Expectations for 2012?

[NDPhilly]

I expect this years offense to be Kelly's best. The Running Game should be helped by Golson's strong arm keeping safeties honest unlike last year where Throws down field were nearly non existent.

 

[Pa Golden Tate Fan]

Since it is now likely that Golson will start the opener, I feel confident now that defenses now have to be honest due to Golson mobility. It will also open up the offense.

 

[irishtrain]

All the pre season media types and magazine guys pick Notre Dame because it sells. Notre Dame is national and getting the abundance of subway alums juiced up sells their stuff. This year I'm not falling for it as I do love this program but if they win 8 games they had a hellofa year. I'm on record saying they lose one of their first two games and then lets see how many die hard fans are ready for a mutiny. As for the rest of the season I think they go 7-5. No QB/weak secondary/sub par special teams/d line is suspect/ not enough horses to play against teams who for the most part have guys in school to win football games and entertain on Saturday. Its just not in the cards anymore and oh how it hurts to say it. I rate Notre Dames program at this point about 35th in the country. Gone are the days boys gone are the days.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Yeah I'm going with 8 or 9 now that I know Rees won't be the starter.

 

[GreatGolson]

^^^ considerimg your past history, i would expect a lot more optimism from you about 2012

 

[Domina Nostra]

Here's my guess at the depth chart. I am leaving freshman off if I don't think they will play.

Starters bolded

QB
Golson
Hendrix
Rees
RB
Wood (as dumb as it sounds, he is the most underrated kid on the team)
Atkinson
RB/Slot
Riddick
Carlise
SLOT
Neal
Toma
WR
T.J. Jones
D. Daniels
J. Goodman
C. Brown
TE (all of these guys play)
Eifert
Niklas
Koyack
Welch
LT
Z Martin
Prestwood
LG
Watt
Hanratty
C
Cave
Hegarty
RG
N Martin
Golic
RT
Lombard
Nichols

KR
Atkinson
Neal

P
Neal

Defense

SDE
KLM
Hounshell
NT
Nix
Schwenke
Springmann
WDE
Tuitt
Day
CAT
Shembo
Ishaq (hope IW starts)
MIKE
Teo (this one is too close to call, I'm giving the edge to Man'tie)
Grace
K Moore
WILL (perhaps grace could slip in here?)
Fox
Calabrese
DOG
Spond
Councell
Boundary Corner
B Jackson
J Brown
K. Russell
Field Corner
L Wood
J Atkinson
McDaniel
Strong Safety
Slaughter
McCarthy
Shumate
Free Safety
Motta
E. Hardy

K
Brindza
FG
Tausch
Punter
Turk
Snapper
Daly
Cowart

 

[arrowryan]

Why do you think starting Cierre Wood is dumb? He had a great year last year and he is bound for another great year

 

[Domina Nostra]

Why do you think starting Cierre Wood is dumb? He had a great year last year and he is bound for another great year

Haha! I meant that although it sounds dumb to call our 1000 yard rusher under-appreciated, he appears to be.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

RB/Slot
Riddick
Carlise

In relation to the RB and Z WR, where exactly does the RB/ Slot line up on the field?

I think we're much more likely to see Riddick splitting carries with Wood at RB than at Z WR.

Snapper
Daly
Cowart

A senior specialist unseated by a true freshman? That's a bold prediction.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

In relation to the RB and Z WR, where exactly does the RB/ Slot line up on the field?

Same places we saw Riddick line up in the Blue Gold game...The slot, out wide, in the back field. Literally everywhere...just trying to get the ball in his hands as much as possible

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Same places we saw Riddick line up in the Blue Gold game...The slot, out wide, in the back field. Literally everywhere...just trying to get the ball in his hands as much as possible

I was being facetious. He has a list for RB, a list for Z WR, and a list for RB/ Z WR. "RB/ Z WR" isn't a position separate from the other two, so it doesn't make much sense to have a depth chart where that list differs from the other two.

