Post regular season thoughts

[BeatSC]

Needs from Transfer Portal.
QB- 1
WR 1-2
OG- if he’s an immediate starter yes
DE- 1-2
DT- 1
S- 1

If all we got was a very good QB I’d be happy. That would elevate our WRs. Would still like to see one more year of Lenzy.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Too lazy to write about a lot but just wanted to pop in and say a couple of things:

Colzie is really good if used correctly if you watch his route running he’s been great. Also that one catch it seemed like he jumped out of the gym.

I think Tyree has to go or switch to slot else he will be buried. Even on kickoffs Styles showed more on 1 return than he has all year.

I hope Lenzy comes back. He deserves a good Qb.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I am, as usual, motivated to stand up for my guys. Looked at some 2023 draft lists.
Both Patterson and Lugg are on them and considered draftable. Maybe Josh won't be; maybe he will.
The point is that he has respect not given to most other guards in the nation.
So, we have to replace TWO good guards next season.

 

[irishandy]

There were growing pains this season and there should've been especially for our head coach's situation (first HC job being at ND).

The players believe in Freeman.

I believe in Freeman.

It may not happen next year, but ND is in good hands with Freeman.

Patience will pay off.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Yeah, I’m sure Harry’s success was due to his two years at UT under Dooley.

Not all of it, of course. But recruiting, game planning and having his units go up against SEC fronts and then learning from each game for two seasons probably helped him become a better coach.

But feel free to continue being a smart ass.

 

[NDMatt91]

Needs from Transfer Portal.
QB- 1
WR 1-2
OG- if he’s an immediate starter yes
DE- 1-2
DT- 1
S- 1

My guess is they'll bring in a QB, Vyper, DT, and a WR. If Hart goes to the draft I could see them bringing in a grad transfer post-spring if Mickey and some of the other young corners aren't ready.

 

[irishrb]

The coolest thing about Notre Dame this year...and every other year I get to watch them...Is the opportunity to bring the family together and cheer them on for good, or bad. Thanks for another season of working your tails off to entertain us! GO IRISH!

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

Successful season. Freeman still has a lot to learn. Rees still has a lot to learn. Given his experience, Golden was the most disappointing coach. The 3-3-5 defensive scheme should be banished. Dline will be HUGE question mark/weakness next year. It would help if we can find another top corner to partner with Ben Morrison. Regarding LBs, who knows what is going on? They have been the weak link all season and yet no changes/adjustments.

Pine will start next year. Buchner is still too much of a project and Angeli? has no experience. Oline should still be good. Wide Receivers will be better. RBs will be loaded. Sure we lose Mayer, but that may benefit the team as we become less predictable.

I didn't expect much this year, but was pleasantly surprised the toughness this team showed. The players overcame the inexperience of the coaches.

 

[ThePiombino]

Pine will start next year.

LMFAO he doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of starting next year. He'll be lucky to be the #3 next season.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[BoredIrish]

Yep. Hopefully Freeman doesn't make the same mistake twice.

There are two things here...
1. MF needs to pursue a transfer QB. I am confident that he will.
2. MF needs to land a transfer QB... This is where the issue lies mainly due to the admin tying one hand behind his back.

 

[Dale]

This is where the issue lies mainly due to the admin tying one hand behind his back.

What’s the list of realistic undergraduate QBs who are entering the portal you want and are worried that the admin is turning down?

 

[ThePiombino]

What’s the list of realistic undergraduate QBs who are entering the portal you want and are worried that the admin is turning down?

Define realistic. Do you mean players that ND admissions would actually consider? Because if so, I think that's kind of his point.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Dale]

Define realistic. Do you mean players that ND admissions would actually consider? Because if so, I think that's kind of his point.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

QBs actually entering the portal. Aka don’t say Drake Maye

 

[stlnd01]

Define realistic. Do you mean players that ND admissions would actually consider? Because if so, I think that's kind of his point.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

Totally spitballing here.
Let's say, I dunno, Kyle McCord thinks he's going to get beat for the starting job at Ohio State next year by the kid the year behind him and decides to transfer. Same class as Buchner. Went to a Catholic high school in Philly. Was a high four-star/Top 50 recruit. Does not appear we recruited him, but he had Ivy League offers.
Can we take him? It's a fair question.

 

[Free Manera]

Successful season. Freeman still has a lot to learn. Rees still has a lot to learn. Given his experience, Golden was the most disappointing coach. The 3-3-5 defensive scheme should be banished. Dline will be HUGE question mark/weakness next year. It would help if we can find another top corner to partner with Ben Morrison. Regarding LBs, who knows what is going on? They have been the weak link all season and yet no changes/adjustments.

