'23 MO RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame Signee)

[Crazy Balki]

It's all about luck.

ND went to the CFP and immediately was pitted against arguably the two best teams in the playoff era, at the very least 2 of the best 3 (2019 LSU being the other team).

It sucks about this year, because none of the teams look overly imposing. I do think Georgia is a cut above the rest, but I don't think they're quite the caliber of team they were last season, particularly defensively. If ND had a 2018 caliber team, I'd feel much more confident in that matchup than I was for the Clemson game that year.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

It's all about luck.

ND went to the CFP and immediately was pitted against arguably the two best teams in the playoff era, at the very least 2 of the best 3 (2019 LSU being the other team).

It sucks about this year, because none of the teams look overly imposing. I do think Georgia is a cut above the rest, but I don't think they're quite the caliber of team they were last season, particularly defensively. If ND had a 2018 caliber team, I'd feel much more confident in that matchup than I was for the Clemson game that year.

Yup. And if Michigan wins it all because of said luck, I'm going to jump off a cliff.

I'm so sick of the "this ND team just happened to run up against a historically great, record-breaking, super team....otherwise..."

I mean OF COURSE Michigan cake walks their way into a playoff spot, again, by playing one true difficult game a year, only to NOT have to play a Bama SuperTeam or Clemson team w/ one of their notorious "generational" QBs....

 

[ColinKSU]

Winning the whole thing versus being in consideration for a top 4 (or soon to be top 12) playoff spot seems like different arguments. To win the whole thing, I think the recipe is pretty clear -- you either need a team LOADED with veteran five-stars and NFL talent and/or you need a top tier NFL quarterback with strong supporting cast. This also seems to be changing somewhat in the portal + NIL era where teams are struggling to consolidate talent as they had in the past.

In general, if the question was "does this class get ND close to winning it all?" I would say that the answer is no. This class treads water in that top 10 category. But the question was about ND's "ceiling" being below a playoff contender. And that's an absolutely absurd premise.

Also, FWIW, the past two ND playoff teams would be serious contenders in this year's crop of playoff teams. Softest field in recent memory.

Agreed on this class.

Two things can be true, IMO. This is a good class that met its needs at nearly every position. It's a better class than nearly every other program in the country. It *also* isn't as good as the classes from the CFP-level teams Notre Dame claims to compete against. This class has the talent to keep Notre Dame better than most, but not as good as the best.

Does it raise the floor? Yes. They are improving their depth with this class. Does it raise the ceiling? ND's still not closer to Alabama, Georgia or even Ohio State than they were before signing day. Keeley, Moore (Dante and Jason - if you believe they were real possibilities), Edwards and Bowen sure would have helped with that.

 

[indianamouse]

Agreed on this class.

Two things can be true, IMO. This is a good class that met its needs at nearly every position. It's a better class than nearly every other program in the country. It *also* isn't as good as the classes from the CFP-level teams Notre Dame claims to compete against. This class has the talent to keep Notre Dame better than most, but not as good as the best.

Does it raise the floor? Yes. They are improving their depth with this class. Does it raise the ceiling? ND's still not closer to Alabama, Georgia or even Ohio State than they were before signing day. Keeley, Moore (Dante and Jason - if you believe they were real possibilities), Edwards and Bowen sure would have helped with that.

According to bcr, we actually are getting closer to those teams. We may not have landed “elite” talent, but we didn’t land any duds either.

 

[FWIrish4]

Agreed on this class.

Two things can be true, IMO. This is a good class that met its needs at nearly every position. It's a better class than nearly every other program in the country. It *also* isn't as good as the classes from the CFP-level teams Notre Dame claims to compete against. This class has the talent to keep Notre Dame better than most, but not as good as the best.

Does it raise the floor? Yes. They are improving their depth with this class. Does it raise the ceiling? ND's still not closer to Alabama, Georgia or even Ohio State than they were before signing day. Keeley, Moore (Dante and Jason - if you believe they were real possibilities), Edwards and Bowen sure would have helped with that.

I think this should be looked at in a different light.

