Pat,

Where would you put Jimmy on your list and where does Phil Steele rank him? Or does he? As always nice work.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 11:16 am | #

I'm going to put the ND players into the mix once I finish all of the positions. It also gives me an opportunity to update the rankings if there are any major injuries or the like.

Phil Steele ranks Clausen #26. I haven't spent much time thinking about it, but given Clausen and Sharpley's game experience, I'd probably put ND 4th on this list.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 11:29 am | #

If I didn't know any better, I'd say Michigan is in line for the "2007 Fighting Irish Season Award" for the most inexperienced line blocking for the most up in the air starting quarterback.

I'd be very surprised if Michigan doesn't have almost the exact same season this year, as ND did last year. They are eeriely similar to the woeful Irish team of last year. Let's just hope they don't have their UCLA game against us...
KBrown | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 12:25 pm | #

Don't let Arkansas's 8-0 record with Mustain starting fool you. As a man who watched every one of those games, that was due ENTIRELY to Felix Jones and Darren McFadden. Mustain looked lost. He was horrible. I remember several occasions where he threw the ball right at an opposing player (ala Quinn vs. Michigan State in 2006). Believe it or not, having watched both Clausen and Mustain play, there is no question that Clausen had a much better freshman year than Mustain, team records aside.

Furthermore, Mustain had a horrible attitude to complement his poor play. Heck, his mother even went to the athletic director to COMPLAIN about the offense (this after her son started eight games AS A FRESHMAN IN THE SEC! Sheesh! As if D-1 football is like T-Ball!!).

All that's not to say Mustain's play and attitude won't improve; I just would hesitate to put him in the "quality backup" category based on his play at Arkansas.

Otherwise, keep up the good work, Pat. Love the blog.
Former Hog | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 12:39 pm | #

If Phil Steele ranked QBs on total production and their ability to lead their team's offense, Kaheaku Enhada would likely be ranked high, and Jake Locker as well with his 27 TDs.

I agree with Michael that it would be nice to see the ND numbers for comparison. Since we're most familiar with Jimmy's resulting production, for example, we'll be able to know if Yates' 218-365, 2655 yards, 14 TDs and 18 INTs are normal. It sounds like you have a plan, though, so don't let us inmates run your asylum. We trust ya.

I think we might miss Walls more than we realize, especially with so many inexperienced QBs on our schedule. He'd be helpful in the big games for sure, but might have helped our defense dominate some of our "easier" games thus taking the pressure off our recovering offense.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 12:48 pm | #

This is terrific analysis, as always. I might quibble with Hoyer over Ehnada, but the fact is, they both looked like All-Americans against the Irish last year.

Your point about ND having trouble with the mobile quarterback is well-taken, and frankly, terrifying. I'm still upset about all the third-and-longs Troy Smith converted in the Fiesta Bowl. Anyway, I'm hoping the new coach teaches our linebackers how to pursue the appropriate angles to the ballcarrier and wrap up once they get there.
The Song of Hiawatha Francisco | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 1:01 pm | #

Is the stat line for San Diego St back up QB Drew Westing correct? 127 for 325? as in 39%? That is downright terrible. That has to be the worst completion percentage I've ever seen considering how many passes he threw.
Great work using the fugly Syracuse uniforms, BTW.
olwhatshisface | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 1:10 pm | #

No, it was a typo. He completed 173 passes.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 1:59 pm | #

Did Threet not get a PS#? I thought he was HT if not VHT coming out of HS.
everloyal | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 2:25 pm | #

Tiny type in the San Diego State paragraph:

"His might develop into a solid starter" should be "He might..."

Amazing that in such a long write-up there's only one. Most bloggers online are lucky if they can get through a single sentence without any! :)
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 2:30 pm | #

Case in point, my first sentence. :)

*typo
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 2:31 pm | #

Great post; been looking forward to your position preview. Let the preseason countdown officially begin!

Question: where do you think Clausen would rank on this list?
mike d | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 3:50 pm | #

This might be a better article than Pete Sampson's comparison on Irish Illustrated.
Sean F | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 4:03 pm | #

Looking forward to the OL review. There's a reason QBs hand out rolexes to those guys when they have a great season.

