Talent
- Thread starter ND Don
- Start date
offensively: agree
although: JC, MF, GT, KR were the equal as far as skill positions go; but the big difference is the OL's.
although: JC, MF, GT, KR were the equal as far as skill positions go; but the big difference is the OL's.
I hope you are right but I see a lot of questions marks starting with the number 1 position at QB. I do think the depth is better because a lot of freshmen got a chance last season, especially on defense. Offensive line should be solid, but I think BK's play calling needs to change and we have to start running more. We desperately need someone to get pressure on the QB so VanGorder isn't blitzing 7 guys every other down and leaving our defensive backs on an island. Our secondary, even with Russell coming back, is average at best if nobody else improves this year. LB's look good if Joe comes back strong and one of the other kids steps up.
Anyway I am hoping we can win 9 regular season games plus a bowl game, 10 wins total. At the same time I would be sick to see performances like last year even with 9 wins, ie.. losing to North Western and the blowout against SC. There is definitely no way our program should look like that again and this season will show whether injuries were truly the biggest reasoning.
Hey I have learned after decades of disappointment that it's better to just hope for the best but not get carried away. Maybe if we still had those top 5 recruiting classes every year I would think differently but those days have come and gone. Now I just hope we can get close to a top 10 class and get that magical QB that makes all the difference, like Oregon and TCU for example.
Either way Go Irish!
Anyway I am hoping we can win 9 regular season games plus a bowl game, 10 wins total. At the same time I would be sick to see performances like last year even with 9 wins, ie.. losing to North Western and the blowout against SC. There is definitely no way our program should look like that again and this season will show whether injuries were truly the biggest reasoning.
Hey I have learned after decades of disappointment that it's better to just hope for the best but not get carried away. Maybe if we still had those top 5 recruiting classes every year I would think differently but those days have come and gone. Now I just hope we can get close to a top 10 class and get that magical QB that makes all the difference, like Oregon and TCU for example.
Either way Go Irish!
Having natural born talent is one thing. Having a staff with the ability to develop that talent is something quite different.
ND has the potential to be very, very good. There are still question marks at several positions though. Will the QB position be good on a consistent basis? EG and MZ are talented but EG was inconsistent last year to say the least and AZ is still inexperienced. Will a TE step up? There is a lot of talent at this position, but until someone "makes it happen", it is just potential. On defense, I still believe other than Day, we have question marks. Even Jones, although very talented, was inconsistent. The DL's depth still has to prove themselves, although I have great hope for Trumbetti and Cage. Who will provide the rush on the QB? DE has potential star talent, but again, let's see it happen before we drink the Koolaid. LB - Smith is an All American, but several players will have to prove they can return from injuries. Depth wise, we'll see. I feel good about the OL, RBs, Receivers and DBs. Special teams? Again, a lot of talent, let's see. We also have to see how this coaching staff jells. If the stars line up right, this talented group may be great. I certainly hope so.
This staff did get to the MNC game a few years ago. They have proven they can coach. I believe the FSU loss haunted this team and was a big reason for the slump that occurred after it. The program is loaded with talent especially on the LOS where it matters the most. I am excited. The schedule is nice as well.
so many question marks; there is offensive talent, yes; but still questions even there. Defensively, the way the season ended leaves more concerns than questions.
The word "great" in the same sentence with this team is a tad premature.
As for the staff that got ND to the MNC game? Different Staff for the most part; though early indications are very encouraging. And that a single game (FSU) - or more specifically that a "single play' could so affect and demoralize a team, that is also a reflection on the coaches; but I don't think that was it; I think the real on field problems were there even before FSU. I don't buy into the FSU excuse. If you look objectively at the 1st 6 games of '14, the best team by far in that run was a somewhat ordinary 5 loss Stanford team. The other teams were mediocre to dreadful. So discounting the final 6 games, while crowing about the 1st 6 games is ?
The word "great" in the same sentence with this team is a tad premature.
As for the staff that got ND to the MNC game? Different Staff for the most part; though early indications are very encouraging. And that a single game (FSU) - or more specifically that a "single play' could so affect and demoralize a team, that is also a reflection on the coaches; but I don't think that was it; I think the real on field problems were there even before FSU. I don't buy into the FSU excuse. If you look objectively at the 1st 6 games of '14, the best team by far in that run was a somewhat ordinary 5 loss Stanford team. The other teams were mediocre to dreadful. So discounting the final 6 games, while crowing about the 1st 6 games is ?
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Defensive injuries (lack of quality depth and new system compounded the problem) and average offensive line play. Both caused second half season collapse.
I too was having trouble with KR. EG, MZ, JS are easy, but OL, DL, and going back 4-5 years really stumps me.
That 93 team had two #1 Draft picks in the defensive backfield (Burris and B.Taylor) plus the great Bryant Young at Defensive Tackle.
The 2014 ND defense UNC game forward was the worst defense I've ever seen at ND. It was like the 58-7 Miami game virtually every week. UNC, Navy, ASU, USC and Northwestern. The FSU, Louisville and LSU were barely palatable. If the 1993 defense was on the field ND would of went 11-1 or 12-0 last year.
The 2014 ND defense UNC game forward was the worst defense I've ever seen at ND. It was like the 58-7 Miami game virtually every week. UNC, Navy, ASU, USC and Northwestern. The FSU, Louisville and LSU were barely palatable. If the 1993 defense was on the field ND would of went 11-1 or 12-0 last year.