Outside of Bama, OSU and Georgia - How many of those teams will do the following:

1) stack multiple classes back to back like that? A&M with the all-time greatest class not even cracking the Top 10 this year.

2) will develop them correctly to capitalize on the recruiting success? We’ve seen Texas and Miami recruit at high levels and do literally nothing with that talent this whole decade+.

3) will those highly rated kids finish their career at said school? Look at the transfer portal already. There is high likelyhood that these kids that are so focused on NIL first for their recruitment will jump ship easily if things don’t go well early on in their careers.

Against schools not named Bama, OSU and Georgia, Notre Dame should have an advantage in at least one of those categories if not all 3.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I agree with Allenm above...if Hartman, Minchey, or Carr hit, then that significantly raises the floor and ceiling simultaneously.

 

[ColinKSU]

I think this should be looked at in a different light.

Outside of Bama, OSU and Georgia - How many of those teams will do the following:

1) stack multiple classes back to back like that? A&M with the all-time greatest class not even cracking the Top 10 this year.

2) will develop them correctly to capitalize on the recruiting success? We’ve seen Texas and Miami recruit at high levels and do literally nothing with that talent this whole decade+.

3) will those highly rated kids finish their career at said school? Look at the transfer portal already. There is high likelyhood that these kids that are so focused on NIL first for their recruitment will jump ship easily if things don’t go well early on in their careers.

Against schools not named Bama, OSU and Georgia, Notre Dame should have an advantage in at least one of those categories if not all 3.

All valid points. And isn’t that how it already was for ND? But to the bolded one, that’s another problem.

You’re absolutely right that those highly rated kids might not finish at said school. In fact, it’s a guarantee some of them don’t. The problem is if Bama loses a star HS recruit on the lines or at a skill position, then they’ll just fill it by taking your team’s best player from the portal. I don’t see where the drop off happens for them because they have the best of both worlds.

If ND can’t recruit on par with the best and they can’t plug holes with the best, you have to wonder what the ceiling looks like. Probably the same as it did under Kelly, but for different reasons.

 

[Dale]

All valid points. But to the bolded one, that’s another problem with ND’s recruiting.

You’re absolutely right that those highly rated kids might not finish at said school. In fact, it’s a guarantee some of them don’t. The problem is if Bama loses a star HS recruit on the lines or at a skill position, then they’ll just fill it by taking your team’s best player from the portal. I don’t see where the drop off happens for them because they have the best of both worlds.

If ND can’t recruit on par with the best and they can’t plug holes with the best, you have to wonder what the ceiling looks like. Probably the same as it did under Kelly, but for different reasons.

You say this like it’s easy and a lock but it’s not true. Alabama needed someone to stretch the field this year. They got Burton. He wasn’t that good. They got Eli Ricks at CB. He barely played.

OSU had secondary issues. They brought in an OSU DB with the OSU DC but couldn’t bring in a CB because the others threatened to transfer. Secondary still an issue.

We literally saw Alabama pay the price for lack of success in WR development this year. This was the exact drop off you say you can’t see happening. Sure they were successful with Jameson Williams prior, but that’s exactly the point, it’s possible to fill your needs in the portal, but it’s not the “they’ll just do it” you’re saying it is.

 

[ColinKSU]

You say this like it’s easy and a lock but it’s not true. Alabama needed someone to stretch the field this year. They got Burton. He wasn’t that good. They got Eli Ricks at CB. He barely played.

OSU had secondary issues. They brought in an OSU DB with the OSU DC but couldn’t bring in a CB because the others threatened to transfer. Secondary still an issue.

We literally saw Alabama pay the price for lack of success in WR development this year. This was the exact drop off you say you can’t see happening. Sure they were successful with Jameson Williams prior, but that’s exactly the point, it’s possible to fill your needs in the portal, but it’s not the “they’ll just do it” you’re saying it is.

It’s about giving yourself as many swings as you can take, and those top schools ND claims to want to compete with are doing that. ND failed in HS recruiting and the portal at the WR position last year, while Bama was at least able to take a shot at filling their hole.

There was a one year drop off at WR for Bama, but that’s one position on a team that nearly made the CFP with two losses. The odds that drop off extends to the whole program are minimized with their approach.