Pine will start next year. Buchner is still too much of a project and Angeli? has no experience. Oline should still be good. Wide Receivers will be better. RBs will be loaded. Sure we lose Mayer, but that may benefit the team as we become less predictable.

I didn't expect much this year, but was pleasantly surprised the toughness this team showed. The players overcame the inexperience of the coaches.

He might start but it won’t be for ND. After the bowl, I’d be shocked if he ever saw the field at ND again besides senior day.

 

[NDRock]

Not all of it, of course. But recruiting, game planning and having his units go up against SEC fronts and then learning from each game for two seasons probably helped him become a better coach.

But feel free to continue being a smart ass.

I appreciate your support as I continue being a smart ass. I will return the favor and wish you well as you continue being a dumb ass.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I am, as usual, motivated to stand up for my guys. Looked at some 2023 draft lists.
Both Patterson and Lugg are on them and considered draftable. Maybe Josh won't be; maybe he will.
The point is that he has respect not given to most other guards in the nation.
So, we have to replace TWO good guards next season.

Luckily Andrew Kristofic, if he does not transfer, is waiting in the wings to start 13 games at guard. He already has started at least half a dozen games, will have another year of working with Balis to get bigger and will have worked with HH for over a year. Then you hope Spinder is ready to start at the other guard spot. Spinder is one of the most talented Linemen on the team and he will have another year under Bali’s and HH to continue his growth. What I’m trying to say is I’m not to worried about guard going into 2023 with Kristofic and Spinder…I’ll even throw in Billy Schrueth as a name at guard if one of the other two don’t workout. And there is also a possibility of Carmondy playing guard instead of backup Tackle if he is one of the 5 best linemen.

 

[Blazers46]

Needs from Transfer Portal.
QB- 1
WR 1-2
OG- if he’s an immediate starter yes
DE- 1-2
DT- 1
S- 1

The Santa in South Bend feels like this is a very ambitious list.

 

[Dale]

Totally spitballing here.
Let's say, I dunno, Kyle McCord thinks he's going to get beat for the starting job at Ohio State next year by the kid the year behind him and decides to transfer. Same class as Buchner. Went to a Catholic high school in Philly. Was a high four-star/Top 50 recruit. Does not appear we recruited him, but he had Ivy League offers.
Can we take him? It's a fair question.

Maybe. Maybe not. We are in big trouble if we’re looking for a QB post spring who lost a battle. Should have been the move last off season in hindsight. I just went up and down a list of QBs who you could realistically imagine entering the portal and found literally only two names where I thought “oh it would stink if he couldn’t get in”

Tyler Van Dyke at Miami and Will Howard at KSU. Pyne’s class so true Juniors so maybe they have not graduated. There’s also DJ U.

Otherwise I’m not seeing the imaginary QBs that the ND admin is handcuffing us from.

 

[tecateparty]

This was a fun, weird season. Surely it was frustrating more often than not but it was, if anything, a change of pace from the predictability of the Kelly Years (getting blown out by 20+ in big games).

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

A rough beginning. The Cal game was probably rock bottom. Played tough all year with a first year HC and a backup qb. If they win their bowl it is is a success if not it’s same old same old

 

[BobbyMac]

Portal work will be interesting.

With Fickell leaving, wonder if MF & MM would want to tamper with Arquon Bush and/or Jaquon Sheppard?

 

[calvegas04]

Portal work will be interesting.

With Fickell leaving, wonder if MF & MM would want to tamper with Arquon Bush and/or Jaquon Sheppard?

Bush still has a year? Showing this was his 5th year

 

[BobbyMac]

Bush still has a year? Showing this was his 5th year

Redshirted FR year and '20 didn't count. Has 2 years available.

 

[IrishInMIA]

The team I always wanted the Irish to be is possible under this leadership. An upgrade in arm talent, recruiting, and killer instinct is being realized in real time. As the Freeman culture gets more firmly established, that military precision in preparation that the coach has ingrained in him will be even more apparent in the teams effort on days when the name on the opposing jersey isn’t as exciting. Even after the USC game, I’m left optimistic for 2023.

 

[Irish#1]

Thought I would start this as this may be the last time we see some of these guys play for the Irish

- BK left this team with some huge holes. QB and WR are obvious ones. I think he knew this team wasn't championship caliber and bolted when he was offered the money
- Not getting a QB in the transfer portal was a mistake. I put most of that on Rees. Even when Buchner played you could tell he hadn't developed as a passer. Pyne is what he is. Works hard, good teammate, but man he is so limited in some aspects. Kind of like a former QB who now coaches on staff...

