The good news and bad news of next year, and what we need to do

[Axl Rose]

The good news
-The incoming recruiting class is possibly the best in ND history. It should give us some instant relief and depth on defense, and much needed play makers at WR.

-The schedule next year is VERY soft. Right now it looks like the easiest we’ve had in a long time.

-Illinois has shown us this year that a team can make a huge improvement in one year. I honestly believe ND can do the same, we have the talent to do so.

-The experience and depth deficit we’ve had for the last several years will continue to shrink.

The bad news
-Lose a lot of leadership with Zibby, Carlson, and Laws graduating. Crum, Kuntz, and Young will have to pick up the slack IMO.

-Some players like Schmidt, Stewart, Tate, Hughes, Ragone, ect haven’t been given enough game experience.

What Charlie should do
-Move Aaron Nagel to fullback, he’s to small to be a LB in the 3-4 but would a perfect FB. He’s 6-1 230 and extremely fast and athletic, just look at his film and you’ll see that he can be a dangerous threat out of the back field both running and receiving. I’m tired of the bad FB play at ND that we’ve had for years, time to add a real threat back there. Schmidt and Nagel would force defenses to have to respect the fullback.

-Create an offensive package specifically for Dan McCarthy. His offensive highlight tape is so impressive that I think he should get his own package, a single wing type package. McCarthy in the backfield with Allen, Hughes, and Schmidt would be deadly.

-Fire Latina, he hasn’t done a good job since he got here. Andy Heck and Aaron Taylor are two guys that would be a possible good fit.

 

[johnnd05]

With the exception of Schmidt, all the players you mention there have seen the field quite a bit this year, and not just in "garbage" time or on special teams.

McCarthy is a safety, and that's where he'll stay. Tearing it up in high school is one thing; D-I football is quite another (just ask Clausen, Allen, Tate, ...). Watch him do some damage on special teams, though, if they don't decide to redshirt him.

 

[goldandblue]

The good news
-The incoming recruiting class is possibly the best in ND history. It should give us some instant relief and depth on defense, and much needed play makers at WR.

-The schedule next year is VERY soft. Right now it looks like the easiest we’ve had in a long time.

-Illinois has shown us this year that a team can make a huge improvement in one year. I honestly believe ND can do the same, we have the talent to do so.

-The experience and depth deficit we’ve had for the last several years will continue to shrink.

The bad news
-Lose a lot of leadership with Zibby, Carlson, and Laws graduating. Crum, Kuntz, and Young will have to pick up the slack IMO.
-Some players like Schmidt, Stewart, Tate, Hughes, Ragone, ect haven’t been given enough game experience.

What Charlie should do
-Move Aaron Nagel to fullback, he’s to small to be a LB in the 3-4 but would a perfect FB. He’s 6-1 230 and extremely fast and athletic, just look at his film and you’ll see that he can be a dangerous threat out of the back field both running and receiving. I’m tired of the bad FB play at ND that we’ve had for years, time to add a real threat back there. Schmidt and Nagel would force defenses to have to respect the fullback.

-Create an offensive package specifically for Dan McCarthy. His offensive highlight tape is so impressive that I think he should get his own package, a single wing type package. McCarthy in the backfield with Allen, Hughes, and Schmidt would be deadly.

-Fire Latina, he hasn’t done a good job since he got here. Andy Heck and Aaron Taylor are two guys that would be a possible good fit.

I don't know that I've seen alot of leadership from these guys except for Laws. Next year, we will have more experience and leadership from all the young guys that have played this year.

 

[GoIrish41]

I don't know that I've seen alot of leadership from these guys except for Laws. Next year, we will have more experience and leadership from all the young guys that have played this year.

Agreed, with the possible exception of Crum. Leadership next year is going to come from some of the young guys who play with passion this year. Brian Smith and Walls come to mind on defense. Those guys lead by example.

On offense, Young and Clausen are going to have to provide leadership -- particularly Clausen. CW pretty much handed him the keys this week and he's the one who has to make this thing go. I, for one, think he has the tools to do it as long as Young can get the OL on the same page with him.