And Alabama is not replacing HS recruiting with portal recruiting. They have the #1 class (again). They’re not UCLA taking 12 guys and figuring the portal will make up the difference every year.

Yes, Bama paid the price for WR recruiting and development this season. But they also minimize their risk by bringing in the best from both the HS and portal ranks every season. Did it not work out this season? Yes. Do they reduce the odds of that happening regularly if you aggressively pursue HS and the Portal? Absolutely.

 

[Dale]

It’s about giving yourself as many swings as you can take, and those top schools ND claims to want to compete with are doing that. ND failed in HS recruiting and the portal at the WR position last year, while Bama was at least able to take a shot at filling their hole.

There was a one year drop off at WR for Bama, but that’s one position on a team that nearly made the CFP with two losses. The odds that drop off extends to the whole program are minimized with their approach.

And Alabama is not replacing HS recruiting with portal recruiting. They have the #1 class (again). They’re not UCLA taking 12 guys and figuring the portal will make up the difference every year.

Yes, Bama paid the price for WR recruiting and development this season. But they also minimize their risk by bringing in the best from both the HS and portal ranks every season. Did it not work out this season? Yes. Do they reduce the odds of that happening regularly if you aggressively pursue HS and the Portal? Absolutely.

Okay I agree for the most part with that but you see how I don’t see where the drop off happens and reduced risk of drop off are far different things.

 

[ColinKSU]

Okay I agree for the most part with that but you see how I don’t see where the drop off happens and reduced risk of drop off are far different things.

Sure and I guess I should have chosen different words because a drop off is always possible. But I don’t personally believe it will happen because the same teams that recruit HS kids better than everyone also recruit portal players better than nearly anyone. They’d have to simultaneously miss multiple times on elite players.

For reasons that I’m sure even frustrate the coaches, ND doesn’t seem to want to be in the minimizing risk business. The 2023 team could really use help on the DL, but does anyone sincerely believe they’re going to bring in an impact Viper or DT?

 

[Dale]

But I don’t personally believe it will happen because the same teams that recruit HS kids better than everyone also recruit portal players better than nearly anyone. They’d have to simultaneously miss multiple times on elite players.

So now we are back a step again lol, how can you not see it happening when it literally just happened? Heck you could make an argument Georgia whiffed in the portal/recruiting simultaneously at QB too. Bennett just was a stroke of luck. I’d be like Ron Powlus III leading us to a Natty.

 

[NorthDakota]

So now we are back a step again lol, how can you not see it happening when it literally just happened? Heck you could make an argument Georgia whiffed in the portal/recruiting simultaneously at QB too. Bennett just was a stroke of luck. I’d be like Ron Powlus III leading us to a Natty.

RP3 will lead us to glory

 

[CanadalovesND]

Really wish we had a QB named RPG.

Just imagine the NIL with the US Military

 

[ColinKSU]

So now we are back a step again lol, how can you not see it happening when it literally just happened? Heck you could make an argument Georgia whiffed in the portal/recruiting simultaneously at QB too. Bennett just was a stroke of luck. I’d be like Ron Powlus leading us to a Natty.

You’re talking about a drop off in one season and I’m talking about a drop off over a series of time where people ask what happened to Alabama because they used to be a dominant program. We’re talking about two different kinds of a drop off.

Again, maybe I’m not doing a good job with my word choices.

Drop off (Me): Long-Term
Drop off (You): One specific season

I don’t care about a one year drop off at WR for Alabama because I don’t believe that will become a trend. This year’s WR was absolutely a drop off, but I believe it was an aberration, and not what I’m referring to when I say “Man that program really dropped off.

They’re playing the long game, not the one and done perfect storm game we’d have to play. The way they approach roster management gives them the best chance of insuring that doesn’t become a trend.

I’m talking about 5-10-year cycles. Alabama having a drop off in one season doesn’t change my believe that they are much more immune to it tanking the overall future of their program than most schools.

 

[Dale]

You’re talking about a drop off in one season and I’m talking about a drop off over a series of time where people ask what happened to Alabama because they used to be a dominant program. We’re talking about two different kinds of a drop off.

