ESPN way too early 2015 poll: ND #12

[IrishinSyria]

I have two concerns with our D:

propensity to give up big plays
incredibly poor red zone performance

Those are two pretty major concerns, but a little more weight on the d-line and a little more experience in the backfield should help with both

 

[BobbyMac]

Regardless of everyone else coming back, we do not, at this time, have a starting QB. So ND could be ranked anywhere from 4-5ish, to 20-25, depending on who you think the starter will be and how much faith you have in that individual. It's not our fault if you hang around with a bunch of mental midgets.

2 guys played in the B1G, 2 guys in the MAC, 1 is the DC of a Power 5 program.... and you follow the Indians... so who's the midget? Lose your tone with me or quit replying to my posts.

.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Meanwhile in Vegas, the Irish are being given 20-1 odds on winning the NC next year:

Football Futures Betting - Bet on Football at Bovada Online Sportsbook

That puts us in a 3-way tie for 9th with Florida State and Oklahoma.

 

[NDdomer2]

I have two concerns with our D:

propensity to give up big plays
incredibly poor red zone performance

Those are two pretty major concerns, but a little more weight on the d-line and a little more experience in the backfield should help with both

Just my opinion, but first year dcoord with vastly different philosophy than the previous. Mixed with youth and you are going to have your share of big plays.

 

[kmoose]

2 guys played in the B1G, 2 guys in the MAC, 1 is the DC of a Power 5 program.... and you follow the Indians... so who's the midget? Lose your tone with me or quit replying to my posts.

.

Terrelle Pryor played in the B1G, so did Percy Snow. Both of them are borderline retards, so these buddies of yours playing in the B1G, or the MAC for that matter, certainly doesn't make them any smarter than me.

My "tone" is just that.................. mine. If you don't like it, then that's a *you* problem. But I assure you; unless the mods say otherwise, I will reply to any post I wish to.

 

[NDohio]

Georgia Tech fielded the nation's #1 offense this season. Yes, Johnson will have to figure out how to replace virtually all of his RB and WR production, but he returns Thomas (the most important ingredient in making his offense work) along with the entire OL. I have little doubt that GT is going to be a nightmare to defend next year as well.

More importantly, I'm not sure how BvG's gameplan against Navy this year could be inspiring confidence in anyone. Based on that alone, you could make a compelling case that GT is going to be one of our toughest games.

Thomas does concern me. There are two things that I am encouraged about though.

The game is early in the year - hopefully the new weapons will not have gotten into the rhythm of their offense yet.

With two option offenses on the schedule, I am hoping the defensive staff will spend more time focusing on stopping the option.

I may be way too optimistic for this game, it just doesn't concern me.

I reserve the right to change my mind if Tech starts out as a team on fire.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Worse than 11-1 is a failure.

I'm in this camp, and I'll do it one better, if we don't run the table, we should be pissed. This will be Kelly's best team, everyone should be acclimated to BVGs scheme, and, barring another rrozen five, well have the most quality depth we've had since the Holtz era.

Clemson's not a world beater, Sarkesian doesn't scare me at all, and Stanford is trending back to the pack. This team should run the table.

 

[BobbyMac]

Terrelle Pryor played in the B1G, so did Percy Snow. Both of them are borderline retards, so these buddies of yours playing in the B1G, or the MAC for that matter, certainly doesn't make them any smarter than me.

My "tone" is just that.................. mine. If you don't like it, then that's a *you* problem. But I assure you; unless the mods say otherwise, I will reply to any post I wish to.

Ok, you got me. I'll cancel 3 of the 4 players since they don't have PhD's. But I'm gonna take a PAC-12 DC's opinion over yours, call me crazy.

We're done.

.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Just my opinion, but first year dcoord with vastly different philosophy than the previous. Mixed with youth and you are going to have your share of big plays.

Yea. They were both killer weaknesses this year, but there's reason to believe we'll improve. I'm optimistic.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Ok, you got me. I'll cancel 3 of the 4 players since they don't have PhD's. But I'm gonna take a PAC-12 DC's opinion over yours, call me crazy.



We're done.



.

Is the DC Casteel or Patterson?

 

[irishff1014]

I have two concerns with our D:

propensity to give up big plays
incredibly poor red zone performance

Those are two pretty major concerns, but a little more weight on the d-line and a little more experience in the backfield should help with both

We all knew with this style of defense we would give up big plays. But we didn't blitz as much ad I though BVG would. That's the thing with that aggressive style if you don't get to the qb and rush him it can burn you from time to time.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Ezekiel Elliott should shut it down in 2015 | ProFootballTalk


Interesting argument. Elliott's already shown he has all the tools to do well in the NFL, why risk injury next year? How would this affect Ohio State's ranking heading into next year?

