My wild, early preseason predictions for 2009

[NDinL.A.]

I'll play along. Some thoughts on your thoughts:

** I like a lot of your predictions. Here's where I disagree:

Clausen is a Heisman finalist, but he loses out to ESPN's bitch, Tim Tebow

Not yet, only because he has so far to go up the critics' ladders, and I don't trust the O-line yet. If the line does well, he'll be on the cusp.

Aaron Corp will start for USC and will throw 3 picks when the Trojans come to South Bend, one to Walls and two to Blanton. Robert Blanton brags about his 2 picks and his continued dominance of USC for months afterward.

Actually could happen, but my prediction is that they'll let either Corp or Mustain start the season at OSU, and then watch him crap his pants in front of 100,000 ravenous fans. Either by the ND game or shortly thereafter, Barkley will be starting and he'll be there for 4 years. The guy is so damn good, a physical specimen a la Carson Palmer.

Joe McKnight will be shut down by Manti Te'o on all of his three carries.

Joe McKnight is a skirt who bitches constantly if he feels he's not getting enough carries, even though there's like 20 other 5* RB's on that team and he gets the most carries. He'll get his carries; hopefully Manti and Smith and co. will meet his ass at the line and force him to fumble (which he does quite often).

Notre Dame will be USC's annual "unprepared game", where USC loses to a team they shouldn't.

I'd love that, but I don't see it happening, only because it's such a huge rivalry and they never overlook us (under Carroll). They're always fired up. If we beat them (I don't see it, but if we're going to do it now is the time baby), it will be because we're better.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I think my pups have learned that a nibble can be more effective than a bark in the game of football. I think the dog pack is growing.

We'll see.

I can't even look at popcorn anymore.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I have thought of more predictions:

- Aaron Corp will start for USC and will throw 3 picks when the Trojans come to South Bend, one to Walls and two to Blanton. Robert Blanton brags about his 2 picks and his continued dominance of USC for months afterward.
- Notre Dame will be USC's annual "unprepared game", where USC loses to a team they shouldn't.
- The Notre Dame crowd will be much crazier than they've been in the last two seasons. Seriously, the last two years, every time the Irish make a play, it sounds like four people are cheering.
- There will be similar hype to the Notre Dame-USC contest as there was back in 2005. However, the following game will not be nearly as epic, nor as close.
- Jonas Gray and his bodybuilder physique emerge as the starter by the end of the season, after Weis drops his mancrush on Armando Allen when his production fails.
- Shaquelle Evans will be redshirted.

Pretty good post. I find some things really humorous. I take exception with a few things:

First of all, I have to agree with my buddy (and fellow Cali Fan Club member) NDinL.A. - Corp or Mustain will get the start against OSU, but Barkley is going to be too good to keep off the field. He will be the starter by mid season.

Also, USC is never "unprepared" for ND. Carroll won't let that happen. They always come in jacked up for the Irish and they get the rivalry significance even when we have been in down years. They will always give us their best.

I will reserve judgment on the crowd until I see some improvement. When the Irish were out here to play UCLA in '07, that Rose Bowl crowd was the loudest Irish crowd I have seen in a long, long time. The home crowd needs to step up, but until you get rid of what I have previously called the "chardonnay and foie gras" crowd and replace those ticket holders with maniacal, vemon spewing "beer and brat" fans, the stadium will not be rowdy.

This year's SC game will be just as epic and just as close, if we are in the game. We are not to the point where we can blow out SC...yet.

I am a big fan of Jonas Gray, but don't forget about our Cali product Cierre. He is too good to keep off the field for long. Any of the running backs are going to have to work their asses off to keep ahead of this guy. He is THAT good. We haven't seen an ability of a running back to make people miss like this guy in a very long while. If our OL can cut down on the chop blocks and missed assignments just a little, Cierre will be a breakout player as a frosh.

Same thing with Shaq. Unless Goodman, Walker, and others really make great strides in the offseason, Shaq is too good to not see the field.

I could be wrong, but I differ on some of your points. Good post though, made me chuckle a bit.

