College Football Rankings 2011: Is Notre Dame Football Back?

College Football Rankings for 2011 are currently available for critique by millions of fans nationwide, but the presence of Notre Dame Football in the Top 20 sparks the most intrigue.  The strong finish of the Irish in 2010 has been discussed ad nauseum, but is this a Notre Dame team that is worthy of its ranking and able to defend, or improve, that ranking?  Or, is it typical media hype, again?

Ignoring the fact that the strong finish last season came against an ailing and overrated Utah program, a completely overmatched Army institution, an injured and mistake-prone USC team, and a Miami team that completely collapsed in freezing weather, one should analyze the team preparing for South Florida, and not the team as it existed in 2010.  Who is this Notre Dame team?

Obviously, the Notre Dame defense has finally found its stride for the first time since Ty Willingham’s first year in 2002 when Bob Davie’s recruits proved to be formidable.  Charlie Weis was never able to put his prolific offense with a competent defense, but he landed the cornerstones of this year’s 2011 defense.  Notre Dame Football finally has a front seven that can pressure the quarterback, while taking a load off an otherwise talented secondary.  Manti Teo and Darius Fleming headline a linebacking crew that should provide excellent speed in space, while having enough strength to stop the run.  Prince Shembo showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, so it’s only logical that another year in the system would only make him better, especially as the backside linebacker where he can roam the field, using his athleticism to make plays.

When one considers the talent in the secondary with highly lauded corners and highly touted Senior Safety Harrison Smith manning the center of the field, the only question is Notre Dame’s defensive line.  Can they stop the run and get pressure on some of the nation’s top quarterbacks?  Not only has the defensive line had a second year in regarded strength and conditioning coach Paul Longo’s unique training program, but the line has been bolstered by two five star recruits—Aaron Lynch and Stephon Tuitt.  With experience, strength, and the ability to lean on Freshman who entered the University ready to play, the defensive line is the final piece to a successful defensive equation.

Bob Davie always had excellent defenses, but was unable to couple those defenses with competent offenses, wasting offensive talents like future NFL wide receiver David Givens.  Does Brian Kelly have an offense to go with his defense?  Last year, Kelly relied on a heavy ground game once Dayne Crist went down with an ACL injury.  That running game revealed a nasty offensive line that was more than capable of owning the line of scrimmage, aiding Tommy Rees by alleviating his need to consistently throw the ball. 

At the same time, Rees was able to move the ball in ways that Dayne Crist couldn’t.  While Dayne took sacks and often stalled the offense with balls thrown in the dirt or in the stands, Rees kept the game plan simple, avoiding sacks and putting the ball where receivers could make plays.

Does Kelly have the pieces in place to have a proficient offense?  While quarterback controversies are never fun, the Irish are in the best position at quarterback since the Irish had Jared Clark, Matt Lovecchio, and Carlyle Holiday on the depth chart.  If Crist’s consistency wanes, the Irish have a capable backup in Rees.  If neither is able, Andrew Hendrix is further along than Rees  when he took the reigns, last year.  Additionally, Freshman phenom Everett Golson would be a welcomed athlete who could use his feet where Rees is unable to.  At quarterback, the Irish couldn’t be happier with their situation, despite the competition and uncertainty.

Does the offense have the other pieces?  If comments from fall camp are any indication, the receivers feel as comfortable as they ever have.  It’s disconcerting, however, that Davaris Daniels must play, but his athleticism is unquestionable, so he could explode onto the scene.  Playmakers exist in Michael Floyd and Theo Riddick, and tight end has always been strong for Notre Dame.

The running game is a huge question for Kelly due to the lack of depth.  Cierre Wood showed that he is a capable starter, but Jonas Gray has a notorious history of losing the ball despite having the talent to be a star.  Besides Wood and Gray, the Irish have to rely on a true Freshman, or Riddick, to carry the load if the injury bug strikes.  Using Riddick further hurts an already thin receiving corp, and though explosive, true Freshmen George Atkinson III and Cam McDaniel will hardly be ready for such a large stage.  To the running game’s credit, the offensive line is one of the most experienced in the country and takes pride in its ability to dominate its opponents ten, fifteen, or twenty yards down field.

Dayne Crist’s consistency and the health of the Notre Dame football team are the biggest questions on offense.  If it's any consolation, the offense can rest assured that moving the ball into field goal range will guarantee three points behind the foot of David Ruffer who only missed his last field goal in 2010.

Finally, the Irish schedule includes foes from the College Football Rankings for 2011. Stanford starts in the Top 10 and Michigan State starts in the Top 20, along with Michigan, Pitt, South Florida, Air Force and Maryland receiving votes.  USC is ineligible, but certainly worth votes, as well.  Notre Dame’s schedule features the most number of teams that played in a bowl in 2010 of any team in the nation.  Can they survive their 2011 schedule?

The beginning of the season will tell as Notre Dame football opens with an athletic quarterback commanding Skip Holtz’s South Florida Bulls.  Then, the Irish take on rivals Michigan, Michigan State, and Pittsburgh before facing the Air Force option attack.  The first half of the season is perilous, so the Irish should know whether they can defend their Top 20 College Football Ranking in 2011.

Notre Dame’s speed on defense has seen an exponential upgrade, but are the freshmen too young to contribute?  Will the offense have someone who can lead them in a prolific offensive attack if the defense has difficulty stopping its opponent?  Furthermore, will the Irish be able to avoid injury to survive its brutal schedule? 

I predict the Irish end the season in the Top 10 after losing two in the first half of the season, but defeat Stanford on Thanksgiving weekend. Crist won't finish the season as the starter, but will contribute as Rees excels in the starting role, supported by the surprise play of Andrew Hendrix.  While the defense is seemingly impenetrable, it still struggles against athletic quarterbacks in the spread and ultimately finishes ranked in the Top 30 nationally.  All and all, this is not a perfect Notre Dame football team, but it finishes ranked 8th in the College Football Rankings, entering the 2012 season as a contender for the National Title.