Expectations for 2012?

[Black Irish]

Why is everyone sweating BYU so much? I am not taking any game for granted but this one is not keeping me up at night.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

Don't lose to any team that is less talented than us. That means the only acceptable losses in my eyes would be to USC, Oklahoma, Stanford, Miami and Michigan (because you can always lose to a team whose quarterback can go off at any second). Other than that, I feel like we have enough talent and depth that we should finally be able to take control of games against teams with inferior talent.
Unless 2012 is another turnover cluster****, then our basement should be 5 losses.
Now, if this program is really turning the corner I would like to see us beat some of these teams that are equally as talented. Our season all comes down to how we do in these five games.

Wait...Stephen Morris and Brett Nottingham scare you? So many people talk about our unknown QB like it's the end of the world, and then our fans are scared of Stanford's unknown QB and Miami's 11 career INT, 7 TD QB (who hasn't thrown a TD since 2010)?

 

[Crazy Balki]

Agree about Rees
Agree about Hendrix
False. This team if the schedule doesn't get any easier can not go 13-0 in anyway. Maybe if barkley gets hurt and if Oklahoma just sucks this year, there is an extremely slight chance for 12-0 but we would get murdered in the NC game. This is probably my favorite Irish team personel wise since 2006 but IMO if every bounce goes our way our ceiling is still 11-1 with our low being 7-5

I disagree. After watching last year's team, it was apparent what that teams ceiling was. It was MUCH higher than what they finished. They won 8 games, but they handed 4 of 5 losses to the other team on a silver platter. Notre Dame was legitimately better than USF, Michigan, USC and Florida State. Averaging 4 turnovers in losses is just plain unrealistic.

I see this team winning a national championship before I see them repeating what happened last year, EVEN with Rees at QB.

My medium is 10-2. I say this:

vs. Navy - No trouble at all. Navy tries and fails to run on Notre Dame's elite rushing defense. Golson has a coming out party against their secondary. Notre Dame 45-10

vs. Purdue - Trap Game? Not likely, since Purdue isn't any good. Could be close for a bit, but Notre Dame should pull away quickly. Notre Dame 38-17

@ Michigan State - The 3rd toughest game on the schedule. Personally, I see them losing to MSU before losing to USC. But I got ND in this one. Sparty just doesn't have enough on offense to go toe to toe. Notre Dame 28-20

vs. Michigan - If you're a fan of Maize and Blue, you will want to keep that TV off on Sept. 22. This one is gonna be ugly. Notre Dame is going to finish where they left off and then some. Notre Dame 41-17

vs* Miami - Let down alert. Notre Dame will be riding high after back-to-back wins against rivals. Miami isn't very talented though, and with sanctions looming overhead, ND should escape in OT. Notre Dame 27-24 OT

vs. Stanford - Stanford is better than most are giving them credit for. This could be another game that ND loses that they should've won. I don't think they do though. 3 in a row is enough. Notre Dame 31-14

vs. BYU - Oh boy. The trap games are piling up. This is the 3rd game in a row that ND should be on upset alert. Looking ahead for Oklahoma. Sorry ND, but the road "hypothetically" ends here. BYU 20-17 OT

@ Oklahoma - I hate to say this, because another loss could definitely send this season into a spiral, but even with USC on schedule, this is ND's most likely to lose game. Oklahoma 35-28

vs. Pittsburgh - After stumbling the last two weeks. It's time to regroup against a distraught Pitt team. Ray Graham won't be enough as ND's rush defense eats them alive. Notre Dame 48-13

@ Boston College - ....No. Notre Dame 41-14

vs. Wake Forest - Golson destroys their defense. Notre Dame 52-10

@ USC - Notre Dame walks in a 9-2, with a chance to close in on a BCS bowl birth, and possibly ruin the title hopes of the Trojans, if the Ducks hadn't already done that. Notre Dame implements a strategy that I'm baffled they didn't use last year. Knock the living f*ck outta Matt Barkley. Put him in the dirt, and ND runs away with this. Notre Dame 35-21


Finishing 10-2, Notre Dame should be ranked around #6-7, which would automatically give them a BCS bowl birth. They would probably end up in the Sugar/Orange Bowl, playing the ACC Champ or an SEC at large. Which would probably be a matchup with Virginia Tech/Florida State or a rumble in the Big Easy with so many possibilities. Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Georgia. There are just too many possibilities for the BCS in the SEC.

