Youngest ND Team I've Ever Seen!

[hawaiiirish]

It was Ronald Regan who made the classic joke in his debate with Mondale --" As far as age is concerned i promise i won't exploit the youth and inexperience of my opponent to gain political advantage"---

 

Well for Notre dame in 2012 we can expect our opponents to do everything in their power to "exploit our youth & inexperience to gain advantage". and that starts saturday and will continue all season long--:scared:

 

 

So for those of you who think we are simply TOO YOUNG to win 9 games , Point Taken---

 

I've been around watching ND teams suit up for a new season more times then i like to admit--and i can say confidently THIS IS THE YOUNGEST ND TEAM I HAVE EVER SEEN!!

 

My my --the youth is everywhere--- redshirt freshman starting at QB--- a soph as our speed burning tailback---an offensive line with a two deep loaded with youngsters---our #2 & #3 TEs just getting their careers going----Our most talented & explosive WRs are a REDSHIRT FROSH & A BEVY OF TRUE FROSH!!!

 

On defense our leading lineman are second year players---at LB only TEO is in his last year---And of course lots of youth in the secondary tempered by a little seniority at the safety spots----

 

The youth is EVERYWHERE---and its pretty damn impressive talent.

 

YES--this could cost us a couple of games this season , to win nine games these youngsters will have to play way beyond their years --

 

But irrespective of what struggles we may or may not have due to this youth it is really exciting to see the program going this way----if you add this current recruiting class to the youth we develop this season, its HARD TO DENY we are making some bold changes, that likely will provide some BIG DIVIDENDS as we move along into the future.

 

THIS TRULY IS THE YOUNGEST ND TEAM I HAVE EVER SEEN THROUGHOUT THE ROSTER .....and it leaves me feeling very positive that we are not simply relying on players who may have reached their ceiling to somehow PLAY BETTER---but we are instead recruiting and now PLAYING better players instead.

 

Going to be unpredictable but exciting!

 

aloha's go irish!

Edited August 29, 2012 by hawaiiirish

[NDBadaBing]

It's gonna be a fun year brother!!!

[2lakes]

Let's see if Coach Kelly has the stomach lining to stick with these young guys as they make their inevitable mistakes.

 

The one position where youth is almost never served is the QB spot. A starting sophomore quarterback rarely wins more than half his games.

 

Fortunately for Notre Dame, we are playing a very easy schedule that should foster a slow steady development for our Sophomore... wait a bit... hmmmm, I might be looking at a copy of the University of Texas at San Antonio's schedule. Let's see... South Alabama, Texas A&M-Commerce, Georgia State, McNeese State, Texas State... yeah, that's probably not ours.

 

Anywhoo, Coach Kelly did go 9-4 with Freshman Dan Lefevour at Central Michigan. They played teams like Oklahoma, USC, Michigan State, Stanford, and BYU that year, right?

Edited August 29, 2012 by 2lakes

[OklahomaIrish]

Actually Hawaii, I see a perfect mix. You say we have young receivers, but they are snuggled up behind veterans like TJ, Toma, Goodman and Eifert. The freshmen won't start but will play plenty. Our offensive line is a seasoned group, but the backups are talented and young.

 

 

The 3 big boys on defense are all returning starters in KLM, Tuitt and Nix.

 

Our inside backers have tons of experience

 

We return two safeties in Slaughter and Motta.

 

BUT, your point is well taken. This bunch of youngsters is exciting, but they aren't being thrown to the wolves. They will play early and often, but this is a good situation.

 

Let's not forget Cierre. Just because he isn't on this trip. He is a seasoned veteran and I recall a few threads you started on this boy.

 

These youngsters are what has me excited. They will really make some plays this year and thrust us into the pre season top 10 next year. They are also the reason I would be dissappointed with 9 wins. Hawaii, you are being conservative because of the things that went wrong the last two years. It was plain misfortune. We were a team that should have won 10 last year and we are better this year.

