Here is this week’s stats comparison. You can start to look for these every Tuesday for the last few weeks of the season and moving into next year.
Notre Dame |
Statistical Comparison |
Navy |
||
| Stat | Rank | Category | Rank | State |
| 24.33 | 69th | Scoring Offense vs. Scoring Defense | 66th | 25.56 |
| 375.00 | 50th | Total Offense vs. Total Defense | 73rd | 373.00 |
| 115.56 | 95th | Rushing Offense vs. Rushing Defense | 30th | 116.33 |
| 259.44 | 21st | Passing Offense vs. Passing Defense | 104th | 256.87 |
| 127.21 | 54th | Passing Efficiency Off. vs. Passing Efficiency Def | 108th | 148.87 |
| 20.44 | 35th | Scoring Defense vs. Scoring Offense | 41st | 29.22 |
| 324.67 | 39th | Total Defense vs. Total Offense | 51st | 374.89 |
| 132.11 | 53rd | Rushing Defense vs. Rushing Offense | 2nd | 308.00 |
| 195.56 | 45th | Passing Defense vs. Passing Offense | 118th | 66.89 |
| 103.41 | 17th | Passing Efficiency Def. vs. Passing Efficiency Off. | 13th | 160.15 |
| 33.50 | 85th | Net Punting vs. Net Punting | 67th | 34.86 |
| 8.25 | 70th | Punt Returns vs. Punt Returns | 20th | 13.22 |
| 20.87 | 69th | Kickoff Returns vs. Kickoff Returns | 111th | 18.71 |
| -0.33 | 76th | Turnover Margin vs. Turnover Margin | 18th | 0.89 |
| 1.56 | 82nd | Sacks vs. Sacks Allowed | 3rd | 0.78 |
| 1.44 | 36th | Sacks Allowed vs. Sacks vs. Sacks | 74th | 1.67 |
- Nothing here is too surprising. Navy can run the football better than almost anybody in the country, but has trouble stopping the ball. When you consider the success the Navy offense has running the football and what that does to the time of possession battle, it makes their defense statistics even less impressive.
- Navy is statistically one of the worst pass defenses in the country. With Weis calling the plays this weekend and the passing game needing a lot of work, I would be willing to bet that the Irish will pass the ball early and often.
- Navy is much more efficient stopping the run – partly because it is so easy to pass on them – so while it might be tempting for the Irish to come in with the mentality that they are bigger and stronger than Navy and should be able to run the ball at will, I think that would be a mistake. We all know the problems this team has had running the ball. Navy’s weakness is their pass defense – it should be exploited.
- Considering Navy hardly passes the ball, I was a little surprised to see that they give up almost a full sack a game.
- Jimmy Clausen should have time to throw the ball. For a defense that sees a lot of passes, they don’t get to the quarterback much.
- Neither team returns kickoffs too well so don’t look for too many big returns. Both teams will likely get quite a few chances to return kicks as well.
- Neither punts the ball especially well either. Eric Maust’s troubles have been talked about quite a bit the last few weeks with two blocks in as many weeks.
- Navy protects the ball very well and is in the top 20 in turnover margin so far this year. Navy is a very disciplined running offense and it will take a strong defensive effort to slow them down.
This is going to be a meaningless game unless Navy wins. I say that because Navy winning would probably doom the Weis era. An ND win wouldn’t answer any questions.
I predict ND passes like crazy and scores 28 points in one half. Then I predict ND tries to run the ball and because the Irish line sucks so bad, will break off a few decent runs, but won’t do much. I feel that the Notre Dame offensive line and any coach that get’s involved with that unit should be ashamed of themselves. They should be blocking as if they are protecting Our Lady herself. How could that have gotten so bad and allowed to deteriorate over 4 years. I know Ty started the trend, but other coaches have done more with less.
The defense will look good for a while, then tire and allow one or two touchdowns in a good but not impressive performance.
I envision a lackluster game by a down trodden team and coaching staff.
I dont know the rules on posting links, and i apologize if this breaks any of them. But this shows how bad our team has become.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/others/0-2-104/Picks-of-the-week–Bowl-eligibility-on-the-line.html
Granted, i have been reading this ladies comments about other independent teams and dont feel she carries much credibility. But its still sad.
Keys to the ND-Navy Game:
http://irishbandofbrothers.blogspot.com/2008/11/keys-to-notre-dame-vs-navy-game.html
Whoops, I cut and pasted my template from the BC post and forgot to switch out the name. All of the stats are accurate for Navy though.
Frakie V-
Dont you mean Navy and not BC or am I reading this wrong?