OSU Defense -- perspective from an OSU fan -- for what it is worth

[dailybuck777]

First off I will say that with a new defensive coordinator, no one knows how good or bad OSU defense is. However, one fact is that last year OSU's defense was horrendously coached. In the Oregon game Oregon ran the same sweep twice and scored each time without an OSU player even touching the Oregon runner. It was so bad that the defensive coordinator, Kerry Combs, (a legendary db coach in way over his head as coordinator) was demoted after a several games and Matt Barnes the secondary coach became the defensive play caller and head of the defense. Under Barnes, defense was bad but not completely horrendous. In effect, last year OSU defense did not have a defensive head coach. I think the schemes were so bad they made the players look bad.

Overall, OSU is reasonably talented with three 5 star defensive ends (Tumataloa [sp], Sawyer and Harrison) Harrison is an under-performing senior while the other 2 ends are young and got a fair amount of playing experience for the first time last year. Possible that there may be a large jump in performance from those 2. Veteran linebackers mediocre based on last years performance. Stud corner Denzel Burke in secondary with several young players also making names in fall camp at corner.

I don't think the defensive tackles were as bad as they looked last year because I believe the scheme made them look bad. One interesting player is Tyleik Williams who is big, fast and explosive. He admits he was out of shape last year. With the right attitude and fitness he could be a major, pleasant surprise.

Just my takes on OSU. A lot of respect for Notre Dame.

 

[BucksLAN]

Losing your DC after the second week of the season and having to promote an assistant to play caller messes up your entire defense for the year. Basically you use all off season, all of the spring and fall camps to implement what you're going to do. Mid season is not the time for coaching changes. The defense last year got by on talent alone but there was no guidance at all and no leadership with everyone being young and them rotating a lot trying to find leaders.

I'm curious about Notre Dame's defense though, maybe some Irish fans will jump in here and tell us about the guys they have on that side of the ball.

 

[88ND]

I will use *should* or *could* in my assessment as we haven't had game 1 yet so it's all possibly and or probably...

Our Dline should be really good. We have a decent number of guys who can rotate and stay fresh with no let down.

The linebackers will be the play makers of the defensive group but the best players are young.
This will be playmakimg by committee but they certainly can wreak havoc. Bo Bauer can be a maniac and maybe we'll get to see that every down from him. Lord knows he's never not played in an Irish game. 5 years.

Niuafe Tuihalamaka...remember that name!!
He's only a freshman but he's got some real physical gifts. Ferocious and already has a mans body but still just a baby.

The front seven should be very good!

The back four...
This is something that always plagues us. We've had a great player here and there but collectively our secondary always sucks.

I'll be kind here and say our secondary COULD be decent buy only because it's been an eternity since and odds are we have to get a decent unit sometime....right?

The best part of our defense is Freeman getting Al Golden.

If Freeman allows Golden to do his thing(Golden is a better coach than Freeman) this defense should be very good.

In game 1 though at night in Columbus is a daunting task.

We'll see

 

[Golson5]

I will use *should* or *could* in my assessment as we haven't had game 1 yet so it's all possibly and or probably...

Our Dline should be really good. We have a decent number of guys who can rotate and stay fresh with no let down.

The linebackers will be the play makers of the defensive group but the best players are young.
This will be playmakimg by committee but they certainly can wreak havoc. Bo Bauer can be a maniac and maybe we'll get to see that every down from him. Lord knows he's never not played in an Irish game. 5 years.

Niuafe Tuihalamaka...remember that name!!
He's only a freshman but he's got some real physical gifts. Ferocious and already has a mans body but still just a baby.

The front seven should be very good!

The back four...
This is something that always plagues us. We've had a great player here and there but collectively our secondary always sucks.

I'll be kind here and say our secondary COULD be decent buy only because it's been an eternity since and odds are we have to get a decent unit sometime....right?

The best part of our defense is Freeman getting Al Golden.

