ND Heading Into 2014

[Irish Man3]

What are your thoughts and expectations going into next year? What are you most excited for?
Golson's return?
BVD as DC?

I think we make a real run next year barring a quiet, uneventful offseason. We will have all the pieces next year. A good mix of veterans and good young talent. Quick roster check:

QB- Golson\Zaire
RB- Folston\Cam\Bryant
WR- Daniels\Brown\Carlisle
TE- Niklas\Koyack\Smythe
OL- Stanley\Hanratty\Martin\Lombard\Elmer

DL- Tuitt\Jones\Day & Rochelle\Springmann\Trumbetti
CAT- Ishaq\Okwara\Jhonny
DOG- Jaylon\Councell\Randolph
ILB- Grace\Moore\Morgan\Deeb\Hill\Niles
CB- Russell\Watkins
CB- Luke\Butler
SS- Shumate\Hardy\Tranquill
FS- Redfield\Farley

Just a quick overview without looking at a roster. NASTY! Deepest, most talented roster we've seen in a long time in the Bend.

Bring in BVG to run this defense and I'll be ecstatic. Lots of talent controlled by an aggressive, knowledgeable coach.

Throw a backfield of Golson, Folston, & Bryant on some field turf and it could be truly exciting.

 

[ACamp1900]

Offense should be good/ fun to watch....


Two new coordinators... Big loses on D... Nightmare schedule...

8 winsish is my gut.

 

[stlnd01]

Our offense should be the most dynamic we've had since Weis. That'll be fun.
We've got talented depth on defense, more than any time I can remember, but we need a few guys to take their game to another level (looking at you Ishaq, Jarron Jones, Shumate, Jarrett Grace). It would help a lot if Tuitt comes back and we're healthier than this year.
Of course, our schedule is ridiculous.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

What are your thoughts and expectations going into next year? What are you most excited for?
Golson's return?
BVD as DC?

I think we make a real run next year barring a quiet, uneventful offseason. We will have all the pieces next year. A good mix of veterans and good young talent. Quick roster check:

QB- Golson\Zaire
RB- Folston\Cam\Bryant
WR- Daniels\Brown\Carlisle
TE- Niklas\Koyack\Smythe
OL- Stanley\Hanratty\Martin\Lombard\Elmer

DL- Tuitt\Jones\Day & Rochelle\Springmann\Trumbetti
CAT- Ishaq\Okwara\Jhonny
DOG- Jaylon\Councell\Randolph
ILB- Grace\Moore\Morgan\Deeb\Hill\Niles
CB- Russell\Watkins
CB- Luke\Butler
SS- Shumate\Hardy\Tranquill
FS- Redfield\Farley

Just a quick overview without looking at a roster. NASTY! Deepest, most talented roster we've seen in a long time in the Bend.

Bring in BVG to run this defense and I'll be ecstatic. Lots of talent controlled by an aggressive, knowledgeable coach.

Throw a backfield of Golson, Folston, & Bryant on some field turf and it could be truly exciting.

Have both Niklas and Tuitt announced they are returning? Is Baratti a medical or something? He played as a freshman in '12; I doubt he is less that on the two deep.

 

[IrishLax]

Offense should be good/ fun to watch....


Two new coordinators... Big loses on D... Nightmare schedule...

8 winsish is my gut.

You can win a lot of games with just good offense in college football. If Tuitt returns, which I doubt, AND we stay healthy on D I think we can play with anyone on our schedule save maybe FSU.

A starting DL of Tuitt-Jones-Day or alternatively Ishaq-Tuitt-Day-Rochelle/Okwara is very good. The LB corps certainly won't be worse with Smith-Grace-Deeb/Moore-Okwara/Ishaq or whatever we roll with in a 4-3ish setup. The secondary should be vastly improved and possibly the strength of the team.

As long as we don't make massive changes from what we're currently doing that blow up in our face I see us having elite talent. Can we weather the schedule? That remains to be seen.

 

[ACamp1900]

I don't disagree with anything LAX posted,... It's just the kind of schedule teams just don't survive... And this program just has to show me before I ever sing a different song- Mark May of IE

 

[irishfan]

Thinking 9-3 or 10-2 just with a quick look at the projected roster and the schedule. Could see 11-1 if Golson really steps up. 11-1 would have us in the Top 4 with our schedule one would think.

 

[DillonHall]

I don't disagree with anything LAX posted,... It's just the kind of schedule teams just don't survive... And this program just has to show me before I ever sing a different song- Mark May of IE

Everyone said the exact same thing about the schedule before the 2012 season

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I'd think that we'll be a far superior offense, a similar defense, and a better team overall. We may end up with about the same record.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Biggest holes are at defensive line and wide receivers.

