Since this is year is all but in the books minus the bowl game, why not start talking about next year. If Riddick moves to running back, we should have some nice talent at the skill positions if someone can step up to fill Michael Floyd's spot. I'm assuming Theo will be at running back now that we are out of the running for Keith Marshall, or so rumors have it.
QB- Hendrix, RB- Wood and Theo, WR- TJ, Toma, ? (Devaris? Deontay?), TE- Eifert, Welch, Koyack (hopefully Koyack beats out Welch)
I haven't looked at the lineman eligibility yet, but getting Braxton Cave back will be a huge help

We should also have a very strong front seven if Manti Te'o returns.
DLine- Lynch, Tuitt, Nix LB- Te'o, Shembo, Fox, Calabrese, Ishaq

Secondary is looking kinda shaky as of right now, losing RJ and Gary Gray. Lo Wood will hopefully step up, I think Slaughter returns, Zeke will probably man the other spot, and maybe Collinsworth or one of the Freshmen stars (SHepherd/Darby) will step up.

Robinson and Dever will need to be replaced on the oline. Lombard? Golic Jr? There is some good young talent too.

Collinsworth had started to get more work at safety and is making progress but stop obviously needs to get more comfortable. Lo Wood and Jackson had both worked themselves more into the rotation but are still really raw. Jackson has the physical attributes to play corner, he needs coached up on technique and experience.

WR should be really competitive. Daniels should slide into Floyd's spot but Greenberry will be in the mix. Ferguson and Brown are going to contribute some too. Hopefully Daniel Smith has a good, healthy off season for once. He could help out a ton. I'm hoping Toma continues to see the field, after Floyd he was probably the most consistent WR on the team when he got a chance to play.

GAIII needs to see the field more too, if he can put on a little more weight he can be a good second option in the backfield.

QB-????????????


RB- Cierre Wood (Rs JR)
WR- Davaris Daniels (Rs FR)//Deontay Greenberry (FR)
WR- Robby Toma (Rs JR)
WR- TJ Jones (JR)
TE- Tyler Eifert (Rs JR)


LT- Nick Martin (Rs JR)
LG-
C- Braxton Cave (5th SR)
RG-
RT- ??????????????

-------------------------------------------------------------------
SE- Kapron Lewis-Moore (5th SR)//Stephon Tuitt (SO)
NG- Louis Nix (Rs SO)
WE- Aaron Lynch (SO)


CAT- Prince Shembo (JR)
MIKE- Manti Te'o (SR)
WILL- Fox/Calabrese*
DOG- Ishaq Williams (SO)

--I think Shembo will slide over to the CAT position, he has shown this season that he is basically disastrous in coverage. Diaco will get athletes out there who can play well in space and that simply isn't Shembo. Ishaq will need to have a BIG spring and do well next year. Diaco wisely switched to a nickel package instead of putting Shembo in coverage, but he won't have the luxury of having capable and experienced DB's this season.

*I'd like to see Kendall Moore get a look here. He looks like a much better athlete.

CB- Lo Wood
CB- ???????
SS- Jamoris Slaughter (5th SR)
FS- ???????

--Can Tee Shephard start at CB as a freshmen? That would be unreal. Considering that he didn't play his senior year of high school, it seems unlikely. He is an early-enrollee though.

The CB battles will be intense with Wood, Shephard, Darby, Jackson, Boyd, Brown. A lot of people could play here.

--Eilar Hardy at safety per chance? Again, he's a better athlete than the rest but I would guess that it depends on his recovery and spring.

ccrunner609;993267 wrote:Who is the first nuthugger to predict a BCS bowl win?

Go molest a child or something you douche.

I think Notre Dame should improve on their record next season. I think they can avenge a couple of their losses. Michigan being one of them and possibly Stanford. I still think USC will be tough, they are a force right now.

I'm so happy that Gary Gray is gone forever. Hopefully Te'o comes back. Either way I'll feel pretty good about the front seven. Secondary has been an issue for years so that's nothing new. If Hendrix comes out in the bowl game and shows something and gets the offense rolling I'll feel good about that, too. Receivers need to get better. Figure out what to do with Riddick and get him to stop pissing down his leg. On that topic find a damn punt returner before the season starts too. Also Kelly, don't let the team come out in the horrible way they showed up this year. Those first two losses were easily avoidable.

If the QB situation is resolved, the offense opens up with the up tempo style Kelly wanted, the turnovers are kept to a minimum, iron out the special teams play, and get Te'o back then I don't see why this couldn't be a 9-10 win team next year not including bowl game.

Next years schedule is pretty brutal. Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, mich st., Stanford, Miami, byu, Pitt, the game in Ireland vs navy. Really the only gimme games are purdue, wake, and bc

Why are they playing in Ireland. I hadn't heard about that

bradmaynard;993344 wrote:I'm so happy that Gary Gray is gone forever. Hopefully Te'o comes back. Either way I'll feel pretty good about the front seven. Secondary has been an issue for years so that's nothing new. If Hendrix comes out in the bowl game and shows something and gets the offense rolling I'll feel good about that, too. Receivers need to get better. Figure out what to do with Rid**** and get him to stop pissing down his leg. On that topic find a damn punt returner before the season starts too. Also Kelly, don't let the team come out in the horrible way they showed up this year. Those first two losses were easily avoidable.

