ND's Talking Heads ... The good, bad & ugly

[Dale]

I’m with him on the TE at least. TE has become a weakness at ND and Foley would’ve helped there

Dude saw 13 offensive snaps in 3 years at Indiana. I think we’ll survive

 

[rtrn2glory]

How has TE become a weakness?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Prister whining on new II pod. Said Marsh and Foley could have been plug and play for a natty run and now they just got pieces that are more building for the future and in the mix.

Dude has lost it the last 6 weeks. Imagine whining because because a Tulsa TE didn’t end up transferring here.

I’m with him on the TE at least. TE has become a weakness at ND and Foley would’ve helped there

How much 11 and 12 personnel is Denbrock running? Especially now with an upgrade in QB over Leonard and upgrades in the WR room? TE in this offense moving forward doesn’t seem like a massive necessity. Just my opinion. Prister will complain about anything.

I won’t be shocked to see way more 10 personnel and empty sets next season

 

[Dale]

Weakness definitely isn’t the word. Underutilized would be the argument

 

[arrowryan]

Imagine seeing what Notre Dame did the last two days and deciding to bitch. I’m not gonna lose sleep over a TE who posted Raridon-like numbers.

 

[2013Irish]

Imagine seeing what Notre Dame did the last two days and deciding to bitch. I’m not gonna lose sleep over a TE who posted Raridon-like numbers.

At Tulsa.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I will say that Marsh is more plug and play. Cignetti knows what he’s getting in him. I posted in another thread the other day about how I’m curious the production comparison between Marsh and both OSU transfers. I wouldn’t be whining about it though. Good grief man. Get a grip.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

At Tulsa.

 

[ColinKSU]

Prister whining on new II pod. Said Marsh and Foley could have been plug and play for a natty run and now they just got pieces that are more building for the future and in the mix.

Dude has lost it the last 6 weeks. Imagine whining because because a Tulsa TE didn’t end up transferring here.

It pisses off people on the ND beat more than they’ll ever admit when Marcus pulls off things like this because he isn’t doing it *their* way. They’d rather see him fail and get to act smug about Notre Dame fans’ expectations than watch Marcus hold the CFP trophy up by running a ship with no leaks.

There’s a balance between unapologetic honks and the dorks that cover ND, but people like Prister ain’t it. I don’t know if they love Notre Dame or being right more.

And someone like Sampson should cover the national beat if they want to act above it all. It’s like a Windows PC writer who genuinely seems annoyed he can’t cover Linux.

 

[Huntr]

ND came out of the portal really well.

The cheese has finally slipped off Old Man Prister's cracker.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Weakness definitely isn’t the word. Underutilized would be the argument

Along w/ a bad string of season ending injuries. Hopefully the worm turns for the TE room health-wise in 2026

 

[IAIrish]

I think changing your mind on a topic is something many people struggle to do and Prister is no different. That 'When the Walls Come Crumbling Down' article is hard to walk back from when you see where ND ended up this portal cycle.

I see both sides on his commentary on the latest II pod. He's not wrong on Graham and Porter, but it's hard not to look at their talent and feel really good about what where they project in Denbrock's offense, combined with Carr's accuracy.

With the portal, ive always been production>potential.... then ND went out and grabbed two 5*'s instead, and I'm changing my tune!

 

[tirishman505]

I get the theory that production > potential but I’m struggling to think of a guy who produced at the same level when he got to ND outside of Riley Leonard. JJB was a little used backup, much like our current transfers. So I’m willing to give potential a more serious look…

 

[ColinKSU]

I sincerely think Ari needs to take a break from discussing Notre Dame for awhile. He’s literally incapable of seeing it objectively.

 

[FWIrish4]

What did you guys think of the II pod scoffing at the idea that the 2026 team is more talented on paper entering the season than 2024 or 2025?

I was shocked they were so dismissive and they thought 2024 was the best.

Reminder, this is viewing it from ENTERING THE SEASON. Off the top of my head:

QB - 2026 with Carr + Denbrock returning. Leonard missed all of spring and was a transfer.

RB - 2024

WR - 2026? Faison and Greathouse were literally huge pieces on that 2024 team and now they’re older and better. Mylan + Porter + Gilbert + Burress = hopefully better than Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell and Jaden Harrison.

