First trip ever for Notre Dame to Virginia. From somethings I'm reading, ND fans in the area have even outdone Texas fans when it comes to getting tickets to the game and there is expected to be a big ND contingent at the game. Virginia didn't look great against UCLA, but it's a home game for them and our first road contest. So while I look for the Irish to be heavy favorites and to win the game, I don't expect it to be as easy as the Texas game. Obviously it'll be Proisse and Adams at RB for the Irish with Folston gone, no word on who will be #3 although I'll be surprised if it is not Dexter Williams. Only worry I see from gurus like Mike Frank is whether or not a former WR like Proisse can handle a 20 carry a game load. He is 6' 220 or so, so seems like physically he should be good and he ran very tough inside against Texas. I think we came out of the Texas game pretty healthy hopefully the injury to Folston is it for the season.
I don't get Showtime, and even if I did, I have no interest in this series. I don't have a problem with it at all, but it's TMI for this fan. Nonetheless, I understand the interest. It should be a popular show.
ND <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> Sometimes Frank worries a little to much for me. I think Prosise will be fine with 20 carries a game and Adams looked like the real deal to me. As long as Adams picks up the other responsibilities of the RB position we should be fine. Williams will probably get a lot of playing time as the season rolls on. <br/> <br/> Virginia doesn't look to be an easy win but ND should handle them.</r>
George I saw an article recently where they show stats that after 370 carries in a season a RB almost always has a decline in production the next year and some never recover. That's about 23 carries a game. Of course seasons are 16 games now in the NFL when I started following I think it was a 12 game season.
Nice article on Josh Adams, a 3-star recruit, who did not have a lot of elite programs interested in him. ND recruited him based on his sophomore year and his demeanor and didn't let up when he missed his junior season. It emphasizes to me that the coaches know what they're doing and have their reasons when they recruit a 3-star kid. http://www.csnchicago.com/notre-dam...m=newsletter&utm_campaign=notre-dame-football It's nice that he carried only 5 times vs. Texas, which means that he has 365 carries left in him before he begins to falter.
Adams was probably only a 3 star because of a knee injury and not playing much in his Jr. Year. That always hurts a kid, that Jr year is when they make their bones on the "Star" circuit. They have to go to camps and have great stats. Healthy Josh Adams would likely have been a solid 4 star RB. Sometimes sticking with a kid even though he had an injury works out sometimes it doesn't. Weis had a 5 star RB sign who got injured in the offseason before his freshman year, which of course didn't affect his 5 star ranking. But he was never the same player after that. James Aldridge from Crown Point Indiana, was great until he had that injury. I don't know if Aldridge had a worse injury than Adams, but never the less Adams has made the comeback and James Aldridge never did. He played and graduated and had a few productive games, but never what was expected. I sure hope that Folston has a 100% recovery. The odd thing is that a lot of guys think that if C.J. has a great year at RB he will probably forego his 5th year and go to the NFL. Before the injury it was assumed that Folston would be the one going to the NFL, with C.J. coming back. It's almost a lead pipe cinch now that Folston will be back next year..hopefully 100%.
James Aldridge. I remember him now that you've jogged my memory. It was unfortunate that his injury prevented him from ever living up to his potential.
There are reports all over now that Charlie Weis spoke at some function in Arkansas recently and said his failure at ND was because he hired too many guys who wanted to use the job as a stepping stone to being Head Coaches. Really? OK 1st who is stupid enough to bring in Charlie Weis to address their group? Secondly, Charlie you hired those guys take some ownership. Plus did you want guys who didn't want to better themselves? Haywood, Ianello and Pollian went on to be Head Coaches. You're telling me those guys were the problem?
Brian Kelly on the Michigan Series. http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25295793/brian-kelly-return-of-notre-dame-michigan-series-trending-up
I watched 2 1/2 quarters of the replay of the UCLA-Virginia game. It's hard to know how good or bad any team is after only one game, but I was very impressed with both UCLA's offense and defense. The play by play guy said that the OL is the most experienced in the nation. I can't believe UCLA's receivers are any better than ours, so we should be able to get open in our vertical passing game. The freshman QB certainly looks good, but based on how MZ threw the ball against Texas, he should be able to find his receivers. UCLA's run game vs. the VA run defense was average to mediocre. At times, VA's run defense looked impressive. UCLA's defense looked good, but VA was able to move the ball in the 1st half until they got in the red zone, where they stalled. The VA QB has a decent arm and their passing game looked OK, but I'd like to think our pass rush will throw him off his game more so than last week. UCLA's DBs showed good speed and instincts, but are they better than ours? I don't think so. I believe we can cover VA's receivers well enough to disrupt the rhythm of their passing game. Overall, I feel pretty good about our chances, but I'm certain that VA will be up for the test at home. It will be a challenge for us to play and win away from home against a respectable opponent.
You two guys just made my day. My personal philosophy is: If you say nice things to me, you're my friend. I don't care if you're lying.