USAF is a 3 point favorite on Saturday. Unprecedented?

[ITellTheTruth]

???

 

[johnnd05]

It probably is, or at least nearly so. What's your point?

 

[SoCalDomer]

 

[wahoo]

With CW calling the plays I suprised the spread isn't bigger

 

[marv81s]

well said wahoo, well said


were you saying that the last couple of years too

 

[wahoo]

well said wahoo, well said


were you saying that the last couple of years too

I have never been happy with the way the defense has performed since CW took over the program. A good coach tailors his game calling to his players streangths. I think that BQ and the Irish wideouts of the last two years made CW look a lot better than what he is.
Name me one "signature win" the Irish have had since CW has come on board.....the closest was probably when we beat Michigan his first year

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Guys, one can only bash a coach, our line, rushing, defense (whatever) so long before it's boring. We know all this, we expect better next year.

 

[marv81s]

so quinn, shark, stovall, McKnight would have had record breaking seasons/careers if Ty would have stayed at ND?

Weis had zero to do with with their development? Quinn would have been a Heisman candidate? he would have won the Maxwell award in Ty's offense? Give me a fucking break. Weis made them look better than they were. Shark was barely sniffing the field till Weis got there. Stovall wasn't used to the best of his ability.

Signature wins are a bullshit tool used by the media. I would say when the experts were predicting the Irish to start Weis's first season with one or maybe two wins and they went 6-2, that is just a fluke and doesn't mean shit because those teams had down years. I don't know why I am wasting my time.

You all can jump off the bandwagon this year, that is fine. Those of us that continue to believe the sky isn't falling will continue to be patient and we'll see what kind of tune your singing in a couple years when these younger guys are juniors and seniors and have the experience to go along with their talent.

 

[wahoo]

You all can jump off the bandwagon this year, that is fine. Those of us that continue to believe the sky isn't falling will continue to be patient and we'll see what kind of tune your singing in a couple years when these younger guys are juniors and seniors and have the experience to go along with their talent.

Weis had plenty to do with BQ's development and with the wideouts too. That's why I find this year's team so baffling. Other teams are playing young players and they don't look as bad as we have. Due to the schedule, I didn't expect a great year but I didn't expect us to be 1-8 either.
Since CW has been there the defense & the running game haven't been very good. I still feel that if you want to play with the "big boys" then you need to be more balanced and you need to play good solid defense.

 

[marv81s]

i agree that other teams are playing young guys, but they also have a nice balance of experienced guys out there at the same time. They aren't relying on the young guys as much as ND is this year.

look at USC, prior to the ND game. They have a new crop of WRs out there this year. Have you noticed that Booty hasn't had the year that he had last year when he had Smith and Jarrett to throw to. They were dropping alot of passes also. But booty/sanchez have an experienced line in front of them, along with an few experiened running backs to help loosen up the D so they don't crowd the box. ND lost 8 starters on offense from last year, all the skilled positions are filled by new blood, along with 3 starters on the line. Being an offensive lineman is not as easy as people think. It is a difficult position to grasp, so to fill those positions with sophomores, freshman is difficult to say the least, hence the biggest problem with the offense this year. Weis deserves blame for part of the offensive lows this year without a doubt. But, how can you give an honest evaluation of the offense when to start the year those first 4, 5, 6, 7 games, the QBs have next to zero time to throw for the most part, your most experienced lineman, can't snap a shotgun snap, the o-lineman are whiffing on their blocks and that leave the QBs and RBs out in no mans land.

lets not give up on JC either, he's only a freshman. when that o-line comes together, and it will. Latina is a damn good offensive line coach, he has a long career of putting together great offensive lines, so he should get one more year. Prior to the beginning of the year, i had more time sitting on the shitter than playing time for 3 of our current starters. No mater how many stars these kids have coming out of high school that isn't going to translate into a dominate college player, they are still going to play like a typical freshman. Especially when they are surrounded by upper class average talent and/or other new starters.

