We gain EG but we lost great underclassmen can we still make a run in 2014?

[Rudy89]

Simple question we finally get our good QB back for 2014 but watching the draft made it finally dawn on me that we are losing two great underclassmen that would've been great to have around for this season (tuitt and niklas) my question is can we do what we did last time we had EG under center or do you think that with the loss of some great senior and underclassmen we may have to settle for one of our new ACC bowl tie ins this year? I wanna hear it from you guys what you think so let's hear it!

 

[GBdomer]

I think we replace Niklas just fine with Koyack
Tuitt didn't do a damn thing last year. Yes someone needs to step up at that position but there are plenty underclass men who can.

 

[RyCo1983]

0-12
We're doomed because of the FieldTurf

 

[ThePiombino]

I think we replace Niklas just fine with Koyack
Tuitt didn't do a damn thing last year. Yes someone needs to step up at that position but there are plenty underclass men who can.

While his sack numbers were down, to say Tuitt "didn't do a damn thing last year" is just foolish. Yes, he didn't play to his potential, but I find it hard to believe you can honestly believe he wasn't a factor at all.

 

[irishff1014]

I would say that Ben + one of the young guys we will be fine at TE. Even though tuitts numbers weren't great he did tie up lineman for the LBs to make plays. With that said i don't think his leaving early will hurt us.

 

[IrishLax]

I think we replace Niklas just fine with Koyack
Tuitt didn't do a damn thing last year. Yes someone needs to step up at that position but there are plenty underclass men who can.

Tuitt basically won us the USC game by himself.

 

[Ironman8]

Tuitt basically won us the USC game by himself.

Him and Andrew Hendrix.

 

[gkIrish]

 

[chicago51]

0-12
We're doomed because of the FieldTurf

Yes indeed lol. I see the advantages of field turf and I get the switch but I got a soft spot for grass fields. I already have a major (non sincere) rant planned for when ND loses their next game rather it be week 1 next year or week 10 in 2019.

 

[phork]

Someone tell me the season starts next week. Oh right.

 

[Irishbounty28]

Him and Andrew Hendrix.

And Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt. I think the entire defense basically played out of their minds the second half of that game. Tuitt was definitely a huge part though.

 

[Praytorian]

It might be me, but I really don't remember EG going to the TE all that much. While I loved seeing that big TE last year I don't think his leaving is going to hurt us as much as Tuitt's. Tuitt healthy or injured still commanded the other teams respect wich we wont see until someone else on the D-line steps up.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I think we stay the same or improve at every position.

What I mean is the quality of the kids coming up, and the speed at which they are developing means we fill in for losses well.

I don't care to get in to an debate with anyone about the performance of a single player, but to me the "hardest replacement" on the team is Zack Martin, with Chris Watt. And I think the improvements Harry has made will put the performance of the first five this year as a whole, ahead of last year.

I also think that there were a couple of guys that left that didn't have the personalities to provide the kind of leadership the Irish squad needed last year. Whereas, I think the younger guys coming up have the kind of leadership the team needs.

From a leadership standpoint, you cannot replace Zack and Chris, or TJ. But after a point it got pretty strained. This year their are twice as many guys that are in the pool, pre-season to step up and take a leadership role.

 

[BobD]

with EG backing up Zaire the sky's the limit.

 

[PANDFAN]

It might be me, but I really don't remember EG going to the TE all that much. While I loved seeing that big TE last year I don't think his leaving is going to hurt us as much as Tuitt's. Tuitt healthy or injured still commanded the other teams respect wich we wont see until someone else on the D-line steps up.

50 receptions for 685 yards with 4 touchdowns-1 tight end's production from that year, he also went on to be a 1st round draft pick

 

[Praytorian]

I think that was mostly Tommy. Not sure if we can fact check that.

 

[RDU Irish]

Making up for Nix and Tuitt (Schwenke too) on the d-line makes it hard for me to believe that unit will be improved, especially since injuries to Nix and Tuitt hamstrung us so bad last year (no pun intended).

I'm also not convinced we had great leadership in 2013. Tons of talented pieces (hello, 8 drafted?) but not the right glue to pull them together. Oddly enough, I am hopeful Schmidt can lead the front seven, giving Smith another year to find his own voice. More experienced secondary will help too. There is definite risk of a rudderless ship on defense though.

Offensively, Golson and Zaire will lead but we need to see a WR or two step up and lead that group. Hard for me to see Daniels doing that since he has been out. No worries about RB or O-line. Plenty of ways to win with those groups.

 

[PANDFAN]

I think that was mostly Tommy. Not sure if we can fact check that.

2012 ND 12 34 59 57.6 436 7.4 2
those are Tommy Boy's stats....Yes eifert was his main target but Tyler's stats were not padded by Rees
purdue game
Golson found 6-foot-6 tight end Tyler Eifert for passes of 22 and 25 yards on the Irish's first series of the third quarter and that carried them to the 3, where he tossed a TD pass to TJ Jones for a 14-7 lead.
Golson led the Irish on an 88-yard scoring play in the second quarter with three big third-down conversions. He scrambled on the first one, avoided two rushers and then hit Troy Niklas on a 30-yard pass.

anyways i don't have time to go game to game but in my initial search of tommy rees to eifert for 2012 season i began w/ this info...now looking at byu game that tommy played the entire game eifert had 4 receptions...