IMO, the program is still trending in a positive direction despite the loss, but there are still some holes in the depth chart that still need to be fixed because of poor recruiting.

QB - I think that if Jurkovec was still at ND, the QB depth chart would look pretty solid with Buchner enrolling early. As it stands now, the depth chart looks below average.
RB - Kyren Williams was a revalation this year, and the combination of Tyree and Flemister is pretty solid, with Tyree having great potential. With Estime coming in, and presumably a second RB, ND looks pretty solid here. I'd call it above average.
TE - Not going to waste time. TE is loaded.
WR - I'm a huge fan of the last two classes that ND has signed, and now they need to develop these guys alone with Austin and Lenzy. On paper, ND should be really good here if they can develop these guys.
OL - Not going to waste time. OL is loaded.

DL - Elston has done a great job and the depth chart looks really good here. There is a willingness to recruit, rotate players, and get younger guys playing time, and it shows.
LB - Not a huge fan of only taking 2 LBs over the past two years, but there is talent and the depth chart looks good to me.
DB - Kyle Hamilton is amazing, and it sucks that ND only has him for one more season. Overall, this is the biggest issue on the defensive side of the ball. Mediocre recruiting has resulted in ND taking a bunch of DBs, and bringing in grad transfers like McCloud to put a band aid on the depth chart. The good news is that the 2021 class is loaded, and Clarence Lewis was good enough to play a ton as a true freshman.

By my count, the QB and WR positions on offense and the DB positions on defense are all that ND is lacking from a roster standpoint. Agree or disagree?

Can’t believe I am rooting for OSU but hoping sWhiny goes home.

1. If you start ripping players and getting nasty, we'll do you a favor and take away your posting privileges for the day. No hard feelings, we just don't want that garbage on our site.

2.Please use the game thread. If you start a new thread that has no substance, then it will be merged to the game thread. If you have a topic that you believe should be discussed in its own thread, then feel free to post, but only posts with actual effort during the game will be allowed. Otherwise, just post in the game thread.

3. Be a good person. It's not that hard.

He doesn't give a crap about special teams. Lou Holtz said it's just as important as the Offense or Defense.
Look at what the rocket did to Michigan and other teams while Holtz was there.
Back then we took the Frank Beamer approach to special teams. Now we have fair catch Kelly.

One of Notre Dame's biggest targets in the 2022 class... Great looking RB.

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It's really that simple to me.

Alabama's recruiting classes year-in and year-out are significantly better than ours. Over the last 5 years, they have signed 22 5* recruits. We have signed two. Their average recruit has been a 4*. Ours is about 3.5*. Their practices are probably more competitive than most of their games.

Nick Saban >>>> BK. He is also the defect DC. He is way more experienced and proven than Clark Lea. Same story with Steve Sarkesian and Tommy Rees. They aren't even close in terms of experience and success.

Honestly, I don't know how you close the recruiting gap. If someone else does, I would love to hear it.

After Elko left, I think that Lea was the best choice for DC. But he's not Nick Saban at this point. The next hire has to be someone who will keep pushing the defense up the ladder. Getting the most out of the talent that we have on it. That should be good enough to compete at the highest level.

Hiring Rees made no sense to me. Unless it was a situation where it is really BK as the OC. I haven't seen great improvement in the players when he was the QB coach. That weakness is all on BK.

Story: https://notredame.rivals.com/news/quick-hitters-brian-kelly-after-a-31-14-loss-to-alabama

We were totally outflanked on the first 2 drives and Bama took full advantage. Covering 2 WR with one CB 10-12yds off the ball and one LB walked halfway out is not going to get it done. We were giving them a free 10-20yds on a simple throw to the sideline. Mac didn’t throw the ball more than 5yds downfield more than once and it was 14-0. Pathetic game plan and no immediate adjustment. What a joke

What a great way to watch the games.

Just the sounds of the game and the PA announcer

So much speed, power, athleticism and skill. This is just an observation not knocking ND.

We scored 2 touchdowns boys...we are closing the gap!!!

That would place the only two teams that beat ND in the championship game, one of which ND defeated during the regular season.

We just dont have the ponies.

Look at what Bama did the second half, not much. Lea made the adjustments and the way the defense played if we had a top 20 offense we could have won.

Lea leaving is gonna hurt.

I know our kids work their asses off, and I'm proud of them. But what we have on the perimeter offensively doesnt cut it.

Watching the game today and the first series of Clemson game... we don't have one WR that could be 3 rd string on their teams.. plus our play calling doesn't throw quick slants maybe because we don't have that caliber of WR, but look at the difference in these offenses and ours.., yes we have stud TE, but won't win against quality teams without a change in offense style and recruiting

“Deemphasize football”

that fateful day in 1990, as Malloy was walking through the penny’s in Gary, absolutely appalled and even embarrassed of all of the Starter coats and Champion jerseys he was seeing, decided in that moment and vowed that football would be no more at Notre Dame. Poor Lou Holtz wasn’t aware of the plan that Malloy was hatching behind the scenes as 6 years later would be his ultimate demise, and the end of Notre Dame football. How do we reverse the curse?

Hey kid, thanks for all you’ve done. Best of wishes as you move on to bigger and better things!

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It 31-14 and then kick an onside kick? What was thinking behind that. I would have been really pissed if we scored a quick TD and made it 31-21 with 45 seconds left.....when it could have been 31-23.

Made no sense

Thought we'd get blown out but hated seeing Tremble getting hurt. Favorite player since Jaylon. Get better and see you next year Tommy.

Say what you want and I'm as disappointed as anyone, but Bama is damn good and the team deserves credit for fighting in the second half.

These seniors have nothing to be ashamed of.

With the players who will come, ND will continue to be in the hunt for the 4th best team in the nation...ND will not get the top players, they want to play Sunday and don't care so much about an education. We beat all the other teams who can get are level of players... pathetic that coaches get the blame all the time...

Nobody on this site is anything but a huge ND football fan. Have you seen the way this school is being treated? I hope somebody with decision making authority is pissed at this sh*t. Mike Farrell just effing spit in the face of our school and our kids saying Oklahoma (not kidding) would roll us. Bear, the sick maniac on Gameday, made disparaging comments about Our Lady. People who have platforms are goofing all over the team we all root for and care about and the school we all admire. Can you imagine being Swarbrick and Jenkins and seeing this and saying 'oh well'; I hope not.

We cannot get clowned today, we must win this game.

It would be interesting to have seen if he had his 'doubts.'