Couple of Things...

[TheTurningPoint]

1. Tired of the negative attitude by the fanbase!! One kid is, two kids isnt going to make or break this class. The FOUNDATION is already in place. We have got our needs covered. So please stop ripping the class on who we DONT get, bc who really cares? Sure, I hope we get Darby back and I want Armstead to choose ND as much as anyone, but at the sametime if they dont want to be here then wish'em luck cus they have rare talents and blessed, i mean how many of you have thought about Anthony Barr/Clay Burton/Greg Little...etc Not too often unless we play them. We get them, then PRAYER PICTURES all year.

2. We are going to have a hell of a class come NSD. Its all about finding guys that WANT be here, and guys that play in BK's system. ND isn't switching the system for the players aka less confusion, less learning, more playmaking, more reacting, more WINS.

3. We have a lot of talent that hasn't seen the field. I mean when was the last time ND redshirt an entire class of O-lineman? Hegarty is going to be special, and they are just getting bigger and getting athletic. A lot of you are forgetting we have Springmann, Kona, Hounshell, and add in Mr. Day....there is plenty of opportunities to add quality depth and many different rotations and most of all......situations. Our goalline Dline is going to be NICE.

4. ND went 8-5 last year, yet have a GREAT class. How many schools can go 8-5 with subpar QB play and get the class ND is pulling in? The recruits are buying in. The team is buying in. Why cant the fan base? Not all these "top" freshmen ND gets have to play right away. DaVaris. Golson. Those two could have played last year and played well, but getting them a year to get better will be the greatest blessing for BK and ND. If Darron Thomas can come in and do what he did, Golson can certainly have a great impact.

5. LETS GOOOO. Gunner is going to push Golson, Hendrix, Rees to their max. His reputation will be alone a wakeup call and competition breeds greatness. Our schedule starts off a little softer than normal which is going to be great to let the youngsters ease in, and I can't wait to smash the hell out of Michigan. Mich St showed the blueprint, Va Tech showed that if you buy in Denard can be stopped. Throw out an athletic Dline and its game on.

6. We got Tee. Tee is in class. Tee is going to be going through spring ball. Tee is going to learn and make freshmen mistakes in spring ball. Tee is going to be better in the fall. Jalen Brown, Josh Atkinson are not shabby and add that speed ND has missed for quite sometime.

7. We are blessed to have two head coaches coaching our team in BK and Coach Martin. A young, talented, and motivated team needs a great head coach to get them there, and we have two.

8. For all you that want the "top" guys or the "popular" name kids. Weis got you that. Yet aren't the same kids you are saying that you hope dont come back for a 5th year the last couple years? Or the kids that have underachieved? Its about player development. It already happening, and if you can't see it try opening your eyes!

9. Discuss.

 

[NDinFL]

I have a feeling there a lot of people with questions for you TP

 

[mpkennedy3]

I agree on all points......end of the day we are moving in the right direction. Next year will be tough with the schedule, but the best days are defiantly ahead.

 

[Pachuco]

TP, you're supposed to leave this board unsettled and insomniac, not calm and certain. Haha.

Nice post!

 

[GreatGolson]

Good points, but, as with last season, it will all boil down to how our qb (golson is my guess) plays, especially in big games like UM, @MSU, @USC, Stanford, @Oklahoma... dear god thats brutal. if we can win 3 or 4 out of those 5 we'll make a BCS game. ive already been taking swigs from
the kool-aid jar, but year 3 has been "the one" for several ND coaches in the past, Rockne,Ara, Devine, and Holtz all won championships in year 3.

 

[Irish YJ]

Good base definitely. As soon as the QB situation ramps up, sky is the limit. Only concern for me next year (other than QB) is the DB situation, but I know it's only time before it gets figured out too. God bless the Irish.

After all that, I still want the Armsteads, Nelly, DGB, Neal, and your suprise rock star better(sorry, bigger) than Nelly.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

The schedule is tough no doubt but look at a few things...