 

[ACamp1900]

Who thinks Boston College is a harder game than Wake Forest??? Because i don't... BC just might be easiest game to write a W next to on the whole schedule this season... just my two cents.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Don't lose to any team that is less talented than us. That means the only acceptable losses in my eyes would be to USC, Oklahoma, Stanford, Miami and Michigan (because you can always lose to a team whose quarterback can go off at any second). Other than that, I feel like we have enough talent and depth that we should finally be able to take control of games against teams with inferior talent.
Unless 2012 is another turnover cluster****, then our basement should be 5 losses.
Now, if this program is really turning the corner I would like to see us beat some of these teams that are equally as talented. Our season all comes down to how we do in these five games.

The only teams that are on par with ND in talent is USC and Oklahoma, and ND has a vastly superior defense to both because of their dominant front. Michigan had possibly the easiest path to the BCS ever and the easiest BCS opponent ever. (How does VT get into the BCS after getting pounded by 28 in their championship game?) Golson is a better QB than Robinson, and I do mean that. Of course that isn't saying much because Robinson isn't a good QB at all, with some of the worst mechanics I've ever seen.

 

[irishfan]

8-5 at the worst.

 

[NDBoiler]

1. (by far) Limit turnovers at least 33% below last year. This alone can win some of those 50-50 games.
2. Big time leaning on the ground game/o-line for the first two games, with an occasional shot down the field or play action to TE.
3. Pleasant surprises in development/playmaking from GA3, one of the CBs (pretty please!), and Daniels.

 

[returnofthemack]

My expectation is that ND defies expectations as they always do. The reasonable expectation for this team is 8 wins. I think they find a way to win only 6. BK names Rees starter. ND rolls over Navy and Purdue, loses a close game to MSU, loses another close game to scUM, barely beats the U, loses to Stanford, beats BYU by a decent margin, loses by a large margin to Oklahoma, squeaks out a win over Pitt, loses to BC in the annual WTF-just-happened game, squeaks out a win over Wake, and keeps it close but ultimately loses to SC in the 4th, allowing us to have false hope for Rees' senior year, in which he will also start. Zach Martin, Cierre, and Eifert will probably be injured, Hendrix and Kiel will transfer, and Jaylon Smith will decommit, along with some of the other highly-recruited players. I pray this doesn't happen, but it makes too much sense to not take place.

 

[ACamp1900]

My expectation is that ND defies expectations as they always do. The reasonable expectation for this team is 8 wins. I think they find a way to win only 6. BK names Rees starter. ND rolls over Navy and Purdue, loses a close game to MSU, loses another close game to scUM, barely beats the U, loses to Stanford, beats BYU by a decent margin, loses by a large margin to Oklahoma, squeaks out a win over Pitt, loses to BC in the annual WTF-just-happened game, squeaks out a win over Wake, and keeps it close but ultimately loses to SC in the 4th, allowing us to have false hope for Rees' senior year, in which he will also start. Zach Martin, Cierre, and Eifert will probably be injured, Hendrix and Kiel will transfer, and Jaylon Smith will decommit, along with some of the other highly-recruited players. I pray this doesn't happen, but it makes too much sense to not take place.

lol... and I'm called a cynic...

 

[In Lou I Trust]

My expectation is that ND defies expectations as they always do. The reasonable expectation for this team is 8 wins. I think they find a way to win only 6. BK names Rees starter. ND rolls over Navy and Purdue, loses a close game to MSU, loses another close game to scUM, barely beats the U, loses to Stanford, beats BYU by a decent margin, loses by a large margin to Oklahoma, squeaks out a win over Pitt, loses to BC in the annual WTF-just-happened game, squeaks out a win over Wake, and keeps it close but ultimately loses to SC in the 4th, allowing us to have false hope for Rees' senior year, in which he will also start. Zach Martin, Cierre, and Eifert will probably be injured, Hendrix and Kiel will transfer, and Jaylon Smith will decommit, along with some of the other highly-recruited players. I pray this doesn't happen, but it makes too much sense to not take place.

JFC, man. To say you're being cynical would be an understatement. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and just assuming that you're intentionally trolling this thread...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Who thinks Boston College is a harder game than Wake Forest??? Because i don't... BC just might be easiest game to write a W next to on the whole schedule this season... just my two cents.

Agreed. Spaz won't survive this season, but I won't fear BC as long as he's their HC.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm expecting at least 3 losses in the regular season. Losses to Oklahoma and USC are very likely and throw in at least one surprise somewhere else on the schedule. 4-5 losses is very probable as well, I wouldn't guess we'd have more than that however. Even if we have poor CB and QB play, I don't think we'd go worse than 5 losses. I'll settle on 8-4, 9-4 with a bowl.

