Irishtat
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(this is a recent entry from my blog...its sparked some good debate and hopefully you'll find it informative...if not, just pass)
Here's a good interview with Coach CW from today's ESPN Radio Stephen A. Smith show. He answers some tough questions... recruiting, Ty Willingham, Giants, etc. etc. Click the link: ESPN Radio More
For the record, I wasn't sure if the many critics or anointed experts (or people who seem to think they have a valid opinion) realize the recruiting rankings with Notre Dame over the past few years. I realize that the team has yet to find its identity and has struggled more than I thought, but frankly, I'm fed up with all the "fire Weis" crap I'm either hearing or occasionally come across in blogs, message boards etc. After hearing Keyshawn Johnson make an uninformed statement last night I think its time to set the record straight.
Year Coach Recruits Scout/Rivals Rank Record/Bowl
*2002 BD/TW 18 (R.McKnight) 13th /24th 10-3/Gator
2003 TW 21 (Brady Q) 5th /12th 5-7
2004 TW 17 (D.Walker) 30th /32nd 6-5/Insight
*2005 TW/CW 15 (Sharpley) 27th /40th 9-3/BCS Fiesta
2006 CW 28 (Young/Aldridge) 5th /8th 10-3/BCS Sugar
2007 CW 18 (Clausen) 11th /8 0-4
2008 CW currently 19 commits 1 /1
* = transition year, new coach signed previous staff class
Current Roster (excluding walk-ons)
5th Yr (RS Sr) Class '03 – 9 (TW ranked 5/12 class)
Senior Class '04 – 7 (TW ranked 30/32 class)
Junior Class '05 – 14 (TW ranked 27/40 class)
Sophomore Class '06 – 25 (CW ranked 5/8 class)
Freshman Class '07 – 18 (CW ranked 11/8 class)
As you can see Tyrone Willingham's final two years ('04 & '05) produced recruiting classes ranked 30/32 and 27/40 between the two ranking services. Today from those two classes there are a grand total of 21 remaining players on the roster. Of those 21 players, only 10 have secured starting spots on the current roster (excluding special teams). Of the 10 that are currently starting from low-ranked classes, 4 have used red-shirt years. Of the 22 starting positions available on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, 14 are upperclassmen, 8 are underclassmen, and only 9 are returning starters from last year, 4 on offense and 5 on defense. The two-deep depth chart is composed of 48 players (excluding transfer Thomas "285 pounds of" Bemenderfer), 24 underclassmen ('06 & '07), 16 upperclassmen ('04 & '05), and 8 fifth year seniors (RS Sr. from '03).
Below I've broken down the depth chart (two-deep, excluding special teams) by class and years experience. As you can tell, the majority of the players are in either their sophomore or freshmen year and have 2 or less years of playing experience. Not only is this a very inexperienced team with an extremely top-heavy schedule, but they are relying upon 10 starters from low-ranked classes.
Here's how recruiting guru Tom Lemming put it in a recent articles:
1) "I think most kids are smart enough to realize the junior and senior classes are perhaps the two worst in Notre Dame history. They were going to suffer with leadership. They were lucky they had some fifth-year seniors coming back. But having almost all of your talent in the lower two classes does not bode well when you start out with a schedule like Notre Dame's."
2) On the day Notre Dame signed 17 players in February 2004, CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming called it worst class for the Irish in at least 20 years. He now says it was even worse than that. The next year's class, which was a hybrid of Willingham and Weis recruiting, wasn't much better, again finishing out of the top 20.
"One bad year is real bad, but it's not disastrous. Two is disastrous," Lemming said. "When you have all your talent in your freshman and sophomore classes, you’re going to suffer. And you're going to lose to real good programs."
3) "When you have two bad classes in a row, that usually spells disaster…and they had two disastrous classes—the worst in their history. They were lower level MAC classes."