If Tuitt comes back and we don't have any big injuries the DL should be solid.

If a couple of the young receivers (Robinson, Fuller, Hunter, Brent) have breakout years we should be fine there as well.

Edit: obviously linebackers is a concern too, but I think we will be fine with Jaylon, *Morgan*, K Moore, Deeb, Randolph, Ishaq, Okwara, and company.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Biggest holes are at defensive line and wide receivers.

If Tuitt comes back and we don't have any big injuries the DL should be solid.

If a couple of the young receivers (Robinson, Fuller, Hunter, Brent) have breakout years we should be fine there as well.

Disagree. I think WR will be a strength. Huge talent there.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

I agree, tons of talent at WR, albeit unproven on the D1 level.

 

[EddytoNow]

What are your thoughts and expectations going into next year? What are you most excited for?
Golson's return?
BVD as DC?

I think we make a real run next year barring a quiet, uneventful offseason. We will have all the pieces next year. A good mix of veterans and good young talent. Quick roster check:

QB- Golson\Zaire
RB- Folston\Cam\Bryant
WR- Daniels\Brown\Carlisle
TE- Niklas\Koyack\Smythe
OL- Stanley\Hanratty\Martin\Lombard\Elmer

DL- Tuitt\Jones\Day & Rochelle\Springmann\Trumbetti
CAT- Ishaq\Okwara\Jhonny
DOG- Jaylon\Councell\Randolph
ILB- Grace\Moore\Morgan\Deeb\Hill\Niles
CB- Russell\Watkins
CB- Luke\Butler
SS- Shumate\Hardy\Tranquill
FS- Redfield\Farley

Just a quick overview without looking at a roster. NASTY! Deepest, most talented roster we've seen in a long time in the Bend.

Bring in BVG to run this defense and I'll be ecstatic. Lots of talent controlled by an aggressive, knowledgeable coach.

Throw a backfield of Golson, Folston, & Bryant on some field turf and it could be truly exciting.

I'd put Baratti in the two deep at safety, and I think the defense will be much better. I'm hoping for a new defensive coordinator that never utters the words "bend don't break". Let's start to play defense with an attitude, just like Jack Tatum used to play.

 

[Irishman77]

We run the table with worlds toughest schedule and golson wins the heisman.

If springman comes back 100% and Jarron is who he thinks he is this past month, I like our ability to defend the run

Wr's will look completely different due to golson. Fuller and brown will take the lid off any defense and golson will hit them in stride

This will make running much easier and bryant/ folston will flourish

Our ol will need a great offseason to gel but I feel good.

TEs will dominate

Hopefully the guy we all want at dc closes the book on nuclear physics football and gets our guys biting ball bags

 

[gkIrish]

My thoughts:

1. We will miss TJ Jones a lot. I don't know that there's a player on the roster that can fill his role as a possession/end zone receiver. Will need our WR committee to step up.

2. Schedule is brutal and it will be hard to escape with less than 2 losses. We should be really happy with a 10-2 regular season.

3. Golson is going to have a monster year. Top 10 QB in the country kind of year.

4. Jaylon Smith will be an honorable mention All-American type player if the new DC is worth a damn. Russell will also be an elite player, if he isn't already.

5. I'm worried about the safety position, even if Max starts

6. There's no reason we shouldn't be a top 15 rushing offense.

That's all I have right now.

 

[Brooklyn]

QB - Everett Golson (Rjr) - Malik Zaire (RFr) - DeShone Kizer (Fr)
HB - Tarean Folston (So) - Greg Bryant (Rfr) - Cam McDaniel (Sr) - George Atkinson III (Sr) - Amir Carlisle (Rjr) - William Mahone (Rso)

WR - Davaris Daniels (Rjr) - Corey Robinson (So) - Justin Brent (Fr)
WR - Chris Brown (Jr) - Corey Holmes (Fr) - James Onuwalu (So) - C.J. Prosise (Rso)
Slot - Will Fuller (So) - Torii Hunter Jr. (Rfr) - Charles Nelson (Fr)*
TE - Troy Niklas (Sr) - Ben Koyack (Sr) - Durham Smythe (Rfr) - Mike Heuerman (Rfr) - Nic Weishar (Fr) - Tyler Luatua (Fr)