1. Like I said we arent starting off the season with teams that are going to "surprise us". Navy is Navy. ND can't overlook them, but this years game sure as hell gave me a little peace of mind, and the game is in the Motherland....

2. Mich St is going to replace a LOT on both sides of the ball. Will they be physical and run the ball, yep. We held them to 26 yards last year, and no Kirk Cousins. Worthy is gone. Gholston is a hoss, but he didn't make very many plays against us this past year.

3. Michigan opens up with Bama. I don't wish injury on any player, but maybe Denard can pull a hammy in weeks 1-3 They are like ND in a lot of ways. It's just they caught every break known to God last year. I would seriously doubt it happens to years in a row. But, we proved last year that we can beat them, just a matter of getting that mentality I was referring too out. I believe the team doesn't have it.....Does the fanbase? Can ND stadium be hype for 4 quarters??

4. The U, Please.

5. Stanford lost Luck. ND proved physically they can hang with them this year. QB play was the difference in this years game, and I have a feeling ND wins that battle this year.

6. Oklahoma away is going to be interesting. They are powerful Offensively. Landry is not a joke, yet he cracks when he has played a good defense. Our secondary will be seasoned at this point. Very tough task, but its more than doable.

7. usc- nothing more needs to be said bc ND will be vying for a BCS game. ND played absolutely terrible this year and was a fumble return away from tying the game in the 2nd half. That just proved ND is doing what it needs to do. Remember that 38-3 *** kicking a few years ago at sc when ND didn't have a first down till the 4th? Thats playing terrible and not sticking in the game. 2011 Nd played terrible yet were scratching and clawing to hang in there.

8. I feel like we are going to have a very good front 7. I know the Dline will be a strength, which means that takes pressure off our young secondary. Our secondary will have speed. Speed makes up for inexperience, wrong reads, out of position, and most importantly getting to the ball. We have 2 very crucial parts to the D back in Manti and Slaughter. Slaughter as many feel is on the verge of FINALLY breaking out...concidence its with Kelly/Martin?? PLAYER DEVELOPMENT.

 

[BabyIrish]

Very good post, it's good to think about the positives in the program once in a while. But there are questions with this team and we can't overlook them.
My 4 questions:
1. Will the QB play finally get better?
2. Will we have offensive play makers step up to replace Floyd?
3. Will our linebackers improve in pass coverage and blizting?
4. Will our inexperienced Secondary accomloate to the college game?

Obviously we all hope for the best! Go Irish!

 

[IrishRed92]

Look TP I think you make some good points. I also know I'm not really any big name on this board so my opinion will probably be reamed apart for being the debby downer. To give you a quick background of where I come from, my dad was a Domer and raised me right since I was 2. Every season I have followed the Irish with pie in the sky aspirations and now after 5 (technically 6) head coaching changes my goals for ND football have become a bit more realistic and less 1940s.

Be that as it may (I have no intention of boring anyone), I think the we all can see that regardless of how high our recruiting class is rated (as proven by Weis, that it is one thing to get greatness in recruiting and another to develop good into great) or the might of our defense, the play of our quarterback in the spread system will continue to be the ultimate flaw until a definitive hurler with strong confidence in all of his receivers is installed into Kelly's offense. When you're up 24-7 on scUM, and you stall on 3 straight drives in the 4th quarter that's a quarterback's fault (regardless of # of starts, no offense should allow that lead to be squandered). I don't know about you guys, but for me this past year felt like the bizarro Weis era where our defense kept us in the game but we were biting our nails as to whether our offense would lose us the game. Until we have a guy who can see the whole field and not lock on to receivers I do not think we will be worthy of BCS contention/top 15 rank.

