Watch Bama and LSU

[NDinL.A.]

The only difference is the dline. Are d line and young and inexperienced. We have size and speed in our back seven.

Manti Te'o 6'2 244 Rolando McClain 6'4 255

Brian Smith 6'3 250 Dont'a Hightower 6'4 250

Darius Fleming 6'1 240 Cory Reamer 6'4 234

thats not that big of a dispairity

d line is the biggest difference

ian williams 6'2 295 Mount Cody 6'5 354

Ethan Johnson 6'4 280 Brandon Deadrick 6-4 306

Kapron Lewis Moore 6'4 270 L Washington 6'5 290

Jason, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but our defense, LBs and secondary included, aren't very good. Our LBs might have some size to them, but it doesn't mean they are as good as the LBs on LSU, FL, Bama, South Carolina, etc.

Brian Smith, I hate to tell you, has not had a good year AT ALL (finally played decently last week). Te'o, as much as I love him, has barely played, and has acknowledged he has no idea what he's doing a ton of the time out there now that he is playing. Fleming plays DE also, meaning we have guys like Toryan Smaith and Scott Smith playing too much football. All of our LBs, aside from Manti Te'o who really isn't ready yet, wouldn't sniff playing at the aforementioned schools.

And our secondary...don't even get me started. What was supposed to be a strength has turned into a major weakness. I think we have the talent to turn it around back there, but to this point are nowhere near as good as the secondaries in the SEC. A better D-line would help the LBs and secondary, but even with that, the top defensive talent is in the SEC.

If you want to talk about comparisons in our favor, then let's talk about QB play, and offensive scheme. That is something we have in our favor. But defense...in both talent and scheme, we are LIGHT YEARS behind the top SEC defenses. Believe that...

 

[WabashFalcon]

Now from you, LA, I can take the harsh realities.

 

[jason_h537]

Jason, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but our defense, LBs and secondary included, aren't very good. Our LBs might have some size to them, but it doesn't mean they are as good as the LBs on LSU, FL, Bama, South Carolina, etc.

Brian Smith, I hate to tell you, has not had a good year AT ALL (finally played decently last week). Te'o, as much as I love him, has barely played, and has acknowledged he has no idea what he's doing a ton of the time out there now that he is playing. Fleming plays DE also, meaning we have guys like Toryan Smaith and Scott Smith playing too much football. All of our LBs, aside from Manti Te'o who really isn't ready yet, wouldn't sniff playing at the aforementioned schools.

And our secondary...don't even get me started. What was supposed to be a strength has turned into a major weakness. I think we have the talent to turn it around back there, but to this point are nowhere near as good as the secondaries in the SEC. A better D-line would help the LBs and secondary, but even with that, the top defensive talent is in the SEC.

If you want to talk about comparisons in our favor, then let's talk about QB play, and offensive scheme. That is something we have in our favor. But defense...in both talent and scheme, we are LIGHT YEARS behind the top SEC defenses. Believe that...

Did not say they were as good but i hear time and time again about how fast and big the SEC defenses are compared to ours and its not true.

Another BIG diffrence, and this goes to whoever was saying Iowa can win with less talent has to with our youth on D. 4 of our front 7 are in their first and second season which means they are learning on the job.

The original argument was that Alabama's d is so much bigger and faster than ours. With the exception of our d-line, any of our current starters could play in the SEC right now.

 

[JefMaj]

Full circle: there are three good (or great) defensive teams in the SEC. Since no one in the SEC has an impressive record against a non-conference schedule worth the price of a discounted student ticket, and will never play one (except those Chaz. Sou., Citedel, Louisiana Laf/Monroe/Tech, etc..... we'll never know how good they are (case in point: last year Bama was a power and got schooled when they finally played a decent out of conference Utah team) - for all we know Florida played the 3rd best team in the Big 12 last year (with that crazy tie breaker system). Bama is a monster though - has Florida played more than one team with a winning FBS schedule? We thought our D was great when practicing against ourselves. The SEC plays a cupcake non-conference and is supposed great because they play amongst themselves. Now, again - Bama terrifies me - imagine if they had a premier receiver - - Jones would play behind Floyd, Tate, and maybe further down if he couldn't block. Julio Jones Stats, News, Photos - Alabama Crimson Tide - NCAA College Football - ESPN

 

[DirtySecret]

Why does every always assume that the good players are academically retarded. Smart kids can play just aswell. We should be glad ND sets the standard and stop complaining about and using it as excuses.

I wouldn't goes as far as saying retarded, but academically lazy, yes. Maybe you should refer back and continue reading this thread instead of nitpicking or reading parts of it. I'll say it again for you in case you missed my post. There are talented players out there who keep their head in the books, but that's very far few in between.

It's not excuse, it's a fact. I would love for the NCAA to take kids who play football for SEC colleges, sit'em down and have them take the NFL wonderlic test. Than turn around, take football players from Navy, BC, ND, and Stanford and minister the same test. I guarantee all four of those schools will have the higher scores..

 

[JefMaj]

Nuff said:

What are the college football graduation rates? : Fanblogs College Football Blog

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

The only difference is the dline. Are d line and young and inexperienced. We have size and speed in our back seven.

