SBNation's 2013 Notre Dame Preview

[phork]

"What happened to freedom of speech? Isn't this America?"

Freedom of speech, just watch what you say.

 

[ulukinatme]

0-12

 

[Junkhead]

If we win 3 games next year, I will be shocked. This post brought to you by NDnation.

 

[NDPhilly]

It kinda feels nice to not be "rebuilding" for once

 

[stlnd01]

KLM was a very good ballplayer who brought a lot of intangibles. On paper, Day and EV - and maybe Jones - are more talented. We'll see how that pans out.
Either way, I don't think D-Line will be our problem. I do worry about our lack of proven playmakers on offense, our O-Line depth and a bit that we just might not respond well to an early loss.
10-2 seems like a reasonable prediction.

 

[JughedJones]

It kinda feels nice to not be "rebuilding" for once

This.

And I love how no one has mentioned Jaylon yet in this thread... I must have missed it...



EDIT: You can always count on OMM.

 

[RuntheBall]

8-5

Well played, sir. I laughed hard when I saw this. Reps.

Partially funny because a year ago this is what most people were predicting. Now we would all be disappointed with that, no doubt.

 

[Irish YJ]

Undefeated through the regular season... our closest game via Stanford.

• longo's work pays off big time this year
• EG is able to speed up the O, and learns to throw the deep ball
• CB has a breakout year catching the deep ball
• Mad Max and Cool Hand Luke are significant contributors and one steps up in a big big way
• Hercules kills it in the red zone
• EV contributes from day one and is a stud by bowl time
• Ishaq finally breaks out. The combo of he and Shembo will be the strength of our LB core.
• Bryant sets the Freshmen record at RB.
• Our special teams are finally special do to the vast DB resources available

Yes, took a big gulp of the green Kool Aid, but what the hell. I was right last year.

Bonus bold-out-of-my-mind prediction.
Either :
another ND-Bama rematch with ND showing better but still losing.
or
ND-Ohio St game with ND on top
or
Bama-Ohio St, with Urban getting smashed like we did

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If we win 3 games next year, I will be shocked. This post brought to you by NDnation.

The players fail because they heard there might be stadium renovations. WOULD ROCKNE RENOVATE OR BUILD A NEW A STADIUM!? I DIDN'T THINK SO!!!!

 

[arrowryan]

I'll admit that I'm always drinking the green kool-aid and I'm a pretty big Notre Dame homer. But even a homer like me knows that the ball bounced our way A LOT last year. We can't expect that to happen this year, so I will go with a 10-2 record

 

[Ndaccountant]

I'll admit that I'm always drinking the green kool-aid and I'm a pretty big Notre Dame homer. But even a homer like me knows that the ball bounced our way A LOT last year. We can't expect that to happen this year, so I will go with a 10-2 record

I cannot disagree with this logic. One thing to consider. Will we need the breaks against a BYU, Pitt, etc? I am hoping that we are improved to the point where even if the ball bounces the other way against most of the teams on our schedule, it impacts margin of victory instead of outcome.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If EV can come in and have a Lynch-like freshman year (in all honestly, he should be better than Lynch as a freshman) and Jarron Jones can learn to play with tenacity, this line will be unblockable.

I'm hopeful that between Sheldon Day and EV the drop off from KLM isn't big. As long as we have no drop off from missing KLM against the run I expect us to be dominant on defense. OLB will be better, DBs will be better, ILB will be worse but that's arguably the best position to have a "weakness" at.

A lot of question marks on offense. If this season tanks, it will be because of OL issues/depth, a lack of dominant skill position players, or QB problems. Crossing my fingers everything turns out good on that side of the ball.

Wait a minute pardners! Hold y'it right there!

The same guy that trained Suh, trained EV, and said they were similar talent wise, but that EV was more sound as a freshman.

Sheldon Day is a freshman All American.

We will be (as much as I love KLM) significantly better and deeper, which also means BETTER, on the defensive line.

I cannot disagree with this logic. One thing to consider. Will we need the breaks against a BYU, Pitt, etc? I am hoping that we are improved to the point where even if the ball bounces the other way against most of the teams on our schedule, it impacts margin of victory instead of outcome.

Nice post Ralphy!

 

[arrowryan]

I cannot disagree with this logic. One thing to consider. Will we need the breaks against a BYU, Pitt, etc? I am hoping that we are improved to the point where even if the ball bounces the other way against most of the teams on our schedule, it impacts margin of victory instead of outcome.

