Saturday's Sack: Notre Dame Isn't Oregon

Jonathan Kitchens by Contributor Written on September 04, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29:  Jimmy Clausen #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish calls a play against the USC Trojans during the game at the Coliseum on November 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Two WAC teams are looking for the same thing.  A BCS berth.

Boise State is pretty much there, seeing as Oregon was their big test of the season.  From here on out all they have to do is show up and play reasonably well to ensure they stay ranked high enough and—most likely—go undefeated.  But there is another team that is trying to break into the picture as well, and their test starts tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Nevada still has much to prove. With their rival knocking off Oregon the Wolfpack will be hungrier than ever tomorrow to upset the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and make their own case to world.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame isn't Oregon.

Oregon had to replace almost their entire offensive line. Notre Dame brings back one of the most experienced offensive lines in college football. We need dig no further.  Whether Notre Dame is overrated or not has yet to be seen, but Oregon certainly was with a new coach and new offensive line.

Tomorrow will answer a host of questions, but before kickoff, I'll take this opportunity to spell out how each team can win in a short and sweet piece.

I'll do the visitors first. What Follows are my "Sack Keys" or the keys for each team to win this match up.

 

Nevada: Offense

  1. Run the football

    When you have Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott and Kaepernick all able to run, you have to run. I know you wanted to improve your passing, but take some advice and watch the Michigan State-Notre Dame game last season. Notre Dame wanted to improve their rushing.

    It didn't work. You'll be going against a seasoned group of veteran DBs who are fighting to keep their starting jobs and who have been trying to cover Micheal Floyd, and Golden Tate all offseason. Not to mention Shaquelle Evans, John Goodman, and Deion Walker. Or Kyle Rudolph. Get the picture? Run the ball.

  2. Protect Kaepernick

    Maryland showed something to the world that we had not seen before: a flustered and less durable Kaepernick. After he got hit a few times he was erratic, over-throwing receivers and not picking the best holes to run through when he failed to spot the open man.

    Tenuta=blitz. That's the way he plays the game. Saturday he will finally be calling all the defensive plays for the first time since his addition to the staff. He is going to try and get Kaepernick on the ground. If Nevada's offensive line has one of those days that they often had last season, ND will be getting lots of tackles-for-loss and sacks. This will also force him to throw off-balance without setting up, which usually leads to picks. 

    Nevada, you can't afford to keep letting Notre Dame's offense on the field. You don't have the defensive guys to rotate in to keep them fresh and you will lose in the fourth quarter if your defense stays on the field.

 

Nevada: Defense

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written on September 04, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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