Starters for Next Year?

[dahooligan]

Who Starts Next Year?

OT - Sam Young and ???
OG - Trevor Robinson and ????
C - Braxton Cave imo should start

QB - Clausen
RB - Aldridge
WRs - Tate, Floyd, Kamara
TE - Rudolph or Ragone?

DE - ?????
DT - Ian Williams goes back down to 295lb's, Ethan Johnson bulks up to 290lb's

LB's - Filer, Brian Smith, Fleming

CB - Walls and McNeil
Safety - Shaq Evans and McCarthy (yes i'd like to see evans at safety, reminds me of eric berry)

[IrishR#1]

QB-Dayne Crist: This is just a guess based off of personal opinions since I haven't seen him play before
RB-James Aldridge: Our best back IMO
WRs-Golden Tate and Michael Floyd: Obviously
TEs-Kyle Rudolph and Mike Ragone: I like the 2 TE set and Ragone is still a very talented TE
OTs-Sam Young and Paul Duncan: Duncan will get a 5th year
OGs-Eric Olsen and Chris Stewart: Probably our best options
C-Braxton Cave: Wenger is awful

DEs-Ethan Johnson and Mo Richardson: This is assuming we play a 3-4
NG-Ian Williams: Still a good player
OLBs-Darius Fleming and Kerry Neal: Our best pass rushers IMO
ILBs-Brian Smith and Toryan Smith: Smith is a junior who can be a great player
CBs-Darrin Walls and Robert Blanton: Blanton has played great this year
S-Kyle McCarthy and Sergio Brown: Assuming McCarthy gets a fifth year

K-Brandon Walker: Great end of the year
P-Ben Turk: Time for a freshman to step up
KRs-Armando Allen and Golden Tate: Both extremely fast
PR-???: Hopefully not Tate unless he learns what a fair catch is

[sonomairishfan]

i think Crist may make a serious push to start at QB.

[mlcspinner]

i think Crist may make a serious push to start at QB.



Do you think it would a good idea to have a red shirt freshman start over a 2 year starter?

[IrishR#1]

Do you think it would a good idea to have a red shirt freshman start over a 2 year starter?

If he's better, then yes.

[sonomairishfan]

i think whichever QB has the best composure under pressure, can check down receivers and not have multiple INT games should start.

i have no idea what Crist will be like in live action, but I'd really like to see him play.

[rebuildtherocket]

I dont think Crist will beat out Clausen especially if Weis is still there. I have always felt that Crist is going to be better. Thats not a knock on Clausen just a gut feeling.

[IrishR#1]

I can't wait to see these guys play at the spring game.

[Flyin_Irish]

Clausen remains starting QB.

OL will be a cluster F. Young, Stewart and Wenger are probably starters. Olsen/TRob? Wenger/Cave? Left tackle is a nightmare. Where are Romine and/or Dever? If Duncan is the starting LT....ugh.

RB - if Charlie stays, probably Allen. I do agree, however, that Aldridge is the best on the team.

WR - Tate & Floyd

TE - Rudolph & Ragone

FB - ?? Schmidt??

DL - Richardson, Williams, Mo , Ethan Johnson

LB - Flemming, B. Smith, T. Smith, Neal

S - McCarthy (does he have a 5th), H. Smith

CB - Walls & McNiel

Our D is pretty deep. Lots of guys could probalby start in the secondary (Blanton, Sergio) or LB (Filer).

[rontdtarchala]

I would say that no position is safe... not one damned one... I don't care if they played ok or sucked... not one damned position should be safe... bring in a new staff and make sure the oline coach is the meanist badist ... and about 20 or 30 other ists to kick their fat lazy weak asses all over the campus

[Yeshua]

...should be open season on positions.

Like to see what Crist looks like. Hope he gets a fair shot.

Gray, if he can hold on to the rock, will be our best running back, unless
Wood has some real game. But neither will make much difference unless..?????

EVERY position on the O-line should be up for grabs

Hopefully, Ragone comes back in one piece at TE

Our secondary ought to be our strength, especially if Walls comes back.

There is some depth at LB, led by the two Smiths

The real key to success will be the D-line. Hopefully, maturity and more beef,
along with another year in the weight room will bring more consistency, pressure
on the QB and keep defensive backs from leading the team in tackles

[IrishR#1]

I don't see the freshmen getting anywhere near as much playing time as this class had. Not only because we have more depth for 2009 than we did in 2008, but we didn't get a phenomenal left tackle or a great defensive end to fill up a position of need. Our two best incoming players are Cierre Wood, a running back, and Shaq Evans, a wide receiver.

