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

[Dale]

The really weird part is fans from other teams, who admittedly hate the Irish, have said that we absolutely got screwed by the refs here. I only see BYU fans dismissing it.

Because it’s every week in CFB now. People didn’t dislike the Herbstreit video because of the merits of NDs schedule. It was because of the 24 team playoff and Gameday, MacAfee etc being ass aka hatred of ESPN. They don’t deeply care Greathouse was held, it was because of the Michigan play, Miami/FSU at the same time etc.

 

[Bane]

 

[allenm5333]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7714848/2026/10/23/college-football-playoff-midseason-predictions-heisman/

Pete Sampson: After four seasons at Texas, Arch Manning stuns the sport by entering the transfer portal instead of declaring for the NFL Draft. And in a move that basically breaks internet traffic records, the most famous name in quarterbacking commits to Notre Dame as the heir apparent to CJ Carr.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

He would be a fit for Denbrook.

 

[allenm5333]

He would be a fit for Denbrook.

All i will say is this, on the podcast yesterday him or Brice hinted at a qb transfer target

 

[allenm5333]

All i will say is this, on the podcast yesterday him or Brice hinted at a qb transfer target

Correction. O’malley around 31 minutes

 

[notredomer23]

If we’re wishcasting a transfer quarterback right now give me Devon Dampier as a 1 year rental

 

[stlnd01]

I know Pete is joking here but serious question: Is Arch Manning a QB we would want next year? He is experienced, and, despite struggles, he doesn't suck. He would also probably benefit from a change of scene. But he is not THAT good, and not sure how much better he gets at this point. And he'd bring a circus that I'm not sure the program really wants or needs.

 

[JerseyIrishMan]

I'd poke my eyeballs out before watching Arch play for us. He can't process quickly enough when he has all day in the pocket. Would drive me insane

 

[tko]

Arch Manning is a broken QB. He would be Wimbush 2.0 post getting smoked crossing the goal line vs Wake Forest? Wasn't that the play that destroyed his psyche, a shot to the thigh/hip?

 

[Dale]

he doesn't suck.

but he does

 

[NDMatt91]

In response to a question about how ND will attack the portal based on poor results at certain positions, the II crew said ND will have more urgency in the portal and not do what they did last year. Without saying it directly, they basically admitted the staff f*cked up at WR, leading me to believe the staff won't gamble on unproven receivers.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

He’d be a great fit for Denbrook’s offense. Just think of the quarterback runs on third and 2! Walton will be RB1

 

[allenm5333]

I know Pete is joking here but serious question: Is Arch Manning a QB we would want next year? He is experienced, and, despite struggles, he doesn't suck. He would also probably benefit from a change of scene. But he is not THAT good, and not sure how much better he gets at this point. And he'd bring a circus that I'm not sure the program really wants or needs.

There could be worse options...Malik Washington and the injured Pitt qb are better though

 

[allenm5333]

In response to a question about how ND will attack the portal based on poor results at certain positions, the II crew said ND will have more urgency in the portal and not do what they did last year. Without saying it directly, they basically admitted the staff f*cked up at WR, leading me to believe the staff won't gamble on unproven receivers.

The rumor was the KJ Duff was a legit option but Rutgers paid up

 

[pumpdog20]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7714848/2026/10/23/college-football-playoff-midseason-predictions-heisman/

Pete Sampson: After four seasons at Texas, Arch Manning stuns the sport by entering the transfer portal instead of declaring for the NFL Draft. And in a move that basically breaks internet traffic records, the most famous name in quarterbacking commits to Notre Dame as the heir apparent to CJ Carr.

Do it!!!

 

[pumpdog20]

He’d be a great fit for Denbrook’s offense. Just think of the quarterback runs on third and 2! Walton will be RB1

This guy gets it

 

[Dale]

Arch doesn’t want to run the ball, if you’ve watched Texas at all this year

Maybe that changes tomorrow, Sark says he’s been edgy 😂 this week. But Arch Manning as currently constructed avoids running, likely to avoid injury as to look ahead to the NFL.

 

[pumpdog20]

Then I don't want him.

 

[Dale]

This is the current leaders in QB designed rush yards. An observation: most don’t have NFL futures. The ones who do like Sellers or Bailey have kind of their backs against the wall where they have to show something at least to keep that draft stock, there is a level of desperation there. If ND portals a QB that is a dual threat, you probably need him to be in that perfect area of a bounce back type candidate or just a bonafide Day 3 type pick like Will Howard, Leonard. Maybe Arch ends up fitting that mold, maybe not.

