Marcus, Recruiting Current Players, and our Culture...

[stu4don]

Great job recruiting current players to stay the course. With the season going 16 games (we hope) depth is going to become more and more important. So happy there was no bad news (players leaving) today. I have only three and a half question marks:

1. Ash -- Golden was amazing, how good will Ash be as our DC?
2. QB -- whoever is the starter -- I predict CJ -- is going to be brand new, how will he play, will he step up????
3. WR -- do we make a jump with the transfers and returning players?
3 1/2. -- DL -- will our hurt guys be ready to play, will our interior guys step up (everything I read this spring says YES!)

Our RBs, OL, LB, DBs are all championship quality.

 

[BleedingBlueNGold]

I think Ash will be serviceable. I tend to think a lot of our defensive success is actually because of Freeman himself as that is his side of the ball. I am confident that our QB, whoever it may be, will be ready to go. I'm personally hoping it is Carr, I feel like there is much more upside. But with Minchey, I feel there is a lot more versatility. It'll be interesting how it all plays out.

 

[chaseball]

LOL@ NDs defensive outlook going forward. They got two true edge prospects, a safety, and a LB prospect all in the top 200 in '26. Their best prospect Dunham Jr is a borderline 5-star to add to a really good young established nucleus at the top of the depth chart on defense already.

I harp on getting the As and A+s all the time from the recruiting trail, but ND is bringing in talent in bunches that is ALMOST at that A-level on defense right now and its pretty encouraging to see. The same for the offensive line.

You match this defense with that offensive line and solid QB play with some high 4-star to 5-star talent at RB (like a trio of great running backs) and its becoming encouraging (the potential consistency to run over the majority of teams). I also like that Marcus Freeman knows what identity he's trying to build. Elite defense combined with elite offensive line play and you are going to win a lot of football games (yes and maybe even steal some in some upsets vs more talented teams)

I also like that MF is building an old school jim tressel type of identity (special teams + defense + ball control offense) at a time when the rest of the league/P4 has gone to more of a pass heavy offensive & defensive strategy. The ole zigging while everybody else is zagging

 

[BleedingBlueNGold]

LOL@ NDs defensive outlook going forward. They got two true edge prospects, a safety, and a LB prospect all in the top 200 in '26. Their best prospect Dunham Jr is a borderline 5-star to add to a really good young established nucleus at the top of the depth chart on defense already.

I harp on getting the As and A+s all the time from the recruiting trail, but ND is bringing in talent in bunches that is ALMOST at that A-level on defense right now and its pretty encouraging to see. The same for the offensive line.

You match this defense with that offensive line and solid QB play with some high 4-star to 5-star talent at RB (like a trio of great running backs) and its becoming encouraging (the potential consistency to run over the majority of teams). I also like that Marcus Freeman knows what identity he's trying to build. Elite defense combined with elite offensive line play and you are going to win a lot of football games (yes and maybe even steal some in some upsets vs more talented teams)

I also like that MF is building an old school jim tressel type of identity (special teams + defense + ball control offense) at a time when the rest of the league/P4 has gone to more of a pass heavy offensive & defensive strategy. The ole zig while everybody else is zag

I loved seeing the identity of the team and Freeman's vision finally come to light last season. Hard nosed violent football. Let's go boys. This feels like the late 80's early 90's all over again.

 

[Kelso86]

Great job recruiting current players to stay the course. With the season going 16 games (we hope) depth is going to become more and more important. So happy there was no bad news (players leaving) today. I have only three and a half question marks:

1. Ash -- Golden was amazing, how good will Ash be as our DC?
2. QB -- whoever is the starter -- I predict CJ -- is going to be brand new, how will he play, will he step up????
3. WR -- do we make a jump with the transfers and returning players?
3 1/2. -- DL -- will our hurt guys be ready to play, will our interior guys step up (everything I read this spring says YES!)

Our RBs, OL, LB, DBs are all championship quality.

All valid questions -- and a lot of unknown's at this point -- the beauty is -- we will get to see it all play out. Last year, we had a lot of veteran leaders -- who do we have this year?
How much will Ash (and to some extent - Mickens) alter the defensive approach vs how Golden managed a game?

 

[JimMc]

Ash for Golden is by far my biggest concern for next season. QB/WR will be fine, we’ll miss Leonard’s runs but the passing game will offset it.

Golden’s game planning, in-game adjustments and stifling, ball-hawking D were instrumental to our run. I think we’re headed to a more conventional defense - much of spring practice was devoted to putting in more zone packages.