TE - 2024. I loved Mitchell Evans but he was coming off injury

OL - no idea. Need OMM to chime in here

Interior DL - 2024 with Mills and Cross

Edge - 2026 I think there is a much higher expectation with experienced Traore and Young than unknown Botehlo, Burnham and Junior at the time. Also, Traore played a ton before injury and Young played quite a bit in 2024 as is.

Linebackers - 2026. All of these guys played in 2024 and now are older and better.

Secondary - 2026 and not even close. Love Benjamin Morrison and X Watts, but we didn’t know what Schuler and Gray would be back in 2024. We know exactly what 2026’s holds and the depth is unmatched.

 

[SDIrishFan]

What did you guys think of the II pod scoffing at the idea that the 2026 team is more talented on paper entering the season than 2024 or 2025?

I was shocked they were so dismissive and they thought 2024 was the best.

Reminder, this is viewing it from ENTERING THE SEASON. Off the top of my head:

QB - 2026 with Carr + Denbrock returning. Leonard missed all of spring and was a transfer.

RB - 2024

WR - 2026? Faison and Greathouse were literally huge pieces on that 2024 team and now they’re older and better. Mylan + Porter + Gilbert + Burress = hopefully better than Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell and Jaden Harrison.

TE - 2024. I loved Mitchell Evans but he was coming off injury

OL - no idea. Need OMM to chime in here

Interior DL - 2024 with Mills and Cross

Edge - 2026 I think there is a much higher expectation with experienced Traore and Young than unknown Botehlo, Burnham and Junior at the time. Also, Traore played a ton before injury and Young played quite a bit in 2024 as is.

Linebackers - 2026. All of these guys played in 2024 and now are older and better.

Secondary - 2026 and not even close. Love Benjamin Morrison and X Watts, but we didn’t know what Schuler and Gray would be back in 2024. We know exactly what 2026’s holds and the depth is unmatched.

For whatever reason, those guys don’t like looking ahead or projecting. We get it, things can change and you don’t know how certain pieces come together.

But it’s like, they want to wait to know the final record before they tell you how good they think the team will be.

 

[arrowryan]

What did you guys think of the II pod scoffing at the idea that the 2026 team is more talented on paper entering the season than 2024 or 2025?

I was shocked they were so dismissive and they thought 2024 was the best.

Reminder, this is viewing it from ENTERING THE SEASON. Off the top of my head:

QB - 2026 with Carr + Denbrock returning. Leonard missed all of spring and was a transfer.

RB - 2024

WR - 2026? Faison and Greathouse were literally huge pieces on that 2024 team and now they’re older and better. Mylan + Porter + Gilbert + Burress = hopefully better than Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell and Jaden Harrison.

TE - 2024. I loved Mitchell Evans but he was coming off injury

OL - no idea. Need OMM to chime in here

Interior DL - 2024 with Mills and Cross

Edge - 2026 I think there is a much higher expectation with experienced Traore and Young than unknown Botehlo, Burnham and Junior at the time. Also, Traore played a ton before injury and Young played quite a bit in 2024 as is.

Linebackers - 2026. All of these guys played in 2024 and now are older and better.

Secondary - 2026 and not even close. Love Benjamin Morrison and X Watts, but we didn’t know what Schuler and Gray would be back in 2024. We know exactly what 2026’s holds and the depth is unmatched.

2024 Cross was a shell of his 2023 self. He was injured most of the season, and never seemed 100%. No one seems to bring that up.

 

[NDohio]

What did you guys think of the II pod scoffing at the idea that the 2026 team is more talented on paper entering the season than 2024 or 2025?

I was shocked they were so dismissive and they thought 2024 was the best.

Reminder, this is viewing it from ENTERING THE SEASON. Off the top of my head:

QB - 2026 with Carr + Denbrock returning. Leonard missed all of spring and was a transfer.

RB - 2024

WR - 2026? Faison and Greathouse were literally huge pieces on that 2024 team and now they’re older and better. Mylan + Porter + Gilbert + Burress = hopefully better than Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell and Jaden Harrison.

TE - 2024. I loved Mitchell Evans but he was coming off injury

OL - no idea. Need OMM to chime in here

Interior DL - 2024 with Mills and Cross

Edge - 2026 I think there is a much higher expectation with experienced Traore and Young than unknown Botehlo, Burnham and Junior at the time. Also, Traore played a ton before injury and Young played quite a bit in 2024 as is.

Linebackers - 2026. All of these guys played in 2024 and now are older and better.

