Al's Lesar Than Stellar ND 2012 Prediction

[Pachuco]

I'm used to this guy valuing his opinion a little too much, but I never fully appreciated just how positive and insightful his commentary can be.

Good to know the SBT has great job stability for comedians.

Notre Dame football commentary: Sink-or-swim year awaits Kelly, Irish - southbendtribune.com

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Well...here's hoping we* prove him wrong.

 

[magogian]

Pretty dumb column.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Michigan State's defense will leave Golson shaking his head and soaking his aching body.

UM

Kelly plays a hunch, turning to quarterback Andrew Hendrix at halftime.

Welcome to college football, Gunner. Four losses and plenty of frustration into the season, Kelly makes the move to Gunner Kiel at quarterback.

Just ridiculous.

 

[TDHeysus]

i completely disagree with quite a few things that were said, but ill just stick with this one....no way Gunner sees any PT this year...no way

 

[magogian]

Actually, I'm ok with this. Eric Hansen is pretty brilliant so it takes a pretty dumb f*** to balance him out.

 

[Pachuco]

Good point, magogian. It's all about balance.

 

[Patulski]

'It's put-up time for the Irish."

Totally agree.

3rd year. Plenty of talent. No excuses.

 

[Black Irish]

I guess everyone is entitled to his opinion. I just don't see the QB musical chairs this season. I think Kelly is going to make a real attempt to groom Golson into a top notch signal caller.

 

[Buster Bluth]

'It's put-up time for the Irish."

Totally agree.

3rd year. Plenty of talent. No excuses.

"No excuses" might be the worst cliche in sports.

Excuses can be reasons, and there are always reasons.

Idiotic columns like this make me frustrated. I just once--one f*cking time--want to read a significant journalist comment about the actual progress Kelly is making (e.g. the athleticism, the strength, the OL play, the RB play, the DL play, the LB play, the statistical milestones accomplished last season etc etc etc etc).

People are acting like Notre Dame went 2-10 last year. It's beyond annoying.

 

[Pachuco]

I guess everyone is entitled to his opinion. I just don't see the QB musical chairs this season. I think Kelly is going to make a real attempt to groom Golson into a top notch signal caller.

Yes, you are absolutely right. We've all got them. Yet, his assertion that there will be a QB controversy during the Michigan game just wasn't as whimsical as I imagined it would be. I agree with you. Barring any drastic imaginations from the mind of Al Lesar coming true, I too believe Kelly will keep Golson at the helm.

 

[Rhode Irish]

"No excuses" might be the worst cliche in sports.

Excuses can be reasons, and there are always reasons.

Idiotic columns like this make me frustrated. I just once--one f*cking time--want to read a significant journalist comment about the actual progress Kelly is making (e.g. the athleticism, the strength, the OL play, the RB play, the DL play, the LB play, the statistical milestones accomplished last season etc etc etc etc).

People are acting like Notre Dame went 2-10 last year. It's beyond annoying.

While I agree, the best way to get people to pay attention is to MAKE people pay attention. Win 10 games and people will pay attention.

 

[jmurphy75]

This article doesn't bother me in the least.....some people are just born stupid

 

[stlnd01]

"No excuses" might be the worst cliche in sports.

Excuses can be reasons, and there are always reasons.

Idiotic columns like this make me frustrated. I just once--one f*cking time--want to read a significant journalist comment about the actual progress Kelly is making (e.g. the athleticism, the strength, the OL play, the RB play, the DL play, the LB play, the statistical milestones accomplished last season etc etc etc etc).

Right. But Al Lesar's not a "significant journalist." He's a hack, has been for years, and the only reason he's the lead sports columnist at the South Bend Trib is because so many other guys (Haugh, Carroll) have left for better gigs.
Basically, he's saying it's put up or shut up time, which isn't wrong. But then he shits all over their ability to put up. That's kind of tired at this point. Whatever.

 

[IrishLax]

Completely implausible predictions... not in record/score.... but in personnel aspects. There is a zero percent chance that the personnel moves go as predicted. A 2-1 ND team that loses a nailbiter to MSU is not going to shelve the Golson plan at halftime of an even Michigan game in any scenario that doesn't involve injury.

