ESPNU and others

[Izo]

Many college analysts are giving preseason picks , top 20, 10 with ND nary a mention ,only a passing comment. .they don't give any chance for ND to have a successful year ,best a 8-4 season . Is it these sportscasters don't believe we have the talent or coaching staff ?

Seems like we had more talent than almost all the teams we played in 2017

 

[deadirishpoet]

Many college analysts are giving preseason picks , top 20, 10 with ND nary a mention ,only a passing comment. .they don't give any chance for ND to have a successful year ,best a 8-4 season . Is it these sportscasters don't believe we have the talent or coaching staff ?

Seems like we had more talent than almost all the teams we played in 2017

4 and 8 will do that to a program.

 

[twalsh]

Many college analysts are giving preseason picks , top 20, 10 with ND nary a mention ,only a passing comment. .they don't give any chance for ND to have a successful year ,best a 8-4 season . Is it these sportscasters don't believe we have the talent or coaching staff ?

Seems like we had more talent than almost all the teams we played in 2017

When you are 4-8, that's life. We are going to have to prove it on the field, nobody's giving us anything.

 

[francade]

If ESPN had us ranked high, I still wouldn't care. Win games and everything else takes care of itself.

 

[DillonDomer]

Who cares...I don't really care about polls until after week 4 at least. Pre-season polls, preseason heisman guesses, preseason all americans - these are all just to get the eyeballs.

 

[IrishHerb]

Who cares...I don't really care about polls until after week 4 at least. Pre-season polls, preseason heisman guesses, preseason all americans - these are all just to get the eyeballs.

All I care about is the FINAL poll. If ND is up there at the end, great. Rankings from now until the final are really meaningless. Just makes the fans and players feel good if they're in it.

 

[Telx1]

A four game improvement would be considered significant by most analysts, and that still only gets us to 8-4, thus we are not in the discussion. None of these follow ND intimately, or nearly as closely as most of us on this board, and so they are ignorant of the changes we see and hear and talk about, strength and conditioning and upper classmen leadership among the most important. I prefer to be unranked and out of the preseason discussion this year, as this will feed the hunger.

 

[TOMMY_23]

I don't see much change on defense. There might be less talent this year from last.

 

[Toby Smart]

I try watching "College Football Live" aka the "Alabama SEC Live" program but the show is mostly intolerable to watch.

 

[ftnfan62]

Wasn't Texas 5-7 last year and are top 25? I'd guess its the QB....If Kizer was back and all the other changes we would be top 25. Not saying Brandon will not be excellent, he is just unproven and we have no backup with any experience. Todays CFB is ruled by the QB....just like the NFL....The team is almost all back from the starters last year minus QB. I'd guess that's the reason.

 

[IRISHJD98]

We shouldn't be in anybody's top 25 discussion yet.

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

10 wins would be a huge improvement but not playoff worthy.

 

[echowaker]

10 wins would be a huge improvement but not playoff worthy.

Why not ? Depends on what happens with everyone else.

 

[Bodizephax]

We shouldn't be in anybody's top 25 discussion yet.

Except for mine ! I have ND at # 1 !! Because of a GREAT offense !!

 

[mbd11]

Trevor Matich called us a darkhorse playoff contender the other day. He raved about our offensive talent. But as for the others, I wouldn't expect too many to have us in the top 20, after a 4-8 season.

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

No real way of knowing but with 2 losses and not being in a conference could be used against us. Maybe if there were a few two loss teams and our losses aren't bad ones.

 

[8th Man]

ND is in "also receiving votes", which means some people believe the Irish will improve by four wins or so. Gotta walk before you run.

 

[NDAFArly]

I don't see much change on defense. There might be less talent this year from last.

"Don't see much change on defense."

You have been at the practices? You have studied Mike Elko's scheme? Tell me about it? Tell me about the injuries to the secondary & how many freshmen played last year? Tell me about how Elko is coaching the defense the same as BVG since you "don't see much change."
You always talk out your rear & have zero knowledge about ND football.

 

[tkirish]

Obviously playoff talk is premature. However , to say or think ND is without great talent is misguided. Offensive talent is in abundance. The defense is the question mark. But the defense also has very good players. At least good enough to be a top 50 unit. ND was 4 and 8. If you look at the players they have, this team on paper should be at the worst 8 and 4. I think most "experts" predict that record. Me? I think 10 wins and possibly 11. The game on the schedule that will most likely be a loss is SC. ND has the talent to win that game. I just feel it has to be a perfect game in order to beat them. SC is loaded. Other than that, talent wise, ND is equal or better than the rest of their schedule. Georgia will be tough, but I think the Irish win that game. MSU will be tough. Always is. I think ND will pull that out. Stanford has been very good of late. I think ND could lose that game. But........if they are healthy look for ND going into that game with a chance to win number 11. That's my toss up game. Yes, I am the eternal optimist. Maybe my prediction is biased. I don't care. I do believe they will have a great year.

 

[Ara64]

Then there's Splorts Illustrated.....

https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/08/11/sleeper-teams-notre-dame-nc-state-oregon

 

[Nocalirish]

New defense, new offense, new qb and same old Kelly. 6-6 a great possibility.

 

[Kelso86]

Except for mine ! I have ND at # 1 !! Because of a GREAT offense !!

A great offense is, well great! But, remember, we also have to stop people from scoring as well -- that has been an issue the last 3 years!

 

[Pennick44]

I don't see much change on defense. There might be less talent this year from last.

There will be significant change on defense. Talent level was way down the list of issues with d last few years.

 

[IRISHJD98]

Except for mine ! I have ND at # 1 !! Because of a GREAT offense !!

Way to go Bodi.

That was supposed to be a secret.

 

[DieHard_Irish]

Who cares. Play the games ... win the games and the polling takes care of itself. After going 4 - 8, we certainly do not deserve or need any notice.

 

[Irishjohn68]

Just win and the polls will take care of themselves.

 

[Gimmea10wincoach]

With the Leadership on this team compared to last yr. I would guess thats 2 wins in and of itself. However i feel this team barring injury goes as far as the defense carries us!

 

[Bodizephax]

A great offense is, well great! But, remember, we also have to stop people from scoring as well -- that has been an issue the last 3 years!

The offense will be far greater than the 2015 offense. The 2015 offense sputtered at times. This years offense will purr like a Jaquar !! This offense will be like Oregons at its peek efficiency but even Greater !! Who CARES about defense when you score TD's every time you touch the ball !! Even on special teams !! We might win some games 72 to 40 !! 69 to 58 !! 80 to 78 !! But win we will !! Go Irish !! Blow up the scoreboard !!

 

[ndfi65]

Why not ? Depends on what happens with everyone else.

Give me a break. Ten wins will not get anybody in the playoffs.

 

[irishfan26]

Strength and conditioning seems to have improved, so that has to help. If the defensive fundamentals improve, we will win 8 or more ballgames. Hell, we had 24 missed tackles against Texas last year. Everything that could have gone wrong last year did and we still were in every ballgame, except USC. We are around the 26-30 range, but who cares? We beat Georgia, then we are in the top 15. Doesn't matter if we don't win.