Also, in terms of our defense, I am also excited about our defensive line and I also cannot wait for the trifecta of Lynch Tuitt and Nix utterly smashes Denard. However, I'm quite worried about our depth at the Mike backer and defensive back. I am hoping that next year Grace can step up at line backer, be the 'werewolf' title he has been branded with, and get more PT just to put this fear to rest but until then I'm still skeptical.

Defensive back is a huge hole too. With Tee here early I am super excited that we may have one pure lock down corner, and with BJax and Lil' Lo Wood there should be enough support. The thing that truly concerns me is the lack of cover safeties we have had. In my memory, we havent had any pure free safety and our safeties have had the tendency to be just an extension of the linebacker corps (i.e. Harrison Smith and Kyle McCarthy to name a few).

The biggest injury of the season in my opinion was Eilar Hardy, because if he had been able to play I believe the Irish would have begun the process of having a formidable coverage safety. Now, unfortunately, that has been set back a year and now we have 3 more young safeties coming in, and more inexperience only shortens our window of opportunity when it comes to the overpowering nature of our defensive line (let's be honest, Lynch and Tuitt, barring injury, have a definite shot at leaving early).

To wrap up, I'm not trying to sound like Mark May. All I'm trying to display is an impartial assessment of the status of our beloved football team. However, after 19 years, I have heard enough hooting and hollering about Notre Dame's "Return to Glory", and to be honest I'm sick of it. After all, I think we can all agree that this is one instance where the the destination is more important than the journey.

 

[Rhode Irish]

There are questions with every team. Especially in the college game, where a quarter of the roster turns over every year. I agree with TP's general outlook on things. I get how almost two decades of mediocrity can drain fans' enthusiasm, but some fans are too negative all the time.

 

[notredomer23]

7. usc- nothing more needs to be said bc ND will be vying for a BCS game. ND played absolutely terrible this year and was a fumble return away from tying the game in the 2nd half. That just proved ND is doing what it needs to do. Remember that 38-3 *** kicking a few years ago at sc when ND didn't have a first down till the 4th? Thats playing terrible and not sticking in the game. 2011 Nd played terrible yet were scratching and clawing to hang in there.
.

I agree, but be prepared to be attacked and called crazy and have blue and gold glasses on by a third the board in 3...2...1...

 

[phork]

I agree, but be prepared to be attacked and called crazy and have blue and gold glasses on by a third the board in 3...2...1...

I didn't want to quote his big long diatribe, it hurt my eyes. But a BCS game, really?

 

[Irishman77]

Thank you TP for posting this. I have been a die hard since the 80's and last year was the most frustrating year of all. We truly are on the verge of greatness that was only hindered by our QB. I promise this is not a rees bashing post. A team simply plays better when they believe in their QB. There are many examples of this almost every year. It translates to other sports as well. As a baseball fan I see when it is the Ace of the rotation day to pitch there is a focus, a belief, more confidence, more personal responsibility by everyone to not let the team down. I guess what i am saying is once we get the right guy at QB we will be a BCS team. I am so proud of what Kelly is doing for this program. I will never forget Kelly's first spring practice and the interview where he said if I have to motivate you to play when it's 80 degrees and you are playing at the University of Notre Dame there is something wrong. I also remember we had a 350lb lineman that couldn't do a pull up. We were in a REAL $hitty place not to long ago. It's has become cliche to say Notre Dame will be good again but I for one have full faith that we are RIGHT THERE! GO IRISH!

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Yep. I said it.

Is it possible? yep.
Is it possible BCS wont happen? yep

Break it down.
10 turnovers in 2 games is not going to happen.
A bigass storm isnt going to happen again and delay the game multiple times.
RB fumbling at the 1 and Denard scoops n scores? not going to happen again.

