#10 - Filer - He has too much talent. He will make an impact next year

 

#9 - Fleming - He will be all over opposing QBs.

 

#8 - D Walker - Too much potential to miss.

 

#7 - Sam Young - Got to succeed in his draft year

 

#6 - KLM - Just a guess. The kid has the height, the speed, the work ethic.

 

#5 - Ethan Johnson - Played well as a true freshman but didn't dominate. An extra year will change that.

 

#4 - G Gray - Last year was his 1st back from injury. I expect great things from Gray

 

#3 - Duval Kamara - No way he doesn't work hard to get back in the rotation

 

#2 - D Walls - He's Back!

 

And the #1 most improved player in '09 is ...

 

Jimmy Clausen - Put up #'s in his soph year to rival many of the great ones

A good list Georgia, I can't disagree with one of your picks.

I think one of the runnings backs, particularly Jonas Gray possibly James Aldridge will have a break out year, I don't think either one will have a 1000 yd yr, mainly due to the rotation of backs and emphasis on the pass, but i think 1 of them will become the back we need to get that 4.1 yd avg

I think one of the runnings backs, particularly Jonas Gray possibly James Aldridge will have a break out year, I don't think either one will have a 1000 yd yr, mainly due to the rotation of backs and emphasis on the pass, but i think 1 of them will become the back we need to get that 4.1 yd avg

 

I'll buy that. I thought about Jonas. But instead of whom? ... notice the proper english? I'll try not to let that happen again.

I'm looking for the interior lineman to dominate next year, they all had their flashes, but then the also had moments like the entire BC game. More consistency out of Olsen, Stewart/Robinson (if he isnt moved to T) and Wenger.

Harrison Smith-- Will be a force as a true safety

 

Sergio Brown--WIll look like NFL material by the end of the season

 

Armando Allen-- Picks up right where he left off-- showing the breakaway speed we expected

 

Robert Hughes-- Will be a major weapon as a receiver out of the backfield-- --four TD receptions for robert and miles of yardage!!

 

Ian Williams-- developing under coach hart - an in shape- motivated- dominating Ian Williams will key the DLINE

 

The Entire Offensive Line--- This is a huge talented group-- much malinged for two years-- chemistry- experience- and verducci-- will make this offensive line from GOATS TO HEROES!!

Play calling will be our MIP.

I'm not sure I would take anyone off of the list in place of the running backs i suggested, if I had to maybe walker or klm just because they are unproven at this point, I do agree that Sam Young will be a beast this year, in all honesty I thought he played pretty well last year.

They say you see the most improvement from year 2 to year 3, so if that is the case we should have a lot of improvement this year. As most of your list indicate we have a lot of guys who should improve a bunch......I can't wait:-D

I have to agree with Hawaii, I think AA will have a breakout year. He has two new coaches that will better him, and Weis will be calling plays. He loves to hit the backs out of the backfield and its going to be Allen's third year of experience. It has to be a good year for him!

I haven't followed much of the "Coaches are very impressed with..." talk, so this is all off the cuff -- based on information we got when these guys were recruited, the two-deep, and how they played, or didn't play last year:

 

 

Golden Tate - his year could have been a lot better had Floyd been healthy. Remember, he was relatively quiet during several games in the middle of the season

 

Michael Floyd - No more injuries, please.

 

Etahn Johnson - great potential

 

Jonas Grey - very impressive in the land of the setting sun.

 

Manti Te'o - from high school to a rising collegiate star (I hope) just like...

 

Chris Watts - another possible freshman contributor (tough to do as an O-lineman)

 

Walls - from nothing to something: let's see how that off year affected him.

 

Torian Smith - it's time.

 

Eumeka Nwanko - has all the physical tools and started to show it last year

 

Sam Young - the old man of the O-line is finally going to shine, alongside...

 

Trevor Robinson - who will start to dominate

 

And, yes, I was too lazy to look up spellings and first names. (And that's eleven, I know, but putting in the freshmen is sort of shady so two of them count for one).

Edited March 4, 200916 yr by 2lakes

I'll make it easy on myself - the OL, DL and JC, that should be about 10 people.....

Ten is a bit much, but I'll go with positions and players.

 

I expect big things out of our RBs. I'm totally sold on Tony Alford, and think he'll address some of the patience problems we've seen from Allen, and the shying away from contact I've seen at times from Hughes (runs like a speed back in a big back's body from time to time).

 

As for specific players:

 

Jonas Gray - Once he improves ball security, look out. Gives you a little bit of everything in one back.

 

Darrin Walls - Has always had the tools; now is when he builds a case for himself as a first day draft pick.

 

Ethan Johnson - Showed flashes while playing at anywhere between 264 and 275 - at defensive tackle. Added weight will mean added results.

 

Harrison Smith - I really, really like this kid, and am eager to see what he can do playing at his natural position without the added weight.

 

Matt Romine - Grabs the bull by the horns, and allows us to run even more patterns during our pass plays, rather than dedicate Rudolph or a back to blocking duties.

 

Others will improve, but I think these guys will take their game to the next level. Other names include Filer, Goodman, Allen, and Ian Williams.

I'm expecting Wenger to take another big step foward and anchor the line for the next 2 years (I assume he'd come back for a 5th.)

I am obviously excited and hopeful for better DL and OL play next year, I think that goes without saying. But one thing I am really stoked on, like others, is Tony Alford. With the depth we have at running back, and the fact that no one has cemented themselves as a true number 1, I think running back will be the most improved position. These guys all have a clean slate. Alford and Verducci are going to make their decisions purely on what they see. Without any sort of history with these coaches, the depth chart should be wide open. With that said,

I agree with Calves, J. Gray greatly benefits from Alfords expertise in ball security, this might be enough to break him into the 2 deep at RB. I think he is very talented and again as Calves said, he has a little bit of everything you are looking for in a back.

 

Aldridge- His back is against the wall, he needs a huge year to secure himself a decent draft pick. I think he benefits from the fresh coaching blood too.

 

Hughes-He showed determination and strength in the Hawaii game, he willed his way to extra yards on almost every play, AND you could see the OL really feeding off that aggression and passion. I really feel that he will work as hard or harder than any back this off season. I think he makes an impact out of the backfeild one way or another.

 

Allen- He showed us glimpses all year long, with new coaching hopefully he makes that big 2nd to 3rd year jump!

 

Here's to a new day in the Notre Dame backfield!

Here's what I expect...

 

Darrin Walls-He has great coverage skills and will be the best overall defender. Unfortunatley he will play so well he won't be back for another year at ND.

 

Armando Allen-The confidence is building and the new RB coach will only help. Weis will use Allen a lot out of the backfield on short passes.

 

Harrison Smith- A superb athlete that is going back to his natural position. He's going to be a Polamolu junior running around like a wild man this year.

 

Sam Young-He had stretches of intensity last year. The new offensive line coach will help him to be lighter on his feet and he has something to prove for the draft next year.

 

Ian Williams and Ethan Johnson-I look for these two to be the studs Notre Dame has been looking for in the trenches.

 

Ragone- Watching from the sidelines all year has to push him all off-season to be that much better.

 

Filer- He's too good of an athlete not to make some strides this year.

 

Santa Clausen- I look for him to emerge as a leader this year and take this offense to a new level