From the current Offensive depth chart:
WR 1 George West (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
WR 2 Duval Kamara (Fr. '07 class) rookie
LT 1 Sam Young (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
LT 2 Taylor Dever (Fr. '07 class) rookie
LG 1 Mike Turkovich (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
LG 2 Eric Olsen (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
C 1 John Sullivan (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
C 2 Thomas Bemenderfer (Jr. TR '05 Northwestern)
Inj. RG 1 Dan Wenger (RS Fr. '06 class) rookie
RG 2 Matt Carufel (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
RG 3 Chris Stewert (RS Fr '06 class) rookie
RT 1 Paul Duncan (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
RT 2 Matt Romine (Fr. '07 class) rookie
TE 1 John Carlson (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
TE 2 Will Yeatman (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
WR 1 David Grimes (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
WR 2 Robby Paris (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
QB 1 Jimmy Clausen (Fr. '07 class) rookie
QB 2 Evan Sharpley (RS So. '05 class) 1 yr exp
FB 1 Asaph Schwapp (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
FB 2 Luke Schmidt (RS Fr '06 class) rookie
RB 1 Travis Thomas (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
RB 1 James Aldridge (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
RB 1 Armando Allen (Fr. '07 class) rookie
RB 1 Junior Jabbie (RS Jr. '04 class) 1 yr exp
RB 2 Robert Hughes (Fr. '07 class) rookie
From the current Defensive depth chart:
LDE 1 Trevor Laws (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
LDE 2 Paddy Mullen (RS Fr. '06 class) rookie
NT 1 Pat Kuntz (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
NT 2 Ian Williams (Fr. '07 class) rookie
RDE 1 Justin Brown (RS Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
RDE 2 Dwight Stephensen Jr. (RS Sr. '03 class) 2 yrs exp
RDE 2 Derrell Hand (RS So. '05 class) rookie
OLB 1 John Ryan (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
OLB 2 Kerry Neal (Fr. '07 class) rookie
ILB 1 Maurice Crum (RS Jr '04 class) 2 yrs exp
ILB 2 Scott Smith (RS So. '05 class) 1 yr exp
ILB 1 Joe Brockington (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
ILB 2 Toryan Smith (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
OLB 1 Anthony Vernaglia (RS Jr. '04 class) 2 yrs exp
OLB 2 Brian Smith (Fr. '07 class) rookie
LCB 1 Darrin Walls (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
LCB 2 Ambrose Wooden (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
FS 1 David Bruton (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
FS 2 Kyle McCarthy (RS So. '05 class) 1 yr exp
SS 1 Tom Zbikowski (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
SS 2 Ray Herring (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
RCB 1 Terrail Lambert (RS Jr. '04 class) 2 yrs exp
RCB 2 Raeshon McNeil (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
Red = upperclassmen, 5th yr Sr./red-shirt Sr. from the '03 TW class (8)
Bold = academic upperclassmen from either the '04 or '05 TW recruiting classes (16)
Green Italics = underclassmen, from either the '06 or '07 CW recruiting classes (24)
* No worries this blog didn't take too much time and I believe it to be informative (especially coming from a lowly basketball coach and no expert
).… hopefully somewhat explaining the situation that the ND in 07 team is struggling with…I realize that recruiting services have a margin of error, players get better while some do not etc. etc... and not trying to point any fingers at players in both the '04 & '05 classes, your at ND, obviously you've done something right, and shit you've got two BCS bowl rings as proof...but it probably won't matter, you either love or hate the Irish…just don't try and get away with jumping on the wagon when we're successful and talking shit when we're struggling...We true fans remember that! If the recruiting holds strong, an identity over the next month continues to develop, the Irish are back on their way to the top. Or like the expert put it "It is OK to look ahead," CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "In 2009, with the two classes they have on the field, with the one they're putting together, with the great start they have on juniors, they're going to be the most talented team in America."
