Some Notes about Notre Dame
As of late, I've been perusing some ND forums, in anticipation of doing some hopefully regular updates about ND, MSU, and Ohio this off-season. I figure I'd share a couple things that I've found out so far.
1) The QB battle. This battle is fairly complex as QB battles go. It seems that most Domers want Everett Golson to start, but that not many think he will. Most of them think that it's down to Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix, with Rees more likely to return as a starter. However, they think that ND will show more of a 2 QB offense so that Rees and Hendrix will be sharing a lot of time. They also believe that Golson will likely start to make more appearances as the season drags on. Gunner Kiel is very likely to redshirt this year.
Some more notes about each QB:
Tommy Rees: Has the best understanding of the offense; Excels at short, quick throws; Lacks arm strength for downfield throws and accuracy; Not very mobile
Andrew Hendrix: 2nd best understanding of offense; Stronger than Rees; Mobile; Accuracy issues
Everett Golson: Mobile; Lacks a concrete understanding of the offense; Strongest arm; Biggest accuracy issues
Gunner Kiel; Freshman; Lacks understanding of the offense
2) Aaron Lynch is back on campus. This is disaster averted for ND, he's easily the #2 or #3 player on that team and the #2 player on defense. The situation seemed to be one of homsickness and the Domer's were 50-50 on his returning.
3) Theo Riddick is moving back to RB. He was out in the slot last year, where he did decently.
4) ND is getting field turf. They think that this might be the reason why Kelly's offense hasn't taken hold yet. Apparently grass slowed down all of ND's speedy athletes and that's why they lost games. Never mind the opponents played on the same field and will get to play on the turf too. Denard Robinson says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_xePqfTAi8
5) ND fans are delusional. Seriously delusional. I've seen them say they're going to win a National Championship this year, that Hoke and Co. are obviously paying recruits, that our recruiting class isn't really that good compared to ND's, that at least 4 or 5 of our commits will flip to ND, and it just goes on and on. I was expecting some semblance of sanity from ND fans, but dear God, they're hopeless.
I will be going into more detail in future posts so if you guys have any suggestions or areas you want me to focus on, i.e their recruiting, their defense, their offense, a certain position group, etc., let me know.
Perhaps we're getting so many recruits because our coach is actually likeable, instead of a red-faced clown.
Also, whatever QB they choose will no doubt be a dink.
He is a red-faced ASS clown.
He is a PURPLE-faced ASS clown.
Ass-faced purple clown? Red-assed clown-face? Clown-ass burgundy face?
Someone really should make a Brian Kell color wheel/spectrum for easy remberance.
At least this one doesnt come complete with a FUPA...
He is a mauve face leprechaun.
double post
if no one messes up at all this year and the purple face never comes out, then just maybe they will win a NC. But we all know first quarter of the first game the purple rage will live on.
I look forward to visiting the ND boards after their team's inevitable failure to meet expectations.
Solid Verbal just did a podcast devoted to ND that was pretty good. The guy that came on is expecting 8-5 and said that that would be a good year for this team IIRC. Solid Verbal is a good listen even in the offseason.
Also, FWIW a friend of mine closely connected to ND football said while Kelly wants field turf and has been campaigning for it, that's not happening, at least not before this season. Also, if they do install something it will likely be the reinforced natural grass used by the Packers, Broncos, etc.
But how many QBs do you have if you have 5 QBs?
1 = 1
2 = 0
3 = -1?
4 = -2?
5 = -3?
Is that Crist's Law?
Imaginary Numbers
I'm predicting a Michigan touchdown in the final 10 seconds to seal a victory.
really? I'm prediciting a 140-0 shalacking. Either way, a win is a win.
With a touchdown in the last 10 seconds, just for ol' times sake.
You don't say.
Ohio, however, expects to get every commit they want. If they didn't get them - they didn't want them.
Add to this post on ND, and who is really arrogant? Michigan fans need to take a stand and call bullshit on this.