[SpanishElite]

Lets just relax on giving up to starting position to people who have never taken a college snap. They will have a learning curve just like the current players have/are having.

[notredomer23]

You guys are way to hard on Clausen. He's a friggen sophomore.

[SpanishElite]

You guys are way to hard on Clausen. He's a friggen sophomore.

I agree 100%. He has struggled no doubt in the 2nd half of the season. But he hasnt struggled any more than any of the OL, Rashon McNeil, Kerry Neal, Ian Williams, and a load of other players. Fellas we would move from a Junior two year starter, to a "RS" Freshman with 0 career snaps. That isnt going to be an easy transition. Clausen, among with alot of other needs to get better before next season to get ND where everyone wants them to be.

[sreepointer]

I think most of most of the offense remains the same, with the exception of the O-line There has to be someone on the bench that can make a difference hopefully, maybe one the freshman that redshirted. I have heard good things about Shaq Evans being very sure handed and physical, maybe he is able to steal some time at the slot receiver to replace Grimes.


There will be some changes on D just due to guys leaving. I see Blanton and Walls on the corners, McCarthy and H Smith at the safety spots. Upfront will be interesting though. E. Johnson will be there, Williams will be there, but after that, it is anyones guess. Maybe Kapron Lewis-Moore can make a push. I could see B. and T. Smith in the middle and Neal and Flemming on the outside.

[Dacian_Irish]

Lets hope we keep Shaq and Cierre commited and they do not end up at U$C...

I think our offense is due next year and they will be explosive!

QB- Clausen
RB- Aldridge
FB- Paskorz
WR- Tate, Floyd, Kamara
TE- Rudolph, Ragone
LT- Duncan
LG- Oslen
C- Wenger
RG- T-Rob
RT- Young

Remember our week point was our DL but those freshmans are now sophomores and they will be hungry!!!

What will be our base? 3-4, 4-3, or nickle. We'll probably see a little of all of em.

NT- I. Williams, B. Newman
DE- E. Johnson, M. Richardson,
MLB- B. Smith, T. Smith
OLB- Filer, Flemming
SS- D. McCarthey
FS- H. Smith
CB-Walls, McNiel

When we play Nickle (which I think we will alot we so many spread offenses) we'll see S. Brown in there unless he is the FS. He is one guy that I don't know where he will end up but I really like him!

[robertsgolf]

O will stay pretty close to the same

We need some one at OLB that can bring a consistant Pass Rush

[Axl Rose]

QB-Clausen
RB-James Aldridge
WR-Michael Floyd & Golden Tate
TE-Kyle Rudolph
HB-Mike Ragone
OT-Sam Young & Matt Romine
OG-Eric Olsen & Trevor Robinson
OC-Dan Wenger

DE-Kapron Lewis Moore & Kerry Neal
DT-Ian Williams & Ethan Johnson
OLB-Harrison Smith & Scott Smith
MLB-Brian Smith
CB-Darrin Walls & Raeshon McNeil
S-Kyle McCarthy & Sergio Brown

[Sureal]

QB-Clausen
RB-James Aldridge
WR-Michael Floyd & Golden Tate
TE-Kyle Rudolph
HB-Mike Ragone
OT-Sam Young & Matt Romine
OG-Eric Olsen & Trevor Robinson
OC-Dan Wenger

DE-Kapron Lewis Moore & Kerry Neal
DT-Ian Williams & Ethan Johnson
OLB-Harrison Smith & Scott Smith
MLB-Brian Smith
CB-Darrin Walls & Raeshon McNeil
S-Kyle McCarthy & Sergio Brown


If Stewart comes back I think you plug him into the Guard rotation with Olsen having some issues staying on the field. He keeps getting blown up by these d-tackles (doubling over on a d-tackle for no reason and letting someone free to pop Clausen in the face) and it's frustrating to see game in and game out...

[Sureal]

Crist gets a fair shot in being second string. No way he starts before Clausen. Again it means nothing if the o-line CAN'T BLOCK!!! The point of emphasis needs to be on them. Period. The d-line will get better because the COACHES are better on that side of the ball. Plus they will get bigger and be able to throw some folks around a bit. But it's moment time for the o-line. It's time for some accountability. You don't do the job you sit. Plain and simple.

[rontdtarchala]

I think there has to be a complete overhaul and every position is up for grabs... every position!