Secondary - 2026 and not even close. Love Benjamin Morrison and X Watts, but we didn’t know what Schuler and Gray would be back in 2024. We know exactly what 2026’s holds and the depth is unmatched.

I thought the entire tone of the podcast had a more pessimistic bend to it than what I expected. That group of guys are rarely super positive anyway and I have learned to look past some of their takes, but man that pod seemed like a real downer. Tim P’s attitude towards the portal acquisitions seemed especially blah.

I agree with you that they were looking at the finished product of 2024 and not where we all thought they might be in preseason when doing their comparison.

 

[notredomer23]

What did you guys think of the II pod scoffing at the idea that the 2026 team is more talented on paper entering the season than 2024 or 2025?

I was shocked they were so dismissive and they thought 2024 was the best.

Reminder, this is viewing it from ENTERING THE SEASON. Off the top of my head:

QB - 2026 with Carr + Denbrock returning. Leonard missed all of spring and was a transfer.

RB - 2024

WR - 2026? Faison and Greathouse were literally huge pieces on that 2024 team and now they’re older and better. Mylan + Porter + Gilbert + Burress = hopefully better than Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell and Jaden Harrison.

TE - 2024. I loved Mitchell Evans but he was coming off injury

OL - no idea. Need OMM to chime in here

Interior DL - 2024 with Mills and Cross

Edge - 2026 I think there is a much higher expectation with experienced Traore and Young than unknown Botehlo, Burnham and Junior at the time. Also, Traore played a ton before injury and Young played quite a bit in 2024 as is.

Linebackers - 2026. All of these guys played in 2024 and now are older and better.

Secondary - 2026 and not even close. Love Benjamin Morrison and X Watts, but we didn’t know what Schuler and Gray would be back in 2024. We know exactly what 2026’s holds and the depth is unmatched.

I agree with you on all of this except I don’t think WR is even close- it’s 2026. The 2024 team was a mixture of super experienced 5th and 6th year players, and then raw but super talented underclassmen. Very few effective true seniors (thanks BK)… I mean if you look at depth chart from the OSU natty, 8 starters are returning… that’s an absurd amount considering it was 2 seasons ago

 

[NDpendent]

What did you guys think of the II pod scoffing at the idea that the 2026 team is more talented on paper entering the season than 2024 or 2025?

I was shocked they were so dismissive and they thought 2024 was the best.

Reminder, this is viewing it from ENTERING THE SEASON. Off the top of my head:

QB - 2026 with Carr + Denbrock returning. Leonard missed all of spring and was a transfer.

RB - 2024

WR - 2026? Faison and Greathouse were literally huge pieces on that 2024 team and now they’re older and better. Mylan + Porter + Gilbert + Burress = hopefully better than Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell and Jaden Harrison.

TE - 2024. I loved Mitchell Evans but he was coming off injury

OL - no idea. Need OMM to chime in here

Interior DL - 2024 with Mills and Cross

Edge - 2026 I think there is a much higher expectation with experienced Traore and Young than unknown Botehlo, Burnham and Junior at the time. Also, Traore played a ton before injury and Young played quite a bit in 2024 as is.

Linebackers - 2026. All of these guys played in 2024 and now are older and better.

Secondary - 2026 and not even close. Love Benjamin Morrison and X Watts, but we didn’t know what Schuler and Gray would be back in 2024. We know exactly what 2026’s holds and the depth is unmatched.

The 2026 team seems to be substantially better with literally no weaknesses.

The only two position groups we will see a big drop are TE and RB. RB will by no means be a weakness in 2026 and Dembrock doesnt utilize TEs as much as ND historically does.

I think the Oline unit will be outstanding next year, they are returning everyone plus adding the 2026 class. One of the biggest things with Olines is chemistry and this group gaining one more year of experience and chemistry together will be huge.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

The only position group I can confidently say is a downgrade is the RB room.
However, I still think the RB room is a strength.


Every other one is debatable or favor 2026 due to experience.

 

[FWIrish4]

For whatever reason, those guys don’t like looking ahead or projecting. We get it, things can change and you don’t know how certain pieces come together.

But it’s like, they want to wait to know the final record before they tell you how good they think the team will be.

I get it that it’s January, but I think they’re maybe protecting themselves from being sunshine pumpers and getting burned for being wrong.

Is their board pretty ruthless when it comes to things like that?