 

[Chamellion]

@ USC - Notre Dame walks in a 9-2, with a chance to close in on a BCS bowl birth, and possibly ruin the title hopes of the Trojans, if the Ducks hadn't already done that. Notre Dame implements a strategy that I'm baffled they didn't use last year. Knock the living f*ck outta Matt Barkley. Put him in the dirt, and ND runs away with this. Notre Dame 35-21

If you can't reach the QB, you can't put him in the dirt legally.

USC has had great line play, and Barkley is elite at getting rid of the ball and not taking unnecessary hits.

 

[NDOM]

My expectations are 12-0 like every year but we will end up at 7-5 with a bowl win to make it Kelly's 3rd straight 8-5 campaign.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

My expectations are 12-0 like every year but we will end up at 7-5 with a bowl win to make it Kelly's 3rd straight 8-5 campaign.

ND hasn't strung together three consecutive seasons of at least 8 wins in 18 years. I would gladly take a 3rd 8-5 campaign.

 

[notredomer23]

I am not saying it is a weakness but it's hard to judge for sure when we have a huge question mark at corner. Bennett Jackson will be good but who will step up opposite him? And what if Jackson gets chopped blocked against navy and is out for half the season. We have no depth. If this team stays healthy and someone steps up opposite jackson than I guess I agree that our ceiling is high but I am not ready to say we will go 10-2 11-1. The first four games will tell us everything. Fwiw I guess I'll make an official prediction.

Navy- W 38 14. Over at half time

Purdue- W I think they are the second worst team we play honestly besides BC. Big. 45 10

Michigan State - W 20 17. Defensive battle. They just don't have enough offensively.

Michigan -W 45 24. We are going to kill them. This team will not let up, Michigan is overrated, and Denard will be worn down by them.

Miami- W 31 17. I just don't think they are that good.

Stanford- W 21-17. Home game. Their strength will be running the ball. They will be good but we will prevail.

BYU- W 31 24. I think we look ahead to oklahoma but come back in the second half to win.

Oklahoma L 35 21. I can't see us beating Oklahoma. Keep it close for a half but they will overwhelm us.

Not sure the order of the next 3 but

Pitt BC and Wake will each be wins and they will not be close.

USC- a fired up ND team comes in with an outside chance at playing for the national championship if they pound an undefeated USC team. Winning at the half, ultimately lose 31 27. Matt Barkley is too much and we come up short on our final drive in the fourth.


So I guess I am saying 10-2, but I think there is a decent chance we will lose to Michigan state or Stanford.

 

[NDBoiler]

ND hasn't strung together three consecutive seasons of at least 8 wins in 18 years. I would gladly take a 3rd 8-5 campaign.

Great point. It's pretty sad, but it's a great point.

 

[stlnd01]

Realistically, I think we win 8 or 9, powered by a strong running game, a top-notch front seven on defense, and the quarterback we all hope Everett Golson can be.

For once, I think we beat everyone we're "better" than, including BYU and Miami. So that's seven wins.

Beating Oklahoma and USC on the road is probably more than we can hope for. Though I really hope we can be competitive, especially with USC. I think even a close loss there carries us a long way. But that's two losses.

Season hinges on MSU, Michigan and Stanford. Fortunately, two of those three are going to be green at QB, and thus less able to exploit our shallow defensive backfield. Plus, Michigan is quite beatable. If I had to pick I'd say we win two of the three and go 9-3.

 

[gkIrish]

If we win 3 of the games I'm going to (Michigan, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Miami) I'll be quite happy

 

[ACamp1900]

If we win 3 of the games I'm going to (Michigan, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Miami) I'll be quite happy

If we win three of those games I think we have a legit shot at the BCS... although, that'll be a hard task.

 

[Grahambo]

I think we surprise with 10 wins.

 

[chubler]

In my opinion:

Navy, Purdue, Pitt, BC, and Wake we should win, no questions asked.

Miami, Stanford, and BYU we are more likely than the other team to win.

Michigan and Michigan State are toss-ups.

USC and Oklahoma will unfortunately likely take an act of God or some serious luck (barring QB injury to either team).

Based on recent history, I think we drop one of the games we should win, so there's 4 wins right there. If we take 3 out of five from the "likely" and "tossup" categories, we're at 7 wins.

Based on that analysis, I think that unless we get hit by another perfect storm of turnovers I think we absolutely can and will get 8 games, although the basement is 7.

Now, if we can break away from our recent past and stop losing to teams we really should beat, we've got 5 in the bag. Michigan, Stanford, and BYU are all at home, and Miami will essentially be at home, so lets say we drop the Michigan State game, and I think we realistically have a 9-win season against one of the hardest schedules in the nation, putting us in the thick of the BCS hunt. This, in my opinion, is the likely scenario if we get mediocre or better qb play (think game-manager+).

