Comments on: Upping the Offensive Ante in 2013

By: SEE

SEE — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 10:09:48 +0000

Read it again. The defense can be a better unit on the whole, but will likely be put in tougher situations by a more aggressive offense.

The defense could be better but the stats could still be worse.

If the offense scores more on average, that doesn’t mean that average will play out every game. Well have more blowouts this year, but could also have more losses.

By: Bob in Denver

Bob in Denver — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 19:45:43 +0000

In reply to eddie the geek.

Every break possible went the Irish’s way last year. Right up until the BCS when all of the good karma came crashing back against us. If they replayed last season 10 times, I don’t think the Irish go 12-0 more than once or twice. How we won the Pitt game will forever be a mystery.

So, even if the team was exactly as good as last year’s, I don’t think I’d pick them to do better than 10-2, maybe 11-1.

By: Don in LA

Don in LA — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:18:45 +0000

Good piece…

Lose the sarcastic comment about Jarron Jones and it’s even better. You can make your point without resorting to 8th grade insults. Step it up.

By: eddie the geek

eddie the geek — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:44:49 +0000

In reply to SEE.

I’m not following your logic – the defense is expected to be every bit as stout as last year’s, and the special teams have to be better (they could not possibly be worse), so if the overall record is expected to regress from last year, by process of elimination we must expect the offense to be worse, don’t we? Yet the premise of your writing is that the offense will be better. So what am I missing?

By: eddie the geek

eddie the geek — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:42:19 +0000

In reply to Drasail2. We don't need no stinkin' special teams.

By: jrdjr84

jrdjr84 — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 22:26:12 +0000

In reply to Marble Rye. Per BK: "Andrew Hendrix can run the offense." Sounds to me like having an experienced and physically gifted backup means you play the qb position the way that wins in college and increasingly in the NFL as well: your qb runs.

By: ChiTownFan

ChiTownFan — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 14:14:52 +0000

6 Days until kick-off! I’m jacked. Best of luck to this years team.

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 14:06:57 +0000

Rees “just has to be able to get 5-10 yards running when necessary.” Guaranteed! “Be a credible read option threat.” What could be simpler! Rees’s “running ability has improved.” Write it in stone.

I’m sure Rees will be better and will have a good year. He’ll win a bunch of games, but as before the elite teams will address his strengths and expose his weaknesses.

By: irishhawk50

irishhawk50 — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 02:18:42 +0000

I am a Kool Aid drinker! Go Irish!

By: domer03

domer03 — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 17:37:20 +0000

Even the eternal optimist would have to concede that the starters on this year’s team are not as talented as last year. After losing the starting QB, top 2 RBs, the best tight end in the country, and the Heisman runner up then a regression is almost inevitable. That being said, the overall talent on the full roster is really starting to fill the cupboards in providing depth at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. Freshmen and sophomores will see significant playing time this year. What will be key is how fast they develop into productive high-level players.

Having Rees in there is a step back compared to Golson. While he has a high football IQ, his skill set is extremely limited with his inability to run and his noodle arm. As a result, he has to throw more underneath passes which lets the DBs play further up in the box and hampers the running game.

9-10 wins is the highest likelihood despite what all the cool-aid drinkers say in their excitement before the season.