I thought it was a great question asked by a listener and that they didn’t spend near enough time on it. They basically said “remember Cross and Mills” and “just because the secondary is better in 2026, that doesn’t mean the whole team.” I would have loved for them to go position by position and pick the best from 2024, 2025 and 2026.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Since (flattered) asked: The 2024 vs. 2026 OLine question can't be answered in any simple way. But consider this: Knapp after two years MUST be "better" than Knapp rookie. Craig must be better (IF HEALTHY) since the staff saw him as better THAN COOGAN (Probably in terms of actually organization pre-snap leadership.) I was never the all-out fan of Wagner that some here were, despite seeing him as an OK player, so whoever replaces him will/should be a wash at minimum (had he stayed, then he would be better than his younger self.) No Schrauth. But Billy-2025 was the really great Billy, though the Billy-2024 was pretty good. Abshur is better than Abshur, if that position becomes the relevant comparison. Lambert should take a BIG step up --- I was also NOT as high on him as most of IE last season, but he improved significantly as the season went on. BUT in the end, the 2026 line is either a "very good" OLine OR a Joe Moore quality OLine depending on whether Jagusah is truly himself and ready to roar.

.... If Craig and Jagusah are healthy and stay healthy, I intuit that we are the best OLine in the country and our offense then only depends upon the same being true for CJ. The best OLine in the country plus the best RB group in the country will make life much easier for CJ to stay upright and pick apart defenses even though I still have my doubts about our receiving and TE threats ... but I can't have everything. Just give me Jagusah and Craig.

 

[Dale]

They just hate projection. This time last year they said basically the same thing and now fast forward and they use 2025 as an example. They feel some weird responsibility to lower expectations.

What we do know is in terms of recruiting talent, it is going to be the make talented team in the internet era. I also think it’s returning the best QB since 2006 which is the team the OP used. I think it’s returning the best secondary in my lifetime. Those to me are the 3 indisputable features of the 2026 team. Leaves basically RB, WR, TE, OL and DL in a place between production and potential.

 

[allenm5333]

My quick thoughts:
QB-2026
RB-2024
WR-2026
TE-2024 (although I think by December 2026)
OL- 2026...think this could be awesome if right 5 are in

DEs- 2026
DTs- 2024 (toughest to evaluate bc of injuries and our new guys)
ILB- 2026
Secondary- 2026.

Will not entertain arguments for 2024>2026 on WR, ILBs, and Secondary. OL, TE, and DT are up for debate.

 

[tirishman505]

this is in an interesting premise. based on my personal expectations going into each year (not what they ultimately did), i would put it at:
QB: 2026
RB: 2025
WR: 2025
TE: 2025
OL: 2025
DE: 2025
DT: 2024
LB: 2024
DB: 2026

I'm going expand on this; my expectations on results of the season:
2024: Win a first round game
2025: Make the semis
2026: Make the title game

 

[IAIrish]

They just hate projection. This time last year they said basically the same thing and now fast forward and they use 2025 as an example. They feel some weird responsibility to lower expectations.

What we do know is in terms of recruiting talent, it is going to be the make talented team in the internet era. I also think it’s returning the best QB since 2006 which is the team the OP used. I think it’s returning the best secondary in my lifetime. Those to me are the 3 indisputable features of the 2026 team. Leaves basically RB, WR, TE, OL and DL in a place between production and potential.

You have to wonder if that's intentional, as it gives their story arc a place to go after they have the opportunity to watch the team in the spring practice and then fall camp. I know sampson in particular has added to his projected win total a few times after "seeing how the team developed."

If it's a no doubt championship contender in January, what are they going to talk about?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

You have to wonder if that's intentional, as it gives their story arc a place to go after they have the opportunity to watch the team in the spring practice and then fall camp. I know sampson in particular has added to his projected win total a few times after "seeing how the team developed."

If it's a no doubt championship contender in January, what are they going to talk about?

I think the two Tims stay cognizant of the II message board as they often refer to the meltdowns (i.e., early portal silence). As far as Prister, he’s trying hard to evolve w/ the new normal of CFB but he can’t help but being the old man yelling at clouds at times. When O’Malley or Brice contradict him, he typically falls back in line & admits they’re right.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

OL has to be and should be better in '26 than it was in '25.

 

[2013Irish]

If you want your excitement to turn to depression, listen to Sampson and Fortuna's recent episode. 30 minutes of bitching about Freeman, the portal, and anything else under the sun.