2026 Fall Camp Thread

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NDFAN2008

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I'm not worried about the defense at all not going to lie my biggest concern is the OL and here is why. Every year we end up losing 2 min OL guys to injuries and guys get banged up all the time. Here is what our current OL situation looks like.
LT-Will Black new starter
LG-Knapp switching postion
C Ashton Craig- Coming off ACL Injury
RG Sullivan Absher-Didn't look great against good DL's
RT-Guerby Lambert first time starter at RT

Bench-
1. Joe Otting really only has played center but can play LG, RG
2. Matty Augustine- Won't be back till BYU or Miami
3. Charles Jagusah- When is he back?
4. The rest of the OL guys are unproven, if one of Black or Lambert get hurt what happens then? Does Knapp move to LT and Otting LG? Or will a guy like McKeough be ready to come in and help if needed? If we get two more injuries on the OL things could get ugly quick.
 
PolishDomer

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AnothaOne said:
I have one doubt about this defense: Chris Ash
Click to expand...
Which one will show up this year?

images
Chris_Ash.png
 
Dale

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Miami vs ND: 4.99 YPP
Miami vs OSU: 4.62 YPP
Miami vs Ole Miss: 5.22 YPP
Miami vs Indiana: 6.45 YPP

I think in the moment it felt much worse than it was. Miami did ease up a bit by running the ball - ND had a good run D all year - that allowed the comeback but it really came down to 3 or 4 plays (lack of TO, two big play TDs).

People also had this perception going into the game that Carson Beck was bad. Which he is not bad, he’s inconsistent. We got the most healthy version of him while getting the least tape on Toney. @ Miami in August with defensive rotations not set.
 
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arrowryan

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I wouldn’t doubt Ash, at this point. He more than made up for the first 10 quarters of the season last year. While the blame ultimately falls on Ash, I’m pretty sure it was Mickens’ decision to run Hobbs out there. Once he figured out his personnel, it was pretty much lights out.

The biggest concerns for this defense is staying healthy and just making sure they make it to the game. I genuinely don’t know where an offense would try to attack this defense.
 
IAIrish

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NDFAN2008 said:
I'm not worried about the defense at all not going to lie my biggest concern is the OL and here is why. Every year we end up losing 2 min OL guys to injuries and guys get banged up all the time. Here is what our current OL situation looks like.
LT-Will Black new starter
LG-Knapp switching postion
C Ashton Craig- Coming off ACL Injury
RG Sullivan Absher-Didn't look great against good DL's
RT-Guerby Lambert first time starter at RT

Bench-
1. Joe Otting really only has played center but can play LG, RG
2. Matty Augustine- Won't be back till BYU or Miami
3. Charles Jagusah- When is he back?
4. The rest of the OL guys are unproven, if one of Black or Lambert get hurt what happens then? Does Knapp move to LT and Otting LG? Or will a guy like McKeough be ready to come in and help if needed? If we get two more injuries on the OL things could get ugly quick.
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Holy crap, 08!

You made good points and nailed the spelling and grammar.

New season, new 08!!
 
NDPhilly

NDPhilly

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Notre Dame’s defense held Miami to 5.0 yards per play, while ND’s offense averaged 5.4. The issue was primarily the turnovers once they settled in. Defense was fine.
 
Old Man Mike

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It is my belief that Carr will cure any modest OLine problem that might arise.

His mastery of the whole "moment" (re: both scheme and circumstance) will mask small deficiencies.

The interior line will be fine. We have studs and replacement studs. It's the Tackles.

They might be All-A or they might not. We have a back-up plan (Knapp can go back.)

My guess is that we have two lines worth of guys behind the starters who can start for most teams.

My guess is that there are probably hidden AAs in that group ready to bust out & knock someone down.

We have Joe Rudolph.
 
Katzenboyer

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Jimmy3Putt said:
Wasn't there rumors of the staff trying to actively sabotage him early in the season?
Probably why all of the defensive staff was replaced by Ash's coaching tree.
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That was purely the stuff of the message boards. None of that has been substantiated, and a coaching staff sabotaging a team with playoff aspirations because they were mad at the new defensive coordinator would be one of the larger stories of the last decade in college football.

There was communication and concept confusion at the start of the season, and Freeman was clearly frustrated by it. But the team figured it out.
 
