The Go Irish, Muck Fichigan & Get Lei'd Edition

It's been quite a few days hasn't it Irish fans? Notre Dame Football passed the midway point of September without taking our offseason dreams of grandeur and ripping them to shreds on an otherwise lovely early Fall afternoon. For good measure they've even lived up to some of our typical unrealistic expectations. It's all been a bit euphoric to be honest. Hard to imagine being prouder of this team and many of the players. Why is this a "Special Double Issue"? I am fulfilling a life-long dream of taking in Notre Dame v. Michigan this weekend as part of a week-long extravaganza across Chicago, Michigan & Indiana. This post will be my Michigan State Game Man Cave Quarterback & my Michigan Primer: Notes & Predictions. Both teams come from the same cocky, overconfident state so let's group these overrated opponents together so I can get on with deep dish pizza, improv comedy & as much time on Notre Dame's campus Friday & Saturday rocking Hawaiian Lei's as humanly possible. IT'S MICHIGAN WEEK BABY!!!

Primer: Rapid Reaction to Notre Dame 20, Michigan State 3

It's been hard to pull me off this "undefeated and going on vacation to see the Irish dismantle Michigan" high of the past 72 hours. Perhaps it was compounded by breaking down the Irish with none other than Lou Holtz on Sunday where he, no joke, went out and staked a claim that this Notre Dame team is a serious National Championship contender and challenged all takers to dispute his thoughts on the team. What was once perceived as an insane 2012 Irish schedule officially slipped down a few pegs during Week 3 action. Holtz made sure to stick that concept home when assuring Irish fans "Michigan is NOT an elite football team, they are a team with a great athlete at quarterback". Shots fired? Earlier in the show Coach made sure to note that he though Michigan would be dismantled by Alabama and he felt the Crimson Tide had "embarrassed" Michigan in the opener. Before we move on I must implore all Notre Dame fans to listen in on the full show featuring our host, former Irish Tight End Oscar McBride, as the two discussed a wide range of topics that included his relationship with ESPN co-host Mark May, lawyering up with a young Bill Clinton while a coach at Arkansas, handling player suspensions, and a long, detailed breakdown of the 2012 Fighting Irish accompanying praise of their head coach.

I'm certainly not one to argue with the college football musing of Hall of Famer Lou Holtz. Having said that, I'm not quite ready to begin throwing the term National Championship around my posts and am of the belief that writers that do are a little ahead of themselves. I sincerely believe that if this team continues to play better each and every week, then the Irish will have the opportunity to win each game on the schedule. Things will need to continue to bounce our way more often than not as they did against Michigan State. Even if Michigan isn't living up to pre-season billing, a win against the Wolverines by the slimmest of margins would go a long way towards building that winning mentality and take the Irish into an off week where they can watch more contenders falter and possibly find themselves in the AP Top 5. Sounds refreshing.

In last week's Michigan State preview I listed the #1 Thing to Watch would be the continued development of Everett Golson. If you tune into my podcast's, then you've been privy to former Irish quarterback Matt Mulvey's weekly assessment of their play. Following Golson's tough day against Purdue, Mulvey touched on what he perceived to be Golson's mental fatigue late in the game – a result of not competing for four quarters in almost 2 years. Sunday night Mulvey couldn't contain his own excitement due to Golson's focus and decision making as the game wore on. He was surely lucky to survive some risky 2nd quarter throws, but Mulvey assured us that Golson grew during the game and continued to make the right choice when throwing the ball away over taking sacks and getting "too creative". Everett's touchdowns displayed the kind of play-making ability that has haunted the Irish from the defensive side of the ball for many years. As Golson continues to combine smart choices with a natural ability to extend plays we're going to be privy to many more electric moments. Also from the preview, my lips, to God's ears:

Golson gives this offense the big play ability that so dogged Tommy Rees's reign and when the season is over he'll have scored 40+ yard touchdowns on broken plays. This week would be a fine time to get that highlight reel started."

Stats

2 – Catches in 2012 by 5th year Senior John Goodman. Ever heard the phrase "Don't count the days, make the days count?". Somebody get out there and make Goody some "Don't count the catches, make the catches count" t-shirts. I'd rock one.

0 – Catches by Tyler Eifert against the Spartans. Brian Kelly couldn't have answered the post-game question about Michigan State "neutralizing" Eifert better when he snapped back at the reporter "I disagree with that statement. He's a still a Tight End. He blocked and did everything we asked of him and excelled. I think he had a great game." Go back and check in on the game-sealing 4th & 1 run by Cierre Wood. Tyler Eifert our "receiving tight end" hooked and "neutralized" Michigan State's biggest player and #1 pro prospect, 6'7'' 280 lb William Gholston. Eifert's blocking thus far as been nothing short of inspiring. Next April expect Mel Kiper, Jr. to use phrases similar to "the best tight end prospect since Tony Gonzalez".

