'12 ND FB Schedule vs Dodd's Top 25

[phork]

When you throw out the vulgar term "jailsexed" it sure as hell makes it seem like we should lose by more than 2 TD's

So yes, I would say you're a little off.

Stanford's D was dominating us up front, but we also did them some favors with TO's

Yah I forgot how their defense "Made Love" to our anal cavities.

Thanks for proving my point.

 

[FLDomer]

Same here...

I believe it's "Chikillo" also...

71 Anthony Chickillo

Class:
Sophomore

Hometown:
Tampa, Fla.

High School:
Alonso

Height / Weight:
6-4 / 248

Position:
Defensive Line


AND I agree I dont see him taking Martin, Chickillo is good but not that good. I think Miami will be a young team that we should be able to handle and hell if its below 50 degrees all those sallys will be so bundled up they wont be able to play!

(Stats and spelling per Hurricanes website... but it is possible they dont know how to spell there own players names)

 

[Bogtrotter07]

OMG!

 

[phgreek]

I think Miami will be a young team that we should be able to handle and hell if its below 50 degrees all those sallys will be so bundled up they wont be able to play

I'd bet on an inexperienced and athletic team being beaten in the trenches, and by some of their own failures to execute (if we indeed beat them)...but after its over, I'll be shocked if anyone points at weather as an issue for an Al Golden football team.

 

[ulukinatme]

Yah I forgot how their defense "Made Love" to our anal cavities.

Thanks for proving my point.

I prefer the term jailsexed as oppose to the nasty "R" word

 

[NDinFL]

Yah I forgot how their defense "Made Love" to our anal cavities.

Thanks for proving my point.

Lol the only point being proven is that your lovely "phrase" is gross...

Otherwise, if you want to try and say they "jailsexed" us, seemingly they should have won by a lot more...

Realistically speaking, they dominated the line of scrimmage and won by controlling the game, but by no means did we get blown out.

That's just an exaggeration.

 

[phork]

Lol the only point being proven is that your lovely "phrase" is gross...

Otherwise, if you want to try and say they "jailsexed" us, seemingly they should have won by a lot more...

Realistically speaking, they dominated the line of scrimmage and won by controlling the game, but by no means did we get blown out.

That's just an exaggeration.

Without the garbage time touchdown, we lost 28-7. We lost by 3 touchdowns. In my book, that is not close.

 

[NDinFL]

Without the garbage time touchdown, we lost 28-7. We lost by 3 touchdowns. In my book, that is not close.

And I agree, however you would be remissed if you didn't say that we beat ourselves as well.

When we played Stanford in ND 2 seasons ago, we got blown out. Period.

This most recent time we were closer to them, also if you just go by that final score, then sure we weren't close

If you watch the whole game though, there were several missed opportunities, (hence my non-belief that we got blown out)

A "blow-out" is more along the lines of Clemson's bowl game, IMO anyway

 

[stlnd01]

It is close, but we were closer to 6-6 last year than we were to 10-2.

How's that?
Our three closest losses (USF, Mich., FSU) were by a combined 11 points.
Our three closest wins (Pitt, Wake and BC) were by a combined 12 points.
Clearly, we were closer to 10-2 than 6-6.

I kid, somewhat. But seriously, why are we so worse off in 2012? Yes, we lose Floyd, and a few other quality starters, but we also return a bunch. Everyone we play will also lose good football players. That's college football. At least we're not losing a #1 draft pick QB.

We need better quarterback play. I'm going to think we'll get it. We need a WR or two to step up, and a couple of DBs. I'll figure that happens, too, certainly by mid-season. We need to stay healthy, or develop better depth. Injuries hurt us at the end of this past season, especially in the running game.
The schedule's tougher than last year, yes, but 8 wins certainly seems reasonable, and 9 is within reach. 10-2 and we're in the BCS with Kelly in the hunt for coach of the year.

6-6 probably means we beat no one who's any good. And if that happens we've got bigger problems, the kind I'd rather not contemplate in February.

 

[phork]

How's that?
Our three closest losses (USF, Mich., FSU) were by a combined 11 points.
Our three closest wins (Pitt, Wake and BC) were by a combined 12 points.
Clearly, we were closer to 10-2 than 6-6.

I kid, somewhat. But seriously, why are we so worse off in 2012? Yes, we lose Floyd, and a few other quality starters, but we also return a bunch. Everyone we play will also lose good football players. That's college football. At least we're not losing a #1 draft pick QB.

