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Notre Dame Football

The Back Corner Fade

August 21, 2018
4,505

It’s time. The most glorious time of the year, don’t you know. The time when the days are hot, but the evenings have just a hint of a cooler breeze (if you live above the Mason-Dixon line, of course.) If you live near a high school or a park you may hear the faint sound of a whistle or the murmur of a coach getting on his troops. You may hear the local marching band working on their stirring rendition of “On Wisconsin” or have a player or two knock on the door with their jersey on asking you to buy a candy bar to help with their team. And, of course, you’re checking ISD at least two or three more times a day then you would in May because you want to read what Mike and the boys have learned from the practice field.

Irish Football is here.

In case you forgot, there are over 120 other schools that play the sport. I really could care less about three-quarters of them, unless a player from one of the schools does something like getting caught night putting with the 15 year old daughter of the dean. Let’s quickly take a look at some of the pre-season things to look out for:

Coach(s) on the Burner:

Jim Harbaugh: Everyone’s favorite mega-tool better get it going. The savior of the Michigan program really has just been extremely ordinary since he showed up in Ann Arbor. Has he been better than Brady Hoke? Ok, sure he has. That’s like saying Minnesota Twins number three starter is better than the Kansas City Royals number five. This should be a good Michigan team. Defensively, they’re very sound and they should be able to produce just enough offense to get them to nine wins. Is it enough to save his job? Probably. There simply aren’t that many “Michigan Men” out there in the coaching profession. I would say D.J. Durkin but he uh, yeah, may have a few issues.

Ed Orgeron: Anyone who has read my drivel over the past few years knows I’m simply fascinated by this guy. His voice, the fact that he ripped his shirt off and challenged Ole Miss players to fight him, or the fact that he can sell Hummer’s in NW Mississippi like a boss. All awesome. The really fascinating thing: how is this clown the head coach at one of the top 20 programs in the country? Really, he’s not a head coach. Hell of a recruiter, hell of a defensive line coach……not a head coach. It will be interesting to see if another season like last year will have this guy around in 2019. If so, he’s gone……….and please let him get a job at ESPN. 

Coach(s) on the Rise:

Jeff Brohm: Last year at this time, all the hype was on P.J. Fleck and what he was going to do at Minnesota and nobody seemed to notice that Purdue had a new guy. When the dust settled, Purdue went to a bowl game (and won) while Coach Row Boat was home for the holidays. People don’t realize that Brohm was quietly 30-10 in his time at WKU and is on the verge of bringing Purdue back to respectability. Purdue is an 8-4, 9-3 at best program. Brohm might just be able to get them there and a nice pay day with a big boy program in the very near future.

Neal Brown: A waaaaay under the radar name but someone that you’re going to hear about with a larger program very soon. Oh, he coaches at Troy St (that’s in Alabama by the way) and he’s gone 21-5 in his last three years there including an upset in Death Valley last year against LSU. Another thing he’s got going for him he’s 38 years old. If you’ve watched any Troy games, they’re fun to watch. Wide open football (He’s a Hal Humme and Tommy Tuberville disciple) that light up score boards. This guy has Big 12 written all over him.

Prediction for the Heisman: ESPN will take care of this. Who cares.

Surprise Team for 2018: 

Florida Atlantic: Yes, everyone’s favorite frat boy coach is building something and he has a legit ten-plus win team. Kendal Briles, always one step in front of the law that is the NCAA, left for Houston to call plays, but enter Charlie Weis Jr to contribute to their significant offensive advantage. All kidding aside, they won 10 in a row to finish out the season and have a 1900 yard rusher that you’ve never heard of in Devin Singletary back. Trips to Norman and UCF start the season, and if they can get by those two (and that’s a huge “if”) this is the New Year’s Day 6 cog in the wheel for 2018.

How’s going to win it all?:

Alabama: Wow, I really went out on a huge limb here didn’t I? Bottom line, they’re flat out loaded and the schedule is, and this is going to be hard to believe, in their favor. Other than a night game at LSU, (Saban vs Orgeron: advantage Saban) and Auburn coming to town on Thanksgiving weekend, they should, and will blow through it with relative ease. They’ll play either Georgia or Clemson again for the whole thing and add their 63rd National Title to the rafters.

What’s it going to look like for our gold helmeted hero’s this fall? Like predicting Alabama to win the title, I’m going to shock the pants off you and say it all comes down to QB play. Whether it’s Wimbush or Book, one of these guys has to take control……and quickly. The receivers are going to be solid. Nothing that is going to “wow” anybody, but solid and more than capable of moving the chains. I’m not worried about that in the least. I’m also not worried about the revamped offensive line. I suspect some growing pains early, but by the time the calendar hits October, I think they’ll have gelled into a very good unit.  None of that will matter in the slightest if the quarterbacks can’t pitch strikes. I suspect lots of 8 man fronts to start the season and to be honest, I don’t blame the opposing DC’s in the least. 

I really believe this has the makings of an outstanding defense. Pass rush is the big concern, but unless you have Clemson’s front four who all will be collecting NFL paychecks in the next couple years, every coach worries about getting the QB. Clark Lea being a new DC does make me a little nervous, but from everything we’ve read, these kids love playing for him and they play fast. Just a sneaking suspicion, but I have a hunch Lea is going to be a great DC. I hope I’m right.

So what does all this translate to? My biggest fear with this team is history. Since Brian Kelly arrived in South Bend, he’s never put together back to back good seasons and that’s cause for concern. While I think this team has the talent and a word we haven’t floated around in the past 20 years, depth, Kelly’s track record is what it is. 

If one of the quarterbacks steps up and a break falls here and there, this very well could be a team in the run for one of the Final Four positions. I don’t think Wimbush is going to be as near as rough as he was from Miami on last year, but I also don’t think he’s going to make anyone forget about Joe Montana. Because of that, I see this as a 9-3/10-2 season. 

Go Irish!

 

 
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