Matt Cotcher
Under Contract
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
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A few thoughts & expectations from the press box...
1. Ty Swoopes gets 80-85% of the work.
2. Jerrod Heard will dazzle on a few runs, but prove coaches right with a turnover.
3. Johnathan Gray will be the one running off tackle, and Swoopes (when he keeps it) will stay inside. I expect Zaire to run inside also.
4. The defensive front has a ton of pressure on them today. The inexperience in the back 7 will be in the wrong place on multiple occasions. If the front is neutralized, then the Irish will strike for a few big plays.
5. A tweaked offense and a hurried tempo will be an improvement from what fans endured in 2014, but it won't be perfect in Game 1.
6. Justin Rose has to be better than last season's 67%, especially today.
7. It's overlooked that nine out of ten departed starters got drafted or picked up as free agents - more than the number of players that were lost from last year, it's the quality of players that's concerning (especially in an opener).
8. It's time to stop talking about OL improvement and physicality, it's time for everyone to see it.
9. Throughout preseason camp, Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford talked about the defense's top priority this year being to get off the field on 3rd down. To do that today, the need to keep Zaire in 3rd & 5 or more.
10. Notre Dame is both more experienced and more talented. If this game was in November instead of the beginning of September, I think it plays out differently. Irish 27 - Texas 20
1. Ty Swoopes gets 80-85% of the work.
2. Jerrod Heard will dazzle on a few runs, but prove coaches right with a turnover.
3. Johnathan Gray will be the one running off tackle, and Swoopes (when he keeps it) will stay inside. I expect Zaire to run inside also.
4. The defensive front has a ton of pressure on them today. The inexperience in the back 7 will be in the wrong place on multiple occasions. If the front is neutralized, then the Irish will strike for a few big plays.
5. A tweaked offense and a hurried tempo will be an improvement from what fans endured in 2014, but it won't be perfect in Game 1.
6. Justin Rose has to be better than last season's 67%, especially today.
7. It's overlooked that nine out of ten departed starters got drafted or picked up as free agents - more than the number of players that were lost from last year, it's the quality of players that's concerning (especially in an opener).
8. It's time to stop talking about OL improvement and physicality, it's time for everyone to see it.
9. Throughout preseason camp, Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford talked about the defense's top priority this year being to get off the field on 3rd down. To do that today, the need to keep Zaire in 3rd & 5 or more.
10. Notre Dame is both more experienced and more talented. If this game was in November instead of the beginning of September, I think it plays out differently. Irish 27 - Texas 20
