are we back to square 1?

[mick2]

Clausen gone and tate most likely gone too. Lost a few recruits, CW has left us with a decent roster, but how ready is Crist to take over, especially with the Knee injury.

I dont know, its looking like 2010 will be another mediocre year.

what do you guys see this team accomplishing next year?

I am holding out hope for a good season, but i can't see it right now.

8 wins maximum? I only see about 6 games that we should be favored in, and thats giving utah, which we may not be favored in.

we have to wait all offseason with this terrible past season left to talk about, no bowl game to build upon, and right now no coach, this is easily the worst i have ever felt as a fan of ND.

 

[schuec]

I try to spin this in a positive way in my mind. Sure Jimmy and Tate are big loses, but we are fairly deep at WR and Crist was a 5 star recruit. I know there are definitely question marks for next year but maybe it won't be all that bad.

 

[IrishBlood81]

It ALL depends on the coach mate. I can't say until I see who we get. If its Kelly I'll have high hopes...if not....no idea


puravida
81

 

[Mattmags]

What recruits did we officially lose other than Martin?

 

[devolg]

I think it would be crazy to expect a whole hell of a lot next season given everything thats taking place.

 

[mick2]

It ALL depends on the coach mate. I can't say until I see who we get. If its Kelly I'll have high hopes...if not....no idea


puravida
81

true a big name coach can give me some hope and some good stuff to think about over the offseason.

Im not huge on Kelly but i am not against him either, I think if he can go 12-0 with cincy's roster he can go 12-0 with ND's roster.

but then i think there will be tougher games at ND than at cincy

 

[IrishBlood81]

I think it would be crazy to expect a whole hell of a lot next season given everything thats taking place.

Like I said it depends on the coach. A good coach can take what we have and turn us into a 9 win team at worst.



81

 

[mick2]

What recruits did we officially lose other than Martin?

we didnt officially lose any except martin, but im sure prater was turned off by the firing and who knows what other recruits will shy away now.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

No. Square One was D. Jones starting at QB and his O-Line.

We have a lot of talent that has not been developed correctly.

 

[ACamp1900]

bottom line... we are in the best spot talent wise we have been in for a coaching change since Holtz took over for Faust... Charlie didn't get over teh hump but he left the program in great shape for the next guy

if Kelly comes in and keeps the recruiting up... we'll be fine... next year???... who knows, Crist's injury hurts bad right now

 

[devolg]

No. Square One was D. Jones starting at QB and his O-Line.

Oh man I almost forgot about that nightmare.

 

[mick2]

No. Square One was D. Jones starting at QB and his O-Line.

We have a lot of talent that has not been developed correctly.

on defense.

so add an inexperienced offense and what do you have? 2007.

Im not saying we'll be 3-9 next year but i dont think we'll be great either.

Im usually not the pessimist but i have a very bad feeling about 2010

 

[mick2]

bottom line... we are in the best spot talent wise we have been in for a coaching change since Holtz took over for Faust... Charlie didn't get over teh hump but he left the program in great shape for the next guy

if Kelly comes in and keeps the recruiting up... we'll be fine... next year???... who knows, Crist's injury hurts bad right now

CW left great talent, but is it enough talent for an NC?

 

[ACamp1900]

CW left great talent, but is it enough talent for an NC?

not yet I would say... but it's MUCH better than any other coach walked into other than Holtz... even Lou, as much as I love him, did not leave the talent on the roster and the pipelines open for Davie the way Weis is leaving both for who I believe will be Kelly

 

[IrishinSyria]

double post

 

[49er-Irish]

With Clausen and Tate announcing their NFL futures today it's obviously a day for pessimistic thoughts. So with that in mind, I'll try to look at the glass as half full for next season.

ND returns a TE in Rudolph with All American potential and solid 2nd TE in Ragone.

Floyd is another player with AA potential and plenty of guys are ready to step in the #2 spot. The Shark wasn't known before the 2005 season, someone can step up huge next year. Tai-lor Jones will have a huge impact next season IMO - he is going to be very polished coming into ND.

