Does defense catch up to offense next year?

[mick2]

Assuming everybody that is eligible returns.

will the defense reach a status similar to the offense?

Obviously with everyone returning the offense could be even more potent nest season.

But Charlie is going after the guys needed to make this an elite defense.

IMO, i think the defense will make great strides the rest of this season, and be a force next season.
Can you imagine a top 5 offense paired with a top 20 defense!

Right now, we have NFL talent on the defense but not much experience, KLM, Ian williams and Ethan Johnson will all play on sundays. McCarthy will be on an nfl roster next season. Manti could play in the nfl right now and i think brian smith could too. and blanton has showed flashes.

Thoughts??? Opinions??

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

you lost ALL credibility when you said that Manti could play in the NFL right now... really dude?

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

oh shit... AND brian smith? You're telling me we have a 100 ranked defense in the country while already two NFL starters in our linebacking core, seriously?

 

[mick2]

really wasnt trying to be a "credible" source of info. just commenting on their play and i think they will play in the nfl some day.

why does everybody have the urge to want to tell someone "youre stupid!" on this site?

if you dont like the thread than dont comment.

And if you've looked at our defense linebackers are probably our best unit.

 

[irish4ever]

oh shit... AND brian smith? You're telling me we have a 100 ranked defense in the country while already two NFL starters in our linebacking core, seriously?

Yeah, what he said! And NO, the defense won't be to the level of the offense (assuming all eligible return)!

 

[mick2]

Yeah, what he said! And NO, the defense won't be to the level of the offense (assuming all eligible return)!

ok so the nfl right now thing was an obvious exaggeration, and i didnt say they would be on par with the offense, but i think they could be a big time defense.

 

[mick2]

oh shit... AND brian smith? You're telling me we have a 100 ranked defense in the country while already two NFL starters in our linebacking core, seriously?

it all starts up front dude, the dline needs to do their jobs to help out the linebackers or the linebackers cant do shit.

i think manti will definitely be an nfl starter and brian smith is a great linebacker.

and its linebacking corps not core.

 

[JeremyND07]

Brian smith is too slow to play on Sundays period! Manti has a long way to go and thee is not one guy on our DL that is NFL caliber right now, sorry! We will not have a top 25 defense under Weis but with the #1 offense next year who cares!

 

[kmoose]

Assuming everybody that is eligible returns.

will the defense reach a status similar to the offense?

Obviously with everyone returning the offense could be even more potent nest season.

But Charlie is going after the guys needed to make this an elite defense.

IMO, i think the defense will make great strides the rest of this season, and be a force next season.
Can you imagine a top 5 offense paired with a top 20 defense!

Right now, we have NFL talent on the defense but not much experience, KLM, Ian williams and Ethan Johnson will all play on sundays. McCarthy will be on an nfl roster next season. Manti could play in the nfl right now and i think brian smith could too. and blanton has showed flashes.

Thoughts??? Opinions??

My thought is.........you have the 100th ranked defense, right now. You bring the same 11 guys back, next year.........why should you expect anything much more than the 100th defense again? Same players, same coaches, same system........what will change?

I think they should be better, but not by all that much. Maybe they can be ranked in the 60s or 70s, next year, but I wouldn't expect much more than that.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Mick2, I wasn't trying to give you a hard time... but you have to be a little more realistic with your statements, and the reason I felt the need to call you out is because so many people make absurd statements on this thing, it's really annoying.

Our defense WILL improve next year, and I do think with given time that a lot of our players on D can land jobs in the NFL, but none of them are ready now, nor even really close at this point.

 

[mick2]

Brian smith is too slow to play on Sundays period! Manti has a long way to go and thee is not one guy on our DL that is NFL caliber right now, sorry! We will not have a top 25 defense under Weis but with the #1 offense next year who cares!

Ok mods feel free to lock this thread up, nobody seems to read what i wrote. My fault for not being completely black and white.

I know they arent NFL caliber right now, They're freshman and sophmores!

I think i said in my original post that we have nfl talent but not the experience.

Have you seen ethan johnson or KLM?

I think this defense will be pretty dangerous in the years to come.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Sure, I really agree as well.

 

[weisbank4]

The Manti could be in the NFL right now statement made me flash to the koolaide man busting right through your wall after you clicked submit

 

[mick2]

The Manti could be in the NFL right now statement made me flash to the koolaide man busting right through your wall after you clicked submit

HEY! i could play in the NFL RIGHT NOW!

i would get killed but i could still play at least one down

so when you think of it my statement doesnt seem all that outrageous!

 

[NDinL.A.]

To answer your question, no, I don't think the defense will be even close to the offense.

