I understand your point. Sam Young is a good example though. He was suppose to be a stud, started all 4 years for Weis, and was better his freshman year than his senior year. Weis just couldn't develop players outside of the QB, TE, and WR positions.

 

But doesn't some of that blame have to go on the players at sometime? Clausen, Tate, Floyd, Rudloph, Jeff Sumardija (?), Quinn all got better under Weis. Sure those are skill position guys, but that tells me that he's not as clueless as alot of Notre Dame fans want to paint him out to be. When I look at ND I just do not see the breed of athlete that the big programs have and that's nothing to do with Weis' development, he can't make his players that much faster. It has to be recruited and Notre Dame is handcuffed when it comes to recruiting because of the players other schools can take than the Irish cannot. ND should have won more games last year but most of their games were close, & with a little luck they could have won 10-11 games.

But doesn't some of that blame have to go on the players at sometime? Clausen, Tate, Floyd, Rudloph, Jeff Sumardija (?), Quinn all got better under Weis. Sure those are skill position guys, but that tells me that he's not as clueless as alot of Notre Dame fans want to paint him out to be. When I look at ND I just do not see the breed of athlete that the big programs have and that's nothing to do with Weis' development, he can't make his players that much faster. It has to be recruited and Notre Dame is handcuffed when it comes to recruiting because of the players other schools can take than the Irish cannot. ND should have won more games last year but most of their games were close, & with a little luck they could have won 10-11 games.

 

I know it is just recruiting rankings, but somewhere you have to get lucky and one highly touted recruit turns out good. I haven't gone back to look, but out of just memory we have gotten some highly touted defensive players over the Weis years. In the CB position alone there have been some highly touted players come in and I haven't seen any results at all. Does the blame go to Weis? Maybe, maybe not.

 

While I don't think that ND has the athletes that the "big boys" have, they can't be that far off. The top rated QB's, WR's, TE's, have come in and all turned out to be as good as, if not, better than advertised. If ND could turn those DE's, MLB's, DB's into the players they are suppose to be then they would be dangerous every year.

 

You have to have nasty, tough, pounding football teams to win in South Bend, IMO. I know BK isn't a run the ball type of coach, but his teams are mentally prepared for games, something I didn't think CW's teams were. Look at the players and their reactions to the change in practice already.

 

There is a difference between NFL coaches and college coaches. CW just wasn't the guy. Would I love to have CW run my offense? Of course. But do I want him as my head coach, developing players? No.

I heard ND didn't have a training table for the athletes before BK got there??? If true, that could be a MAJOR reason why the "big uns" didn't develop. Proper diet helps retain and gain weight that is needed to battle in the trenches...especially during the season.

I have a hard time believing that.

I have a hard time believing that.

 

I second that.

I know it is just recruiting rankings, but somewhere you have to get lucky and one highly touted recruit turns out good. I haven't gone back to look, but out of just memory we have gotten some highly touted defensive players over the Weis years. In the CB position alone there have been some highly touted players come in and I haven't seen any results at all. Does the blame go to Weis? Maybe, maybe not.

 

While I don't think that ND has the athletes that the "big boys" have, they can't be that far off. The top rated QB's, WR's, TE's, have come in and all turned out to be as good as, if not, better than advertised. If ND could turn those DE's, MLB's, DB's into the players they are suppose to be then they would be dangerous every year.

 

You have to have nasty, tough, pounding football teams to win in South Bend, IMO. I know BK isn't a run the ball type of coach, but his teams are mentally prepared for games, something I didn't think CW's teams were. Look at the players and their reactions to the change in practice already.

 

There is a difference between NFL coaches and college coaches. CW just wasn't the guy. Would I love to have CW run my offense? Of course. But do I want him as my head coach, developing players? No.

 

I think you make alot of good points and I can agree with your argument. Good points man.:thumb:

 

Let me ask this though... Do any of you guys think that one of Notre Dame's problems could be that they don't redshirt? I know it isn't the only one, but I would think that has to be a huge disadvantage especially on the lines. I know that players can apply for a 5th year at ND if they didn't play their freshman years, but this way probably burns a lot of ND players that come through there. I'm not talking about the impact freshman across the country that can go in from day one and make plays, just guys that would be better off with an extra year of seasoning like many freshman need.

I think you make alot of good points and I can agree with your argument. Good points man.:thumb:

 

Let me ask this though... Do any of you guys think that one of Notre Dame's problems could be that they don't redshirt? I know it isn't the only one, but I would think that has to be a huge disadvantage especially on the lines. I know that players can apply for a 5th year at ND if they didn't play their freshman years, but this way probably burns a lot of ND players that come through there. I'm not talking about the impact freshman across the country that can go in from day one and make plays, just guys that would be better off with an extra year of seasoning like many freshman need.

 

Thanks man, glad we are on the same page. :thumb:

 

But I am not sure how much it affects them, but I do hate that they don't redshirt. It would weigh on my decision I know that.

I heard ND didn't have a training table for the athletes before BK got there??? If true, that could be a MAJOR reason why the "big uns" didn't develop. Proper diet helps retain and gain weight that is needed to battle in the trenches...especially during the season.

 

I have a hard time believing that.

 

I second that.

 

While it may be hard to believe it is true. Notre Dame athletes have had to eat in the cafeteria with the rest of the study body for some time now. In addition they do not have special athletic dorms.

 

Kelly is trying to change atmosphere at Notre Dame

 

Irish coaches teach football skills at practice. The physical improvements come through things like Camp Kelly, offseason workouts and the first training table at Notre Dame since Lou Holtz was there. Players eat dinner together Monday through Friday, a practice Weis tried to reinstate when he was coach.

 

Athletic director Jack Swarbrick said the need to make sure players were eating right, instead of letting them eat at dining halls, became apparent when players, especially linemen, had trouble keeping weight on. The Irish were just 3-10 in November the past three seasons.

 

``It's tough for you to be in great form in the last third of the season if you haven't maintained weight,'' Swarbrick said.