OT - Ronnie Stanley (Rso) - Steve Elmer (So) - Mike McGlinchey (Rfr) - Colin McGovern (Rfr) - Alex Bars (Fr) - Quentin Nelson (Fr)
OG - Christian Lombard (Gr) - Hunter Bivin (Rfr) - Mark Harrell (Rso) - John Montelus (Rfr) - Jimmy Byrne (Fr) - Sam Mustipher (Fr)
C - Nick Martin (Rjr) - Matthew Hegarty (Rjr) - Conor Hanratty (Rjr)

RE/UT - Sheldon Day (Jr) - Chase Hounshell (Rjr) - Grant Blankenship (Fr) - Jhonathon Williams (Fr)
NG/NT - Jarron Jones (Rso) - Tony Springmann (Rjr) - Jay Hayes (Fr) - Matt Dickerson (Fr)
LE - Stephon Tuitt (Sr) - Isaac Rochell (So) - Jacob Matuska (Rfr) - Andrew Trumbetti (Fr)

CAT/RE - Ishaq Williams (Sr) - Romeo Okwara (Jr) - Anthony Rabasa (Rjr) - Jonathan Bonner (Fr)
WLB - Doug Randolph (Rfr) - Joe Schmidt (Rjr) - Drue Tranquill (Fr) - Nile Sykes (Fr)
MLB - Jarrett Grace (Rjr) - Kendall Moore (Gr) - Michael Deeb (Rfr) - Greer Martini (Fr) Kolin Hill (Fr)
DOG/SLB - Jaylon Smith (So) - Ben Councell (Rjr) - Richard Yeargin III (Fr)

CB - KeiVarae Russell (Jr) - Devin Butler (So) - Nick Watkins (Fr) - Josh Atkinson (Sr)
CB - Cole Luke (So) - Rashad Kinlaw (Rfr) - Jalen Brown (Rjr)
FS - Max Redfield (So) - Austin Collinsworth (Gr) - Eilar Hardy (Rjr) - Matthias Farley (Rjr)
SS - Nicky Baratti (Rso) - Elijah Shumate (Jr) - John Turner (Rso)

K - Kyle Brindza (Sr)
P - Tyler Newsome (Fr)
LS - Scott Daly (Rso)

Offensively we are a powerhouse. Biggest question mark would be LT and LG. Defensively lots more question marks. ILB, CAT/RE, Dline and safeties are question marks. Need some young guys to step up and offense to carry us.

 

[gkIrish]

Couple more things:

1. We absolutely have to cut down on the dumb timeouts/delays of game that we always get for whatever reason. I swear we do it much more than any other team in the country.

2. Lax mentioned this in the post game thread but I would really like to see an elite special teams coach take over. Our coverage hasn't been terrible but our return game is nonexistent.

3. Koyack will show some NFL potential

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Couple more things:

1. We absolutely have to cut down on the dumb timeouts/delays of game that we always get for whatever reason. I swear we do it much more than any other team in the country.

2. Lax mentioned this in the post game thread but I would really like to see an elite special teams coach take over. Our coverage hasn't been terrible but our return game is nonexistent.

3. Koyack will show some NFL potential

Punt return was 62nd in the NCAA this year. Much improved from last year. Kickoff return was 23rd in the country.

 

[gkIrish]

Punt return was 62nd in the NCAA this year. Much improved from last year. Kickoff return was 23rd in the country.

Surprised. It sure doesn't seem like it.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Surprised. It sure doesn't seem like it.

Not many big ones, but pretty consistent.

 

[Fbolt]

Very dynamic on O with tons of potential on D. I like ND's chances.

New coordinators will play a role and can make a significant positive impact. Hoping for a positive impact rather than a Tenuta impact-not too sure that Diaco was the stud many thought he was. Lots of love for Bobby D on the Ishaq commit but the man love for the hair was unbearable.

Schedule will be very difficult but not impossible.

 

[Riddickulous]

Reasons for optimism:

* Talented, athletic offense with Golson, Folston, Bryant, McDaniel, Daniels, Brown, Robinson, Fuller, Hunter, Niklas, Koyack... NIIIICE.

* Should have a really good player at each level of the defense if Tuitt returns with him, Jaylon, and Russell.

* With Martin gone, hopefully we won't have so many empty sets.

Reasons for pessimism:

* It will have been almost two years since Everett Golson has played a college game when he next suits up for us. It's definitely possible he could be rusty.

* Although there is great talent among the receivers, Daniels is the only one with more than 15 receptions this year, and even he has not played with the consistency you expect from your #1 WR.

* We are replacing two excellent OL who have almost 100 combined starts between the two of them. That is a ton of talent and experience to replace.

