2012 Schedule

[Buster Bluth]

Navy - W....No way Notre Dame loses in Ireland and the Navy offense won't test the new DB's anyway.

PURDUE - W...it's Purdue, come on.

at Michigan State - W...they have major reloading to do. Cousins and the backfield are gone, correct?

MICHIGAN - ?....Pretty damn interesting here. It's 50/50 in my book with the edge to Michigan.

*BYE*

MIAMI - W...I assume Stephen Morris will finally be starting for Miami, and he is a good one in my opinion. I just think the Irish are much, much more disciplined. The Hurricanes don't scare me like they did going into the Sun Bowl.

STANFORD - W...No Luck. Tough to gauge them obviously but you have to assume when a team loses the best quarterback in over a decade, they will drop off significantly. Luck isn't the only guy they lose, lots of other important pieces if I remember correctly.

BYU - W...tougher call than I'd like.

at Oklahoma - L....I assume they'll be a new Sooner quarterback? I could care less though, Stoops' system is incredible and the Irish should lose based on inexperience in the defensive backfield.

PITTSBURGH - W....Will Ray Graham return? If he goes pro, then Pittsburgh doesn't scare me.

at Boston College - W...No way, Jose.

WAKE FOREST - W....I just can't see it.

at USC - ?...**** these guys. Hopefully Barkley goes pro, and I would hope that the scholarship losses take their biggest impact this season.

Between 7-5 and 11-1. 9-3 is again probably the benchmark for a good season. Notre Dame has the luxury of playing Navy and Purdue to start off the season, which will be crucial to getting the younger guys acclimated in the defensive backfield.

 

[BeatSC]

I see Riddick moving back to RB unless our new recruits look better. Toma is a better natural WR. Really don't see Tommy Rees starting next season. He will be a capable backup.
The Blue-Gold game should be a big one and no QB should get to wear a red jsersy in that game. Most og the decent teams on the schedule are losing draft quality QBs and that should make a difference.l Let"s hope Manti stays. I see Bennet being better than Gray or Blanton if the coaches let him play some press coverage. Not too high on Lo Wood so far. HE does catch the ints that are thrown in his area.

 

[BeauBenken]

GAIII actually runs very well for a RB. He's fast, makes one cut, and if he beefs up will be great there.

 

[gkautz10]

This is a very interesting schedule. If you look at the way it sets up, it is full of "games we should win" and also games that if we win will really impress the voters. 2012 and 2013 was the time frame I put on ND to make a run at the NC. I could see ND taking some lumps this year, but it will force this team to grow and grow quickly, which could set us up nicely for 2013. Some of the intriguing things is exactly what you guys have all mentioned, are the voids that need to be filled. But who knows a year from now we may be saying I am so glad that Darby and Zeke are starting as DB's than anyone else. We just don't know how these kids will develop in a years time. It sure does give us all fuel to bs about all offseason! Looking forward to those debates for sure. My overall prediction for record is 9-3 simply because the "losing" classes and their mentalities are gone and every player is fully bought into BK's system and are comfortable in it.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

ESPN: Miami won't play in a bowl game

If I remember correctly there are quite a few extra practices involved in bowl season and that's huge for a young football team. Choosing to not go bowling this year combined with what's looking to be an approx. ~30 person signing class means we'll have a very inexperienced opponent in 2012.

 

[IrishNJ89]

Kelly develops his players. Look at the improvements Nix has made since buying into camp Longo. We may be hurting in certain areas but look for guys to improve and freshman to get some time. I think 7-5 is a little harsh. Tough schedule but I'm looking at 9-10 wins next year.

 

[IrishLax]

The problem is it's impossible to project without knowing how good this team will be. Will Te'o stay? Are we going to have a huge dropoff at safety? Are we totally screwed at CB? Who will be our WRs?

It kinda reminds me of '07 when people thought we would "reload" with Jimmy Clausen & Co. and instead it took 2 years of rebuilding to get competitive. We may have some serious dropoffs on defense... and really, if that happens our schedule is set up to murder us. On the flip side, although we do lose Michael Floyd, we could hypothetically see a big jump forward on offense.

 

[irishpat183]

I say 8-4 or 9-3 would be the most reasonable assumptions. Anything can happen....Just look at the USF game this year.

So I wouldn't be suprised if we went 7-5 or 11-1. Depends on how WE play. Most of our issues this season have been our own (with exception of the USC game, we just got out played)...Turnovers (especially ones in the red zone) killed us this year.

We might be a one loss team this year, fighting for a BCS berth, if not for our turnover problem.

Next year, it may swing in our favor.....

 

[Buster Bluth]

I think it's fair to say that while this squad will lose many key players who don't even need to be listed, every other player actually develops in this program and that must be taken into account as well.

 

[irishff1014]

We could go .500 or 1.000

We lose Floyd, right? Seems awful, but maybe losing Floyd makes Tommy a lot better at reading the field and spreading the ball. We lose our starting corners and our starting safeties, but maybe Zeke gets better in coverage, Slaughter kills it, and some young CBs really step up.

There's no way we know how this ends up, but the odds are more in favor of an 8-4 season as opposed to an 11-1 or undefeated season.

NO because then Rees will only look for Eifert.

 

[irish4ever]

Some of the pessimism in this thread is amazing.

Not everyone has taken a sip of the "koolaid" that makes the Irish (at minimum) 10-2 and the holy grail of CFB each and every year. Should the Irish have 3 lossses at this juncture of the season? Most would say not (including me), but sh!t happens!

 

[RyCo1983]

NO because then Rees will only look for Eifert.

And Toma...and Toma is not Mike Floyd.

