Phil Steele Top 40 (ND #17)

ResLife Hero

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Black Irish said:
That'd be a good game. Provided ND isn't already scheduled to play in the BCS Championship (fingers crossed).
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As long as Vanderdoes doesn't have a good game. I might puke if that was the story of our 2014 Bowl Game. You know the announcers wouldn't let it drop.
 
ACamp1900

ACamp1900

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Whiskeyjack said:
Phil thinks we play the most difficult schedule in the country. Can't argue with him there.
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Nor can I... this year's schedule is just f'n stupid...


anyway, if ND can finish 20-15ish this year I'll be happy.
 
irishfan

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Ole Miss #16. Bama's third toughest game. Would love to see them knock Bama off early in the year.
 
Black Irish

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USC lands at #12. Why are some analysts so high on the Trojans? Is it mostly because of the new coach?
 
Black Irish

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Oklahoma lands at #4. How do they have 3 bye weeks? Maybe ND should look into having more than 1 bye week especially with how tough our schedules consistently are. I don't have the 2014 schedule in front of me but I'm pretty sure ND only has one week off.
 
rocket66

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Black Irish said:
Oklahoma lands at #4. How do they have 3 bye weeks? Maybe ND should look into having more than 1 bye week especially with how tough our schedules consistently are. I don't have the 2014 schedule in front of me but I'm pretty sure ND only has one week off.
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ND has 2
 
Ndaccountant

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Black Irish said:
Oklahoma lands at #4. How do they have 3 bye weeks? Maybe ND should look into having more than 1 bye week especially with how tough our schedules consistently are. I don't have the 2014 schedule in front of me but I'm pretty sure ND only has one week off.
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I think it is also a result of some of the big12 stretching their season out one additional week to compensate for a lack of championship game. The first weekend in December is usually championship weekend.
 
Irishokie

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Black Irish said:
Oklahoma lands at #4. How do they have 3 bye weeks? Maybe ND should look into having more than 1 bye week especially with how tough our schedules consistently are. I don't have the 2014 schedule in front of me but I'm pretty sure ND only has one week off.
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What I didn't like about their schedule last year was OU had bye weeks before their toughest games: @ND, @Baylor, and @OklaSt!
 
Who'saWildManNow

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Outside of our rabid fan base ND has questions all over the place. It's a fair ranking from that perspective.

When I look at what we have coming back and emerging, combined with our coaching staff's ability to navigate a tough schedule with personnel issues....

Im convinced we can hang with anyone.

Will EG need some reclamation? Of course. But nothing a spring, summer and Rice warm up can't fix. Golson is a gamer, he's going to make his plays. Secondly, if he's out for any reason the drop off is a lefty with a similar skill set and a starters mindset. Third string? We're fuck-ed.

When is the last time we had a trio of backs as talented as Folston, McDaniel and Bryant with a bus full of road graders in front of them?

In 1990 we had Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Ricky Waters and Jerome Bettis on the same roster.

I'm not gonna sit here and say we have THAT but it's the closest I've seen on paper, talent wise. (IMO more exciting than Zellers, Becton and Edwards.. Different styles too)

This OL group is a pure example of an exceptional hire in HH. I think we'll see continuous line play into the 4th with this quality of depth. The ability to dole out punishment late in the game is invaluable.

Our WR core is balanced and capable of any attack necessary.. Short game, long game, possession chain movers.. We have the chess pieces. No excuses.

Losing Troy was very disappointing but it's not devastating. Hopefully Koyack embraces his role and stage. Smythe is more than capable and we've got depth behind them.. TE seems to always shine.

Kelly really has no real handicap this year. The scoreboard needs to light up and he knows it.

The only real questions are on defense. How do these guys adapt to BVGs system? Is there going to be a mental lapse?

Can we be dominant in the trenches?

Fuck it.. Just out score em.
 
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Veritate Duce Progredi

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Who'saWildManNow said:
Outside of our rabid fan base ND has questions all over the place. It's a fair ranking from that perspective.

When I look at what we have coming back and emerging, combined with our coaching staff's ability to navigate a tough schedule with personnel issues....

Im convinced we can hang with anyone.

Will EG need some reclamation? Of course. But nothing a spring, summer and Rice warm up can't fix. Golson is a gamer, he's going to make his plays. Secondly, if he's out for any reason the drop off is a lefty with a similar skill set and a starters mindset. Third string? We're fuck-ed.

When is the last time we had a trio of backs as talented as Folston, McDaniel and Bryant with a bus full of road graders in front of them?

In 1990 we had Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Ricky Waters and Jerome Bettis on the same roster.

