Sep 4 | Texas

[Guest]

Texas is overrated this year. Their defense is not deep, their QBs are young, and the offense doesn't scare me yet. They still have a year or two of rebuilding before they really scare me.

However, the loss of several important rotation players for ND scares me as the season wears on.

 

[Irish4Life09]

So it became a tossup because we might lose our 3rd string running back and that makes our offense and unknown?

It's a tossup with our offense because we really only know about our QBs and RBs. Our WRs other than Hunter have almost zero experience, and even he being our highest experience is very little . This is what I'm worried about, other than our D of course.

 

[NorthDakota]

It's a tossup with our offense because we really only know about our QBs and RBs. Our WRs other than Hunter have almost zero experience, and even he being our highest experience is very little . This is what I'm worried about, other than our D of course.

I'm thinking WR'S will be fine. No reason to think otherwise.

 

[tko]

Finke, 4 TD's

 

[Irish4Life09]

I'm thinking WR'S will be fine. No reason to think otherwise.

I'm curious, what makes you think so? No one besides Hunter has any experience, and from what I heard during fall camp, general consensus wasn't very good with WRs. Im not worried, but im not incredibly optimistic. Hoping im wrong.

 

[irishown11]

I'm flying into Dallas, not driving, looking for good way to get there, anyone ever take rally bus?

 

[dublinirish]

saw something there on r/cfb where texas players are favouring Tyrone Swoopes to be the starter vs ND. Not sure Charlie agrees though

 

[gkIrish]

I need golf course recommendations in Austin. Will be playing Tuesday and Wednesday after the game. Not looking to spend more than 50 bucks per round. Mainly want a fun, moderately difficult course.

 

[kmoose]

I'm curious, what makes you think so? No one besides Hunter has any experience

Equanimeous St. Brown played in 7 games last season. CJ Sanders played in 13. I'm not saying that makes them shoe-ins for successful seasons, but they do have game day experience.

 

[koonja]

I'm thinking WR'S will be fine. No reason to think otherwise.

If we can say our WRs will be fine, so can every single CFB team. Our 2nd leading returning receiver is James Onowala and he's been on going on his 3rd year now.

 

[kmoose]

If we can say our WRs will be fine, so can every single CFB team. Our 2nd leading returning receiver is James Onowala and he's been on going on his 3rd year now.

But how many other teams have Josh Adams in the backfield, to keep teams from just dropping into coverage every play? A strong running game, which we all(I think) believe we will have this year, will help ensure that those receivers are not just blanketed with coverages. They will see a lot of man coverage, as teams load up the box to try to take away the running game. They don't have to win every battle. Just don't lose them all, and we should be successful.

 

[koonja]

But how many other teams have Josh Adams in the backfield, to keep teams from just dropping into coverage every play? A strong running game, which we all(I think) believe we will have this year, will help ensure that those receivers are not just blanketed with coverages. They will see a lot of man coverage, as teams load up the box to try to take away the running game. They don't have to win every battle. Just don't lose them all, and we should be successful.

To me, a lot. But I compare to the teams that will be competing for the playoffs, so I have a high standard.

 

[Irishcop]

I need golf course recommendations in Austin. Will be playing Tuesday and Wednesday after the game. Not looking to spend more than 50 bucks per round. Mainly want a fun, moderately difficult course.

Man am I jealous. You get to watch ND stomp Texas at home, then it's off to the golf course for a few days. You are doing it right. Just curious, how do you the the Giants will do this season. I'm happy Cruz is finally back.

 

[kmoose]

To me, a lot. But I compare to the teams that will be competing for the playoffs, so I have a high standard.

So which is it, koon?

...every single CFB team...

or

...the teams that will be competing for the playoffs...

 

[koonja]

So which is it, koon?



or

They're not different. I'm saying if 'were good at WR', so is almost every CFB team because we're bringing back very little production if you look at the #s. I think it's around 50 catches from 2015 including TEs.

I bet 90% of D1 teams are bringing back 50 catches.

 

[arrowryan]

They're not different. I'm saying if 'were good at WR', so is almost every CFB team because we're bringing back very little production if you look at the #s. I think it's around 50 catches from 2015 including TEs.

I bet 90% of D1 teams are bringing back 50 catches.

I don't think he is saying "we're good at receiver" from a production standpoint. But the way the staff has recruited receivers and how Kelly and Denbrock always develop a new go to guy when another one leaves, hell yeah we are good at receiver. We had some good veteran receiver last year, I'm not surprised that guys like ESB and Boykin didn't get much playing time. Lets see what the new guys can do before we get worried about our receivers; I'm very confident that the 2016 group of receivers can be the best since Kelly got here.

 

[kmoose]

They're not different. I'm saying if 'were good at WR', so is almost every CFB team because we're bringing back very little production if you look at the #s. I think it's around 50 catches from 2015 including TEs.

I bet 90% of D1 teams are bringing back 50 catches.

But part of the reason that we should be good at WR, is that teams are going to have to load the box to try to take away our running game. I bet 90% of D1 teams DON'T have that kind of threat to help their passing game out.

 

[koonja]

But part of the reason that we should be good at WR, is that teams are going to have to load the box to try to take away our running game. I bet 90% of D1 teams DON'T have that kind of threat to help their passing game out.

Agree, but I don't compare ND against the 90%, I compare them against the 10% (aka, like I said above, the playoff type teams). Those 10% have that and in many cases, more firepower.

I never compare ND to teams outside of the top 15, which is why many people mistakenly think I'm a pessimist. I don't give a shit that we're better than Washington. I expect that, and I want to see how we stack up to the UCLA/USC/Stanfords.