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
Tommy will not be looking for Eiffert. He is going to be looking for an ambulance. Without Floyd and maybe Eiffert if he decides the NFL is a good option, teams are going to load the box and lay their ears back in pursuit of our weak armed statue QB. Tommy will be spending alot of time getting mauled. No matter how good our OL, you will see no respect shown to tommy's ability to run or use his arm with an average WR corp.

2012 will be a tough year if we are starting Tommy. We MUST have a QB who can put the fear of a run in a defense.

All in all, i see ND a 8 win team in 2012. There are just too many tough games with what will be a YOUTH laden defense. Our D will be talented, but full of youth.

 

[Lou Holtz]

10-2......... I have watched Kelly do work at Cincinnati. losses to OU and USC

 

[Carlyle Javar Holiday]

10-2......... I have watched Kelly do work at Cincinnati. losses to OU and USC

This schedule is not the Big East though.

 

[koonja]

10-2......... I have watched Kelly do work at Cincinnati. losses to OU and USC

Are you the kind of guy that thought we'd be 11-1 this year when in all actuality we'll probably be 8-4?

We will not be 10-2.

Tougher schedule, we graduate 3/4 starting DBs, will likely lose Teo, will lose EJ, Darius Flemming, Michael Floyd and Jonas Gray.

Oh, and our PR who's averaging .2 yards per PR is also a senior. Huge loss to our special teams.

I really expect our passing defense to be pretty awful next year. Replacing two starting corners and an all-american safety will not be fun.

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

Are you the kind of guy that thought we'd be 11-1 this year when in all actuality we'll probably be 8-4?

We will not be 10-2.

Tougher schedule, we graduate 3/4 starting DBs, will likely lose Teo, will lose EJ, Darius Flemming, Michael Floyd and Jonas Gray.

Oh, and our PR who's averaging .2 yards per PR is also a senior. Huge loss to our special teams.

I really expect our passing defense to be pretty awful next year. Replacing two starting corners and an all-american safety will not be fun.

Teo might not leave though and it really hurts me when you say he might.

 

[koonja]

Teo might not leave though and it really hurts me when you say he might.

I have no idea what Teo will do. Hope to God he stays. I wonder what effect seeing an NFL guy like Jonas go down like that will have on his decision.

 

[irishpat183]

I have no idea what Teo will do. Hope to God he stays. I wonder what effect seeing an NFL guy like Jonas go down like that will have on his decision.

Come on guys...Teo is gone. #1 MLB in this years draft. 90% chance he leaves.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Come on guys...Teo is gone. #1 MLB in this years draft. 90% chance he leaves.

You don't even know him. You know just as much as we do. MANY insiders are saying that there is a good chance he stays. 90% chance he goes isn't what those close to the program are saying...

 

[irishpat183]

Are you the kind of guy that thought we'd be 11-1 this year when in all actuality we'll probably be 8-4?

We will not be 10-2.

Tougher schedule, we graduate 3/4 starting DBs, will likely lose Teo, will lose EJ, Darius Flemming, Michael Floyd and Jonas Gray.

Oh, and our PR who's averaging .2 yards per PR is also a senior. Huge loss to our special teams.

I really expect our passing defense to be pretty awful next year. Replacing two starting corners and an all-american safety will not be fun.

"All American Safety"?? Who?? Harrison Smith?? HA.

I know it's blasphmey to speak ill of him on here, but I'm not impressed AT ALL with his play this year.

 

[irishpat183]

You don't even know him. You know just as much as we do. MANY insiders are saying that there is a good chance he stays. 90% chance he goes isn't what those close to the program are saying...

Why would he stay? He's going into the NFL draft as the most coveted MLB...and next year, realistically, we're not going to be a good. And if I heard correctly, he's going to graduate early...

 

[irishpat183]

But for the record...I hope to hell Manti stays.

I just don't think he will.

 

[koonja]

"All American Safety"?? Who?? Harrison Smith?? HA.

I know it's blasphmey to speak ill of him on here, but I'm not impressed AT ALL with his play this year.

I haven't been either, but he is good. Wait til you see Zeke playing full-time. God that'll be awful.

 

[irishpat183]

I haven't been either, but he is good. Wait til you see Zeke playing full-time. God that'll be awful.

Oh, I agree... But once all that hype hit, he seemed to regress from last year. Has forced ZERO turnovers this year and seems to have been a little slower in coverage as well.

Hopefully, we land a Shaq Thompson that can step in and be a playmaker from the get-go.

 

[irishtrinity]

You don't even know him. You know just as much as we do. MANY insiders are saying that there is a good chance he stays. 90% chance he goes isn't what those close to the program are saying...

HE STAYS
1. He talked about senior day saying he wanted to send out harry etc. with a win..
2. At the end of the BC game wasn't acting like he was leaving at all walked slow up to the student section... Trust me i think he would have acted different/ also had his parents at the game..

 

[TerryTate]

Eifert is not leaving. Pete Sampson at II talked to his family. He will be at ND next year.

 

[irishpat183]

HE STAYS
1. He talked about senior day saying he wanted to send out harry etc. with a win..
2. At the end of the BC game wasn't acting like he was leaving at all walked slow up to the student section... Trust me i think he would have acted different/ also had his parents at the game..

Really?? Those are your reasons why??

Believe me, the NFL will come a calling....and no matter how "slow" he walked up to the student section or what he said in the locker room, it will be hard to say no when you're the top dog at your position.

 

[irishff1014]

Eifert is not leaving. Pete Sampson at II talked to his family. He will be at ND next year.

I never thought he would leave. Next year might be a different story.

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

HE STAYS
1. He talked about senior day saying he wanted to send out harry etc. with a win..
2. At the end of the BC game wasn't acting like he was leaving at all walked slow up to the student section... Trust me i think he would have acted different/ also had his parents at the game..

I also think Kelly will have a few things to say before he decides to leave .