I'm not gonna sit here and say we have THAT but it's the closest I've seen on paper, talent wise. (IMO more exciting than Zellers, Becton and Edwards.. Different styles too)

This OL group is a pure example of an exceptional hire in HH. I think we'll see continuous line play into the 4th with this quality of depth. The ability to dole out punishment late in the game is invaluable.

Our WR core is balanced and capable of any attack necessary.. Short game, long game, possession chain movers.. We have the chess pieces. No excuses.

Losing Troy was very disappointing but it's not devastating. Hopefully Koyack embraces his role and stage. Smythe is more than capable and we've got depth behind them.. TE seems to always shine.

Kelly really has no real handicap this year. The scoreboard needs to light up and he knows it.

The only real questions are on defense. How do these guys adapt to BVGs system? Is there going to be a mental lapse?

Can we be dominant in the trenches?

Fuck it.. Just out score em.
Click to expand...

Don't disagree with any of this. My biggest question mark on offense is OLine play. I know we have the pieces and healthy competition but we need to see the unit play as one. 5 incredible linemen an offensive line do not make. I hope that each player can be in sync with those around him.

Everything else you said is doubled by me.

One of the most exciting things about this season is there are so many new players, the team will look completely different. Offense is going to be dramatically different with 3-4 receivers that can score at any point. 2-3 TEs, all playing new roles. 3 RBs that will be able to churn the yards out and lots of OL.

On defense, who knows how we'll look? Expect to see more big plays given up, it's the nature of the game. We haven't had to experience the lows of giving up 40-50 yards passes or run plays on a consistent basis but now it's far more likely. It's also far more likely our defense scores points for us this year. We have enough athletes at every level to disrupt an offense and if BVG gets them in the correct mindset (aggressive), I have no doubts we'll at least be entertained this year.

It's a year where you hope every player shows up every game, dialed in. Will that happen? Probably not but I'm excited to watch it play out.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Who'saWildManNow said:
Outside of our rabid fan base ND has questions all over the place. It's a fair ranking from that perspective.

Rabid fan # 1 reporting as ordered, sir!

When I look at what we have coming back and emerging, combined with our coaching staff's ability to navigate a tough schedule with personnel issues....

Im convinced we can hang with anyone.

Doesn't require rabid fandom, how you been bro?

Will EG need some reclamation? Of course. But nothing a spring, summer and Rice warm up can't fix. Golson is a gamer, he's going to make his plays. Secondly, if he's out for any reason the drop off is a lefty with a similar skill set and a starters mindset. Third string? We're fuck-ed.

Agreed. Agreed. Not agreed. I would not want to have to play DeShone Kizer this year if we don't have to, but with the other offensive tools, this kids size, and attitude, as well as his other physical gifts, I don't think we are hurting that bad. I would do more thinking about what we would do wrong to blow up two quarterbacks in this offense in the first place.

When is the last time we had a trio of backs as talented as Folston, McDaniel and Bryant with a bus full of road graders in front of them?

This offensive line group could go down as the best ever (over the next stretch.)

In 1990 we had Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Ricky Waters and Jerome Bettis on the same roster.

Anyone forgetting a Rocket?

I'm not gonna sit here and say we have THAT but it's the closest I've seen on paper, talent wise. (IMO more exciting than Zellers, Becton and Edwards.. Different styles too)

This OL group is a pure example of an exceptional hire in HH. I think we'll see continuous line play into the 4th with this quality of depth. The ability to dole out punishment late in the game is invaluable.

Agreed. Agreed. Agreed, and it is also a tribute to the staff's recruiting ability. Harry identifies them and recruits them. But ME, BE, KC, and TA, with the rest have an improved process. Their success rate with offensive and defensive linemen is through the roof!

Our WR core is balanced and capable of any attack necessary.. Short game, long game, possession chain movers.. We have the chess pieces. No excuses.

Everyone has already forgot about Justin Brent! I was just thinking about that and what a tribute to the noise the rest of the wide receiver corps is making!

Losing Troy was very disappointing but it's not devastating. Hopefully Koyack embraces his role and stage. Smythe is more than capable and we've got depth behind them.. TE seems to always shine.

I am looking for a certain Texas Tight End to make major strides this year, too!

Kelly really has no real handicap this year. The scoreboard needs to light up and he knows it.

The only real questions are on defense. How do these guys adapt to BVGs system? Is there going to be a mental lapse?

Irish Jihad!

Can we be dominant in the trenches?

We can. On offense almost every team we play will be outmanned. On defense BVG better out-scheme most of our opponents!

Fuck it.. Just out score em.
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Téigh, Gaeilge!

Nice to see you posting again!

,
 
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NDJimmy

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#17 means 3 losses. Against this schedule, any better record will be a higher ranking.
I can't wait to see what criteria will determine the 4 playoff teams.
 
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