Al's Lesar Than Stellar ND 2012 Prediction

[Pachuco]

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

I've heard some fans say that with our daunting schedule and inexperience at key positions, this is a throw away year in terms of wins and losses. I disagree with this perspective, and believe we have the weapons to have a successful season. We won't truly know until the season plays out.

Winning more is not the flaw of Lesar's assessment. As one poster above stated, it's the negative nature of his "fiction" (to credit, OMM) that had me simultaneously smirking and shaking my head.

At least we know where he stands - he's certain that Coach Kelly and the team will fail.

And as a supporter of this team, I can't get on board with that prediction.

 

[NDinL.A.]

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.

Are we a better team??? We haven't played a single game yet. Go back and read this board before the Tulsa game, before the UConn game, before the Syracuse game. We all thought we were the better team by a mile. And we lost.

Games aren't played in a vacuum. Go look at the BYU game, a team that won 10 games (even against a weak schedule...they got better as the season went along as they picked the right QB who is coming back); we play them after Stanford and before OU. It's called a trap game. If you don't think a team that talented can come in and play us close or even beat us, then you don't know football and you definitely don't know ND football.

And Stanford might not be as strong, but if we were in their position, coming off 2 incredible seasons and bringing back a very strong defensive unit with back to back nice recruiting classes, we'd be saying that we'd still be a very good team. Hell, we have a brand new redshirt freshman QB and a bunch of injuries (and an upcoming suspension) coming of two 5 loss seasons and we still think we're going to be a great team LOL. Bottom line, Stanford will still be a pretty good team VERY capable of beating ND, and for a writer to be called an idiot for think that is simply homerism at its finest.

Like I said, some stupid things in that article, but what you mentioned wasn't stupid...it's actually very plausible.

 

[kmoose]

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?

Not going to say that I agree with a 31 point high for the season, but I do expect this offense to be SIGNIFICANTLY less potent, minus one Michael Floyd.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Are we a better team??? We haven't played a single game yet. Go back and read this board before the Tulsa game, before the UConn game, before the Syracuse game. We all thought we were the better team by a mile. And we lost.

Games aren't played in a vacuum. Go look at the BYU game, a team that won 10 games (even against a weak schedule...they got better as the season went along as they picked the right QB who is coming back); we play them after Stanford and before OU. It's called a trap game. If you don't think a team that talented can come in and play us close or even beat us, then you don't know football and you definitely don't know ND football.

And Stanford might not be as strong, but if we were in their position, coming off 2 incredible seasons and bringing back a very strong defensive unit with back to back nice recruiting classes, we'd be saying that we'd still be a very good team. Hell, we have a brand new redshirt freshman QB and a bunch of injuries (and an upcoming suspension) coming of two 5 loss seasons and we still think we're going to be a great team LOL. Bottom line, Stanford will still be a pretty good team VERY capable of beating ND, and for a writer to be called an idiot for think that is simply homerism at its finest.

Like I said, some stupid things in that article, but what you mentioned wasn't stupid...it's actually very plausible.

Have to agree. Trying to predict so many specifics is silly and impossible. Many of his specifics seem geared to provoking vitriol and discussion (mission accomplished). I also think he's wrong about the record. But, my predictions are consistently 2 games better than what the reality ends up being.

Every fan base has thin skin. We'll have to win 10 games before people will start buying in nationally. Until then...I can't blame the media for tepid predictions.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Not going to say that I agree with a 31 point high for the season, but I do expect this offense to be SIGNIFICANTLY less potent, minus one Michael Floyd.

I'd agree if Rees was still behind center. The big IF is Golson's gameday ability. IF he proves to be effective in extending plays, stretching drives, engaging multiple receivers and running the option, (all his supposed attributes) his value would outweigh that of one receiver and overall production would be higher..

 

[IrishBlood81]

The article is embarrassing. The fact that a 'journalist' can get by, and make it into print, with such little-to-no research just makes me hate the internet and how todays standards have so fallen.