Hope I’m wrong, but it tough replacing a Broyles winner.

 

[iLOVEtohurdle41]

LOL@ NDs defensive outlook going forward. They got two true edge prospects, a safety, and a LB prospect all in the top 200 in '26. Their best prospect Dunham Jr is a borderline 5-star to add to a really good young established nucleus at the top of the depth chart on defense already.

I harp on getting the As and A+s all the time from the recruiting trail, but ND is bringing in talent in bunches that is ALMOST at that A-level on defense right now and its pretty encouraging to see. The same for the offensive line.

You match this defense with that offensive line and solid QB play with some high 4-star to 5-star talent at RB (like a trio of great running backs) and its becoming encouraging (the potential consistency to run over the majority of teams). I also like that Marcus Freeman knows what identity he's trying to build. Elite defense combined with elite offensive line play and you are going to win a lot of football games (yes and maybe even steal some in some upsets vs more talented teams)

I also like that MF is building an old school jim tressel type of identity (special teams + defense + ball control offense) at a time when the rest of the league/P4 has gone to more of a pass heavy offensive & defensive strategy. The ole zig while everybody else is zag

Gosh, thank God that's freeman's philosophy ...or we would be in trouble....

it's the only way in my opinion that we can win it all. Similar to Michigans style.


We shouldn't try to be like USC or ohio state

Ash for Golden is by far my biggest concern for next season. QB/WR will be fine, we’ll miss Leonard’s runs but the passing game will offset it.

Golden’s game planning, in-game adjustments and stifling, ball-hawking D were instrumental to our run. I think we’re headed to a more conventional defense - much of spring practice was devoted to putting in more zone packages.

Hope I’m wrong, but it tough replacing a Broyles winner.

Maybe this is a good thing. We ran alot of cover 1 man to man stuff last year I believe ...

More repetition running zone / having 2 safeties back might be beneficial when we eventually face a juggernaut passing team such as a ohio state.

Texas did a good job vs ohio state using cover 2 in the playoffs. Michigan always does a good job. Our DL should allow us to do this. Thoughts?

 

[raulduke_007]

LOL@ NDs defensive outlook going forward. They got two true edge prospects, a safety, and a LB prospect all in the top 200 in '26. Their best prospect Dunham Jr is a borderline 5-star to add to a really good young established nucleus at the top of the depth chart on defense already.

I harp on getting the As and A+s all the time from the recruiting trail, but ND is bringing in talent in bunches that is ALMOST at that A-level on defense right now and its pretty encouraging to see. The same for the offensive line.

You match this defense with that offensive line and solid QB play with some high 4-star to 5-star talent at RB (like a trio of great running backs) and its becoming encouraging (the potential consistency to run over the majority of teams). I also like that Marcus Freeman knows what identity he's trying to build. Elite defense combined with elite offensive line play and you are going to win a lot of football games (yes and maybe even steal some in some upsets vs more talented teams)

I also like that MF is building an old school jim tressel type of identity (special teams + defense + ball control offense) at a time when the rest of the league/P4 has gone to more of a pass heavy offensive & defensive strategy. The ole zig while everybody else is zag

I get its just a troll attempt but stick to trolls you know. Everyone on here knows you have zero football knowledge and wouldnt know the difference between an elite prospect or the mailman banging your mom. Get a life sport.

 

[HDK]

I honestly think our biggest challenge this year will be under that broad heading of "culture." There was something really special about last year's team. It had great leadership and a camaraderie that you don't always see. I have wondered if part of it has to do with the fact that a number of guys were around for six years because of COVID and they went through Kelly's departure and some disappointments in both of Freeman's first two seasons. Then this year when it looked like there was a clear path to the playoffs after Texas A&M, we had the Northern Illinois disaster. But the team responded beautifully to that and went all the way to the championship game. When you heard Kizer and Leonard talking after that game and the heartbreak they described, you just knew there was something extra special in that locker room.

 

[JimMc]

Our DL in the OSU game was nowhere close to Texas, we simply had run out of healthy bodies. I think that’s why we were gashed by the run so badly and couldn’t generate much pass rush. OSU was just really talented. Texas gave up 28 points vs our 34. Not that different.

I think running zone/cover 2 is fine when you’re protecting a lead and Golden did at times, I just love that blitzing/ball-hawking approach.

Guess we’ll see.

 

[tbonesays]

It's funny going from the clickbait headlines dropped in front of me by my cell phone, to this forum. Today they're using words like the 'crisis' in of 'preasure' on Notre Dame recruiting that CJ Carr must be 'aggressive.'