Expectations for 2012?

[Polish Leppy 22]

We have 4 QBs, and whoever plays (Tommy included) will obviously be an upgrade from the past 2 seasons. Saying we don't have a QB is ignorant. Saying QB is a question mark is a legitimate statement. Do you really believe that we don't have someone on this roster capable of playing QB?

7-5 would be ridiculous. What 3 teams (I'm assuming the other 2 are USC and OU) are you expecting us to lose to? What 3 teams are better than us on our schedule?

1) We do not have a proven QB, and there's no guarantee whoever plays QB will be an upgrade.

2) Ignorant? lol ok...how's the kool aid taste these days?

3) 7-5 wouldn't look good on paper for BK (and ND fans), but this 9-3, 10-2 talk without a proven QB and no big play WR? Good luck with that. You'll be the guys on here in meltdown mode in October and November.

4) My hope is that Martin and BK design the offense this year like the last drive of the USC game from 2010: run the ball, play keep away, and hope your D doesn't give up a lot of points.

Mich State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and USC will probably beat us. Miami and BYU are toss ups.

 

[95NDAlumNM]

A little summer 2012 teaser from FIDM:

Notre Dame Football - 2012 Summer Workout Teaser - YouTube

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Troy Niklas could be construed as a very scarry guy.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Just curious as to why some people think BYU is gonna be close? Utah beat them like a redheaded step child last year. Is BYU really going to make that much of a leap forward?

Utah is a bitter rivalry game for them. Can't draw too many conclusions from such contests.

BYU ranked 37th last year to ND's 13th in F/+. Their offense was average, but their defense and special teams, ranked 34th and 21st respectively, were pretty good.

As others have mentioned, BYU is a classic trap game for us coming after Stanford and before Oklahoma. It will be very tempting to overlook them. BYU worries me more than most on our schedule.

 

[woolybug25]

I just want to see us start beating some teams that we aren't suppose to. A win against a fully staffed USC team or OU team would be most excellent.


A loss to BYU would be utterly disappointing.

 

[ACamp1900]

I just want to see us start beating some teams that we aren't suppose to. A win against a fully staffed USC team or OU team would be most excellent.


A loss to BYU would be utterly disappointing.

to add to that... AND stop losing to the teams we are supposed to beat... that right there would flip the image of ND in just a couple years...

 

[returnofthemack]

1) We do not have a proven QB, and there's no guarantee whoever plays QB will be an upgrade.

2) Ignorant? lol ok...how's the kool aid taste these days?

3) 7-5 wouldn't look good on paper for BK (and ND fans), but this 9-3, 10-2 talk without a proven QB and no big play WR? Good luck with that. You'll be the guys on here in meltdown mode in October and November.

4) My hope is that Martin and BK design the offense this year like the last drive of the USC game from 2010: run the ball, play keep away, and hope your D doesn't give up a lot of points.

Mich State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and USC will probably beat us. Miami and BYU are toss ups.

I agree with most of this. However, I must say, if BK somehow names Golson the starter instead of Rees, my expectations will rise to 9 wins. With Rees, I will be surprised if we get to 7 wins. So I guess I'm piling my hopes on an unproven QB and thus being just as foolhardy as the majority of the other posters on here, but I just finished watching the Tony Rice highlights on HLS. Golson needs to be the QB moving forward for this team to take real steps toward a Championship.

 

[woolybug25]

to add to that... AND stop losing to the teams we are supposed to beat... that right there would flip the image of ND in just a couple years...

Indeed. We need to quit getting "cute" with teams we are simply more talented than. Run the ball, play good defense, protect the football. If we do those three things, then there should never be an excuse to lose to inferior opponents.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

Utah is a bitter rivalry game for them. Can't draw too many conclusions from such contests.

BYU ranked 37th last year to ND's 13th in F/+. Their offense was average, but their defense and special teams, ranked 34th and 21st respectively, were pretty good.

As others have mentioned, BYU is a classic trap game for us coming after Stanford and before Oklahoma. It will be very tempting to overlook them. BYU worries me more than most on our schedule.

Has everyone completely overlooked the schedule differential between who we play and who BYU plays before we start comparing rankings? It's a bit lopsided, I think with this supposidly being a "Trap Game", I'd have to say Kelly I would think coming off of the Standford game and prior to the OKL game knows his team physically dominates BYU and uses his strengths on the offensive and defensive line to easily pull away from this one.

