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Bubba

Bubba

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Just found this on FOX Sports.

CFB - - FOX Sports on MSN

Hunter Ansley, Publisher, DraftZoo.com
A: I think Jimmy Clausen's in for a big year. Notre Dame is still the Notre Dame of recent times, and I don't think they're a BCS-caliber team, but with this schedule and what I expect from Clausen, they might be headed back to the big bowls this season.

Clausen's situation reminds me a lot of Carson Palmer's before he had his break out season. Both were entering their third year as the starter. Both were in a pro system coached by a former NFL mentor. Both were at schools with loads of history trying to break back into relevancy. And both were top recruits. Then there's the fact that both struggled in their first two seasons, although they did improve from their freshman to sophomore years.

That's a lot of coincidences, I know, but the talent is certainly there for Clausen. He's got a great offensive line and should enjoy plenty of time in the pocket behind tackle Sam Young and guard Eric Olsen. He's got a great playmaker at wide receiver in Golden Tate. He's entering his third year in a complex system, so he should be have a much better grasp of the offense. And perhaps most importantly, he's got a hell of a schedule to put up big stats.

Six of the teams on Notre Dame's schedule finished outside of the top 60 against the pass last season, including the first three (Nevada 119th, Michigan 87th,and Michigan State 69th). That should make for a hot start. Throw in the fact that the four teams they play on the road finished a combined 21-28 last year, and there aren't many stumpers on the slate. The USC game will be a beast, and Michigan in Ann Arbor is never a cakewalk, but Clausen's got a lot of things going for him, and that could mean a 10-win season for the Irish.
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Bubba

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Their preseason rankings, also...

2009 preseason power rankings - CFB News - FOX Sports on MSN

17. Notre Dame

Charlie Weis may finally have the running game and athletes on defense to get Notre Dame into national contention. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Relative strengths: Receiver, Quarterback


Relative weaknesses: Offensive Line, Running Back


What to watch for on offense: The attempt to get a power running game going. Notre Dame has been pushed around too often, and it appears to be tired of it. The running game has been non-existent over the past two seasons, but now there are four decent veteran backs ready to roll behind an experienced line.


What to watch for on defense: A far faster defense that doesn't quite resemble anything yet seen in the Weis era. As Notre Dame moves from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-3, defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta loves to be aggressive and he wants to blitz from several different angles. He may have the athletes up front and in the secondary to do it.
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irishandy

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Our o-line needs to step up this year as well as our running backs. If our running backs don't step up, please enter Cierre Wood.
 
Bubba

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BGIF said:
Amen.

IF the OLine is great, Clausen has time and the RBs holes. ND runs the table in that scenario.
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Man, we can dream, can't we? I really hope we exceed expectations this year. It's been a long time.
 
jason_h537

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Yeah the o-line will dictate the year. If they can open up some running lanes and give Jimmy time to throw, you will see the team fly. They will score, take pressure of the d, and let Tenuta just attack all day.
 
Riddickulous

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Even a decent offensive line, like in Brady Quinn's junior season, will be enough to carry this team a long way.
 
TDHeysus

TDHeysus

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Junkhead said:
Great offensive line? What is he smoking?
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yea, I wrote off Hunter Ansley as soon as I read that line...sad thing is, if Clausen has a bad year, this yahoo thinks its going to be bad a year with "a great offensive line..."

This writer is obvioulsy hampered by PEBKAC errors.

Problem Exist Between Keyboard And Chair
 
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