Ryan Reynolds here for, I guess, my hundredth mint commercial. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. No. No. Honestly, when I started this, I thought I'd only have to do like four of these. I mean, it's unlimited to premium wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much? I'm sorry, I shouldn't be victim-blaming here. Give it a try at midmobile.com/save whenever you're ready. $45 up from payment equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first three month plan only. Taxes and fees extra. Speed slower above 40 gigabytes of CDTails. This episode is brought to you by Honda. When you test drive the all-new prologue EV, there's a lot that can impress you about it. There's the Class leading passenger space, the clean, thoughtful design, and the intuitive technology. But out of everything, what you'll really love most is that it's a Honda. Visit Honda.com/ev to see offers. [MUSIC PLAYING] IB countdown to kick up. First time we've got to say it this year. Guys, we've made it. The season is almost here. We're like, as we sit here and talk right now, we're just a little bit more than a day away. Notre Dame, Texas A&M, kicking off 2024. Vince DeDario, Jesse Steyers. I'm Sean Steyers. Can you believe that we're finally here? I thought, I mean, I thought we were doing a show for the backyard brawl. [LAUGHTER] That's right. That's high school football that's going on. But no, I'm super excited about the Notre Dame game. And I think I put it in the predictions that were just posted. You know, finally, we're here, and I'm always excited about the home opener and the opener, excuse me, not the home opener, but the opener. But it feels like it took us forever to get here. Like, we've been talking about this game for over eight months for the most part, right? I mean, yes, we've been talking about the whole season, but really, it starts with this game. It's like, thank you. We're finally here. We get to actually talk about football that is occurring on the field. Like, I was riveted watching football Thursday night, man, like, you can college football to watch. And then last weekend, obviously, but, you know, watching Colorado almost below it was a lot of fun. So, you know, yeah, I am so ready. And there's a decent slate of football tomorrow, capped off with Notre Dame. So, I'm excited. There is. There is. I think the part I'm most excited about is we finally can get out of dealing with hypotheticals and get into some absolutes. Yes. What we can actually see on the field, you know, not what we think the offense is going to look like, what the offensive line is going to look like, how the defense is going to look with the new linebacker core. I deal in absolutes. I like the concrete. I mean, you know, this is the cold, hard facts, you know, like this. This is what I've been waiting for all off season. Jesse is a math man. You know, he's an analytical man. So, you know, that's, that's kind of the way it is. He deals in absolutes. That's right. He deals with absolutes. We at least try to deal in facts, I guess. But I, you know, I'm, I'm with you guys, both from the excitement level and from there have just been like, especially where we are right now. The closer as this week is sort of inch to long. Yeah. All the predictions are coming out. There's anger about who's predicting who to win and, you know, yelling back and forth and all this stuff. You know, look, I'll just say this. I don't always predict Notre Dame to win. I'm picking them to win this game. I'll give you the score at the end of the show. We all will. I don't always pick them to win if I don't think they're going to win. So I'm not just picking them, you know, to make people happy. That's, that's, you know, that's not the way we roll. You know, but people are just, people are cranky right now. We need this game. We need football. And, you know, like you said, we've got dabbles of other people's football back in the picture, but we'll have a full slate of football tomorrow. Nice little premier kickoff at noon with Clemson and Georgia and, you know, smattering of other games. Throughout the day, it's going to be fun with Notre Dame and Texas. You know, because that's part of this too. We still have to wait all day Saturday. I know, right. But all that means is people have more time to listen to the show, basically. So I like your glasses have full attitude. Jess, I'll start with you on this one. Give me one word to describe Notre Dame football right now. Um, extreme optimism, I think. That's two words. Um, I knew he would try to find a way to bend around it. He deals in facts. But anytime I say, give me one of games, he gives me multiples. I gave an adjective to hype, hype up my one word. Okay. Again, for me, it's optimism, because I think this season. Um, there's a lot in the line. I think this is a season where Notre Dame can definitely, you know, like we've all talked about ceiling. They're very capable of going 12 and O this season. Um, and I think that they have their best shot, you know, to make the playoff and make, make some noise in the playoff as well, not only get there, but actually make, you know, some sort of run. Um, compared to last season when they had a really good defense and, you know, an offense that didn't support. I think it's crucial this year that the offense steps up. So that's where the optimism comes, that the offense can be kind of on that same level as a defense and, and, you know, have the caliber to go on to a championship. I got, I got a good one, I think. Okay. I think this team is probably because I'm back in school, like I'm feeling it, but I think, I think this team is on the precipice of something special. Now I'm not saying that they're going to go win a national championship. I'm not, I'm not ready to go down that road. Okay, give me, give me at least like, you know, eight, nine weeks of seeing this team play, and then maybe we'll have that conversation, but I do think this team is going to be really good. The offense is going to be better than a lot of people think I think this defense. I think a lot of people think it's going to be really good. And I agree, but you put those two things together, along with at the very least competent special teams, which I think some people think it's going to be way more than that, but I'm tempering the excitement, but I, and then you then with the coaching and the two coordinators and all of these different things and you throw that all into the melting pot. I think this team can do something special so I really do think it starts on Saturday with this game and I think it's a top 20 matchup. A lot of people think Notre Dame's going to lose. Okay, cool. That's fine. But I think that they are going to make a statement one way or the other on Saturday. And I think I forget who it was. I saw it on the message board. I think it was Joe Klatt said there's going to be people talking about Notre Dame on Monday, and I think that's accurate. I really do. I think they're going to make. He's one of the few national talking heads that's kind of taking that stance right now, but I think not to cut you off, but I do feel like there's been some general laziness by some of the more prominent talking heads and how they're analyzing this game. I think they're giving, there's just kind of a superficial surface kind of kind of view of this thing. I don't think they're looking really deep at this. Well, and they're reading like the Lindy's two paragraphs or something like that and they think they know everything about this team. And look, I'm not saying that every national writer needs to be intimate at intimate knowledge of every single one team, but there is a top 10 team. Like dig a little bit deeper with a team that you're probably going to be a top 10 team with a top 10 defense, right? A ton of veterans on that side of the ball. And it's, it's literally like that side of the ball doesn't exist for for for a lot of