If Freeman allows Golden to do his thing(Golden is a better coach than Freeman) this defense should be very good.

In game 1 though at night in Columbus is a daunting task.

We'll see

Our secondary hasnt sucked in a long time. Have they been elite, no. But far from sucked

You still think Powlus and Angeli have a chance to start or no?

 

[Kelso86]

Our secondary hasnt sucked in a long time. Have they been elite, no. But far from sucked

You still think Powlus and Angeli have a chance to start or no?

"Our secondary hasn't sucked in a long time. Have they been elite, no. But far from sucked"

The secondary is only as good as the pass rush being generated. If the QB is constantly under pressure, that bodes well for the DB's as they do not have to cover for an extended period of time.

Let the QB sit back there and have a steak sandwich while he reads the defense, they will get shredded. In the past, ND has made marginal QB's look like Heisman candidates.

 

[sjb75]

Losing your DC after the second week of the season and having to promote an assistant to play caller messes up your entire defense for the year. Basically you use all off season, all of the spring and fall camps to implement what you're going to do. Mid season is not the time for coaching changes. The defense last year got by on talent alone but there was no guidance at all and no leadership with everyone being young and them rotating a lot trying to find leaders.

I'm curious about Notre Dame's defense though, maybe some Irish fans will jump in here and tell us about the guys they have on that side of the ball.

Thank You for being here.

 

[Telx1]

Our front seven should be very good, and we have the talent to pressure your QB. Our sack totals pale in comparison to QB pressure and hurries. Our defensive backfield is a weakness by comparison. For the most part, very good against the run, but vulnerable at times defending the pass. I think we’re very good at one corner and safety, and talented at nickel. We have talentEd athletes competing for the other safety and corner spot. Combinations of inexperience vs experience vs good coverage vs poor coverage but excellent run defense, etc…. As noted, we need to get pressure on your QB to compensate.

 

[savvyandsassier]

I don't think ND's defense is particularly dominant. And losing a genuinely, indubitable impact player Kyle Hamilton is big, and will be a noticeable loss. ND fans are clinging to the notion that we have some near-elite defense, and that's what's going to sort of carry us. It's not bad at all, and I feel like the last couple years of Clark Lea, where we were loaded at DE, was sort of peak ND defense during this awesome run we're on. It dipped just a bit a year ago with MF, and now with a retread like Al Golden I don't know what to think.

So if you want to indulge in this fantasy that MF doth descended from heaven, and now that BK is gone we're going to be elite or near elite in everything we do.... then I guess we have an awesome defense. But in reality I don't know what to expect, it's a good question. The bar has been set fairly high over these last four five years, with the arrival of first Elko at DC, and then especially Clark Lea. So Golden will have his work cut out for him maintaining that.

I'm just hoping my boy Jordan Bothello has a breakout year. I guess he's going to back up Foskey? If he could emerge as a pass-rushing specialist that would be awesome.....

 

[1Redrum]

We lost Kyle Hamilton half way through the season. Did fine without him. Would have done better with him but with the transfer in we will be just fine.

 

[savvyandsassier]

We lost Kyle Hamilton half way through the season. Did fine without him. Would have done better with him but with the transfer in we will be just fine.

Okay, if you say so. Your point is well taken. Losing Kyle Hamilton doesn't doom our defense or any defense to certain mediocrity. But Kyle Hamilton truly was a major impact player, like a game-changing kind of player, and we don't have a player like that to replace him, and he WILL be missed. Though admittedly if this transfer lives up to billing, that is a nice bit of good fortune to help replace him.

But this is really just more bland optimism. I don't know if its unfounded or not, but you are not being critical. You're simply declaring that everything's going to be okay, and nothing really matters, there are no considerations to factor in, and nothing to see here... Or will be 'fine', which is typically the adjective of choice, when fans insist on making very possibly baseless reassurances, in light of any very real possible/probable shortcomings This is how you guys think. And somehow it passes for substantive football talk.

