'Twas the Night before Christmas
Like a kid on Christmas Eve. That's always how I feel the night before "Game Day," especially the opener. How can I not weigh in with a quick preseason report. One writer on NDNation.com characterized this season as a Forest Gump style "box of chocolates." It's true. I don't ever remember a season with so many unknowns... a season looked upon with so much excitement and worry at the same time. My dad took me to my first game during Lou's first season, and it sort of lit a fire to say the least. Heisman winner Tim Brown and the '87 Irish hooked me, and I listened to or watched every game during the Title run in '88. And I haven't missed a game since. In all these years, only 2 seasons (2000 and 2004) did I think the Irish did not have a shot at the National Championship (I know, I'm an optimist for sure). But I'll try to be as objective as possible with this post, so mark down 2007 as the third such season... unfortunately.
There are 2 ways to look at this season:
1. We are switching to a brand-new defensive scheme with a new defensive coordinator who has never held the position, and inherits a 65th ranked defense with an undersized, 3-star average front 7. On offense, we must replace the 2 most productive receivers in ND history, the best QB in ND history, and a multi-year 1,000 yard rusher, and we put these newcomers behind an offensive line with 3 new starters. Overall, the juniors and seniors are the worst back-to-back classes in ND history (Thanks Ty!). We only have 6 seniors on scholarship! Add to that a murderous schedule, especially early, and whoa, close your eyes folks.
2. We are switching to a 3-4 def. scheme that perfectly matches our personnel, and will debut the hottest up-and-coming young fireball coaching talent in decades (Corwin Brown) who inspires young men to over achieve. Furthermore, coaching synergy, aka "The Patriot Way," will be in effect as Weis has one of his own and will now be able to coordinate the offensive and defensive game plans. Our defensive backfield is so talented that projected future NFL cornerback Ambrose Wooden has been relegated to the 5th nickel back in passing situations. The freshman and sophomore classes are so good they will be able to step in and cover for the recruiting black hole left by Willingham. The offensive line returns 2 studs and plugs 3 holes with highly touted talent. We also have the best tight end in the country. The running back position is absolutely loaded 4 deep with a 5th who outshined them all in the spring scrimmage. The inexperienced but talented QBs and WRs will only need to avoid mistakes and keep the defense honest as we run the ball down their throats.
As Lou Holtz says, "Nothing's as good as it seems, nothing's as bad as it seems. Somewhere in between, reality falls."
I'll try my hand at a prediction for the season. It's impossible for me to look at an individual game and predict a loss. But from a bigger picture I can be a bit more objective. It's pretty easy to break this season into 3 categories:
1. Must-Win Games:
Navy, Air Force, Duke, @Stanford
Charlie has yet to lose a game he shouldn't have and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.
Prediction: 4-0
2. Bubble Games:
Georgia Tech, Michigan State, @Purdue, Boston College
This is where Weis earns his money this year. These teams all currently have similar overall talent (not for long though!), but I still like our chances with this coaching staff. One slip-up due to an inexperienced QB throwing a couple untimely picks would be forgivable. (remind me that I said this if it happens).
Prediction: 3-1
3. Beware Games:
@Penn State, @Michigan, @UCLA, USC
Whoa Nellie. We will be heavy underdogs in these games, but as we approach each one I will be saying we've got a shot. Big picture realist talking: ND fans should be happy, if not expect, pulling off at least one "wake up the echoes moment" against these teams.
Prediction: 1-3
That puts us at 8-4 and go ahead and add a Cotton or Gator Bowl victory to put us at 9-4. We will be better than most "experts" predict, as they only see 4-7 wins.
Now, for those who follow recruiting, you know the hauls Weis has brought in the last two years and the current class under construction is the best yet - possibly the number one class in the nation. So mark this down as THE LAST season during the Charlie Weis era that I will start the season believing we don't have a chance at taking it all. As many pre-season mags point out, '07 is the calm before the Irish storm. Even Mark May can see it's coming, despite his dramatic antics with his role as ND villain on ESPN.
I'll also pick a couple break-out stars. On defense, junior free safety David Bruton will anchor a star-studded backfield. Also, while freshman Armando Allen will have to fight for carries in a crowded offensive backfield, he will still provide an every-time-he-touches-the-ball type of electricity not seen since a freshman named Rocket Ismail hit the national seen. I can't wait to see him run back kick-offs as well.
One final prediction. This is a huge game tomorrow given the next 2 are at Penn St. and at Michigan. Battling Tech's D is no easy task for a new QB, but just like last year's matchup, our D will hold it's own as well. And I can't wait to see what's behind Charlie's "I know something you don't know" grin on his face at every press conference.
Notre Dame 24 Georgia Tech 13
For those like me who pace around all morning waiting for kick-off, this video is a nice appetizer. The cast of characters will look quite different this year, but if it doesn't get the blood flowing, you don't have a pulse.
I must now go leave some cookies out for Santa Weis and try to get some sleep.
GO IRISH!
