Season Prediction 9 W 3 L

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Don’t really feel comfortable giving this prediction before even one game played–hope I’m wrong.

The 3 losses:

Michigan
So. Cal
Stanford

The Opener South Florida will not be an easy game. The ND OL absolutely must dominate this game from the very first play as well as 4 complete quarters. I am not sold on this line–I’ll believe it when I see it.

Actually I feel the same way about the DL and of course the QB. I can easily see Nix Tuitt and Lynch jump to 1st string on DL.

Don’t know what we’ll do if OL collapses Maybe Nuss for Robinson.

What we don’t want on offense is RB getting stuffed on 3rd or 4th and one.

We really don’t need to see Crist throw dirt balls on short passes. He really needs to come thru bigtime for I have the feeling that a lot of games will be shootouts.

Really don’t want to be so pessimistic. All the talk is over — now let’s see if they can actually do it.

Dame Fan | John Foley

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Just added this blog to our site Dame Fan — why? Because of the subject of one of the recent posts — John Foley — the next Dick Butkus. The #1 defensive player of the year. What no one knew is that he had a bad shoulder problem coming out of HS.

Check this film of the kick off tackle, if I’m not mistaken this was the play that ended his career:

So it brought back memories — ND lands the # 1 best player on defense and he’s finished by the time he’s a soph.

He would have been great — just not in the cards. Proves how fleeting fame is and how fast it eludes even the best.

John Foley — I missed what you could have brought to ND football — but that degree served you well.

Reading The Tea Leaves

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Well camps over and it’s anybody’s guess who starts at QB.

If Rees won the job, then he deserves to start. He seems to be an unflappable sort, has a calmness similar to Montana and maybe that’s what Kelly wants.

But what then happens with Crist? Losing out will be a confidence shattering jolt for him. I can’t help but reflect back to last season and the manner in which Kelly treated Crist vs. Rees. I wrote at the time that Kelly’s constant screaming at Crist was no way to treat any QB. He just got shakier and shakier–afraid of the coach and afraid to make any mistakes at all. Maybe the injury issue also comes into play–who knows.

If it’s Rees then what does it say about Hendrix? Will he sit around and wait while Rees starts for next 3 years.

Further, wasn’t Rees more or less a throw in–in that recruiting class with Hendrix the next heir apparent. They are both sophs and what is it about this offense that is so difficult for Hendrix to grasp. Seems he’s just even with frosh Golson.

I can’t be positive but don’t think Kelly even offered Hendrix when he was at Cinn.

If it plays out with Rees starting, Charley Weis might jump in and grab both Crist and Hendrix before season even starts–after all they are his RKQB’s.

Media Day

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Whole host of coaches and player interviews available on Irish Illustrated, Subway Domer etc–check them out.

Basically the usual although Diaco sounds almost mystical talking defense–hope the players get it.

QB battle–don’t know what to make of Kelly’s comments saying battle is dead even. Hearing that you could conclude that Crist is static or maybe regressing while Rees is rapidly improving and runs the offense better.

I still think Crist starts but gets yanked when he starts throwing dirtballs. Can only conclude it’s all mental with him.

Rees on the other hand must have improved passing strength dramatically–say long crisp passes. He was so dreadful in the USC game–I’ve got to see it to believe it..

Greatly surprised that frosh tight end Ben Koyack is the biggest TE on the team at close to 260lbs. He plays alot this year.

Finally, feel real bad for Mike Ragone–another injury will limit his practice time. Barring all the injuries, he could have been outstanding.

Out For 2011

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Freshman Eilar Hardy–Knee, will have surgery and will not play this year.

So far only 2 big injuries–hope it stays that way.

That being said, I would be inclined to start easing on the 2 deep and concentrate on the 3’s and 4’s–who knows, maybe that is the plan.

Fingers crossed for a healthy season.

 

9 Practices Complete

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With 1st full week over and done, as mentioned before, this up coming week will in all probability determine the depth chart.

Most positions filled and Kelly signaled that Shembo gets the nod over Spond.

That leaves the Calabrese Fox contest with Carlo in the lead.

OG’s –looks like it will be a 3 man rotation Watt, Nuss and Robinson.

Concerning Spond–don’t know how fast he is(looks thin to me) looks more like a Safety and maybe best in the long run for him.

I say this for apparently frosh Troy Niklas 6”7" 250 lbs third at this OLB position really opened eyes this week–even got nickname "Hercules".

Don’t like losing Nicols and hope we can land couple more OL recruits

At end of this week will probably learn who won QB derby.

Finally why can’t we get rid of Tom Hammond on NBC broadcasts–I nominate Jack Nolan of UND.com . Keep Mayock–he’s been very good.