The defense needs more playmakers and difference makers, and right now there just aren't enough on the field. Right now they are all just guys either who are overacheivers but not really near elite (Ryan, S Smith, T Smith, etc) or guys with a lot of potential...potential unfulfilled at this point. And the scheme leaves a lot to be desired IMO, and that's not going to change unless Tenuta is let go.

Now, there are some studs out there and I think we'll get better, significantly better, but considering this year's debacle of a defense, that's not saying much. We'll get much better though, I really believe it. JOhnson, KLM, Te'o, Blanton, etc, we've got some young studs. But they have to produce on the field consistently before this team even sniffs a NC.

As for the offense, we lose 3 linemen, ask ask Sam Bradford how that's working out for him. The backups seem capable, and they'll be coached up, but still. Also, losing Clausen and Tate are real possibilities, whether people here want to believe it or not...

 

[military_irish]

My thought is.........you have the 100th ranked defense, right now. You bring the same 11 guys back, next year.........why should you expect anything much more than the 100th defense again? Same players, same coaches, same system........what will change?

I think they should be better, but not by all that much. Maybe they can be ranked in the 60s or 70s, next year, but I wouldn't expect much more than that.

i'm not sure the exact rank of the offense in '07 but it was the worst offense i had ever seen play at ND, and now look at where they are, and they made big strides last year. so even with the same players and same system and same coaches, things can change with more experience. just my opinion.

i don't think they will be top 20 but they can make bigger strides.

 

[kmoose]

i'm not sure the exact rank of the offense in '07 but it was the worst offense i had ever seen play at ND, and now look at where they are, and they made big strides last year. so even with the same players and same system and same coaches, things can change with more experience. just my opinion.

i don't think they will be top 20 but they can make bigger strides.

I can understand that logic. I just think that the signs were there, in '07, that the offense was onto something very good. The only guys, on defense, that I look at and say, "With a little more experience, these guys might be really good", are Te'o and Darius Fleming. But I didn't see Armando Allen becoming a solid tailback, this year, either. So you might just be right.

 

[mick2]

To answer your question, no, I don't think the defense will be even close to the offense.

The defense needs more playmakers and difference makers, and right now there just aren't enough on the field. Right now they are all just guys either who are overacheivers but not really near elite (Ryan, S Smith, T Smith, etc) or guys with a lot of potential...potential unfulfilled at this point. And the scheme leaves a lot to be desired IMO, and that's not going to change unless Tenuta is let go.

Now, there are some studs out there and I think we'll get better, significantly better, but considering this year's debacle of a defense, that's not saying much. We'll get much better though, I really believe it. JOhnson, KLM, Te'o, Blanton, etc, we've got some young studs. But they have to produce on the field consistently before this team even sniffs a NC.

As for the offense, we lose 3 linemen, ask ask Sam Bradford how that's working out for him. The backups seem capable, and they'll be coached up, but still. Also, losing Clausen and Tate are real possibilities, whether people here want to believe it or not..

I cant Hear you LALALALALALALALALALA

 

[military_irish]

I can understand that logic. I just think that the signs were there, in '07, that the offense was onto something very good. The only guys, on defense, that I look at and say, "With a little more experience, these guys might be really good", are Te'o and Darius Fleming. But I didn't see Armando Allen becoming a solid tailback, this year, either. So you might just be right.

honestly no one will be able to predict how they will play,we can only guess. but if i were to make an educated guess, their has been times when this defense looked pretty good, but then most of the times looked like they were all freshmen. but thats what happens with an inexperienced defense.

they all don't need to be nfl caliber players to have a good defense, just a team that knows what they have to do and can TACKLE. thats the biggest thing. their were many times when guys should have been stopped for a loss or just a few yards instead they break free and are gone.

so i think the talent is there to have a good defense, not great. they just need to learn the system a little more. also we all have to realize this defense went from a 4-3 one year to a 3-4 the next and back again. so for a freshmen or anyone else it will get confusing at times. but with due time they should be able to produce enough to be good.

 

[kmoose]

honestly no one will be able to predict how they will play,we can only guess. but if i were to make an educated guess, their has been times when this defense looked pretty good, but then most of the times looked like they were all freshmen. but thats what happens with an inexperienced defense.

But can you really call this defense inexperienced? Williams and Johnson, on the D Line, both have seen the field significantly, in previous years. The secondary is full of guys who have seen alot of PT, and the linebackers, while not heavy on PT, have all (except Te'o, obviously) seen the field in previous seasons.

 

[GoIrish41]

exactly Moose.

DT Williams - Junior, 2-year starter
DT Johnson - Soph, 2-year starter
DE Neal - Junior, 2-year starter, 3 yr. extensive play
DE Ryan - Senior
MLB - Junior Smith - 3-year starter
OLB - Flemming - Soph, 2-year starter
OLB - Teo - Freshman (inexperienced, I'll give you that)
SS - McCarthy - Senior, two-year starter
FS - Smith - Junior, two-year starter (albeit one at OLB)
CB - Gray - Junior, two-year spot player, recent starter
CB - Walls - Senior - three-year starter
CB - Blanton - Soph - two-year starter

everyone but Teo has at least a full year of playing time under his belt. This is not an inexperienced defense at all.

