ND @ MSU – 3rd Quarter Thoughts
- Defense did it’s job to start the half forcing the three and getting the offense the ball with some great field position. Harrison Smith has had a good day so far and started that drive with a tackle of Ringer in the backfield.
- Offense comes out with 4 and five wide to spread out the field after not being able to run the ball in the first half and it works great until Floyd fumbles the ball inside the 20 yard line. ND was driving the ball and could have gotten the momentum back, but handed MSU the ball.
- Offense cannot turn the ball over at all any more this game if Notre Dame is going to have any chance at winning this. Three turnovers in Michigan State territory is no way to try and win football games.
- Tackling is getting sloppier, defense might be starting to wear down.
- Defense held strong in the redzone to keep this game two possessions, but the offense needs to score on this drive and put some pressure back on Michigan State.
- If there was ever a time we could use a big play out of the kick return unit, it is on this MSU kickoff with just under 5:32 to go in the third. Instead, we’ll start at the 26. Where is the wedge on kickoff returns today?
- 3rd and 7, MSU sends the house and we only have 3 receivers running routes and they still all collapse on Clausen? Wow.
- If Brian Hoyer had even mediocre accuracy, Michigan State would have a lot more points right now. He had a HUGE gain on 3rd and long but threw a TERRIBLE pass.
- Notre Dame is passing the ball very well between the 20’s and ends the third quarter with a third and long in the red zone. Clausen’s pass to Rudolph was just behind him or it was 6.
- Please no more quick hitters to Parris.
- The Irish are driving but need to convert this opportunity at the start of the fourth to really get back in this game. This drive has kept the defense off the field for a while so they should still have some gas left in the tank.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
let get back in this……JC has been known to bring a little noise in the 4th qtr. in his few wins