What to look for Sunday

Here are a few things that we will be keeping an eye on during the season opener against Texas.

The quarterback rotation.  One way or another this will be a big topic of discussion during and after the game, good or bad.  What will the rotation look like?  How will Kizer and Zaire perform?  How will the rest of the offense respond?  I would like to see one of these guys separate themselves from the other to cement a solid number one.

The offensive line.  This is supposed to be one of if not the number one strong point of this team.  They should do more than control the line of scrimmage and maybe more importantly as to me it is a measurement of a quality O-line, eliminate offside penalties.  Since depth seems to be more than good I am interested to see if and how Harry Hiestand rotates in players to keep them fresh.

Running Backs.  Simply what the split will be between Folston and Adams.  I would add Dexter Williams to the mix however since his run in with police I think Kelly will discipline like a parent and make him stand there and watch the other kids play.  Unlike the quarterback position I would love it if both received equal time and were had 1000 yard years.

Receivers.  This is a wide open area for the Irish.  There are a half dozen guys who could emerge as the go to guy.  Really, outside of Corey Holmes and Torii Hunter there is little to no real game experience on the roster.  We will look for ball distribution as well as yards after catch to see who has the extra skill outside of just good hands.  I am closer to the running backs as than the quarterbacks here, the more potential threats at the receiver position makes it harder for defenses to scheme and cover.

Tight ends.  We separated them for this discussion for one there are so many potential good receivers to look at and I think the tight end position is going to play a lesser role in the offense this season from a pass catching perspective.  Durham Smythe has seemed to separate himself from the pack but I am interested to see if and how Nic Weishar and Tyler Luatua will close the gap.

Coaching.  Kelly has his crew and most have them have at least a couple season in South Bend under their belt.  We’ll be looking at play calling, personal moves and for me penalties.

Defensive Line.  The starting front four look to be as good of a D-Line unit in the country.  First we need to see if that is in fact a true statement.  Second we need to see if players rotating in (as I assume they will) will be able to keep the level of play up to those on the first team.  Our overall depth is a bit unproven.

Linebackers.  This will be a pretty new looking crew on Sunday night.  If the defensive line can do their job it should take off some pressure from the linebackers.  Again, depth and player rotations could be an issue.  Nyles Morgan is on top of my list (out of all players) to see in action on Sunday.  Can/will he live up to his hype and abilities?

Defensive Backs.  If there is any area that is the biggest question mark it would be here.  It is the great unknown.  I believe there is little question about athleticism but if that translates to on field play is the ultimate question.

Special Teams.  Is there a better one- two punch in the kicking game besides Justin Yoon and Tyler Newsome? 

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

Here are our thoughts on some stats from UND.com

14; Notre Dame last played a non-Saturday regular season game on Thursday, Sept. 5, 1996, collecting a 14-7 season-opening win at Vanderbilt.

TI: The Irish do have a bit history of playing on Non-Sundays, however that was many years ago.  I think it would be nice to be highlighted on some different days maybe even a Thursday night game.

13; Only 13 teams have more than Notre Dame's 39 wins since 2012.

TI: Not bad but that leaves us out of the top ten as it might pertain to the upper echelon of big time college football.  We seem to be the best of those just out of the best.

12; Sophomore Justin Yoon has made each of his last 12 field goals, the fourth-longest streak in school history.

TI: Great, way to jinx it.  Seriously I could see this kid going his whole career without missing an extra point.  Damn now I just jinxed him.

11; The Irish claim 11 consensus national championships and a share of 11 more. The 10th consensus championship came following a 38-10 win over Texas in the 1978 Cotton Bowl. Vagas Ferguson was the offensive MVP with 100 rushing yards and a 17-yard TD catch from Joe Montana.

TI: Nice but not relevant.  No disrespect meant but often we look at past games and records against teams and the truth is it makes little difference (unless it was the previous year) because the players and coaches are mostly different from those pervious mat-ups.

10; Notre Dame is opening its season with a true road game for the first time in 10 years (2006) when the Irish commenced their season with a 14-10 win at Georgia Tech.

TI: Most people would say it’s better to open a season at home and I am sure the players and students would enjoy it but it could also be said there are often less distractions playing on the road.  Either way I don’t think it will impact the game that much.

9; Notre Dame's nine wins over Texas are the most of any school that has never been in a conference with the Longhorns.

TI: That reads nice in the papers but the only thing it may do is give the Irish a bit of confidence (as if they needed it).