We need better quarterback play. I'm going to think we'll get it. We need a WR or two to step up, and a couple of DBs. I'll figure that happens, too, certainly by mid-season. We need to stay healthy, or develop better depth. Injuries hurt us at the end of this past season, especially in the running game.
The schedule's tougher than last year, yes, but 8 wins certainly seems reasonable, and 9 is within reach. 10-2 and we're in the BCS with Kelly in the hunt for coach of the year.

6-6 probably means we beat no one who's any good. And if that happens we've got bigger problems, the kind I'd rather not contemplate in February.

QB is the single most important position on the team, and we have unproven talent in game experience. I think Rees is headed to the RHB which means we'll have another new QB.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

It is close, but we were closer to 6-6 last year than we were to 10-2.

The last time I checked, 8-4 is equidistant to 6-6 and 10-2.

 

[phork]

The last time I checked, 8-4 is equidistant to 6-6 and 10-2.

It is mathematically. However if people are playing the 2 or 3 fumbles and we are 10-2, then you can play that game with the close games against way inferior opponents. Scooching by a bad BC by 2 points and that Pitt team shows we are closer to 6-6 than 10-2.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

All I want this year is ONE quarterback to clearly separate himself from the pack, and a 13 win season. I really don't think that's asking too much....

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You know what we are closer to? No common sense. Arguing about the past is like playing in a puddle of pi$$. Living in the future is like swallowing air.

 

[NDhoosier]

It is mathematically. However if people are playing the 2 or 3 fumbles and we are 10-2, then you can play that game with the close games against way inferior opponents. Scooching by a bad BC by 2 points and that Pitt team shows we are closer to 6-6 than 10-2.

It doesnt work that way phork... We are expected to beat the inferior teams, hell we already did play poorly in those games and still won. We were expected to beat USF and USC and we are better than Michigan and those turnovers cost us the game.

The difference is these 3 turnovers in 3 different games COST us the game, this is not the case when we had close games against inferior teams where no one play cost us the game to be won or lost. You are simply nothing but a pessimist and if you were not a well known/long-time member of this site, you would probably have been called a troll.

 

[phork]

It doesnt work that way phork... We are expected to beat the inferior teams, hell we already did play poorly in those games and still won. We were expected to beat USF and USC and we are better than Michigan and those turnovers cost us the game.

The difference is these 3 turnovers in 3 different games COST us the game, this is not the case when we had close games against inferior teams where no one play cost us the game to be won or lost. You are simply nothing but a pessimist and if you were not a well known/long-time member of this site, you would probably have been called a troll.

You guys are constantly proving my point. Playing bad in one game is forgivable. We played bad in too many games, which means we are further from Great than we are from mediocre. Call me a pessimist all you want, but I call it like I see it and I am usually right.

Did you know I predicted 10-2 this year? And a BCS game? If that is pessimism than I guess the real fan must have predicted a NC?

 

[Domina Nostra]

You guys are constantly proving my point. Playing bad in one game is forgivable. We played bad in too many games, which means we are further from Great than we are from mediocre. Call me a pessimist all you want, but I call it like I see it and I am usually right.

Did you know I predicted 10-2 this year? And a BCS game? If that is pessimism than I guess the real fan must have predicted a NC?

I hear that, but to me, 2011 was about bad QB play. The team wasn't far from a BCS game, that one position was (pre-Cave, Gray injuries). If you plugged in a good QB who was not turn-over prone, we would have been 10-2 easily, IMHO. On the other hand, 2008 and 2009 was about mediocre defense. We had lots of problems.

Last year reminded me of 2005 (and 2006). We had good teams but were totally vulnerable at CB. So close, but not there.


(2007 sucked, 2010 was a transition year).

 

[NDinFL]

It is mathematically. However if people are playing the 2 or 3 fumbles and we are 10-2, then you can play that game with the close games against way inferior opponents. Scooching by a bad BC by 2 points and that Pitt team shows we are closer to 6-6 than 10-2.

I see what you're saying/have been saying...

My only question is...

How many points did our opponents score off of turnovers in each game?

You say we're closer to 6-6 and I think that isn't true.

We had 5 TO's against USF, they scored 13 points off of (IIRC)
BC had a stellar defense and played the game of their seasn against us (as often happens)
We had Pitt dominated during that game, just poor red zone execution killed us
USC we turned it over thrice if I remember right, one of which was the ol fumble return for a TD
Stanford we also coughed it up thrice

What I'm getting at here is, our Defense is stellar and I truly believe they can keep us in the game with any team in the country.

