymous says:
Trap game for Pitt looking ahead to WVU and UC, ND 24-14
Anonymous says:
Hey anonymous, nice delusion post–really ND 35-0? ND has quickly morphed into a team on brink. One or two things go against them early and they will fold like deck chairs.
I'll never root against ND, but I don't see them "rallying" together for this win.
Anonymous says:
Wow, things must be getting bad if Williams may not even play.
Wonder if Brown will call out the Pittsburgh coaches after this loss?
This team sounds like they are going to be in for a long night.
Pitt 45, Irish 17
Anonymous says:
Sounds like a few coaches need to read Charlie's autobiography from a few short years ago…it's called…"No Excuses"
😉
Anonymous says:
"Reeling and Squabbling"???
DMW says:
No mention of Big East officiating? I am suprised.
Anonymous says:
for you who say notre dame will get beat badly or wont rally way to be bandwagon fans and not have faith in your team….notre dame will not go 0-3 these last 3 games they will go 3-0 and win their bowl game becasue they are a better team than people give them credit for
Anonymous says:
Why would the coaches be more "fired up" now? ND is a premier program and their jobs should always be on the line when they lose. I predicted 7-5 after the 4-1 start, and I was chastised. I stick by my prediction; the Wies fraud will be exposed and hopefully action will be taken.
happahaffibun! says:
irish rise up and beat pitt! no doubt!
Zac says:
I'm not holding out too much hope for this one. Our defense is swiss cheese and our offense is banged up pretty badly, not to mention that we couldn't score in the red zone with everyone healthy to begin with.
Don't get me wrong – I want Notre Dame to win this, but my gut tells me we won't, not after playing teams below our talent level down to the wire all season, and not with team morale the way it is. It'll take some major stars lined up our way to pull out the victory at Pitt.
For the record, I declare up front that I'm not a bandwagoner, not after being an Irish fan through 2007 and after cheering through 4 hours of 18 degree weather to see us lose the last home game I'd see as student against a 1-8 syracuse squad last year. I love Notre Dame, but that doesn't mean I can reasonably say that I think we're going to win on Saturday. 🙁
Anonymous says:
I've read posts by some who say they won't root against the Irish when it comes to hoping for a coaching change. I admit, it's next to impossible to hope the Blue and Gold goes down, but at the same time it's not like my rooting changes anything on the field–the last 5 seasons have proved that.
But in my own heart I consider a loss like this one to be gambit. This and the following two games are a small humilation compared to the purgatory of another season (or more) of abject mediocrity. Just make it quick, Pitt, and tell me when it's over.
Anonymous says:
How can ANYONE who claims to know football predict an IRISH win. Did you guys watch the Navy game? Did you watch us against Mich, Mich St, Purdue or BC? We continue to play down to teams with players that we wouldn't recruit!! We showed WAY TOO MUCH respect for USC for 3-1/2 qtrs, bascially acting like we weren't good enough to win until we figured out that THEY weren't that good. Too little too late.
This is not Ara coaching "the boys". The leadership on this team has been unemotional, flat and sterile, at best! Winning college programs play with emotion, with passion. I challenge you to find even a hint of that on our sidelines!!
We ALWAYS get out coached with adjustments at halftime. ALWAYS!
Even if the kids find a way to overcome Charlie's ineptitude and keep the game close, we will struggle to overcome the Navy hangover.
I’ll be in the stands @ PITT, rooting for the IRISH, but my feelings are that I’ll be disappointed yet again.
I'll WILL be happy to see Charlie and his arrogant attitude OUT the door!
Anonymous says:
ND wasn't prepared for Navy and it was obvious on the field. Weis is arrogant and lacks the knowledge to put together a coaching staff, as well as, his inability to adjust. Nd has the talent it doesn't have the right coach.
How could ND not have been prepared for the option? How could they have used the same defense a last year as was stated by the Navy coach? All the coaching staff had to do was look at their archives and see the "mirror defense" utilized by ARA to beat Alabama and Texas in the 70's!
It's time for a new and proven coach from the college ranks.
Anonymous says:
How can ANYONE who claims to know football predict an IRISH win? Look, ND has an excellent chance to win this game with or without Williams. The Irish offense is as good as any team in the country when they're on, particularly with Michael Floyd and Armando Allen both in the line-up. Although the team is showing cracks in the armor, the key guys are playing to play on Sundays and they'll show up even if they feel that Weis is a poor coach and a lame duck. The other thing is that while the Big East has made huge strides in the last several years, they're still softer and smaller than the SEC and the Big Ten, and let's face it, Dave Wannstedt makes Charlie Weis look like Ara Parseghian.
Irish win 42-24 to keep their godaddy.com bowl hopes alive.
Anonymous says:
Most people know that Notre Dame badly needs a coaching change. Most of us hate it. It is an unfortunate fact. What you have there now will never work. No championships with the present regime are coming. For a new direction, unfortunately Notre Dame needs to loose again I am afraid. It is very hard to pull against something you love so much and I will probably find myself "rooting" for the Irish. But…I know a change is desparately needed. CW has had his chance and opportunity and simply put, it has not and will not happen. Go Irish!