Oh really, you mean everything's fine? Shit, what was I worried about, National championship here we come!!!

 

[mirer03]

Our secondary hasnt sucked in a long time. Have they been elite, no. But far from sucked

You still think Powlus and Angeli have a chance to start or no?

No they still suck. 2 out of 5 spots are good to elite. The rest are average at best. In modern football you need at least two top level cbs. We have not demonstrated that in years and maybe only once in all of Kelly's time here. The secondary has been horrible at getting guys ready and rotating. We have tons of unproven bodies this year that came in highly rated... If we put bracy, Lewis, and Hart out there exclusively like years past we will get owned by OSU. We need to be rotating body types and cbs.

 

[Golson5]

No they still suck. 2 out of 5 spots are good to elite. The rest are average at best. In modern football you need at least two top level cbs. We have not demonstrated that in years and maybe only once in all of Kelly's time here. The secondary has been horrible at getting guys ready and rotating. We have tons of unproven bodies this year that came in highly rated... If we put bracy, Lewis, and Hart out there exclusively like years past we will get owned by OSU. We need to be rotating body types and cbs.

Cant suck if 2 are good to elite and the other 3 are average.

Thats not a secondary that sucks. Thats a good secondary.

Is it elite, no. But it definitely hasnt sucked

 

[savvyandsassier]

Okay, I will say that Isiah Foskey is a sweet player, and really is a good DE and has lived up to billing and I think is legit possible 1st-round material. On paper the DL does look pretty strong. And that's gotta be what has lifted the defense overall to the higher level it's been at during this awesome run we're on. First it was that quartet of DEs, who are all in the NFL now. But even some of our back-ups and lesser lights stepped up and performed. And I suppose our interior DL was good too. Kurt Hinish was solid.... It should most definitely be noted that Mike Elston is gone, and that could be a totally huge development, in the negative sense, for ND's DL. The rough consensus was that he was really delivering the goods and coaching the DL up very well. And the proof was in the pudding on the field. Our new DL coach was your LB coach last season, so you would know better than us about his coaching chops.....

Supposedly our LBs are very average, and they have been a source of continued disgust among the peanut gallery and the haters. And if that's true, well then I guess we're not that great at LB. Because it's largely the same crew, though we do have old boy from Hawaii back, and he could be maybe emerge as a standout, because he's a better athlete I guess, even though Jack Kiser was a 100m state champion, and I'm thinking Marist Liufau wasn't....

Our defensive backfield it must be said is not filled with blue-chippers. I don't think they've been a liability for these last few years when our defense has been so solid, and despite the occasional total meltdown from the fans, have acquitted themselves just fine. But overall, they're probably not that daunting to have to go up against, I guess you'd say. And that was with an elite talent like Kyle Hamilton. So they'll probably still be pretty good, but nothing that special? I've always liked Cam Hart, and I predicted he would be moved to CB and start, and I was right about that!

So bottom line, hopefully we'll be able to be about as good as we were last year....

 

[BucksLAN]

Okay, I will say that Isiah Foskey is a sweet player, and really is a good DE and has lived up to billing and I think is legit possible 1st-round material. On paper the DL does look pretty strong. And that's gotta be what has lifted the defense overall to the higher level it's been at during this awesome run we're on. First it was that quartet of DEs, who are all in the NFL now. But even some of our back-ups and lesser lights stepped up and performed. And I suppose our interior DL was good too. Kurt Hinish was solid.... It should most definitely be noted that Mike Elston is gone, and that could be a totally huge development, in the negative sense, for ND's DL. The rough consensus was that he was really delivering the goods and coaching the DL up very well. And the proof was in the pudding on the field. Our new DL coach was your LB coach last season, so you would know better than us about his coaching chops.....

Supposedly our LBs are very average, and they have been a source of continued disgust among the peanut gallery and the haters. And if that's true, well then I guess we're not that great at LB. Because it's largely the same crew, though we do have old boy from Hawaii back, and he could be maybe emerge as a standout, because he's a better athlete I guess, even though Jack Kiser was a 100m state champion, and I'm thinking Marist Liufau wasn't....