This is on MF, not TR IMO. MF gets final say ad if he was sold by TR, it's still his to own.

- Rees was a conundrum all season long. For me, he gets too cute. All of the pre-snap movement just seems to confuse our younger guys. Don't get me started on Mitchapalooza... Irish Illustrated seemed to think midseason that he wouldn't be back next year. It'll be interesting to see what happened

Pre-snap movement is necessary to get guys out of position and identify what they are doing. I do agree that he was a conundrum at times when it came to game plans and calls. One week great, the next week puzzling.

- Al Golden was "meh" for me. Dialed up pressure that rarely worked. I thought the defense took a step back. They are losing some key pieces for next year as well

My only beef with Golden was telegraphing the blitz too much. Maybe a few more delayed blitzes. A number of teams scored on their first possession of the game, but he did a good job of adjusting quickly.

- Michael Mayer is the best tight end I have seen play for Notre Dame which dates to late 80s. The dude was an alpha from the first time he stepped on the field as a freshman. Going to miss him.
- 8-4 is pretty good considering where this team was after Marshall and the first half of Cal. I was there for Cal. That is the worst offensive half I had ever seen. It was subsequently topped by Navy.
- For whatever reason, this was not my favorite ND team to watch. Just seemed like there were so many limitations on both sides of the ball.
- Huge off season for Marcus Freeman. He has to hit the transfer portal, recruit like crazy, and figure out what he wants to do with his staff. I have faith in him. He grew a lot throughout the year. Excited to see what the future holds.

We're in good hands with MF IMO. He was learning on the job, but appears to be a quick learner.

Last, thanks to all of the seniors. They battled and never quit.

 

[Riddickulous]

One very positive surprise for me was the secondary. They went up against a who's who of the best receivers in the country and kept them all in check for the most part. OSU's corps, Josh Downs, Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison all had very meh games against ND.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Most fans, me included; wondered if ND could get bowl eligible after the Stanford loss so they year ended up respectable all things considered.

We all knew MF would have growing pains. That was known & admitted by him & Jack Swarbrick when he was hired. MF admitted they should’ve gotten a QB from the portal. I don’t think he’ll make that mistake twice.

It may not help 2023, but I believe Jack will lobby the Administration for reasonable changes to allow them to acquire non-grad transfers. It will be met w/ pushback which probably prolongs the discussion but I really think ND changes w/ the times to avoid going the way of Stanford or Northwestern. MF & Swarbrick should act ASAP while the SC game is fresh on everyone’s memory b/c you can’t watch that game and not think of how the Portal transferred that program from losers to winners in less than one year.

As it stands today, the 2023 class; is phenomenal. While there are likely a few who can contribute as true freshmen, this is going to be another transition year that relies on the Portal.

The main reason for the bowl is the additional practices but as a fan, I think a win (regardless of opponent) would go a long way in setting up the narrative for the off-season. MF & Co. gained a lot of hope & respect post-Stanford…I’d hate to lose that momentum w/ back-to-back losses.

 

[RDU Irish]

I am OK with this season in isolation but hate it when I see Michigan and USC in the playoffs.

Clemson is on the down swing IMO, but the way we beat them was primo. Glad we beat SoCar to the punch - without that win this season is a fail. We beat ourselves against OSU to start, plenty of fight against USC to finish - toe to toe with three Top 10 caliber teams (legit, not pretenders) and finished 1-2 for an average score of 24 - 24.3. We weren't embarrassed in any of those three wins as we are so use to seeing.

It's been a while but trading some head-scratching Ls for some elite wins isn't the worst tradeoff in the world.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I'm cautiously optimistic.

After Stanford, I was really down on Freeman and thought the job may be too big for him. While I'm disappointed in the USC loss, I think that I've seen enough to know that the Marshall/Stanford "stumbles" were just that, and not a sign of a larger issue with the coaching.

Tommy was frustrating, but I think he's the right guy with a decent QB to distribute the football. Limited with Pyne (which is partly on him), but I do think he deserves another season.

I'm absolutely not sold on Golden. I don't see a killer mentality and he seems to be meh on the recruiting trail. I'm not sure what value he adds beyond being a steadying presence in Freeman's first year, but I don't think that's what ND needs to compete for national championships. I hope he moves on.

Finally, it all comes down to next year. Kirby Smart went 8-5 in his first year in Georgia...but followed that with a 11-1 second year. Freeman needs to do the same if we're going to start thinking about national championships, as opposed to nice seasons.