people. I'm like, what, where is this coming from? Yeah, it's, it's, it's wild. I think Joe Klatt actually does a good job of learning the teams and learning kind of what's going on always agree with them, but I do think he is knowledgeable in what he says. And I'm not just blowing him up because he and I agree in this particular case, but I think Notre Dame is on the precipice of doing something kind of special this year, you know, whether that's winning a few games in the playoff or, you know, whatever the case may be. This is going to be a fun team to watch and a fun team to follow and I'm excited about it. I think it's a little more boring. Mine is deep. They're just, it's the deepest roster I think that I can remember like when you look just across the board. Now there are some particular spots offensive line, obviously. How deep that is like, could they sustain another injury? You know, they could sustain another injury to the interior lineman, but yeah, you know, to one of the tackles and you know, you're probably getting, you know, as we've said before, you've got 23 starts sitting on the sideline. You know, for, for the interior offensive line. So there's, you know, there's depth in some places there, but just, you know, whether it's quarterback running back wide receiver, which again, I feels like it's completely overlooked with the receivers that they've added via the transfer portal and obviously Riley Leonard, the quarterback room, the defensive line, the secondary line back, there's a question, but there's depth and young talent there. So there's just depth across the board. Let me ask you guys this. Do you like having a game of this magnitude to ranked teams going head to head to start off the season. I like it because sorry, then it's not too silly to thunder. You're good brother. I like it because one you get a very clear picture up front kind of, you know, maybe some of the strengths and weaknesses of a team. I think a lot of these teams who play, you know, like look across the board for some of these teams that, that, you know, some of the like Ohio State's playing Akron. Are you really going to have an idea of who you are as a team after you beat Akron by 40 points to open your season. I like the idea of knowing kind of where you stand early on. And I think another, you know, advantage is if you lose this game, it's, it's game one. It's not game 11. It's not game 12, game 10 towards the end of the season where you want to be playing your best football. So it doesn't hurt you as much having, you know, a potential loss in this kind of game early on. You can still rattle off 11 wins, 10 wins, whatever it might be, and still feel good about your chances towards the playoff at the end of the season. You know, people forget about your losses earlier in the season. I think they hold more weight with a lot of people when you experience a loss towards the end of the season. So I like it for those reasons. I'm on the fence about this one. If I'm being honest, I, as a fan, it's obviously fun to look forward to a big game and being in prime time and, you know, all of those different things as a coach. It's like, okay, well, I'm not going to have any problem getting my guys up for this game, obviously, but I wouldn't mind having a bit of a tune up as well, depending on what your definition of a tune up game is right. You know, Navy last year was kind of a tune up game. I mean, let's be honest, Navy isn't the Navy of old. And, you know, I don't think any of us thought that Navy was going to win that game and, you know, Notre Dame was going to be able to do some things, right? Also probably raised everyone's expectations on what Sam Hartman was going to be. Well, that's fair too. Yeah, that's a solid point, Sean. You get a false sense of hope when you just beat up on someone and then you kind of continue through the season. Because there are both sides of the fence, you know, it's like, oh, you could use them, you know, like an Akron or Toledo or whoever happens to be to open up the season and work some things out and find some things out but you also don't put them on film. There's nothing that you put on film that way and if you're going to play another ranked team right off the bat, I guess there's there's nothing wrong with the element of surprise both teams are going to see some surprises Saturday night. Oh, there's there's no doubt about that like a year from now when this offensive line has like 80 starts to its credit. I might feel a little bit better about having a big game like this right out of the game, you know what I mean, but like with this with this offense, I know we're going to get into the offensive line but, you know, with six starts under their belt. I wouldn't mind an Akron or somebody like that to at least kind of get the cohesion of this offensive line against somebody, you know what I mean. I think it varies year to year and obviously when you make schedules and football for at the collegiate level, you're making them so far out in advance, you have no idea what your team is going to be, you know, so at the end of the day to answer your question, which I really haven't done yet. I love it. I think it's great as a coach I hated prize picks is America's number one daily fantasy sports app with over 5 million active members prize picks is the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports. Unlike other apps on prize picks, it's just you against the numbers. 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This is a good Texas A&M team, but it's also a Texas A&M team, you know, with a new head coach and new coaching staff and a lot of questions they brought in 26 players from the transfer portal. That works out to varying degrees, obviously, when you when you've got to go add that many guys, you know, Notre Dame, obviously is no stranger to the portal but they're very strategic with with who they're going to get and they've done a good job the last couple of years, but it just feels like, like this is not Ohio State, this is not Georgia, this is not Alabama or even Clemson, you know, one of those teams, this is a good team, but people are treating this like it is one of those elite teams that Notre Dame is going on the road to play. It feels like to me. I think that you make a good point because, you know, if you're Notre Dame, I think this is more advantageous for them compared to Texas A&M, Texas A&M as a new coaching staff, new offensive coordinator, they have a lot more to figure out compared to Notre Dame who's in year three and kind of have more. I would say of the foundation built right and the flip side is, if you're Notre Dame and you win this game, you kick off the season right like like Vince was saying Joel clad amongst others they're going to be talking about this game on Monday so you want that attention for beating a team that might not quite be there in terms of where everyone believes they are nationally right because they're going to get there I think by the end of the season. It's fair to take advantage of a Texas A&M team to rate that everyone thinks is going to beat you because it allows Notre Dame to springboard off of it more essentially. Right. You know it again it just it feels like because this is an SEC team like more and you know because you've got probably the addition of Mike Elko it just feels like more is being given to Texas A&M than what they have shown. Oh yeah deserve you know we all we all expect this is going to be a close hard fought game but I just don't see it with this sort of cloak of invincibility like like some people are making it out to be. Like a factor do you think Notre Dame's coaching continuity is though, Vince because you know like you know again like this you know in this matchup specifically going into a game like this is your three for Marcus Freeman. You know just a couple of moves made in the offseason for that you're like as this has gone on into year three. He's an