Nice summary of the top 20, however your links to #2 and #9 are wrong... at least for me they didn't lead to the right player.
Joe | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 8:51 am | #

That was weird. They should be fixed now.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 9:13 am | #

I was a little suprised no Michigan O-lineman made it onto the list. They almost always have some dangerous, road-grating hog-mollies.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 9:47 am | #

Michigan tackle Jake Long is a great player but injuries really wiped out his season next year. He might be one of the best lineman ND faces next year, but he has to stay healthy.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 10:07 am | #

Where's Darius Walker????
Roger | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 10:46 am | #

Considering the Irish success against dual threat QBs Reggie Ball should be on this list. He'll kill us and then go onto a less than mediocre ACC season...
eb | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 10:59 am | #

Reggie Ball doesn't have Drew Stanton's arm and accuracy and he doesn't have John L.'s QB-friendly spread option offense to utilize. I'm probably more worried about Drew than a lot of the others on the list. On the other hand, we seem to be able to take MSU at their house and we start with GT, so that maybe evens it out. At least GT should give us a look at a dual-threat QB and a game-breaking receiver prior to the MSU game. The number of quality OT's that we have to face is another problem considering our lack of a pass rush last year with our front four. My biggest hope, however, is that Booty/Sanchez and whoever replaces Bush/White aren't at the same level as their predecessors. Of course, I've said that after every year about USC AND we have to play them at the end of the year when they've hit their stride. . .
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 12:07 pm | #

Question #2...where would you mix in current ND players on this list?

I would put Quinn #1, and possibly the Shark #2...
Jay | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 12:37 pm | #

In theory Reggie Ball scares me because he can run. That said, the Irish have 6 months to get ready for him. Weis, Minter, Oliver and Lewis should be able to come up with something to contain if not stop him.

Thanks for getting me all worked up. Spring ball hasn't even started.
SeanH | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 12:41 pm | #

I'm really excited to watch the ND secondary versus some of these players. That's right, I said it. With everyone coming back, and some new blood infused, I really think our secondary could wind up being a team strength this year for the first time since Shane Walton was back there. Also, more than anything, those boys in the back can hit and tackle, and I think in year two we'll see the genius of coach Lewis really shine. Don't forget what he was able to do with ANYONE in the Miami Dolphins secondary for the past decade. With a year of tutelage under their belts these boys are going to be vast improvements to the team (plus you know they are gonna get worked over and hear about their play every single day until GT).
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 1:11 pm | #

This definitely brings up an interesting test for ND's staff.

With the nightmares tOSU game produced, I wonder what Weis & Co. will do to prepare for Reggie Ball. We'll definitely see if they are able to address any of the running QB problems ND seems to consistently struggle with.

Go ND go.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 3:32 pm | #

If there was a dual threat D package on this team it would have been unveiled at the Fiesta Bowl. I'll never forget the 3&9 on the final drive where Talley got around the outside with a bead on Smith. In the time it took Talley to get near him, Smith watched him, found an escape route, called him mom to wish her Happy New year and then casual waltzed his way to a first down. This same package and personel will be in place to "contain" Ball... Be concerned about GT...
eb | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 4:49 pm | #

Average, white MSU QBs always strike fear into my heart, and until we step up and put Sparty in his place they will continue to do so.
mike | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 4:58 pm | #

I hate MSU so much it actually hurts me on the inside.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 6:43 pm | #

The MSU game this year is one of the few where I ALMOST wish we wouldn't show some class. I think it would be fitting to have the Leprechaun do a jig on Sparty at the 50 when we smack them down. Yes, I know it says more by doing nothing, but their planting the flag last year still pisses me off.

As for GT striking fear into our collective hearts, yeah, there's a little bit of that, but not too much. Smith is a phenomenal athlete and he had a better supporting cast with Ginn Jr. and Holmes at WR. Play nickel (since everyone is going to throw on us and we don't have a lot of experience at LB), spy up Ball with whoever plays nickelback, the speediest LB, or Ndukwe, depending on the formation the offense throws out, and double team Johnson with Zibby on him over the top and whichever corner he lines up against. The only way they stop that is if they spread every formation (and I don't think Ball has the accuracy and GT doesn't have the depth to do that every down) or run it every down and that takes the ball out of Ball's hands anyway. Then again, if our DB's break on every play fake like they did last year, we're toast.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 7:40 pm | #

When I hear someone say Weis has 6 months to prepare for GT, it makes me cringe. The last time that war chant was used, it was "5 weeks" and "tOSU". Sprinkle in the fact that GT won't necessarily be a mirror of last year, personnel-wise or, possibly, in style & scheme.

If we learned nothing from the '06 Fiesta Bowl it should be that at the end of the day, you still need the horses and you still need them to properly execute. I sense that ND is getting the horses...this year we find out if they can ride.
c-stone | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 8:40 pm | #

Good List, but since you asked who you may have omitted...