BYU will be physically worn down by the end of the 3rd and we just pile drive them to the ground with our superior play at the RB position.

We win 35-17, mark it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Has everyone completely overlooked the schedule differential between who we play and who BYU plays before we start comparing rankings? It's a bit lopsided, I think with this supposidly being a "Trap Game", I'd have to say Kelly I would think coming off of the Standford game and prior to the OKL game knows his team physically dominates BYU and uses his strengths on the offensive and defensive line to easily pull away from this one.

BYU will be physically worn down by the end of the 3rd and we just pile drive them to the ground with our superior play at the RB position.

We win 35-17, mark it.

The F/+ rankings are fully adjusted for SoS. BYU is good enough to beat us if we come out flat.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

<a href="http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/FightingIrish80/?action=view&current=bloggif_4fede7ed60c7f.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/FightingIrish80/bloggif_4fede7ed60c7f.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[NDhoosier]

Utah is a bitter rivalry game for them. Can't draw too many conclusions from such contests.

BYU ranked 37th last year to ND's 13th in F/+. Their offense was average, but their defense and special teams, ranked 34th and 21st respectively, were pretty good.

As others have mentioned, BYU is a classic trap game for us coming after Stanford and before Oklahoma. It will be very tempting to overlook them. BYU worries me more than most on our schedule.

People are too fed up with records and not how people actually played or who they played
BYU was 10-3 last year... Ya, a double digit win season, they are awesome right, plus they had good stats, they must be a good team, but who did they play again?
Wins: Ole Miss, UCF, Utah State, San Jose State, Oregon State, Idaho State, Idaho, New Mexico State, Hawaii, and Tulsa
Losses: Texas, Utah, and TCU.

The only team worth a darn that they beat was Ole Miss, but I think we all can admit that Ole Miss simply isnt a powerhouse like the rest of the SEC. BYU played a subpar schedule by all accounts. If Notre Dame played that schedule, very good chance they would have been undefeated and still wouldnt have played for the NC. BYU is overrated because they have a double digit win total and that is all people care about these days. Just like when people see an 8-5 record for ND and shove us off even though we had 10 TO in a 2 games and still lost by less than a TD in both of them, people forget how easily it should have been 10-2 with a different bowl game. Anyone who actually watched the games know we were better than USF and UM.

ya... Michigan beat us

 

[Whiskeyjack]

People are too fed up with records and not how people actually played or who they played
BYU was 10-3 last year... Ya, a double digit win season, they are awesome right, plus they had good stats, they must be a good team, but who did they play again?
Wins: Ole Miss, UCF, Utah State, San Jose State, Oregon State, Idaho State, Idaho, New Mexico State, Hawaii, and Tulsa
Losses: Texas, Utah, and TCU.

Maybe check out the link I posted before you pop off against it?

The F/+ rankings are fully adjusted for SoS. Every single part of it. So your beef with BYU's weak is irrelevant to my argument. According to the most accurate statistics available for CFB, BYU finished last season ranked 37th, with a defense and ST that ranked 34th and 21st respectively. They are absolutely good enough to beat us if we overlook them.

Bill Connelly's 2012 Preview for the Cougars can be found here. His prognosis:

Over the last six seasons, Bronco Mendenhall's Cougars have gone 60-18 and finished ranked in the AP polls four times. After a short drought (BYU went just 20-27 from 2002-05), he has reestablished BYU's credentials as a solid player in college football. With 29 seniors and no quarterback controversy, BYU could be a threat to field a Top 25 team this fall, even if their record doesn't end up reflecting that.

The future is, for better or worse, undefined for the BYU Cougars. As we attempt to reflect on how independence might continue to work out for them, they might just turn around and join a conference in the next year or two. Assuming for the moment that they don't, however, we know that the 2013 squad will experience serious turnover, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but the overall trajectory of the program should remain solid, at least as long as the marquee matchups continue (and as along as they win some of them). Independence might not lead to national titles and recruiting riches, but it should continue to treat BYU relatively well.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

Maybe check out the link I posted before you pop off against it?