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matman4593

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NDFAN2008 said:
I'm not worried about the defense at all not going to lie my biggest concern is the OL and here is why. Every year we end up losing 2 min OL guys to injuries and guys get banged up all the time. Here is what our current OL situation looks like.
LT-Will Black new starter
LG-Knapp switching postion
C Ashton Craig- Coming off ACL Injury
RG Sullivan Absher-Didn't look great against good DL's
RT-Guerby Lambert first time starter at RT

Bench-
1. Joe Otting really only has played center but can play LG, RG
2. Matty Augustine- Won't be back till BYU or Miami
3. Charles Jagusah- When is he back?
4. The rest of the OL guys are unproven, if one of Black or Lambert get hurt what happens then? Does Knapp move to LT and Otting LG? Or will a guy like McKeough be ready to come in and help if needed? If we get two more injuries on the OL things could get ugly quick.
Click to expand...
Wildly impressed with 08 here.
 
stlnd01

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I feel like every position group on the offense - aside from QB - has lots of question marks, but also lots of potential answers. This is vastly better than the years when we had question marks and few potential answers. But it's also very different than the situation with this year's defense where you have a bunch of proven studs.

With the OL the question is mainly depth. Fortunately, there are tons of talented guys in reserve and hopefully the staff has a few then can plug in when needed (as they surely will be at some point).
 
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AnothaOne

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SeekNDestroy said:
I can provide some analysis….thinking one of the top defenses in the country at the end last season and a defense that returns 12 starters!* is going to what? Implode? Why would they? THEY WERE REALLY GOOD AND NOW THEY ARE EVEN BETTER!

There’s absolutely no reason to believe that this team can’t compete for a title this season. The defense will be a big reason why.

*including transfers
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A bit dramatic my friend. Never said they would implode and you stating that they return a lot of starters is the exact reason why I don't have doubts about the personnel... again the only doubt I would have is can Chris Ash get this defense right in a big game. I absolutely believe this team can win a title but I'm not going to have complete confidence until Ash shows he can coach in a big game
 
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FireJeffQuinn

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AnothaOne said:
A bit dramatic my friend. Never said they would implode and you stating that they return a lot of starters is the exact reason why I don't have doubts about the personnel... again the only doubt I would have is can Chris Ash get this defense right in a big game. I absolutely believe this team can win a title but I'm not going to have complete confidence until Ash shows he can coach in a big game
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Sampson and Fortuna had a similar take on their most recent podcast. They mentioned last year's USC game, which was the last time we faced a good offense.
 
SeekNDestroy

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AnothaOne said:
A bit dramatic my friend. Never said they would implode and you stating that they return a lot of starters is the exact reason why I don't have doubts about the personnel... again the only doubt I would have is can Chris Ash get this defense right in a big game. I absolutely believe this team can win a title but I'm not going to have complete confidence until Ash shows he can coach in a big game
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Maybe. I’m just flabbergasted at how many fans are questioning our DC after last season’s ascension and this season’s talent level.
 
Dale

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SeekNDestroy said:
Maybe. I’m just flabbergasted at how many fans are questioning our DC after last season’s ascension and this season’s talent level.
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If Ash was better in pressers like Golden was he would be liked by the fan base more

I legitimately don’t think he’s ever said anything notable in a presser
 
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NDFAN2008

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Dale said:
If Ash was better in pressers like Golden was he would be liked by the fan base more

I legitimately don’t think he’s ever said anything notable in a presser
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2025 Under Ash 36 Sacks in 12 games averaging 3 sacks a game that's with playing 2 of the better OL's in Texas A&M and Miami
2024 Under Golden 40 Sacks in 16 games averaging 2.5 sacks a game.
2023 Under Golden 31 Sacks in 13 games
I'm going to go out and predict that in 2026 under Ash with CP as DL coach ND ends up with around 45-50 sacks depending how far they make it in the playoff.
 
AKRowdy

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I still remember when everyone here hated Golden and wanted him fired. My OSU friends told me last year to “Give Ash time” and “ND defense will be fine, Ash is solid.” I have all faith in his abilities especially with Freeman leading the charge.
 
Dale

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AKRowdy said:
I still remember when everyone here hated Golden and wanted him fired. My OSU friends told me last year to “Give Ash time” and “ND defense will be fine, Ash is solid.” I have all faith in his abilities especially with Freeman leading the charge.
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Same circumstance, early season losses. As time passed, the reality is 90% of the teams aren’t OSU/Miami/A&M. And good games pile up compared to bad games. Golden was also much more endearing off the field.
 
SWirishfan

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Dale said:
Same circumstance, early season losses. As time passed, the reality is 90% of the teams aren’t OSU/Miami/A&M. And good games pile up compared to bad games. Golden was also much more endearing off the field.
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Up and until he went to Cinci. That was not an endearing move.
 
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