2024 WATCH PARTY: WEEK 5

[ColinKSU]

ND never winning again are we?

Michigan won last year, so of course Notre Dame can win. But I can’t even begin to describe how many things need to fall into place that likely never will at the same time for ND to do that.

 

[T-Boone]

Definitely a different level of player. And, as has been mentioned every game, he's just 17. He's supposed to be a senior in HS right now, but took on a lot of extra work and graduated a year early. He's close to NFL ready right now.

I think you mean as has been mentioned every possession.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I think you mean as has been mentioned every possession.

You're just about right!

 

[GATTACA!]

Getting his feet turned down the sidelines/field after the catch looks like something you'd see on Sunday, not Saturday.

ND has never had a WR as good as him. At least not in my lifetime for sure.

 

[Huntr]

 

[T-Boone]

ND has never had a WR as good as him. At least not in my lifetime for sure.

Only because we never gave Jordan Johnson a chance.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

Michigan won last year, so of course Notre Dame can win. But I can’t even begin to describe how many things need to fall into place that likely never will at the same time for ND to do that.

Well the first thing we could do is finally get a 1st round level talent at QB for the first time in 20 years, and more NFL talent across the board.
That Michigan team as much as we hate them, may go down as the team of the decade.
13 players drafted, on top of the talent that didn’t enter the draft last off-season.

Thank god Harbaugh left, because he created one hell of a program in his image.

 

[irishff1014]

Let’s not forget that Michigan will also have an asterisk next to their name. They cheated and everyone knows it. The NCAA just didn’t have the balls to do anything.

 

[IrishLax]

That game was like watching a completely different sport. The only position group at Notre Dame that is Bama/Georgia level is the secondary and then RB because of Love. Maybe through TE in that group too.
-Defensive lines are bigger and more athletic, play so much more physical
-Linebackers don't really look that different but they play at a different speed
-WRs... LOL. They have game breaking players in many spots. Thinking of that Harrison catch in space yesterday where a receiver for one of the other schools would probably just make the guy miss in space and score.
-Same thing with QB. Even Beck who was mostly terrible at times just plays the position completely differently.
-OL is bigger and more physical. I give us a pass somewhat though considering we're down 3-4 starters at this point.

There was so much scoring in that game because there are simply "playmakers" everywhere.

 

[NDRock]

ND never winning again are we?

Not with our current recruiting. I looked at our roster at the beginning of the year, saw we have zero 5* players and a QB who won’t sniff the 1st round, and then set my expectations accordingly. 11-1 with a win over USC will be an awesome season if we can do it. Keep putting those type seasons up and maybe we can start getting the 5* kids again.

 

[irishff1014]

That game was like watching a completely different sport. The only position group at Notre Dame that is Bama/Georgia level is the secondary and then RB because of Love. Maybe through TE in that group too.
-Defensive lines are bigger and more athletic, play so much more physical
-Linebackers don't really look that different but they play at a different speed
-WRs... LOL. They have game breaking players in many spots. Thinking of that Harrison catch in space yesterday where a receiver for one of the other schools would probably just make the guy miss in space and score.
-Same thing with QB. Even Beck who was mostly terrible at times just plays the position completely differently.
-OL is bigger and more physical. I give us a pass somewhat though considering we're down 3-4 starters at this point.

There was so much scoring in that game because there are simply "playmakers" everywhere.

Our QB should be lucky to be a division 1.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Everyone always mentions QB, but the gap between our WRs and the WRs from those schools is far greater and has to change if we want any chance of winning championships.

If instead of RL, we had one of Will Howard, Carson Beck, etc - I think our season looks largely the same.

If we gave RL OSU’s receiver room - oh man, look out. Those guys simply get too open and make it too easy for the QB. Did you see Jeremiah Smith last night?

Obviously QB is easy to point to, which is why everyone does it, but man we also finally need some dudes at WR.

 

[IrishLax]

Everyone always mentions QB, but the gap between our WRs and the WRs from those schools is far greater and has to change if we want any chance of winning championships.

If instead of RL, we had one of Will Howard, Carson Beck, etc - I think our season looks largely the same.

If we gave RL OSU’s receiver room - oh man, look out. Those guys simply get too open and make it too easy for the QB. Did you see Jeremiah Smith last night?

Obviously QB is easy to point to, which is why everyone does it, but man we also finally need some dudes at WR.

The WR skill gap is massive. What's crazy is that we absolutely do land some highly rated guys but they all seem to be busts.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The margins of being top 10 and top 4 is thin. Miss out on one or two position groups a couple of back to back years and that gap widens. The portal has helped close that gap somewhat but you miss you better have some stud playmakers somewhere to help you offset. To me, that’s a bit of the Irish’s issue right now. A few position group misses, not much in portal help with those positions, and not enough playmakers to overcome it.

 

[Huntr]

To me, that’s a bit of the Irish’s issue right now

Right now being like, 20-30 years.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Right now being like, 20-30 years.