As far as Jake Locker, my prediction is that he never develops as a passer. There's a lot more to that 'do I pass, or run?' decision than it would appear. It seems to me that when a guy has a reliable 'panic button,' i.e. option to scramble, he often doesn't develop as a sharpshooter until later in his career, if at all. I'll go out on a limb and say it gets ugly for the Huskies this year. Totally unrelated to program leadership - as are the pins in the malamute webkin below my Rockne altar.
indy | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 4:15 pm | #

I think when Fall comes. Clausen will be better then most of these guys. Well...I hope he will.
Great post Pat.
Mexican Irish | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 4:16 pm | #

KBrown,

I have to respectfully disagree regarding your comments on Michigan. There is absolutely no way they are going to come close to our level of ineptitude that we saw last year. First, their defense is still loaded and will be very good. That alone will keep them in the majority of games (unlike ND's last year).

In addition, although they lost some elite talent on the line to graduation and the NFL, there is still upperclass 4-star talent to replace them, something ND did not have the luxury of last year. They have many more able bodies then we did last year and their line play will not approach the disaster that we saw last year. I'm guessing their line will be about NCAA average. Regarding QB's - I will concede that point to you.

That said, anyone who's expecting a 3-9 season out of Michigan this year has another thing coming. I would loooove to be wrong.
Treyu | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 4:25 pm | #

First off, great post as always Pat. I've been posting on here since about a week or two after this site went up, and I always look forward to the position previews at the start of August.

Secondly, I am (trepidatiously) feeling not too worried about the effect mobile QBs may have on our Defense this year. This is for a couple reasons. For one, as pointed out, we don't face many QBs who are true mobile threats. They may be able to scramble, but there aren't any true runners out there, to me, except for Locker. Secondly, ND's overall speed on Defense has increased drastically in the past two years. Lambert, Bruton, McNeil, Crum, Neal, and Brian Smith all have wheels. That makes up for a LOT on broken plays. Lastly, while common thinking would assume that heavy blizting could providea boon to a scramble opportunity, I think we can offset that. There is some crazy stat out there that I cannot think of right now that says something like 70% of drives fail to pick up a first down after a sack. If our blitzing can produce more sacks, who cares if we let em pick up an extra first down here an there if it provides more drive-killers. Just my thoughts.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 5:05 pm | #

Addendum: Yeah I know Kaipo is a great runner, but he is an option QB, so I didn't really take him into account in the last statement since in Navy's offense he might as well be a RB.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 5:08 pm | #

Goddamn, Curtis Painter is still playing!?!?
true2nd | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 5:19 pm | #

It really does not seem like the Irish are up against any real sure-fire, proven QBs this year, which I think definitely plays into their favor. I'm excited for the season and cannot wait to see how it plays out.
Kyle M | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 5:31 pm | #

How about ND's qb situation for next year? Clausen, Christ and... nobody? Sharpley probably won't be back for a fifth year because of his baseball prowess and we've struck out on all the quarterbacks we were recruiting this year. You don't worry about the third-string qb... until someone gets injured (God-forbid).
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 5:40 pm | #

Found another one Erik '04:

In third line of San Diego St. preview, it should read:
"uneNviable task of replacing four year team captain and current..."

You're missing an 'N' in 'unenviable'.
bcnd | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 6:03 pm | #

Yeah. Curtis Painter is an 8th year redshirt senior.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 7:16 pm | #

anybody know how Tenuta's defenses at GT did against mobile/running quarterbacks?
belden | Email | Homepage | 07.31.08 - 10:26 pm | #

belden, here you go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M...h? v=MtBBnt5EHGU
Tenuta didn't have much of an answer in that game.

We are actually looking forward to the ND game. Charlie visited Rich Rod for installing spread option (Demetrius Jones) so it's not like your offensive genius thinks lightly of the spread option. We return most of the D-Line which tormented Jimmy last year. Will be an interesting game.
The Real Johnny Drama | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 1:48 am | #

Fighting Binny,

How dare you ask who else we will have at quarterback a year from now! Seriously! Have you forgotten?

We got Joe Montana's kid as a walk-on!
Brad | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 9:32 am | #

Let's be honest, Drama, there were two reasons Tenuta didn't have an answer in that game: Pat White and Steve Slaton.