I see people make comments like this, and I have to wonder. Are you entirely sheltered from some of the BS that comes from our own fanbase, or do you just ignore it? Students and non students alike. Just accept the fact that, like all other fanbases, there are a bunch of idiots that fill our stadium every football Saturday. I’m not targeting you specifically (especially because you clarified that you were mostly talking about this blog), just the mindset. It, in itself, is extremely arrogant and foolish.
Love the avatar.
April 11th, 2012 at 10:03 PM ^
It sounds arrogant that you go to Michigan stadium with a 110,000 people in it and you think you are so much better then the guy standing next to you and 109,000 (or any amount) others that fill that stadium every Saturday.
Enjoyed your post. Keep'em coming.
Their schedule is seriously brutal this season. I don't understand the NC optimism as making the Champs bowl would be a significant accomplishment.
- at MSU
- vs Michigan
- vs Miami (in Chicago)
- vs Stanford
- at Oklahoma
- at USC
They should have a solid front 7, but they lose their secondary and their top playmaker from last season in Floyd. Should be interesting to watch them turn on Kelly when they struggle, as 8-4 and the Champs Sports bowl could be the ceiling this season.
It seems like ND fans have this irrational optimism every year. I remember even the media annointing them last year with a guaranteed BCS birth before the season even started.
Not so much.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
the spread and at home.
That wasnt the media it was just Lou Ho-(spittle)-lt-(spittle)-zzz.
I seem to remember Holtz predicting a loss every game when he was a coach and now predicts a win every game.
Many here were hyping them up last year as well and I couldn't understand why.
The media, well, they'll hype ND no matter what they do. If you beat 4 cupcakes at any other school, the world could care less. But if you beat 4 cupcakes and you're Notre Dame, you've done something pretty special according to the media.
The Media would never do that for Michigan, right? Right?!? Seriously though, a lot of the criticisms of ND fans in this thread are terribly hypocritical.
There are at least 4 losses on this list.
They'll get crushed by USC and Oklahoma, and more than likely lose pretty badly to us. Miami, MSU, and Stanford are toss-ups. I have no idea what those teams are going to look like next year though.
Traveling across the Atlantic to play an option team in an empty stadium (no actual Irish people give a shit about the Fighting Irish) in a game with nothing to gain and everything to lose sounds like a recipe for disaster.
It could also cause problems even if they win to do that kind of crazy traveling right out of the gate.
And when they get home, they will be welcomed by an improved Purdue team who some are predicting to compete to win the Ohio-less Leaders Division.
The weird thing about that Navy-ND game, I think Navy is the designated "Home" team
Is it me or does Notre Dame seem like a traveling circus. Sure most Irish sports enthusiasts know who the Fighting Irish are, but like many even in our country, nobody cares.
This schedule makes 8-5 look like a miracle. Good God.
Also enjoyed this post and look forward to other "scouting" reports about our rivals.
Not paying much attention to ND, can someone expand on the Aaron Lynch thing? He left campus or something?
Brian Kelly sent him to timeout.
On the subject of the quarterback situation, what's the buzz on Malik Zaire for the ND fans? If Kiel is redshirting and is portrayed as the savior for the program in coming years, why do you think Zaire was scouted so hard, and subsequently decided to commit there over the school he grew up rooting for? I know Ohio State wanted to see him in camp before he could commit, but why decide to go with a team that atleast is in the mindset that they've found their "franchise" guy, when you're on your home team's top 3 or 4 target list?
This isn't entirely on topic as far as Michigan is concerned, but since we're talking about ND's future, I thought someone might want to share in the speculation about a rival.
stockpile 5* QBs and watch them drift off into obscurity. Its not a rational answer, but its often repeated here. Kiel's committment process was pretty flakey. I'm not surprised BK got a second.
Me too, except he hasn't made a new video since the 2010 game. There has been some recent activity on his account though, so hopefully, we see more DameFan1 this year.