Last Year/This Year and the proverbial shoe

[stu4don]

Pretty clear after the draft (only Koyac taken, 7th round!) that the team was just too young and lacked senior talent and leadership to continue to play the way they did the first seven games. I believe that Daniels, Russell or Williams might have had a chance in the draft if they had played in 2014. Player issues have really hurt this team: first Golson in 2013, then the frozen five last year... if those suspensions don't happen I believe ND (with an experienced Golson) has 3 or 4 more wins during the past two years.

Still - even before the frozen five I believed we were a 3-loss team in 2014 (I was amazed at what we did in those first seven games.)

This year? I truly believe we have the depth and experience to make it to the final four...

Of course, the preverbal shoe may still drop, but I'm hoping Kelly has his kids focused and in line for a run 2015! Please, get a holder who can handle snaps (two losses right there!) And simplify the D just a bit so college kids can handle it?!

By the way -- I miss ND football discussions on this site from guys like 35, II0, Pers, Tex, et al... (I don't come here to discuss politics or Florida State QBs) I guess the positive side of it is I spend less time on this site, but alas... I can talk and listen to people talk about ND football all day... And we have some good people here...

 

[IrishBlooded]

I think there is plenty of talent on the board. But I think there was last year also.

The problem I have found on this board is two fold.
1. We as a fan base have come expect what is going to go wrong vs what is going to go right. So many of us (And I am as guilty or more guilty then just about anyone else here) of underselling the program. That way if they don't measure up to a high ceiling I can know that I was right. Even if I wanted greater. Last year I said from before the 1st quarter against Rice that it was a 9 win team. And less, if they didn't have a 1000 yard rusher. Which was right. And that is how it worked out. But really not what I wanted to see. So many of us have become so pessimistic about this program as whole, because it continues to under achieve in our collective eyes. And it is easier to talk on here having been right about not being good enough. Then being called out for wishing for the stars.
2. Almost no football team in America today can have enough talent in the two deep in all positions to attack and defeat 12 schools in any given year. And with ND you have the built in added disadvantages of location, academics, etc.

I think this is a 10 or 11 win team. But I will stand on the soap box cheering them on all season rather they are 11-1 or 1-11.