Anonymous says:
We need a victory here boys! We need continuity on this team, and that means Coach Weis coming back for the 2010 season. I see a national title with Coach Weis, and have called him to be the next Lou Holtz at Notre Dame. Please be patient, and believe. GO IRISH, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!
Anonymous says:
Have any of you including the author ever seen a Wannstedt coached team when they are heavy favorites and have no chance of losing???
All the lifelong Dolphin and Bears fans here at work have been congratulating me all week on Notre Dame's "upcoming blowout victory".
I think this Notre Dame team has in them a focused – pissed off performance. Double digit victory – the "Wannstache" doesn't have it in him to win this game.
Anonymous says:
I think it is fairly simple: play with emotion and ND can win. For this to occur, Weis needs to go to the press box (as he did in the bowl game last season), call the plays, and allow Corwin Brown and Jon Tenuta to motivate the players on the field.
Anonymous says:
Y'all don't have too much room to talk about a weak schedule.
Anonymous says:
I see the wheels coming off and the Irish mailing it in tomorrow night. Clausen will be scambling for his life against a great DLine, and Weis will abandon the run before Q2. The balanced Pitt offense will run havoc over the awful Irish defense, and #22 will look worse than ever. I see this one looking more like SC last year than Pitt last year. Pitt 38 ND 10.
IRISH STING says:
PROOF IS IN THE RECORD. IF WE HAVE TOP TEN OR BETTER REQRUITS THEN WHY ARE WE NOT RATED OR IN THE LOWER 25, IF NOT WORST. FIVE YEARS AND WE STILL CAN'T SEE THE END OF THE TUNNEL A NC. WHAT WILL FIVE MORE YEARS GET US? YET THAT IS WHAT I'M SEEING. IF YOU CAN'T PASS BLOCK OR RUN BLOCK THEN THE QB OR RUNNERS WILL NOT SUCCEED. IF YOU CAN'T TACKLE OR GET OFF YOUR BLOCK ON DEFENSE FORGET IT.
PITT RUNNING BACKS WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE.
PITT 27 IRISH 24
Royboy says:
before the season started I predicted a 8-4 year and Charlie stays. I still think that. I hope that.
Anonymous says:
I live in Pittsburgh and this city is not hopping like Mayor Ravenstahl would have you believe. This is Steelers Country first and foremost. ND is just as big as Pitt here, believe me. There will be a lot of ND support tomorrow night. I can't wait you all wathc Charlie Weis begin to save his job! GO IRISH!
Anonymous says:
Any repercussions for Ian Williams and his playing time?
“No, as a matter of fact, today he was running a lot with the ones. I don’t know exactly how that’s going to play out, but he will be playing plenty in the game.”
Anonymous says:
The Fuming Irish? How does that smell to you, Vannie?
~mpsND'72
Anonymous says:
The problem with this board is that everyone is "Anonymous". I'd wager that over half of the posters are not ND fans. That being said, ND will struggle but win Saturday 24-17 over Pitt. They will then easily defeat UConn at home and it's down to Stanford as to whether we finish 9-3 or 8-4. If we finish 9-3, Weis should definitely stay, as that was the bar that was set by almost every ND publication in the pre-season. I hope we do, because I agree that we need continuity, and losing Weis (plus possible Jimmy and Golden) means at least 3 years until we even see .500 again.
Anonymous says:
It doesn't matter if people use "anonymous" or some other pseudonym, you still won't know who they are, and I'd wager, considering the comments, that almost everyone on this board is a ND fan.
Being the Notre Dame fans that we are, we want to see CW get his walking papers. I said last year, all year, that the guy is a clown who coaches down to the level of competition. The University should fire that guy now and get ready for Brian Kelly so that ND will stop being mocked and laughed at by all.
I don't care if the team finishes 7-5 or 9-3, the guy has never beaten USC, lost to Navy twice at home, and lost to this year's awful UM team.
What more evidence do you need to see that he doesn't know what he is doing?
Anonymous says:
Gents.."Wannstedt makes Charlie look like Ara" ?? You obviously didn't watch last year's game AT HOME against Pitt where we were up 17-3 at half. Another fine example of halftime adjustments,… by our opponent.
I never suggested that we didn't have talent, but there is NO evidence to suggest that this staff can consistently put that talent in a position to succeed.
Wannstedt has lost EVERYWHERE he's been and still manages to outcoach our over paid staff.
I like the idea of sending Charlie upstairs though!!! Lets hope the IRISH prove me wrong.
GO IRISH !
Anonymous says:
Irish win if they do the following things: Get off to fast start offensively, play solid defense and no explosive plays and have great balance on run and pass. Otherwise it is Pitt all the way. There will not be heroics because of the away game.
Anonymous says:
If we do fire CW what is the over/under on how long it will take Brian Kelly, John Gruden (again),Urban Meyer (again), etc. to announce that they are not interested in the ND job? Why does everyone think we can get any coach we want, even those that are currently under contract and presumably happy where they are? John Gruden was supposedly a guarantee when Davie left and we ended up with O'Leary/Willingham. Ditto with Meyer when Ty was fired and we ended up with Charlie. Be careful what you wish for………..