 

[Dale]

Kienholz and Chiles would be the top of that list for me. Idk if Chiles is NFL bound after this year or not. But you could probably outbid either school.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I'd poke my eyeballs out before watching Arch play for us. He can't process quickly enough when he has all day in the pocket. Would drive me insane

Even if he was good, ND has zero PROVEN receivers on next years roster unless Faison &/or Greathouse return or they’re able to sign some in the portal which I would think part of the lure for a WR is a proven successful passer already on the roster. So it’s a chicken/egg conundrum and ND doesn’t look to have the chicken nor the egg

 

[Irish du Nord]

Thoughts on Mason Heintschel? Gamer and would be a true Junior. He’s probably more Will Howard than Riley Leonard, in terms of playing style, but that may fit the “complimentary football” philosophy ND employs better anyways.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Even if he was good, ND has zero PROVEN receivers on next years roster unless Faison &/or Greathouse return or they’re able to sign some in the portal which I would think part of the lure for a WR is a proven successful passer already on the roster. So it’s a chicken/egg conundrum and ND doesn’t look to have the chicken nor the egg

If 2 of Gilbert, Greathouse, or Faison return I feel pretty comfortable with our receiving room. Then throw in the gambles of the OSU guys developing and the underclassmen/Jeffery coming of age and we could have a really solid room. Obviously it’s weird to think about that given the weird usage we’ve had this year but I’m not sure the situation is as dire at receiver as we think.

 

[Sizzlechest]

Thoughts on Mason Heintschel? Gamer and would be a true Junior. He’s probably more Will Howard than Riley Leonard, in terms of playing style, but that may fit the “complimentary football” philosophy ND employs better anyways.

I like the kid. I’d also do it just to hear Narduzzi bitch and complain about us some more

 

[allenm5333]

Thoughts on Mason Heintschel? Gamer and would be a true Junior. He’s probably more Will Howard than Riley Leonard, in terms of playing style, but that may fit the “complimentary football” philosophy ND employs better anyways.

I would take him but acl is a big scare

 

[IRISHDODGER]

If 2 of Gilbert, Greathouse, or Faison return I feel pretty comfortable with our receiving room. Then throw in the gambles of the OSU guys developing and the underclassmen/Jeffery coming of age and we could have a really solid room. Obviously it’s weird to think about that given the weird usage we’ve had this year but I’m not sure the situation is as dire at receiver as we think.

I could see Faison staying, if only to play with his brother in addition to increased bag. Outside of that, what is attractive about the ND offense that would make them want to spend their last chance to increase draft status at ND?

 

[PutuporShutup]

If 2 of Gilbert, Greathouse, or Faison return I feel pretty comfortable with our receiving room. Then throw in the gambles of the OSU guys developing and the underclassmen/Jeffery coming of age and we could have a really solid room. Obviously it’s weird to think about that given the weird usage we’ve had this year but I’m not sure the situation is as dire at receiver as we think.

I don't think it's dire at all, i actually think we have some really good WRs not playing.

I think it's a pretty safe bet we're not playing our young players because Freeman/Denbrock have designed an offense with the goal to get into the perfect play every snap. By perfect play i think it's more the perfect decision on run vs pass, and then if run if it's left or right, and if pass the protection, in reality we aren't getting into many great plays as the playbook is so restricted with this many checks at the LOS. This is requiring CJ to be making significant checks very late in the play clock. I'm confident Walton and our young talented WRs know the playbook, or a lot of it, but they most likely don't know it well enough and don't have the experience with CJ to be doing so many late checks, and then still be assignment correct.

I think it's proven to be a huge mistake to have CJ required to do so much pre snap, couple that with Craigs tells and poor snaps on passing plays, and then an overall lack of creative passing route concepts, you get the blandest offense i've ever seen. With that said, our offense is very talented and well coached at the basics, so they are able to have success even with these challenges. They can execute a play at times even if the D knows what's coming, and yes, the D we're going against knows what's coming a lot. I still can't believe the staff didn't fix Craigs snapping and obvious tell.

I'm really curious to see if they simplify what Carr has to do allowing the playbook to open up and also allow for more rotation and talented players to get on the field.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I don't think it's dire at all, i actually think we have some really good WRs not playing.

I think it's a pretty safe bet we're not playing our young players because Freeman/Denbrock have designed an offense with the goal to get into the perfect play every snap. This is requiring CJ to be making significant checks very late in the play clock. I'm confident Walton and our young talented WRs know the playbook, or a lot of it, but they most likely don't know it well enough and don't have the experience with CJ to be doing so many late checks, and then still be assignment correct.

I think it's proven to be a huge mistake to have CJ required to do so much pre snap, couple that with Craigs tells and poor snaps on passing plays, and then an overall lack of creative passing route concepts, you get the blandest offense i've ever seen. With that said, our offense is very talented and well coached at the basics, so they are able to have success even with these challenges. They can execute a play at times even if the D knows what's coming, and yes, the D we're going against knows what's coming a lot. I still can't believe the staff didn't fix Craigs snapping and obvious tell.

I'm really curious to see if they simplify what Carr has to do allowing the playbook to open up and also allow for more rotation and talented players to get on the field.

Devil’s advocate: for the WR that were here last December, MF was quoted as saying much of the time normally spent on bowl prep was used to learn the offensive playbook. Then they had the entire spring leading up to Fall camp. So these kids are intelligent enough to attend classes at Notre Dame, but they can’t grasp the playbook enough to at least spell the starting WR ~10 plays?

 

[pumpdog20]

Thoughts on Mason Heintschel? Gamer and would be a true Junior. He’s probably more Will Howard than Riley Leonard, in terms of playing style, but that may fit the “complimentary football” philosophy ND employs better anyways.

Lets get a healthy person from the portal for once. Lol