* Losing Nix is critical. He was the important player on the defense these last few years and it will be very difficult to replace a player of that caliber. Even harder when you realize that his backup is also gone.

* If Tuitt declares, we'll lose 5 our starting front seven. That's three future NFL players, our top two pass rushers, and arguably our three best defensive players.

* ILB is scary thin with our two most experienced guys gone and the #3 coming off a season-ending injury. And those guys weren't even that good to begin with.

* Brand new coordinators/position coaches.

* Tough schedule.

 

[stlnd01]

Reasons for pessimism:

* It will have been almost two years since Everett Golson has played a college game when he next suits up for us. It's definitely possible he could be rusty.

* Although there is great talent among the receivers, Daniels is the only one with more than 15 receptions this year, and even he has not played with the consistency you expect from your #1 WR.

* We are replacing two excellent OL who have almost 100 combined starts between the two of them. That is a ton of talent and experience to replace.

* Losing Nix is critical. He was the important player on the defense these last few years and it will be very difficult to replace a player of that caliber. Even harder when you realize that his backup is also gone.

* If Tuitt declares, we'll lose 5 our starting front seven. That's three future NFL players, our top two pass rushers, and arguably our three best defensive players.

* ILB is scary thin with our two most experienced guys gone and the #3 coming off a season-ending injury. And those guys weren't even that good to begin with.

All true. Especially Nix and Tuitt, should he leave. They are unique talents and we don't have comparable talents to replace them.
But for the rest, turnover is a fact of life in college football, and - aside from Nix and Tuitt - I think you could argue that the guys coming up are potentially at least as good as the guys who are graduating, in most cases moreso. Obviously there's more to winning football games than pure athleticism, and we need guys to step up and to keep developing - that's what coaching is for. But I think at most positions we're in fine shape to reload.

 

[irishroo]

Biggest loss for next season is, IMO, Zack Martin. Given that I'm only 22 but Zack is the best offensive lineman I've seen at ND in my lifetime and was universally liked and respected by teammates and coaches. Will be EXTREMELY difficult to replace, more so than any other individual player from this year's team.

 

[philipm31]

Biggest holes are at defensive line and wide receivers.

If Tuitt comes back and we don't have any big injuries the DL should be solid.

If a couple of the young receivers (Robinson, Fuller, Hunter, Brent) have breakout years we should be fine there as well.

Edit: obviously linebackers is a concern too, but I think we will be fine with Jaylon, *Morgan*, K Moore, Deeb, Randolph, Ishaq, Okwara, and company.

What about SPECIAL TEAMS???

We have had a huge hole on that side of the ball, as far as the KR and PR teams are concerned. We need a much more complete team to survive such a rugged schedule.

And I get the distinct feeling that GAIII will be leaving after this year and transferring, which may not actually be a bad thing, honestly.

 

[philipm31]

Biggest loss for next season is, IMO, Zack Martin. Given that I'm only 22 but Zack is the best offensive lineman I've seen at ND in my lifetime and was universally liked and respected by teammates and coaches. Will be EXTREMELY difficult to replace, more so than any other individual player from this year's team.

He is great and all, but certainly there have been a lot better OL's than Mr. Martin in ND history.

He will be missed, to be sure, though.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

He is great and all, but certainly there have been a lot better OL's than Mr. Martin in ND history.

He will be missed, to be sure, though.

I have to agree that since I started watching ND football in 1993, Martin is probably a top 5 for me. Jeff Faine was really good, though he played center not tackle. I honestly can not think of another player that I think was better than Martin is today. I'm sure there are some but I didn't really start paying attention to players' names until the late 90's.

 

[philipm31]

I have to agree that since I started watching ND football in 1993, Martin is probably a top 5 for me. Jeff Faine was really good, though he played center not tackle. I honestly can not think of another player that I think was better than Martin is today. I'm sure there are some but I didn't really start paying attention to players' names until the late 90's.

Faine, Grunhard, and Aaron Taylor were all better....ESPECIALLY Taylor.

 

[Irishman77]

Mirko Jurkovic, Luke petitgout also.

Faine was nasty but not as gifted as Martin.

 

[Irish YJ]

O will be loaded. The only thing IMO that slows it down is play calling. If we get the right OC, I can see us blowing the roof off Ds, and killing it on the ground.

D will be a transitional year. I think the DBs make big strides. The front seven will be more than solid if Tuitt stays. Betting that we convert back to the 4-3.

My prediction is that we are shaky (the D)games 1-5, and come into our own mid to late 2014.

2-3 losses if Tuitt stays, 4-5 if he goes. I'd be super happy if we only had 1-2 losses with that schedule.