National Title in 2011?

[footballinsiders]

For some strange reason I think the Irish can contend for the National Title in 2011. If Coach Kelly can find the QB to run the offense the way its supposed to be run, I like ND's chances. They have the horses to compete. Its all about the Quarterback though. Find that guy and don't be surprised if we land at the very top of the heap in 2011. Mark it down folks!

 

[IrishBlood81]

seriously?

 

[mgriff]

Well Auburn did it last year. They started 21, or 22 if I remember right, and then climbed the polls. While I'm not betting on it, it's not unheard of or even that crazy of an idea.

 

[IrishMoore1]

Not without Mike Floyd.

 

[BGIF]

For some strange reason I think the Irish can contend for the National Title in 2011. If Coach Kelly can find the QB to run the offense the way its supposed to be run, I like ND's chances. They have the horses to compete. Its all about the Quarterback though. Find that guy and don't be surprised if we land at the very top of the heap in 2011. Mark it down folks!

Why don't we get through Spring Ball and see if we have a Starting QB and a ready to play backup QB for this year?

Then we can focus on whether Kelly's offense is more than the patchwork quilt it was last year.

It also be nice to see some of those young DBs show signs of being bona fide backups.

 

[BGIF]

Not without Mike Floyd.

IF the other pieces of the puzzle fall into place it's possible but a couple of WRs have to step up not just one. Floyd's presence would obviously help but I still have seen a consistent QB to maximize his talent if it is available.

 

[GBdomer]

I am starving for a national title trust me man just like everyone is. But i mean he won 8 games last year. 6 the previous two years before that. Its not like we finished in the top 10 and all that. Yes we beat some good teams down the stretch and i am happy with the way we played. We have made good strides under Kelly, and we will improve day in and day out. But lets get to 10 wins first and a BCS bowl game first. Before we start talking a national title here. Still a lot of questions on this football team like who will be are QB? do we have enough depth in the secondary? Who will replace Michael Floyd. I love where Brian Kelly is taking this football team and he is the right man for the job. But i think next year is when we can start talking about 2012 national title hunt. I just dont think we have the depth at positions of need like Alabama does, and Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and Oregon. We need to keep recruiting the way we are and playing great defense like we did down the stretch and we will be back. Sorry if i rained on everyones parade with the negativity but that is just how I feel.

 

[SLCIRISH]

Ive stated numerous times that this seasons team will win 10+ games and will be in the NC hunt.
Floyd not playing doesnt really hurt, he is a receiver, and in the spread the ball will hopefully be spread around.

The defense will be one of the best in the country.

I am sick of hearing this QB crap, Cam Newton was a first year starter for Auburn. We have 4 QBs who could start for 80% of teams. The Qb position is stacked, it is a strength, not a question mark. And it doesnt matter who starts the season at QB, I see three guys getting snaps and playing time. There will be injuries and formations, so like Jerry Sloan use to say "it doesnt matter who starts, but who finishes".

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Not without Mike Floyd.

That's old school, cult of the personality thinking, bro. Kelly doesn't need to depend on the next "superman" to have a chance. He has other things, like teamwork, sacrifice, personal toughness, attention to detail, etc.

Don't be surprised to see Kelly put in a couple of different packages to suit more than one quarterback this year. He's done it before and it could be devastating this year. It would help tremendously to offset inexperience at quarterback and wide receiver.

 

[ThePiombino]

Would love to see that as much as the next board member, but come on- are we seriously comparing anything ND has to offer this year to Auburn '10? And for what it's worth, Newton was a first-year starter at AU, but had a couple years of learning at UF and a year of being "the man" at JUCO before last year at Auburn. Let's try to keep that into perspective.

IMO, BCS bowl (not nat'l champtionship- that would be an unrealistic goal) would be a nice, LOFTY goal for the team this year. Losing Floyd isn't the end of the world, but it would be short-sighted of us to ignore that fact as well. I understand it's the spread offense and balls gets spread around, but when you lose one of the most talented WRs in the nation that can't possibly make you any better of a team. Just my $.02.

 

[NDOM]

For some strange reason I think the Irish can contend for the National Title in 2011. If Coach Kelly can find the QB to run the offense the way its supposed to be run, I like ND's chances. They have the horses to compete. Its all about the Quarterback though. Find that guy and don't be surprised if we land at the very top of the heap in 2011. Mark it down folks!

And I thought I smoked too much dope.

 

[JadeBrecks]

And I thought I smoked too much dope.

