Good News, Bad News

[ND Lifer]

Good News - Most of the offense will return in '06

Bad News - Most of the defense will return in "06

As I've said and repeated many times on this site "Defense wins championships"!!!!!!

Charlie needs to straighten this problem out ASAP. The defense didn't seem to improve over the season at all. Throw deep and our DB's are chasing a receiver 10 yards ahead of them. Granted, no pass rush puts an enormous strain on the DB's, but coverage needs to be much better. Hopefully, changes will be made before the season begins next year. The defense also needs to be much more aggressive and Charlie needs to make sure Minter and he are on the same page. The offense was aggressive. The defense was passive - "bend but don't break". That's almost as bad as "prevent defense". All that does is lose games.

Here's hoping a combination of some defensive position changes along with an influx of new recruits and defensive scheme changes will make our defense as dominant as our offense. Then nobody will stop us!!!!!!!!!

Our offense changed dramatically in one year, so there is no reason that we can't expect the same transformation in our defense in one year.

 

[iloveirish_12]

Who are we all losing on both sides of the ball?

 

[ND Lifer]

On offense we have Sullivan, Morton, Santucci and Harris returning on the O line and maybe Fasano @ TE if he doesn't go pro. Quinn, Walker, Schwapp and T. Thomas also return in O backfield

On defense we lose LB's Hoyte & Mays. Landri, Laws, Abimari, Talley all return. Defensive ends Lietko and Frome returm from suspension/injury at DE. All the D backs return.

 

[ND Lifer]

Forgot to add that we lose Stovall at receiver, but the Shark returns along with McKnight, who gets another year because of medical hardship.

This gives us a lot of returning starters and experience is something that's invaluable

 

[NWLB]

What is the word on the talent coming in? Did CW redshirt much of this past years recruiting class?

 

[Gizmo]

Charlie actually played a number of freshmen, more out of necessity than design. Our recruiting classes have been so thin the past few years he had to.

 

[NWLB]

Play frosh isn't a sin, though this being Notre Dame, who knows. In any case, he'll have their redshirts if they get hurt later, and there are worse things than having freshmen gain a bit of experience.

 

[jiggafini19]

Toryan Smith, Morrice Richardson, Kalen Wade, Darrin Walls and Raeshon McNeil are all going to play this year. Book it.

On offense, I expect to see James Aldridge, Richard Jackson, George West and Sam Young. Possibly Konrad Reuland.

If a guy can play, he can play.

 

[irish4life99]

CW always said that no ones position is secure just because their upperclassman. He'll play whoever gets the job done. The defense at times showed sparks of greatness, but will need to do it alot more often. Were not going to just outscore most of these teams. Don't quote me on this, but I think I read a stat somewhere that the lowest ranked defense to ever win a NC was not ranked below #30, and the far majority was in the top 10. The old addage, "You cant win a championship with out good defense".

 

[jiggafini19]

Hello, United Airlines? Rick Minter here. Listen, I've got an army to raise and I must get to Nicaragua. I require a window seat and an in-flight Happy Meal AND NO PICKLES. OH, GOD HELP YOU IF I FIND PICKLES.

 

[scooper]

I wouldn't be surprised eventually in passing situations to see Richardson at some point putting his hand on the ground and playing a litte DE-his high school position.