After 3-9 if 7-5 Good Enough?

[BeatSC]

After last season's woes and a 3-9 record is a 7-5 season good enough? If we take a step back and look at some of the real positives from this year I think the answer can be yes. With a few breaks and plays here and there we could defintely have 2-3 more wins but that comes with the learning process 9-3? 10-2?

I personally expected alot more QB sacks and turnovers from our Tenuta inspired Defense this year but I think we really miss Trevor Laws. Next year we need to find the anwers to a running game and add some much needed options into our offense (direct snap to Tate, Floyd, whoever).

I think most of us can agree that if we go 7-5, stay within 24 of USC and win our Bowl game that the season will be viewed as a modest success. Could it have been better? 9-3? 10-2? Yes but 7-5 and a bowl win should put us on the path to 10 wins plus next year. If we improve as much next year we will be in pretty good shape.

I just drank some Kool-Aid and my glass is now half full.....for now.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

I agree with you, i think we were better than NC, Pitt, and even MSU, we just went with cruise control with NC and Pitt and we couldn't get in the red zone against MSU, but we were beating them up offensively everywhere else other than that. We are a very young team, if you look at the starters and who plays a lot and who are the leaders on the team. I did expect a more explosive defense this year as well, but i can say the defense has improved. They did not play bad against BC. I would take 7-5 and a Gator Bowl win after last year. I still think our near future looks extremely bright. I also just read on Rivals.com that next year will be the make or break year for Weis. I cannot argue with that. The leadership will be older and the schedule will be middle of the road. If we dont finish in the top 10 next year, i might be quite dissapointed.

 

[KAPLAN]

We have looking good against Mich St, UNC, and Pitt. The BC game was the worse I have seen since last year. We better show major improvement on O or we will be 5-7 and that will not be good enough

 

[PADOMERNUT]

as long as we beat navy and syracuse, stay somewhat respectable to usc and win a bowl game, any bowl game, I am fine with Weis coming back.

 

[Catsudon]

next year's schedule is easier...so we better get at least 10+ wins.

 

[General Colon Bowel]

all these people saying we should win 10+ games next year amaze me.
Did you not watch the game last night? We were physically manhandled by a Boston College team that is on our schedule next year. We're going to need some big time improvement from now to next year if we are going to beat BC next year, and much more to win 10 games.

 

[BeatSC]

I think our team was just flat and is capable of beating BC if the coaches get these kids up and execute a good game plan. Remember every team gets up for ND. Probably one of the toughest things being ND.

 

[NDMontana]

After last season's woes and a 3-9 record is a 7-5 season good enough? If we take a step back and look at some of the real positives from this year I think the answer can be yes. With a few breaks and plays here and there we could defintely have 2-3 more wins but that comes with the learning process 9-3? 10-2?

I personally expected alot more QB sacks and turnovers from our Tenuta inspired Defense this year but I think we really miss Trevor Laws. Next year we need to find the anwers to a running game and add some much needed options into our offense (direct snap to Tate, Floyd, whoever).

I think most of us can agree that if we go 7-5, stay within 24 of USC and win our Bowl game that the season will be viewed as a modest success. Could it have been better? 9-3? 10-2? Yes but 7-5 and a bowl win should put us on the path to 10 wins plus next year. If we improve as much next year we will be in pretty good shape.

I just drank some Kool-Aid and my glass is now half full.....for now.

ND has to be one of the only schools that doesn't consider increasing the previous season's win total by four, a success.

I think that it's interesting to note that we have, or will have, played five teams that were in the Top 25 at some point this year: Pitt, NC, BC, MSU and USC....so much for our "soft schedule".

 

[ngineris]

great point!! Those teams that we lost against are not bad teams. We still have a young team and we still look a lot better then last year. We didn't look that good this weekend or the against msu, but we looked pretty good in the other losses. We will get better with experience and our great recruitig as of late. be patiente and believe in our team. Stop beating our team to the ground.

Go IRISH!!