I believe in my heart that in 2 years we are all going to look back on this year and say to each other, how did these guys lose to Navy? It will happen, Weis needs time to build them up and get quality/talented depth in at ND, its there, the foundation is building. Go back to one of my other post and look at the earlier records of other "elite" coach's. Weis has to rebuild ND, this season wasn't just in the making a couple years ago, it started a long time ago. even one other recruiting expert from I believe Rivals, said that the juniors and seniors on this years team is MAC level talent that Ty was recruiting like he was still at stanford and that isn't acceptable for a place like ND.

 

[Akron Irish]

???

troll

 

[johnnd05]

I believe in my heart that in 2 years we are all going to look back on this year and say to each other, how did these guys lose to Navy?

That's the best way I've heard it put ... I sure hope you're right. I don't quite believe, but I do hope, and that's the best I can give right now.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

I have never been happy with the way the defense has performed since CW took over the program. A good coach tailors his game calling to his players streangths. I think that BQ and the Irish wideouts of the last two years made CW look a lot better than what he is.
Name me one "signature win" the Irish have had since CW has come on board.....the closest was probably when we beat Michigan his first year

The QB maybe, the WRs? Possibly. Samardzija was definitely would have gone in the 2nd or 3rd round.

That being said, I fail to see how McKnight (undrafted and not that good), Grimes, or West helped Weis that much. Let alone a RB that was undrafted as well.

So on that whole offense there were three legitimately excellent players (Quinn, Samardzija, and Harris)...and the rest...well, they played but by no means made anyone "look better" than they were.

DRAFTED PLAYERS POS ROUND
Brady Quinn QB 1
Victor Abiamiri DE 2
Ryan Harris OT 3
Derek Landri DT 5
Mike Richardson CB 6
Dan Santucci OG 7
Nedu Ndukwe S 7

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Just because you go undrafted doesn't mean you aren't a good solid player. Everyone knows DWalk was always good for a dump off pass or a screen, he just wasn't what the NFL teams were looking for. Look at Eric Crouch, i don't think he was drafted and he was the Heisman trophy winner, Troy Smith won the Heisman and didn't get drafted until the late rounds and i dont think hes gotten close enough to sniff the field. What you need to be a good college ball player and a good NFL player are different.

 

[johnnd05]

LMI, Stovall was really good as well - he went pretty high in 2005. He's probably a big part of the reason why there was a dropoff from '05 to '06.

 

[KAPLAN]

Back to the post. They might be a 3 point favorite but they do not run a gimmic offense, navy, so we should overwelm them with our size and athletic ability. I think we will win by atleast 10. Take that to the bank. ND's D will show up and the QB for Air Force, will be in PAIN. This is not me being a homer, this is the truth. They cannot stop a 3 man rush and any blitzes will get through.

On Offense I think we will pound the ball and our line will overwelm them to the point we get 5+ yards a carry. Expect last weeks Offense and the D will step up. Itellthetruth is also a douche.

 

[WalshND]

I Troll The Truth

 

[Domer Homer]

Back to the post. They might be a 3 point favorite but they do not run a gimmic offense, navy, so we should overwelm them with our size and athletic ability. I think we will win by atleast 10. Take that to the bank. ND's D will show up and the QB for Air Force, will be in PAIN. This is not me being a homer, this is the truth. They cannot stop a 3 man rush and any blitzes will get through.

On Offense I think we will pound the ball and our line will overwelm them to the point we get 5+ yards a carry. Expect last weeks Offense and the D will step up. Itellthetruth is also a douche.

Kaplan, I hope you're right, but AF is no slouch team as proven by close games in 1991, 1994, 2000, and a lost in 1996. I'd love to get a win, but more than anything I'm looking for progress and a solid 60 minutes of football. The key to me is establishing the running game early and picking up some first downs. I'd also very much like to see the D step up and make AF go 3 and out a few times, and if the planets align, cause a turnover or two.

The team looked a little better against an under-sized group last week, here's hoping for a little more confidence and greater improvement this go round.

 

[Newc]

You also have to consider that every team that we normally trouce year in and year out are going to be more than pumped to stick it to the Irish in their down year. I can't help but believe that AF, like Navy, will play beyond thier talent this weekend which will make this game pretty interesting. On paper, yea, the Irish should win this game do to their size advantage and their talent advantage, but we all saw how that worked out against Navy.

