Tate , Floyd, H. Smith

[NDinL.A.]

HUH????? Sorry. I have to disagree with you. Until I see VAST improvement on our defense, then we arent competing for a national championship. NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!!!

I sometimes disagree with you NDOM, just in the sense you can be a little too negative for own personal taste, but I think you're dead-on here. We'll be much better, but we can't defend with the likes of USC, Florida, LSU, Alabama, etc yet. Until we get better on that side of the ball, those athletes are going to run by us and over us time and time again.

I mean, NC lost their best receiver (and player), their TE, and were using their 3rd string QB and they still did whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. That's not NC quality, not even close.

Now, the positive is that we are young on that side of the ball in many key spots. We have Walls coming back. But until our D-Line gets a push and gets into the backfield on a consistent basis, we can't be NC's.

I'm hoping experience, offseason training and conditioning, and comfort in the system will vault the D up to NC type status next year. It can happen, we're getting there talent wise. But right now it's only hope...

 

[NDOM]

I sometimes disagree with you NDOM, just in the sense you can be a little too negative for own personal taste, but I think you're dead-on here. We'll be much better, but we can't defend with the likes of USC, Florida, LSU, Alabama, etc yet. Until we get better on that side of the ball, those athletes are going to run by us and over us time and time again.

I mean, NC lost their best receiver (and player), their TE, and were using their 3rd string QB and they still did whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. That's not NC quality, not even close.

Now, the positive is that we are young on that side of the ball in many key spots. We have Walls coming back. But until our D-Line gets a push and gets into the backfield on a consistent basis, we can't be NC's.
I'm hoping experience, offseason training and conditioning, and comfort in the system will vault the D up to NC type status next year. It can happen, we're getting there talent wise. But right now it's only hope...

Agreed Agreed Agreed Agreed. Our offense is awesome. We are young still on offense and look how good were doing. Clausen is only a sophomore and I expect him not to make these stupid mistakes (ie.. Throwing it right to UNC defender) next year. I dont see how its going to be possible for teams to stop us next year ESPECIALLY if we find a run game.

Now that being said, without a defense we just wont be able to "outscore" teams like Florida, Oklahoma, Usc, Texas etc etc.... And until we have the speed, talent, and depth (Especially at DL) we shouldnt be even considered National Championship material.

 

[phork]

I agree with a lot thats been said. Clausen is going to be great, the receivers are freakin studs, our defense sucks. That being said, Butch Davis is in year 2 at NC and has them rolling, draw your own conclusions on that.

 

[Steve]

we do need some D-linemen. did you see marvin austin for NC? that dude was all over the place.

 

[BestBIrish47]

Yea, Marvin Austin looks like if Chewbacca and the Predator had a morbidly obese love child. Many big plays to this game, I think the 3rd and 18 really was a turning point though.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

butch davis inherited alot more talent than people think.

if anyone doesnt think ty pushed this program back years, look at what happened to stanford in the years after he left, and just look at washington, enough said.

also here is the difference between the sophomore years of brady quinn and jimmy clausen. when i watched brady quinn as a sophmore, i thought to myself, wow, this kid is going to be really good. when i watch jimmy clausen, i say wow, this kid IS really good.

 

[JeremyND07]

I agree we have to get MUCH better on defense especially on 3rd downs! I have not seen the consistant improvement out of the defense this year that I have seen out of the offense. How are our DB's sooooo bad...wasn't Corwin a DB's coach in the pro's....what gives?

 

[Junkhead]

I agree we have to get MUCH better on defense especially on 3rd downs! I have not seen the consistant improvement out of the defense this year that I have seen out of the offense. How are our DB's sooooo bad...wasn't Corwin a DB's coach in the pro's....what gives?

I don't think its the DBs, other than Lambert's occasional screwup. McNeil might have had a bad game, but mostly it is our DL getting no push, and DEs that are blocked out of every run play. The LBs have been ok, not great though.

 

[GoIrish41]

Clausen has 14 TDs and 8 INTs this year to go with 7 TDs and 6 INTs this year. And that was accomplished against pretty lousy competition generally speaking.

Allow me to give you a comparison:
Cody Hawkins, another sophomore, who plays against much better competition and is way less heralded. In fact, lots of people think he sucks.

Hawkins: 12 TDs and 6 INTs this year to go with 22 TDs and 17 INTs last year.

Here's the comparison that matters.
2007 - Clausen 14 TDs in 6 games, 2008 7 in 10 games. He is showing incredible progress. Project his stats to the rest of the year. 28 TDs, 12 INTs. Who wouldn't have killed for a QB to have those stats last year for the Irish?

