Rankings and Polls

[purguy12]

This is a thread we can talk about where ND is ranked.

ND has jumped to #11 after that monster win against Mich. Its nice to see ND get some respect.

 

[jjc2009]

I think we're well-positioned going forward. Our truest tests will come with Stanford and at FSU. Either game will tell us what kind of team we really have. Michigan wasn't a body-bag type opponent, but I think this is a monumentally bad Michigan team, coupled with a lot of emotion in the stands and on the field that led to what we saw.

If the intensity keeps up, I am not going to worry myself about the next two games. Purdue is probably the worst team in the B10 this year bar none, even then, they seem to find a way to get motivated against us and you can bet they will want to redeem themselves on national TV after getting run out of their own place by a MAC team. They won't get many more opportunities to be seen nationally. If we come out flat, I still expect us to win, but we could end up making a game of it. Same with Syracuse. We will probably have more fans in attendance, especially because its not in the Dome, but I can't get too worried about a team that had to go to a couple of overtimes to beat FCS Villanova. This isn't 2008 anymore, so I don't think we'll have a repeat of that. The talent margins are too wide for both teams.

But a win against Stanford will have to take all of our best effort, which will push us into the top 10. If by some miracle we pulled off the upset in Tallahassee, assuming FSU is #1, that might vault us into the top 2-3 (I'd see the pollsters moving Alabama or Oregon up to #1-#2 over us at that point). But We'd only need to be in the top 4 and hold serve the rest of the year, including a big win out in Cali. That's a lot of ifs, and I don't think its in the cards this year. I am just pleased with the performance so far.

 

[NDHoosier101]

I like our playoff chances this year. I'd like our chances against anyone at the moment, but unfortunately I think Stanford and FSU will vastly improve by the time we play them. It was interesting to see Stanford commit so many penalties against USC and absolutely beat themselves. That hasn't happened in a long time, hoping their amazing run has peaked and they're on the slide down. FSU at Tallahassee will be extremely informative about the direction of our program. We've beat the best the PAC and B12 Have had to offer in recent years, but can we finally compete with a great team from the dirty south?

What concerns me most is our wide recieving core and their inability to catch the ball without at least bobbling it. I know Golson has IMO the strongest arm in CFB, but damn guys. Robinson seems to have the best hands, even with the pin in his thumb, and Ben Koyack has yet to impress me. Darias Daniels being suspended really blows.

No real blow coverages against Michigan, and I think if our young but extremely talented secondary can keep mental mistakes to a minimum the sky's the limit, but if not 2 or maybe even 3 losses is a good possibility.


At the very least I'm hoping we can make the playoffs with one loss, provided it's @FSU.

 

[craigk217]

Me, personally, thinking all of this talk of Heismans and playoffs is just wayyyy too premature.

Cmon guys ... it's only been two games against some not really good teams in hindsight, coupled with the suspensions of really good/key players and not really having a true road game for a good long while. I still have 'concerns' with some 'untested weaknesses' on this team and how they are challenged on a consistent basis.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I certainly want to see this team play a real quality opponent before I start even thinking about high rankings, playoffs & Heismans.

 

[NDHoosier101]

Me, personally, thinking all of this talk of Heismans and playoffs is just wayyyy too premature.

Cmon guys ... it's only been two games against some not really good teams in hindsight, coupled with the suspensions of really good/key players and not really having a true road game for a good long while. I still have 'concerns' with some 'untested weaknesses' on this team and how they are challenged on a consistent basis.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I certainly want to see this team play a real quality opponent before I start even thinking about high rankings, playoffs & Heismans.

We crushed Michigan, I'm chugging the kool-aid.

 

[NDHoosier101]

^^^

 

[KnuteRoc]

Me, personally, thinking all of this talk of Heismans and playoffs is just wayyyy too premature.

Cmon guys ... it's only been two games against some not really good teams in hindsight, coupled with the suspensions of really good/key players and not really having a true road game for a good long while. I still have 'concerns' with some 'untested weaknesses' on this team and how they are challenged on a consistent basis.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I certainly want to see this team play a real quality opponent before I start even thinking about high rankings, playoffs & Heismans.