The Irish are just going to have to come out and play solid, mistake-free ball for 60 minutes. Sure its cliche, but with this team this year it seems like you've gotta emphasize those givens.

 

[JeremyND07]

???

troll!!! Why is he still here?

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

If this doesn't give us motivation, I don't know what will. I'm going to this game, and it'd be great to see the team come together on both sides of the ball. Also JC should start if 100 percent healthy.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Just because you go undrafted doesn't mean you aren't a good solid player. Everyone knows DWalk was always good for a dump off pass or a screen, he just wasn't what the NFL teams were looking for.

DWalk was a fine player, but he was not a star. He would not have started at any top program. USC, LSU, Florida, Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, etc. Heck, he would have ridden the pine at Cal and Oregon.

He was fine for a dump pass or pass protection. But as a RUNNER he did NOT make Weis look good.

Look at Eric Crouch, i don't think he was drafted and he was the Heisman trophy winner

Crouch was drafted because he was an amazing athlete. His talent was clear.

Troy Smith won the Heisman and didn't get drafted until the late rounds and i dont think hes gotten close enough to sniff the field.

He's a rookie and he STILL has more talent than Walker.

What you need to be a good college ball player and a good NFL player are different.

I agree to a point. However, the fact remains that Walker was not a top performer in college ball or even by ND standards.

Without Quinn being the QB, Walker NEVER would have gotten the yardage he did. Some people say the Running Game opens up the passing game. Well, ND was different...our passing game opened up the run game. And even then, our run game was weak sauce.

As soon as a team locked down our receivers the game was over.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

LMI, Stovall was really good as well - he went pretty high in 2005. He's probably a big part of the reason why there was a dropoff from '05 to '06.

Without question. Stovall was a better receiver than The Shark in many ways. Replacing him with McKnight was a HUGE drop off in talent.

Given that drop off, we still won 10 games. Go figure.

When you see the overall spike in scoring from 2004 to 2005 you begin to realize that Weis took players who could digest a LOT of schemes and plays...and they won. Right now, Weis has as much talent as he had then, but its youthful and he treated them like they were seniors not Frosh or Sophs. That where Weis made a mistake.

However, to say that players like McKnight or Walker made Weis look better than he was...that's ABSURD.

 

[ITellTheTruth]

Line is holding. I am taking the Dome +3. However, if Charlie Weis goes for it on every 4th down again and loses this game based on field position I just may have to drive up to South Bend and throw some cheeseburgers at him.

 

[Newc]

Line is holding. I am taking the Dome +3. However, if Charlie Weis goes for it on every 4th down again and loses this game based on field position I just may have to drive up to South Bend and throw some cheeseburgers at him.

Really?? This is gonna be the game that finally does you in?

 

[wahoo]

On Offense I think we will pound the ball and our line will overwelm them to the point we get 5+ yards a carry. Expect last weeks Offense and the D will step up. Itellthetruth is also a douche.

We should be able to pound the ball....it's the same situation as Navy. I am not sure if CW has the patience to do that. Also watch out for the Falcon QB...he is a 4yr starter....is a very good runner...and throws the ball with very good accuracy.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

God wouldn't let the Irish lose on my first visit to ND. Mark that down.

 

[wahoo]

God wouldn't let the Irish lose on my first visit to ND. Mark that down.

I sure hope you are right! It is a wonderful experience going to South Bend. My wife said she never saw me so happy when we went there 3 yrs ago. What a memorable experience that I will always hold dear to me!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Then keep the faith. We haven't won with regularity since the mid 90's. One more year isn't going to matter, especially if CW keeps bringing in top flight recruits. If CW isn't the answer, we'll know next year, and especially in '09. At least he won't leave the cupboard bare like Ty did.

 

[Easton Pa ND Fan]

ND points scored and margins...

ND points scored and margins...

Ran the prediction program 4 times and it had ND's
score/win margins as 28/3, 36/7, 35/10 and 32/10.
Since my pick'em record over the last several games
is slowly sinking, I'll stay conservative with the
28/3...Tom

GoIrish!!