Crist had a clean pop with his knee and could be available in the spring. He's had 2 years of watching and waiting and should be ready to showcase his enormous talent.

Stocked at RB. Move Hughes to FB and enjoy watching AA, Riddick, Gray and Wood run wild. An OL and offense with a new mindset could allow these guys to thrive.

Yeah, we lost some guys on the OL, but some new faces will be ready for an impact. Chris Watt will be knocking heads next year along with Chris Stewart at the other guard position. Stewart started moving people really well toward the end of the season. Wenger will be experienced at center and T-Rob will take over at tackle. Someone will need to step up at a tackle position, but there's enough talent to push each other in the off season to be ready. Seantrel?

ND's defense was bad last year, but everyone knew - or should've known - that they were a year away. Next year could be the year that ND finally has a nasty defense with guys flying around and taking people's heads off. Run a 3-4 with Filer, Fleming, B. Smith and Te'o at LB and EJ, I. Williams, and KLM along the line. The talent is there, just waiting...potential coaches, are you listening?

Safety is thin, VERY thin, but there is still some talent in the defensive backfield. Blanton didn't come close to the hype he made for himself his freshman season, but he'll learn from his mistakes and be ready to go. I still have faith that Walls can be a shutdown guy (very optimistic, I know) and he'll be eager for his last chance to show his skills to NFL scouts.

Optimistic for sure, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. There are obviously plenty of other reasons to be pessimistic, but I'll choose to ignore those for today.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I think there's a lot to look forward to but certainly we're in a very different position than we would be with the big three coming back.

Still, I think we'll see a lot of improvement on the D-line next year and I think that improvement will make a big difference on both sides of the ball (make it harder for offenses to run our offense off the field). Too bad that's coming a year late, otherwise we could all be talking about our matchup with Bama or Texas right now.

 

[Rudy89]

Oh yes we are very much back there It will take 2 years to rebuild with th new coach and loss of players. I know people will call for the new coach's head when we dont make the BCS next year but we will be in a DEEP hole next year with all that surrounds us

 

[NDinL.A.]

Oh yes we are very much back there It will take 2 years to rebuild with th new coach and loss of players. I know people will call for the new coach's head when we dont make the BCS next year but we will be in a DEEP hole next year with all that surrounds us

Man, what is your deal? Every post from you is a 'sky is falling post'. We are in now way near where we were in 2007. Not even close. Look at the depth charts, then get back to us. If we hire Kelly (please God), we'll be in much better shape, especially at QB. Clausen as a freshman with a bum elbow in a way too complicated pro-set vs. 3rd year Crist (recovering well from surgery by all accounts) in a much easier to read offense. Receivers all over the place. Veteran RB's all over the place. I mean, seriously, what are you talking about? Gonna be a long offseason for you...

 

[Rudy89]

Man, what is your deal? Every post from you is a 'sky is falling post'. We are in now way near where we were in 2007. Not even close. Look at the depth charts, then get back to us. If we hire Kelly (please God), we'll be in much better shape, especially at QB. Clausen as a freshman with a bum elbow in a way too complicated pro-set vs. 3rd year Crist (recovering well from surgery by all accounts) in a much easier to read offense. Receivers all over the place. Veteran RB's all over the place. I mean, seriously, what are you talking about? Gonna be a long offseason for you...

Maybe that last post didnt come off to great. If we do get Kelly sure Ill have some optimism for what we have the potential to do. But new coach along with the loss of an awesome QB/Reciver duo and our next QB (who has potential to be very good dont get me wrong) Is coming off of a bad knee injury which could hurt his mobility (which was one of his strenghts) and a lot of athletes I know who have had the same injury said they never were the same afterwards.

Depending on the coach we get that will determine more but you gotta admit that when you lose players that good and have to deal with a new coahc and a new system youre in a hole to start the season thos are things that can be difficult for a team.

I also stated that I think with all this against us people NEED to realize that with the new coach we might not be in the BCS or National title next year. Am I saying thats impossible for us to make it not next year....no absolutly not but with all of this stuff going on my expectations arent going to be as high as they were at the start of the season this year.

