Phil Steele Top 40 (ND #17)

irishfan

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Think I post these rankings every year. He's doing his countdown on his site now, but here is what he has so far. Also, I pre-ordered this thing, so I'll post the final top 40 in about a week when the magazine gets here:

40) Cincy
39) Texas A&M
38) BYU
37) Miami
36) Oregon State
35) Maryland
34) Miss State
33) Nebraska
32) Iowa
31) Houston
30) Michigan
29) Virginia Tech
28) Washington
27) Northwestern
26) Louisville

25) Texas
24) Florida
23) Clemson
22) Central Florida
21) Boise State
20) Stanford
19) Marshall
18) North Carolina
17) Notre Dame
Phil Steele

Also, he has a projected pre-season AP Top 25 which is always accurate:

1) Florida State
2) Bama
3) Oregon
4) Auburn
5) Oklahoma
6) Ohio State
7) UCLA
8) Michigan State
9) Baylor
10) South Carolina
11) Georgia
12) Stanford
13) LSU
14) USC
15) Notre Dame
16) Clemson
17) Wisconsin
18) Missouri
19) Texas A&M
20) Ole Miss
21) Texas
22) Washington
23) North Carolina
24) Central Florida
25) Louisville
 
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NDdomer2

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I would love a top 15 finish this year. Got a ton of payers returning for next year. i would imagine a top 15 finish equates to winning a bowl game and another top 10 recruiting class. Sign this guy up.
 

Crazy Balki

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I don't think USC should be ranked that high, but ND is right where they should be. However, Alabama ahead of Auburn?...Really? How the hell do you end up with that conclusion. Auburn being anywhere outside of 2 is just ludicrous.
 

GATTACA!

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I don't think USC should be ranked that high, but ND is right where they should be. However, Alabama ahead of Auburn?...Really? How the hell do you end up with that conclusion. Auburn being anywhere outside of 2 is just ludicrous.

Ohh idk maybe because Alabama has been pulling down top 5 classes for a decade and are arguably more talented than some NFL teams.
 

anarin

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Ohh idk maybe because Alabama has been pulling down top 5 classes for a decade and are arguably more talented than some NFL teams.

Not sure if serious... or if you're lane kiffin.
 

GATTACA!

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Not sure if serious... or if you're lane kiffin.

0bd0dda3_30621480.jpeg
 

johnnycando

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I would love a top 15 finish this year. Got a ton of payers returning for next year. i would imagine a top 15 finish equates to winning a bowl game and another top 10 recruiting class. Sign this guy up.

I get your realist perspective, but I'm a Kool aid drinking fool.

Golson will refuse to lose.
 

Irish YJ

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Ohh idk maybe because Alabama has been pulling down top 5 classes for a decade and are arguably more talented than some NFL teams.

I'm with you. I also think Bama will own Auburn this year by 15-20pts. Bama's toughest game is at LSU IMO.
 

rtrn2glory

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i think if we beat michigan st we'll be in a BCS bowl game. if not i can see an 8-4/7-5 season with our brutal schedule, but beating sparty on the road AGAIN would prove that this is a good team and kind of set the tone much like it did in 2012
 

arrowryan

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i think if we beat michigan st we'll be in a BCS bowl game. if not i can see an 8-4/7-5 season with our brutal schedule, but beating sparty on the road AGAIN would prove that this is a good team and kind of set the tone much like it did in 2012

We don't play Sparty this year dude lol
 

Who'saWildManNow

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Not being a homer: anyone think we will upset FSU this year?

How epic.

I'd love to be able to get a solid read on this or really any game but this season has me the most curious and unsure.

I can reasonably say and believe that the offense will thrive. Kelly has managed to put up points with a lot less than what will be starting against Rice.

I just have no idea how this defense is going to come together. There's plenty of talent so hopefully BVG has them synced up. If so, I think we have a real shot at every game.
 

RallySonsOfND

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i think if we beat michigan st we'll be in a BCS bowl game. if not i can see an 8-4/7-5 season with our brutal schedule, but beating sparty on the road AGAIN would prove that this is a good team and kind of set the tone much like it did in 2012

We don't play Sparty this year.
 