If we finally catch all the bounces for once, or we discover a game-changing QB... look out.

 

[ACamp1900]

IMO Wake Forest is closer to Miami BYU and Stanford this given year... or better yet in their own group in between BYU Stanford and the BC/ Pitt group.... that's the team that may really suprise people this year... key starters returning from a decent team last year that should be better... I think they'll be better than Pitt and BC for sure... and they gave us a game last year.

also, Navy is never 'easy' in this era... you could make a real case that they'll handle the travel better than any team in cfb, not just Notre Dame....

 

[BurningRiver]

You know what? I don't really care what our final record is as long a the team comes out on the night of September 22nd ready to kick the sh1t out of the Michigan Wolverines. I'm so sick and tired of losing to that team, and there is no better time to do it than in prime time in front of what will hopefully be a rowdy crowd. I want to see our defense all over the place. I want to see hard hits, pushing the boundary between legal and illegal.

F*** Michigan.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

You know what? I don't really care what our final record is as long a the team comes out on the night of September 22nd ready to kick the sh1t out of the Michigan Wolverines. I'm so sick and tired of losing to that team, and there is no better time to do it than in prime time in front of what will hopefully be a rowdy crowd. I want to see our defense all over the place. I want to see hard hits, pushing the boundary between legal and illegal.

F*** Michigan.

Defeatist attitude. You should aspire to win at all times. If you're so sick of losing to Michigan, why are you less tired of losing to USC or State or Stanford? We beat Michigan and you mail it in? Is that what they teach you at Ignatius? Seriously?

Reality Check....

Engage.

 

[BurningRiver]

Defeatist attitude. You should aspire to win at all times. If you're so sick of losing to Michigan, why are you less tired of losing to USC or State or Stanford? We beat Michigan and you mail it in? Is that what they teach you at Ignatius? Seriously?

Reality Check....

Engage.

I'm not saying I don't want to see us win the rest of our games. I'm saying that if there's one game I really want to win on next year's schedule, it's the Michigan game. It's not a defeatist attitude. Nowhere did I say that I didn't expect us to win any other games, or all of our other games for that matter. I just hate Michigan more than any other team we play, and it just so happens that we've lost in gut-wrenching fashion to them every season since 2008.

And they don't teach us to be defeatists at St. Ignatius. Does winning 27 state and 5 national championships in the last 30 years say defeatist at all?

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

You know what? I don't really care what our final record is as long a the team comes out on the night of September 22nd ready to kick the sh1t out of the Michigan Wolverines. I'm so sick and tired of losing to that team, and there is no better time to do it than in prime time in front of what will hopefully be a rowdy crowd. I want to see our defense all over the place. I want to see hard hits, pushing the boundary between legal and illegal.

F*** Michigan.

I'm not saying I don't want to see us win the rest of our games. I'm saying that if there's one game I really want to win on next year's schedule, it's the Michigan game. It's not a defeatist attitude. Nowhere did I say that I didn't expect us to win any other games, or all of our other games for that matter. I just hate Michigan more than any other team we play, and it just so happens that we've lost in gut-wrenching fashion to them every season since 2008.

And they don't teach us to be defeatists at St. Ignatius. Does winning 27 state and 5 national championships in the last 30 years say defeatist at all?

LMAO....No, this says defeatist attitude.

You just said above that you didn't care what our record was, just beat MeatChicken....lmao.

 

[ACamp1900]

I just hope we beat ANYONE... just win a game...

 

[STLDomer]

I'm probably reiterating what has already been said but here we go:

- Navy: Easy Win
- Purdue: Easy Win
- Michigan State: Win by ~7, low scoring affair
- Michigan: I really don't think this is out of hatred but this just isn't a good team, Win by ~14
- Miami: We should win no matter what but if we blow them out vs squeak by should show what this team is made of, could be a trap game, Win by ~10
- Stanford: Win by ~7
- BYU: classic trap game, lose by ~10
- Oklahoma: lose by ~14, talent is not far off, intimidation will get us
- Pittsburgh: another tough one, win by ~7
- BC: thankfully after a couple hard weeks BC gets us back on track, Easy Win
- Wake Forrest: Easy Win
- USC: damn good fball team, lose by ~14

- A QB will emerge, Te'o will get is national due as will Eifert & Wood, a wide receiver will shine and one will flop, BJax will shine other corner will be torn apart, Front Seven is top 5 in nation

 

[Bluto]

Just curious as to why some people think BYU is gonna be close? Utah beat them like a redheaded step child last year. Is BYU really going to make that much of a leap forward?