A great 2011 will setup an amazing 2012

[Green Goblin]

I'm really excited about this year, it should be a good year and it is an important season but the season after this has me drooling.

The schedule is awesome -- Navy @ Dublin, Miami @ Soldier Field, Oklahoma, Michigan, USC! -- but its our players. Our line-up in 2012 should be amazing.

Probably starting Everett/Hendrix at QB.
Manti Te'o in his Senior season (hopefully)
Ishaq, Tuitt, and Lynch all another year older and stronger.
Toma, Riddick, and Wood all still there on offense.
Add in Darby and Tee to the defense.

Everyone will be even more familiar with the system and bigger, stronger, faster. If only we could hold onto Floyd ONE MORE YEAR!

If we can snag a stud RB and WR this year, and if Dayne Crist's successor sees the field some this year, we'll be pretty devastating next year.

Oklahoma might be pretty vulnerable next year because they'll be losing their QB this year and the same with USC. Almost makes me wish we'd start whoever it is we're going with next year, this year just to get them ahead of the curve.

 

[D-BOE34]

I would love if Dayne pops off this year with a stellar showing and comes back next year for his final. That would be the best situation QB wise in my eyes. Of course the key to this is IF he has a stellar season in 2011.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Agreed if Dayne has a good year and stays healthy he should be the QB in 2012.

Honestly I don't think ND wins as many games in 2012 as they will this upcoming year. With that schedule in 2012 and all the veteran players we lose on Defense after this season there will be a drop off. The 2012 team will be more talented, but I think they lose to many key starts on defense. EJ, Flemming, Blanton, Gray, Smith and possibly KLM, Manti, Slaughter, McCarthy and Cwyner.

 

[Rocket89]

Are we just assuming Landry Jones and Matt Barkley will be leaving for the NFL?

They both have eligibility for 2012, no?

 

[Riddickulous]

I'm really excited about this year, it should be a good year and it is an important season but the season after this has me drooling.

The schedule is awesome -- Navy @ Dublin, Miami @ Soldier Field, Oklahoma, Michigan, USC! -- but its our players. Our line-up in 2012 should be amazing.

Probably starting Everett/Hendrix at QB.
Manti Te'o in his Senior season (hopefully)
Ishaq, Tuitt, and Lynch all another year older and stronger.
Toma, Riddick, and Wood all still there on offense.
Add in Darby and Tee to the defense.

Everyone will be even more familiar with the system and bigger, stronger, faster. If only we could hold onto Floyd ONE MORE YEAR!

If we can snag a stud RB and WR this year, and if Dayne Crist's successor sees the field some this year, we'll be pretty devastating next year.

Oklahoma might be pretty vulnerable next year because they'll be losing their QB this year and the same with USC. Almost makes me wish we'd start whoever it is we're going with next year, this year just to get them ahead of the curve.

I disagree with the thread title. Here's some reasoning for that:

1) Brutal schedule. I highly doubt we can have an "amazing" season when we play Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, Stanford, and USC in the same year.

2) We lose 8 starters: Robinson, Dever, Floyd, Johnson, Fleming, Blanton, Gray, and Harrison Smith. Of these players, Robinson will have had 3.5 years of starting experience, Dever will have had 2, Floyd 4, Johnson 3.5, Fleming 3.5, Blanton (adding up the starts) about 2.5, Gray 2.5, and Harrison Smith 4 (counting his year at OLB). That's a lot of heavy experience lost, and at crucial positions.

3) Decimated secondary. One starter returns (Motta or Slaughter) and the other three, all players with 2-3 years of starting experience, are gone. By all accounts, the backup corners are way, way, way behind the starters. Granted, 2012 is a year and a half away, but I expect a drop in quality.

4) No Michael Floyd. So far, there isn't another receiver on the team that has proven to be a dominant #1.

5) Did I mention the schedule?

I expect 9-3 and would be perfectly fine with it. 2013 should be a BCS season.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I disagree with the thread title. Here's some reasoning for that:

1) Brutal schedule. I highly doubt we can have an "amazing" season when we play Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, Stanford, and USC in the same year.

2) We lose 8 starters: Robinson, Dever, Floyd, Johnson, Fleming, Blanton, Gray, and Harrison Smith. Of these players, Robinson will have had 3.5 years of starting experience, Dever will have had 2, Floyd 4, Johnson 3.5, Fleming 3.5, Blanton (adding up the starts) about 2.5, Gray 2.5, and Harrison Smith 4 (counting his year at OLB). That's a lot of heavy experience lost, and at crucial positions.

3) Decimated secondary. One starter returns (Motta or Slaughter) and the other three, all players with 2-3 years of starting experience, are gone. By all accounts, the backup corners are way, way, way behind the starters. Granted, 2012 is a year and a half away, but I expect a drop in quality.

4) No Michael Floyd. So far, there isn't another receiver on the team that has proven to be a dominant #1.

5) Did I mention the schedule?

I expect 9-3 and would be perfectly fine with it. 2013 should be a BCS season.

I agree with you, but I don't think the O-line will be in bad shape. Martin and Cave will be 3 year starters, Watt is a beats and will have a year under his belt, Golic will be a veteran and play guard and Lombart is a beast and will have some time under his belt. The O-line will be real good.