Jevon Ringer RB MSU 122 car. - 817 yd
Jeremy Scott WR MSU 49 catch - 782 yd
Jesse Holley WR NC 47 catch - 670 yd
Adam Ballard RB Navy 94 car - 539 yd

Keep up the great work BGS!
Chris | Email | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 10:02 pm | #

Ringer is definitely someone who just missed the list. He's going to be a tough opponent this year.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 8:20 am | #

Darius Walker in the top 20 returning players???

Is that person serious?

Prediction: Darius Walker will get less carries in 'running down' (1st down, 2nd and 3rd and short) situations next year than will James Aldridge.
Charlie | Email | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 3:24 pm | #

i know recruiting season just finished up, and we got an incredible class, but think things through. Being a 5-star recruit is nice, but nothing can compare to 2 or 3 years of college experience. As good as people like reuland, aldridge, mcneill, and walls are, i seriously doubt theyll become consistent starters the way some people think. if they get a few productive minutes here and there, thats pretty much the best you can hope for. you lose all your recruiting stars the second you enroll in a school the same way you lose your helmet stickers the day you get drafted. its good to be excited about recruiting, but we already have a good team in place, especially at RB. just my $0.02.
mike | Email | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 3:43 pm | #

Why have you overlooked Steve Breaston?
ND1966 | Email | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 4:09 pm | #

Good question '96. To be honest, no one brought him up and I forgot about him.

Then again, Matt Shelton had more receptions and more receiving yards than Breaston did. Breaston is a special teams threat, but hasn't done much to warrant being on the list.

Now that I look at it, maybe Evan Moore shouldn't be on the list either. Maybe his teammate Mark Bradford should be in his place. That's the fun of stuff like this. You argue about it and before you know it, spring practice is starting.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 7:41 pm | #

Re: Breaston

The value of a wide receiver who can't catch is somewhat limited.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 10:29 pm | #

domers,

i live in tennessee, and i am coming up to south bend tonight to see campus tomorrow... and then going to chicago afterwards. what is quickest way to get to chicago...? is it the tollway? how much does the tollway cost? is it better to take another interstate?


thanks
njuneardave | Email | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 8:48 am | #

For the record, I think Steve Breaston is an over-rated hack. Yeah, he's fast, big frickin' deal. He'd probably be a fantastic corner, but he's pretty worthless at receiver, drops the ball, and refuses to make big plays unless the entire field is open in front of him, in which case no one can catch him.


For njuneardave, its pretty damn simple to get to Chicago from South Bend, just jump on the toll road and ride on in. I forget how much the tolls can be, but shouldn't total more than a few bucks in all one way. The toll road is right by ND's campus too.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 9:10 am | #

Tolls to Chicago are a little over 2 bucks I believe, one way. Although, if you take the loop in Chicago it will cost you some more tolls. I believe it's been upped to 60 cents at the stops in Chicago. Adds up pretty quick. Should probably just plan on having about 10 bucks for tolls, to cover both ways. You can get to Chicago without the tollroad by taking US 2 all the way to I-94, but it can be a little cofusing if you're not from the area.
ND101 | Email | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 12:09 pm | #

Hack?
mike | Email | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 2:50 pm | #

Yes, hack. It's a good word, I like it.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 3:22 pm | #

The Irish will be improved by another year of coaching and conditioning, but basically they'll field the same high-powered offense and erratic defense that we saw last year.

That is, unless some key freshmen step into starting roles. Remember the impact that Darius had in his first year.

West could make a significant contribution on kickoffs. If he's as good as advertised, we could see a couple of TD returns. Aldridge should provide greater consistency on short yardage, and a breakaway threat that the Irish desperately need. If the Irish offense can grind it out on the ground, the defense can stay on the sidelines.

On the other hand, a couple of impact freshmen could transform the defense, too. One effective pass rusher on third and long - let's say Morrice Richardson - could shore up the defense's greatest liability. If Walls or MacNeil can take away the primary receiver, suddenly the Irish D gets a lot less vulnerable.

If the sophomore and junior classes were well-stocked, we might not see any of these players. But that's not the case. This year, freshmen may be the crucial difference between a good team and a national champion.
lyle | Email | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 3:29 pm | #

well, thanks for the directions guys. went to notre dame on thursday and had a good time looking around on campus. took the toll road to chicago, then 90/94 up to waukeegan to the naval training center. south bend seems like a gloomy and depressing place, but campus was nice.
njuneardave | Email | Homepage | 03.19.06 - 7:26 pm | #

South Bend's charms are subtle, and this time of year doesn't do it justice. Autumn Saturdays, on the other hand...
Phil K. | Email | Homepage | 03.19.06 - 11:18 pm | #

DREW STANTON?!? did any body watch the game against North western......seriously how can anybody do any worse in a homecoming game?!?!
Stefan | Email | Homepage | 04.10.06 - 11:01 am | #