Gippers Notre Dame - Michigan thoughts/play

here are 5 keys/reasons why the irish will win this game

5. We throw the damn ball:  In last Saturday's fourth quarter, Jimmy Clausen showed flashes of why he was able to get up at 5:30am on Saturday, April 22nd, 2006, spend 3 hours gelling his hair, get in a stretch Hummer, ride to the College Football Hall of Fame in beautiful South Bend, Indiana and commit to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  He looked poised and confident as he picked apart the Aztec's defense to the tune of 9-of-10 for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Excluding the final plays when we ran out the clock, Notre Dame faced "1st and 10" thirty-one times.  Seventeen times the Irish passed, fourteen times they ran.  Twelve of the seventeen times they passed, Notre Dame gained at least ten yards within no more than three plays, thus gaining a new set of downs.  Five times they failed, therefore 71% of the time the Irish threw on first downs, the drive continued.  Of the fourteen times the Irish led off with a run play, they succeeded only eight times and two of the first downs were the result of defensive penalties.  Moral of the story: Pass on first down.

4. We let Michigan's offense self-destruct:    I, and many others, believe that if we keep Michigan's play-makers in front of us, and dare Steven Threet or Nick Sheridan to beat us through the air, the Irish will not only contain the Wolverine offense, but create many...

3. Turnovers: If Irish D can create 'em, and the offense can limit 'em, it'll be a long day for Michigan.

Just ask San Diego State.  Turnovers probably cost the Irish at least ten points last week, and SDSU's fumble definitely cost them seven.  Had the Irish protected the football the final score could've been closer to 31-7, and the ND nation would've been spared a week of worry and doubt that probably shaved a year of each fans life.

2. Michael Floyd:  We got a taste of what he can do last week with the touchdown.  Every message-boarder in the world has been posting that Floyd was open every time he touched the field and probably some of the times he wasn't.  It's time for Jimmy to recognize, and with Grimes a little dinged up heading into Saturday's showdown, Michael Floyd, the stage is yours.  He's a vertical threat the likes of which Michigan hasn't seen in Utah or Miami, and, if we can give Clausen time (a very big "if", I know), Floyd could reap the rewards in a big, big way.

1. Home field advantage:  Notre Dame Stadium should be a-rockin' if the crowd is worth half as much as fans as they are in net financial worth.  Say what you will about our fans, but, when they need to, they can get up in a big way.   I hope it doesn't come down to this, but if the Irish need it, they can summon magic from the walls of Notre Dame Stadium.