 

[ACamp1900]

7-5

 

[IrishinSyria]

We all knew with this style of defense we would give up big plays. But we didn't blitz as much ad I though BVG would. That's the thing with that aggressive style if you don't get to the qb and rush him it can burn you from time to time.

Yea, we kind of got caught in a no-man's land where we weren't getting to the QB and we were giving up big plays and we were getting shredded in the flats and up the middle for a while there..

 

[GoldenDomer]

Ezekiel Elliott should shut it down in 2015 | ProFootballTalk


Interesting argument. Elliott's already shown he has all the tools to do well in the NFL, why risk injury next year? How would this affect Ohio State's ranking heading into next year?

So stupid. They said the same about Clowney...

OR you could play for your teammates, and make a run at the Heisman/repeat Natty

 

[IrishinSyria]

So stupid. They said the same about Clowney...

OR you could play for your teammates, and make a run at the Heisman/repeat Natty

I mean, I kind of agree, but it's easier to say that when you're gambling with someone else's money. He could sign with an agent tomorrow and spend the year doing nothing but working out. He'd be a lock top-5 pick. Say he went 5 overall: in 2014, that would have come with a contract worth $18.6 million*. Now say he comes back and suffers a couple of minor injuries. Nothing too serious, but enough to slow him down a little and keep him from showing his physical potential. He might drop to the bottom half of the first round. Let's say #15. That's a contract worth $9.5 million. Then, of course, there's a chance that he blows out his knee or something and loses everything.

If you'd already been the MVP of a National Championship game, would you risk $18 million + for a shot at repeating?



*source: http://overthecap.com/nfl-rookie-salary-cap-2014.php

 

[GoldenDomer]

I mean, I kind of agree, but it's easier to say that when you're gambling with someone else's money. He could sign with an agent tomorrow and spend the year doing nothing but working out. He'd be a lock top-5 pick. Say he went 5 overall: in 2014, that would have come with a contract worth $18.6 million*. Now say he comes back and suffers a couple of minor injuries. Nothing too serious, but enough to slow him down a little and keep him from showing his physical potential. He might drop to the bottom half of the first round. Let's say #15. That's a contract worth $9.5 million. Then, of course, there's a chance that he blows out his knee or something and loses everything.

If you'd already been the MVP of a National Championship game, would you risk $18 million + for a shot at repeating?



*source: http://overthecap.com/nfl-rookie-salary-cap-2014.php

I understand that side of the argument, but even if he got a little banged up like that, he's gonna make life changing money. Like you said, it's easier to talk about other people's money, but something has to be said for your responsibility to your team, and being the guy who sat out for the money when you get together for the national championship reunion.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

You all have your opinions and i have mine. The defense averaged 44.5 points in the last 4 regular season games. And you can say what you want that northwestern game was inexcusable.

Name one other Power 5 team that lost 14 players on defense this season, 7 of them starters, and the next man in at most positions were freshmen or sophomores. This may have been the worst year of injuries on the defensive side of the ball in a long time. And that is saying something because we have had some injury riddled years lately. This year we had much less experienced depth so it may have seemed worse. Without all of that I don't think we lose the last 4 games. Maybe USC but ASU was on the offense and no way we lose to Louisville or Northwestern with all those players healthy.

 

[Riddickulous]

7-5

7-5/8-4 sounds about right.

 

[pkt77242]

I mean, I kind of agree, but it's easier to say that when you're gambling with someone else's money. He could sign with an agent tomorrow and spend the year doing nothing but working out. He'd be a lock top-5 pick. Say he went 5 overall: in 2014, that would have come with a contract worth $18.6 million*. Now say he comes back and suffers a couple of minor injuries. Nothing too serious, but enough to slow him down a little and keep him from showing his physical potential. He might drop to the bottom half of the first round. Let's say #15. That's a contract worth $9.5 million. Then, of course, there's a chance that he blows out his knee or something and loses everything.

If you'd already been the MVP of a National Championship game, would you risk $18 million + for a shot at repeating?



*source: http://overthecap.com/nfl-rookie-salary-cap-2014.php

While I get your point, I am not sure that we will see a RB go in the top 5 anytime soon, so I think that you are inflating his draft position a little. To be honest I think that it will be a long time till we see a RB go in the top 10 picks.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Gotta think Vegas has the Irish around 9.5 o/u for next season. Personally, I see them beating that mark. Playing all them youngens will pay off at some point.

 

[IrishLax]

Ezekiel Elliott should shut it down in 2015 | ProFootballTalk


Interesting argument. Elliott's already shown he has all the tools to do well in the NFL, why risk injury next year? How would this affect Ohio State's ranking heading into next year?

