ND's Talking Heads ... The good, bad & ugly

[Fbolt]

My thought is the team has an opportunity to take a step forward-certainly the Offense. Any semblance of an improved passing game will only assist the running game. Hoping the QB selected will allow Denbrock to push the ball downfield more.

I also think the OL will improve this year.

Defense is solid with a great cast of returning players. DL being more healthy with increased numbers can only help. Hoping this assists Ash.

I am not in rebuild thought.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Wha????
McCord was a junior and it was the 4th game of the season.

You’re right idk why I thought that still give me Carr

 

[NDMD]

From a roster management perspective (putting ethical considerations aside), it makes the most sense to start Angeli early in the season if it's at all close. You likely only lose one transfer between Minchey/Carr and you have the luxury of having a backup QB that isn't Tyler Buchner or a true Freshman I suspect the word "experience" is doing a lot of lifting in this case.

 

[Fbolt]

May I ask how ethics apply?

 

[Irish4life]

It was as misleading as putting forth Angeli will start week 1 on the road because of his experience when he’s literally never done that lol. That’s what I was getting at

Yes Angeli has some experience. But if we are assigning short form labels to each contender I think Angeli - the experienced one - inflates him to like Coan over Buchner for example, which isn’t where we are at.

Carr is supposed to be very advanced in the playbook, if Angeli is gonna win, he’s gonna have to beat him with physical traits, I just don’t the mental side he has leaps and bounds headstart.

The thing that doesn't make sense about the take is that Freeman and staff has shown consistently that they are going to go with the best player at all times....experience be damned. See: Anthonie Knapp starting at LT @ A&M over Tosh Baker despite being a true frosh who was repping as the 3rd string center before Jagusah's injury....

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

We’re not doing the “rebuild year” anymore. This team is arguably better than last year.

I believe this season’s offense will make last year’s look like Army.

 

[NDMD]

May I ask how ethics apply?

It would be ethically questionable to name a player a starter early in the season to ensure he would not transfer, knowing he would be benched the moment he struggled.

Not saying this is happening for the record. But it would be a smart thing to do from a roster management standpoint.

 

[PANDFAN]

Those aren’t road games.

Well they aren't home games

 

[MacIrish75]

If we’re really going to roll with Angeli we should’ve broke the bank for a portal QB.

 

[Irishdawg]

If we’re really going to roll with Angeli we should’ve broke the bank for a portal QB.

I think they tried but Milroe & Ewers decided to go pro.

 

[irishandy]

So we all loved & gushed what Angeli did vs. PSU in the bowl game, but if given the chance to start we're bitching about it?!?! ND is losing more on defense than offense; I think whoever starts at QB will have enough skilled players around them to set up to succeed.

100% no thanks on a portal QB, I like who ND has in house.

If there is a QB that I wouldn't want to transfer right now it's Angeli.

 

[arrowryan]

So we all loved & gushed what Angeli did vs. PSU in the bowl game, but if given the chance to start we're bitching about it?!?! ND is losing more on defense than offense; I think whoever starts at QB will have enough skilled players around them to set up to succeed.

100% no thanks on a portal QB, I like who ND has in house.

If there is a QB that I wouldn't want to transfer right now it's Angeli.

I think it’s Sampson’s bs reason to start Angeli is why people would complain. Starting experience? He has started 1 full game, some mop up duty, and 1 drive against UGA. That’s hardly “experience”.

Start the best player. If that happens to be Angeli, then so be it.

 

[irishandy]

I think it’s Sampson’s bs reason to Angeli is why people would complain. Starting experience? He has started 1 full game, some mop up duty, and 1 drive against UGA. That’s hardly “experience”.

Start the best player.

I agree start the best player. As far as "experience" Angeli has the most as he should since he has been there the longest.

I think each QB brings something different.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

I think it’s Sampson’s bs reason to Angeli is why people would complain. Starting experience? He has started 1 full game, some mop up duty, and 1 drive against UGA. That’s hardly “experience”.

Start the best player.

