Season Record

[jason_h537]

i can definitely see the possibility of an unbeaten season but i have to see thme play a few weeks before i can declare it.

 

[BGIF]

Put John Haynesworth Down For 10 or more

Put John Haynesworth Down For 10 or more

BlueandGold.com // Over: The Irish Will Win More Than Nine In ‘09

BCS OR BUST

Vegas oddsmakers had set the ND over/under at 9.

John Haynesworth, BGI, thinks the low. The man makes some points:

The most glaring factor working in Notre Dame’s schedule is a manageable schedule that poses few roadblocks on paper in the preseason. None of the teams should be overlooked, but all of the trap games stick out like a sore thumb.

... Michigan team still in the rebuilding phase under second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez, and a Michigan State team looking to fill several holes in a once-daunting running game.

... USC, too, will be in reloading mode this season following the departure of last year’s starting quarterback and linebacking corps to the NFL

BC - new coach, new QB, NO Player of the Year LB, and NO run stuffing drive Olsen behind into yesterday DT.

ND -

an experienced team that features 10 returning starters from the nation’s most improved offense a season ago. Only UAB returns more offensive starters among Bowl Division teams in 2009

ND -

Defensively, six starters return from a 2008 unit that ranked in the top 50 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense – the first time that feat has been accomplished by a Notre Dame squad since 2002. The most improved unit – the rushing defense, believe it or not, which went from 96th in 2007 to 45th in 2008 – should get better, especially along the defensive line

ND -

With an offense that should be able to score with any team on the schedule, perhaps the country as well, and a defense that could potentially face as many as eight quarterbacks that will have made their first career starts this fall, it’s unlikely that Notre Dame will find themselves overwhelmed in any game this season.

Coaching -

Charlie Weis has promised that when all things are equal, his coaching will be sufficient enough to push the Irish over the top

,

Barring major injuries, ten or eleven wins should be the benchmark with an undefeated season an outside possibility if the Irish can upset the Trojans in South Bend in mid-October.

 

[jason_h537]

Word from the practice field is that both Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick have impressed. Manti Te'o looks like the real deal and Anthont McDonald is healthy and is pushing for serious PT. Shaq looks the part but Goodman seems to be the most likely for the #3 WR spot. KLM has also impressed, could be a monster.

 

[Bubba]

Hey Jason, where's this word coming from. Just curious. Not doubting you.

 

[notredomer23]

Word from the practice field is that both Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick have impressed. Manti Te'o looks like the real deal and Anthont McDonald is healthy and is pushing for serious PT. Shaq looks the part but Goodman seems to be the most likely for the #3 WR spot. KLM has also impressed, could be a monster.

Thats funny, since practice doesnt start for another couple weeks. I know they do 7v7 but that doesnt really show much

 

[jason_h537]

Thats funny, since practice doesnt start for another couple weeks. I know they do 7v7 but that doesnt really show much

Team has players only practices. Coaches are not allowed to be involved. Think of it like NFL "voluntary workouts". Team is working hard on their own time and this is whats been reported.

 

[jason_h537]

Hey Jason, where's this word coming from. Just curious. Not doubting you.

PS at Rivals

 

[BGIF]

Word from the practice field is that both Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick have impressed. Manti Te'o looks like the real deal and Anthont McDonald is healthy and is pushing for serious PT. Shaq looks the part but Goodman seems to be the most likely for the #3 WR spot. KLM has also impressed, could be a monster.

Instead of burying this in another thread, how about starting a new thread "Pre-Practice Updates" that way people will be able to find them easily.

 

[jason_h537]

I was looking for an article i could paste here because i got in trouble for posting premium stuff on here before. Since i couldnt i decided to just put it here because i didn't want people to think these was my words or i was just bs'ing. If you could find an article, cuz your usually good at that, be greatly appreciated.

 

[BGIF]

8 Wins Burlage

8 Wins Burlage

BlueandGold.com // Under: Ten Wins In '09 A Tall Order

Todd Burlage, B&G 7/9/09

Good team; not great

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it must be a duck.”

Well, I fear that Notre Dame might very well be the duck again this season – a good team on paper, coaches sounding good in practice, and a schedule that looks too good to be true. There’s plenty of “good” heading into 2009, but still no evidence of great.

Talent is there but ...

Until Charlie Weis can consistently beat teams such as Boston College, Michigan State and Pittsburgh – he’s 2-6 against those three – Notre Dame can be considered nothing more than a good team, or in this case, a duck. And that’s without even mentioning the 0-4 record against USC for Weis, the one true great team on the schedule every year.