1 – Deep shot taken in freshman WR Chris Brown's direction. Golson narrowly overthrew one of the fastest players in America early against the Spartans. Golson will hit a few of those bombs sooner than later and defenses are already adjusting to his ability to get the ball over the top. As we proceed the dimensions created by Golson's raw ability can only continue to become more diverse

3 – Players who were recruited to South Bend as offensive players that will now start in our secondary – Bennett Jackson (WR) & Mathias Farley (WR) & KeiVarae Russell (RB). Proof of the lacking depth and recruiting woes at CB or did holding the #10 team in America to 3 points and ZERO Red Zone trips answer enough questions for you? Akin to Everett Golson, this unit must improve on a day-by-day basis for the Irish to see continued Saturday triumphs.

18th – ND's rank in Total Defense. Something tells me this list would look a little different if throwing down some I-AA school 84-0 actually meant something later in the season. Am I right?

3.67 – Notre Dame defensive sacks per game. Stephon Tuitt is near the top of the nation in the individual category but the group effort of Bob Diaco's boys so far is astounding. Nothing else to say as a fan outside – this is so much fun to watch.

My Rapid Reaction really said it all – the win versus Michigan State was refreshing, enlightening and in many ways inspiring. Was it surprising? Based off our offseason expectations I'm not sure it was. Validating might be the better term.

Michigan Primer: Notes & Predictions

#10 Notre Dame (3-0) v. #18 Michigan (2-1)

Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend, Indiana 7:30 EST on NBC

Hard to conjure up things surrounding this game that haven't already been said too many times over. Denard Robinson has been a one man wrecking crew over the past three seasons and alone has tallied nearly 1,000 yards of Total Offense in the past two meetings. Diaco took his troops to Ann Arbor in 2011 with a perfect game plan to restrict Denard. Unfortunately it only lasted for 3 quarters and the Irish fell in the most demoralizing way possible. Michigan rode the victory to a BCS win and too much offseason hype. Thanks Alabama! Now it's Notre Dame's turn to launch their own season and aspirations into the stratosphere by dominating the Wolverines and start banging on a midseason Top 5 ranking. If nothing more – Notre Dame owes it to Michigan to put them in their place.

Five Things to Watch

5. Wood-Riddick-Wood: Air Force ran the ball seventy-one times (71!!) against Michigan for 290 yards at a healthy 4.1 Yard per Carry clip. Notre Dame will test this Wolverine front early and often. If the Irish find similar success to that of the Falcons then a ball control offense backed by a rapidly improving defense would suit our three headed backfield and fans just fine.

4. Notre Dame Third Down Offense: The Irish are 7/31 on 3rd Down against the Big Ten so far following last week's 1-14 showing against Sparty. Irish fans can take some consolation in a 4/5 number on 4th down. Notre Dame moved the ball all game in 2011. Notre Dame's offense is arguably better and Michigan's is unarguably worse. This number needs to be better.

3. Irish Cornerbacks on Extended Plays: With Everett Golson at the helm we're starting to remember why having another athlete in the backfield makes everything more interesting. When Denard breaks off a play our young, green cornerback corps must maintain assignments. A tall task for Zeke Motta & Manti Te'o await the defensive leaders in a game where Robinson can make ND pay for mental and physical mistakes dearly.

2. Prince Shembo & Ishaq Williams: The best overall athletes of the edge rushers  are likely to have key roles in containing Denard Robinson all evening. Shembo was in Beast Mode against Michigan State and the intesity he brings with Manti is contagious. You hate to tell a player of his caliber to reel it in a notch, but over pursuit by rush ends creates massive running lanes. Even with our secondary questions I'll take Denard trapped and running backwards over trying to beat the tackle off the edge all day.

1. Home Field Advantage – Saturday will feature an All-Time motto for any football game. StaND Up & Get Lei'd! The build up to USC 2011 was pretty big, but that game didn't hold nearly as much weight for ND. This is a game where the roof should blow off early and often. Accompanying the new game day atmosphere will be thousands of Irish fans who've pledged to wear Hawaiian style leis to honor Manti Te'o in light of his personal losses back home. I promise you Irish fans – I'll do my part.

Predicting the Game & What We'll See

Gonna keep this simple. Notre Dame has a better offense and defense than their opponent. The Irish are bigger and faster at most positions. ND could very well dictate play along both lines. Denard Robinson isn't a Senior Heisman candidate because of 2 games against Notre Dame. He's going to get some if not a few. Notre Dame will get more.

Notre Dame takes an early 10-7 lead. The final drive of the first half gets the Irish up 17-7 at the half. Golson leads an early 3rd quarter drive to grab an all-too-familiar 24-7 lead. Denard busts a big play to tighten the score to 24-14. A long drive led by GAIII & Cierre Wood gives Notre Dame a 31-17 lead. Denard gets another score but Michigan never threatens to make it a one score game.

Game Vitals

Vegas: Notre Dame (-5.5) Over/Under: 51

Herring Bone Says Take Notre Dame & The Over

Final Score: Notre Dame 31, Michigan 21

Go.Irish.StaND.Up.Get.Lei'd.

Follow me on Twitter @ManCaveQB and listen to my Irish podcasts at our feed or on iTunes. My solo podcast, The Man Cave Quarterback, features former ND quarterback Matt Mulvey breaking down the QB play in his "Red Army Review" and I'll be joined by former Irish players and current CFB writers and bloggers. Maybe even Subway Domer himself will stop by. This week's podcast featured Notre Dame 1988 National Champion linebacker Wes Pritchett.