[cameroncrazy]

There's lots of youth, but the seniors we have are great leaders. Football is just as much as mental as it is physical. Kelly has already been working on instilling the attitude it takes to win and it seems like in the freshman interviews every one of them has their own personal coach in one of the upperclassmen.

 

Kelly has really got everyone to buy in to the notion that winning is more important than the individual, Tommy Rees probably knew dam well he wasn't going to get his job back but still helped coach Everett up. Everyone knows the most important goal is winning , I'm sure the youth will make mistakes but I'm sure they'll also make many plays that just have us as all saying wow these kids are talented.

[chirodomer]

Here's the deal guys. Look at Big East coaches in general. Dick rod, petrino, Kelly, Graham,Holtz, Jones. They all get where they are Bc they're decent coaches. What makes Big East Football fun to watch is the "River Boat Gambler" mentality of the coaches in big games. They will go ALL in on certain players, offenses, schemes to win. I think what we are seeing here with Kelly is what we expected to see when we hired him! I hope he runs full speed, no huddle, read option, fun and gun, shoot em up, live by the sword, die by the sword all season long! Let the talent on the field and let's go! BOOM!

[Rocketsan]

Anywhoo, Coach Kelly did go 9-4 with Freshman Dan Lefevour at Central Michigan. They played teams like Oklahoma, USC, Michigan State, Stanford, and BYU that year, right?

 

Lefevour is playing here in Hamilton for the CFL's Tiger Cats.

[Scotty88]

Lefevour is playing here in Hamilton for the CFL's Tiger Cats.

 

Apologies, off topic....saw some CFL the other night...man do you guys have alot of motion pre-snap. Really liked the announcers, was on NBC sports via TSN.

 

 

Back on topic--good mix of vets and youth. Love seeing the youngsters in the 2 deep, good signal for next year and beyond.

[Rocketsan]

Apologies, off topic....saw some CFL the other night...man do you guys have alot of motion pre-snap. Really liked the announcers, was on NBC sports via TSN.

 

Yup and receivers can technically be offside when the ball snaps...it's weird. We don't even know our own rules...

 

if the Toronto Argos play, check them out Jarious Jackson is their goal line QB.

[corysold]

Let's see if Coach Kelly has the stomach lining to stick with these young guys as they make their inevitable mistakes.

 

The one position where youth is almost never served is the QB spot. A starting sophomore quarterback rarely wins more than half his games.

 

Fortunately for Notre Dame, we are playing a very easy schedule that should foster a slow steady development for our Sophomore... wait a bit... hmmmm, I might be looking at a copy of the University of Texas at San Antonio's schedule. Let's see... South Alabama, Texas A&M-Commerce, Georgia State, McNeese State, Texas State... yeah, that's probably not ours.

 

Anywhoo, Coach Kelly did go 9-4 with Freshman Dan Lefevour at Central Michigan. They played teams like Oklahoma, USC, Michigan State, Stanford, and BYU that year, right?

 

Is this an anecdotal thought, or have you seen a statistic bearing this out?

 

I can think of a number of guys who did pretty well in a redshirt freshman or sophomore campaign, are you saying they are the rarely?

[NDhoosier]

AJ McCarron? wonder if he did anything last year...

[EddieAngel]

You say we have young receivers, but they are snuggled up behind veterans like TJ, Toma, Goodman and Eifert.

 

*shiver* No snuggling in the locker room. I like to see team unity, but not that much. Point taken though. I think Toma is going to out perform expectations this year. He is a smaller guy but he is actually a baller and he is hungry. Also, when Manti steps up his game, Toma does too. I think he will do well against teams like Navy and Purdue where his athleticism can overcome his small stature (Not playing against corners and safeties that are 4 to 6 inches taller than he is).

 

I love to see freshman receivers play. The level of competition is higher than high school, sure, but these kids are still amped to play. No year sitting and watching. It is a technical loss that they don't get to study the field as much, but I think that it adds an air of electricity to the team.

 

Penn State had a young team several years ago and they did well, they never lived up to expectations in their sophomore campaign, and then PSU blew up and all, but I think youth works to our advantage here. Don't get me wrong, I would be happy to trade a bit of youth for a Michael Floyd and Golden Tate. Or Rhema McKnight, Maurice Stovall, the Shark, etc...