The point is, Notre Dame looks like a team that should have the talent in place to hit the 10-win mark this season, but the Irish have routinely suffered a slip up or two in recent years. Anyone remember Syracuse? It was one of the worst losses in program history.

With a 12-game schedule, just one hiccup would make reaching 10 wins difficult, and recent history suggests at least one is coming. Will it be Nevada or Stanford, or perhaps Michigan State, Boston College or Pittsburgh, like last season.

Sloppy Play

Just last year: three fumbles and three turnovers at Michigan State, four fumbles and five turnovers at North Carolina, two fumbles and five turnovers at Boston College, one fumble and three turnovers at USC, all four games were losses. The only true road win from last season came against winless Washington

Todd Burlage:

This “good” Notre Dame team has better shot of winning eight games than it does 10.

Burlage's premise is simply we were bad last year against an soft schedule so how can ND do better against a similar soft schedule?

Burlage is saying this team's maturity, seasoned players, and coaching staff adustments will eke out 1 more win than last season. Actually Burlage neglected to mention maturity, experience, new coaches, and such. He just focused on the negatives of last year.

Haynesworth, also of B&G, notes the changes at ND plus that ND's opponent lost a ton of talent while ND lost little. Haynesworth provided substance for why ND can win 10 or more while Burlage was working on a piece suitable for "Players that make you whince".

 

[BGIF]

11-1

11-1

Andre Ware on ESPN's 50 States tour.

In the ND segment he noted he covered the Hawaii beating. He likes Clausen, Allen, Tate, Floyd, and Rudolph, "the beat TE in the nation".

Only USC should be a problem.


What a difference in Holtz quotes when he's not the ND head coach. He's gone from "I fear Navy" to puting the gorilla squarely on Charlie's back when asked by ESPN how the '09 Irish will do, "They'll go to a BCS game and could play Florida for the Championship."



On an aside, Holtz was asked the difference between coaching at ND and the other places he's been, ARK, MIN, SCA. He responded the on the field the players are much the same, off the field the ND players are focused on their lives, on their future.

 

[fitz_bu47]

I LOVE LOU HOLTZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 wins at a minimum, should be 11, w/ a shot at 12.....A win against the condoms would make my year.

 

[NDsuperfan09]

9-11 Wins is what I expect this year. 9 if they take the normal steps forward, and 11 if they learn to run the ball and take care of the ball on the road.

 

[jason_h537]

9-11 Wins is what I expect this year. 9 if they take the normal steps forward, and 11 if they learn to run the ball and take care of the ball on the road.

Yeah that sounds about right

 

[BGIF]

Put Rothstein The Journal Gazette down for 9-3

Put Rothstein The Journal Gazette down for 9-3

A Way_ Way_ Way Too Early Prognostication on the 2009 Season | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Losses:​

• USC close game like '05 similar result
• Stanford "second tough game on schedule" ... "a massive trap game"
• Either UM or MSU (ND splits with the state of Michigan)

 

[Riddickulous]

Who doesn't love Lou Holtz? Who doesn't hate Mark May, for that matter?

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

A Way_ Way_ Way Too Early Prognostication on the 2009 Season | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Losses:​

• USC close game like '05 similar result
• Stanford "second tough game on schedule" ... "a massive trap game"
• Either UM or MSU (ND splits with the state of Michigan)

I will say it again, no way NO HOW we lose to the stupid dancing trees this year. Is Harbaugh building a much improved program? Yes. Trap game? I doubt it. We spank the Cardinal this year.

I am calling it now: On Thanksgiving weekend, in front of a mostly Irish crowd in Palo Alto, ND 42 - Stanford 17. Crist gets in some action late in the only California game this season and throws for a touchdown in mop up duty in front of a large contingent of friends and family who came in to see the game.

 

[bliv711]

I don't post much here, and you can look at my past posts and realize I'm not trolling, etc. I HOPE it's 12-0 and I'd bet on them every game. However, the line play...particularly the o-line has too many questions. What does every national championship team this decade have in common? They had a SOLID running attack. Yes, with the exception of USC, it appears EVERY game is winnable. However, in the complete absence of a running game to take some pressure off Clausen, I feel it's looking like an 8-4...possibly a 9-3 season. I'm not going to try to speculate who we may lose to...I wouldn't have guessed Navy two seasons ago and I wouldn't have guessed Syracuse last season. But, like I said, I will not bad mouth this seasons team and will be rooting for them each and every game.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I don't post much here, and you can look at my past posts and realize I'm not trolling, etc. I HOPE it's 12-0 and I'd bet on them every game. However, the line play...particularly the o-line has too many questions. What does every national championship team this decade have in common? They had a SOLID running attack. Yes, with the exception of USC, it appears EVERY game is winnable. However, in the complete absence of a running game to take some pressure off Clausen, I feel it's looking like an 8-4...possibly a 9-3 season. I'm not going to try to speculate who we may lose to...I wouldn't have guessed Navy two seasons ago and I wouldn't have guessed Syracuse last season. But, like I said, I will not bad mouth this seasons team and will be rooting for them each and every game.