 

[kmoose]

Agree, but I don't compare ND against the 90%, I compare them against the 10% (aka, like I said above, the playoff type teams). Those 10% have that and in many cases, more firepower.

I never compare ND to teams outside of the top 15, which is why many people mistakenly think I'm a pessimist. I don't give a shit that we're better than Washington. I expect that, and I want to see how we stack up to the UCLA/USC/Stanfords.

You really don't get this?

You CANNOT say that 90% of D1 teams that are bringing back the same WR production as ND are "good" at WR, because they are missing a key element that ND has.......... a strong running game.

 

[gkIrish]

But how many other teams have Josh Adams in the backfield, to keep teams from just dropping into coverage every play? A strong running game, which we all(I think) believe we will have this year, will help ensure that those receivers are not just blanketed with coverages. They will see a lot of man coverage, as teams load up the box to try to take away the running game. They don't have to win every battle. Just don't lose them all, and we should be successful.

There are DOZENS of teams with really good running backs. The difference is our O-Line, not Josh Adams.

 

[koonja]

You really don't get this?

You CANNOT say that 90% of D1 teams that are bringing back the same WR production as ND are "good" at WR, because they are missing a key element that ND has.......... a strong running game.

I do get it. I'm talking about WRs only, not the 'yeah buts' like you are, saying it's ok because we have good RBs. I'm not subsidizing their lack of production because we have other strong position groups.

When I'm talking about WRs, I'm talking about WRs. It's that simple.

 

[gkIrish]

Man am I jealous. You get to watch ND stomp Texas at home, then it's off to the golf course for a few days. You are doing it right. Just curious, how do you the the Giants will do this season. I'm happy Cruz is finally back.

I haven't been on week-long vacation for 2 years so I've been jealous of a lot of people recently haha.

I think the Giants will win the division barring any big injuries.

 

[Irish Insanity]

But part of the reason that we should be good at WR, is that teams are going to have to load the box to try to take away our running game. I bet 90% of D1 teams DON'T have that kind of threat to help their passing game out.

Someone, I don't remember who but think it was a new guy, said yesterday offenses like ours are a dime a dozen in CFB. I completely disagree. I see our WR's as the weakest group of the offense, but I don't think they're weak. We have 2 legit QBs and a stable of legit RBs and possibly the best OL in CFB.

 

[Bugzly21]

If we can say our WRs will be fine, so can every single CFB team. Our 2nd leading returning receiver is James Onowala and he's been on going on his 3rd year now.

In 2015, the leading reception leader for Alabama coming in was OJ Howard with 17 receptions coming in. Their top 3 receiving leaders were gone, 183 receptions. The next highest was ArDarius Stewart at 12 receptions in 2014. So in 2015, true freshman comes in and gets 89 and next Ardarius with 63 then Howard with 38.

Alabama also made this transition with a new QB. Sims to Coker. It would be hard to argue that Coker is better than either than Kizer/Zaire. Point is, college football has years of "We lost X player and no experience to replace them" years and do just fine

 

[NDdomer2]

Still not understanding how Koon can comapre to 90% of D1, but Kmoose can only compare to 10% of D1.

 

[GoIrish41]

Someone, I don't remember who but think it was a new guy, said yesterday offenses like ours are a dime a dozen in CFB. I completely disagree. I see our WR's as the weakest group of the offense, but I don't think they're weak. We have 2 legit QBs and a stable of legit RBs and possibly the best OL in CFB.

We have more top to bottom raw talent at WR than at any time in my memory. I'm not at all worried about WR ... or really the offense in general. Games will be won and lost on the other side of the ball, IMO.

 

[kmoose]

Still not understanding how Koon can comapre to 90% of D1, but Kmoose can only compare to 10% of D1.

I think the disconnect is that people who are saying "we are fine at WR" are really saying that the talent we have there will still provide us plenty of production, even without a star. Koon, however,(I think) is comparing the talent level of our WR corps to the talent level of the other Top 15 teams.

The former allows for other factors, as talent is only one factor in production, while the latter is, in my opinion, a much more myopic view that doesn't allow for anything other than a strict interpretation.

Or it could be that koon is trying to move the goalposts..........

 

[Irish Insanity]

We have more top to bottom raw talent at WR than at any time in my memory. I'm not at all worried about WR ... or really the offense in general. Games will be won and lost on the other side of the ball, IMO.

Exactly.

I think the disconnect is that people who are saying "we are fine at WR" are really saying that the talent we have there will still provide us plenty of production, even without a star. Koon, however,(I think) is comparing the talent level of our WR corps to the talent level of the other Top 15 teams.

The former allows for other factors, as talent is only one factor in production, while the latter is, in my opinion, a much more myopic view that doesn't allow for anything other than a strict interpretation.

Or it could be that koon is trying to move the goalposts..........

I strongly approve this message.

 

[koonja]

I think the disconnect is that people who are saying "we are fine at WR" are really saying that the talent we have there will still provide us plenty of production, even without a star. Koon, however,(I think) is comparing the talent level of our WR corps to the talent level of the other Top 15 teams.

The former allows for other factors, as talent is only one factor in production, while the latter is, in my opinion, a much more myopic view that doesn't allow for anything other than a strict interpretation.

Or it could be that koon is trying to move the goalposts..........

I'm not moving any goal poasts.........

I'm literally saying I'm comparing our WR position group to other WR position groups, and not including other position groups (RB, OL, etc.) into the comparison. I'm comparing apples to apples and I'm intellectually incapable of making that any more clear than I have, so if it's not clear by now, let's move on.

 

[kmoose]

... I'm intellectually incapable ...

The first step is admitting that you have a problem...........