Notre Dame ranked #18 in College Football News poll

[Marra]

:scared

The sad thing is I think we should put more credence in the college football news poll than the AP poll.

Yes, this is the lowest you?ll see the Irish ranked anywhere (remember that these rankings are based on how good the teams are from top to bottom) and yes, the potential is there for a BCS Championship appearance if Charlie and the boys get out of September unbeaten. However, this is a tremendously flawed team with average corners, a limited pass rush from the front four, and no developed depth anywhere meaning the machine might quickly grind to a halt if injuries hit the skill positions. The secondary didn't get any faster in the off-season, although a few freshmen should provide some immediate help, the offensive line is average, and the overall athleticism and talent level, which was exposed in the Fiesta Bowl by Ohio State, is a year or two away from being up-to-snuff for a national title-caliber powerhouse. There's a whole boatload of talent on the way and this will be a USC-like program by 2008, but not all of the stars are in South Bend quite yet. Remember, outside of the win over an average Michigan squad, last year's team didn't beat anyone with a pulse.

 

[CWood97]

Methinks Fat Chuck is in for a tough year (relative to expectations) in 2007. Clearly, he has the program headed in the right direction, but they were just 9-3 last year, and the slate is a bit tougher this time around.

 

[Marra]

This year could be similar to Willingham circa year 2, but Weis has a bit more talent and is a better coach. But I think betting against Notre Dame the first few weeks is prudent.

 

[dlvlsu]

I agree! Long year for Notre and there fans. Money to be made betting against Notre this year. easy money

 

[blgstocks]

yo marra where did you get that analysis of ND? and if you dont mind can u post what they say about vatech and asu?

 

[DIRTY Diapers]

Awesome... I still remember the "experts" saying we were going to start 0-6 last year. LOL.

 

[IE]

Virginia Tech Hokies
Preview 2006

When it comes to the NCAA basketball tournament, there's a theory among many coaches that all anyone can reasonably do is field good team after good team and get into the big dance every year. Eventually, the luck will even out and you'll have a team that comes together just at the right time and gets all the right breaks to make a big run. Virginia Tech football has hung around long enough to finally get one of those everything-goes-right sort of seasons.

Texas, LSU and Ohio State are examples of high powered programs that had been knocking on the door for a while and then finally found the right bouncer to let them into the club. Virginia Tech has five double-digit win seasons in the last seven, but hasn't been able to get into the national title mix since Michael Vick was around hurt by painful losses that even the most hopeful of Hokie fans have been able to set their watches to. Say this about Tech; when it goes down, it makes a big splash.

But this year has the potential to be different. This might be the year when everyone assumes a rebuilding job must be done, and then all of a sudden, it'll be November and the Hokies could be unbeaten and ranked in the top five. Is this one of the five best teams in America? Heavens no, it's probably not one of the top 15, but as the discriminating college football fan has realized by now, it's all about the schedule.

There's a road trip to Miami for what should be for the Coastal Division title, but the road team has won the last two games in the series and Tech has beaten the Canes two of the last three times. Road trips to North Carolina and Boston College will be battles, but let's be serious here. If the Tar Heels and the Eagles are two of your biggest road obstacles to playing in the national title game, you're going to be in the hunt. Of course, there are some decent home games against Georgia Tech, Clemson and Virginia, but Tech should be favored in each game. ........cont........




links are up on madjacks handicapping page, since we do not want direct links on the forum:

http://madjacksports.com/forum/handicappers.php?c=19

more will be added and updated in the next couple of days also.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Another thing I noticed in the article
"2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 9-3"

ND is over-rated this year, but 17 teams better than the Irish??? But they got everyone to their site, so the "prediction" served it's purpose.

 

[thom24ad]

Ranking ND out of the top ten is down right retarded...I mean they have talent on this team and a great coach can make a world of difference even with teams that have less talent in certain areas...Bottom line Weis makes this a top ten team...geez, just look at his accomplishments in his first year of coaching ND...I totally agree with BBC this was just a ploy to get people to their site

 

[DIRTY Diapers]

Another thing I noticed in the article
"2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 9-3"

ND is over-rated this year, but 17 teams better than the Irish??? But they got everyone to their site, so the "prediction" served it's purpose.