entire staff of guys that he is hired now and obviously adding Mike den Brock. They go back together to their Cincinnati gay days. So does Gina Goudoulli so does Mike Brown so does Mike Mickens you know so like there's just a ton of continuity how much you know how how big a factor do you think that is. I think it's more of a factor behind the scenes with communication and you know making adjustments you know things like that look out golden is known for his in game adjustments before halftime Mike Denmark is known for those things. And I think the communication from the assistance to the coordinators to the head coach. I think it's going to be really good. I mean these guys know each other they've been you know I don't like using like war battles and things like that analogy they've been to battle together a lot right and so they know what to expect from each other. Look there's going to be some wrinkles that they've got to get figured out obviously when it comes to like you know the in helmet communication and some things like that but the coach communication. I think they're going to be right on point I think it's going to be I think it's going to be better than it's ever been frankly and I think trust and comfort ability from a head coaching standpoint is so important when you're a head coach. And he's getting into year three. He's got the most comfort he's ever had with his assistant coaches and obviously talking about Marcus Freeman. It's a big deal. I think that's a big deal. Vince took my keyword in his last kind of sentence there. I think the biggest thing that this continuity provides is trust amongst the coaching staff right you want to be able to trust people in those kind of you know crucial situations that you know they're going to you know make the right play or sorry make the right call. You're going to trust them you're going to trust you know what. What they have kind of planned you know on the offensive side the defensive side of the ball. I think this is even more important because of you know where Marcus Freeman is at in terms of his coaching career this is year three. You got to have and it's a big year you know it no matter what program you're at. There's really no more excuses that you can that you can use right as a head coach you're now in year three. You have a cycle of your guys. Your coaching staff everything is yours now all of the you know all the blame I guess you could say at the end of the day is on market stream because he's making the decisions with all of this. I think in terms of continuity if you want to if that's the kind of pressure that's going to be on you. You want the continuity and the trust that your coaching staff is going to have your back in those crucial situations. Yeah absolutely and I think that you know I think that you made some some really good points just with the messaging and things like that but I but I also feel like just like from the fact that these guys know each other like that's got to make things easier in a lot of different ways and like when Mike den Brock and Gino Godouli have that familiarity they've already worked together on game day I think that that you know there's got to be something to that and when you're talking about again like what you know the points that you're trying to make that Gino Godouli can reinforce to the quarterback specifically from a guy like Mike den Brock and it's like. Do you guys been able to see any of the peacock the here come the Irish series. So I have the the IB login but I haven't had a chance to actually log in so that's on my to do list actually for I mean it's not a secret we're recording things on Friday but I for tonight after high school football. That's my plan I'm at least going to watch one episode and then maybe the next one tomorrow morning. I feel like you're not going to be able to stop I think you're going to roll right into this one. I think the problem is going to fire you up and you're like I got nothing else to do. I mean you're probably right. I got to watch this next one. Yeah, go ahead. I was just going to say I did watch episode one and I thought it was pretty good I didn't just roll right into the next one but you know there there was some Mike den Brock you know most of the practice footage it looked like came from spring practice. I'm not sure what you're using but you know just some of the some of the bark from Mike den Brock you know which which I do as well and I think I think these guys. I think that they have responded to some of that hard coaching that they've got but you know again like it. It helps when den Brock has familiarity with the other assistants because you know you know like what he can be he can be you know sort of the the hard guy. You know you know it's like the mom and the dad you know you play different roles or what you got. Yeah exactly you know that kind of stuff but the you know these guys understand because they've been with Mike den Brock before just like they've now been with Marcus Freeman for a couple of years and and so on. So yeah I think there's absolutely something to it. Just to kind of add on there I you know as to me as you know a former former player and kind of you know a situation I'm dealing in with work right now it's like. I respect I don't I'm okay with the bark. If I respect you if you've got the the accolades to back it up Mike den Brock's coming off an offense where the guy just won the Heisman and they put up a ton of points in the SEC. Yeah carries a lot of weight. That's respect and so when you when when you're you know your manager or your offensive coordinator your head coach is barking at you to me it's a respecting because you take that and it shouldn't motivate you right because you have respect for that person. And you're like okay well this guy knows what he's talking about like so I need to do my part and make sure that you know I'm not letting the team down so we can succeed at the highest level. So let's just go ahead and talk about the offensive line because we're kind of touched on it. You know a minute ago and you know you obviously have a and you know and all new offensive line none of the starters. None of the starters are the same as last year you're not only losing two NFL offensive tackles you obviously lost one of the replacement tackles and out of the blue here comes Sam Pendleton and you've got Anthony Nap out there. On the left side so. Just give me a word Jesse that describes how you feel about this line one word. Going into this opener. One word. One word. No adjectives. No adjectives. That's hard I'm a man of many words. I've noticed. I'm just going to have to go with unproven because I don't I don't want to say anything that takes away from their potential or something that would maybe you know discredit the talent that's there. But it's just unproven to me because I think that the potential is there and the talent is there and I've said this kind of earlier on shows this week like. I trust with the coaching staff is deciding to do they've been out there for all the practices they put together different combinations. And to me it's like until they go out there and prove you know what they're made of what they can accomplish that's the word I have to go with because again I think all of the talent is there and I think something fun to think about what this one is to is. You know even say Jack as well doesn't get hurt. Is that the guy that takes over on the other side do we see Jack as all and not both playing because it sounds like the guys had such a good camp that like it was hard to keep him off right so it's like. That to me is like. I don't think this would be as much of a conversation of Jack as all didn't get hurt and I almost want to think that both of those guys might have been playing together in this you know this opening game. So that's kind of where I mean that's actually a really good point and none of us have brought that up. You know at