Our defensive backfield it must be said is not filled with blue-chippers. I don't think they've been a liability for these last few years when our defense has been so solid, and despite the occasional total meltdown from the fans, have acquitted themselves just fine. But overall, they're probably not that daunting to have to go up against, I guess you'd say. And that was with an elite talent like Kyle Hamilton. So they'll probably still be pretty good, but nothing that special? I've always liked Cam Hart, and I predicted he would be moved to CB and start, and I was right about that!

So bottom line, hopefully we'll be able to be about as good as we were last year....

Most Ohio State fans were happy to see Al Washington gone. The linebackers got worse under his coaching, but how much of that is on him and how much of it is the terrible scheme we ran the past 2 years. Some will say he's a good recruiter, but the guys he landed and recruited were inside the state. It's not hard to sell Ohio State to Ohio kids. Overall he was an average recruiter and average coach, and now he's coaching a different unit at Notre Dame. Maybe it'll end up being one of those situations where he excels there and our linebackers get better here. Either way he won't be missed.

 

[Golson5]

Most Ohio State fans were happy to see Al Washington gone. The linebackers got worse under his coaching, but how much of that is on him and how much of it is the terrible scheme we ran the past 2 years. Some will say he's a good recruiter, but the guys he landed and recruited were inside the state. It's not hard to sell Ohio State to Ohio kids. Overall he was an average recruiter and average coach, and now he's coaching a different unit at Notre Dame. Maybe it'll end up being one of those situations where he excels there and our linebackers get better here. Either way he won't be missed.

He definitely wasnt and isnt an average recruiter.

 

[88ND]

Cant suck if 2 are good to elite and the other 3 are average.

Thats not a secondary that sucks. Thats a good secondary.

Is it elite, no. But it definitely hasnt sucked

It has sucked and could continue.

In case you haven't noticed the two positions that have been extremely tough to get elite talent is perimter playmaking on offense at WR and CB.

We get an occasional top safety but CB eludes us.

All that said Golden will make the entire defensive unit better.
If he can get just half our defense to play with the energy he had the linebackers playing with on the Bengals last year it will most definitely improve the unit as a whole.

 

[Golson5]

It

It has sucked and could continue.

In case you haven't noticed the two positions that have been extremely tough to get elite talent is perimter playmaking on offense at WR and CB.

We get an occasional top safety but CB eludes us.

All that said Golden will make the entire defensive unit better.
If he can get just half our defense to play with the energy he had the linebackers playing with on the Bengals last year it will most definitely improve the unit as a whole.

It hasnt sucked and it will continue to be good. The question is can we get much better. Which we need to.

But definitely hasnt sucked

 

[Zorich 88]

First off I will say that with a new defensive coordinator, no one knows how good or bad OSU defense is. However, one fact is that last year OSU's defense was horrendously coached. In the Oregon game Oregon ran the same sweep twice and scored each time without an OSU player even touching the Oregon runner. It was so bad that the defensive coordinator, Kerry Combs, (a legendary db coach in way over his head as coordinator) was demoted after a several games and Matt Barnes the secondary coach became the defensive play caller and head of the defense. Under Barnes, defense was bad but not completely horrendous. In effect, last year OSU defense did not have a defensive head coach. I think the schemes were so bad they made the players look bad.

Overall, OSU is reasonably talented with three 5 star defensive ends (Tumataloa [sp], Sawyer and Harrison) Harrison is an under-performing senior while the other 2 ends are young and got a fair amount of playing experience for the first time last year. Possible that there may be a large jump in performance from those 2. Veteran linebackers mediocre based on last years performance. Stud corner Denzel Burke in secondary with several young players also making names in fall camp at corner.

I don't think the defensive tackles were as bad as they looked last year because I believe the scheme made them look bad. One interesting player is Tyleik Williams who is big, fast and explosive. He admits he was out of shape last year. With the right attitude and fitness he could be a major, pleasant surprise.