Last year - last 30 years - doesn't matter today. Just keep moving forward.

 

[greyhammer90]

Everyone always mentions QB, but the gap between our WRs and the WRs from those schools is far greater and has to change if we want any chance of winning championships.

If instead of RL, we had one of Will Howard, Carson Beck, etc - I think our season looks largely the same.

If we gave RL OSU’s receiver room - oh man, look out. Those guys simply get too open and make it too easy for the QB. Did you see Jeremiah Smith last night?

Obviously QB is easy to point to, which is why everyone does it, but man we also finally need some dudes at WR.

We definitely need some better WRs, but I don't think that's going to happen until we get a QB and show that we can competently deliver the football downfield. Five star WRs don't want to spend their whole college career blocking for their scrambling QB or dabbing up the TE in the endzone. Our WR personnel is above average for a cfb team (definitely not top 10, but probably around top 30). We're playing a pretty easy schedule and the passing product on the field looks abysmal.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

That game was like watching a completely different sport. The only position group at Notre Dame that is Bama/Georgia level is the secondary and then RB because of Love. Maybe through TE in that group too.
-Defensive lines are bigger and more athletic, play so much more physical
-Linebackers don't really look that different but they play at a different speed
-WRs... LOL. They have game breaking players in many spots. Thinking of that Harrison catch in space yesterday where a receiver for one of the other schools would probably just make the guy miss in space and score.
-Same thing with QB. Even Beck who was mostly terrible at times just plays the position completely differently.
-OL is bigger and more physical. I give us a pass somewhat though considering we're down 3-4 starters at this point.

There was so much scoring in that game because there are simply "playmakers" everywhere.

Agree with this.
Only pushback I would say is that we all jut saw Michigan dominate the sport without a pro level WR. Wilson was a third round talent, but likely won’t be much in the next level.
The blueprint is there, we just haven’t had a winner like McCarthy behind center for 20+ years, and then also surround that winner behind center with NFL talent all across our starting 22.

 

[stlnd01]

Agree with this.
Only pushback I would say is that we all jut saw Michigan dominate the sport without a pro level WR. Wilson was a third round talent, but likely won’t be much in the next level.
The blueprint is there, we just haven’t had a winner like McCarthy behind center for 20+ years, and then also surround that winner behind center with NFL talent all across our starting 22.

🤮

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

We don't just need WRs and QB to compete with the top 3-4, we need to get better at the LOS too.

 

[stlnd01]

We definitely need some better WRs, but I don't think that's going to happen until we get a QB and show that we can competently deliver the football downfield.

I mean, Louisville has more dynamic WRs than we do. With a rotating collection of grad transfer QBs who we don’t even consider.

 

[greyhammer90]

I mean, Louisville has more dynamic WRs than we do. With a rotating collection of grad transfer QBs who we don’t even consider.

Good point. I don't know how Louisville's passing game numbers compare to ours.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

Just remembered Tyler Buchner started a game over Jalen Milroe

 

[Terry Jillery]

 

[Terry Jillery]

Just remembered Tyler Buchner started a game over Jalen Milroe

Rees made a good evaluation 😂

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Recap

Miami got themselves a game Friday night. Looking forward to seeing them punch in their own weight class now that September is over.

Penn State got themselves a game from Illinois as well. Same.

Kentucky beat Ole Miss. See above.

Bama v UGA was one for the ages.

JMU is good. Indiana is 5-0. So is Duke.

Colorado is looking pretty solid. Better than what most thought anyway.

SMU absolutely waxing FSU really showing that the wheels are falling off in Tallahassee.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

That game was like watching a completely different sport. The only position group at Notre Dame that is Bama/Georgia level is the secondary and then RB because of Love. Maybe through TE in that group too.
-Defensive lines are bigger and more athletic, play so much more physical
-Linebackers don't really look that different but they play at a different speed
-WRs... LOL. They have game breaking players in many spots. Thinking of that Harrison catch in space yesterday where a receiver for one of the other schools would probably just make the guy miss in space and score.
-Same thing with QB. Even Beck who was mostly terrible at times just plays the position completely differently.
-OL is bigger and more physical. I give us a pass somewhat though considering we're down 3-4 starters at this point.

There was so much scoring in that game because there are simply "playmakers" everywhere.

This is honestly where I see it the most and have for the last few years. People talk about the trenches, defense, etc. but I am starting to feel that where the difference makers are, what ultimately can put you over the top in an evenly matched contest of elite teams....is WR.

That kid at Ohio State, for example, is a freshman. Its outrageous how good he is. He might be the best player in the country talentwise. That's the kind of trajectory we need.

Ultimately, you can have the triggerman but if he's got the WR around him it really helps close the margin for error gap.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Recap

Bama v UGA was one for the ages.

I'm still scared to watch the replay. I'm not sure we'll win it. I don't care who you pull for in CFB, that was a hell of a game!

 

[Terry Jillery]

Who in their right mind doesn’t put ATM in the top 25?