any point since this happened. You know you know like I've mentioned like. We're not even talking about the fact that a mill Wagner who is a question mark even coming out of spring wasn't going to be. Baker Wagner over there we're not talking about the fact that a mill Wagner is still making his first career start and there's a lot of questions that come with that. As good a campus nap had could he have even overtaken a mill Wagner over there on the right side the way it turned out. I think that's the kind of the angle like we could have potentially saw a jaggy saw a nap sorry. You're good. My one word is anticipation. I'm I'm I'm I'm both like I don't know what to expect because we saw nothing. In fall camp like we saw nothing correct to be honest like I can watch guys go through drills and they could be practice all Americans and it means nothing. Right and we saw a lot of five period practices where we saw nothing so I have a lot of anticipation look all five of these guys are Marcus Freeman recruits. Right. I mean we know there's talent there we don't know how they're going to gel together as a group. There's going to be mistakes but there's also going to be some really good place. I mean that's that's what I'm anticipating and it's what are the mistakes are the mistakes you know hey he didn't get this one blocks they only picked up five yards or is it. A complete whiff and right of Leonard gets blown up and he turns the ball over you know what I mean like. What kind of mistakes are they going to be. Of course we don't want the latter you know. But it's anticipate I'm anticipatory of what this is going to look like on Saturday night on the road first time together. Let's see what they've got you know what I mean like that that's where I'm at. When it comes to this offensive line and yeah it's the biggest question mark on the team there's no doubt about it. But I think it's also fun to figure out hey let's see this talent on the field and actually being able to lead this team and do the things that they need to do they just need to be solid. They don't need to be the Joe Moore award winning offensive line in game one they don't need to be that. Just be solid make I don't want to talk about you in the game like that's where I want the offensive line to be. Yeah. My word is unknown and I mean you guys are pretty much covered. Everything I mean it's just it's it's unknown exactly what we're going to see from it but you know again like. I saw a tweet from Nicole hour back he's covered college football for a long time and she talked to Marcus Freeman I think she's with NBC Sports now she talked to Marcus Freeman and he just said what he has said that. Anthony Nap. And Sam Pendleton they feel like give them the best chance to win this game and you know I'm kind of paraphrasing what he said they give him the best chance to win this game. They could have just gone the old familiar route like you know we know these we know who these guys are they've got a little bit more experience but they feel like these guys give them the best chance to win the game. You know again like I think this is more than just Joe Rudolph's decision I think that Mike Dan Brock and Marcus Freeman because of the importance of this game. I think they figured they factored into this decision quite a bit you know all three of these guys with with the decision to do this. Well look I've never met a coach at least one that is respectable who will play a kid if they don't think they give them the best chance to win a game. You know what I mean like I've met plenty of coaches who play kids that probably shouldn't be playing because they give you the best chance to win like from a behavior standpoint or whatever. I don't care he gives me the best chance to win like coaches are going to put the players on the field they think give them the best chance to win nobody's out there being like why like him better so he's going to get. That's that's just not what you do you know what I mean and so they believe that this is what gives them the best chance to win and if that's what they believe then I've got to be there and be along with them. That's the point now I'll be judgmental if it doesn't work you know but at this point I will trust the coaches at this point just not blindly let's see what the outcome looks like you know what I mean but I'm excited about it. I think I think this offensive line is going to surprise some people. I think it will too but again it's unknown so I can't say for sure but I just I don't feel like they're putting Anthony Nap a true freshman in a road environment like this. That's the absolute best option going into this game. Okay. Okay let's flip it a little bit let's kind of start we're going to get specifics on Texas A&M here in a second but in terms of this game and what's at stake today. If Notre Dame loses this game. Do they still have a path to the playoff what do you think Vince. They still have a path but obviously that margin for error is raised within I mean right I mean look I think an eleven and one Notre Dame team is in the playoff no matter what else happens I think eleven and one gets them in the playoff okay. Ten and two they're going to need some help like that's how I see this thing playing out now. Who knows what's going to happen around them and across the country and all those you know different scenarios okay fine I can get on board with that. Ten and two they got a chance at sneaking in and maybe the ten or eleven seed you know that kind of a deal eleven and one I think they're in where they're seated remains to be seen but I think that they're in. No problem and they're probably hosting at eleven and one so if they lose game one that means they got to go eleven and oh to finish off the season. Right and that's the thing that's the thing your margin for obviously completely disappears I do think there's a path to the playoff at eleven and one. Right getting in the people will still hold it well you lost your your your toughest game because that's probably. Yeah yeah. Could be what this turns out to be because there's just no meat on the schedule really when you look at the entirety of it but you're absolutely right they rip off eleven straight wins after that people will. Largely forget about Texas A&M and and I think they're in just like. You know like the Desmond Howard comment we talked about earlier this week he says if Notre Dame wins this game they are in the playoff. Well there's still a lot of football to play over the course of those next eleven games. I would love for them to be crowned as a playoff team after game one great it would give us a lot less to talk about over the next two and a half months but. I mean look if they win this game then I obviously really like their chances because. I do think and it's funny that you bring this up Sean because I hadn't really thought about it before. I do think this could be their toughest game because it's on the road see SEC there's a lot of talent there they might go goes a really good coach. And I do also think that A&M is going to get better and better as the season goes on. And a win for Notre Dame only makes that look better and better for them on their resume as the season goes on right so. I think this very well could end up being their toughest game followed maybe by Florida State but after what happened to Georgia Tech I mean who knows. But at least that's at home right so I mean it's a different environment so Notre Dame still has to prove that they can be dominant away from home and outside of the first round. They're going to be away from home in the playoffs so this is a big test for them. Back gentlemen I had to take it a very important phone call they have decided to total my car and that is nice scenario. Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations on getting your car totaled. It means it gets a bigger insurance check so. It's best case scenario with this freaking car I'm just glad to have it off my hands and now I have an excuse to get a nice new car. Jesse I'll just go to you with this next question so we don't get a hung up on your car well we'll touch on the car next week you know once we once you're back and we can get into more of those details. Irish were three and two on the road last year and of course you know like. Started off slow against NC State before winning a lopsided game there came right down to the wire against Duke before they won that but then they turned around laid an egg the next week. At Louisville and the Clemson loss as well so when you look at their performance on the road last year how important does it make this game to open up the season. Yeah I think it's honestly the most important aspects. Kind of of the season they only have what is it like three true road games this season. This is obviously the most important one and you know something that has been brought up before and kind of you know if you did an audit of Marcus Freeman's kind of coaching tenure. This is one of those things that would get flagged in the audit is. You know his ability to play well on the road and I don't know how much you can blame. You know Marcus Freeman because his job is yes to get the team prepared right. But in Louisville against Clemson to me it was in offense and so the defense is going to be the backbone of this of this. In offense and turnovers along with that. Yeah and I think a lot of that gets. Just to be blunt I think a lot of that gets fixed with I think who someone who's going to be a more diverse quarterback maybe the better word is a dual threat a guy who can also problem solve on his feet if the passing game isn't going well. And to be honest a more you know a more qualified offensive coordinator too I think that when you run into tough situations on the road, having a Mike Dembrock in your corner to problem solve and to get out of the hole is going to go a long way. And again that's nothing against Jared Parker. But it's your one for him compared to an experienced offensive coordinator who can you know find ways again to you know problem solve have a solution you know maybe try something different when things aren't going well. And the difference for Mike Dembrock in his current situation as opposed to his most recent situation. You know and trying to problem solve and score points and do all those things. He's going to have a hell of a defense to help him out where he did not have that at his last stop right. And so Mike Dembrock has been at all levels right. He has coordinated many a game where he might have had less talent than the other team and found a way to win based on scheme and things like that. He's got a talent to play with your Notre Dame. So I'm excited about it. Yeah I mean I think you look at because of the fact like you said Jesse there's not a lot of road you know the amount of road tests after this you're going to open the season on the road you're going to close the season on the road against USC who knows what USC will be at that point they'll probably have a pretty good offense what they'll be defensively who knows but otherwise you know there's like. You're largely judged by how you perform on the road against good opponents on the road and you know and again it was very shaky last year and just on the national perception of what so many people think is going you know the outcome is going to be in this game I think it's a huge strong your cap if Notre Dame does end up going on the road and winning this game like that'll go a long way. I think and you know just in terms of what people think because yeah because they just think that Notre Dame is walking into this unwinnable situation. It feels like. But you know what they need a good solid marquee road win. They just do they don't have a whole lot of those in their back pocket right now obviously I'm not talking about this year I'm talking about in the last decade. They just don't have a lot of those right and so those aren't all Marcus Freeman's fault because he wasn't always the head coach but at the same time I mean they went to Ohio State they didn't get it done. They went to Clemson they didn't get it done that they've gone on the road and hostile environments and they haven't gotten it done right that that's the end that's the be all end all. This is a chance to say look we went on the road to a place where a lot of people didn't think that Notre Dame could win and they won and they won convincingly whatever that looks like right. That's a huge that's a huge piece to this whole you know Marcus Freeman era puzzle in my opinion I mean this is a game that I think we can look back on if they do what we think I think they're going to do. We're going to be able to look back on this and be like. How does how they play in this game do you think that it truly tells us where this program is under Marcus Freeman. You put a whole lot of pressure on it but yeah to a degree I do. You have to take advantage of the situation because Texas A&M as a program isn't where you should be at year three in your program. Yes, agreed. Texas A&M is in year one after a disaster. Jim official was a disaster. I mean it just did not go well they recruited well for obvious reasons. A lot of those guys aren't there right. They're not where Notre Dame should be right now and Notre Dame needs to go in there and they need to prove it. And with you know the road loss to Ohio State to kind of you know kick off Marcus Freeman's career like that was a tough a tough game. I can't live with you know the sloppiness that they did against Clemson that they did against Louisville you weren't playing your best football. You need to play your best football and if the cards don't fall your way then the cards don't fall your way but you can say you played your best football. That's not the case last year I felt like there are missed opportunities last season because they weren't playing their best football. Again this is year three so you need to be passed any well we can feel good about ourselves for performing well on the road against a good opponent and all that kind of stuff like maybe you did a little bit against Ohio State a couple of years ago and obviously it didn't work out the next week against Marshall or a few weeks later against Stanford but you know like there's there's just there's no moral victories right now. Again you know like going back to that peacock show they're like they showed some of Marcus Freeman bouncing around the country talking to some of the Notre Dame clubs and the year three thing came up you know like the success of year three parcogen and divine and Holtz of course all one championships in year three and Brian Kelly even you know went to a championship into a championship game and had a perfect regular season. Yeah but still I mean he went there. And again this roster is in better paint this roster I think is even better shaped than what Kelly had in 2000 like he had some you know some really good front end players. I mean again like when you just look at the overall roster. Like I was talking earlier this week about Cavari Russell like Cavari Russell one of the starting cornerbacks in 2012 was a high school running back. We had to start a corner as a true freshman because of where the roster was. Right you wouldn't and he wouldn't snip the field on this team. It wouldn't I mean look. No I'm out with Christian Gray and Benjamin Orton out there. Not a chance. And look that team had a really good defense right but the offense was. You know the offense was a struggle right that's not going to be the case this year it's just not going to be the case so. This team has more of an opportunity and I'm not in any way saying they're going to go undefeated I'm not saying they're going to win the national championship but. Go to the national championship game in year three of Marcus Freeman's tenure. Oh this this program has turned the corner. Right