Just my takes on OSU. A lot of respect for Notre Dame.

Your biggest concern on defense is your LBs. They are average at best.

You guys can blame coaching all you want. However, who hired last years staff? The same guy that hired this years staff???

Yes, I believe it starts with coaching. But I also believe in player accountability. Those LBs were manhandled all season in the run game. Especially against Michigan.

I agree, you won’t know what’s really under the engine until you put it on the track.

 

[88ND]

It

It hasnt sucked and it will continue to be good. The question is can we get much better. Which we need to.

But definitely hasnt sucked

In the last decade we've had these players drafted in the secondary...

5th rounder Blanton
1st rounder Smith
7th rounder Motta
6th rounder Slaughter
6th rounder Jackson
3rd rounder Russell
4th rounder Love ( remember how many raved about him yet he couldn't crack the top 3 rounds)
6th round Gilman
4th round Pride Jr.
Hamilton 1st rounder


How many are still playing?
Gilman
Hamilton
Smith

Three defensive back players that were in the NFL for longer than a cup of coffee.
All thee are safeties which I said we get the occasional really good safety but cornerback eludes us.
The secondary as a collective unit.....

We've sucked.

 

[Golson5]

In the last decade we've had these players drafted in the secondary...

5th rounder Blanton
1st rounder Smith
7th rounder Motta
6th rounder Slaughter
6th rounder Jackson
3rd rounder Russell
4th rounder Love ( remember how many raved about him yet he couldn't crack the top 3 rounds)
6th round Gilman
4th round Pride Jr.
Hamilton 1st rounder


How many are still playing?
Gilman
Hamilton
Smith

Three defensive back players that were in the NFL for longer than a cup of coffee.
All thee are safeties which I said we get the occasional really good safety but cornerback eludes us.
The secondary as a collective unit.....

There is more than that playing in the league first of all. I know Love and Matthias Farley are. Pride is injured but still active. There are others too

Farley has played 7 years in the league, Jalen Elliot has played in the league a little. So has Cody Riggs and Nick Mccloud

So thats 14 guys either drafted or played in the league. There may be a couple others Im forgetting.

That doesnt suck. That would rank in the top 25 of teams I would say. 14 secondary players in the past decade is pretty good. Not elite by any means, but far from us sucking.

Especially in the last 5 years. We've been good. We arent at the top but not terrible by any means

In 2018, all 4 starters played in the league

 

[BucksLAN]

He definitely wasnt and isnt an average recruiter.

Whatever you want to tell yourself. OSU fans seen him for 3 seasons. If he was such a great recruiter, he definitely would have been retained.

 

[Golson5]

Whatever you want to tell yourself. OSU fans seen him for 3 seasons. If he was such a great recruiter, he definitely would have been retained.

No he wouldn't have. He didnt have a position to coach. His best position is DL and you have Larry Johnson. And the DC is now your LB coach

 

[d1042]

Z is correct. Whoever was supposed to be recruiting LB’ers at tOSU was a wasted paycheck. That 1 position group might be the reason tOSU does not make the playoffs. All that talent at almost every other position group brought down by the lack of comparable recruiting as at every other position group. How could Day have let a position deteriorate to VanGorderesque levels! He also has to be somewhat accountable. tOSU will need to score BIG BIG BIG against the better offensive teams; just to stay in the games! Great point ZORICH.

 

[88ND]

There is more than that playing in the league first of all. I know Love and Matthias Farley are. Pride is injured but still active. There are others too

Farley has played 7 years in the league, Jalen Elliot has played in the league a little. So has Cody Riggs and Nick Mccloud

So thats 14 guys either drafted or played in the league. There may be a couple others Im forgetting.

That doesnt suck. That would rank in the top 25 of teams I would say. 14 secondary players in the past decade is pretty good. Not elite by any means, but far from us sucking.