 

[PraetorianND]

I just have a feeling that we will see the most focused and disciplined Coach Kelly team we have seen in South Bend. I think they will be a bit more consistent without the peaks and valleys on the field and off. I think we will come to play very hard, and even if you don't see 9 or 10 wins you will begin to see the team have that mindset that Coach Kelly preaches about. I don't see us coming out flat in big games and I don't think we get blown out as long as we stay healthy particularly at DB.

I think this is true except that when you throw a QB with no starting experience in the mix, you're going to have some turnovers. Fortunately for us, we had a bunch of stupid turnovers last season so if anything I think our turnovers will be similar or fewer than what they were last season.

Many of our turnovers came from Rees losing the ball in the pocket. I'm not sure if Rees had the hands of a 12 year old or something but he couldn't hold onto the ball to save his life. I hope/don't think we will have these types of turnovers anymore with a QB that is more mobile.

I think we see similar production, the same or fewer turnovers, which is fine with me considering a new QB. I think we're going to see an uptick in the running game and possibly less production in the passing with the loss of Floyd. I think the defense will be better but have similar results as last season due to the competition. 8-9 wins.

 

[Kanye West]

All the pre season media types and magazine guys pick Notre Dame because it sells. Notre Dame is national and getting the abundance of subway alums juiced up sells their stuff. This year I'm not falling for it as I do love this program but if they win 8 games they had a hellofa year. I'm on record saying they lose one of their first two games and then lets see how many die hard fans are ready for a mutiny. As for the rest of the season I think they go 7-5. No QB/weak secondary/sub par special teams/d line is suspect/ not enough horses to play against teams who for the most part have guys in school to win football games and entertain on Saturday. Its just not in the cards anymore and oh how it hurts to say it. I rate Notre Dames program at this point about 35th in the country. Gone are the days boys gone are the days.

Go there. NDNation.com | Notre Dame Football and Basketball News Plus

How is our d-line suspect?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

It is so funny to see everybody scramble to fit the square peg of their experience into the round hole this season will be. Research Martin. He is the master stealth coach.

People will be all over the place. My example is a chainsaw. Bunches of moving parts, all going off in different directions. How do you do what every team did to Tommy down the stretch last year, when you have no idea who or what they will throw at you?

Navy is a perfect example. Double tight end Eifert and Brown wide, option right or left, with our line, maybe a 100 point day. Other receivers could go wide, doesn't take either one of the qb's that will play much time to get the ball way down field.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I was being facetious. He has a list for RB, a list for Z WR, and a list for RB/ Z WR. "RB/ Z WR" isn't a position separate from the other two, so it doesn't make much sense to have a depth chart where that list differs from the other two.

Really?

I think the fact is that we are thin at WR. My guess is that our base set is 2 WR/2 RB/1 TE. However, one of those RBs is going to be in motion and moving out into the slot. That is going to be Riddick and Carlisle. Thats what I am calling those guys RB/slot. I don't think Wood or GAIII is going to be moving as much. They are move true RBs.

However, there will be some sets where we go 3 WRs and 0 TEs. In those, we could use any of the RBs in the backfield and Toma and Neal as true slot receivers.

The other WRs will be on the boundaries.

 

[ACamp1900]

Really?

I think the fact is that we are thin at WR. My guess is that our base set is 2 WR/2 RB/1 TE. However, one of those RBs is going to be in motion and moving out into the slot. That is going to be Riddick and Carlisle. Thats what I am calling those guys RB/slot. I don't think Wood or GAIII is going to be moving as much. They are move true RBs.

However, there will be some sets where we go 3 WRs and 0 TEs. In those, we could use any of the RBs in the backfield and Toma and Neal as true slot receivers.

The other WRs will be on the boundaries.