8; Head coach Brian Kelly begins his seventh year at Notre Dame. He won at least eight games in each of his first six seasons at the helm, the only Irish coach to accomplish that feat.

TI: This reaffirms that we have the right guy in charge and there is some more constancy when it comes to winning (during the season).  HOWEVER big bowl wins are a must!

7; Notre Dame returns just seven starters (three on offense and four on defense) in 2016. Since 2004, the previous low total of returning starters entering a season was 10 (2007).

TI; every team has turn over.  What I want to see and what I thing Kelly has done a good job at is re-loading and not re-building each year.

6; Each of Notre Dame's last six regular starting tight ends have been NFL draftees with five of the six going in either the first or second rounds.

TI; That’s great for recruiting and would be nice to continue but I think that steak ends this year.  Not that our current group of tight ends won’t do well but they will probably not be a big focus in this year’s offense.

5; The Irish have captured each of the last five meetings with Texas and hold a 9-2 advantage in the all-time series.

TI: I expect that to be 10-2 by Sunday morning.

4; Notre Dame is undefeated in four all-time meetings with Texas in Austin, claiming victories in '13, 1915, 1952 and 1996.

TI:  Again how can we make comparisons between this years team and teams from 1915 and 1952.

3; Since 2000, other than Josh Adams, only three "Power 5" true freshmen have averaged at least seven yards with at least 100 carries: Jamaal Charles of Texas, C.J. Spiller of Clemson and Nick Chubb of Georgia.

TI: Now this is a stat I can get behind.  That is good company to be in, now let’s not see a sophomore hangover.

2; Notre Dame ranks second all-time with 892 victories, while Texas is in third place with 886.

TI: Even if this is not a super close match up and records don’t have a direct impact on the game these are the kind of stories programs that make this match up great.

1; Notre Dame is one of just five teams nationally that returns multiple starting quarterbacks that beat a "Power 5" team in 2015.

TI: Overall a very nice position to be in, thanks in part to season ending injuries and good recruiting.

0; Notre Dame landed at No. 10 in the Associated Press preseason poll. No Fighting Irish team has been ranked higher to open a season since being No. 2 in 2006.

TI: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Two QB's Pros & Cons

It is often said that “If you have two quarterbacks you have none.  Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of using two-quarterbacks, especially how it pertains to Notre Dame’s current situation

PROS

• Keeps defensive coordinators on their heels.  Maybe not so much in this case as both Kizer and Zaire have similar styles so the overall offensive scheme won’t change much.
• Keeps fresh legs (and arms) on the field.
• Defensive backs and linebackers trying to work on timing and especially in this case where one is left handed and one is right handed, so one will be rolling more right and one will be rolling more left.

CONS

• Timing with the line (cadence), handoffs to running backs and with receivers.
• QB’s can’t get into a rhythm if they are alternating series’.
• Passing and catching the ball where in this case where one is left handed and one is right handed the rotation of the ball will be reversed for each QB.
• Overall I’m not a big fan of a two quarterback system, mostly because it never seems to really work out.  It may in certain games or game situations but as a total process for a season teams usually come up short. 

Answering the questions Part 2. Responding to John Heisler’s article Sunday Brunch: 20 Questions on Notre Dame Football 2016

11) Q: How will Notre Dame fare against its ACC foes in 2016?

A: We know the ACC is not the SEC but has made strides in improving their reputation on college football’s national landscape.  I think Duke and N.C. State may give the Irish some competition but as long as Kelly keeps the boys on task they should make it through the ACC undefeated.

12) Q: Can the Notre Dame defense, with two full years working under VanGorder, put things together on a more consistent basis this fall?

A: If they do I think it will be a combination of the payers stepping up and grasping the defense and VanGoder simplifying his schemes a bit.  Of course if the injury bug strikes again consistency may be its biggest casualty.

13) Q: Can Notre Dame's rebuilt line backing corps come anywhere near the numerical productivity of the Jaylon Smith years?

A: Jaylon is a very rare player and it’s not fair to draw comparisons.  If the defensive line is as good as advertised the linebackers should have an easier path than last year’s linebackers.  No one needs to be great but they all need to be good to be successful.

14) Q: Can Notre Dame's defensive front this fall be one of the strong points of the depth chart?

A: It should be one of the strong points of the team, as far as its depth that’s another story.  There is without a doubt potential along with some flashes of excellence from those who will be second string and rotation players.  So yes it can be but it is a ways of from being a sure thing.

15) Q: How well will the Irish secondary stand up in 2016 with a bare minimum of returnees with extensive game experience?