because it's a heck of a lot harder to get to the national championship game in 2024 than it was in 2012. So I was going to talk about the you know Riley Leonard Mike Elko I'm just going to skip that because I feel like we've talked about it enough this week. There's a connection there. Elko's a good head coach you know he knows his strength and weaknesses. Okay but Mike den Brock. You know I think he's going to put Riley Leonard in you know the best position to make some plays himself and Riley Leonard because they kind of playmaker he is still going to make place regardless of if Elko knows he has familiarity with him or not. I'm going to talk about it and then I just talked about it Vince you look like he had something to say though. I mean look I don't I think the connection between those two is a little bit overblown to be honest with you it's a great story to write, which is great I'm sure that ABC will show them dabbing each other up during pregame you know that kind of stuff. But you know Mike Elko knows Riley Leonard cool but Riley Leonard also knows Mike Elko. So it is kind of a two-way street there to a degree like Riley Leonard went against Mike Elko's defense the whole time he was there right I mean that that's that's true. So he kind of knows what to expect from a schematic standpoint of course Mike Elko is going to throw some wrinkles and do some different things but Riley Leonard knows Mike Elko's defense right just as much as Mike Elko knows the tendencies of Riley Leonard. At the very least it's a wash in my personal opinion because look Riley Leonard's not coming to this thing empty handed either he's got Mike Dembrock in his back pocket so that kind of changes the feeling for me. So it's a cool story but I don't think it has a whole lot to do with this game. Yeah I'm going to echo a lot of what Vince just kind of said it's it's a story that's what it is when the game starts that there is no true same situation you know like this is a completely different situation than when Elko was that Duke and the players he had in the defense that he put together it's it's a completely different defense and Riley Leonard is now in a completely different offense so it's like to me it's a storyline but nothing is ever the same in college football so these are two completely completely different scenario situations that these guys are in now. And they're going to go head to head and really that's it right might there be some small things here they're like Mike Riley Leonard comes to the to the sideline and communicate with you know Gina Godouli and Mike Dembrock and say hey here's what I'm seeing I know this kind of as a tendency that's the only thing I can really see out of it right just small maybe tidbits here and there that you know that they each of them kind of be like well I know that's what each other likes to do or this is what we can maybe expect in a situation like this that's that's it for me. Again I said we weren't going to talk about it we spent at least three minutes talking about it. Here we are. Good. That's all right we got it out of the way. We got it out of the way. Yes. We're hitting him out of the park. All right. Let's talk about something that I think is is a little bit more interesting and that's the other side of the ball in Texas A&M's offense they hired Colin Mike Elko hired Colin Klein from Kansas State had a really successful offense. They're Will Howard the former Kansas State quarterback big guy thrived in that offense at Kansas State. Sounds like he was going to get beaten for the job and you know that played a part in him transferring to Ohio State. But Colin Klein is at Texas A&M now Jesse did a great whiteboard breakdown on his offense with some specifics the other day. A very 12 personnel driven team or a scheme traditionally 30 seconds I'm going to put you on the clock. Give us your best. Boil it down breakdown of what we should expect from Colin Klein's offense. Go. I would say a lot of eye candy trying to confuse a young offensive or sorry try to confuse a young linebacker group where assignment sound football is going to be key. You just have to stay true and trust your instincts slow to go flow. Don't don't feel like you got to make the play now again just kind of stay slow trust your eyes trust the process and just don't bite for it. Just see what you see at the end of the day because he's going to try to do stuff to trick you. It's very good I don't know if you hit exactly 30 seconds I started my watch a little bit late. It was slightly under so good job. Give you a little bit of pressure and you responded you know like it's like game reps all these all these practice reps you know all these practice reps have got you paid off. I'm going to be in my best version for the countdown show. So we had Texas A&M insider Carter Curls on the show this week because I think pretty much everybody had Carter Curls on the show this week he was literally the most popular podcast man in the land in this neck of the woods. I mean that's exactly I was going to say that like give him props because he was on virtually everyone's show up here but he didn't have to he could have told any of us know but he told everybody yes it looked like. So good for Carter being a good sport and you know taken up probably a good two three hours of you know of his week at least doing some of the interviews this week but my point. Carter doesn't seem to have a whole lot of faith in Anoms offensive skill players based on what he told me here's how he thinks the offense is going to try to operate this season. I think you're going to see more of an offense that methodically moves the ball down the field stays ahead of the chains and doesn't get into you know third and long has more of a third manageable tries to limit turnovers tries to limit penalties. And just tries to be that efficient third down offense that has these long extended drives to give their defense arrests and kind of grind out these games you know we saw Notre Dame kind of had a similar style few years ago with Ian Bush being that the plus game manager for them. I think that might be the plan here maybe if you look back at some of the A&M teams 2020 and 2021 that's kind of what they did they weren't this explosive offense they methodically drove it down the field and then their defense took care of the rest and you know the offense took care of the football so I think that's going to be what you kind of see. On our way been so far he's only thrown two career interceptions through eight starts versus 16 touchdowns. So he's somebody that's not careless with the football and can do that sort of offensive style so I think that's what you'll probably see from that. Bits I'll start with you slow grind it out you know grinding possessions move it down the field if that is the mode of operation how effective do you think that can be against Algolden in his defense. Hey Irish breakdown listeners it's urban Meyer this fall the game changes join me Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and broadcaster Rob Stone as we bring you a new perspective on football and culture every week. I'm joined by the biggest name in sports and talk about everything inside and outside of the lines. Let us guide you through a new era of college football. Watch triple option on YouTube or listen on Apple podcast Spotify or wherever you get podcasts. If you want to see George Clooney and Brad Pitt go to Apple TV plus you've got to start the story there. Or if you want to see Brad Pitt and George Clooney go to Apple TV plus I'm enjoying the show. And if you want to see their new movie walks you can't do it when I help you I can do it. Do it. Definitely go to Apple TV plus. The minute is cool. I don't think that that's an effective way to go about feeding Algolden's defense I mean they can give that a shot and it might work for a few first downs. But I just don't see that being a successful game plan moving