This argument doesn't work, because if you "shut it down" you show you're an incredibly selfish person. And if you show you're an incredibly selfish care-about-me-more-than-winning person, then your draft stock will plummet. No one will want to spend their first pick on someone considered a diva.

 

[Irish YJ]

Gotta think Vegas has the Irish around 9.5 o/u for next season. Personally, I see them beating that mark. Playing all them youngens will pay off at some point.

Thinking that as well. I'm going over. My optimistic self says 1 loss to Clemson. My realistic self says 2. Wish we would eliminate Navy from the schedule. I can see loss number 2 coming after.

 

[irishfan]

This argument doesn't work, because if you "shut it down" you show you're an incredibly selfish person. And if you show you're an incredibly selfish care-about-me-more-than-winning person, then your draft stock will plummet. No one will want to spend their first pick on someone considered a diva.

This x100. What if he tears it up his first 3 years in the NFL? Think he should sit out his 4th year so he doesn't get hurt in the last year of his rookie contract?

 

[dublinirish]

This argument doesn't work, because if you "shut it down" you show you're an incredibly selfish person. And if you show you're an incredibly selfish care-about-me-more-than-winning person, then your draft stock will plummet. No one will want to spend their first pick on someone considered a diva.

dude will probably tear his ACL now

Elite CFB RB's have a hard time staying healthy and productive for even 3 years now: Lattimore, Gurley, AP etc.

 

[T Town Tommy]

This argument doesn't work, because if you "shut it down" you show you're an incredibly selfish person. And if you show you're an incredibly selfish care-about-me-more-than-winning person, then your draft stock will plummet. No one will want to spend their first pick on someone considered a diva.

I seen a lot of players "shut it down" during their bowl games this year. Seems playing for team pride in a "meaningless" bowl game is a dying art these days. I can understand why they don't want to risk injury if they are a projected draft pick, but do everyone a favor and fake a hammy in bowl game practice. Let those that are hungry get in there and have a go at it.

 

[IrishinSyria]

This argument doesn't work, because if you "shut it down" you show you're an incredibly selfish person. And if you show you're an incredibly selfish care-about-me-more-than-winning person, then your draft stock will plummet. No one will want to spend their first pick on someone considered a diva.

He's already proven that he's a winner. It's not "incredibly selfish" to make a decision in your financial best interest. Especially when the college game is so clearly exploitative.

Running backs only have a limited number of hits/years in them. This guy argues that you can expect 8 years out of a quality running back, but I'd argue that most start to slow after 5 years or so in the NFL. By avoiding a whole season of college ball, he can not only extend his expected shelf-life by a year, he can gain a significant physical advantage on the guys who spend the year playing.

Just look at what happened to the Irish this year. CFB wears you down. Once you get into the season, you stop lifting to develop and you just try to not lose gains. If he didn't have to worry about playing for a year, he could physically outclass any other running back in his peer group.

This x100. What if he tears it up his first 3 years in the NFL? Think he should sit out his 4th year so he doesn't get hurt in the last year of his rookie contract?*

The difference, of course, being that he would be paid millions of dollars to be in the NFL vs. having a scholarship to a school that he doesn't plan on graduating from in CFB.

I get that it would be a bad look. Maybe he should smoke some pot before a drug test or deliberately get caught cheating on a test. For some reason, people would be able to stomach that better than they would him coming out and saying no matter how much I love my teammates and the program, I cannot risk my future by playing another year of football. I have an incredibly valuable skill set, but I need to maximize the financial returns I get from that skill set because I understand the league will discard me the second I lose my edge.

And his teammates, they might not love it, but they all won a NC because of him, so it's tough to imagine them complaining too much.


*that being said, the NFL would probably be able to put together a better product if they expanded their roster size by 33% and mandated that every player (maybe every non-QB) take one year out of every three off.

 

[BobbyMac]

This argument doesn't work, because if you "shut it down" you show you're an incredibly selfish person. And if you show you're an incredibly selfish care-about-me-more-than-winning person, then your draft stock will plummet. No one will want to spend their first pick on someone considered a diva.

This x100. What if he tears it up his first 3 years in the NFL? Think he should sit out his 4th year so he doesn't get hurt in the last year of his rookie contract?

Time to transfer back home to Mizzou and declare next year after he sits out.

Cue the sick relative.

.

 

[IrishLax]

He's already proven that he's a winner. It's not "incredibly selfish" to make a decision in your financial best interest. Especially when the college game is so clearly exploitative.

That's literally the definition of selfish. I seriously mean literal, textbook definition.

 

[NDRock]

I think the schedule is much harder than many think. 8-4 is about right.