The end W/L he predicts is completely possible.
Someone posted 3rd year, plenty of talent, no excuses. Did you happen to look at our schedule?! Its not an excuse, damn, its a reason! We could be a much better team and still have the same record cause that schedule is THEE most difficult in college football.
I think we will know pretty much everything after the first game. It will really show us how the season will go.
Is Golson ready for the spot light? How beast is our defense? Are we going to get the running game going?
Of course, all these things change with varying opponents, I'm just saying that we'll have a good sense of where our team is at.
The only thing we probably won't find out is about the secondary.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

We will get an idea.

 

[BGIF]

The article is embarrassing. The fact that a 'journalist' can get by, and make it into print, with such little-to-no research just makes me hate the internet and how todays standards have so fallen.

... .

Whoa! Easy on the Internet. It has spawned a generation of hacks with keyboards but Lesar is a print journalist writing for a paper long before Al Gore's invention took off.

Lesar was an ND beat writer more than 15 years ago but got exiled to other things on a small town paper. No small wonder, right?

He's gone from a fluff piece, homer writer to a Finebaum, ESPN in your face, hair puller. He has never been never known for content.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Not going to say that I agree with a 31 point high for the season, but I do expect this offense to be SIGNIFICANTLY less potent, minus one Michael Floyd.

But a Tyler Eifert is back, a Cierre Wood is back (after game two), Tommy Reese is not, nor is Charlie Molner and neither is Ed Warriner, With only an oz. of research, you or Al would have found that having Coach Martin as the offensive coordinator is the biggest single reason why this offense will produce. (Not having Tommy's limitations available for opposing coaches on the internet is only number two.) Two tight end sets employed will be number three. I saw somebody talking about losing a lot on the offensive line. I don't think so.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

If we would have beaten FSU in the bowl game, do you think we'd be ranked in the top 10? FSU seems to be getting an awful lot of hype. Theyre still unsettled on a QB along with a few question marks.

 

[scUM Hater]

If a writer puts on paper that ND will be 12-0 and win a national championships, everyone here, including myself, will call the guy the worst journalist in history. Its his opinion, just enjoy his view. It worked, we are all responding. He normally does a pretty good job of writing. I have enjoyed many of his game day articles in the paper.

 

[Black Irish]

Sure, the Irish could choke and 6-6 or 5-7. Sure, there are a lot of coin flips on the schedule. But, why do so many only having the other teams catching fire against us? Why don't we get a chance to play above our potential and tear off a big win? It's not like there's no recent precedent. Think Utah in 2011 and MSU last season. If we can pull one of those upsets this year, not lose the coin flips, and don't choke against inferior teams we just might have a serious season. I know there are a lot of ifs, but this season could really go either way. Maybe 6-6, maybe 10-2 and a solid bowl win.

(Funny, I'm not used to being the positive voice in the crowd. This is definitely an Irish site. The glass ain't just half empty, someone also spit in it after stealing car and burning your house down.)

 

[NDhoosier]

If we would have beaten FSU in the bowl game, do you think we'd be ranked in the top 10?

Yes, it was talked about by just about everyone, I think it was even mention during the open ceremonies.

"These two teams have had disappointing seasons, but the winner of this will be pretty high in the pre-season polls going into next year. Plenty of returning talent on both sides."

 

[ND NYC]

Al Lesar is a hack

 

[Count_on_Me]

Al Lesar is a hack

lol Had Gunner starting a game this year. This guy should be run out of town.

 

[Teomonsternd]

There's only 3 QBs in front of him, Kelly made it to his 5th QB at Cincinatti, just saying....

 

[BGIF]

lol Had Gunner starting a game this year. This guy should be run out of town.

Stranger things have happened. Joe Montana was seventh on the ND depth chart.

Lesar is probably better at covering flower shows than football. Regardless, the ND QB position has replaced the secondary as the prime position of concern. Potential rather than performance. There appears to be 3 number 2 QBs and a freshman. If the first three can't move the team consistently a good coach will find someone who does. Kelly has that reputation.