Hahaha. Im thinking floyd being out will seriously hurt our chances. I also dont think we have it all together yet. We are headed in the right direction just give it another year or so.

 

[phork]

Much like the Weis era, I am not too concerned about the offense. Whats going to win games this year is the defense.

 

[RyCo1983]

Not this ISH again.....

 

[irish4ever]

For some strange reason I think the Irish can contend for the National Title in 2011. If Coach Kelly can find the QB to run the offense the way its supposed to be run, I like ND's chances. They have the horses to compete. Its all about the Quarterback though. Find that guy and don't be surprised if we land at the very top of the heap in 2011. Mark it down folks!

Sniffed the glue bottle too long again, huh? That's ok, your senses will come back after a while and reality will set back in.

 

[irish1958]

When Oscar Robertson played for Cincinnati in the '60s, They were a very good team. However when things were tight, they always counted on Oscar to bail them out. When he graduated (which they did in those days!) there was no Oscar. The result: they started playing as a team and won two consecutive national titles and lost a third on a fluke.
Sometimes playing as a team is better than always relying upon one player to always pull you through. When the QB's first three options are Floyd, Floyd and throw it to Floyd anyway even if he is triple covered because he will beat most cornerbacks, ND reminds me of the 60's Bearcats.
I personally think ND will be a better, more balanced team without him. I am not sure of 13-0 but I think we will be close.

 

[OchoShayneO]

I won the 2011 national championship on xbox and BK is at least as good a coach as me, so yea I can see this happening.

 

[Riddickulous]

Let's win more than 8 games before we start expecting a national title.

 

[IrishLax]

There are a lot of ways to look at this but the easy answer is that it is possible by not probable. No one likes to admit it but there is a tremendous amount of sheer dumb luck in winning a championship in any sport that is "single elimination."

I think an accurate prediction for next season is somewhere on the order of 8 or 9 wins with potential for 12-0.

 

[Mirer3Powlus]

When Oscar Robertson played for Cincinnati in the '60s, They were a very good team. However when things were tight, they always counted on Oscar to bail them out. When he graduated (which they did in those days!) there was no Oscar. The result: they started playing as a team and won two consecutive national titles and lost a third on a fluke.
Sometimes playing as a team is better than always relying upon one player to always pull you through. When the QB's first three options are Floyd, Floyd and throw it to Floyd anyway even if he is triple covered because he will beat most cornerbacks, ND reminds me of the 60's Bearcats.
I personally think ND will be a better, more balanced team without him. I am not sure of 13-0 but I think we will be close.

Ah yes, the Patrick Ewing Theory. We'll see how Floyd fits into that equation.

 

[NDfan12]

Let's just aim for a BCS game/win then maybe national title talks in the 2012 or 2013 season.

 

[anarin]

so much optimism...

 

[TerryTate]

10-2

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I have a feeling this is a re-play of a thread that has been posted (in one form or another) by someone every year for the last decade. Makes me feel like I'm on a Cubs board lol.

 

[Ironman8]

I would love to head to Palo Alto with a chance at a BCS game.

 

[johnnykillz]

I have a feeling this is a re-play of a thread that has been posted (in one form or another) by someone every year for the last decade. Makes me feel like I'm on a Cubs board lol.

You bastard. You didn't, did you really?

 

[IrishSteelhead]

You ****in' bastard. You didn't, did you really?

You'll have to "wait until next year" to hear my answer!!!!!

 

[footballinsiders]

Everybody has valid points in this thread about why the Irish cant win the National Title this season. I get it, and I am am realist who knows the roster lacks depth, but that's what makes sports great. Finding a way to win when your not supposed too.

Who had Butler in the National Championship last year? I am sure their roster was full of McDonald All Americans like it is this year. You get my point.

 

[johnnykillz]

You'll have to "wait until next year" to hear my answer!!!!!

So wrong on so many levels...

You JINX!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Everybody has valid points in this thread about why the Irish cant win the National Title this season. I get it, and I am am realist who knows the roster lacks depth, but that's what makes sports great. Finding a way to win when your not supposed too.

Who had Butler in the National Championship last year? I am sure their roster was full of McDonald All Americans like it is this year. You get my point.

Not trying to burst your bubble, but a hot basketball team can ride one player very far in the tourney, and with only 5 guys playing at every given time, it is easier to compete with less talent in basketball than football. ND has the capability to take this season very far, I just don't see it resulting in more than about 10 wins, but that's just my humble opinion. 2012 is an entirely different story if Manti sticks around.