Especially in the last 5 years. We've been good. We arent at the top but not terrible by any means

In 2018, all 4 starters played in the league

The secondary sucks. We make average QB's look other worldly, most have had some of the worst ball skills by defensive backs I've seen.

We can get TE's..
We get O linemen
We're getting decent D linemen
We're getting much more consistent getting linebackers

Just like WR on offense the CB position has been a problem.

Our secondary has collectively sucked over the last dozen years.
The Brian Van Gorder window was absolutely the worst in ND history.

I've never seen a ND team tackle so badly abd the secondary was the worst in the history of the game. Our secondary a lot of times is playing flag football.

Golden is here now and we'll play better.

 

[BGI User 756]

In the last decade we've had these players drafted in the secondary...

5th rounder Blanton
1st rounder Smith
7th rounder Motta
6th rounder Slaughter
6th rounder Jackson
3rd rounder Russell
4th rounder Love ( remember how many raved about him yet he couldn't crack the top 3 rounds)
6th round Gilman
4th round Pride Jr.
Hamilton 1st rounder


How many are still playing?
Gilman
Hamilton
Smith

Three defensive back players that were in the NFL for longer than a cup of coffee.
All thee are safeties which I said we get the occasional really good safety but cornerback eludes us.
The secondary as a collective unit.....

We've sucked.

You missed a couple

 

[88ND]

You missed a couple

Drafted...
In the last dozen...

Who?

 

[Golson5]

The secondary sucks. We make average QB's look other worldly, most have had some of the worst ball skills by defensive backs I've seen.

We can get TE's..
We get O linemen
We're getting decent D linemen
We're getting much more consistent getting linebackers

Just like WR on offense the CB position has been a problem.

Our secondary has collectively sucked over the last dozen years.
The Brian Van Gorder window was absolutely the worst in ND history.

I've never seen a ND team tackle so badly abd the secondary was the worst in the history of the game. Our secondary a lot of times is playing flag football.

Golden is here now and we'll play better.

14 players in the NFL in the last decade. Definitely didn't suck. 2018 defense has 4 starters who all played in the league.

Elite, no. Sucked, absolutely not

Our defense has been really good the last 5 years. No way you are that good with a horrible secondary that whole time

 

[Golson5]

Z is correct. Whoever was supposed to be recruiting LB’ers at tOSU was a wasted paycheck. That 1 position group might be the reason tOSU does not make the playoffs. All that talent at almost every other position group brought down by the lack of comparable recruiting as at every other position group. How could Day have let a position deteriorate to VanGorderesque levels! He also has to be somewhat accountable. tOSU will need to score BIG BIG BIG against the better offensive teams; just to stay in the games! Great point ZORICH.

No

 

[Zorich 88]

No

The OSU LBs are average at best. Just go to YouTube and watch the Michigan highlights. Then watch the Oregon highlights. The LBs are manhandled in the run game.

 

[Golson5]

The OSU LBs are average at best. Just go to YouTube and watch the Michigan highlights. Then watch the Oregon highlights. The LBs are manhandled in the run game.

Go to YouTube and you'd say our offensive line was even worse. So they must be really bad again this year?

Think not.

 

[BGI User 756]

Drafted...
In the last dozen...

Who?

Golson already mentioned above when you omitted Love and Farley and Pride (IR) etc

 

[dailybuck777]

Your biggest concern on defense is your LBs. They are average at best.

You guys can blame coaching all you want. However, who hired last years staff? The same guy that hired this years staff???

Yes, I believe it starts with coaching. But I also believe in player accountability. Those LBs were manhandled all season in the run game. Especially against Michigan.

I agree, you won’t know what’s really under the engine until you put it on the track.