Anonymous says:
PITT 42 ND 28
NO DEFENSE WILL RUIN US.
Anonymous says:
One need only look at one fact to understand everything there is to know about Notre Dame Football under CW: Boston College gave us five major turnovers at home and we had to hang on for dear life to win. Need anything more be said about this program?
Anonymous says:
this site is nothing but a "puusy-hole" — a place for ass fucks to collect and fuck each ohter. think about it. it's simply a hobo cluster-fuck — with assholes that pretend to be ND grads. give back your degrees, asswipes, because you have no clue what our lady if about. why don't you publish this, fuck-face. you too afraid? meet you out behind the servers and we'll talk man-to-man??? bring coffee and his nc ring. we'll have a good time. the fuck. love to meet that pussy face-to-face.
John Vannie says:
Yes, I realize Wannstedt is horrible now just as he was with the Dolphins and Bears. I just think that Charlie has surpassed him in suckitude.
Anonymous says:
Vannie –
I would sincerely appreciate it if you would edit and remove comments that contain profantity or vulgarity. Thanks.
Now, for those of you who watched the Bearcats defeat the Mountaineers, you can't seriously tell me you don't think Brian Kelly's the man. I realize the Mountaineers got robbed on that instant replay call, but did you see the way Kelly coached from the sidelines and got in the face of his coaches and players?
I don't care if the Irish run the table and qualify for the godaddy.com bowl. Brian Kelly should be hired, immediately, if not sooner.
Anonymous says:
Anyone think CW would step down and take over as offensive coordinator and the head recruiter? If he loves the Irish as mush as he says he would swallow his Jersey pride, then he could stay in SB and continue working Hanna's House.
Ron says:
". . . you too afraid? meet you out behind the servers and we'll talk man-to-man???"
You gotta love the tough talk from someone who doesn't have the stones to use a name other than "Anonymous." And who better to tell us "what our lady if about" than someone who can't string together an entire sentence without some kind of vulgarity?
Anonymous says:
I am one of the greatest and most hopeful fans there ever was…and I love Notre Dame with all my heart…and I so much want them to turn the corner and become great again…but I can't…I simply cant endorse the coach we have now…I'm sorry…but there's just too much damage done…
1. anytime a coach throws a 19 year old kid under the bus like CW has done to Ian Williams…it's just unacceptable..
People..look at all the dissension in this team…everyones pointing fingers…Corwin Brown is hung up on Navy's Coach…CW is hung up on Ian Williams comments…We have a DC, Rick Minter who gets fired…and then Corwin becomes DC..then Tenuta..then co coaches..
gimme a break…
I still hope for us to go 3 and 0 and then beat Miami in the Gator bowl..but I just dont see it happening…
and for the first time…if losing means CW is gone..then to be honest..I wont be sad…
We need Brian Kelly or Chris Pederson..or someone that knows the College game…to come in here and instill some life into this once proud program…
I'm sad that is has come to this..but CW belongs as an OC in the pros…not dealing with impressionalbe college kids..
Please Please Please CW…for the love of this school..resign…and lets get someone in here who knows how to coach..not point fingers
GO IRISH
IRISH MIKE
Anonymous says:
a Note to Anonymous 9:21…
maybe you should go easy on the jungle juice brotha…
Your eloquent usage of every expletive imagined…
If you are an ND grad..then shame on you…I know you are not..because an ND grad would have more class than to write what you did…
Grow UP..
IRISH MIKE
Anonymous says:
If we do fire CW what is the over/under on how long it will take Brian Kelly, John Gruden (again),Urban Meyer (again), etc. to announce that they are not interested in the ND job?
Kelly has already made clear that he's interested in the Irish job.
Get ready Irish fans, you're in for a real treat. The first truly great coach since Lou Holtz. Oh, and by the way, Zach Collaros, UC's back-up QB, is far better than Clausen and will have two years of eligibility left after he transfers!!!
Anonymous says:
Re:I live in Pittsburgh and this city is not hopping like Mayor Ravenstahl would have you believe. This is Steelers Country first and foremost. ND is just as big as Pitt here, believe me.
This guy is right! I work in a huge corporation in downtown Pittsburgh, and the only person I saw yesterday wearing blue was me, with my Golden Tate #23 ND Home jersey! Pitt fans acknowledge this openly, ND fans will be at least 50% of the crowd at Heinz field. Go IRISH! Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is a colossal joke!
– Irish MikePgh
Anonymous says:
This article is actually quite inaccurate. There was NEVER a mention that Williams was being disciplined for his comments after the Navy game. Furthermore, Weis was quoted in his press conference that he was playing quite well in practice and was consistently running with the first teamers. It is fine to put up an article that screams 'pessimism' but please can you keep it professional and accurate.
IRISH over Pitt tonight, 31-24.
GO IRISH!!!
John Vannie says:
I stand behind the assertion that Weis was planning to punish Ian Williams at the time the article was written. He reversed course later in the week under pressure from University leadership. I do not have to make up stuff for negativity to seep through the cracks in the program. That is happening whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.