Right now... see, here's the problem. 2012 ND football is Schrodinger's cat. There are so many positions where a singular player stepping up or singular injury can completely change the season.

At the same time, this team both cannot have worse quarterbacking than last year (because at worst we'd roll out a more experienced Tommy Rees), and is also rolling out a completely unproven RS frosh QB.

At the same time, this team both has a great LB corps with a lock 1st round draft pick at ILB and two very high ceiling rush OLBs, and also has serious questions at DOG/WILL with the Spond injury and uncertainty that comes with Carlo and a seemingly always dinged up Fox.

At the same time, both big things are expected from a veteran OL with a great new coach, and we're replacing a 4 year starter at RG with a kid who played at an unacceptable level at center in many games last year and have depth issues.

Something similar can be said for just about every position group. Do people realize that without ridiculous turnovers that we're, at worst, a 10-2 regular season team last year? And that we likely beat FSU if Floyd doesn't go out with injury after we went up 14-0? There is not a single team on this schedule besides USC and arguably Oklahoma that should be a heavy favorite to beat us if we stay 100% healthy. But at the same time... we're a couple injuries away from being 4-8.

We're not going to know which ND we're going to get until we open the box on September 1st. And even then we might have trouble truly telling if the cat is alive or dead until the bye week.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Fiction: A type of writing wherein there need be no facts to impede the full flow of the imagination.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

A friend of mine who graduated from ND in the fifties had a prof at ND that died a few years ago. He ran into him within the profs last couple of years and the prof shouted a greeting at my friend from across the room by name. After they had a courdial conversation for some time, my friend said to his former prof, since I wrote such and shuch paper, I thought you hated me, yada yada, and the end of the profs response was, in all the years he taught at Notre Dame, he only had one student he hated, and he said, I can't get away from him, he still writes for the paper I am forced to read.

Guess who my friend thinks that was? If so the sentiment has been ongoing, for a very, very long time.

Ever since big Al wrote that rediculous article about Harrison Smith's playing improving when he cut his hair, I vowed I would never read anyting this guy wrote again. Harrison Smith's play improved when they put him at the right position, and they taught him how to play it, jackoff.

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

While the predicted W/L record is possible, the way he has it going down is laughable.

No way that the QB situation turns into musical chairs, even if Golson makes his fair share of mistakes. BK has gotten an undeserved reputation for switching QBs frequently, but the fact is, after he benched Crist at USF half time, he rode Tommy the whole way, mediocre performance and all.

My second big problem is a season high single game point total of 31. Seriously? We had single game totals of 59, 56, 45, and 38 points last year with some pretty bad QB play. Was there a time when journalists actually did research?

 

[IrishJayhawk]

While the predicted W/L record is possible, the way he has it going down is laughable.

Agreed. I think we'll be better than that, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[ClausentoTate]

If we lose in another last-second nailbiter to Michigan, I will throw myself off a bridge.

 

[Cali_domer]

If we lose in another last-second nailbiter to Michigan, I will throw myself off a bridge.

I got mine already picked out.

 

[BGIF]

Actually Lesar's 7-5 mirrors many pundits AND posters on this site who were making predictions over the past 6 months.

8-4 was probably the most frequent pick.

The Vegas over/under is 8.5. and they layed that before Prestwood, Lo, et al.

ND has a new QB, new WRs, new CBs, and a thin OL (available bodies).

Do you really want to get bent out of shape with that many variables over a piece by a fluff writer that concurs with the conventional wisdom and many of your won predications?


Lesar's got:
MSU 4 pt L
UM 2 pt L
SU 1 pt L
OU 18 pt L
USC 21 pt L

3 games swing on a play, 2 games whipped but he picks ND to beat all the teams ranked below them. When did that last happen?


If it all comes together and the injuries are over ND can beat anybody on their schedule and will play in a BCS bowl.

If ND opens like the last GT game (which many of you predicted to be an ND romp/Tenuta shutout) IE is gonna sound like NDnation. Pham will have to disinfect the board.


Personally I don't concede any game.

 

[BGIF]

If we lose in another last-second nailbiter to Michigan, I will throw myself off a bridge.

If so, have somebody post video. It would be a shame to miss your best work.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Notre Dame circa 2012 could actually be better than last year's edition, but still end up with a worse record.