This is the issue, right - it’s how you quantify “best” player. Steve very well might be more game ready than CJ (though I think the live difference between the two is over exaggerated). Maybe Steve gives us the best chance to win Week 1 at Miami.

But I don’t think any would argue that Carr holds the highest long-term upside. So do you take the hit on short-term results for long-term potential? Which is “better”?

Personally, I think we’ve been far too risk averse to our approach to QB (and offense in general) for like the last decade (this is partly why WRs don’t want to come here). This past year even saw some freshman QBs perform pretty well - ones with worse supporting casts than we have. CJ is going to have to eventually play in a tough environment for the first time; may as well be at Miami.

 

[arrowryan]

This is the issue, right - it’s how you quantify “best” player. Steve very well might be more game ready than CJ (though I think the live difference between the two is over exaggerated). Maybe Steve gives us the best chance to win Week 1 at Miami.

But I don’t think any would argue that Carr holds the highest long-term upside. So do you take the hit on short-term results for long-term potential? Which is “better”?

Personally, I think we’ve been far too risk averse to our approach to QB (and offense in general) for like the last decade (this is partly why WRs don’t want to come here). This past year even saw some freshman QBs perform pretty well - ones with worse supporting casts than we have. CJ is going to have to eventually play in a tough environment for the first time; may as well be at Miami.

Best player means who’s the best right now. If they were to start off of potential, they would’ve started Carr last year and Leonard would’ve been elsewhere.

I think MF needs/should start whoever gives them the best chance to win in 2025.

 

[irishandy]

I think the #2 QB plays a huge role for ND this year.

 

[ColinKSU]

Best player means who’s the best right now. If they were to start off of potential, they would’ve started Carr last year and Leonard would’ve been elsewhere.

I think MF needs/should start whoever gives them the best chance to win in 2025.

Right. I don’t know that coaches are as concerned about the future as we are.

If I had to guess, Freeman owes it to the 2025 team to give it the best chance to win in 2025. I bet he goes with Angeli if that answer is Angeli.

 

[Dale]

I think in retrospect Pete will feel slightly different. It just sounded like maybe had one of those days or was jarred by not seeing the stalwarts like Kiser out there. Even at the end he said last year we knew how everything was gonna look the second camp began. Really? Evans uncertainty, OL scramble, Leonard not in spring, Morrison uncertainty, Year 1 under Denbrock

Maybe was just a bit fresh when they recorded

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Best player means who’s the best right now. If they were to start off of potential, they would’ve started Carr last year and Leonard would’ve been elsewhere.

I think MF needs/should start whoever gives them the best chance to win in 2025.

I still don’t think it’s that simple. Even if Steve is better than Carr right now, starting Carr early might give them the best chance to win in 2025.

I buy into his potential, and I buy into the fact that the QBs are probably pretty damn close already. Maybe I’m just buying the CJ Carr hype. But I don’t want to be starting the season with Steve, switching to Carr mid-year, and then Carr gets his first big-game atmosphere in the CFP, instead of week 1 at Miami. Plus all of the additional games of experience he would have missed interim.

Sometimes doing the scary thing is the right call. The QBs will look close enough in practice but Steve is older, has been around longer, and has more experience in game. I’m just not sure how much it’s worth. How much do we really think the ND (-2.5) line at Miami shifts if we replace Steve with Carr, if at all? How much does the rest of the season shift?

Idk. It’ll be fun to see it all play out.

 

[Dale]

A added wrinkle, obviously you don’t want a QB controversy in the locker room. I don’t think it’ll be an issue regardless, but while Angeli is the elder statesman, what % of the core roster are “Carr guys”? It’s quite a bit since Minchey committed late that are used to CJ kinda being who they signed up for. Add in the transfers have no familiarity with any of the QBs. The leadership aspect could drift to Carr easily

 

[BobbyMac]

Let me know when the guy who wins the Miami start gets passed up in practice. Until RTDB and use the pass to keep the box stackers honest.