LBers were bad last year as you state. This year with new coach, it will give a lot of insight as to whether it was the players or the coaching last year. This years LB recruiting was good with CJ Hicks (No. 2 LBer and 12th best player) and Gabe Powers (No. 6 LBer and 61st best player)

 

[BucksLAN]

LBers were bad last year as you state. This year with new coach, it will give a lot of insight as to whether it was the players or the coaching last year. This years LB recruiting was good with CJ Hicks (No. 2 LBer and 12th best player) and Gabe Powers (No. 6 LBer and 61st best player)

Linebackers were pretty bad last year but I don't think it was because they were bad players, I just think the scheme and coaching was pretty terrible. They were often times out of alignments, poor fundamentals, and because of how aggressive and attacking the DL was, they were often met by opposing teams OL. Under Knowles it'll be a lot different. DL will wall up opposing OL more, and allow LB's to actually read gaps and attack ball carriers. Blitzes will be called much more often, LB's hardly ever blitzed the last couple years, for reference OSU LB's had 2 sacks ALL year last year, at Oklahoma State their LB's had 14 sacks on the season. So it's a LB friendly defense that lets them actually make plays and be a part of the game (thank god)

 

[88ND]

Golson already mentioned above when you omitted Love and Farley and Pride (IR) etc

Huh?
I said drafted in the last 12 years...
Farley was undrafted...

Pride is a free agent who was cut (waived) by the Panthers for failing his physical. Now one could say they gave up on him a bit early but the NFL is a business and if he was offering them something special he'd still be a Carolina Panther and they'd wait on his rehab.

Love is the only one I missed that is still playing and guess what...
He's NOT a cornerback with the Giants.
They moved him to safety.

Speaking of Farley....who wasn't drafted...
Guess what position he plays?

Safety!!!!!

The Irish have zero players at cornerback playing in the NFL at present from the last 12 years.

That speaks for itself and solidifies my statement that our secondary as a collective unit over the last dozen years sucks.

Golden is here and if somehow stays for longer than a cup of coffee the entire defense will be much better. ND MUST be willing to give a big raise because he could be one and done.

Synchronicity? Maybe. Make no mistake the above speaks something.
It also speaks something even more loudly from the mountain top that our last QB to make any real true noise in the NFL was Steve Beuerlein circa
1987-2003 😯😯😯

 

[Hal_Incandenza]

@dailybuck777 and @BucksLAN
Thanks for the insight, and I appreciate your opinions and perspective. The best part about opening games, for my money, is you never know who’s going to make the leap. There are all these guys that both sides need to progress. For the Irish, I would say the most important question mark (aside from the obvious, QB) is Audric Estime. That guy smells Bettis/Zeke Elliott-like to me, and if we get the beginnings of that tough inside running from him on opening day, ND’s chances in that game go up by a lot. That said, I think the winner of this game might come down to which is greater—OSU long-pass TDs or ND picks. The OSU passing O is proven; ND’s passing D is not. I give the edge there to OSU.

 

[savvyandsassier]

Audric Estime is my breakout player pick for the season. The kind of player that will help turn the page for the program, and usher in the next wave of talent and young players. Obviously Buchner is the cover boy, everyone knows that, and was pretty much born to play QB for ND. And both Rees and MF couldn't ask for much more in a new, young starting QB to lead the charge for this new coaching regime.

But I'm looking for Estime to be a thousand yard back, and to become one of the new stars of the team. Two awesome years for Kyren, and now he hands it off to this next young buck, to keep the position as strong as ever!

I wish I was as fired up for the WR corps, but I am high on the prospect of Lenzy grabbing this opportunity and finishing off his career with a bang. During these last several years we've always had upperclassmen step up at WR, and answer the bell even if their careers had been pretty quiet up to that point, and keep the team winning. Well this season is no different and here's hoping Lenzy can continue in the tradition of guys like Boykin, McKinley, Skowronek, et al....