The F/+ rankings are fully adjusted for SoS. Every single part of it. So your beef with BYU's weak is irrelevant to my argument. According to the most accurate statistics available for CFB, BYU finished last season ranked 37th, with a defense and ST that ranked 34th and 21st respectively. They are absolutely good enough to beat us if we overlook them.

Bill Connelly's 2012 Preview for the Cougars can be found here. His prognosis:

I'm assuming the F/+ rankings are all based off of statistics, or a team of statisticians, I'm not really sure. Very simply put, it just seems to me IMO that the skill set on our team compared to their team is vastly different, as well as their schedule from last year compared to ours. So again, IMO, I feel if we don't make the BYU game out to be a turnover frenzy like the USF game, the game really shouldn't be close. If we play an average game and they play a good game, we should still come out on top. If we were like most teams to play flat for 4 quarters against any team in D1 football, I would think any school has a good chance of winning.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm assuming the F/+ rankings are all based off of statistics, or a team of statisticians, I'm not really sure. Very simply put, it just seems to me IMO that the skill set on our team compared to their team is vastly different, as well as their schedule from last year compared to ours. So again, IMO, I feel if we don't make the BYU game out to be a turnover frenzy like the USF game, the game really shouldn't be close. If we play an average game and they play a good game, we should still come out on top. If we were like most teams to play flat for 4 quarters against any team in D1 football, I would think any school has a good chance of winning.

Of course we're better than BYU and should beat them handily. The only points I'm trying to get across are: (1) BYU is better than many here are giving them credit for; and (2) due to their position on our schedule, it may end up being a trap game for us.

Of all the teams on our schedule, BYU had the 7th highest 2011 F/+ ranking. I don't think it's a stretch to say that they'll be among the more challenging opponents we face in 2012.

 

[NYIrish14]

HAHA...Andre Ware just stated on College Football Live that ND is turning the corner and that their a QB away from being a very competitive program. He said last season that we were on the same level as Navy.

 

[woolybug25]

HAHA...Andre Ware just stated on College Football Live that ND is turning the corner and that their a QB away from being a very competitive program. He said last season that we were on the same level as Navy.

No one probably pointed out to him that we beat Navy by 42 points last year?

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

1) We do not have a proven QB, and there's no guarantee whoever plays QB will be an upgrade.

2) Ignorant? lol ok...how's the kool aid taste these days?

3) 7-5 wouldn't look good on paper for BK (and ND fans), but this 9-3, 10-2 talk without a proven QB and no big play WR? Good luck with that. You'll be the guys on here in meltdown mode in October and November.

4) My hope is that Martin and BK design the offense this year like the last drive of the USC game from 2010: run the ball, play keep away, and hope your D doesn't give up a lot of points.

Mich State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and USC will probably beat us. Miami and BYU are toss ups.

I believe the QB position will definitely be an upgrade considering Tommy is still there. If he gets beat out, that means someone else is better. That would be an upgrade from last season (considering Tommy was the starter in '11).

So to win 9-10 games you NEED a proven QB and a big play wide receiver? Did Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, or TCU have proven QBs/big time WRs at this time last season? No. Yet they still ended up with pretty damn good seasons (especially Bama).

 

[Crazy Balki]

If you can't reach the QB, you can't put him in the dirt legally.

USC has had great line play, and Barkley is elite at getting rid of the ball and not taking unnecessary hits.

Arizona State didn't have much trouble doing the same, and Notre Dame has much more talent than them. Not to mention that USC's line isn't that good, since they lost Matt Kalil, whom protects Barkley's blind side.

 

[woolybug25]

Arizona State didn't have much trouble doing the same, and Notre Dame has much more talent than them. Not to mention that USC's line isn't that good, since they lost Matt Kalil, whom protects Barkley's blind side.

It's not like they have a chump coming taking his place....

Aundrey Walker - Yahoo! Sports

 

[BGIF]

It's not like they have a chump coming taking his place....

Aundrey Walker - Yahoo! Sports

and Walker's backup is last year's #2 ranked OT recruit

Zach Banner- Yahoo! Sports


Neither is Kalil but they have 11 games to work out the kinks before ND. If need be they can pull Graf over from RT and have his backup, JUCO David Garness 6-5 295 play RT.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Quarterback quarterback quarterback....... everything else [even CBs] in the discussion is almost irrelevant.