[ALLND62]

I think there has to be a complete overhaul and every position is up for grabs... every position!

ron you basically said this already on post #10 of this thread.

[SpanishElite]

I think there has to be a complete overhaul and every position is up for grabs... every position!

I disagree. I think B. Smith is fine, R. Blaton, McCarthy, and H. Smith all have spots. Along with I. Williams and E. Johnson. S. Young has a spot and Rudolph with either the 2nd or 1st TE spot with Ragone (who knows with Yeatman).

Tate and Floyd are fine at WR also.

[iloveirish_12]

Lets not forget Clausen is better then Quinn was at this point. But I think the starting QB for next year will be who ever fits in Meyer's system.

[Flyin_Irish]

I disagree. I think B. Smith is fine, R. Blaton, McCarthy, and H. Smith all have spots. Along with I. Williams and E. Johnson. S. Young has a spot and Rudolph with either the 2nd or 1st TE spot with Ragone (who knows with Yeatman).

Tate and Floyd are fine at WR also.

An open competition at every position might fuel some motivation. The guys you list would win their positions anyway because they're better. Hey our backups could have lost to Syracuse, so what could it hurt?

[SpanishElite]

An open competition at every position might fuel some motivation. The guys you list would win their positions anyway because they're better. Hey our backups could have lost to Syracuse, so what could it hurt?

Of course the "open competition at every position" is something people always say and is quite cliche.. But those guys right there are the nucleus of our team. And if were going to be good those players have to be very good.

[sreepointer]

Lets not forget Clausen is better then Quinn was at this point. But I think the starting QB for next year will be who ever fits in Meyer's system.

I am assuming this is a joke?

[BigIrish]

I am assuming this is a joke?

it's two jokes in one. first, that clausen is better than quinn was at this stage of his career. that might have been true up through the first half of the NC game. but in four years, we never watched quinn regress the way clausen has. i'm still a clausen fan, but he needs to get his head (and oline) fixed in the off season if he's going to have a good year next year.

the shot about meyer is just trolling in an open thread now that the others on the subject have been closed.

[NDGirlzRock]

I'd say the coaching staff needs an overhaul!!! With the exception of Weis, Tenuta, C. Brown.....no one is safe.....especially the frickin' O-Line and RB coaches. Sorry, but they need to go!!!!

[marv81s]

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/nd/galleries/fb_firstfall2005/06mendoza-lg.jpg
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/21/210241.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1010/1098142261_d551766578.jpg?v=0
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/47/476693.jpg

These four can go

[goldenlid]

Thank you. The S&C coach for sure the team just does not look like all the other teams in D1 football and has not for four years now. They are heavy but they seem slower and weaker than other schools. T. Laws said last year how much stonger and faster he got when he went away to get ready far the draft. As far as the rest of the coaches I think it is hard to tell if the problem is with the S&C.

[marv81s]

good point, but let me ask you this about the D-line. When was the last time you saw any of ND's d-linemen stunt, put a move on an o-lineman, swim move, any of that stuff, or show any ability to get off a block? They just try to bull rush, just stand straight up and head read into a blocker. I think Jappy needs to go.

The o-line have always been suspect, even during Brady's last two years they weren't all that good. Maybe that has something to do with Weis's system, I don't know, but they haven't been all that impressive for the last 4 years. ND was just lucky that Brady could move and avoid some of those sacks, and that he was a gym rat and could shed tacklers. Ron? Well, it would be nice to have a QB coach that has a track record of developing QBs. Just because he was a former domer and highly touted recruit doesn't entitle him to have an assistant position at ND. ND is showing that it isn't the place to be for on the job training.

[jason]

QB - Clausen

RB - Allen/Aldridge (Hughes will get some goal line carries)

WR 1 - Floyd
WR 2 - Tate
WR 3 - Kamara (D. Walker and R. Parris will also see time)

TE 1 - Rudolph
Blocking TE - Yeatman

OL - Young, Stewart, Wenger, Olsen, Romine

DT - Ian Williams
DE - Ethan Johnson
DE - Morrice Richardson (who are the other options??)

