irishknight35
Well-known member
- Messages
- 729
- Reaction score
- 250
https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2022/i...pencer-rattler -- this is kind of crazy. We have 1 defensive player rated top ten at his position (Kyle Hamilton, #1 S) and 1 offensive player rated top ten at this position (Jarret Patterson, #3 C). On paper, there is very little reason to believe that ND will be good except for banking on new players emerging + young players playing at elite levels. With some positions, like Mayer at TE, that makes sense. At other positions, like corner and OL and WR, I'm not sure it does. Time will tell.
It really is a very intriguing year to watch unfold for ND and Brian Kelly's legacy as a whole in this revamped 4 year run they've been on since 2016. It's just kind of incredible to think where Brian Kelly and the program were at when he first took over to then see how 2016 unfolded and now this very successful recent history the program has had. Where does it go from here? Has the effort in recruiting and roster management paid off? Are they now reloading every year instead of rebuilding? This year's team has so many question marks but it has highly rated players and young exciting up and comers at most positions. The competition in the fall is gonna be great to see unfold.
It's very exciting because the culture of the program seems as strong as ever and the direction is clear that winning is a top priority and winning on the big stage is expected but the unknown answers at key positions like OL, WR, and in the secondary are concerning and can be a little nerve wrecking without even mentioning the winningest QB in school history is no longer at the helm (with all his faults Ian Book was a damn gamer and fighter that literally played his guts out for ND). There is bound to be some anxiety as fans, with so much yet to be solidified.
I'm cautiously optimistic that this is "the new norm" of Notre Dame football. Consistent winner. Consistently in the playoff discussion. But I'm also guarded because 2016 wasn't THAT long ago and those wounds will never heal lol.