Official Notre Dame Football Thread

[FirstTimer]

If Crist doesn't start the 2nd half...............

[FirstTimer]

Welp, that a laid egg by Rees. This game and BC is pretty much the thesis of why I can't stand Rees and think we need to move on as quickly as possible.

For the most part the defense played baws.

[Irish]

Hendrix is the answer now and moving forward. Give Tommy the red hat.

[FirstTimer]

Hendrix is the answer now and moving forward. Give Tommy the red hat.

2012 is all about:

[Irish]

He tries to pull this drastic change of direction at Stanford, he slips and falls.

God that field was awful.

[Irish]

But as for the QBs looking forward:

Have to assume Crist is transferring. I loved and hated him. Injuries and probably wrong system at the wrong time for him. With that said, he has all the tools, but during his career I was really never convinced he can pull it all together. Something just isn't there.

Rees, I have backed for a while (I am all for QBs just being a manager of the offense), but I think he is holding the team back. This team is ready to make the step to top 25 year round. And I think Rees just can't cut it at QB, no matter his W-L. I don't think he can read and react to defenses, and pressure swallows him up.

I really liked what Hendrix showed tonight. It surprised me how fast he can throw the ball and does have some touch to his throws. I think he is a better leader than Rees, and probably capable of keeping this team in the top 25 year round with a solid summer. I think if Kelly believes the same thing he needs to be upfront this time and say Hendrix is our guy moving forward. Any more controversy at QB will only cause problems.

Golson, obviously the crystal ball is bright. I hope he gets a little bit bigger and really learns the offense in and out before he gets on the field. I feel like what Hendrix brings is slightly better at this point and am not sure the team needs a player like Golson yet.

If we get Kiel I hope he sits on the bench for 4 years because I have watched a couple of his games and was not impressed in the slightest. It is obvious he plays against lesser talent.

[FirstTimer]

Rees, I have backed for a while (I am all for QBs just being a manager of the offense), but I think he is holding the team back. This team is ready to make the step to top 25 year round. And I think Rees just can't cut it at QB, no matter his W-L. I don't think he can read and react to defenses, and pressure swallows him up.

Rees is maxed out. I truly believe at this point we have seen the best he has to offer. He's a REALLY nice QB but he is so limited athletically that the upside just isn't there. He really pissed down his leg last night. Frankly, the interception that lead to his benching looked a ton like the Crist USF pick. Under throw an open guy by at least 5 yards etc.

I really liked what Hendrix showed tonight. It surprised me how fast he can throw the ball and does have some touch to his throws. I think he is a better leader than Rees, and probably capable of keeping this team in the top 25 year round with a solid summer. I think if Kelly believes the same thing he needs to be upfront this time and say Hendrix is our guy moving forward. Any more controversy at QB will only cause problems.

Hendrix mechanics, namely his footwork, are awful. If he can get those right the kid oozes talent.

Golson, obviously the crystal ball is bright. I hope he gets a little bit bigger and really learns the offense in and out before he gets on the field. I feel like what Hendrix brings is slightly better at this point and am not sure the team needs a player like Golson yet.

Golson is an impressive leader, knows the spread really well, and gives me an erection.

I saw Gehrig Dieter in person yesterday at state. My cousin plays for SB St. Joe so I stayed to watch SB Washington play Cathedral (team who murdered Kiel). Kid is a fucking BEAST man. He obviously has an attitude and is lazy, but the kid is crazy. He was triple covered every play and found a way to get open. Their offense was AWFUL though. The QB was a black sophomore and was brutal to watch. By the second quarter, their offense was snap, one step drop, chuck a go route to Gehrig. And he couldn't even put it within range for him to make a play. Cathedral's D-Line was murdering Washington's anyway. They played more balanced the second half and Gehrig ended the game with like 6 catches for 167 yards, which is a new state record for receiving yards.

As for Perkins? We aren't missing out on anything special here. He's a bad running back (no speed, can't cut well, can't hit the hole). He's a solid defensive player but nothing special. He just towered over everyone though. He looks like a BCS caliber defensive player. He ran through smaller guys and just relied on his size and strength to beat his blocker. Other times, he got bottled up by them. I think most of it is coaching, and he doesn't know what to do correctly. However, the kid would have turned out as an average player anyway. Whoever we get in his place will be just as good, if not better. He's nowhere near an elite player.

E:I think Washington's QB ended like 9-40 for 180 yards, 6 of them and 167 yards to Dieter. He had catches of 50, 67, and 80 or something.

Oh, and I'd like to have this debate sometime. It's crazy to me that Dieter doesn't have a single BCS offer. I DONT think ND should get him because of his attitude, but that doesn't stop SEC teams. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that if there was an exact copy of Dieter but with black skin color, he would be a top recruit in the country.

Rivals is showing his Top 5 choices as SMU, Cincy, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and NIU. His only offers thus far are some MAC schools and SMU. He will be one of those kids who gets a ton of late BCS offers.

Just watching tape of Dieter he seems really "stiff". Not a very fluid athlete or fast. Just seems crazy productive.

[FirstTimer]

The Toma overturn was bullshit too.

[padman59]

Wasn't able to watch the game yesterday, but I'm shocked Dayne didn't get put in. I'm not really surprised by Rees' benching though considering his struggles reading defenses and getting the ball downfield in recent weeks.

[FirstTimer]

It only took a few months but they finally figured out how to IP ban me from IE.

