Don't you love perspective posts?
Today, I read an article labeling ND recruiting this year as so-so. While it's certainly not on par with last year's class, you have to like what we've brought in so far.
- Cierre Wood is the highest-rated running back to commit to Notre Dame since I've been following the Irish.
- Tyler Stockton is rated higher than any of our defensive linemen from last year other than Ethan Johnson. He's going to be pushing for playing time from day one. Too bad he can't play this year.
- Alex Bullard had offers from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and Tennessee among others. He's an excellent prospect.
- Carlo Calbrese and Theo Riddick are both four-star players.
- Dan Fox is a three-star player, but he has as much upside as any linebacker I've seen. He's 6-foot-4, 210 pounds as a junior, runs a 4.6 and covers like a DB. He's a guy you can easily see earning an NFL paycheck one day. I'll go ahead and predict at least another star for Fox.
- Taking a Golic is a no-brainer at tight end, and Jake will have some time to develop behind the talented Notre Dame tight ends brought in last year.
- We've also shored up our kicker and punter positions with TnT (Tausch and Turk.)
Today's Must Reads
Underwhelmed?
Here's perspective. So far in 2008, with just nine players, Notre Dame has already signed more four-star players and more five-star players than Notre Dame signed in Ty Willingham's last two years at Notre Dame...combined.
In case you want to compare notes, right now Willingham has exactly zero commitments so far at Washington. Zero.
Now for perspective on perspective, there is less margin for error in 2008. For this year to be a success, Notre Dame has to land the Baby Bulls of 2008 to go along with Bullard. Chris Watt and Xavier Nixon are the key gets for Notre Dame here. Landing those players would give ND more star power on the offensive line than ND brought in 2006.
ND definitely has some work to do, but with a better than expected season ahead, the Irish are sitting in good position for the home stretch run. If they land a couple of top players, plus get in on some emerging players (remember these kids are still growing), Notre Dame could land its fourth straight top 10 class.
Still worried? Hey, you could be a Husky fan.
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2 months ago
The Fighting Irish are weak and will be for at least another year or two. I liken them to Kentucky four years ago. Alot of promising talent on campus in one class that won't deliver until they are juniors at best most likely as seniors...
from 2 months ago
HAHA.
This is funny. Going into 2009, ND will have one of the most talented teams in the country with 19 returning starters. Most of these starters will have at least 2 years of experience.
You are correct though about kids not turning the corner until their junior year. Good thing the #8 class is entering their 3rd year this fall.
ND will be far from weak this year and next year a contender for a BCS. Put down the hateraide kid.
2 months ago
The good news it would be impossible to be worse than last season. They will still be bad for a few years to come.
2 months ago
I just hope the GPA doesn't drop below a 3.00 and some of these young men don't graduate.
2 months ago
"So far in 2008, with just nine players, Notre Dame has already signed more four-star players and more five-star players than Notre Dame signed in Ty Willingham's last two years at Notre Dame...combined." -- Now that is a telling statistic! - both for future ND football and for why 2007 was so poor.
I expect Notre Dame to have its fourth Top Ten recruiting class in four years under Weis. With the top rated running back in the class, backed by the best RB on the east coast - a four star - and with so many highly-regarded recruits considering ND, the Irish's future is very bright.
Willingham's best recruiting class for ND was 18th. The other two were not rated.
2 months ago
I don't see it though.
You are talking about a team that didn't gain more than 1,000 yards rushing as a team... A sophomore starting QB who is going to throw picks and need run support to grow... This is not a Ohio State or Georgia or USC situation with the running game. There is no revolving door yet. This happens when you treat recruits like a third grader treats girls with coodies for a few years. #8 recruiting class does not make up for the fact that they were miserable last year unless you want to look at the coaching. (You could argue that it is a less intense Ed Orgeron situation if you want. I am not your mom or your pop.) In the long run consistent recruiting typically equals results in the win column. However, the fact remains this next year will be a .500 effort at best and potentially a face pressed to the window looking in at a BCS bowl game the next year(8,9 wins) followed by a Magical Mr. Clausen Heisman maybe even championship season.