They shoud be. They are bringing back 8 starters back on a top 5 defense and the only significant loss to the offense was Eifert, everyone else should be replaced rather easily. BK knows what he is doing

 

[Bogtrotter07]

With KLM I think people need to look beyond what he did on the field and look what he did in terms of leadership etc. That's a major x factor, in my mind. Can ND replace the leadership roles of guys like KLM and Te'o? I think the talent is definitely there and on the rise.

Brilliant point! Who, and how many are going to step up. I bet Jones, Smith, Martin, Fox, Calabrese, Stockton, and underclassmen BJax, Golson, and about three safteys!

I would beg to differ. Lynch was nasty and was no bueno in the clubhouse. Those goal line stands last year were a lot about team unity, and that's on KLM and Te'o etc.

More brilliant yet!

Well, this year, if the leadership is not replaced by one of these guys, we will see if it's overrated.

The trifecta!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I have some intuitive "dreams":

1). Sheldon Day replaces a very good KLM "solidly", and overall Dline strength [talking 2 &2/3 lines playing here] is greater. Lou puts the ON field leadership out there along with The Prince, and the off field leadership is supplied by Jackson and the linebackers.

2). Jarrett Grace blows everybody away. Tackling numbers and TFLs become Te'o-like. With first and second team starters returning at all three other LB positions, plus the presence of Jaylon Smith, Romeo Okwara, Michael Deeb et al, Diaco has nightmares about squeezing powerful players out of playing time.

3). Jackson and Russell take another step up to "championship-quality football." Austin Collingsworth steps into safety alongside Farley to call the plays. Shumate stays the Nickel. Baratti stays the Dime. Redfield begins to sneak onto the field.

4). This defense becomes rapidly better than 2012s and rivals any in the country. Because opponents can barely score, Notre Dame is a top ten team just on this factor alone, plus Everett not becoming a screw-up.

5). Everett does not become a screw-up but rather takes a step up to being generally a solid dependable QB whom Kelly can trust even with sped-up offensive play-rates. Cam McDaniel gives us acceptable RB play until Greg Bryant is ready; then we roll in the ground game against some opponents.

6). TJJones and Davaris Daniels provide two championship-quality WRs, and the third spot is split between an increasingly dangerous CJProsise and Ben Koyack or Alex Welch. Our "big boy receiving system" is not "pretty", just terrible to defend.

7). These things above would make us top 5 easily BUT: how is RIGHT GUARD really going to go? If we cannot get OLine solidity, then it's going to be on Everett as to how well we really do. I believe that Niklas will finally figure out who and how to block. McDaniel will block. But will the RG block? Will big DTs and blitzing LBs roll through that area and shutdown the running game? Will the read left running play fail because Niklas has half-a$$ed it and the RG never made it pulling on time? This is all that can stop us [minus critical injuries] from 11 wins.

"I have a dream".

Niklas will be our most improved offensive performer. And there will be 10 plus guys that can play on the o-line before the end of the season.

Wow! This is one of the best written threads on this site ever! Every single poster had something of merit and a unique perspective to add!

 

[Irish YJ]

I'll admit that I'm always drinking the green kool-aid and I'm a pretty big Notre Dame homer. But even a homer like me knows that the ball bounced our way A LOT last year. We can't expect that to happen this year, so I will go with a 10-2 record

I think our O will improve enough that we won't need the ball to bounce our way as much. If it doesn't, we are all over estimating EG's ceiling.

Signed
Homer Domer

 

[rocket66]

Nikklas will catch 50+ balls this year.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Nikklas will catch 50+ balls this year.

And how many defensive backs will he stove in after he does?

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Grace and Daniels are the big "Ifs" IMO. (Meaning that they're most unknown quantities). If they play great, look out. But if they stink it up...look out.

 

[Irish YJ]

And how many defensive backs will he stove in after he does?

I'm putting the over/under at 3... that's how many opposing players he knocks out of the game for at least a play.

I do believe that between he, and CB, Golson will feel much more capable throwing the ball. Not because he didn't have weapons before, I just think he will be a more matured QB this year, will learn the long ball and fade, and will love the big, strong bodied Hercules as a safety valve. I think CJP will also make a name for himself this year. I think we have so many people that CAN or COULD step up from a WR/TE perspective. Only a question of who, and can BK pick, and focus on a handful to allow for the chemistry to build.

 

[greyhammer90]

Just get that long ball with CB to be more consistent and our margin of victory last year goes up by a lot. So many games could have been blown wide open with more deep bombs.

 

[Irish YJ]

Just get that long ball with CB to be more consistent and our margin of victory last year goes up by a lot. So many games could have been blown wide open with more deep bombs.

Exactly. If we had any big play capability at all last year....