After recent usernames of L.H. Oswald and 9/11WasanInsideJob some idiot finally figured it out...

Can't wait to post there with new names from my home IP tonight

[Irish]

So I am thinking about where we stand for next season.

QB-Hendrix (Rees, Golson, I won't say Kiel but who knows)
RB-Wood (Roberson, Mahone, Atkinson, McDaniel)
WR-Daniels, Jones, Riddick (Toma, Smith, Greenberry, Brown, Ferguson, Farley)
TE-Eifert (Koyack, Welch, Golic)
OLine-Martin, Watt, Cave (I don't know much about the OLine and where some players fit)

DLine-KLM, Lynch, Nix (Tuitt, Hounsell, Schwenke, Cwynar, Stockton, Jones, Day, Springman)
OLB-Shembo, Niklas (Spond, Ishaq, Councell)
MLB-Carlo, Fox (Moore, Utopo, Rabasa, Grace)
CB-Wood, Shepard (Jackson, Darby, Atkinson, Brown)
S-Motta, Slaughter (Hardy, Prosise, Turner, Baratti, Collinsworth)
K-Tausch
P-Turk

I did this from memory so I probably missed some players or I don't think they will be back. Obviously our biggest hit is at CB and WR. I don't think Te'o being gone will hurt that much. Harrison leaving will probably be huge but Motta has had enough experience at this point and Jamoris has a lot of talent.

I love where we stand at RB and Dline. Both could even become better if some recruits sign on at ND that are on the radar. I really think we need to hold onto Darby, Shepard, and Mahone to feel comfortable with the class. Shepard and Mahone seem very committed to ND, Tee early enrolling will be huge. I think Darby though is a must get (or hold onto). We need his speed and depth at DB.

[FirstTimer]

I think Kendall Moore breaks into the MLB starting lineup next season whether Teo stays or not.

Also, I think Collinsworth is officailly a WR now isn't he?


Jordan Prestwood should be ready for PT next season as well at OT.

Edit: Just saw you had Jones in there already at DL. My bad.

[Irish]

Yeah out of the tackle options for next year, I like Prestwood over the likes of Lombard and Nichols. Lombard strikes me as somebody who could be the other guard.

I like Moore as well but with the PT Carlo and Fox have I am sure it will be tough for him to get in there. Carlo is down to only making 1 or 2 facepalm plays a game and Fox got a lot of PT this year(didn't really notice him, but he was on the field a lot).

I wonder if Niklas does jump over Spond and Ishaq though. Gotta admit Ishaq was kind of a let down this year. Really didn't look ready yet.

[FirstTimer]

Here's the deptch chart project as of now in my mind:

QB:
Hendrix/Golson
Rees
*Regardless if Kiel is signed he "redshirts" next season IMO unless he blows people away in Spring Ball....which I highly doubt*

RB:
Wood
Atkinson
Roberson
McDaniel
Mahone
*Don't be surprised to see McDaniel possible move to WR*

TE
Eifert
Koyack
Welch
Golic

WR:
Daniels
Riddick
TJ Jones
Toma
D. Smith
Greenberry
Ferguson
Brown
Farley


OL:
T:Zack Martin, Lombard, Prestwood, Nichols Nick Martin
G: Watt, Hanratty, Carrico, Hegarty, Heggie
C: Cave, Golic, Heggie,

*Recuits like Daly, Decker, and Harrel, could find themselves in themix but I doubt it.*

DL
DE: KLM, Lynch, Tuitt, Hounshell, Kona, Okwara
DT: Nix, Cwynar, Newman, Springmann, Jarron Jones

OLB: Shembo, Niklas, I. Williams, Spond, Councell,
ILB: Teo, Moore, Fox, Carlo, Rabasa, Grace, Utopo,

This is where it gets a little scary:
CB: Lo Wood, J. Brown, Bennet Jackson, J. Atkinson, Darby, Shepard
*This position battle could go insane. I could very easily see Darby and Shepard coming in and taking starting jobs right away.*

S: Slaughter, Motta, Hardy, Collinsworth, Prosise, Turner,

*Hopefully Hardy comes back healthy from his torn ACL* Decent depth here. Slaughter has really come on this year so hiopefully it carries over. I hate Motta.

K: Tausch, Brindza
P: Turk, Brindza

[FirstTimer]

Yeah out of the tackle options for next year, I like Prestwood over the likes of Lombard and Nichols. Lombard strikes me as somebody who could be the other guard.

I like Moore as well but with the PT Carlo and Fox have I am sure it will be tough for him to get in there. Carlo is down to only making 1 or 2 facepalm plays a game and Fox got a lot of PT this year(didn't really notice him, but he was on the field a lot).

I wonder if Niklas does jump over Spond and Ishaq though. Gotta admit Ishaq was kind of a let down this year. Really didn't look ready yet.

The coaches love Moore. Nasty kid. "Bad disposition" as Kelly likes to say. Fox is nice but Moore is clearly more talented at this point but just kind of stuck behind Carlo and Fox. Carlo has quietly seen less and less time as the season has gone on. Wouldn't surprise me a bit to see Carlo behind Moore heading into/after spring ball.

Niklas is an interesting player. Ishaq didn't look ready this year, which sucks we burnt a year of his eligibility but I think early on next season Niklas sees a lot of snaps, Ishaw comes in as a situational pass rusher and they expand his role more and more. You could see some packages with Tuitt moving inside and Lynch and Williams on the edges. Diaco does a great job of mixing looks up.