In your opinion, did we make any progress this year?

[solo]

I hate to say it, but I think ND 2006 was actually a slightly worse team than ND 2005.

We downgraded at WR and LB while I am not certain that we upgraded at any position. Our offense didn't score as many points per game (but some of that must be attributed to rules changes) and our run defense seemed to get softer this year while everything else on D stayed the same.

In 2005 we beat competed well with our 2 biggest rivals while in 2006 they both blew us out.

We won one more game in 2006 but also played one more game.

Overall I would say that we were essentially the same team this yeart as last year, showing no improvement and taking small steps backwards in certain areas.

What do you think?

 

[goldenechoes]

I hate to say it, but I think ND 2006 was actually a slightly worse team than ND 2005.

We downgraded at WR and LB while I am not certain that we upgraded at any position. Our offense didn't score as many points per game (but some of that must be attributed to rules changes) and our run defense seemed to get softer this year while everything else on D stayed the same.

In 2005 we beat competed well with our 2 biggest rivals while in 2006 they both blew us out.

We won one more game in 2006 but also played one more game.

Overall I would say that we were essentially the same team this yeart as last year, showing no improvement and taking small steps backwards in certain areas.

What do you think?

I think we are worse in all facets of the game except the D-line.

1. In LBs and kicking we are WAY worse.
2. Secondary didnt improve at all save for the incredible progress of Richardson.
3. O-line has been talked about enough. Huge props to the rook.
4. Mcknight doesnt hold a candle to Stovall. The rest of the WR core played less than inspired most games. Grimes will prove to be a good 3rd receiver.
5. DWalk is DWalk. He lives and dies with the O-line. RB is the deepest position on our roster.

 

[irish4life99]

No, the biggest dissapointments were the OL (although they seem to get it together for the last game of the year) and I thought Wooden would have improved. Nothing on defense at all.

 

[username]

Team got worse. Incompetent o-line coach. Incompetent defensive coordinator. Non-existent running game, and Darius is not the best back on the team.

 

[irishfan81]

My take is that we thought we could just roll over anybody in football. Guess what we can't we don't have the talent it takes. We need at least 3 more Top 5 recruiting classes. No disrespect to The Shark and Zibby but I think the off season activities really killed us. We need a whole new attitude. This was pathetic and next year will be too. We need some changes on the coaching staff. Starting with Rick "THE WORST DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR EVER" Minter, and the Line coaches any body that has a say on Defense. Get rid of them all. Charlie needs to focus on Defense for a long time. We need changes in our attitude. I have yet to see NASTY Football. Nor have I seen us get pissed off and ready to give a can of whoopass to top teams like this year Michigan, USC almost didn't even win against Michigan State. I saw that in the Holtz years. We need changes.

 

[sonomairishfan]

I hate to say it, but I think ND 2006 was actually a slightly worse team than ND 2005.

We downgraded at WR and LB while I am not certain that we upgraded at any position. Our offense didn't score as many points per game (but some of that must be attributed to rules changes) and our run defense seemed to get softer this year while everything else on D stayed the same.

In 2005 we beat competed well with our 2 biggest rivals while in 2006 they both blew us out.

We won one more game in 2006 but also played one more game.

Overall I would say that we were essentially the same team this yeart as last year, showing no improvement and taking small steps backwards in certain areas.

What do you think?

i think that our improvements were made on the practice field and recruiting. we got some really good ballplayers coming in this spring and a handful of freshman got some good experience in games this year. the two running backs will be fun. i wouldn't be surprised to see 25 lining up wide in the future as rocket did. our young DB's had a rough time, but they are big and fast. with the right coaching they will be good.

i think walker improved dramatically on his pass protection and catching.

mistake to put 26 at linebacker, but you have to keep your atheletes on the field so i can understand it.

our WR's dropped off. disappointed in both 83 and 5 this year. niether of them really became a game breaker. 83 had the ucla catch but he never took over a game.
#11 showed good improvement in getting open and catching the ball, he will be pretty good.
carlson was a really nice surprise. i think he is better than fassano.

 

[sonomairishfan]

Team got worse. Incompetent o-line coach. Incompetent defensive coordinator. Non-existent running game, and Darius is not the best back on the team.

which back is better and why?

 

[Vince Young]

I think we improved. Our schedule was tougher this year, and our winning percentage was slightly higher. I call that improvement.

BUT... we ain't where we need to be yet, and Charlie knows it. As he said last night post-game, we're a good, solid team right now, but we're not a great team. Not yet. I think we can still get there, and I believe Charlie is the man who can get us there.