You have great points, but here's the reason for the optimism Bliv. ND has an experienced line, one of the most experienced in football (yes, I know that can be construed as a negative given their past performances!), with some guys that were very highly sought after coming out of high school, including Sam Young. This group of kids, IMO, hasn't been coached the last 3-4 years. Latina was a train wreck, coaching a blocking scheme (zone) that was not his forte. Although they dropped the amount of sacks they gave up last year, there was very little development among the linemen, as evidenced by our pathetic running game as well as defenses continually getting pressure rushing only 3 guys.

But with the hiring of Verducci, there is hope for change. Yes, this happens with every coaching change, but Verducci brings an NFL pedigree, and rave reviews from past linemen, current ND linemen, and recruits he's worked with as well. ND fans believe the talent has always been there, but they needed a leader to push them to an elite level, hell, a college level. With talent and experience that is now there, we believe that Verducci is the answer. And the same can said for the D-Line (new coach, talent), minus the experience. The D-Line could be a sore spot if these kids don't grow up quickly. Thanks for the post and not acting like an uninformed arse. Believe me, a lot of us are worried about the exact same things...

 

[BGIF]

I don't post much here, ...

You should!

... and you can look at my past posts and realize I'm not trolling, etc.

I did, hence my previous comment.

Is the '73 Sugar still your favorite game? Do you remember Dave Casper getting two pancake blocks on the same play? First he flattened a Bama DE named Mike DuBose. Then he bowled over another defender downfield. I have that game on tape if it has disintegrated by now.

I HOPE it's 12-0 and I'd bet on them every game. However, the line play...particularly the o-line has too many questions. What does every national championship team this decade have in common? They had a SOLID running attack. Yes, with the exception of USC, it appears EVERY game is winnable. However, in the complete absence of a running game to take some pressure off Clausen, I feel it's looking like an 8-4...possibly a 9-3 season. I'm not going to try to speculate who we may lose to...

Line play and running attack. Definitely areas needing improvement. And I think they'll be significantly better. They won't look like the Taylor, Zataveski, Ruddy, Leahy, and Norman OLine of '93 but they don't have to. The backfield won't look like Zellers, Edwards, Becton, and Kinder but they don't have too. Kevin McDougal as fine a year as he had would be the backup in '09. Dawson and Johnson would be watching Floyd and Tate play - a lot. Rudolph isn't the blocker McBride was but he's already a better pass catching TE. The running attack doesn't have to put up 200 yds a game. They have to keep the defense honest and they have to be able to make short yardage downs.

Whether it was Weis, Latina, or Haywood the rushing attack didn't work and the OLine foundered. They frequently looked lost on plays. Their all a year more mature, stronger, more experienced. Verducci and Alford are additions in for no other reason than substraction of their predecessors. I feel the same way about Hart in place of Oliver. And believe the clear delineation of play calling by one individual is superior to two people sharing the role. The DLine will be young but it will be quicker and stronger man for man across the line. And nobody has to play every down now. There are backups that can play.

As for 8-4 I just can't see it. Michigan, Stanford, UW, and Nevada are the only teams I see that might be better than last year. The rest lost a lot of key personnel while ND didn't. Again addition by subtraction. PITT still has a rugged defense but No McCoy and perhpas more imporantly No Lee, the FG who was flawless. MSU lost Hoyer and Ringer. CONN last year with Donald Brown would have strained ND's Dline like most RBs did. He's gone! UM is in the second year of Rodriguez transition. They won't turn the ball over so much. Robinson as DC will improve the Defense which played well against ND last year. Harbaugh keeps increasing the talent level and he has his players believing. They'be beaten USC more recently than ND has. Locker's return to UW adds a franchise player. Willingham's departure adds 2 TD to their production. Nevada has a potent offense with 3, 1000 yd rushers. They will score points but their defense is porous. We'll score more.

In another thread I said ND has enough talent and experiece this year to be anyone on the schedule. I also noted that probably 6 of those teams could beat ND. Probably one, maybe two. But the days of double digit collapses are over.

I wouldn't have guessed Navy two seasons ago ...

You didn't predict it but you did express concern ...

