Stole this from Irish Ill...
<blockquote><hr noshade color=#cccccc>Originally posted by NDFAN4:<br><b><font size="2">How can ND get past another deflating loss to one of college football's elite teams?<br><br>Most recovery programs are 12 steps. Weis can do it in five.<br><br># 1. Win the bowl game: 9-3 wasn't good enough last year and 10-3 shouldn't be good enough this year. If the Irish do win their bowl game, they'll do it against a team with a top 30 offense and a top 30 defense. They'll end an eight-game bowl losing streak. They'll do it against a team with some star power (Florida's Reggie Nelson, Arkansas' Darren McFadden), and they'll gain some valuable momentum going into the final stretch run of recruiting.<br><br><br># 2. Make a change at defensive coordinator: OK, Rick Minter gets a mulligan in 2005. He had to teach a new defensive system. He had eight first-time starters and he didn't have enough speed and savvy in the secondary to play much nickel coverage. But in 2006 he had nine starters returning, including two projected 2007 first-round draft picks, and an influx of speed in the freshman class.<br><br><br>Yet Ohio State, which had to replace nine defensive starters from its Fiesta Bowl championship team actually had comparable numbers to 2005, when the Buckeyes were fifth in the nation in total defense. In fact, OSU improved in pass defense (30th to 9th), scoring defense (5th to 2nd) and tackles for loss (31st to 10th).<br><br>Back to Minter, can you remember a defensive game plan the past two years that made you say, "wow" (in a good way)? Did you see how much Michigan and UCLA improved in one year with a change at that coaching position? Is Minter better than Georgia Tech's DC? Michigan's? USC's?<br><br>Want more? Should Rutgers (3rd in total defense), TCU (7th), Wyoming (8th), Boise State (15th), Tulsa (19th), Oregon State (30th), 0-11 Florida International (31st), Southern Mississippi (35th), Cincinnati (36th), Arkansas State (38th) and Wake Forest (42nd) all have statistically better defenses than the Irish (45th)?<br><br># 3. Fix the kicking game: If you don't have confidence in the kickers on your roster to hit a 40-yard field goal, then go get one.<br><br><br># 4. Ask tight end John Carlson and defensive tackle Trevor Laws to please, please, please, please come back for a fifth year: The Irish need their experience and leadership, not to mention their big-play capability.<br><br><br># 5. Keep control of the offensive play-calling duties: Don't go running away from the offense, especially in a year when there will be a new quarterback, new go-to receivers and a mostly new offensive line. Weis needs to hire a defensive coordinator that will allow him to stay on offense for most of his prep time.<br><br><br>Who are five players who need to have strong offseasons?<br><br># 1. Toryan Smith: The Irish need the 6-foot-1, 244-pound freshman's physical presence at middle linebacker and his speed. That would allow junior Maurice Crum to move back outside, where he'd be a star.<br><br><br># 2. The defensive end who lines up opposite of freshman John Ryan in 2007: Whether it be junior Justin Brown, freshmen Kallen Wade or Morrice Richardson, committed recruits Kerry Neal or Justin Trattou or someone who is still out there in uncommitted limbo (Ben Martin, Martez Wilson, Everson Griffen?), the Irish need bookend pass-rushers to make their defensive scheme work.<br><br><br># 3. David Bruton: One of a gaggle of young safeties with promise who needs to grow up in a hurry to solidify the secondary.<br><br><br># 4. Chris Stewart: The 6-foot-5, 367-pound freshman offensive guard isn't in the two-deeps, but his power, athletic ability and intelligence could make him dominant in next year's retooled offensive line. Classmates Eric Olsen and Matt Carufel could make the same kind of impact at guard.<br><br><br># 5. Robby Parris: The Jeff Samardzija act-a-like (6-4, 185) needs to assert himself into next year's receiver rotation along with sophomore David Grimes; freshman classmates George West, Richard Jackson and Barry Gallup; and the out-of-the-box wideouts in the current recruiting class.<br><br><br>What's the most comforting thought for Irish fans about Weis as he heads into the offseason?<br><br>He'd be the first to admit he doesn't know it all, and he's not afraid to ask questions.<br><br>What's the second-most comforting thought for Irish fans about Weis as he heads into the offseason?<br><br>He still knows more than most.<br><br></font></b><hr noshade color=#cccccc></blockquote>