forward you know what I mean I just feel like Notre Dame's defense is too good. I'm going to put Texas A&M in some long situations some second and long third and long situations that they're going to have to convert on. And you know just moving the chains and doing that is not conducive to being in a bunch of third and long situations and I think they will end up being there right. So, I don't think that's a great way to go about it. But obviously as somebody who be not rooting for the Aggies I think go for it and see how that works out against the defense but I don't think it I don't think that's the way to travel. If I'm Notre Dame's defense and I hear that I'm just I am I am ready to pin my ears back and create havoc like that is that is blood in the water. If that clip is played for Notre Dame's defense because you can't you can't expect that going against what we all consider you know minimum top 10 probably top five defense that's going to be in the country right like that cannot be your mindset. Just a couple things to hit on that doesn't remind me more of an book that reminds me of the Drew Pine season for Notre Dame a couple years ago right like they they knew what their ceiling was with him at quarterback they had to find ways to have long drives can't turn the ball over gotta be able to stay ahead of the chains you know those sort of situations and have a true you know wide receiver threat outside of Michael Mayor that more so reminds me of that team. And again to me kind of going back to what I was just talking about this makes the misdirection that Colin Klein is going to present even more of value right because what's going to happen is they're going to get in situations where they got to find ways to manufacture yards and that's to trick a defense to you know do whatever you can to squeeze out those extra yards and so again I just think that plays in such favor for Notre Dame because their defense should just have a field day and I don't think Texas A&M is really going to have much much success scoring the ball. I agree I feel like the way you're going to beat Al Golden's defense and we've seen this in in the games where he's given up some point you know again Louisville and Clemson they both scored over 30 points against Notre Dame last year you can't put it all on golden because there's offense just was not a willing participant in those games you know like when you keep giving those teams the football and you know like as many turnovers as they had in those games that contributes to it but you know like even look at Ohio State well Notre Dame Northern Al Golden in that defense contained Ohio State for most of the night but it was really a couple of chunk plays that turned out to be the big difference the Trevian Henderson run was obviously the huge one but then also you know the goal line that set up the ultimate game winning touchdown as well you know like like a couple of chunk plays that's what you're going to have to make you're going to have to hit explosive plays against Al Golden's defense if you want to win I just don't see ball control grind it out being the answer so you know be curious to see if that's really the case if that's the direction that they go but you know again like Jesse was some of the whiteboard stuff that you did you know like like Colin Klein wants to get the defense moving in one direction and then try to hit you with something going the other direction so I think that they're going to try to make plays but but you know again like if you don't have that much confidence in the skill talent around your quarterback and you're matched up against Notre Dame's defensive line and against Notre Dame's secondary. I think that that is a big check mark in Notre Dame's favor. Yeah. And again I think I think like Notre Dame's secondary is something that's not talked about enough. Well and that's the you've got to frickin all Americans back there. That's the embarrassment that we were talking about kind of to kick off this show is like how can I like how can some of these national people just not take that into consideration like it's the best aspect of Notre Dame going into this season with how many question marks there are on the side of the ball like Notre Dame's defense is going to be the shining point in this game and it's what it's what's going to win them the game ultimately. I agree. Connor Wigman Texas A&M's quarterback Wigman Wigman I still don't know how to say his name correctly but you could just do W like that. That's it Connor W that's right, former five star recruit eight career starts nine career games that he's played 16 career touchdown passes five of those by the way against New Mexico last year. Any initial thoughts you have on him before I play a cut from Carter about Connor. He's a solid quarterback. I mean he's going to make some plays, you know he's got some ability with his legs that I mean you don't want him to get out of the pocket because he can move the chains but he's not dynamic with his legs by any stretch. He's got arm talent. I mean there's no doubt about that. We'll see if the guys around him can make some plays I think that's the biggest question mark. I think you know obviously he was a solid recruit. Jimbo Fisher got him to come there to the SEC to Texas A&M like the guy's going to be a solid recruit. I don't think he has any he does to me he doesn't have anything worthy of the resume like he scored had some touchdowns and a few games hasn't been able to play a full season. You know I mean it's and it's not like he's played this no name is going to be the best opponent he's ever played so it's I think this is maybe more of a true evaluation but like Vince said his biggest strength is a quarterback to me is his arm. There is not a throw that he probably can't make on the field. It's just does he have you know are they going to be able to scheme guys open against their names you know very talented secondary. And so like that's the thing is are they is even going to have you know areas or zones to throw the ball to or is their name just going to completely lock that kind of thing up and then to kind of finish this thing off to go back to how client operates his offense. He's got to be able to do stuff with his legs he's got to be able to pick up some first downs here and there. And those misdirection plays climb likes to get his quarterback on the perimeter with two lead blockers usually a tied in and an H back right so he's got to be in my opinion show that he is capable of at least moving the chains. Picking up you know maybe five six seven eight runs a game where he but they're crucial though enough to get first downs stay ahead the chains that sort of situation. I don't disagree he has 160 career rushing yards in his nine games that'll just lead me right into Carter's comments on Connor Wigman. You also see him run the quarterback a lot at Kansas State with Will Howard and Avery Johnson. Well at A&M Connor Wigman not really a run first guy but definitely mobile so that's one of the aspects we haven't been able to see in practice as the quarterbacks aren't live. But if you look at him he's gained a little bit of a weight just kind of get the sense that A&M may run the quarterback a little this season which you know after all the injuries they had the last few years some people might say I don't know about that. I think they think of hey if we can just add one extra element in the offense and while keeping this guy safe why not do it because I think you look at this offense. There's not a ton of star power at the skill positions not a lot of proven guys no one who's had a 1000 yard receiving season no one who's had a 1000 yard rushing season. So I think that this is not going to be an offense that is highly explosive and throwing the ball all around the field and having 40 yard gain after 40 yard gain. I think you're going to see more of an offense that methodically moves the ball down the