OLB - Darius Fleming
OLB - Kerry Neal
ILB - Brian Smith
ILB - Steve Filer/Toryan Smith

CB - Darrin Walls (McNeil starts if Walls doesn't come back)
CB - Robert Blanton

S - Kyle McCarthy
S - Harrison Smith

Nickel - Sergio Brown/Gary Gray/Raeshon McNeil

K - Walker
P - Turk

KR/PR - Cierre Wood

[goldenlid]

I understand what you are saying and I also wonder about alot of the coaches. Once a team finds out how to beat ND everyone does it and the coaches never adjust to what is happening. ND has been living off of smoke and mirrors for two years now because they lack something. I just think that it is hard to do anything if you don't have strenght or quickness going for you and that is all on the S&C coach.

[marv81s]

it could also be one of those things that comes with having a bunch of true freshman and sophomores being either starters and/or listed on your two deep. I am tired of the whole "youth" argument also, but its does have a little something to do when your team is mostly young and maybe they just don't have the maturity and experience to fully grasp Weis's offensive system.

Not sure that applies to the offensive line since there has been a problem there since Weis arrived at ND.

Jesus, I don't know what to think anymore. All I know is that those 4 up in my original post would be the ones that I send packing.

[bbrennan]

I don't necessarily disagree with the 4 but I wonder if some of the D-line problems are not also associated with the 3-4 defensive scheme. I just don't see us having the personnel to run this scheme. We do not have the bulk up front to stop the run or eat up blockers and we do not have the middle LB's to make plays. We have a series of guys playing out of position, especially Kuntz and H.Smith and guys like Neal that I am still not sure we have figured out how to get the best of his skills. Then add in Crum, who is certainly a great teammate but not in anyway a playmaking middle LB. The defense has certainly improved and CB enfuses passion, but I am still not sold that we are getting the most out of the defense as a whole and would not pin it all on Jappy.

On offense, we need a complete overhaul of the entire staff. I believe we continue to suffer from losing Cutcliffe when CW was hired. You have Cutcliffe leading this offense and things are completely different in my opinion. CW had faith in Cutcliffe. CW has not trusted any of the offensive staff to run their own show since being here. For all the recruiting prowess of Ianello I would throw him in to the have-to-go list as well. The blocking problems on offense also sit with the WR's. When was the last time you saw a WR throw a good block?

Finally on special teams, like Ianello, Polian's recruiting benefits don't outweigh the fact that he can't coach worth a lick. The fact that Polian is in charge of any unit at a premier D-1 football program is a joke.

I say overhaul the entire offensive staff with guys that CW is willing to let coach. Keep the defense staff together but let Tenuta have more influence and find ways to run a scheme that maximizes the talent we have rather that what seems to me a no-identity defense.

[aaronb]

Qb-Claussen
HB-Aldridge
FB-Paskorz
WR-Tate
WR-Kamara
WR-Floyd
LT-Duncan
LG-Olsen
C-Wenger
RG-Trevor Robinson
RT-Sam Young
TE-Ragone

DE-Ethan Johnson
NT-Ian Williams
DE-Sean Cwynar
OLB-Kerry Neal
ILB-Toryan Smith
ILB-Brian Smith
OLB-Steve Filer
CB-Darrin Walls
CB-Raeshon McNeil
Nickel-Robert Blanton
Dime-Gary Gray

S-Harrison Smith
S- Dan McCarthey

[marv81s]

the special teams is a joke? Really?

didn't ND have the #1 kickoff coverage team in the NCAA, FG kicking got better and the punt coverage unit wasn't bad either.

Yeah the hands unit screwed the pooch on the onside coverage and punt/kick returns left a little something to be desired. But i just don't think letting Polian go would be a smart move. Send him off to soak up some more knowledge this off season. You have to keep him around. Anyone that can snatch elite prospects out of Susc's backyard is worth having all in itself.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm hoping Cave gets some time in next year. Just sayin.

[SpanishElite]

I'd say the coaching staff needs an overhaul!!! With the exception of Weis, Tenuta, C. Brown.....no one is safe.....especially the frickin' O-Line and RB coaches. Sorry, but they need to go!!!!

I think Polian, Parmalee and Ianello should all stay. They have done a very good job IMO.

[NDFan4Life]

I think all of the positions should be open to competition. None of the players should be safe in assuming that they're going to start. Everyone from JC down to the water-boys should be afraid they'll lose their jobs.

[SpanishElite]

I think all of the positions should be open to competition. None of the players should be safe in assuming that they're going to start. Everyone from JC down to the water-boys should be afraid they'll lose their jobs.

Obviously that is true. But FOR SOME guys they will eb starters. Will the coaches say "hey you don't have to work hard because your guaranteed a spot?" No way. But to pretend like we don't have a handful of guys who are guaranteed to start is just not right.