<blockquote><hr noshade color=#cccccc>Originally posted by NDFAN4:<br><b><font size="2">How can ND get past another deflating loss to one of college football's elite teams?<br><br>Most recovery programs are 12 steps. Weis can do it in five.<br><br># 1. Win the bowl game: 9-3 wasn't good enough last year and 10-3 shouldn't be good enough this year. If the Irish do win their bowl game, they'll do it against a team with a top 30 offense and a top 30 defense. They'll end an eight-game bowl losing streak. They'll do it against a team with some star power (Florida's Reggie Nelson, Arkansas' Darren McFadden), and they'll gain some valuable momentum going into the final stretch run of recruiting.<br><br><br># 2. Make a change at defensive coordinator: OK, Rick Minter gets a mulligan in 2005. He had to teach a new defensive system. He had eight first-time starters and he didn't have enough speed and savvy in the secondary to play much nickel coverage. But in 2006 he had nine starters returning, including two projected 2007 first-round draft picks, and an influx of speed in the freshman class.<br><br><br>Yet Ohio State, which had to replace nine defensive starters from its Fiesta Bowl championship team actually had comparable numbers to 2005, when the Buckeyes were fifth in the nation in total defense. In fact, OSU improved in pass defense (30th to 9th), scoring defense (5th to 2nd) and tackles for loss (31st to 10th).<br><br>Back to Minter, can you remember a defensive game plan the past two years that made you say, "wow" (in a good way)? Did you see how much Michigan and UCLA improved in one year with a change at that coaching position? Is Minter better than Georgia Tech's DC? Michigan's? USC's?<br><br>Want more? Should Rutgers (3rd in total defense), TCU (7th), Wyoming (8th), Boise State (15th), Tulsa (19th), Oregon State (30th), 0-11 Florida International (31st), Southern Mississippi (35th), Cincinnati (36th), Arkansas State (38th) and Wake Forest (42nd) all have statistically better defenses than the Irish (45th)?<br><br># 3. Fix the kicking game: If you don't have confidence in the kickers on your roster to hit a 40-yard field goal, then go get one.<br><br><br># 4. Ask tight end John Carlson and defensive tackle Trevor Laws to please, please, please, please come back for a fifth year: The Irish need their experience and leadership, not to mention their big-play capability.<br><br><br># 5. Keep control of the offensive play-calling duties: Don't go running away from the offense, especially in a year when there will be a new quarterback, new go-to receivers and a mostly new offensive line. Weis needs to hire a defensive coordinator that will allow him to stay on offense for most of his prep time.<br><br><br>Who are five players who need to have strong offseasons?<br><br># 1. Toryan Smith: The Irish need the 6-foot-1, 244-pound freshman's physical presence at middle linebacker and his speed. That would allow junior Maurice Crum to move back outside, where he'd be a star.<br><br><br># 2. The defensive end who lines up opposite of freshman John Ryan in 2007: Whether it be junior Justin Brown, freshmen Kallen Wade or Morrice Richardson, committed recruits Kerry Neal or Justin Trattou or someone who is still out there in uncommitted limbo (Ben Martin, Martez Wilson, Everson Griffen?), the Irish need bookend pass-rushers to make their defensive scheme work.<br><br><br># 3. David Bruton: One of a gaggle of young safeties with promise who needs to grow up in a hurry to solidify the secondary.<br><br><br># 4. Chris Stewart: The 6-foot-5, 367-pound freshman offensive guard isn't in the two-deeps, but his power, athletic ability and intelligence could make him dominant in next year's retooled offensive line. Classmates Eric Olsen and Matt Carufel could make the same kind of impact at guard.<br><br><br># 5. Robby Parris: The Jeff Samardzija act-a-like (6-4, 185) needs to assert himself into next year's receiver rotation along with sophomore David Grimes; freshman classmates George West, Richard Jackson and Barry Gallup; and the out-of-the-box wideouts in the current recruiting class.<br><br><br>What's the most comforting thought for Irish fans about Weis as he heads into the offseason?<br><br>He'd be the first to admit he doesn't know it all, and he's not afraid to ask questions.<br><br>What's the second-most comforting thought for Irish fans about Weis as he heads into the offseason?<br><br>He still knows more than most.<br><br></font></b><hr noshade color=#cccccc></blockquote>