 

[notredomer23]

Clausen2floyd, I love your predictions man, and would tend to agree on most, other than Jonas Gray starting. I think we will see Allen, Aldridge and Gray in a 3 man rotation and make the move of Hugheser to Fullback

 

[Riddickulous]

My useless, Notre Dame-driven life has yielded even more predictions:

Notre Dame Predictions

- Every poster on this board will have a bromance with Darrin Walls by the end of the 2009 season.
- Our secondary will rank as one of the best in the country.
- Golden Tate and Michael Floyd will be THE best receiver duo in the country.
- The third receiver option (Walker, Goodman, or Shaq) will terrorize the underneath coverage, forcing the safeties up and giving more deep opportunities for Clausen's cannon.
- Our recruiting class is going to be siiiiiick.
- Clausen stays for his senior year.
- Cierre Wood and Golden Tate combine for 3 return touchdowns.
- Aldridge becomes the fullback...and dominates.
- Ragone is pushed to the third tight end spot.
- Brian Smith, Manti Te'o, Zeke Motta, Darius Fleming, Steve Filer, and Ethan Johnson beat the living crap out of Tate "The Twig" Forcier on September 12th.
- At least one player will make first team All-American.

Non Notre Dame predictions

- Michigan will go 5-7.
- Florida will cruise to another national title.
- Ohio State will get destroyed by USC in the Rose Bowl.
- Alabama, ESPN's favorite team, will prove to be a flop against their high expectations. Saban leaves for the NFL.

 

[phork]

I don't see Clausen staying for his senior year much of a prediction. He hasn't proven much, granted most of it was due to the OLine. Besides I think its been widely accepted that QBs that stay for their senior years go on to be much more successful in the pros.
Sanchez and Stafford came out only because they knew Bradford and McCoy and Tebow would be out this year.

 

[chyrspchuck]

Though I hate USC they never come unprepared.

No way Jonas touches the field.

My wild prediction for 2009.....I will get busy with several women.....just a hunch.....

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I came unprepared once. I couldn't help it. It was the heat of the moment.
Those damn creamy thighs...

 

[TheMightyQuinn10]

mmm creamy thighs....

wait....

what?

oh yeah 11-1...yays!

reaching a bit i think but i hope you are right....

 

[Riddickulous]

I am very courageous when it comes to my Irish.

 

[GoldenDomer21]

11-1.

We lose to MSU, like always. Its close, but as in past years, we can't get it done in OT.

We beat USC, not by a FG, because we can't kick one...But by a last second brillaint pass to Floyd in the back corner of the endzone.

JC is seriously looked at for the heisman. He puts up numbers like the Hawaii bowl all season. Stays for his 4th year, and wins it in 2010.

We get to see Crist play this year in the 4th quarter of at least 8 games.

Allen sees a lot more bench time and Wood sees a lot more field.

Weis keeps his job, and we win a BCS bowl.

 

[TheMightyQuinn10]

We gonna win some games. We gonna be pretty good.

rotfl

yessah!

 

[z_iRISH_z]

Love the post. Cant wait for the season to start.

 

[jmccarthy]

12 and OH Baby!!!!!!!

12 and OH Baby!!!!!!!

But with a BCS loss

 

[mjbirish]

11-1 season
bcs bowl victory
floyd wins biletnikoff
clausen heisman finalist

 

[Riddickulous]

11-1 season
bcs bowl victory
floyd wins biletnikoff
clausen heisman finalist

The Biletnikoff always goes to the receiver with the best stats. Floyd won't have the best stats.

 

[jmccarthy]

My 10 year old future domer just gave some Kool Aid and...

My 10 year old future domer just gave some Kool Aid and...

I changed my mind - we win the the bowl game for the NC. SI and every other sports rag picks Charlie as coach of the year. JC wins the Heisman. Brian Smith wins the Butkus Award. Tate wins the Biletnikoff Award. Ragone wins the Mackey, Sam wins the Outland. Allen wins the Walker. Walker wins the Grozer. Hafis wins the Lombardi. The other guys win whatever is left. Sorry, too much sugar in the Kool Aid. But I can dream can't I?

 

[mjbirish]

who is to say floyd wont have the best stats

 

[leahy's lads]

I just want to get past Nevada. If we can score 35 points and have Clausen toss for at least 300 yards....... I'll be happy! I will hold my tongue on predictions for now.

 

[leahy's lads]

You're on crack too if you think we are going to beat Michigan 38-0!!!! That will NEVER EVER happen. Just sayin

I think the wolverines will be much better than people anticipate. IMHO

 

[Riddickulous]

Michigan could win 8 games, at the most.