 

[JeremyND07]

I don't think its the DBs, other than Lambert's occasional screwup. McNeil might have had a bad game, but mostly it is our DL getting no push, and DEs that are blocked out of every run play. The LBs have been ok, not great though.

I agree with you we need more pressure but you cannot give a WR a 5 yard cushion on 3rd and 8...it happens too much. We will not be successful with a 3-4 defense until we get a dominate NG, period! We are weak in the middle!

 

[irish4ever]

This team is quickly becoming a scary monster.

My own personal expectation before the season began was 4-8. I am thinking maybe a few more wins.

If they are truly becoming the "scary monster", then you may as well reverse your prediction and make that 8-4. Beating U$C this year will be next to impossible and I still have a feeling that they'll only pull out one of the two against Pitt and BC. Even at that, 8-4 and off to the Gator Bowl would be a "scary monster" step towards being a permanent BCS contender after this year!

 

[notredomer23]

If they are truly becoming the "scary monster", then you may as well reverse your prediction and make that 8-4. Beating U$C this year will be next to impossible and I still have a feeling that they'll only pull out one of the two against Pitt and BC. Even at that, 8-4 and off to the Gator Bowl would be a "scary monster" step towards being a permanent BCS contender after this year!

Pitt is at home, we wont lose at home. And BC is so overrated its not even funny. They suck at pass defense and gave up 31 to NC State who sucks. Clausen will throw for 300(in the first half)

 

[midwestguy]

Pitt is at home, we wont lose at home.

Just because we haven't played anyone good at home yet this year - doesn't mean we have some type of guaranteed win against Pitt. That will be a tough game.

 

[BeatSC]

Cody Hawkins?

Cody Hawkins?

Cody Hawkins? Are you kidding me? The only reason he is playing is because his dad is the coach. What kind of yards is he putting up? At leat 4 ints for Clausen are due to tipped passes by his WRs or poorly run routes. As for Tebow he did win the Heisman just like Gino Torretta won it at Miami and never played a down in the NFL. I like Tebow but he won't be much in the NFL. A couple bad passes in the NC game is all JC can feel bad about. The two ints in the Mich St game are on Kamara. I have been critical (in my mind) of Clausen for locking on to his WR but each week his is absorbing the CW mentoring and improving at a great pace against credible competition. He lit up Purdue for 38 points and PSU and OSU couldn't exceed 20.

 

[NDinL.A.]

The Cody Hawkins vs. Jimmy Clausen argument has to be the worst I've ever heard on this site, no, the Internet period. I almost fell out of my chair when I read it. The best part is that Cody was so bad that day that he was pulled from the game after throwing for less than 100 yards! I love it...

 

[BeatSC]

Cody Hawkins would be 5th string at ND. Not sure if his old man gave him a scholarship (conflict of interest) or if he is a walk-on. I wonder how hard he was recruited. The whole arugment lacks credibility. IT would be more appropraite to compare to Mark Sanchez who threw 3 ints and fumbled this weekend.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

You guys are giving CH all the credibility in the world. Anyone can "google" and find his name all over an ND website now. I never heard of him until this thread. I still have not "googled" the guy. Don't quite care. (I wish him well yada yada).

Jimmy proved himself to me (just a simple TV fan) last year. I thought he showed grit.

I can't remember which game it was, but he threw a long range needle for a TD that (to me) was one of the most incredible passes I have ever seen. This guy is ACCURATE. I hope he can stay humble, stay hungry, stay healthy, and stay at ND.

And not throw bonehead interceptions like the one in the 3rd... (but I digress).

I wish I was in Cancun right now.

 

[fraymont]

Ill take Clausen over Hawkins...

But have you noticed Floyd and Tate catch everything, not just the balls in play, but they will be 3-5yrds out of bounds and still make the catch.

 

[MirageSmack]

Clausen has 14 TDs and 8 INTs this year to go with 7 TDs and 6 INTs this year. And that was accomplished against pretty lousy competition generally speaking.

So, you'd rather use an algorithm as opposed to TDs, INTs and yardage? Feel free. Also realize that Hawkins has gone against WVU, Texas, Kansas, & Florida State so far this year.

I'm glad Joe freaking Montano isn't here right now. Fans like you would have run him out on a rail. He left ND with 25 TD's and 25 INT's, and only reached 50/50 due to a decent Senior season. You numbers geeks make me puke. You need to look at his throws, his mechanics, his leadership, and not just his numbers.

I am ECSTATIC at how he's looked this year! And I wasn't really a fan of his before. I was secretly looking ahead to Crists' arrival.

 

[irishmarine]

tebow had a team with alot more talent and leadership and experience on his team. woopty freakin doo. jimmy is our guy let him go through some growing pains. all of the talent is his age and still devceloping too