There are 2 ways to look at this season:
1. We are switching to a brand-new defensive scheme with a new defensive coordinator who has never held the position, and inherits a 65th ranked defense with an undersized, 3-star average front 7. On offense, we must replace the 2 most productive receivers in ND history, the best QB in ND history, and a multi-year 1,000 yard rusher, and we put these newcomers behind an offensive line with 3 new starters. Overall, the juniors and seniors are the worst back-to-back classes in ND history (Thanks Ty!). We only have 6 seniors on scholarship! Add to that a murderous schedule, especially early, and whoa, close your eyes folks.
2. We are switching to a 3-4 def. scheme that perfectly matches our personnel, and will debut the hottest up-and-coming young fireball coaching talent in decades (Corwin Brown) who inspires young men to over achieve. Furthermore, coaching synergy, aka "The Patriot Way," will be in effect as Weis has one of his own and will now be able to coordinate the offensive and defensive game plans. Our defensive backfield is so talented that projected future NFL cornerback Ambrose Wooden has been relegated to the 5th nickel back in passing situations. The freshman and sophomore classes are so good they will be able to step in and cover for the recruiting black hole left by Willingham. The offensive line returns 2 studs and plugs 3 holes with highly touted talent. We also have the best tight end in the country. The running back position is absolutely loaded 4 deep with a 5th who outshined them all in the spring scrimmage. The inexperienced but talented QBs and WRs will only need to avoid mistakes and keep the defense honest as we run the ball down their throats.
As Lou Holtz says, "Nothing's as good as it seems, nothing's as bad as it seems. Somewhere in between, reality falls."
I'll try my hand at a prediction for the season. It's impossible for me to look at an individual game and predict a loss. But from a bigger picture I can be a bit more objective. It's pretty easy to break this season into 3 categories:
1. Must-Win Games:
Navy, Air Force, Duke, @Stanford
Charlie has yet to lose a game he shouldn't have and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.
Prediction: 4-0
2. Bubble Games:
Georgia Tech, Michigan State, @Purdue, Boston College
This is where Weis earns his money this year. These teams all currently have similar overall talent (not for long though!), but I still like our chances with this coaching staff. One slip-up due to an inexperienced QB throwing a couple untimely picks would be forgivable. (remind me that I said this if it happens).
Prediction: 3-1
3. Beware Games:
@Penn State, @Michigan, @UCLA, USC
Whoa Nellie. We will be heavy underdogs in these games, but as we approach each one I will be saying we've got a shot. Big picture realist talking: ND fans should be happy, if not expect, pulling off at least one "wake up the echoes moment" against these teams.
Prediction: 1-3
That puts us at 8-4 and go ahead and add a Cotton or Gator Bowl victory to put us at 9-4. We will be better than most "experts" predict, as they only see 4-7 wins.
Now, for those who follow recruiting, you know the hauls Weis has brought in the last two years and the current class under construction is the best yet - possibly the number one class in the nation. So mark this down as THE LAST season during the Charlie Weis era that I will start the season believing we don't have a chance at taking it all. As many pre-season mags point out, '07 is the calm before the Irish storm. Even Mark May can see it's coming, despite his dramatic antics with his role as ND villain on ESPN.
I'll also pick a couple break-out stars. On defense, junior free safety David Bruton will anchor a star-studded backfield. Also, while freshman Armando Allen will have to fight for carries in a crowded offensive backfield, he will still provide an every-time-he-touches-the-ball type of electricity not seen since a freshman named Rocket Ismail hit the national seen. I can't wait to see him run back kick-offs as well.
One final prediction. This is a huge game tomorrow given the next 2 are at Penn St. and at Michigan. Battling Tech's D is no easy task for a new QB, but just like last year's matchup, our D will hold it's own as well. And I can't wait to see what's behind Charlie's "I know something you don't know" grin on his face at every press conference.
Notre Dame 24 Georgia Tech 13
For those like me who pace around all morning waiting for kick-off, this video is a nice appetizer. The cast of characters will look quite different this year, but if it doesn't get the blood flowing, you don't have a pulse.
I must now go leave some cookies out for Santa Weis and try to get some sleep.
GO IRISH!
Well, our worst fears were realized (see number 1 above). Given the lack of a junior or senior class, it's no surprise we lost. But it's obviously a shock to be dominated so thoroughly. The scariest part has to be how clueless the O-line was. Again, confusion against that crazy blitzing scheme was to be expected for such a young group, but for a Weis coached line to be that lost was unbelievable. I think it's safe to say it was the worst performance of Charlie's career. Hopefully that will still be the case 10 years from now. As scary as this was, I'm not quite going to jump ship from my overall predictions above. GaTech is the best of these "bubble" or swing games, so I think it's still possible. But we obviously have our work cut out for us....
btw, how about Appalachian State? Was that not the biggest upset in history?
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well Ryan it looks like one of the bubble games no longer a bubble but a big lose way to start the season, looks like it is going to be a long one. i sent you an email with all the pics we had hope you recieved them, i think there are some pretty good ones in there. cant wait for UCLA to run up the score on the crying Irish, hope you guys are doing well now that you have made it home.
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