Stanford was the only game where entering the 4th quarter, that winning the game was a longshot. Yet, there were strides. Defense played balls to the wall that game and frustrated Luck. SUre they gave up a big play, but even LSU/Bama will give up a big play to Luck. But most importantly the TEAM didnt give up. They were still showing fire even though the game was in doubt. 2010 that wouldnt have happened, 2009 it wouldn't have happened (minus Clausen/Floyd/Golden) but its all about that attitude. ND is getting the right attitude.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Just as you, we all have opinions on this team, players, and its recruits. Some post theirs throughout various threads. You make yours one. I agree with your post. But your post about it is no different than theirs, an opinion and a right to it.

 

[bigedefense]

There are some great posts on here and I can see the points that are being made for making or not making a BCS game. Well, I am a fan whether we win 13 (possibly 14 if Hawaii was added) or if we lose more than we win. I have pulled for Notre Dame since I was in diapers because my Dad's family has always been fans. Now that I am an adult and in the real world, Notre Dame takes on more of a meaning than ballgames. Its about winning the right way. Am I saying no to negative recruiting? He11 no, I am saying no to being a football factory that doesn't care about the student after their playing days are over. Graduating and being successful, productive human beings is what Notre Dame is about. So, I say that to say this, I feel that we will win every game next year. I feel this way every year. Am I let down? Yes and no. USC won every game, but people now don't remember that as much as "the Reggie Bush scandal". With that said, as long as there are no scandals at ND and players are getting meaningful degrees, ND is winning.

NOW LETS WIN ALL THE DAMN GAMES ON THE SCHEDULE!

 

[Irishman77]

Here was the interview and I apologize it was 70 degrees. If you don't think the culture is changing you are wallowed in denial.

Kelly not happy with Notre Dame offense - YouTube

 

[Domina Nostra]

Here is my take.

2012 Football Schedule
S01 vs. Navy (IRE) - should win
S08 PURDUE - should win
S15 @ Michigan State - toss up
S22 MICHIGAN - toss up
O06 vs. Miami (Chi) - favorites
O13 STANFORD - toss up
O20 BYU - Should win
O27 @ Oklahoma - underdogs
N03 PITTSBURGH - favorites
N10 @ Boston College - should win
N17 WAKE FOREST - favorites
N24 @ Southern Cal - underdogs

With 0.0 cupcakes, this is just a dumb schedule. I am looking at you NDNation.

4 games we really should win
3 more that we will be favored to win
3 more that are toss-ups
2 that we will be favored to lose

- Best case is always 12-0 (Go GOlson!!!!)
- Hopeful case is 10-2 (4-0, 3-0, 3-0, 1-1 with losses to OK and USC).
- Realistic but hopeful case is 9-3 (4-0, 2-1, 2-1 ,1-1) losses to OK, USC, MSU/UM...
- Most objective is probably 8-4 (4-0, 2-1, 2-1, 0-2).
- Still realistic, but pessimistic is 7-5 (4-0, 2-1, 1-2, 0-2).

I am going with 9-3 (Michigan State, Oklahoma, USC), same as I picked this year. Last year my downfall was QB and turnovers. QB does not worry me this year at all. I am betting big on Golson.

I think that we are so much better in general than we have been, and an athletic QB will finally get us over the top. The optimism this year is that a dominant front 7 can hide the inexperience in the backfield for the first half of the season. The schedule does not scare me in that regard. No true spread teams until Oklahoma.

Going out on a limb, I think we will miss Jonas more than Floyd. Our QBs could not fully utilize Floyd's talents anyway- 4.5 star Eifert with a good QB is as good as 5 star Floyd with an average QB. Having an accurate QB that can scramble and extend plays will make our inexperienced WRs look better than they are because there will be more broken plays. Once Golson is scrambling out of the pocket, Greenberry and Russell's athleticism will show through. On the other hand, I do like Riddick to RB more than most. I think he is going to surprise people.

I also think Collinsworth will return punts. He has the right attitude for the job. Zibby-lite.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

This is a good thread, I am enjoying all of the comments. I'm hoping for an undefeated season (but realistically, my hope is 10-2). If we are 4-1 after first 5 games on that schedule, I would be extremely happy (only if the loss is not to scUM, I can't handle 4 years in a row).