 

[bbrennan]

No improvement on the field at all. Biggest disappointment is that we seemed to play without passion in a lot of these games this year. We either came out flat or we came out tight. I don't know if these guys read too many press clippings coming into the season or what, but we sure seemed to lose some of the fire we had last year.

This is a real concern going into next year. We will be a lot younger next year, and if the senior leadership this year couldn't play through this or set a proper tone for gameday I am not sure we can expect freshman and sophomores to do much better. Without more passion and fire and intensity at the start of games, next year could be ugly.

 

[IrishFanDC]

No improvement on the field at all.

I would have to say it was a step back. How many games did a weaker opponent linger before someone finally woke up? UCLA's D line was something else, but to go 3 and 1/2 quarters of lackluster offense is a little more than is necessary.

This is a real concern going into next year. We will be a lot younger next year, and if the senior leadership this year couldn't play through this or set a proper tone for gameday I am not sure we can expect freshman and sophomores to do much better.

I think it all depends on how you take that inability to play through the pressure. For all we know, the young guys might finally take stock in themselves and realize they need to get themselves together and not rely on anyone else. It's tough to find, though, a group of 18-22 year olds that can do that alone. Charlie's gotta set the tone, not the swagger, and get these kids to mature on day one...or else you get guys who dance around but can't catch (McKnight), pretty boys who show up inconsistently when it counts most and talk trash (Shark), and the one chicks dig but spends most of his final year running for his life and buckling under pressure (Quinn).

If they'd spent less time talking about how Samardzija is doing playing baseball, TomZ is in his boxing, and, before the season begins what NFL team Quinn is preparing to play for, things might be okay. Until the media and the players themselves let that stuff go, good luck finding college athletes.

Okay, I think I'm done going on and on.

 

[username]

which back is better and why?

Just about any athlete on the team is better than Walker. I like Thomas. Walker is too impatient. His motto is "why go forward for 3 yards when you can go sideways for 40"...He will have all the stats because he is the only one with the ball. He probably ran for 3000 yards this year - sideways. Stats are what people talk about after their team loses.

 

[RichardRiot]

Just about any athlete on the team is better than Walker. I like Thomas. Walker is too impatient. His motto is "why go forward for 3 yards when you can go sideways for 40"...He will have all the stats because he is the only one with the ball. He probably ran for 3000 yards this year - sideways. Stats are what people talk about after their team loses.

Too 'impatient'??? Walker??? He actually is a very patient runner, sometimes too patient. Agree with the earlier comment that he needs a good line to create openings for him to get through the seams; he will never run around defenses like Bush or through them like Bus did. Walker was having a great Sugar Bowl until the line was stacked up like LA traffic in the 2nd half; LSU knew he was the only option when the passing offence vanished.

I agree that he is not in the category of a McFadden, Peterson, Slaton, etc, but Walker was the best back this year that the Irish had; I cannot see any argument against this. Surely if TThomas was better, CW would have put him back there; same for Aldridge and Prince.

 

[Knute Rockne]

Too 'impatient'??? Walker??? He actually is a very patient runner, sometimes too patient. Agree with the earlier comment that he needs a good line to create openings for him to get through the seams; he will never run around defenses like Bush or through them like Bus did. Walker was having a great Sugar Bowl until the line was stacked up like LA traffic in the 2nd half; LSU knew he was the only option when the passing offence vanished.

I agree that he is not in the category of a McFadden, Peterson, Slaton, etc, but Walker was the best back this year that the Irish had; I cannot see any argument against this. Surely if TThomas was better, CW would have put him back there; same for Aldridge and Prince.

If you're comparing him to mcFadden, Peterson or Slaton, he's not. If anything, he reminds me more of Michael Bush than any of them.

 

[RichardRiot]

If you're comparing him to mcFadden, Peterson or Slaton, he's not. If anything, he reminds me more of Michael Bush than any of them.

Ummm, I think that I clearly stated that he is not in that category. I would never even try to compare him to a 'speed' back. He is a good multi-purpose back, who is very good at some things (blocking, catching out of the backfield, generally getting positive yardage), but will never 'blow' past defenders.....

 

[aNOTREDAMEfan]

I believe there has been some improvement. We're beating teams that Ty would have lost to. Last year was Weis first and opposing teams didn't know what he was going to throw at them. This year they were prepared for anything. I felt bad after wednesdays loss but I am excited for the future. Charlie did the best with what he had. Wiser people than I pointed out before the game how LSU led in every statistic except for the coach. Anyone who doubts Weis will be able to get ND back to the top has no business being a Notre Dame fan. Win or lose, I will always support my Irish!

