Notre Dame Football Preview: Can Irish Rebound from Last Year's Debacle?

FS David Bruton is the leader of the secondary and one of the best on the team.  He had three picks and finished third on the team in tackles.  CB Terrail Lambert, like Bruton, is a senior, and he should see a rise in his play.

This is a defensive unit that shouldn't get any worse than last year with the addition of Tenuta.

THE SCHEDULE

Sep. 6  San Diego State

Sep. 13  Michigan

Sep. 20  at Michigan State

Sep. 27  Purdue

Oct. 4  Stanford

Oct. 11  at North Carolina

Oct. 25  at Washington

Nov. 1  Pitt

Nov. 8  at Boston College

Nov. 15  vs. Navy

Nov. 22  Syracuse

Nov. 29  at USC

Comparing this year's slate with 2007's, this is slightly easier.  Oh sure, the usual suspects are there again—Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford, Navy, and USC—but the best news is that San Diego State, North Carolina, Washington, Pitt, and Syracuse are mid-to-low level BCS schools that are more than winnable for the Irish.

They could catch Michigan early if the Wolverines haven't gotten their feet wet with the switch in regimes, so I wouldn't rule that one out either.

Don't Even Think About It: @ USC

Ehhhhh.....Maybe....: Michigan, Purdue, @ Boston College

Good/Probable Shot At It: San Diego State, @ Michigan State, Stanford, @ UNC, @ Washington, Pitt, Navy, Syracuse

THE OUTLOOK

Notre Dame will be either 6-6 or 7-5.  This team should be way better than last season's disaster.

I'm not sure whether Charlie Weis is to blame for not being able to develop the talent he's hauling in with his recruiting classes or not, but with all of the guys he's getting back on offense, they should see a pretty large improvement overall.  The addition of Tenuta can only help matters, and the schedule isn't a monster.

I've seen projections ranging from no bowl game to the Gator Bowl, and I think I'll kind of go in between that with a bid to the...

BOWL GAME?

Papajohns.com Bowl (remember, it's against an SEC foe this year, not a C-USA team).

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