There are two points here. The actual prediction. Nobody faults anyone for being conservative any more.

Then there is the writing. "Notre Dame circa 2012 could actually be better than last year's edition, but still end up with a worse record."
Circa? For real? What do the 2012 edition of the Fighting Irish, and King Tut have in common?

cir·ca [sur-kuh] preposition, adverb
about: (used especially in) approximate dates: The Venerable Bede was born circa 673. Abbreviation: ca, ca., c., c, cir., circ.

"Notre Dame about 2012 could actually be better than last year's edition, but still end up with a worse record."

This shows the most overblown, egotistical line I have ever seen from South Bend. I got a friend that is an anthropologist, maybe I could have him come to the Gug and dig up some artifacts.

Now for the second part; the great revelation. With as tough as this schedule is, they could be a better team with a worse record. Never heard that before . . .

At least report something. This is the Chinese food of sports reporting. Read it and you know you still haven't come across a thought. Makes you want to read something of substance 15 minutes later.

I have a spare copy of Ulysses, if anyone wants to borrow it.

 

[Cogs]

I cannot take the word for this guy if he has us losing to stanford and barely winning against BYU. He's an idiot.

 

[Meacon Irish]

We lost to USF and barely beat Boston College.

It's football. Things happen. 7-5 is as likely as any other predicted record in the pre-season.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I cannot take the word for this guy if he has us losing to stanford and barely winning against BYU. He's an idiot.

Sorry, but why??? Do you really think it's implausible that Stanford could beat us, and that BYU can't make it a close game, if not beat us? Both Stanford and BYU will be MILES ahead of teams like Navy, Tulsa, BC the last couple of years, 2-8 Syracuse, Pitt last year, USF, UCONN, etc etc, all teams who either beat us or almost beat us. It is absolutely possible that not only can both those teams compete with us, but beat us as well. He's not an idiot for thinking that. Irish fans are idiots for thinking that those things can't happen.

Lots of things wrong with that article, but what you quote is absolutely possible...

 

[Cogs]

Sorry, but why??? Do you really think it's implausible that Stanford could beat us, and that BYU can't make it a close game, if not beat us? Both Stanford and BYU will be MILES ahead of teams like Navy, Tulsa, BC the last couple of years, 2-8 Syracuse, Pitt last year, USF, UCONN, etc etc, all teams who either beat us or almost beat us. It is absolutely possible that not only can both those teams compete with us, but beat us as well. He's not an idiot for thinking that. Irish fans are idiots for thinking that those things can't happen.

Lots of things wrong with that article, but what you quote is absolutely possible...

We are a better team this year than we were when we lost to UConn and Tulsa. Come on, BYU had a cupcake schedule last year. That will be a blow out for us, and Luckless Cards aren't going to beat us. I'll bet you vBucks.

 

[Patulski]

"No excuses" might be the worst cliche in sports.

Excuses can be reasons, and there are always reasons.

Idiotic columns like this make me frustrated. I just once--one f*cking time--want to read a significant journalist comment about the actual progress Kelly is making (e.g. the athleticism, the strength, the OL play, the RB play, the DL play, the LB play, the statistical milestones accomplished last season etc etc etc etc).

People are acting like Notre Dame went 2-10 last year. It's beyond annoying.

No head coach gets rewarded for "progress" that doesn't result in wins. It's time for Kelly to win more.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Sorry, but why??? Do you really think it's implausible that Stanford could beat us, and that BYU can't make it a close game, if not beat us? Both Stanford and BYU will be MILES ahead of teams like Navy, Tulsa, BC the last couple of years, 2-8 Syracuse, Pitt last year, USF, UCONN, etc etc, all teams who either beat us or almost beat us. It is absolutely possible that not only can both those teams compete with us, but beat us as well. He's not an idiot for thinking that. Irish fans are idiots for thinking that those things can't happen.

Lots of things wrong with that article, but what you quote is absolutely possible...

I think Cogs understated point is that he sees the Tree's, and Brigham Young's best and brightest, (hey, did you know they were the Cougars?), were kind of like the Ute's two years ago. Based upon past performance and weak current competition. I guess Cog may be going after the article based upon weak analysis, just like I was.