 

[88ND]

@dailybuck777 and @BucksLAN
Thanks for the insight, and I appreciate your opinions and perspective. The best part about opening games, for my money, is you never know who’s going to make the leap. There are all these guys that both sides need to progress. For the Irish, I would say the most important question mark (aside from the obvious, QB) is Audric Estime. That guy smells Bettis/Zeke Elliott-like to me, and if we get the beginnings of that tough inside running from him on opening day, ND’s chances in that game go up by a lot. That said, I think the winner of this game might come down to which is greater—OSU long-pass TDs or ND picks. The OSU passing O is proven; ND’s passing D is not. I give the edge there to OSU.

The OSU passing game is in a different stratosphere compared to the Irish secondary. That's without any question.
Your QB might throw for 800 yards and 10 scores.

Joking aside you can write this down. The one thing OSU has gotten away from...for whatever reason...is power football.
I think it started with the Haskins thing. He wasn't a runner whatsoever but his throwing just took off and why stop a good thing?
Who knows what might have happened had they got into the playoff in 2018.
Exactly why there needs to be more than 4 teams.
They missed out on an invite to an Oklahoma team who needed overtime to beat Army. Lost to Texas. Beat WVU 59-56...

You had one bad game. One of those gotcha games against Purdue and got shunned playoff time for the media flavor of the season in Baker Mayfield.

If anyone ever had Saban's number it was Urban.

Back to the point....
I bet your team makes it a point to run the football against us. Almost to the point of beating a head against the wall. They know they can't win big being a one trick pony

 

[BGI User 756]

Huh?
I said drafted in the last 12 years...
Farley was undrafted...

Pride is a free agent who was cut (waived) by the Panthers for failing his physical. Now one could say they gave up on him a bit early but the NFL is a business and if he was offering them something special he'd still be a Carolina Panther and they'd wait on his rehab.

Love is the only one I missed that is still playing and guess what...
He's NOT a cornerback with the Giants.
They moved him to safety.

Speaking of Farley....who wasn't drafted...
Guess what position he plays?

Safety!!!!!

The Irish have zero players at cornerback playing in the NFL at present from the last 12 years.

That speaks for itself and solidifies my statement that our secondary as a collective unit over the last dozen years sucks.

Golden is here and if somehow stays for longer than a cup of coffee the entire defense will be much better. ND MUST be willing to give a big raise because he could be one and done.

Synchronicity? Maybe. Make no mistake the above speaks something.
It also speaks something even more loudly from the mountain top that our last QB to make any real true noise in the NFL was Steve Beuerlein circa
1987-2003 😯😯😯

You said secondary….you said drafted…and you said still playing…

I was speaking to the still playing part in which you forgot 3 (intentionally)

keep on keeping on

 

[88ND]

You said secondary….you said drafted…and you said still playing…

I was speaking to the still playing part in which you forgot 3 (intentionally)

keep on keeping on

And Farley wasn't drafted
Pride isn't on any roster at present
Love is in fact still playing but not at corner.

I'm in reality borough and you live in fantasy land.

Do you think I like the fact we have nobody playing cornerback in the NFL?
I don't quite understand this theme that if someone points out a fact that isn't very good about something then they must hate the team.

Get better material on the corners (and receiver).....
Coach them better and the rest will take care of itself

 

[TDIrish27]

The OSU passing game is in a different stratosphere compared to the Irish secondary. That's without any question.
Your QB might throw for 800 yards and 10 scores.

Joking aside you can write this down. The one thing OSU has gotten away from...for whatever reason...is power football.
I think it started with the Haskins thing. He wasn't a runner whatsoever but his throwing just took off and why stop a good thing?
Who knows what might have happened had they got into the playoff in 2018.
Exactly why there needs to be more than 4 teams.
They missed out on an invite to an Oklahoma team who needed overtime to beat Army. Lost to Texas. Beat WVU 59-56...

You had one bad game. One of those gotcha games against Purdue and got shunned playoff time for the media flavor of the season in Baker Mayfield.

If anyone ever had Saban's number it was Urban.

Back to the point....
I bet your team makes it a point to run the football against us. Almost to the point of beating a head against the wall. They know they can't win big being a one trick pony

Urban was 2-2 vs Saban