What scares the ish outta me is our QB play, but with Martin taking over as OC and Everett hopefully starting that can be changed.

 

[phork]

I hear that, but to me, 2011 was about bad QB play. The team wasn't far from a BCS game, that one position was (pre-Cave, Gray injuries). If you plugged in a good QB who was not turn-over prone, we would have been 10-2 easily, IMHO. On the other hand, 2008 and 2009 was about mediocre defense. We had lots of problems.

Last year reminded me of 2005 (and 2006). We had good teams but were totally vulnerable at CB. So close, but not there.


(2007 sucked, 2010 was a transition year).

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

[wallym]

I'm not buying the Stanford or Michigan State hype.

I too am not buying the Stanford hype, but it's the other Michigan team that I'm not buying the hype on. I think MSU will be legit (defensively), but "MEAT" is another story. Hoke is a good coach, and Re-tard is a talent, but they can't keep the momentum going. They played way too many home games last year, and frankly sneaked away with a few wins. Plus, we play them at home...and the "crazy train" will get them.

USC and Okla are tough games, and ones I see as being the toughest.

 

[stlnd01]

USC and Okla are tough games, and ones I see as being the toughest.

Ya think?
After them, in my book, Michigan, MSU and Stanford are all about equally tough. They've all got flaws, but also a lot of guys who've won a lot of football games.
I'm glad we're playing MSU early - their new QB won't have seen a pass rush like ours in his life. I'm glad we're playing Michigan and Stanford at home. I suppose if things go bad we might lose to someone else (BYU, Miami, Pitt), but I think how we fare against these three will determine our season, and where we land on the spectrum of 7-5 to 10-2.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

Phork,

While I disagree with you on the "what if scenarios" and where this team is fitting it self on the bad (1) to great (10) scale, I feel like we are probably hovering around the 6-7 to range, I do agree with you on one thing. I am absolutely sick and tired of the self destructive behavior this team has engaged in for the last 15-20 years. It is absurd. I feel like we have been sitting on the cusp of being a "good" team since Weis moved in, and we just can't get over the hump. I can't understand why. What kills us are these mental errors that come up at the worst possible times. ITs mental. For some reason, Ive got my own theories, this team folds under pressure. Fumbling the ball on the 1 yards line against USC to tie the game, and allowing it to be returned 99 yards for a TD is ridiculous. Same thing with the Michigan game, if it didn't happen to ND repeatedly, it'd be one of those bizaree situations that you see in highlight video's in 2045 of great games decades ago. BUT IT HAPPENS TO ND ALL THE TIME. I just don't get it, its like they are cursed.

I want to see this team become disciplined and head strong. This is when they will win games, and until they start winning games they will be the team that was "almost" good, or 6 plays from being great.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

I lol'd, but wouldn't that mean your Uncle was a gay man? Just sayin'.

 

[DillonHall]

I hear that, but to me, 2011 was about bad QB play. The team wasn't far from a BCS game, that one position was (pre-Cave, Gray injuries). If you plugged in a good QB who was not turn-over prone, we would have been 10-2 easily, IMHO.

You could say this for 30 other teams... (by magically turning a weakness into a strength)

 

[arahop]

Looking at the schedule we start the season off with 2 wins against Navy and Purdue. Sparty doesn't scare me this year with the lose of BJ Cunningham and Cousins. Of course the crucial cog for Notre Dame is a functioning QB. The Michigan Game will be the turning point of the season and possibly a turning point for Kelly. If we win, recruits and Michigan fans will be knocked off of their effing cloud that they've been on since Hoke's arrival. From that point anything can happen. The beginning of the season, especially the first 4 games are beyond critical. Anything can happen.

 

[DillonHall]

Looking at the schedule we start the season off with 2 wins against Navy and Purdue. Sparty doesn't scare me this year with the lose of BJ Cunningham and Cousins. Of course the crucial cog for Notre Dame is a functioning QB. The Michigan Game will be the turning point of the season and possibly a turning point for Kelly. If we win, recruits and Michigan fans will be knocked off of their effing cloud that they've been on since Hoke's arrival. From that point anything can happen. The beginning of the season, especially the first 4 games are beyond critical. Anything can happen.

You have to be crazy to not feel uneasy about the MSU game, and Michigan will probably have a loss already so I don't know if they'd be on a cloud.