Manti Te'o 6'2 244 Rolando McClain 6'4 255

Brian Smith 6'3 250 Dont'a Hightower 6'4 250

Darius Fleming 6'1 240 Cory Reamer 6'4 234

thats not that big of a dispairity

d line is the biggest difference

ian williams 6'2 295 Mount Cody 6'5 354

Ethan Johnson 6'4 280 Brandon Deadrick 6-4 306

Kapron Lewis Moore 6'4 270 L Washington 6'5 290

Compare those numbers all you want. These guys produce

 

[DirtySecret]

Nuff said:

What are the college football graduation rates? : Fanblogs College Football Blog

The only SEC school that breaks the top 20 is Vanderbilt, but that's no surprise. Funny thing is Vandy isn't one of the powerhouse SEC teams.. JefMaj you can post that but the excuse you're going to get will be players from UF, LSU ect. go pro before graduating..

 

[jason_h537]

Yeah but if you look at Alabama. Theyre front 7 has 6 seniors. Guys who had tim e to learn the scheme, the game and get experience. Experience plus talent is very dangerous.

LSU 4 sr, and 3 jrs

USC 6 jr's and sr's

Florida 6 jr's and sr's

Iowa 6 jr's and sr's

OSU 7 jr's and sr's

 

[irishtrain]

Agree Agree- those 3 defenses sell out on every play, its really nice to see.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

This entire conversation can bring us ND fans coming to one solid conclusion...their defensive players are much better than ours.
Offensively we have the size and weapons, which will continue to keep us in games.

If you think 2 or 3 years from now when all these 4 and 5 star recruits "learn the game and the scheme" they will look like an Alabama defense, there's a bridge in brooklyn I want to sell you.

 

[jason_h537]

If you think 2 or 3 years from now when all these 4 and 5 star recruits "learn the game and the scheme" they will look like an Alabama defense, there's a bridge in brooklyn I want to sell you.

i am sure 2 years ago people were saying the same thing about our offense. We have talent, but alot of them play with more emotion than brains.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Not here, buddy. We knew Clausen, Kamara, Allen, etc. would have their growing pains. But we knew eventually they would come around because we saw what CW did with Brady and company.

We have nothing to go on in believing that for the defensive side of the ball.

No one in our front 7 right now would start for UF, bama, or LSU. period.

 

[jason_h537]

Not here, buddy. We knew Clausen, Kamara, Allen, etc. would have their growing pains. But we knew eventually they would come around because we saw what CW did with Brady and company.

We have nothing to go on in believing that for the defensive side of the ball.

No one in our front 7 right now would start for UF, bama, or LSU. period.

Really the fact that KLM, Darius Fleming, Than Johnson and Manti Te'o have all gotten steadily better with each game suggests the future of our d looks really bad.

 

[irishfan]

Not here, buddy. We knew Clausen, Kamara, Allen, etc. would have their growing pains. But we knew eventually they would come around because we saw what CW did with Brady and company.

We have nothing to go on in believing that for the defensive side of the ball.

How about Tenuta? Say what you want about him right now, Weis struggled with young players too the past couple years.

 

[BGIF]

Randy Moss didn't get in because after he was accepted and got the offer/accepted it - he broke the law and it was pulled. Wasn't grades - if my memory serves me well.

In high school he was involved in a racially charged assault and his scholarship was pulled by ND. - wickipedia

Read my post again. I didn't say Moss was rejected for grades.

Randy Moss was not "accepted" by ND Admissions.

He and another recruit in the same class, a RB, both submitted LOIs on National Signing Day but neither had been cleared by ND Admission. One ending up starring for Marshall; the other for Miami. I wrote an article on the issue more than a dozen years ago.

If you followed recruiting back then, you'drecall it was an acrimonious time for Lou Holtz and ND Admissions. Admissions made the point clearly and effectively that neither the recruiting coordinator nor the Head Coach decides who gets admitted to Notre Dame. The RC/HC makes the determination on the Athlele. Admissions determines who becomes a Student. Cerrato and Holtz had pushed the envelope for several years. Back then an ND scholarship wasn't offered until Admissions made their review and their decision. Rather than submit questionable prospective students early and getting a rejection or a directive for additional creditentials, waiting until late January/early February created time/pressure issues. A finesse. Rooney and company weren't caving. Moss and Jackson became the line in the turf battle.


When Davie became head coach he approached Admissions to better the untenable relationship. Davie had no gravitas. Willingham completely deferred to Admissions. Meyer made a request for admission waivers when interviewed. Weis understanding the importance of ND Admissions established a working relationship with Admissions to get a better understanding of their policies to screen propects and not waste his staff's resource nor the Admissions staff resources on high school students that weren't going to gain clearance for whatever reason. For underclassmen he learned what they needed to do to remedy any deficiencies (such as improving a grade, taking additional courses on a subject, taking or retaking ACT/SAT, etc) so they could gain admission as HS seniors. Paddy Mullen had a deficient GPA as he entered his senior year of HS. He was told if he wanted to become an ND student he would have to make significant progress during his senior year. He did and gained his scholarship.


Bottom line had ND been in the SEC back in the mid 90's, both players would have been admitted as well as the other talented athletes I mentioned previously.

 

[CuerVo0220]

I wouldn't goes as far as saying retarded, but academically lazy, yes. Maybe you should refer back and continue reading this thread instead of nitpicking or reading parts of it. I'll say it again for you in case you missed my post. There are talented players out there who keep their head in the books, but that's very far few in between.

When I said academically retarded, I was try to use some sarcasm and a little exaggeration. I wasn't referring to "everyone" as being only the people in this post. I meant the country and media and band wagon fans mostly. But what really seems to make me mad, is that by saying that Notre Dame can't get the great athletes because of their rigid admission standards, is disrespecting the talent of the team now. Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Jimmy Clausen, Kyle Rudolph...etc. Obviously these guys have what it takes to get accepted to Notre Dame, and their all elite enough players to be stars on any FBS team in the nation.