TheTurningPoint

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I think the defense will surprise some people.

I think the fanbase is a little uneasy when they hear "blitzing a lot " bc of Tenuta.

Difference is that with Tenuta....ND was blitzing with Joe Brockington, Anthony Vernaglia, Travis Thomas, Mo Crum, Brian Smith, Toryn Smith.

2014 ND is blitzing with players that are actually fast and athletic. Its amazing how speed makes up for mental mistakes in the college game. ND didnt have athleticism/speed when Tenuta was here. Now, we have it at every position on defense. With BVGs NFL experience, I have really hard time not believing he will get guys into roles to succeed. Kids that arent ready to play 1st or 2nd down....will fit into 3rd down. There are plenty of bodies to narrow down packages into NDs strengths so they can force the O into what ND wants.

Like BVG stated...sure there will be big plays given up here and there. Its football. That happens. Bamas defense gave up a big plays. Yet, didnt let teams constantly drive down the field each game and have to tighten up in certain areas of the field. That is no disrespect to Diaco, but when you have athletes EVERYWHERE...turn them loose. Jaylon not having 1 sack in 13 games is just baffling.
 

NDdomer2

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I'd take a mo crum all day, everyday. Dude played his heart out at ND.
 

D-BOE34

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I think FSU game comes down to 1 play. Not sure which way or who is in control but I bet it comes down to one play...
 

NDdomer2

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Not even sure if a crum would crack the 2 deep on this team.

What?? We talking about same team? The one where spring left us taking about a former walk on and switching olb/de's to ilb? Or hoping for true/redshirt frosh?

I'm sorry but Mo Crum is of the ZMart mold. And those are guys who will find their place at ND not only on the depth chart but in the memory of fans.
 

Sherm Sticky

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Phil Steele Top 40

Phil Steele Top 40

What?? We talking about same team? The one where spring left us taking about a former walk on and switching olb/de's to ilb? Or hoping for true/redshirt frosh?



I'm sorry but Mo Crum is of the ZMart mold. And those are guys who will find their place at ND not only on the depth chart but in the memory of fans.


If we are considering Jaylon Smith, Moore, Councell, Grace, Nyles Morgan and yes even Joe Schmidt I don't see him in the two deep.

Mo Crum gave it his all and was one tough SOB, but he was very limited. I don't really think you can compare Crum to Martin. Yes they were both captains and gave it their all, but one was a 1st round draft pick and the other was not drafted. I'm not even sure if Crum was ever even picked up by an NFL team.
 
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koonja

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Looking at week 2 and those rankings, I'd be really surprised if ND/Mich got college gameday over MSU/Oregon.
 

Black Irish

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Did Steele give reasons why he has teams placed where they are? I suppose it's a toss up, but I don't see how USC is ahead of us.
 

Black Irish

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Looking at week 2 and those rankings, I'd be really surprised if ND/Mich got college gameday over MSU/Oregon.

Damn, I hope these 2 games aren't scheduled at the same time. I'd really like to see MSU/Oregon.
 
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rocket66

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Is MSU really going to be that good this year? I just don't see it.
 

rtrn2glory

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wow!!

my fault idk how i missed that we're not playing sparty, was a foregone conclusion to me. actually like this their defense is going to be REALLY good again imo and it's nice to say that we've owned them the past 2 years

ok now i'm going to have to re-think my predictions =)
 

connor_in

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Damn, I hope these 2 games aren't scheduled at the same time. I'd really like to see MSU/Oregon.

MSU-Oregon kickoff set for primetime on Sept. 6 | greenandwhite.com | Lansing State Journal

The Pac-12 announced Thursday that MSU’s Sept. 6 game at Oregon, potentially a matchup of top-10 teams, will kick off at the unorthodox time of 6:30 p.m. Eastern – 3:30 p.m. local at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium -- and be televised by Fox. U-M at Notre Dame on the same day will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and air on NBC
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