IRISHDODGER
Blue Chip Recruit
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Now that they’ve had somewhat of a comeuppance in the new CFB landscape, I’d bet on an SEC team to win it all this year. Odds are they won’t fall short four years in a row.
IrishTusker
Well-known member
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Isn't that exactly what the odds predict?
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Interesting comparison on Denbrock's passing game from Chris Wilson.
Let’s look specifically at how the best non-Love Denbrock offenses have been formed. In 2023, LSU finished No. 2 in F+ and Jayden Daniels won the Heisman. That pass distribution was first-round pick Malik Nabers (89 for 1569) (are you kidding me), first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. (68 for 1177) (and 17 touchdowns), tight end Mason Taylor (36 for 348) and the late Kyren Lacy (30 for 558). No one else had more than 14 catches.
In 2015 at Notre Dame, Denbrock dealt with a lot of injuries, including needing to turn to an inexperienced quarterback by the end of the second game. The Irish still had the No. 7 F+ offense and were also, to use a technical term, Really Fun To Watch. That reception breakdown looked like Will Fuller (62 for 1258), Chris Brown (48 for 597), Amir Carlisle (32 for 355), Torii Hunter, Jr. (28 for 363) and C.J. Prosise (26 for 308). Perhaps this is a framework the Irish could aspire to in 2026, but that would require someone to be as good as Fuller as your clear-cut alpha who is drawing multiple defensive backs on a lot of snaps and running by all of them anyway.
Denbrock made the four-team playoff with Cincinnati in 2021 with four receivers (including future Day Two NFL Draft picks Alec Pierce and Tre Tucker) and two tight ends all between 26 and 52 catches. Another potential framework, but quarterback Desmond Ridder was a rushing threat and that offense only finished 17th in F+. The Irish have to aim higher to win multiple playoff games.
A lot of time for Carr and Denbrock to sort things out, but if the running game indeed takes a step back they’ll need to settle on at least one and ideally two dudes at receiver through which to run the offense. Maybe this will be an exception to the rule but the idea of a half-dozen different wideouts kicking in a couple dozen receptions each has not traditionally been the path to an elite passing offense.
Let’s look specifically at how the best non-Love Denbrock offenses have been formed. In 2023, LSU finished No. 2 in F+ and Jayden Daniels won the Heisman. That pass distribution was first-round pick Malik Nabers (89 for 1569) (are you kidding me), first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. (68 for 1177) (and 17 touchdowns), tight end Mason Taylor (36 for 348) and the late Kyren Lacy (30 for 558). No one else had more than 14 catches.
In 2015 at Notre Dame, Denbrock dealt with a lot of injuries, including needing to turn to an inexperienced quarterback by the end of the second game. The Irish still had the No. 7 F+ offense and were also, to use a technical term, Really Fun To Watch. That reception breakdown looked like Will Fuller (62 for 1258), Chris Brown (48 for 597), Amir Carlisle (32 for 355), Torii Hunter, Jr. (28 for 363) and C.J. Prosise (26 for 308). Perhaps this is a framework the Irish could aspire to in 2026, but that would require someone to be as good as Fuller as your clear-cut alpha who is drawing multiple defensive backs on a lot of snaps and running by all of them anyway.
Denbrock made the four-team playoff with Cincinnati in 2021 with four receivers (including future Day Two NFL Draft picks Alec Pierce and Tre Tucker) and two tight ends all between 26 and 52 catches. Another potential framework, but quarterback Desmond Ridder was a rushing threat and that offense only finished 17th in F+. The Irish have to aim higher to win multiple playoff games.
A lot of time for Carr and Denbrock to sort things out, but if the running game indeed takes a step back they’ll need to settle on at least one and ideally two dudes at receiver through which to run the offense. Maybe this will be an exception to the rule but the idea of a half-dozen different wideouts kicking in a couple dozen receptions each has not traditionally been the path to an elite passing offense.