If a good ball control quarterback, probably 9 wins and competitive in every game, even USC. [who will be the football monster this season barring injury]. If not good ball control quarterback, yow, don't want to guess.

Notre Dame readily wins double diget wins in each of the last two seasons with good ball integrity... EVERYBODY in football analysis knows that. We are AT LEAST as loaded with talent this year as then [yes, even minus Floyd, both Grays, Blanton, Lynch, and my hero HSmith]. I say this due to improvement in understanding system in a veteran team, plus greater use of speed at linebacker. [the entire defense, except for Harrison's loss, will be more athletic].

Kelly got almost no breaks on anything these last two years. That can't go on forever. Maybe this is the year that not only does a QB step up, but Coach catches a few positive surprises and some bounces too. My Kool-aid may be a bit thin for some, but I say 9-3 with a good bowl win. [just because the schedule NEVER lets up this time].

 

[NDhoosier]

Maybe check out the link I posted before you pop off against it?

The F/+ rankings are fully adjusted for SoS. Every single part of it. So your beef with BYU's weak is irrelevant to my argument. According to the most accurate statistics available for CFB, BYU finished last season ranked 37th, with a defense and ST that ranked 34th and 21st respectively. They are absolutely good enough to beat us if we overlook them.

Bill Connelly's 2012 Preview for the Cougars can be found here. His prognosis:

I wasnt really popping off against you or your link... Your post just reminded me of what I wanted to say. I never really mentioned your link in my post at all, let alone in a negative way.

 

[Fbolt]

Kelly got almost no breaks on anything these last two years. That can't go on forever. Maybe this is the year that not only does a QB step up, but Coach catches a few positive surprises and some bounces too. My Kool-aid may be a bit thin for some, but I say 9-3 with a good bowl win. [just because the schedule NEVER lets up this time].

I agree with the QB issue. A strong Kelly-led QB with this offense also covers up D mistakes such as lack of experience in the CB area. Re: the lack of breaks- I always assumed it was because I am an ND fan. Now that we are of the same mind, it adds legit.... Wait, maybe it's because we are both ND fans. (Cr@p!)

Notre Dame's crucial Year 3 countdown.

Unlike Brennan in 1956, Kelly does not possess a Heisman Trophy favorite at quarterback. He’s just trying to find someone to execute his full offense while minimizing turnovers.

Just add less water to that Kool-aid.

GIFSoup

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I have a friend that resigned his position at the end of the school year to move back to the Bend to coach freshman, for Brennan. He is a '55 grad. There is no discernible similarity between the Brennan years and the Kelly years.

None.

Jack Swarbrick

De-emphasis on football regardless of what any priest says.

Spoiled fan base, and admin, used to a NC every third year (You don't know what you've got until it's gone) versus little success in 18 years.

Three years of eligibility instead of four.

Political alliances and board sanctioned mandates.

Unlimited scholarships versus a somewhat regulated or uniform number, (unless you are in the SEC)

Entrance standards as the exception, versus the norm)

The list goes on.

It was a different day and time.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If Rees is starting I do not expect to make a bowl game. If Hendrix or Golson starts, 7 or 8 wins.

 

[Sweetness34]

9-3 if Golson or Hendrix
8-4/7-5 if Rees

 

[kmoose]

This is 1988 schedule wise,

No it's not. It's a very tough schedule, but not 88 worthy. In 88, ND started the season with the 9th ranked Wolverines. During the season, they went on to play the #1(Miami, FL), #2(USC), and #3(WVA) teams in the country. That's #1, #2, AND #3! This year's schedule isn't even close to that.

 

[STLcardz-NDirish]

I don't know why people are looking off this year thinking a 7/8 win season is acceptable, and looking forward to next. IF the QB situation works out, then we COULD have a great team. Last year we were a 10win team talent wise, but were exposed because of fumbles. And that was also with horrible QB play! We can all agree we are a better team this year so to expect 10 wins is not foolish. Both D&O Lines are stacked and games are won in the trenches. If whoever starts QB trows for about 2,500yrds 20TDs and less than 6ints we will win 10 games because of the D and Run game.

 

[STLcardz-NDirish]

I'll be disappointed with anything less than 9. and that's because of the schedule