I’m sorry but I have a tough time uderstanding the love for MSU. Didn’t we hammer them last year? We matched up well against them and now their offense is one dimensional with a new QB and WR’s. They have a great defense but I think O will be clicking by then and we’ll score enough to win. I just don’t see them running well against our front seven with an inexperenced QB unable to beat us deep. I trust Diaco on this one.

I think 9-3 are possible. Look I’m not running Vegas with this; but other teams have not beat us so much as edged us out. I get it. A loss is a loss; however, one turnover less or one more from the defense. Maybe one more electric play that flips the field or inspires the team. One less blown coverage. Who knows?

The loss of the cornerbacks is the biggest problem. We didn’t get stellar play at QB so is it impossible to say either guy could do better? Could a d-line with one more year of experience keep some of the big plays down the field from happening by harassing the QBs early and often? Could they help hide the otherwise inexperienced secondary? As for the wideouts I expect Floyd’s yards can be soaked up in many different ways. He will be missed but as long as ND spreads the ball around enough to keep teams from doubling Eifert the moment he gets off the bus I don’t think overall offensive numbers will drop. Increased efficiency in the red zone can more than make up for his absence. I remember at least 2 fumbles on the one yard line that could better the offensive output of last year.

Of course I say all this and we are after all talking about a probability poll not a possibility poll. I guess that may look a lot different. Cheers. Go Irish!

The trip to Ireland troubles me. In my past life I traveled extensively to Europe and those overnight flights where you arrive in the daylight after basically missing a night’s sleep were terrible. I would have urged ND to leave in the morning and arrive in the night local time, eat, go to sleep early and get up early the next morning and start up. I am also worried about the late start for the Purdue game. On your return you tend to get up early and tire earlier for a few days. A 1:30 start would have been advisable and, oh, I also have a trick play that I think would work! Go Irish!

#1 Turnovers….turnovers….turnovers
I believe with a mobile QB there will be more yards picked up (by running) than throwing the ball to the wrong person, throwing it out of bounds, or a sack. ND should have beaten USF, and Michigan for sure (maybe USC). The big problem with those two-three losses was TURNOVERS!! Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of other things that went wrong, but turn overs was 80% of our losses.

#2 Scoring in the red zone!!!!
I can’t count how many time ND had an opportunity to score inside the red zone. I know two red zones were sent back for TD’s (USF & USC). That was a turning point for ND when SC scored that 99 yard TD.

#3 Letting the opposing team back in the game.
Florida St. and Michigan come to mind. ND needs to conrol the second half of the ball game. I think they play to conservative in the second half.

Prediction:
ND’s QB will be Everett Golson this 2012 season. Everett has an excellent arm, quick feet, oh…and he can RUN with the ball!!! Rees was not a runner, which he had three options if the reciever wasn’t open…INT, throw out of bounds, or get sacked. Don’t get me wrong….Golson will make his share of mistakes. I also think he will have way less mistakes (INT) than Rees.
Kelly needs that mobile QB which I think it is Golson.

Record – 9-3 or 10-2 ………losses – USC or OKlahoma or both, and MSU

Ditto all around.

@ wow sir: Exactly! Stoney’s screen name just about sums it up.

It seems like everyone is labeling BYU as a toss up. This surprises me. I think that one is a lock.

well.. now or next year for Kelly. He’ll be given a longer leash than prior coaches especially given ND’s projected to have the hardest schedule in the nation. He’ll have to really screw things up to get fired this year (like 2-10 screw up).