Agreed... though it wouldn't suprise me to see some motioning out of GAIII if the possibility of matching him up with a saftey and or linebacker presents itself... streak that puppy

 

[Whiskeyjack]

First, apologies. My previous two posts seem a little dickish after reading them again. I agree with most of your depth chart. My only gripe was that having a third set for RB/ Z WR seemed like a weasely way to deal with a serious depth chart "problem"-- who among our talented stable of RB/ Z WR players won't see the field?

I think the fact is that we are thin at WR. My guess is that our base set is 2 WR/2 RB/1 TE. However, one of those RBs is going to be in motion and moving out into the slot. That is going to be Riddick and Carlisle. Thats what I am calling those guys RB/slot. I don't think Wood or GAIII is going to be moving as much. They are move true RBs.

I hadn't considered alternative personnel groups. Our base set over the last two years has been Posse (3 WR - 1 TE - 1 RB). If we stick with that, some very talented RB/ Z WRs aren't going to see much of the field. As you've suggested, Regular sets (2 WR - 1 TE - 2 RBs) might be the solution to both that problem and our lack of proven talent at WR.

I don't expect to see much of Riddick split out wide, though. He struggled mightily at Z WR over the last 2 seasons, and has looked so much better coming out of the backfield. I bet he splits carries pretty evenly with Wood. Regular sets will give the staff a great opportunity to give GAIII a handful of carries each game; those sets, with a mobile QB like Golson, will be nasty.

Toss in some Ace (2 WR - 2 TE - 1 RB) to mix things up in the running game, and we might be in business.

 

[Domina Nostra]

First, apologies. My previous two posts seem a little dickish after reading them again. I agree with most of your depth chart. My only gripe was that having a third set for RB/ Z WR seemed like a weasely way to deal with a serious depth chart "problem"-- who among our talented stable of RB/ Z WR players won't see the field?



I hadn't considered alternative personnel groups. Our base set over the last two years has been Posse (3 WR - 1 TE - 1 RB). If we stick with that, some very talented RB/ Z WRs aren't going to see much of the field. As you've suggested, Regular sets (2 WR - 1 TE - 2 RBs) might be the solution to both that problem and our lack of proven talent at WR.

I don't expect to see much of Riddick split out wide, though. He struggled mightily at Z WR over the last 2 seasons, and has looked so much better coming out of the backfield. I bet he splits carries pretty evenly with Wood. Regular sets will give the staff a great opportunity to give GAIII a handful of carries each game; those sets, with a mobile QB like Golson, will be nasty.

Toss in some Ace (2 WR - 2 TE - 1 RB) to mix things up in the running game, and we might be in business.

We definitely agree that they are going to need To get creative to be great. They can be good playing it close to the vest, IMO, with what they have.

To be great DD will also have to step up. It could happen, the talent is there, but I don't see it right off the bat. I think TJ jones is underrated, but not big enough to be you true outside threat.

I agree that Riddick is not at his best split out wide, but I think he is great running and catching horizontally, which EG can exploit. I think TR will be that weapon Kelly saw him becoming (OT: do you remember Kelly got laughed at for telling Jonas he could be a Heisman. I think Kelly was right, just in terms of raw talent.)

 

[irishtrain]

Go there. NDNation.com | Notre Dame Football and Basketball News Plus

How is our d-line suspect?

They just lost a freshman all american and last year the line was average. How many of these guys would even play at Ala/LSU/OU/etc. I'm not trying to be noticed by being negative I'm just telling you that the personel is just not there. With this schedule and the players on the other teams unless this team catches lighting in a bottle they are a 7-5 team. Nobody loves Notre Dame more than me and I will watch but my expectations are not aligned with the hype. I do expect them to lose to Navy and if not then to Purdue. I will be shocked if they open up 2-0. Look at the schedule from there-its brutal especially when your talent level is 25-35 in the country. This is not the college program that we all are used to seeing from other days. Sure I'll pull and root and hope but athlete to athlete Notre Dame is behind. Pure and simple it has to be done with what you got and they dont have much. This team doesnt even have a reliable game altering QB. Not good not good at all. The university has decided to stay the course with the present system-so be it-its admirable but on the football field they're going to get the #$$%# beat.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

They just lost a freshman all american and last year the line was average. How many of these guys would even play at Ala/LSU/OU/etc.