Links:
South Bend Tribune: Improved effort aside, ND numbers numbing
South Bend Tribune: Shrinking ND senior class aims to prove its value
Experts Say Notre Dame Lacks Talent Among Juniors, Seniors | WSBT - South Bend - Your Local News Leader | Local Sports
Recruits excited about ‘building process’ in South Bend - Sports - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington
Here's a good interview with Coach CW from today's ESPN Radio Stephen A. Smith show. He answers some tough questions... recruiting, Ty Willingham, Giants, etc. etc. Click the link: ESPN Radio More
For the record, I wasn't sure if the many critics or anointed experts (or people who seem to think they have a valid opinion) realize the recruiting rankings with Notre Dame over the past few years. I realize that the team has yet to find its identity and has struggled more than I thought, but frankly, I'm fed up with all the "fire Weis" crap I'm either hearing or occasionally come across in blogs, message boards etc. After hearing Keyshawn Johnson make an uninformed statement last night I think its time to set the record straight.
Year Coach Recruits Scout/Rivals Rank Record/Bowl
*2002 BD/TW 18 (R.McKnight) 13th /24th 10-3/Gator
2003 TW 21 (Brady Q) 5th /12th 5-7
2004 TW 17 (D.Walker) 30th /32nd 6-5/Insight
*2005 TW/CW 15 (Sharpley) 27th /40th 9-3/BCS Fiesta
2006 CW 28 (Young/Aldridge) 5th /8th 10-3/BCS Sugar
2007 CW 18 (Clausen) 11th /8 0-4
2008 CW currently 19 commits 1 /1
* = transition year, new coach signed previous staff class
Current Roster (excluding walk-ons)
5th Yr (RS Sr) Class '03 – 9 (TW ranked 5/12 class)
Senior Class '04 – 7 (TW ranked 30/32 class)
Junior Class '05 – 14 (TW ranked 27/40 class)
Sophomore Class '06 – 25 (CW ranked 5/8 class)
Freshman Class '07 – 18 (CW ranked 11/8 class)
As you can see Tyrone Willingham's final two years ('04 & '05) produced recruiting classes ranked 30/32 and 27/40 between the two ranking services. Today from those two classes there are a grand total of 21 remaining players on the roster. Of those 21 players, only 10 have secured starting spots on the current roster (excluding special teams). Of the 10 that are currently starting from low-ranked classes, 4 have used red-shirt years. Of the 22 starting positions available on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, 14 are upperclassmen, 8 are underclassmen, and only 9 are returning starters from last year, 4 on offense and 5 on defense. The two-deep depth chart is composed of 48 players (excluding transfer Thomas "285 pounds of" Bemenderfer), 24 underclassmen ('06 & '07), 16 upperclassmen ('04 & '05), and 8 fifth year seniors (RS Sr. from '03).
Below I've broken down the depth chart (two-deep, excluding special teams) by class and years experience. As you can tell, the majority of the players are in either their sophomore or freshmen year and have 2 or less years of playing experience. Not only is this a very inexperienced team with an extremely top-heavy schedule, but they are relying upon 10 starters from low-ranked classes.
Here's how recruiting guru Tom Lemming put it in a recent articles:
1) "I think most kids are smart enough to realize the junior and senior classes are perhaps the two worst in Notre Dame history. They were going to suffer with leadership. They were lucky they had some fifth-year seniors coming back. But having almost all of your talent in the lower two classes does not bode well when you start out with a schedule like Notre Dame's."
2) On the day Notre Dame signed 17 players in February 2004, CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming called it worst class for the Irish in at least 20 years. He now says it was even worse than that. The next year's class, which was a hybrid of Willingham and Weis recruiting, wasn't much better, again finishing out of the top 20.
"One bad year is real bad, but it's not disastrous. Two is disastrous," Lemming said. "When you have all your talent in your freshman and sophomore classes, you’re going to suffer. And you're going to lose to real good programs."
3) "When you have two bad classes in a row, that usually spells disaster…and they had two disastrous classes—the worst in their history. They were lower level MAC classes."