 

[dublinirish]

Paramount Press Express | GARY DANIELSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AS CBS SPORTS’ LEAD COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST FOLLOWING THE 2025 SEASON

CHARLES DAVIS TO SUCCEED DANIELSON BEGINNING IN 2026 Danielson to Retire as Longest-Tenured College Football Game Analyst After 36 Years in Television Ga

www.paramountpressexpress.com

 

[NDpendent]

I still don’t think it’s that simple. Even if Steve is better than Carr right now, starting Carr early might give them the best chance to win in 2025.

I buy into his potential, and I buy into the fact that the QBs are probably pretty damn close already. Maybe I’m just buying the CJ Carr hype. But I don’t want to be starting the season with Steve, switching to Carr mid-year, and then Carr gets his first big-game atmosphere in the CFP, instead of week 1 at Miami. Plus all of the additional games of experience he would have missed interim.

Sometimes doing the scary thing is the right call. The QBs will look close enough in practice but Steve is older, has been around longer, and has more experience in game. I’m just not sure how much it’s worth. How much do we really think the ND (-2.5) line at Miami shifts if we replace Steve with Carr, if at all? How much does the rest of the season shift?

Idk. It’ll be fun to see it all play out.

I've said this before but during the regular season I don't think there will be a difference in W-L between Carr and Steve. That's not to say I don't believe Carr has more upside then Steve, the team is just good enough to win almost if not all regular season games with either in there. But I think if we want to go anywhere in the playoffs Carr needs to be the starter and with some experience under his belt by then. So Im fine with Angeli starting the season out at QB but at some point by the middle of the season we need to transition Carr into the role

 

[Fbolt]

This makes no sense⬆️. If Carr has no more upside than Angelli, then why would Carr need to be QB (w/experience) for the Irish to "go anywhere"?

Carr does have more upside IMO. The experience he would gain during the season would allow him to tap into that upside and surpass Angelli's abilities. Although I like Carr's potential, I'd be fine with whomever the coach chooses (although that wouldn't stop me thinking Carr needs to be subbed in ).

 

[DillonHall]

You start the QB who gives you the best chance to win the game. Forget about the next game or next season

 

[DillonHall]

So we all loved & gushed what Angeli did vs. PSU in the bowl game, but if given the chance to start we're bitching about it?!?! ND is losing more on defense than offense; I think whoever starts at QB will have enough skilled players around them to set up to succeed.

100% no thanks on a portal QB, I like who ND has in house.

If there is a QB that I wouldn't want to transfer right now it's Angeli.

“Loved and gushed?” We were all thrilled about him making some big plays to get us on the board before halftime. But he was being graded on a huge curve. He was a great backup QB, but I’m not sure he’s good enough to be the starter even against Miami

 

[IRISHDODGER]

The Irish Illustrated guys (incl Brice & Sampson) seem to think Angelli has a lot of support of the team. If true it reminds me of 1993 in the respect that the team (or most of them) were lobbying for Kevin McDougal. Not saying anyone on today’s team is “lobbying for Angeli” but basing it on beat writers belief that he’s got a lot of support.

Powlus was supposed to be the 2nd coming. Carr is supposed to be the best QB to be both highly rated & live up to it on the field since Clausen. Difference being, of course; is that Powlus was a true frosh & Carr has been a part of the team for over a year. McDougal was also helped by the fact that Powlus separated his shoulder in camp giving Holtz no choice in the matter. I always wondered what would’ve happened had McDougal had one more year of eligibility.

 

[MrNimbus]

I love what Angeli has done. But if it's a toss up between him and Carr you give Cj the keys. I just want a qb that gives us a legitimate downfield passing attack. And it's not even completions. Even if it's overthrown for an incompletion, make defenses respect that. It'll open so many options for our insanely good rb's. It's almost unfair how stacked our rb room is right now.

 

[NDFAN2008]

My biggest worry with Angeli is he takes too many sacks

 

[MacIrish75]

My biggest worry with Angeli is he takes too many sacks

Based take. Stay in this lane my guy!