But for now...
Here is your best case scenerio 2007 Season. (It's just what I see. I can't help it.)
Sept. 6 SAN DIEGO STATE W
Sept. 13 MICHIGAN L
Sept. 20 at Michigan State L
Sept. 27 PURDUE W
Oct. 4 STANFORD W
Oct. 11 at North Carolina L
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 25 at Washington W
Nov. 1 PITTSBURGH W
Nov. 8 at Boston College L
Nov. 15 at Navy (Baltimore) W
Nov. 22 SYRACUSE L
Nov. 29 at USC L
I have never even seen Hateraide...
from 2 months ago
100% correct they did not rush for 1000 yards. A counter is the schedule got A LOT easier.
As for how the coaching staff treats kids, yes the coaching staff needs to improve. The fact that the coaching staff has said they need to improve gives me a great confidence that they will. Unlike some programs where the line is my way or the highway. If Weis did not acknowledge this challenge, I would be worried and consider it a factor for 2008.
As for calling a prediction as fact.....all that solves is proving you are a fool.
I mean you put Syracuse as a L. That alone shows you are just trying to bash ND or you are a moron. (It's just what I see. I can't help it.)
from 2 months ago
wow...I have Butch Davis' Tar Heels beating the Irish. He's had some pretty kewl recruiting classes as well. I have always maintained that recruiting classes mean squat if you can't nurture the talent. (See Florida State for proof. ) So far, Weis hasn't done that. Let's see how he does this season. If the Irish don't beat SDSU by 30, it's going to be a long season for the Irish.
2 months ago
You can sign all the 4* star players you want. If Weis doesn't start developing that, talent it doesn't matter. So far the recruiting services have ranked you guys high, but you're on the brink of having your classes scrutinize if they don't perform. Bottom line if you don't get it done this year maybe the whispers of your critics are right in saying your classes are VERY overated.
2 months ago
comes back to the chicken or the egg recruiting paradox...
is notre dame recruiting these players because they really are blue chips, or does rivals/scout label them as blue chips because notre dame is recruiting them?
from 2 months ago
Obviously, you have a slanted opinion and you have not followed ratings very long.
It's the exact opposite of what you propose.
With a little research, you'll find that kids are generally rated higher BEFORE ND takes an interest. Once they sign at Notre Dame, they tend to lose a star. Look it up.
from 2 months ago
hmm, the players are obviously talented and a bunch got drafted this season despite the poor play on the field (carlson, zibby, laws, sullivan)... i kinda feel sorry for the recruits charlie suckers in to play forr him, even though he'll only be there a couple more season before his ass gets canned
2 months ago
good question bowlbasaur
2 months ago
this IS alot easier schedule this year and i can see us losing no more than 3 games. what we needed last year (more than anything on a rebuilding year) was a cup cake parade like Ohio State has this year.
2 months ago
It's true Jonah, the only thing that will keep this team down is player development. Everybody knows that the talent is there, Now it's up to the staff to coach these kids up. Charlie already admitted that he screwed this up going into last season. Instead of the veteran stable of players that he had 2 years ago, he had a very young, inexperienced team. In fact, most of the talent were underclassmen.
What hurt the development the most IMO was the fact that the Irish were hunting for a National Title in 2006. Because of this, and because of our horrible defense, the younger players got practically no playtime, which would have helped us greatly last year.
What pisses me off the most though was in the blowout games. Penn. St., Stanford, Army, Navy and Air Force. All blowouts, but all games where reserves (especially O line) got very little playtime.
The coaching staff has a lot to prove this year, and they made one great move bringing in Jon Tenuta.
I think this could be the greatest coaching hire in CFB this year.
The Irish back 7 will do great things this year.
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