 

But where we are at is still exciting. And it will be exciting for years to come. I hope that someone is ready to step up and fill that TE position this year, we have been really blessed in that position for the last ten years or so and I would like to see someone continue it after Eifert moves on. I love Floyd's example from last year, I am hoping he helped to show our young guys what a physical receiver can do. It isn't the end of the world if they aren't outplaying junior and senior secondary against our schedule, but I would be a bit disappointed if I didn't see them out their getting physical with the blocks.

 

And not to tangent off and get on my soapbox, but I want to see some physical blocking from our young men on the special teams unit. Block the friggin gunners. We all saw it, we all know it, some of us threw our shoes at them even though they were on TV.

 

Cheers, --EA

[OklahomaIrish]

*shiver* No snuggling in the locker room. I like to see team unity, but not that much. Point taken though. I think Toma is going to out perform expectations this year. He is a smaller guy but he is actually a baller and he is hungry. Also, when Manti steps up his game, Toma does too. I think he will do well against teams like Navy and Purdue where his athleticism can overcome his small stature (Not playing against corners and safeties that are 4 to 6 inches taller than he is).

 

I love to see freshman receivers play. The level of competition is higher than high school, sure, but these kids are still amped to play. No year sitting and watching. It is a technical loss that they don't get to study the field as much, but I think that it adds an air of electricity to the team.

 

Penn State had a young team several years ago and they did well, they never lived up to expectations in their sophomore campaign, and then PSU blew up and all, but I think youth works to our advantage here. Don't get me wrong, I would be happy to trade a bit of youth for a Michael Floyd and Golden Tate. Or Rhema McKnight, Maurice Stovall, the Shark, etc...

 

But where we are at is still exciting. And it will be exciting for years to come. I hope that someone is ready to step up and fill that TE position this year, we have been really blessed in that position for the last ten years or so and I would like to see someone continue it after Eifert moves on. I love Floyd's example from last year, I am hoping he helped to show our young guys what a physical receiver can do. It isn't the end of the world if they aren't outplaying junior and senior secondary against our schedule, but I would be a bit disappointed if I didn't see them out their getting physical with the blocks.

 

And not to tangent off and get on my soapbox, but I want to see some physical blocking from our young men on the special teams unit. Block the friggin gunners. We all saw it, we all know it, some of us threw our shoes at them even though they were on TV.

 

Cheers, --EA

 

I don't mind when an angel gets after me for my word choices. Welcome aboard.

[nremdn]

When I think of starting a reshirt freshman qb it just never sounds good, but then I think "Is Golson inferior to Rees?" Like many on here have said, take some of Tommy's turnovers away and they are a ten win team no problem. It's hard to proclaim Golson the answer just yet though, would be something if he went out there and didn't even play as well as Rees. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a ton more upside than Rees, but until we see it on the field it is all speculation. I'm hopeful he is what many on here believe he is and also cautious in case he gives us flashbacks of last year.

 

It does excite me that our qb has the ability to throw the long ball again. That ability has been missing for too long. Now it's a wait and see if that long ball will make it to someone on the right team. The cornerbacks scare the crap out of me. I watch SEC games and just get so jealous of good secondary play. I love watching Bennett Jackson play, that guy is just a player. I just hope he can also be a secondary player. I also hope in Floyd's absence others will step up and make it a complete offense and not just a throw to Floyd or Eifert or take the sack offense. Would sure be nice to see Golson make the progression through his reads and hit the 2 or 3 option from time to time. That would be another nice change. If I see Goodman back to field a punt this year I may vomit unless everyone in front of him is just injured. So many yards left on the field last year from our punt return team. I hope Davonte Neal looks as good in the games as he does in practice videos.

Edited August 29, 2012 by nremdn

[goirish83]

There are a lot of freshman and sophomore on the 2 deep thats for sure. The good news is we have just enough (hopefully) upperclassmen scattered in that we should be ok.