Intersting Facts on BYU vs ND Game - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Whitney64 · 11-18-2013, 08:11 PM

These are just areas of thought on the upcoming game with Notre Dame.

1) Stan Elsberg has done a wonderful American Ride Episode on the History of Notre Dame. Everyone should go on line or to BYUtv and find it. A great watch!

2) Offensively, BYU ranks #13 in the nation at 503.7 ypg, 12th in total Rushing offense (somewhat surprising given BYU's History. Notre Dame ranks 67th in Total Offense averaging just over 405 ypg. Notre Dame averages almost 150 ypg rushing...but has not been tearing it up on the ground this year.

3) Defensively, BYU ranks #46 in Total Team Defense, and is giving up over 100 ypg more than last season at 377.3 per outing. Notre Dame has played a slightly more difficult schedule overall and is ranked #33 in team defense, also a far cry from last year's numbers, giving up about 369 ypg. There really isn't a whole lot of difference between 377 and 369 so these are defensively, well matched programs.

4) BYU's Special teams would probably rank in the top 25 of most evaluation polls. Notre Dames return teams would rank high as well, but their punting game is below average so far this year. ND has kicked field goals (10) but that isn't necessarily an indication of much more than the offense stalls inside the 30. At 10:16 it isn't as if they are an automatic score with the foot inside the 30. BYU is 16:19 kicking FG's so getting stopped inside the opponent's thiry has also ben a problem for BYU. But the points are sure. BYU averages 2.53 points per FGA while ND sits at just 2.14 points/FGA. BYU gives up about 24.4 ypk return and ND averages about 23.6. Sorensen has 34 TB's in 67 KO's, >50%. Notre Dame has KO's 1 fewer times, an indication of it's relatively weaker offensive scoring output. But the Irish are averaging about the same rate of TB's and over 23 yards per return. BYU probably has the advantage here overall because of Sorensen's much more accurate lkeg and Adam Hine.

5) This will be senior day for Notre Dame. That is always an emotional time for any home team. BYU is also a preparation game coming between a bad loss and extended bye, but just before the Stanford game. The good news about the long anticipated Stanford game is that Notre Dame matches up well with them and the Cardinal loss to USC puts the game in a lesser light than originally thought when Stanford might have ben an outside shot at a NC game. Now it is unlikely to even make it to the Rose Bowl. Notre Dame defeated USC so they will feel a little more confident over that. But they really know that to reach 110 wins they must win out (as BYU).

6) In the end BYU can only screw this game up if Robert Anae plays the game too conservatively. BYU has the 15th best Pass Efficiency Defense in the Country. while ND ranks 70th. ND is vulnerable to a good, quick passing attack. For all of BYU's critics getting on the Pass Defense, you don't get to #15 overall by being lousy at it. You don't rank #70 by being great. BYU needs to exploit those weaknesses and that will open up the LOS for a stronger offsetting rushing attack. If ANAE will just pass quick and short on 1st down about 50% of the time BYU will win. BYU is significantly better than Pitt. Only Anae can screw this up.

MikeWaters · 11-18-2013, 08:40 PM

lol, only Anae can screw this up.

He screws things up all the time. But overall, despite the stupid decisions at times, I'm pleased with how the offense has improved.

11-18-2013, 08:11 PM	#1
Whitney64 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6	Intersting Facts on BYU vs ND Game These are just areas of thought on the upcoming game with Notre Dame. 1) Stan Elsberg has done a wonderful American Ride Episode on the History of Notre Dame. Everyone should go on line or to BYUtv and find it. A great watch! 2) Offensively, BYU ranks #13 in the nation at 503.7 ypg, 12th in total Rushing offense (somewhat surprising given BYU's History. Notre Dame ranks 67th in Total Offense averaging just over 405 ypg. Notre Dame averages almost 150 ypg rushing...but has not been tearing it up on the ground this year. 3) Defensively, BYU ranks #46 in Total Team Defense, and is giving up over 100 ypg more than last season at 377.3 per outing. Notre Dame has played a slightly more difficult schedule overall and is ranked #33 in team defense, also a far cry from last year's numbers, giving up about 369 ypg. There really isn't a whole lot of difference between 377 and 369 so these are defensively, well matched programs. 4) BYU's Special teams would probably rank in the top 25 of most evaluation polls. Notre Dames return teams would rank high as well, but their punting game is below average so far this year. ND has kicked field goals (10) but that isn't necessarily an indication of much more than the offense stalls inside the 30. At 10:16 it isn't as if they are an automatic score with the foot inside the 30. BYU is 16:19 kicking FG's so getting stopped inside the opponent's thiry has also ben a problem for BYU. But the points are sure. BYU averages 2.53 points per FGA while ND sits at just 2.14 points/FGA. BYU gives up about 24.4 ypk return and ND averages about 23.6. Sorensen has 34 TB's in 67 KO's, >50%. Notre Dame has KO's 1 fewer times, an indication of it's relatively weaker offensive scoring output. But the Irish are averaging about the same rate of TB's and over 23 yards per return. BYU probably has the advantage here overall because of Sorensen's much more accurate lkeg and Adam Hine. 5) This will be senior day for Notre Dame. That is always an emotional time for any home team. BYU is also a preparation game coming between a bad loss and extended bye, but just before the Stanford game. The good news about the long anticipated Stanford game is that Notre Dame matches up well with them and the Cardinal loss to USC puts the game in a lesser light than originally thought when Stanford might have ben an outside shot at a NC game. Now it is unlikely to even make it to the Rose Bowl. Notre Dame defeated USC so they will feel a little more confident over that. But they really know that to reach 110 wins they must win out (as BYU). 6) In the end BYU can only screw this game up if Robert Anae plays the game too conservatively. BYU has the 15th best Pass Efficiency Defense in the Country. while ND ranks 70th. ND is vulnerable to a good, quick passing attack. For all of BYU's critics getting on the Pass Defense, you don't get to #15 overall by being lousy at it. You don't rank #70 by being great. BYU needs to exploit those weaknesses and that will open up the LOS for a stronger offsetting rushing attack. If ANAE will just pass quick and short on 1st down about 50% of the time BYU will win. BYU is significantly better than Pitt. Only Anae can screw this up. Last edited by Whitney64; 11-18-2013 at 08:16 PM.

11-18-2013, 08:40 PM	#2
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	lol, only Anae can screw this up. He screws things up all the time. But overall, despite the stupid decisions at times, I'm pleased with how the offense has improved.