Nix and Tuitt definitely would. KLM might. All three are NFL bound. Mark it.

I'm not trying to be noticed by being negative I'm just telling you that the personel is just not there. With this schedule and the players on the other teams unless this team catches lighting in a bottle they are a 7-5 team. Nobody loves Notre Dame more than me and I will watch but my expectations are not aligned with the hype. I do expect them to lose to Navy and if not then to Purdue. I will be shocked if they open up 2-0. Look at the schedule from there-its brutal especially when your talent level is 25-35 in the country. This is not the college program that we all are used to seeing from other days. Sure I'll pull and root and hope but athlete to athlete Notre Dame is behind. Pure and simple it has to be done with what you got and they dont have much. This team doesnt even have a reliable game altering QB. Not good not good at all. The university has decided to stay the course with the present system-so be it-its admirable but on the football field they're going to get the #$$%# beat.

You're like a broken f*cking record. Yes, the 2012 schedule is difficult. Yes, this team has question marks. There are credible arguments for why ND may never win another NC, yet I've never read a single one from you.

Kanye is right. Take this crap to NDNation. I, for one, am tired of reading it.

 

[Irishbounty28]

Nix and Tuitt definitely would. KLM might. All three are NFL bound. Mark it.



You're like a broken f*cking record. Yes, the 2012 schedule is difficult. Yes, this team has question marks. There are credible arguments for why ND may never win another NC, yet I've never read a single one from you.

Kanye is right. Take this crap to NDNation. I, for one, am tired of reading it.

Definitely agree on these points made. KLM, Tuitt and Nix are very solid, and productive defensive linemen. These are players that 3/4 of the country would die to have on their defensive line, and this is including most SEC teams.

Losing a Freshman All-American is definitely not something to feel great about. What about all the other teams in the nation that lost First Team All-Americans to the draft? Are they supposed to wallow in self pity and consider the season a lost cause before it begins? Alabama lost half of their defense and is still going to be ranked in the Top 10 to begin the season.

The fact is that Notre Dame is moving in the right direction, and there is decent depth at virtually every position on the defense, with exception of CB. This is what makes programs successful year in and year out, not the fact that they have a "game-altering" quarterback.

 

[IrishSpartan]

I know everyone is pro EG (for sure i am) to start but theres been article about hendrix being the favorite (espn) which i am very anxious about. However where is the evidence that people have EG pinned in at the #1 already?

 

[BGIF]

It looks like ND is starting to garner some faith outside its fan base. I just read an article where a Georgia Bulldog fan makes a bold prediction that the winner of the ND/USC game will be playing for the NC this year. He insisted that he wasn't crazy, and even goes as far as saying that he really dislikes ND but claims to have studied ND and strongly believes that they are going to have a very good team this year.

A little far out there even for the most irrational ND fan, but its nice to see BK getting props for the work he's done from the rest of the CFB world.

The word out of Athens is that Dawgfan is actually Irish.

Irishtrain posted it there rather than here as it would conflict with his self image here.

 

[NDinL.A.]

They just lost a freshman all american and last year the line was average. How many of these guys would even play at Ala/LSU/OU/etc.

See, right there it tells me that you either aren't an Irish fan, you don't pay attention AT ALL to the team, or you just are being negative just for the sake of being negative. Because it's one thing to notice flaws in a team and be real about them (I'm all for that), but quite another to do what you just did. As pointed out...you don't think Stephon Tuitt would play LSU? That's pretty funny considering he was a 5 star who LSU offered (as did most programs). And what Louis Nix? Funny, he had an offer from LSU as well (along with all the FL schools). Both those kids are beasts. And the many of the rest of the kids on the line had great offer sheets and are young but talented.