Have to agree with you. I feel in retrospect that I gave Michigan too much credit in worrying about the matchup against them. We played well, but UM played into our strengths at points.

I want to see some consistency. Let's not 'ignore' as part of the epic win that once again we looked bad on the first possession and needed timeouts just to get plays off. I see very little reason for "those" types of errors. There seems to be a gap between the OC and the play coming in from the sideline to the QB, which really shouldn't happen that often.

I do like what I'm seeing but I'm also curious which opponent is going to be crafty enough to try and exploit some of our weaker spots and how effective we'll be at countering that... looks like the Stanford game may be the next 'best' test before the semen-holes. That gives us two games to establish that consistency on both sides of the ball and work on some of those weaker points.

I agree that we should still be a li'l reserved but I certainly don't begrudge any Irish fan from celebrating this win for a few days or so... but the Team already has to be focused on Purdrew, no matter how bad they are and whether we're an overwhelming favorite or not. We need to put them away nice and early and give some backups some time to get experience under their belt and all of the other things that go along with it (to the positive side).

The only thing I would disagree on is that Golson wasn't in the Heisman talk to begin with. Sure, Mariotta and Winston are the likelier favorites but this kid is deserving of being at least mentioned in the mix and especially so before we've even lost a game. Such is the popularity contest I reckon... but the 'hype' should start mounting.

 

[purguy12]

Its an exciting time for this ND team so why not enjoy it. Yes when the season ends we might not be in the playoffs but the future does look good. We have a very young team.

Lets enjoy this win.

 

[whywork2]

We crushed Michigan, I'm chugging the kool-aid.

Call me trailer trash, I like me some Kool Aid.

Enjoy!

 

[whywork2]

That win was like Christmas and New Years all wrapped up in one. If we'd a lost I would have been ill. If we beat Stanford and USC great but beating Michigan was a necessity.

 

[awclayton]

I thought we would be at 12, so I think the ranking reflects how we have played so far. Michigan did run the ball pretty well at times. The Defense is aggressive, however, they will need to put pressure on the QB early in the game against a better opponent instead of when they know they will be passing. I hope Robinson becomes more involved in the offense, Michigan was rolling a safety over towards him most of the game though. O-line needs to produce better running lanes for the backs as we get into tougher competition. Overall, the Irish are playing well, and we will see how tough this team is against Stanford.

 

[purguy12]

I thought we would be at 12, so I think the ranking reflects how we have played so far. Michigan did run the ball pretty well at times. The Defense is aggressive, however, they will need to put pressure on the QB early in the game against a better opponent instead of when they know they will be passing. I hope Robinson becomes more involved in the offense, Michigan was rolling a safety over towards him most of the game though. O-line needs to produce better running lanes for the backs as we get into tougher competition. Overall, the Irish are playing well, and we will see how tough this team is against Stanford.

Hoke stated that they game planned for the run. Had 6-7 in the box all game. Hoke said he wanted to make Golson beat us through the air and Hoke agreed that he is 10x better then 2 years ago. So yes running game wasn't there but Mich was playing the run all game. So I think we will be fine in the running game. Teams now can't play us to run the ball and they can't just play us to stop the pass. We have a balance offense now.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

So are the academic sanctions 100%? All of those guys out for the year? They need all hands on deck if they want to make a serious run.

 

[craigk217]

So are the academic sanctions 100%? All of those guys out for the year? They need all hands on deck if they want to make a serious run.

Noboby is 'saying' and it's really annoying. It's been with the student honor council for well over a week and no word.

 

[craigk217]

I agree that we should still be a li'l reserved but I certainly don't begrudge any Irish fan from celebrating this win for a few days or so... but the Team already has to be focused on Purdrew, no matter how bad they are and whether we're an overwhelming favorite or not. We need to put them away nice and early and give some backups some time to get experience under their belt and all of the other things that go along with it (to the positive side).

And these are the kinda trap games that always scare me. ND has, historically of late under Kelly, tended to come out way flat and 'play down' to a way weaker opponent. Hopefully, BK will not allow that to happen anymore. There is no way in hell that we shouldn't pound Purdue into the ground from the opening kickoff.