field. So again, I listened to those comments from Carter who has seen this in person and you know he knows what Colin Klein's offense looks like and Jesse has talked about it. You know I just, I don't think able to put this game on Connor Wegman's shoulders and say go get them big boy against Al Golden's defense. That just doesn't seem like a recipe for success to me because you know then to go back you know yeah he's a five star recruit and I think some of that plays into some of the evaluations that you hear about this guy as well. But again he's played in nine games he's completed 76% of his passes against group of five teams versus 56% against power five teams. And he's going against Al Golden's defense which was a top 10 defense last year. Well and arguably one of the two best secondaries in all of college football. So you know again if that's their game plan. Awesome. I you know if they're going to try to run like power with the quarterback and get them outside with Lee Block go for it because their name also has a very athletic. You know set a linebackers and if they're if they're good at something, it's coming downhill and making plays right I mean I think if you're going to get. They get these linebackers out of position in the in the past game or you know something like that maybe some run fits, but don't try to run outside because they're going to chase you down like I don't. I think you're playing into the strengths of Notre Dame if you're going to put the entire game on Connor Wagner like I don't I don't think that that's really the way to go. But if you're calm kind and you're looking at this thing objectively and you're like okay, I'm looking at my offense. I had a running back go down I'm not super enthusiastic about my offensive line like what do we do you know what I mean. Okay let's put it on the shoulders of the five star and see what you can do for us so I don't. I think that they probably think it's a great way to go about it but I also think it plays into the hands and elbow. You guys are just convincing me to double down on this money line. The more we talk about it the more I'm like man why don't I just kind of up the ante a little bit more. Here's a final comment from our old buddy Carter curls and what he thinks the keys to this game will be. I think it comes down to their skill positions are that can they can one of their receivers get 100 yards and really show up. Can levy on Moss have a really impactful day on the ground and you know if it's wet conditions can he have almost 100 yards on the ground. And certainly in his defensive line to play a big role if your defense line gets five sacks in the game it really doesn't matter what anyone else does you know. Take it over up front nothing else really matters and and that could certainly be in play for this this Aggie defensive line. So I think it could all start with them for sure. Okay so if that's what it's dependent on Jesse and a and M receiver or running back having a big game what's your confidence in a Notre Dame win. I'm extremely confident because you know this is an inexperienced wide receiver group against a very good Notre Dame secondary and I mean you can say the same thing about Notre Dame's wide receiver room very inexperienced right not a lot actually proven. Not a lot of sustained success but definitely a lot of talent and potential there but on the flip side Texas and secondary is nowhere near where Notre Dame secondary is right so like. And I think Notre Dame's wide receiver room was far more talented than Texas A&M's wide receiver room so to me. I kind of have to disagree I think this game solely comes down to the trenches is Notre Dame's offensive line able to hit and push and and you know hold their own as a young young inexperienced. offensive line against against like carcardell said like it's going to be a good Texas A&M front like that is not going to be a question right. And then on the flip side Notre Dame's defensive line just has to create havoc you know put put pressure on a young quarterback that doesn't have a ton of experience as well so to me the key of this game is the trenches and how well Notre Dame's young offensive line can you know come together. And if Texas A&M is going to win this game. I think Carter's absolutely correct one of those guys is going to have to go off right I just don't think it's going to happen I mean that that's the bottom line right I don't. I don't see this being like a balanced offensive attack you know it's got somebody's going to have to go off for them to be as successful offensively as they're going to need to be to win this game. So if we you know when in the post game show and when we fire it up. We're talking about a Notre Dame loss it's going to be wow did you see the game that so and so had for Texas A&M they won the game for like that. That's just the only avenue I see for them to score enough points to win. I think so too I agree with what Jesse saying about the trenches and you do have you know again Texas A&M's offensive line is at least more experienced than Notre Dame's offensive line but I don't think they are a great offensive line. They have their defensive line which is supposed to be their strength does have a question mark in the middle and that's where Notre Dame's offensive line is strong in the middle. I just ultimately think feel like between these two teams the offense that makes them more explosive plays is the team that is going to win this game. And I think that that is you know again like when I look at the quarterback who is a highlight reel when it comes to explosive play see Clemson last year in the season opener and the other guys that he has around him between both running backs love and price and the receivers that Notre Dame has. You know again I haven't seen Texas A&M's receivers in person they have size but I don't think they have the same kind of speed that Notre Dame has and Notre Dame is going to be going up against a lesser secondary in Texas A&M. The teams, the offense that makes them more the most explosive plays is the team that's going to win this game and I would put Notre Dame's chances of being at least three to one in that category being a very good, a very good bet like Notre Dame should have a three to one advantage when it comes to explosive plays made by the offense in this game, and that's going to win it for an explosive place. I feel remorse in saying I can't believe we haven't said Jeremiah love yet because he is going to be the definition of explosive plays for that offense he is going to be the guy that Texas A&M wish they had on their side of the ball he's going to be. In my opinion the ultimate difference maker in this game and again when you talk about explosive plays the first name that comes to mind on the off inside the ball is Jeremiah love or yeah Jeremiah love sorry. I feel some game props coming on. Thanks everybody for watching or listening. Great to see you guys enjoy your Labor Day weekend don't forget Vince and I will be back on Monday. And of course there will be a late night post game show are you going to be part of the post game show again Vince. Oh I'm hosting the post game show the post game show. Yeah baby that's right it's just down there. Alright the stars to enjoy the game Notre Dame Texas A&M coming up. We'll see you guys at a kick up and we'll talk to you next week. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] At King Super's pharmacy care is making it easy to get vaccinated care is helping you stay protected from flu COVID and RSV. Seasonal vaccines are available seven days a week with evening hours care is giving you a shot at staying healthy this season. Walk in whenever is best and get multiple vaccines in one visit at your local King Super's pharmacy. So come and get the protection you need while protecting those around you King Super's a world of care is in store. 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