If the QB situation is resolved, the offense opens up with the up tempo style Kelly wanted, the turnovers are kept to a minimum, iron out the special teams play, and get Te'o back then I don't see why this couldn't be a 9-10 win team next year not including bowl game.

I hope you're kidding about Gary Gray... The only reason it seems like he's always making bad plays is because we only hear about him once or twice a game. That's because the other 90 percent he's on lockdown. Also, the team turned the ball over way too much in the first two games but dominated those otherwise- especially the defense. Kelly needs to work on ball security most. Agreed with a punt returner- ten returns for 3 yards has to be an NCAA worst. I'd like to see at least ten wins and could see us favored in every game leading up to the eighth again.

In response to the GAIII comment earlier, I think he's more suited to play receiver and would like to see him and Theo switch.

Crimson streak;993439 wrote:Next years schedule is pretty brutal. Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, mich st., Stanford, Miami, byu, Pitt, the game in Ireland vs navy. Really the only gimme games are purdue, wake, and bc

A lot of this will depend on who comes back quarterback wise. If Luck, Jones, Barkley and Robinson (most likely to come back- least intimidating though) that's rough sledding. I'm assuming the first three will leave, along with the graduations of Cousins and JaFoury (who played a little better this year). Should be a fun schedule with some new big time names (OU, Miami) and interesting venues (Ireland, Chicago, Norman, and the Coliseum)

athlete37;993445 wrote:I hope you're kidding about Gary Gray... The only reason it seems like he's always making bad plays is because we only hear about him once or twice a game. That's because the other 90 percent he's on lockdown. Also, the team turned the ball over way too much in the first two games but dominated those otherwise- especially the defense. Kelly needs to work on ball security most. Agreed with a punt returner- ten returns for 3 yards has to be an NCAA worst. I'd like to see at least ten wins and could see us favored in every game leading up to the eighth again.

In response to the GAIII comment earlier, I think he's more suited to play receiver and would like to see him and Theo switch.

Gary Gray was the biggest wild card player I have ever seen. I never knew what to expect out of him. He locked down guys a lot better than him plenty of times, and then other times he made a running back look like Aaron Rodgers. I hate those kind of players. Be constant in what you do, regardless which side of the skill spectrum that is, and that way I know what to expect out of you.

Surest tackler on the team. I definitely would rather have him than whoever takes his place next year

Midstate01;993444 wrote:Why are they playing in Ireland. I hadn't heard about that

Played there once before in 1995 or 1996. Just a cool opportunity for the teams/fans and a chance to get American rules football more exposure I guess? The game will be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092110aac.html

bradmaynard;993344 wrote:I'm so happy that Gary Gray is gone forever.

I'm not.

athlete37;993445 wrote:In response to the GAIII comment earlier, I think he's more suited to play receiver and would like to see him and Theo switch.

Kelly has said GAIII doesn't really have the ball skills needed to be a WR in his offense.

ccrunner609;993502 wrote:ND knows a few things about molesting little boys.

Yup, you sure burned the Ohio State fan who's post you were replying to...

athlete37;993503 wrote:Yup, you sure burned the Ohio State fan who's post you were replying to...

hahahaha..reps :thumbup:

I'm curious what's going to happen to with the quarterback position. Is it going to be an open competition between Hendrix and Golson (the two I think will be fighting for the job) or would a strong bowl performance from Hendrix make the job his to lose. I'm excited to see how both would do operating the offense because I think they both have the skill-set needed to run the type of offense that Brian Kelley wants to run.

I'm pretty sure BK has already said it will be an open competition. Rees will have the advantage due to his experience, but everyone will get their chance.

ccrunner609;993502 wrote:ND knows a few things about molesting little boys.

So why aren't you a fan of them, you share similar interests?

grodt;993593 wrote:I'm curious what's going to happen to with the quarterback position. Is it going to be an open competition between Hendrix and Golson (the two I think will be fighting for the job) or would a strong bowl performance from Hendrix make the job his to lose. I'm excited to see how both would do operating the offense because I think they both have the skill-set needed to run the type of offense that Brian Kelley wants to run.

I honestly would like to see both play next year.I think they each bring something different to the table. Hendrix makes a team account for a smash mouth quarterback who can make intermediate throws on a dime. Golson brings agility that punishes a team for blitzing, and a strong deep threat arm.

Oh, and because I don't want either to transfer haha

Lol that's kind of what I was getting at.

Last year he handled it as a competition and Rees did great in the bowl game. Coming out of this year with another QB battle that wasn't caused by graduation is a bit disappointing to me though.

ccrunner609;993267 wrote:Who is the first nuthugger to predict a BCS bowl win?

When is the last time someone here predicted that, ya dumb bitch?

here's a pic one of you domers can use--it's perfect to give to someone who loses an avatar bet