A:  The loss of Max Redfield did not help.  Well, if they’re not young they unproven.  The one big positive here is they are athletic and that can go a long way in those positions.

16) Q: What will that coaching continuity mean for the Irish in 2016?

A: This should only help. Kelly has rebuilt his coaching staff with top notch talent now it is time to show results.

17) Q: Can (C.J.) Sanders continue his all-purpose contributions in 2016 as well as make Irish fans stand up in anticipation every time he's back to return a punt or kickoff?

A: Not to be too pessimistic but prior to last season the return game was less then pitiful and realistically last year probably looked better than it was because of that so Sanders will probably do well but it won’t be the second coming of the Rocket.

18) Q: Can the Irish play at that elite level again in 2016?  (referring to Notre Dame’s play against Clemson and Stanford).

A: The players are there to make the plays to say yes.  The team needs to come together to have the confidence and a little bit of swagger to raise themselves to that level.

19) Q: What's in the postseason future for the Irish?

A: It seems as if Notre Dame make a mid-level bowl we do well, when we go to a major bowl we get spanked.  It almost seems to be a question of do we want (a season) to go to a mid-level bowl and win or go to a major bowl and lose.

20) Q: How strongly will Notre Dame's 2016 agenda ultimately rank?

A: It’s not how you start but how you finish.  Right now the schedule looks pretty respectable with some ranked teams but if they finish poorly and have losing records at the end of the season the Irish will have had a week looking schedule. I think it will look as tough at the end of 2016 as it looks now.  Some teams will finish better and some will finish worse than predicted. 

Answering the questions Part 1. Responding to John Heisler’s article Sunday Brunch: 20 Questions on Notre Dame Football 2016

1)      Q: Without the same sort of star power as a year ago, does Notre Dame have the makings of a CFP team for 2016?

A: Hopefully.  Star power recycles itself each season.  The Irish will have new stars that will shine for the first time this season i.e. Kevin Stepherson as well as having ones who may have dimmed shine again i.e. Jarron Jones.

2)      Q: Can the Irish in 2016 fill all those blanks and be as productive across the board as the Irish were last fall? (referring to players gone from last season)

A: Often productivity does not have a direct connection to individual talent.  Man for man there may not be as much established talent on the field when Notre Dame faces Texas on Sunday but I think overall they can be as if not more productive.

3)      Q: What does the future hold at quarterback for Notre Dame?

A: I have no idea however I do believe it will be good.  In addition to Kizer and Zaire Brian Kelly is lining up talent at the signal caller position for the foreseeable future with Wimbush and Phil Jurkovec.

4)      Q: Can the Irish be a consistently very good (if not great) running team?

A: More than anything it will depend on the offensive line which has the potential to be very good.  The Irish have two proven running backs in Folston and Adams.  The key here is consistently, if everyone stays healthy then yes.

5)      Q: Can Harry Hiestand put together an offensive line capable of allowing the Irish offense to prosper once again?

A: Hiestnad has done a great job moving Notre Dame from a rebuilding to a reloading situation in South Bend.  Between the talent, versatility and depth I think the Irish should be one of the best lines in the country.

6)      Q: Given how long it's been since these individuals played in live football games, is it realistic to expect all of them to hit the ground running (literally) when the 2016 season begins in Austin? (referring to players out last season due to injury).

A: No of course not.  However starting the season with Texas and Nevada gives the Irish an opportunity to rotate these players in a little bit more conservatively than needed.

7)      Q: What's the next step for Notre Dame's passing game?

A: First Kelly will have to settle on one quarterback.  Only then will receiver spate from the herd ass top pass catchers.  I do think it is a youth movement with so many freshman and sophomore potential leaders.

8)      Q:  Can a less-experienced-than-usual list of tight end candidates fill the bill for the Irish in 2016?

A: None of the current tight ends have to be an All American for the Irish to win this year, however they do need to play well and do their jobs.  I feel that the current group of tight ends are up to the task.

9)      Q: Is there a team in the country with two more competent and yet unsung players in the kicking game?

A: Probably not and that’s sung or unsung, but how many kicker and or punters do you know on any team besides the team you root for?  Ours are good, real good.

10)  Q: What will be the ultimate identity of the Notre Dame offensive unit in 2016--and how will that identity be impacted if both Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer are consistent factors week to week at quarterback?

A: Ultimately the identity will be formed behind the play of the offensive line no matter who is throwing or running the ball.  With that being said it is important that whoever the starting QB is (even if it is both) the line must be in support and in sync with them.