The defense will be depleted, but talented. I'm thinking more like 8-4.

 

[woolybug25]

We better win it all THIS year!

Otherwise... I wasted a perfectly crisp $5 bill in the sportsbook in Vegas...

 

[Rhode Irish]

I disagree with the thread title. Here's some reasoning for that:

1) Brutal schedule. I highly doubt we can have an "amazing" season when we play Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, Stanford, and USC in the same year.

2) We lose 8 starters: Robinson, Dever, Floyd, Johnson, Fleming, Blanton, Gray, and Harrison Smith. Of these players, Robinson will have had 3.5 years of starting experience, Dever will have had 2, Floyd 4, Johnson 3.5, Fleming 3.5, Blanton (adding up the starts) about 2.5, Gray 2.5, and Harrison Smith 4 (counting his year at OLB). That's a lot of heavy experience lost, and at crucial positions.

3) Decimated secondary. One starter returns (Motta or Slaughter) and the other three, all players with 2-3 years of starting experience, are gone. By all accounts, the backup corners are way, way, way behind the starters. Granted, 2012 is a year and a half away, but I expect a drop in quality.

4) No Michael Floyd. So far, there isn't another receiver on the team that has proven to be a dominant #1.

5) Did I mention the schedule?

I expect 9-3 and would be perfectly fine with it. 2013 should be a BCS season.

I agree, and as foolhardy as it is to look so far into the future, I actually think 2013 and 2014 could be huge years. The schedules set up a little better and both of the 2011 and 2012 classes will be fully absorbed into the system at that point. The defense should be stellar and the offense will have all Kelly guys in it, with a QB of his choice. I hate to get carried away and overstate the case, but I could envision a scenario where we play for a national title in those years. Obviously it may not work out that way, but it wouldn't shock me either.

 

[beryirish]

Are we just assuming Landry Jones and Matt Barkley will be leaving for the NFL?

They both have eligibility for 2012, no?

Right now they are projected #2 and #3 QBs behind Luck and are in the Top 10. I think they are gone.

If Manti stays which I think he will, he just strikes me as the guy who values staying all 4 years, he will lead the defense. Lynch replaces EJ which I think will be an upgrade even as a sophomore. Ishaq replaces Fleming/Filer? --another upgrade. You have Louis Nix in the middle. Calabrese is still there. Stuitt could see some playing time with Kona. Secondary will have slaughter/motta? with Wood and Badger and the class of 2011 coming in with a year under their belts by then.

I don't see a drastic drop off as many people may think but that is my opinion. Offense will be there with Coach Kelly.

 

[ThePiombino]

Land DBG and losing FLoyd after this year won't seem like such a big deal.

 

[Riddickulous]

Right now they are projected #2 and #3 QBs behind Luck and are in the Top 10. I think they are gone.

If Manti stays which I think he will, he just strikes me as the guy who values staying all 4 years, he will lead the defense. Lynch replaces EJ which I think will be an upgrade even as a sophomore. Ishaq replaces Fleming/Filer? --another upgrade. You have Louis Nix in the middle. Calabrese is still there. Stuitt could see some playing time with Kona. Secondary will have slaughter/motta? with Wood and Badger and the class of 2011 coming in with a year under their belts by then.

I don't see a drastic drop off as many people may think but that is my opinion. Offense will be there with Coach Kelly.

Darius Fleming is far better than Ishaq Williams at this point, and there will be a slight dropoff in 2012 at Cat.

 

[Green Goblin]

Right now they are projected #2 and #3 QBs behind Luck and are in the Top 10. I think they are gone.

If Manti stays which I think he will, he just strikes me as the guy who values staying all 4 years, he will lead the defense. Lynch replaces EJ which I think will be an upgrade even as a sophomore. Ishaq replaces Fleming/Filer? --another upgrade. You have Louis Nix in the middle. Calabrese is still there. Stuitt could see some playing time with Kona. Secondary will have slaughter/motta? with Wood and Badger and the class of 2011 coming in with a year under their belts by then.

I don't see a drastic drop off as many people may think but that is my opinion. Offense will be there with Coach Kelly.

This is how I see it as well.

That's why I think if we can get a playmaker on offense this year -- a DGB, a Keith Marshall, ect. and we'll be golden next year.

 

[enrico514]

Is anyone else worried about starting the 2012 season in Dublin and the impact this trip could have on the players?

 

[Rhode Irish]

I almost consider 2012 a recruiting year. We are going to play so many high-publicity games all over the country (world), that in combination with what I expect to be a BCS-caliber 2013, the 2014 class could be a #1 type class. Winning is a cycle.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Is anyone else worried about starting the 2012 season in Dublin and the impact this trip could have on the players?

Yes, as much as i love the fact we are playng in dublin its a scary situtation because lots of distractions

 

[johnnykillz]

2012 will be our year, also.

 

[enrico514]

Yes, as much as i love the fact we are playng in dublin its a scary situtation because lots of distractions

Not to mention travel time and time change which could affect them for a good week after.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

We need to win this year. Bottom line. I can't look ahead to future years any more.

We have had too many "OUR" years for me to look past the upcoming season. If we don't start winning consistently, I won't even begin to get my hopes up for seasons two or three years down the road.

Win in 2011 - period!