 

[SBDomer]

I believe there has been some improvement. We're beating teams that Ty would have lost to. Last year was Weis first and opposing teams didn't know what he was going to throw at them. This year they were prepared for anything. I felt bad after wednesdays loss but I am excited for the future. Charlie did the best with what he had. Wiser people than I pointed out before the game how LSU led in every statistic except for the coach. Anyone who doubts Weis will be able to get ND back to the top has no business being a Notre Dame fan. Win or lose, I will always support my Irish!

Very well said... rep points for you

 

[RichardRiot]

IMO, the following are:

the improvements
-Carlson played better overall than Fasano, but unfortunately got hurt
-we did NOT lose to MSU; ie. they beat every team that they 'should' beat
-3rd WR option (didn't really have that last year)
-thought we were 'generally' better on the D-line
-Ndukwe was generally better in '06 (after shedding some pounds)

the fall-offs
-O-Line didn't block well
-WRs: Shark was down a bit; McKnight was dropping way too many balls late season
-BQ was fighting the ball too much
-LBs were weaker this year (missed Mays and Hoyte)

CB's/pass coverage was about the same

 

[username]

RichardRiot: "Too 'impatient'??? Walker??? He actually is a very patient runner, sometimes too patient."

He gave up on the play and ran sideways. All the time. The mark of an impatient runner.




RichardRiot: "Walker was having a great Sugar Bowl until the line was stacked up like LA traffic in the 2nd half; LSU knew he was the only option when the passing offence vanished."

The problem with the pro-style single back offense. No brainer. Running game depends on essentially a draw play as the only play.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

i believe ND regressed in most areas this yr:

O-line: With the exception of Sam Young, the rest of the line regressed. The only one who suprised me in this area was Ryan Harris...definitely not expected. How about all the false starts?

D-line: Maybe a push. Most of Abiamiri's sacks were accrued vs. weaker teams (though he ranked in the top 10 in the nation) & the rest of the line was always one second too late in getting to the QB.

LB: Definitely worse; too damn small & no "sideline to sideline" speed. I hear Travis Thomas is already planning to move back to RB. Crum didn't do as well as MLB, but will hopefully move back to his original LB position next season. Brockington showed some signs of getting better. If he returns for 5th yr & stays healthy...who knows?

DB: Wooden regressed to the point of losing position to Lambert. Definitely thought he'd be the one to get over the hump this year but he failed to do so. Never the same since the Jarrett play in 2005 USC game. Richardson progressed like I hoped Wooden would...great open field tackler...probably wouldn't have been burned as much if he had some playmakers to share the load with. Zibby continues to bite on ANYTHING that resembles play action & seemed to be playing hurt (shoulder?). I agree w/ those who said boxing was a distraction...maybe he thought he had the Safety position mastered & didn't need to improve. Ndukwe caused or made key turnovers last year... this year the hit on Calvin Johnson & the interception vs. Michigan were the only positive plays that come to mind.

QB: Hard to say Brady regressed...but he did; mainly b/c of the overall lack of support in OLine & no run threat. He definitely took more time to get his timing down in a lot of games this year...seems to have struggles w/ throwing on the run. But in his defense, the kid can't catch his own passes, run the ball, block or play defense!

RB: I'd say a push. Can't believe Aldridge didn't get more reps. Walker more of a scat back/all purpose guy. I feel his pass blocking got worse vs. last year but may be a result of porous O-line this year. he does best w/ skills he has...just not a home run threat.

TE: Carlson had better year than Fasano (IMO) & that's saying something.

WR: Definitely worse. Samardzija seemed distracted...maybe baseball or reading too many press clippings. McKnight nothing like Stovall last year. Seemed gun-shy out there & always protecting that knee early in season & alligator arms late in season. Would drop passes or whine for pass interference on most plays.

Punter: Awesome. Please, come back Geoff Price!

Kicker: Horrible. Cut 'em

Special Teams. pitiful. Gave up too many big plays on kickoff/punt & not enough big plays on return.

Although before the season I wouldn't say this, but looking back, we definitely missed Hoyte, Mays, Stevenson & Stovall. Ironically, the only players who made a positive addition vs. last year were all 1st year starters: Carlson, Price & Sam Young. No other starter really made any significant improvement. At best, they turned in a similar year to last season.