Again, maybe I’m not doing a good job with my word choices.

Drop off (Me): Long-Term
Drop off (You): One specific season

I don’t care about a one year drop off at WR for Alabama because I don’t believe that will become a trend. This year’s WR was absolutely a drop off, but I believe it was an aberration, and not what I’m referring to when I say “Man that program really dropped off.

They’re playing the long game, not the one and done perfect storm game we’d have to play. The way they approach roster management gives them the best chance of insuring that doesn’t become a trend.

I’m talking about 5-10-year cycles. Alabama having a drop off in one season doesn’t change my believe that they are much more immune to it tanking the overall future of their program than most schools.

Man I can’t worry about what Alabama is gonna be doing in 10 years lol

 

[dublinirish]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jprue24]

Do we like Powers today?

 

[Luckylucci]

Love has got that upside. I kind of feel like his career will go one way or another. He either turns into the best NFL RB prospect we’ve had in awhile. Or, it becomes evident he’s not a natural RB at the collegiate level. Don’t feel like it’s in-between. While odds say it’s the latter. I’m on the hype train for the former.

 

[pumpdog20]

so we got a better RB than Young... sweet

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I wish he had enrolled early but at the end of the day, I think the three most important EEs were the WRs. Getting Flores, Greathouse and James on campus and up to speed ASAP is big for that room.

Not sure how much Love will play as a freshman with that crowded RB room, but I hope he gets some opportunities in the four games he's allowed to preserve his eligibility.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I wish he had enrolled early but at the end of the day, I think the three most important EEs were the WRs. Getting Flores, Greathouse and James on campus and up to speed ASAP is big for that room.

Not sure how much Love will play as a freshman with that crowded RB room, but I hope he gets some opportunities in the four games he's allowed to preserve his eligibility.

RBs aren't ever playing 5 years - at least not the good ones

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I wish he had enrolled early but at the end of the day, I think the three most important EEs were the WRs. Getting Flores, Greathouse and James on campus and up to speed ASAP is big for that room.

Not sure how much Love will play as a freshman with that crowded RB room, but I hope he gets some opportunities in the four games he's allowed to preserve his eligibility.

My thinking as well. If Love is ready to make an impact as a freshman, we'll know by the midway point of the season. Give our depth at WR, it was far more important for the WRs to get on campus, acclimate to the schedule and get a lot of reps with the QBs. The only caveat I have is that Love has really good hands so I could see him being a weapon from the backfield/slot but it may take him a year to make the transition.

 

[fightingirish26]

so we got a better RB than Young... sweet

He didn't want to be RB2

 

[Dale]

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

View attachment 3052677

 

[GATTACA!]

View attachment 3052677

We knew you couldn’t quit us Dale.

 

[IAIrish]

Maybe being a summer enrollee is a positive, especially at rb. This gives him time to get acclimated/ learn and in October, he's ready to make an impact with some fresh legs, similar to the way Styles and Diggs made an impact 2 seasons ago.

 

[NDpendent]

Maybe being a summer enrollee is a positive, especially at rb. This gives him time to get acclimated/ learn and in October, he's ready to make an impact with some fresh legs, similar to the way Styles and Diggs made an impact 2 seasons ago.

Also less time training in those Under Armor shoes

 

[stlnd01]

If Under Armor is doing us a disservice athletically, the University should be more proactive getting us a different deal. I’ve never worn their shoes before, yet alone cleats, but do they have a reputation of manufacturing poor athletic materials?

Looks like our current ten-year deal with Under Armour expires in 2024. So, maybe that’s happening now?

The uniforms - which IMO are fine, better than adidas before them - and apparel get most of the attention. But the quality of the footwear matters too. I’ve definitely seen people blame UA cleats for foot injuries, especially for our bigger guys. But I dunno.

For what little it’s worth, whenever I have bought UA shoes for my kids they’ve been kinda crappy compared with adidas or new balance - as maybe befits a company that’s not primarily a shoe company - but I would hope/assume the shoes they give to elite college football programs are higher-quality?