 

[koonja]

1. Tired of the negative attitude by the fanbase!! One kid is, two kids isnt going to make or break this class. The FOUNDATION is already in place. We have got our needs covered. So please stop ripping the class on who we DONT get, bc who really cares? Sure, I hope we get Darby back and I want Armstead to choose ND as much as anyone, but at the sametime if they dont want to be here then wish'em luck cus they have rare talents and blessed, i mean how many of you have thought about Anthony Barr/Clay Burton/Greg Little...etc Not too often unless we play them. We get them, then PRAYER PICTURES all year.

2. We are going to have a hell of a class come NSD. Its all about finding guys that WANT be here, and guys that play in BK's system. ND isn't switching the system for the players aka less confusion, less learning, more playmaking, more reacting, more WINS.

3. We have a lot of talent that hasn't seen the field. I mean when was the last time ND redshirt an entire class of O-lineman? Hegarty is going to be special, and they are just getting bigger and getting athletic. A lot of you are forgetting we have Springmann, Kona, Hounshell, and add in Mr. Day....there is plenty of opportunities to add quality depth and many different rotations and most of all......situations. Our goalline Dline is going to be NICE.

4. ND went 8-5 last year, yet have a GREAT class. How many schools can go 8-5 with subpar QB play and get the class ND is pulling in? The recruits are buying in. The team is buying in. Why cant the fan base? Not all these "top" freshmen ND gets have to play right away. DaVaris. Golson. Those two could have played last year and played well, but getting them a year to get better will be the greatest blessing for BK and ND. If Darron Thomas can come in and do what he did, Golson can certainly have a great impact.

5. LETS GOOOO. Gunner is going to push Golson, Hendrix, Rees to their max. His reputation will be alone a wakeup call and competition breeds greatness. Our schedule starts off a little softer than normal which is going to be great to let the youngsters ease in, and I can't wait to smash the hell out of Michigan. Mich St showed the blueprint, Va Tech showed that if you buy in Denard can be stopped. Throw out an athletic Dline and its game on.

6. We got Tee. Tee is in class. Tee is going to be going through spring ball. Tee is going to learn and make freshmen mistakes in spring ball. Tee is going to be better in the fall. Jalen Brown, Josh Atkinson are not shabby and add that speed ND has missed for quite sometime.

7. We are blessed to have two head coaches coaching our team in BK and Coach Martin. A young, talented, and motivated team needs a great head coach to get them there, and we have two.

8. For all you that want the "top" guys or the "popular" name kids. Weis got you that. Yet aren't the same kids you are saying that you hope dont come back for a 5th year the last couple years? Or the kids that have underachieved? Its about player development. It already happening, and if you can't see it try opening your eyes!

9. Discuss.

Is this your way of backpedaling from your statement that we're going to get someone better than Agholor? Lol.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I stand by my statements lol

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Above everything positive stated in this thread, to me, looking at the season is much more about us than our opponents. Above even absolute individual player development, (at this position or that) how many total players in the program are ready to go?

Third year of Longo, motivated young kids entering the program, and skilled teaching methods, hell, even a training table, should help push results in a favorable direction.

With the last Weiss teams, it seemed the number was about 25 to 35. Two years ago, 45 to 50. Last year 60 maybe. What happens when we have 75? We are three deep at any position! An example of what I mean is last year when we lost our two starting defensive ends, Manti (mostly) and a couple other contributors. The staff had fresmen ready to go! Niklas against MSU, Houndshell, Lynch, Tuitt, etc, etc.

The reason we didn't fold down the stretch is because it is the first year we had someone ready behind every injury, someone who could play, not just take up space!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Is this your way of backpedaling from your statement that we're going to get someone better than Agholor? Lol.