I'm not trolling, flaming, etc., but the way we look right now, I'm very concerned two streaks could come to an end this season. First, Navy always plays us reasonably well. We've got to win that one ...

Like I said above, you should post more.

... But, like I said, I will not bad mouth this seasons team and will be rooting for them each and every game.

GO IRISH!

 

[NDinL.A.]

I will say it again, no way NO HOW we lose to the stupid dancing trees this year. Is Harbaugh building a much improved program? Yes. Trap game? I doubt it. We spank the Cardinal this year.

I am calling it now: On Thanksgiving weekend, in front of a mostly Irish crowd in Palo Alto, ND 42 - Stanford 17. Crist gets in some action late in the only California game this season and throws for a touchdown in mop up duty in front of a large contingent of friends and family who came in to see the game.

GI, I used to be OK w/ Stanford, until I happened upon their scout board. I was flabbergasted at the amount of entitlement and elitism that those 'fans' showed towards ANY other school, especially ND and of course, Cal. I mean, they HATE ND, and they act as if they've actually done something in football recently. They are 25-55 since their last bowl game, and have never beaten CW, but the way they talk you'd think they OWN Notre Dame, especially under Charlie. I wanted to reach through my screen and strangle thse friggin' pricks!

Here's an actual post from a Stanford grad, when talking about our verbal Leuders:

I have been to all the places on the Notre Dame campus that TC describes, plus the Grotto, golf course, mass at the campus church, the natorium, field house with weight room, basketball arena. Very nice but it does not match what Stanford has. Any player that is offered a Stanford scholarship and turn's it down to go to Notre Dame, (or anyplace else), lacks good common sense.

This is a prevailing theme, and there were other stronger worded posts that I couldn't find. Here's another great one, about why they lost Chris Badger to us, errrrr, let Chris Badger go:

The Dome became appealing only after he hadn't heard from the Stanford coaches for a month. In defense of the Stanford staff, they were preoccupied with the securing of other safety commitments, Carr and Carrington.

They act like a Stanford education is waayyyyyyyy better than a ND education, kinda like we are on the same wavelength of an SC or even a friggin SEC school.

ND is academically compared to most, but to state it is comparable to Stanford as ND recruiters do is an egregious canard, compares apples to oranges, and is unworthy of an ethical coaching staff.

That was a nice quote compared to most. They basically think they're Harvard and ND is run-of-the-mill.

And they kill the Catholic faith and priests and nuns whenever they get a chance. I've never looked at their fans the same after visiting their board...

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I respect the concept of that Stanford school, but every grad from there that I have met automatically spewed hatred and condescension at ND (and me - maybe cuz I peed on their roof...) when they found out where my allegiance lies. Goodness. Some people need to chill. Or let go of trees.

 

[IrishInFl]

So the #2 business school in America equates a terrible school, eh?

 

[Riddickulous]

Stanford fans are morons. So are their players, especially that dumbass tackle who ran his mouth last season.

And what right do they have to thinking they're superior? They've never beat us in the Weis era.

 

[BGIF]

Stanford fans are morons. So are their players, especially that dumbass tackle who ran his mouth last season.

And what right do they have to thinking they're superior? They've never beat us in the Weis era.

Air Force has
Navy has
Purdue has
Syracuse has


Standford never beat ND in the Willingham era either.

Standford is 0-7 versus ND's "W" coaches.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

So the #2 business school in America equates a terrible school, eh?

lol. Maybe a leap in logic.

I have met 6 Stanford grads and some parents. The fire and venom I received for announcing ND as my team was completely unsolicited. Who the hell would threaten Bambi for liking ND? Shut up GoIrish!!! and Wabash. I am not, nor will I ever be jerky while I'm alive.

 

[WabashFalcon]

lol. Maybe a leap in logic.

I have met 6 Stanford grads and some parents. The fire and venom I received for announcing ND as my team was completely unsolicited. Who the hell would threaten Bambi for liking ND? Shut up GoIrish!!! and Wabash. I am not, nor will I ever be jerky while I'm alive.

But your blood would make you so much more tasty.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I...

I...

ooh.

Just................ooh.

Are those your headlights?

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

lol. Maybe a leap in logic.

I have met 6 Stanford grads and some parents. The fire and venom I received for announcing ND as my team was completely unsolicited. Who the hell would threaten Bambi for liking ND? Shut up GoIrish!!! and Wabash. I am not, nor will I ever be jerky while I'm alive.

Gee, that was exactly what your mom said to me and Wabash just before...well, you know.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Gee, that was exactly what your mom said to me and Wabash just before...well, you know.

What GO IRISH is trying to say... is that we Eiffel Towered your Momma.