 

[DomeX2 eNVy]

There is no doubt they will improve, especially up front. then again I thought our secondary would be tough this year and WOW was I wrong. The line will get bigger and stronger, learn from seeing all the different offenses we have up against us and should learn how to create holes for the linebackers.
The biggest question on their progress may be if Te'o goes on Mission or not. The defense would suffer from not having his combo of speed and power which looks to me to be above the rest of the team - he needs more knowledge but it appears as though he is learning quickly.

 

[military_irish]

thats like saying that the '08 offense was experienced just because they all played in '07, but just look at the BC game and USC games last year. they were not competitive at all. where as this year with more experience they are better. so just because some one has a year or so under there belt doesn't mean they have reached there full potential or grasped the full concept of the schemes, yet. so just because a freshmen or sophmore has play in the previous year doesn't make them experienced.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

if our defense catches up to our offense we win the national title no doubt.... But that will not happen. IF Clausen returns our offense should be flat out dominant

 

[tankjeep]

My thought is.........you have the 100th ranked defense, right now. You bring the same 11 guys back, next year.........why should you expect anything much more than the 100th defense again? Same players, same coaches, same system........what will change?

I think they should be better, but not by all that much. Maybe they can be ranked in the 60s or 70s, next year, but I wouldn't expect much more than that.

being a coach and reading that statement makes me want to laugh. what a difference a year can make barring any injuries.

it's one thing to be negative, but what you've said is borderline stupid.

 

[kmoose]

being a coach and reading that statement makes me want to laugh. what a difference a year can make barring any injuries.

it's one thing to be negative, but what you've said is borderline stupid.

Well, tank. I'm sorry to have disappointed you. It was an honest question. It's not like there will be new starters, new coaches, or (likely) new schemes. I really was trying to get at whether or not he expected the experience that they gained, this year, to make that much of a difference, or if he was looking at some other factor to play a big role. It wasn't a sarcastic "what will change?", it was an honest quest for input.

 

[Junkhead]

Defense ranked in the top 20? pfft, I'd be happy with top 50 at this point.

 

[TDHeysus]

I think Tenuta is a good coach. he just doesnt have the personel to run his scheme the way he wants to. I would think the defense is going to be better no doubt, but just how much better is the question. You can have all the experience in the world, but if the talent is not there, experience doesnt help much. We need lineman, a spot not likely filled by any incoming freshman. I think KLM is a bright spot on the line, but he cant do it alone.

The defense will be better, I mean, it cant get much worse.

 

[Junkhead]

I think Tenuta is a good coach. he just doesnt have the personel to run his scheme the way he wants to. I would think the defense is going to be better no doubt, but just how much better is the question. You can have all the experience in the world, but if the talent is not there, experience doesnt help much. We need lineman, a spot not likely filled by any incoming freshman. I think KLM is a bright spot on the line, but he cant do it alone.

The defense will be better, I mean, it cant get much worse.

Ethan Johnson needs to be at DE. If it means plugging in Brandon Newman or Hafis Williams at DT, then why not. EJ had 2 tackles against USC, I think that newman of hafis could match that playing DT.

 

[Riddickulous]

Assuming everybody that is eligible returns.

will the defense reach a status similar to the offense?

Obviously with everyone returning the offense could be even more potent nest season.

But Charlie is going after the guys needed to make this an elite defense.

IMO, i think the defense will make great strides the rest of this season, and be a force next season.
Can you imagine a top 5 offense paired with a top 20 defense!

Right now, we have NFL talent on the defense but not much experience, KLM, Ian williams and Ethan Johnson will all play on sundays. McCarthy will be on an nfl roster next season. Manti could play in the nfl right now and i think brian smith could too. and blanton has showed flashes.

Thoughts??? Opinions??

It is way too early to say that KLM, Ian, or EJ are going to play on Sundays.

you lost ALL credibility when you said that Manti could play in the NFL right now... really dude?

Seriously.

really wasnt trying to be a "credible" source of info. just commenting on their play and i think they will play in the nfl some day.

why does everybody have the urge to want to tell someone "youre stupid!" on this site?

if you dont like the thread than dont comment.

And if you've looked at our defense linebackers are probably our best unit.

The defensive line is our best unit, at the moment.

Brian smith is too slow to play on Sundays period! Manti has a long way to go and thee is not one guy on our DL that is NFL caliber right now, sorry! We will not have a top 25 defense under Weis but with the #1 offense next year who cares!

I love Brian to death and will always root for him, but I really don't think he's that good.