I don't get it. Rhode Island ask you about your motivation yesterday. Do you really think like this? I don't know TP from Adam; but few have had the info or insight that he regularly demonstrates. Turn off the spigot, we don't need the drip.

 

[koonja]

I don't get it. Rhode Island ask you about your motivation yesterday. Do you really think like this? I don't know TP from Adam; but few have had the info or insight that he regularly demonstrates. Turn off the spigot, we don't need the drip.

What are you even talking about? My motivation yesterday was that it's premature to say Cam Mcdaniel was underrated.

I don't think TP took any offense to what I said. Hence, both 'Lols'. Nothing to argue about here. Move on.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

no offense taken lol. i took it as a poke for a shocker of a post lol

 

[phork]

Yep. I said it.

Is it possible? yep.
Is it possible BCS wont happen? yep

Break it down.
10 turnovers in 2 games is not going to happen.
A bigass storm isnt going to happen again and delay the game multiple times.
RB fumbling at the 1 and Denard scoops n scores? not going to happen again.

Stanford was the only game where entering the 4th quarter, that winning the game was a longshot. Yet, there were strides. Defense played balls to the wall that game and frustrated Luck. SUre they gave up a big play, but even LSU/Bama will give up a big play to Luck. But most importantly the TEAM didnt give up. They were still showing fire even though the game was in doubt. 2010 that wouldnt have happened, 2009 it wouldn't have happened (minus Clausen/Floyd/Golden) but its all about that attitude. ND is getting the right attitude.

You cannot play that game. We barely beat Pitt, BC & Wake. So everything you can say about those losses, you can say the same about those close wins.

 

[Rocky2820]

TP makes great points about recruiting and the overall development of this team. The program as a whole is clearly trending upward IMO. Yes, we won a couple games last year that were closer than expected, but this staff has the arduous task of changing a deeply rooted culture that unfortunately is anchored in losing such games. Those were steps forward - small steps - but steps forward nonetheless.

Correcting the turnover differential is by far the biggest variable facing us going
into next season. When I look at our schedule, I'm encouraged by Stanford and MSU having to break in new QBs (wish the same were true for Oklahoma and SC). But of course, we will likely also be breaking in a new QB, and none of us know how this new QB will perform, especially early in the season. That's why I'm also encouraged by the (relatively) easy start to the schedule, as it will allow that new QB to break in a bit.

If all goes well and we start strong, we can realistically be 7-0 heading into Oklahoma, which will result in tremendous excitement and exposure for the program. And if not, we'll still win our share of games next season and get extremely valuable experience for some of our young guns. And that will set us up quite well for 2013. So no matter how I shake it, and this I'd only me, I
cannot help but feel good about the next couple years (at least) of Fighting Irish
football.

 

[Lepresean]

5. Stanford lost Luck. ND proved physically they can hang with them this year. QB play was the difference in this years game, and I have a feeling ND wins that battle this year.

I agreed with you that we should be optimistic, and in most of the rundowns of the opposition. I did find a problem with the Stanford rundown. I felt that the offensive line was exposed in this game. Hendrix came in and was able to make a difference because of his running ability. When we had Rees in our offensive line could not block. They were being pushed back into the backfield every play. Our running game could not get going.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

@Phork- yes you are right we did win close games vs Pitt, BC, Wake.....and you proved my point. They were after the usf/mich games. It does show improvement. Last year, 2009, 2008, etc..we more than likely dont win vs Pitt, BC, Wake. 2011 team kept grinding even after usf/mich happened. It shows that they are learning to close, and BEAT the teams ND is supposed too. Now the next step is beating top 25 teams. Mich St was a VERY good win last last year, but this year we have the chance to get over that hurdle aka KEEP IMPROVING.

@Lepresan-- Exactly, the oline got exposed vs usc/stanford. Where is our oline coach now? lol

 

[phork]

I didn't prove anything. Those teams should have been beat down badly, not 3 wins by 11 points.