it was 2006-- i couldnt have been more optimistic--not based on cheerleading and kool-aid but based on 2005--we were so close- michigan state - overtime-- USC- ambrose & the bush push -- ohio state-- brady scores in quarter 3 to take charge and then puff all gone!

 

come 2006 brady to win the heisman-- charlie the offensive guru from the super bowl--a REAL SHOT AT THE NC!

 

then georgia tech and IT wasnt there-- we didnt admit it but we could see it -the team just didnt have IT!--- tenuta exposed us to the blitz--then michigan comes to town -- a pass goes off carlsons hand and HOPES & EXPECTATIONS TURN TO SHOCKS AND NIGHTMARES THAT DINDT END TILL THE SUGAR BOWL FIASCO

 

now its 2009--- if i made my judgements and pinned my hopes on the last years won loss record--i would be as wrong as i was in 2006 -just coming from the opposite pole----evey team is different-- BUT if i look just at the new coaching scheme-- the depth chart after 3 and half years of excellent recruiting-- the schedule, the opponents-- our upgrade in maturity , talent, and coaching--- on our big weakness the oline and dline-- i dont need KOOL_ AID to see --LIKE 2006 this team will not perform to expectations-- BUT UNLIKE 2006 this year it will EXCEED THEM!!!!

 

We got to the BCS in 2006 ( didnt deserve to but did)-- the 2009 IRISH are a better team--- 2006 had no defense- no corners -and no defensive coaching--this one will have a terrific defense -terrific corners -and terrific coaching--

the 2009 offense has the potential to be BETTER then 2006-- the defense WILL be better

 

Expectations are a funny thing-- but i can FEEL it-- like 2005-- we will have a team that exceeds expectations---- charlie has done that in 2005-- only this year we will not only go to a BCS BOWL we will WIN IT !

well to PROVE it we would have to play the season which would render the whole topic academic--- so lets look at the evidence we do have-- the players and the coaches-----you would i assume then believe the 2006 team is better based on the performance of that year and the players and coaches--------------------------

 

let me ask some simple questions on your evaluations what secondary would you rather have the 2006 or the 2009--- be honest now!

which linebackers would you rather have the 2006 or the 2009!------

and what coaching you would rather have minter& co. -- or corwin and tenuta---

and even though abriami landri and laws were good ZERO DEPTH AND FROME WAS A BURDEN---- is it silly to see coach hart producing at least equal results with ethan darius tyler brandon ian and the rest of those youngsters?---

BOTTOM LINE which defense would you rather have ND 2006 or ND 2009--- if your answer is ND 2009 then proven or not silly is NOT a fair criticism of this being a better team---it is better or it isnt better-- TIME WILL TELL but look at your answers to those 4 questions----then on offense which recievers would you rather have the great jeff the injured rhema --- or golden and micheal deion et al-----------

which running backs would you rather darius and munir or armando ,robert ,jonas, cierre----

 

can rudolph and ragone produce a better year then carlson did in 2006 in just 7 games??--------------------------

 

if you answer these questions in a fair and honest way-- we all know the answer------ the players position for position ARE BETTER and the coaching is better---- THIS IS A BETTER TEAM---- despite brady and jeff------PROOF WELL AS I SAY THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING --- and in a few months the pudding will be BLUE AND GOLD!!

 

No doubt we have some good players. But you're omitting a big thing here hawaii. These guys haven't proven they can play together to win. The 05 team was 10-2. What you're doing is you are SPECULATING about the 09 squad and comparing it to actual results from the 05 guys. That doesn't stick. To date, these players have proven they have individual ability in a team sport. Let's see if they put it together and NEXT year we can talk about if we would have rather had the 09 team instead of the 05 team. The fact is that you know what the 05 team did and there is no possible way for you to know what the 09 squad is going to do. Let's hope they figure it out....

Sorry, talking about a NC this year is completely ridiculous. I think people are forgetting reality here. I'm not saying the Irish aren't on the right track to bring us back to the conversation, but to say that we are going to win it all? That's just pure good ol' dillusional homerism at work.

 

I am saving the link to this post Dome. Juuuust in case.

Oh yeah, I also agree that Quinn won many games for us that we shouldn't have won!

 

Has has won exactly 0 games it shouldn't have won. That is the big knock on Charlie.....The USC game is the closest thing we have to one of these, and as we all know them cheating bastards won that one.

 

We NEED to START winning these games.

 

 

NOTE: Pittsburg and Tennessee in 05 is probably the closest thing to winning a game we shouldn't have.

I am saving the link to this post Dome. Juuuust in case.

 

Please do...no way it's happening. The deal is though that one way or the other you have to bump this.

Okay.. i'll bite for my 500th post:

 

Offense

OL --> push (both are porous)

RB --> 2006 (more talent in 2009, but D. Walker proved he could squeak out the yards)

WR --> 2009

TE --> 2006 (more talent in 2009, but I think Carlson was a proven blocker/receiver)

QB --> 2006 (senior QB with winning season vs junior QB with losing record)

Coaching --> push (lots of new coaches, too hard to judge)

 

Defense

DT --> 2006

DE --> push

LB --> 2009

CB --> 2009

S --> 2009 (Z bit on play action too much, and Kyle is a better tackler)

Coaching --> 2009

 

Forecast: 2009 record = 2006 record with a loss in a BCS.

thats a great way to end the thread 1qa---pretty big edge to 2009 on D--- less of an edge to 2006 on O------making expectations pretty similar when you evaluate piece by piece---beyond that-- the reason i think this 2009 group will be a stronger team then the 2006 squad -- is that the 2006 team was a step down from the 2005 team-- 2005 we stayed close to USC 2006 NOT-- 2005 we came close in the fiesta bowl-- 2006 the sugar was a nightmare---- so that team peaked a year earlier-- this team i dont think anyone would argue peaked last year-- they will take a huge jump up--and still wont peak even this year!-- expectations should be BCS HIGH!!