 

[jonesman]

Axl,
I like your post, HOWEVER I willl take issue with your leadership comment. I really believe that there is some serious cancer on this team and we will rid some of it with graduation. I think that we will have good leadership among the youth and some returning upperclassmen. I will miss Laws tremendously. I think he is great player and person. If you ever see him talk, he is intelligent and I hope he makes MILLIONS!!!!! As for leadership returning. On defense, Kuntz is definitely going to be the leader among DL members. If Crum returns, he is the leader among LB's. If he does not, look for a young guy like Brian Smith to step up, he shows great emotion and is a guy who just plain loves ND. In the DB area, we will have several leaders. Walls and Bruton stand out the most. They have shown by play that they will lead. On offense, we will have solid leadership at the most important position. QB will be lead by Jimmy. At RB, James is starting to show he is the leader. On OL, Sam Young will be the leader. Today Sully is the leader just based on experience, but I believe he has done a poor job. I really believe the youth will come together well minus Sully. As for WR, I am still looking for that guy who says, "throw me the damn ball". We need a Shark attitude out there. I am hoping that Kamara will be that guy. I sense that Parris could be that guy if he gets more consistent. Yeatman is a good character guy at TE. All in all, there is a great deal of leadership on the team. They just need the chance next season.

 

[notredomer23]

IMO what Chuck should do is put Allen at Qb in some situations with Aldridge, Hughes and Shwaap, and Gray next year, and run the quarduple option

 

[jonesman]

hey Domer,
Only one issue there. Get Asaph off the field. He does NOTHING to impress me one bit. He may bench press a truck, but he can't catch, run or even block worth his salt. Get Schmidt in the game, PLEASE.

 

[Irishknight1023]

I'll tell Weis personally to start running the option with McCarthy at QB, Hughes at FB, with Armando and Tate as the slot men.

 

[johnnd05]

I'll tell Weis personally to start running the option with McCarthy at QB, Hughes at FB, with Armando and Tate as the slot men.

... and thankfully, he won't listen.

 

[wahoo]

I hope they learn to STOP the run and consequently be able to run the ball effectively. Until they do they won't go any where

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

If the O line can start blocking, the offense will be fine. When the defense develops some tackling ability and some speed at the front seven, all will be fine.

 

[wahoo]

If the O line can start blocking, the offense will be fine. When the defense develops some tackling ability and some speed at the front seven, all will be fine.

I totaly agree with you. I am just wondering if CW is the coach to bring this about. The defense hasn't really been very good since he got there and the O-line hasn't been all that good in the last three years either. Having BQ under center the last 2 years masked a lot of defencies in the O-Line

 

[Master Guns]

My guess is that in private the ND front office will probably tell CW to fire an assitant or two as a warning shot. He should fire Latina without being told to do so. O line is just terrible and with the guys they got there, it should not be so bad. So position coaching is lacking.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

While it may make sense, CW is a control freak, and you can delegate authority, but not responsibility, so he will continue to call the plays. As far as Latina, who knows. CW seems pretty loyal, so it would depend on how CW sees things. Him firing Minter is one thing, so we shall see.

 

[JeremyND07]

My guess is that in private the ND front office will probably tell CW to fire an assitant or two as a warning shot. He should fire Latina without being told to do so. O line is just terrible and with the guys they got there, it should not be so bad. So position coaching is lacking.

I agree Latina is a huge problem...even with Quinn last year...he was always running for his life or on his back! The OL has underachieved since Latina got here...it is time for a change! What other assistant would you have him fire...is there a special teams coach?? If so fire him....we have been horrible on special teams!!!

 

[SteveM]

Re: My guess is that in private the ND front office will probably tell CW to fire an assitant or two as a warning shot. He should fire Latina without being told to do so. O line is just terrible and with the guys they got there, it should not be so bad. So position coaching is lacking.

The thing with Charlie is that given his personality, if you are in for a penny with him, you're in for a pound. He's going to do what he wants. Now he may make some adjustments but they will be on his terms.

About some of the Corwin Brown raves on this site, frankly I have not seen the defensive play that warrants that. I'm a Penn State fan too and what really bugs me about both those teams is even with a nine win season, they get hammered by the true quality teams they play. ND played USC tough a couple of years ago, but that was about it. I just haven't seen any magic lightening bolts of coaching insight sparking from Corwin's fingers.