20 Questions #2

On January 16th UND.com posted an article "20 Questions for Notre Dame Football for 2015".  This is question 2.

2. The Irish ran for 246 yards (their second-highest rushing total of 2014 and best since the season opener versus Rice) against LSU in the Music City Bowl, and that came with Mike McGlinchey making his first start at offensive tackle. Notre Dame returns a solid, proven tailback in Tarean Folston and a potential improving and talented sidekick in Greg Bryant—and the makings are there for an offensive line with productivity and experience. Can the Irish become a team in 2015 known for its smash-mouth running style? 

Answer:  I don’t know about “smash-mouth” but they should be able to be recognized and respected for their running game.  They (the running backs and the line) have shown glimpses of explosiveness but I am not sure I would categorize it as smash mouth.

Sam Mustipher, Jimmy Byrne,
Quenton Nelson and Tristen Hoge

The offensive line is going to be experienced and deep and should have no excuses for not being dominant in 2015.  Let’s first look at retuning lineman with starting experience ; Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, Nick Martin at left guard, Matt Hegarty at center, Steve Elmer at right guard and Mike McGlinchey at right tackle and several of these guys have played at multiple spots along the line.  Two deeps also have experience as many of them have been on the team for over a year now; Hunter Bivin (2 yrs exp.) at tackle, Connor Hanratty (4 yrs exp. with 4 starts) at guard, Mark Harrell (2 yrs exp.) at center, John Montelus & Colin McGovern (2 yrs exp. each) at guard.  In addition to that there were a number of freshmen this year that gained a year of experience who would be in major consideration for starting jobs next year on a lot of other teams and will be looking to see action next season sooner than later; Quenton Nelson, Jimmy Byrne, Sam Mustipher, and Alex Bars.  And not to get too ahead of ourselves Kelly and crew has another couple of All American lineman all ready enrolled in South Bend who will be a part of spring practices in center Tristen Hoge and offensive lineman Jerry Tillery.

Tarean Folston & Greg Bryant

At running back the Irish have a great one – two punch but after that is gets real thin, real fast.  Tarean Folston has proven himself on the field and will come into 2015 as the number one back.  He has a diverse skill set that makes him an all purpose back.  The only questions with Folston is how much better will he get and will he return in 2016?  As  for Greg Bryant he appears to still be learning the college game and has shown signs of greatness.  The questions I have about Bryant are around consistency and will he step up to the expectations colleges had about him coming out of high school.  I don’t think the Irish will have two one-thousand yard rushers next year but they could be a pretty impressive duo.  After that there is Josh Anderson (5’ 9”. 200lbs), don’t feel badly if you don’t know who he is, he hasn’t seen the field in three years.  And at this time there is only one running back committed to Notre Dame (signing day is Feb. 4) in Josh Adams.