From the current Offensive depth chart:
WR 1 George West (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
WR 2 Duval Kamara (Fr. '07 class) rookie
LT 1 Sam Young (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
LT 2 Taylor Dever (Fr. '07 class) rookie
LG 1 Mike Turkovich (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
LG 2 Eric Olsen (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
C 1 John Sullivan (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
C 2 Thomas Bemenderfer (Jr. TR '05 Northwestern)
Inj. RG 1 Dan Wenger (RS Fr. '06 class) rookie
RG 2 Matt Carufel (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
RG 3 Chris Stewert (RS Fr '06 class) rookie
RT 1 Paul Duncan (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
RT 2 Matt Romine (Fr. '07 class) rookie
TE 1 John Carlson (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
TE 2 Will Yeatman (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
WR 1 David Grimes (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
WR 2 Robby Paris (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
QB 1 Jimmy Clausen (Fr. '07 class) rookie
QB 2 Evan Sharpley (RS So. '05 class) 1 yr exp
FB 1 Asaph Schwapp (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
FB 2 Luke Schmidt (RS Fr '06 class) rookie
RB 1 Travis Thomas (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
RB 1 James Aldridge (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
RB 1 Armando Allen (Fr. '07 class) rookie
RB 1 Junior Jabbie (RS Jr. '04 class) 1 yr exp
RB 2 Robert Hughes (Fr. '07 class) rookie
From the current Defensive depth chart:
LDE 1 Trevor Laws (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
LDE 2 Paddy Mullen (RS Fr. '06 class) rookie
NT 1 Pat Kuntz (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
NT 2 Ian Williams (Fr. '07 class) rookie
RDE 1 Justin Brown (RS Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
RDE 2 Dwight Stephensen Jr. (RS Sr. '03 class) 2 yrs exp
RDE 2 Derrell Hand (RS So. '05 class) rookie
OLB 1 John Ryan (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
OLB 2 Kerry Neal (Fr. '07 class) rookie
ILB 1 Maurice Crum (RS Jr '04 class) 2 yrs exp
ILB 2 Scott Smith (RS So. '05 class) 1 yr exp
ILB 1 Joe Brockington (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
ILB 2 Toryan Smith (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
OLB 1 Anthony Vernaglia (RS Jr. '04 class) 2 yrs exp
OLB 2 Brian Smith (Fr. '07 class) rookie
LCB 1 Darrin Walls (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
LCB 2 Ambrose Wooden (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
FS 1 David Bruton (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
FS 2 Kyle McCarthy (RS So. '05 class) 1 yr exp
SS 1 Tom Zbikowski (RS Sr. '03 class) 3 yrs exp
SS 2 Ray Herring (Jr. '05 class) 2 yrs exp
RCB 1 Terrail Lambert (RS Jr. '04 class) 2 yrs exp
RCB 2 Raeshon McNeil (So. '06 class) 1 yr exp
Red = upperclassmen, 5th yr Sr./red-shirt Sr. from the '03 TW class (8)
Bold = academic upperclassmen from either the '04 or '05 TW recruiting classes (16)
Green Italics = underclassmen, from either the '06 or '07 CW recruiting classes (24)
* No worries this blog didn't take too much time and I believe it to be informative (especially coming from a lowly basketball coach and no expert
).… hopefully somewhat explaining the situation that the ND in 07 team is struggling with…I realize that recruiting services have a margin of error, players get better while some do not etc. etc... and not trying to point any fingers at players in both the '04 & '05 classes, your at ND, obviously you've done something right, and shit you've got two BCS bowl rings as proof...but it probably won't matter, you either love or hate the Irish…just don't try and get away with jumping on the wagon when we're successful and talking shit when we're struggling...We true fans remember that! If the recruiting holds strong, an identity over the next month continues to develop, the Irish are back on their way to the top. Or like the expert put it "It is OK to look ahead," CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "In 2009, with the two classes they have on the field, with the one they're putting together, with the great start they have on juniors, they're going to be the most talented team in America." Links:
South Bend Tribune: Improved effort aside, ND numbers numbing
South Bend Tribune: Shrinking ND senior class aims to prove its value
Experts Say Notre Dame Lacks Talent Among Juniors, Seniors | WSBT - South Bend - Your Local News Leader | Local Sports
Recruits excited about ‘building process’ in South Bend - Sports - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington
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