 

[mick2]

Man, what is your deal? Every post from you is a 'sky is falling post'. We are in now way near where we were in 2007. Not even close. Look at the depth charts, then get back to us. If we hire Kelly (please God), we'll be in much better shape, especially at QB. Clausen as a freshman with a bum elbow in a way too complicated pro-set vs. 3rd year Crist (recovering well from surgery by all accounts) in a much easier to read offense. Receivers all over the place. Veteran RB's all over the place. I mean, seriously, what are you talking about? Gonna be a long offseason for you...

we already had a great offense, i dont know if an offense with no golden or clausen can do better next year, the problem is defense!

kelly has done a good job with what he has had, but i just dont feel that great about next season.

it should be a long offseason for all of us fans, success at cincy does not translate to success at ND, If he is hired i sure hope it does! but how can anybody be so sure.

How can anybody sit here with a straight face and tell me 2010 with a new coach, qb, wr, half of offensive line would be better off than 2010 with senior Qb, wr, and weis.

you can say well Jimmy and tate were gone anyway but we'll never know, and thats how its gonna be until kickoff 2010.

 

[TinyT]

we didnt officially lose any except martin, but im sure prater was turned off by the firing and who knows what other recruits will shy away now.

yeah, we lost martin
Prater, Joyner dropped us from consideration right after the firing
Moore was rumored to be looking, I think to NC State
Shembo was taking an official to Duke
Tailer Jones is dependent on the next hire
Boyd was looking but I believe decided against it
James Stone has us in his rear view mirror
I also read that Matt James is leaning more heavily towards Cincinnati, but he might change his mind depending on who the next coach of ND is

All I can think of off of the top of my head
T

 

[The Polish Irishman]

yeah, we lost martin
Prater, Joyner dropped us from consideration right after the firing
Moore was rumored to be looking, I think to NC State
Shembo was taking an official to Duke
Tailer Jones is dependent on the next hire
Boyd was looking but I believe decided against it
James Stone has us in his rear view mirror
I also read that Matt James is leaning more heavily towards Cincinnati, but he might change his mind depending on who the next coach of ND is

All I can think of off of the top of my head
T

Prater is not out of the question
Shembo is solid, never went to Duke
Moore is questionable
Jones is accepted to ND and his Dad said he will be in South Bend on the 12th
Boyd is solid
Stone? Who knows, but looks like Alabama has been leading for a long time, but said he is still considering ND
Matt James I think will commit if Kelly is the coach

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Prater is not out of the question
Shembo is solid, never went to Duke
Moore is questionable
Jones is accepted to ND and his Dad said he will be in South Bend on the 12th
Boyd is solid
Stone? Who knows, but looks like Alabama has been leading for a long time, but said he is still considering ND
Matt James I think will commit if Kelly is the coach

I am pretty sure that Prater is 100% committed to SC. Other than that I think you are spot on.

 

[Seanthornton]

I will remain optomistic but next year maybe kind of a "lets see what we got" year. The big three are as good as gone. I just hope this next coach is sucessfull and around for a long time. I want to kick A** like everyone else and make'em all eat a nice big Shi* Burger next year.............well maybe...






Keep the faith !!!

Go Irish !!!

 

[no.1IrishFan]

yeah, we lost martin
Prater, Joyner dropped us from consideration right after the firing
Moore was rumored to be looking, I think to NC State
Shembo was taking an official to Duke
Tailer Jones is dependent on the next hire
Boyd was looking but I believe decided against it
James Stone has us in his rear view mirror
I also read that Matt James is leaning more heavily towards Cincinnati, but he might change his mind depending on who the next coach of ND is

All I can think of off of the top of my head
T

Boyd is a lock, take it to the bank!

 

[JefMaj]

Henderson, Riley, & Barr are still in play, as well as Gaston... add those to 17 we have (assuming we lose one) or add James if BK is coming... That's 21 or 22... hell we only have room for 3 or 4 more.