It's also the same site that didn't have ONE player from ND on their top 100 college players last year.

 

[Marra]

It's also the same site that didn't have ONE player from ND on their top 100 college players last year.

Who would you have voted in the top 100? Don't say Quinn...or Shark...or Fasano...or Walker b/c they shouldn't of been on there...

MAYBE Zbikowski, but that is really stretching it.

:shrug:

 

[AR182]

i agree with thom that a magazine that rates n.d. out of the top 10 in preseason loses credibility.

obviously i know why they do it but i think they should do away from pre-season polls & start rating the team's rankings after the 3rd or 4th game.

 

[The Judge]

Last year?s miracle was made possible by a combination of phenomenal coaching, exceptional offensive talent and more than a little luck. It is not likely that Purdue and Michigan will play as poorly this year as last and Notre Dame will not have Pitt to kick around in ?06. The win over Tennessee last year is also tainted by the Vols abominable season so when you look at the big picture, the success seen in ?05 was a bit of a fluke.

No question that Quinn has emerged as the real deal and that he is surrounded with quality players on his side of the ball but last year?s secondary was pretty bad and the defense will have to somehow replace linebackers Vernaglie and Quinn who combined for 172 tackles and 11 sacks last season. I see weaknesses in the defensive pass rush and in the cornerback position which was badly exposed by Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Personally, I have the Irish ranked at #11.

 

[AR182]

yeah judge..i agree with you about nd's defense.

curious as to who you have in the tiop 10 ?

let me guess #1

texas (lol)

 

[blgstocks]

thanks ie

 

[THE KOD]

I got Texas #11 based on not be able to replace the QB.

I have ND in my top ten.

No one can estimate how good ND defense is going to be without grading the replacements. Its easy to say yeh ND will stink on defense because they lost these two players blah blah blah.

I can guarantee that there will be two players on NDs defense
that will combine for 172 tackles and 11 sacks. Nothing changes but the changes.

The guys coming in may very well step up and play better than the ones who left. No one knows before the games begin.

With a year behind the ND defense, good things can happen.

Pre season bullshit as usual

Hook em horns

 

[DIRTY Diapers]

Who would you have voted in the top 100? Don't say Quinn...or Shark...or Fasano...or Walker b/c they shouldn't of been on there...

MAYBE Zbikowski, but that is really stretching it.

:shrug:

:mj07:

V. Abiarmari
Rhema Mcknight
B. Quinn
Zbikowski

Top 100 players...

 

[DIRTY Diapers]

Last year?s miracle was made possible by a combination of phenomenal coaching, exceptional offensive talent and more than a little luck. It is not likely that Purdue and Michigan will play as poorly this year as last and Notre Dame will not have Pitt to kick around in ?06. The win over Tennessee last year is also tainted by the Vols abominable season so when you look at the big picture, the success seen in ?05 was a bit of a fluke.

No question that Quinn has emerged as the real deal and that he is surrounded with quality players on his side of the ball but last year?s secondary was pretty bad and the defense will have to somehow replace linebackers Vernaglie and Quinn who combined for 172 tackles and 11 sacks last season. I see weaknesses in the defensive pass rush and in the cornerback position which was badly exposed by Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Personally, I have the Irish ranked at #11.

A little luck... ND could have put 80 pts on Purdue if they didn't take the foot off the pedal. Their defense will be much improved IMO. It was Minter (defensive Coord) first year and was starting numerous players for the first time.

Ambrose Wooden (CB) is considered by many pro scouts to be in the top 10 corners in the nation.

Zbikowski (FS) is a tremondous athlete who will be playing on Sundays.

V. Abiarmi was the top defensive player coming out of HS and considered a second round draft pick.

They will replace B. Hoyte (Linebacker)with more speed A. Verngalia...

Their defense still has a little way to go to be considered elite, but this will be the second year under Minter and will improve...

ND should be ranked around 9th - 11th IMO.

 

[The Judge]

http://madjacksports.com/forum/handicappers.php?c=19

Why can I not access the "User Reviews"? I get a message saying "You must have more posts and have been a registered user for a longer period of time before you can post a review." :shrug:

 

[IE]

tech person who developed the site never finished some security issues with that feature, hence it is not active, sorry.