Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2011 Season Preview

Coach Brian Kelly had a solid season with the way he was able to close out the year by winning the final four games by 69 points.

The Irish have been average, mediocre or anyway you want to want to put it the past few seasons.

However, those Irish eyes are smiling now, because 19 starters are back from an 8-5 team that thrashed the Miami Hurricanes in the Sun Bowl 33-17. 

I can guarantee you the expectations will be raised in year two of the Kelly era, but will the Fighting Irish finally get back to a BCS Bowl?

The Hype

Notre Dame has not cracked the final AP Top 10 to finish a season since their 2005-2006 season, which resulted in a 34-20 loss to Ohio State in the BCS Fiesta Bowl. Though it may only be year two of the Kelly era, some experts (Chris Fowler, ESPN) and most fans in South Bend are expecting that streak to snap. 

College Football would be nothing without Irish football and when the Irish are relevant, things get that much more exciting. Unless of course you are not a fan of the Golden Domers.

Most fans of Notre Dame are not convinced that they do not get the best players in the world. While being ranked 8th, 2nd, 21st, 14th, and 10th the past five years (rivals.com) has certainly challenged my theory, it is the type of playmakers and coaching you have that determines just how great your recruiting classes are. 

One of the Top Five Linebackers in America?

Defensively, the front three (3-4) needs to step up and bottle up the running game or else the secondary will be exposed.

Most of the opponents on the Irish schedule year in and year out do not have the best passing attacks, but the Irish secondary has been so mediocre that it has not mattered. I will throw out one more telling stat as to how far or how low Notre Dame's defense can go.

Manti Te’o, who may crack my All-American team, is looking to become the first Irish defender to be honored since 2002, when LB Courtney Watson (ESPN AA) and CB Shane Walton (AP among many others), both received honors. Yes, it has been that long since there has been a relevant, elite defensive player in South Bend.

Te’o has elite, top-notch speed for a middle linebacker, and is often living in the backfield of the opposition. He is easily the anchor of this defense and without him the Domers take a step toward mediocrity, but with him healthy they are among the top 20 defenses in all the land.

Duo of Golden Safeties

Manti may be a one man wrecking crew, but it is the players up front, and more importantly in the secondary that will be critical in how far this team goes in 2011.

One of the more underrated, hardest-hitting safety duos deserving of more credit are the likes of Harrison Smith and Jamoris Slaughter. Zeke Motta will also see some extensive playing time in certain packages.

Harrison Smith was a flat out stud for just a junior a season ago as he will be expected to carry the bulk of the load in the back four.

The corners used to be awful, but Gary Gray, Robert Blanton and Lo Wood will keep fans from scratching their heads when an opposing QB throws a deep ball. Gray has solid skills and could become a Sunday player with a successful season.

Young Defensive Line

Defensive line veterans Kapron Lewis-Moore, Hafis Williams, Ethan Johnson and Sean Cwynar will get the majority of playing time, but watch out for freshmen Aaron Lynch (6’6”, 265 pounds) and Stephon Tuitt (6’5”, 295 pounds), as the Irish will possess a seven-eight man rotation.

Tuitt was ranked as the second-best defensive end according to Rivals and Lynch was ranked as the third-best end.

Lynch has been impressive all spring and summer and has the makings of becoming the next great lineman in South Bend. Also, watch out for sophomore Louis Nix III who is a beast at 6'3", 326-pounds. 

If this defense plays as fast as they did to close out the season last year, things will be very bright early on in the season.

The defense is crucial because they open up with quite the schedule facing South Florida, Michigan, and Michigan State. Those three teams have one thing in common—tremendous, experienced signal callers (B.J. Daniels, Denard Robinson and Kirk Cousins) that will truly challenge Notre Dame.

Star Power Led by Wood

QB Dayne Crist is coming off two torn ACLs in two consecutive seasons, but backup Tommy Rees has a lot of momentum after throwing for 201 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-17 Sun Bowl victory over Miami.

However, Crist has been named the starting signal caller and he will be looking forward to putting the ball in the hands of his slew of backs and receivers.

Cierre Wood will take over duties as running back, and he has home run speed. He went off against the Hurricanes with 12 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown. He does not have too much competition other than senior Jonas Gray. 

Improvement Expected

The offensive line was brutal at the end of Charlie Weis’ reign as the head coach. Expect bigger, better things in 2011 for the Kelly-led Golden Domers.

Trevor Robinson is quite the guard and is expected to anchor the line. Taylor Dever at right tackle and Zack Martin at left tackle must protect whoever is under center in order for this offense to be more successful than a season ago.

Braxston Cave will be the center and I expect him to make a huge improvement. This Irish team has struggled mightily in pass protection, but they have been extremely solid in the ground game. 

Records Are Made to Be Broken

The receiving corps will be solid with Michael Floyd at one end and T.J. Jones and Theo Riddick on the other side and in the slot. Jones is primed to have an excellent season because of the array of defenders that Floyd will draw.

Jones has the looks of a future star with great speed (4.46 forty), athleticism, (31" vertical), great hands, and route-running  skills.  He came up big with three touchdown grabs in his freshman year.

Floyd is an All-American and has the potential to put together a sensational senior season. He is currently the all-time touchdown leader in Notre Dame history with 28 receiving touchdowns, and could break more records in 2011.

No. 3 needs just two more 100-yard receiving games behind leader Golden Tate who finished his Notre Dame career with 15.

Floyd also needs only eight more catches to pass Jeff Samardzija’s 179 career hauls to become the all- time leader in receptions.

Lastly, with 169 receiving yards Floyd will pass Tate and Samardzija for the most receiving yards in Notre Dame history. It is very possible that Floyd will accomplish these program milestones after the first month.

Drama's Forecast

The schedule sets this season up to be a great one for the Irish. Six home games are good to note, and they only have five road games since the game against Maryland will be away from their campus.

The crucial part about this season will be how they come storming right out of the gates. They need to impress the pollsters and the media if they expect to have a successful season. It is different playing at Notre Dame Stadium compared to anywhere else on a Saturday.

If they were to lose more than one game in the month of September they would jump right out of the Top 25 and greatly reduce their chances of getting to a BCS Bowl.

Luckily, the end of the season is not daunting by any means, outside of a home game against USC and a road tilt in Palo Alto in what will be Andrew Luck’s final home game.

They will be favored in arguably 10 of their 12 games if not more, depending on how they play in their opener against South Florida.

Michigan on the road in what will be the very first night game in Ann Arbor should be quite a thrill, though the following week against the Spartans may be even tougher.

Split those two games along with the games against USC and Stanford and the Irish would be looking at another BCS Bowl and a top ten finish in the final AP poll.

Returning Starters: 10 Offense/ 9 Defense 

Projected Record: 10-3 (Includes bowl)

Projected Bowl: BCS Sugar Bowl