Prater can be a big fish in a little pond - or the coming back of a legendary program... in a great new class... we are a 5 star and a couple of 4 stars away from a top 5 2010 class... or a fish in a big pond at USC playing in the Emerald Bowl...

 

[Master Guns]

on defense.

so add an inexperienced offense and what do you have? 2007.

Im not saying we'll be 3-9 next year but i dont think we'll be great either.

Im usually not the pessimist but i have a very bad feeling about 2010

Not knowing who the coach is yet, i would have to agree with you.

 

[NDinL.A.]

we already had a great offense, i dont know if an offense with no golden or clausen can do better next year, the problem is defense!

kelly has done a good job with what he has had, but i just dont feel that great about next season.

it should be a long offseason for all of us fans, success at cincy does not translate to success at ND, If he is hired i sure hope it does! but how can anybody be so sure.

How can anybody sit here with a straight face and tell me 2010 with a new coach, qb, wr, half of offensive line would be better off than 2010 with senior Qb, wr, and weis.

you can say well Jimmy and tate were gone anyway but we'll never know, and thats how its gonna be until kickoff 2010.

If we hire Kelly, it will be a long offseason for me, but that will be because of the excitement of wondering what a college coach who has won everywhere he has went could bring to this program. It will be a long season for guys like Rudy and I think you as well (I might be mistaken) are already predicting doom and gloom. Not me. I love what Kelly has done and I'm excited about what he could do.

Your comparison of Clausen, Tate and Weis vs. those guys gone with Kelly as coach is a poor one and you know it. You even admitted it in your last line. Clausen was gone bro, whether Weis was here or not. He leaned on Weis for advice and Weis told him to leave. If Weis is the guy we all think he is, he would have told him to leave even if he were still here. Same for Tate.

So yes, I'll take Kelly over Weis for next year's team, absolutely. (And yes, I'm typing this with a straight face.) Both would have new QB's, no Tate, and new offensive linemen. Weis proved that he could recruit but that he couldn't take his 4 and 5 star guys and beat teams consistently. Kelly has proven that he can take 2 and 3 star guys and beat teams with better or greater talent...consistently.

Can you imagine how long the offseason would have been had we kept Weis??? It would have been hell. We would have accepted mediocrity (and I'm a Weis supporter), and the nation and the recruits would have seen it. It was time to move on. I'm excited and hopeful that we get Kelly. Dude can coach, and now he'll have 4 and 5 star recruits (thank you CW) to work with. Can't wait...

 

[mick2]

If we hire Kelly, it will be a long offseason for me, but that will be because of the excitement of wondering what a college coach who has won everywhere he has went could bring to this program. It will be a long season for guys like Rudy and I think you as well (I might be mistaken) are already predicting doom and gloom. Not me. I love what Kelly has done and I'm excited about what he could do.

Your comparison of Clausen, Tate and Weis vs. those guys gone with Kelly as coach is a poor one and you know it. You even admitted it in your last line. Clausen was gone bro, whether Weis was here or not. He leaned on Weis for advice and Weis told him to leave. If Weis is the guy we all think he is, he would have told him to leave even if he were still here. Same for Tate.

So yes, I'll take Kelly over Weis for next year's team, absolutely. (And yes, I'm typing this with a straight face.) Both would have new QB's, no Tate, and new offensive linemen. Weis proved that he could recruit but that he couldn't take his 4 and 5 star guys and beat teams consistently. Kelly has proven that he can take 2 and 3 star guys and beat teams with better or greater talent...consistently.

Can you imagine how long the offseason would have been had we kept Weis??? It would have been hell. We would have accepted mediocrity (and I'm a Weis supporter), and the nation and the recruits would have seen it. It was time to move on. I'm excited and hopeful that we get Kelly. Dude can coach, and now he'll have 4 and 5 star recruits (thank you CW) to work with. Can't wait...

you know im one of the most optimistic guys on this board but it just looks like we're back to starting all over again. the only difference is that there is some players here this time around. i just want to be back on top so im hoping that JS has his act together seems smart enough, we'll see.