For the record, Coach PJ is going with Hampton. While Kaipo brings an amazing amount of athletic talent and speed, Hamtpon brings experience and a much better throwing arm. While I don't see the Mids knocking off the Irish this year, I think 2007 will see a very contested game.

If anyone else is interested in learning more about this year's Navy team, I'd suggets heading over to my blog, Pitch Right. As always, I look forward to the matchup, and wish the irish all the success in the world, except on Oct. 28 of course.
Mr. A | Email | Homepage | 05.30.06 - 8:47 pm | #

Thanks Mr. A. That makes sense about Hampton. Although it should be tempting for Coach Johnson to find ways to get the ball in Kaipo's hands.

By the way, I just added your blog to the blogroll on the right. Been meaning to do so for a while now. Nice blog.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.30.06 - 10:35 pm | #

Pat,

Great overview of the upcoming competition. I really appreciate the effort you put into it.
rbingham | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 12:03 am | #

Great job, Pat.

Not sure why, but our schedule doesn't seem as bad as it once did. Seems like our opponents have a lot more question marks than we do.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 10:51 am | #

So, how about Ohio State for next year???
Notre riffic | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 11:47 am | #

Is it weird that the opener at Dennis "2nd most disproportionately huge ass in NBA history behind Mark Aguirre" Scott's alma mater scares me more than any other Saturday on the schedule? Maybe it's just a fan's case of "first game jitters", but Reggie "Don't Call Me Hammond" Ball & Calvin Johnson already have me squirming. Will we smoke them? Any predictions on an opening spread?
Tony "The Ant" Spilotro | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 3:48 pm | #

Thanks for the add Pat, it's great to blog alongside you ND guys!

I think Coach Johnson may try to use Kaipo as a slash type player. Look for him on bubble screens, reverses, even reverse passing attempts (had one against Stanford last year). While he is certainly an exceptional athlete, he is by no means the only athlete on this team. I think CF in general will be surprised at the expanded amount of talent on this team. Sure everyone knows about Campbell and Ballard, but this year we are expecting to see a healthy Trey Hines at SB(a trackstar he until injuries slowed him down). While Caldwell is a tackling machine on defense, Tyler Tidwell, David Mahoney, and newcomer Clint Sovie all bring speed and athleticism to the defense. Unfortunately we lost sophomore SB Karlos Whittaker (kicked off for undisclosed reason), but the team remains strong at the SB and LB positions.
Mr. A | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 5:34 pm | #

Spread factors:

ND:
1) Heisman trophy front runner
2) Veteran, stacked, crazy offense
3) The defense had to have some marginal gains in the off-season (i hope)
4) And for what its worth, ND was undefeated on the road last year which is likely attributable to focus that Weis is able to create.
5) Top 10 ranking

Georgia Tech:
1) The whole country saw what a mobile, playmaking QB can do to our defense and our secondary problems won't be helped by Calvin Johnson on the filed for GT
2) Night game; Rowdy ACC-southern boozed up, jacked up crowd
3)GT's blitz happy fast defense could potentially disrupt BQ and Co.
4) Not scared of th big boys, i.e. their W over Miami last yr

I say the spread will be under a touchdown for sure but over a fg. Prob 4 or 5 pts in ND's favor.
PM | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 5:40 pm | #

speaking of georgia tech, is anybody else headed to the game? i just picked up three tickets as a graduation gift to myself, and my friends and i need fellow irish fans with whom to celebrate/drown sorrows (whichever the case may be).
tyler | Email | Homepage | 05.31.06 - 6:41 pm | #

Notre riffic, I like the way you think
OhEssYou | Email | Homepage | 06.01.06 - 3:00 am | #

Great breakdown PM, I agree with 4 or 5...
Tony "The Ant" Spilotro | Email | Homepage | 06.01.06 - 10:26 am | #

Tyler,

I'm hoping that I got tickets through the lottery. Atlanta can be a fun city and its been a while since I've been to an ND game played at night.
ND Alum | Email | Homepage | 06.01.06 - 11:04 am | #