NFL Talent on 2011 Roster

[irishfan]

I was thinking about this the other day, and our 2011 was STACKED with NFL talent. More so than any other year since the 90s IMO.

Just in terms of guys who were big contributors and we're/will be drafted

RB: Riddick (6th round)
WR: Floyd (1st round) Jones (will be drafted)
TE: Eifert (1st round)
OL: Martin (will be drafted) Lombard/Watt (might be drafted)

D-line: Nix (1st round) Tuitt (1st round) Lynch (somehow still projected 1st round) KLM (6th round) Schwenke (might be drafted)
LB: Te'o (2nd round) Shembo (will be drafted) Niklas (drafted at TE but played LB) Ishaq (will be drafted) Fleming (5th round)
Secondary: Smith (1st round) Motta (7th round) Slaughter (6th round) Blanton (5th round)

--10 guys drafted from this team (three 1st rounders!)
--3 more projected 1st rounders
--3 more projected to be drafted (Jones, Martin, Shembo) and 3 maybes (Watt, Lombard, Schwenke)

Doesn't even count guys floating around NFL rosters like Wood, Gray, T-Rob, Cave

Crazy how much talent we had, and again we had no real QB.

For a team that has been "lacking NFL talent" the last few years, we still had 6 1st rounders in our 2-deep in 2011.

 

[notredomer23]

All that is missing is an elite QB

 

[Emcee77]

All that is missing is an elite QB

Lol I was just gonna type the same.

Kelly is not going to have a great football team until he has a great QB. Period. He just doesn't run the kind of system that can succeed with just a game-manager QB. He needs a playmaking QB.

 

[notredomer23]

Lol I was just gonna type the same.

Kelly is not going to have a great football team until he has a great QB. Period. He just doesn't run the kind of system that can succeed with just a game-manager QB. He needs a playmaking QB.

This 100%

With that said, I do believe Golson can be that guy, and would have been that guy this year. We would at most have 1 loss right now with Golson at the helm, and likely would have blown out a few teams that were close Ws such as MSU, USC, and Purdue.

 

[aubeirish]

Yea, this was talked about before...

2010 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2011 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2012 Good QB play(Extending plays as the big difference) == 12-1
2013 Average-QB-play == 9-4???

There is a pretty simple conclusion to make here.

 

[IrishLax]

Yea, this was talked about before...

2010 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2011 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2012 Good QB play(Extending plays as the big difference) == 12-1
2013 Average-QB-play == 9-4???

There is a pretty simple conclusion to make here.

It's crazy to think what Kelly might've done had Clausen stayed OR Crist not been a total bust as a 5. Weis really did stack the cupboard and his great recruiting classes were finally becoming upperclassmen... and Kelly was here to develop that talent to the next level.

The only thing missing was a QB who could get the job done.

 

[Kak7304]

Yea, this was talked about before...

2010 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2011 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2012 Good QB play(Extending plays as the big difference) == 12-1
2013 Average-QB-play == 9-4???

There is a pretty simple conclusion to make here.

Another reason for the down year this year is your senior class is your most important to your team. This senior class was recruited during the transition from Weis to Kelly and as a result, is a bit weaker relative to other Weis and Kelly recruiting classes. On top of that, the highest rated recruit of this relatively weak class passed away before setting foot on campus.

 

[DillonHall]

Yea, this was talked about before...

2010 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2011 Mediocre-to-average QB play == 8-5
2012 Good QB play(Extending plays as the big difference) == 12-1
2013 Average-QB-play == 9-4???

There is a pretty simple conclusion to make here.

What's the difference between mediocre and average?

 

[aubeirish]

What's the difference between mediocre and average?

I would say it's a little lower. You can assess it like you want. You get the point...

Another reason for the down year this year is your senior class is your most important to your team. This senior class was recruited during the transition from Weis to Kelly and as a result, is a bit weaker relative to other Weis and Kelly recruiting classes. On top of that, the highest rated recruit of this relatively weak class passed away before setting foot on campus.

I would say that is a fair statement. Regardless, I still strongly think we might be undefeated with Everett at the helm right now.

 

[ulukinatme]

Yup, QB play sure has doomed us this season. I mean, we did such a good job maintaining that strength on defense, they didn't miss a beat this year without KLM, Te'o, and the others. Special Teams has been wonderful too. This season is all Tommy's fault.

I'll bet even with Golson back next year we go 9-3 in the regular season. I don't see this defense improving, but regressing. We'll have a harder time keeping teams off the board.

 

[Catholics_Rule]

It's crazy to think what Kelly might've done had Clausen stayed OR Crist not been a total bust as a 5. Weis really did stack the cupboard and his great recruiting classes were finally becoming upperclassmen... and Kelly was here to develop that talent to the next level.

The only thing missing was a QB who could get the job done.

I've thought of how Kelly's first season may have been if Jimmy Clausen would have stayed his senior season too. At first I didn't think Clausen would be athletic enough to run the spread but I wonder about that now with Tommy Rees at the helm. To me, Notre Dame runs a pro set offense disguised as a spread offense. Because of that I wonder about Clausen having a crack at this offense.

 

[IrishLax]

I've thought of how Kelly's first season may have been if Jimmy Clausen would have stayed his senior season too. At first I didn't think Clausen would be athletic enough to run the spread but I wonder about that now with Tommy Rees at the helm. To me, Notre Dame runs a pro set offense disguised as a spread offense. Because of that I wonder about Clausen having a crack at this offense.

What about Clausen AND Tate? Imagine Clausen + Tate + Floyd + Rudolph + Eifert... wow.

 

[Catholics_Rule]

What about Clausen AND Tate? Imagine Clausen + Tate + Floyd + Rudolph + Eifert... wow.

Excellent point.

 

[GowerND11]

I like to think had Clausen and Tate stayed that team would have been something to watch. I'm also curious to see what would have happened had Crist not gotten hurt in 2010. He was having an alright season, as was mobile enough (more so than Tommy at least). It is an interesting thought. It seemed like after that second knee injury he was just afraid and really couldn't grow.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Wait until we look back at our 2012 roster in a few years. Team would have been loaded with NFL talent.

 

[ulukinatme]

I like to think had Clausen and Tate stayed that team would have been something to watch. I'm also curious to see what would have happened had Crist not gotten hurt in 2010. He was having an alright season, as was mobile enough (more so than Tommy at least). It is an interesting thought. It seemed like after that second knee injury he was just afraid and really couldn't grow.

Interestingly enough, Clausen leaving early, and Crist getting injured in 2010 is what lead to the rise of Rees. People all expected Hendrix to be next in line, but Tommy enrolled early and learned the offense in the Spring, so he ended up being the one to spell Crist when push came to shove. Had Clausen stayed, and/or Crist not gotten injured...you wonder if Tommy and the offense wouldn't be in a different position than they are today.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

It's completely unfair of me to say this, but Crist being a 5star bust pretty much busted the QB position all to pieces. I don't blame Clausen and Tate for leaving. They were both coming off great statistical seasons and would've had to learn a new offense (and had they not performed, their draft stock would've dropped a ton). Crist on the other hand, as a 5star QB, should've played his last two seasons as a starter at ND with much success. Which would've created 2 seasons of development for Tommy and Andrew and one season of development for Golson. And who knows what may have happened with Gunner. Point is, BK should've been able to count on a 5star QB while developing the younger ones. Instead, he had to play a true freshman...and is STILL playing that same kid. Bottom line, the QB position should've been the complete opposite of what it is now. It just sucks that Crist was injury-prone, wasn't really a gamer, couldn't handle the spotlight, and had some bad luck...but that's the reality of the situation.