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
The total measuring stick will be 2009. We will have an offense with all 2-3 year starters. We will have a fast and agressive D. We have a favorable schedule. All the recruits will be Charlie's. The reality is that if CW does not win a minimum of 10 games he should have his walking papers. Look at the schedule and our team and I do not see how you can disagree.

 

[phork]

all these people saying we should win 10+ games next year amaze me.
Did you not watch the game last night? We were physically manhandled by a Boston College team that is on our schedule next year. We're going to need some big time improvement from now to next year if we are going to beat BC next year, and much more to win 10 games.

Bama is 10-0 and headed to the NC game after a 6-6 finish.

If we aren't 11-1 or 12-0 next year, we never will be under this coaching regime.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Bama is 10-0 and headed to the NC game after a 6-6 finish.

If we aren't 11-1 or 12-0 next year, we never will be under this coaching regime.

This analogy is the one that gives me hope and has allowed me to skip the agony of watching the BC game I missed on DVR. Alabama lost to UL-Monroe last year. They are now a stone's throw away from competing for the whole enchilada A YEAR LATER. I do believe there are some parallels.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

After 3-9 is 7-5 good enough?............ask me that question when we have won 7 games.
Not trying to sound like an A-hole but we have just dropped 3 of our last 4 to teams we were supposed to beat and just got humiliated in Boston. From here on out I dont see Navy or even Syracuse for that matter as a certain victory even though I think we will win.

 

[irish4ever]

After last season's woes and a 3-9 record is a 7-5 season good enough?

It's gonna have to be because that's the best that they can get (no chance against U$C). Sun Bowl, here comes the Irish. Heopfully, that will be win num

 

[irish4ever]

number eight!

 

[AlumniHall98]

The Enormity of Next Season

The Enormity of Next Season

Hi guys..

Thanks to all for your insightful posts - I must admit, I was on the ledge saturday night after that debacle in Chestnut Hill, but it always soothes my heart and soul coming in to this forum and hearing what all of you great people have to say.

Listen, here is my take on this - the bottom line is that we are a young and inexperienced team, but that doesn't excuse a lack of discipline, nor does it excuse a lack of heart. What I saw out there saturday night was a team that appeared dejected and hopeless, and what's worse, it didn't even seem to bother them - you had guys laughing, joking it up, meanwhile we are getting pasted all over the field. THAT, my friends, speaks to a total lack of fundamental coaching, and that HAS to be pinned on the back of one Charlie Weiss.

I, like many of you, am getting sick and tired of hearing about all this so-called talent that we possess, and the great recruiting classes we are landing - what good is all of that if our record at the end of the year is barely over .500, and we are getting rocked by mediocre teams from coast to coast? Charlie might be able to land great recruits, but when that fails to translate into productivity and success on the field, well then he is no better (or worse, depending on how you look at it) than Ty Willingham, who as we know was a terrible recruiter.

The bottom line is this - NEXT season IS the make or break year for Weiss and this entire coaching staff. I don't think too many people expected great things out of us this year - remember, we had a total of 3 wins last year!! Just awful. To finish the year with 7 regular season wins (and I know that is not a foregone conclusion at this point) and to get our first bowl win since I was a senior in HIGH SCHOOL!!!, would, in my mind and I think in the minds of most of the ND nation, be considered a successul season. But this week's game against Navy will be no easy victory - they smell blood, and ND needs to forget about last week, and get ready for the challenges ahead. None of us is delsuional enough to think we can beat SC on the road - just not going to happen. So we NEED W's against cuse and navy, and those are not going to be easy to come by.

If we win 7 games, go to a bowl and WIN that, this is a pretty darn good turn aroundm akin to that achieved by Saban at Bama last year. BUT, along those same lines, if NEXT season doesn't end up like the kind of year Saban is having THIS year, then Weiss must go. As one prior poster wrote, if we cannot get 10 or 11 W's next year, with that schedule and returning all of our talented players + new "great" recruits, then we will never achieve that under Weiss and this current staff. So, next season IS enormous for Weiss and for the ND nation. I, for one, hope and pray for his success, but would welcome his firing if he fails to reach this goal.

Go Irish!! Beat Middies!!

 

[Sureal]

edit:screw it I might get banned.