But hey, keep making stuff up to prove your point.

I'm not trying to be noticed by being negative I'm just telling you that the personel is just not there.

No, you;re just trying to be negative. Read above.

With this schedule and the players on the other teams unless this team catches lighting in a bottle they are a 7-5 team.

Lightning in a bottle??? Do you even watch ND football??? I can see them having a 7-5 year if things DON'T go well...but you think they need to catch lightning in a bottle to get above that? WTF? It's a monster schedule, and I have us going 8-4 (but I can see 9-3 or 7-5), but you're just going with hyperbole at this point. If ND beats the teams they should beat, we will be at least 7-5/8-4...sorry, that's not catching lightning in a bottle. Do you even know what that idiom means?

Nobody loves Notre Dame more than me

I do.

I will be shocked if they open up 2-0.

Again, hyperbole. They can definitely lose one of them, but you'll be shocked if we win 2 games that we'll be favored by double digits??? With our offensive line and running game? Wow.

Look at the schedule from there-its brutal especially when your talent level is 25-35 in the country. This is not the college program that we all are used to seeing from other days. Sure I'll pull and root and hope but athlete to athlete Notre Dame is behind. Pure and simple it has to be done with what you got and they dont have much. This team doesnt even have a reliable game altering QB. Not good not good at all. The university has decided to stay the course with the present system-so be it-its admirable but on the football field they're going to get the #$$%# beat.

Now you just sound like a troll. I was going to bash that argument, but I have a rule - don't waste your time on trolls. After reading that last stanza again, that's what you sound like. (and btw, getting a training table, night games, lowering insane standards a bit to get guys like Lynch and Nix in, new football facilities, jumbotron and field turf on the table, etc etc etc - those are not 'staying the course', but whatever.)

Enjoy moping around this next month...

 

[Black Irish]

Why is it that because ND lost Lynch we are supposed to pack in the season but Stanford loses Andrew Luck and is somehow still going to roll over us? This season is no cakewalk but I'm tired of this "heads they win tails we lose" logic.

 

[woolybug25]

They just lost a freshman all american and last year the line was average. How many of these guys would even play at Ala/LSU/OU/etc.

Tuitt - LSU offer
Nix - LSU offer
Day - LSU offer
JJones - Bama offer
Ishaq - Bama offer



We have plenty of defensive lineman that the SEC wanted.

 

[BurningRiver]

I know everyone is pro EG (for sure i am) to start but theres been article about hendrix being the favorite (espn) which i am very anxious about. However where is the evidence that people have EG pinned in at the #1 already?

That tells you everything you need to know. It's ESPN. They don't actually have insider information, they're just lazy and assume that Hendrix's PT last year makes him the clubhouse leader. I would be shocked if Golson weren't taking the first snap of the year against Navy.

 

[irishpat183]

I will say 8-4. And I'm a pretty negative person. (but I blame it on them breaking my heart, and coffee table, so many times)

I could definately see 9-3.

But OU, USC, and one of the Michigan schools are losses in my book. And I threw in a "gotcha" game for good measure.

But I think that now we're starting to get the guys that fit our system and we can start running with those other programs. If anyting, we can compete. And when you can compete, you can catch some breaks and win some that you otherwise wouldn't.

Who knows. I'm gonna stick with 8-4 so I can be very happy if they go 9-3. I'd be extremely dissapointed if they only won 6 or 7.

And for the record, I picked 2013 as our year to chase a title (legitimately).

So I'll save my "shock the world" hopes for next year.

 

[tadman95]

I want to watch a game where I know any play could be a big play, where any one of our skilled players can and will get the ball in a position where they can score. Where our QB can break the backs with one big play.

I want interceptions (Plural)!

I want my wife to come in to see what I'm so excited about.

I want to have a good time!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Tadman, that post of your almost ends up, dare I say it? Kinky at the end. Way too much double entendre for Mayberry. You know what I mean?