Last time I checked, those guys aren't on the UM roster.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 10:15 am | #

Treyu,

I agree, the Michigan defense will be much better than the ND defense was last year, and while the OL will be older than ND's was last year, they are still relying on (projected):

C: David Mooseman (JR)/David Molk (RSFR)
G: Cory Zirbel (JR)/Mark Huyge (RSFR)
G: Tim McAvoy (JR)
T: Steve Shilling (SO)
T: Mark Ortmann (JR)

The only one with any experience is Steve Shilling, who according to MGOBlog had a terrible season last year in both run and pass blocking.

After last year, I don't think you can underestimate just how much a bad OL can ruin your season. So that's why I am very skeptical of how good Michigan will be unless this OL really gels, and quick. I just don't see that happening.

I will concede that a 3-9 season from Michigan is not very likely, but a guy can dream, right? I'd love for ND to get back the all-time winning percentage - and that would sure help!
KBrown | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 10:41 am | #

Brad, you are absolutely correct. Potential crisis situation averted.

I cannot wait for some good, old-tyme college fudbaw!!!
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 10:41 am | #

Wow, time flies, it's opponent position preview time already!!
Matt | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 11:23 am | #

Another reason Michicgan will not go 3-9 like we did is that they do not play 10 bowl teams. Last year was just a "perfect storm".
ARirish | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 11:54 am | #

I pray to God above that ND doesn't spend this season making its opponent's QB's famous . . . . .
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 12:25 pm | #

I would also expect Michigan's coach to let his player's hit in practice. Michigan might not have a good year, but they can't possibly be as bad as we were last year. Though, here's to hoping they are.
JM | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 12:58 pm | #

I'll also guess that Michigan has more than five or six scholarship seniors on the team. 2007... R.I.P. Please leave our collective memories forever.
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 1:10 pm | #

KMF is so right. It would be instructive for Michigan fans to go back and watch WVU flounder around while Pat White was out with an injury. White was the difference between beating teams like Oklahoma and Rutgers and losing to Pitt. Pitt.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 3:20 pm | #

I do love to win. But whatever happens, it will be a very interesting year to be an ND fan. In terms of our team, our historic rivals, and the deathwatch on the prior HC. How does that Chinese curse go again?

GO IRISH!
indy | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 3:49 pm | #

Speaking of that watch, Indy, there's an article in the BGS newswire (upper right) from the Husky Football Blog and the title is simply "Fore!!!!!!" Enough said, I suppose. :)
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 4:02 pm | #

I understand that Pat White made a difference but isn't it tantamount to saying that Tom Brady was the reason Charlie Weis was so efficient? In other words, wasn't playcalling a factor?

Michigan fans hated Mike Debord and he was able to put 47+38 points ( OK. 2 were defensive TDs) on Notre Dame in the last 2 years. But we are excited about RR and Calvin Magee. They will offset the talent departure atleast by a little bit. Re:ND game, we don't have a good O-Line but ND's D-Line is also mediocre. We match up OK.

Point being, 3-9 is an improbability. I am expecting us to keep the bowl streak alive.
The Real Johnny Drama | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 7:50 pm | #

Ya. Pitt game. Rivalry. Throw stats out of the window
The Real Johnny Drama | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 7:51 pm | #

Getting to a bowl is not what it used to be. Look at ND last year: It was the WORST season in school history, and a few lucky breaks, and we're 6-6.

(1) FG against Navy.
(2) TD not called back against BC, and we have all the momentum down only 6.
(3) Started playing football a little earlier at Purdue.

The point is not that we should have been 6-6. We probably should have been 2-10. The point is that the worst team in several NCAA offensive categories was NOT THAT FAR from a bowl game.

The Skunkbear bowl streak was impressive back in its first half, but now that there's so many bowls that they don't even all get televised, I'm just not that impressed by it.

On the other hand, with a 9 game bowl losing streak, maybe we can't talk...
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 10:48 pm | #

Not to mention that with a little sunshine we may go 10-2 in 2005.
indy | Email | Homepage | 08.01.08 - 11:25 pm | #

If you dont think the QB makes a difference in the spread offense you are really kidding yourself. Check out Oregon last year after Dennis Dixon got hurt, or Appalachian St without Armani Edwards or WVU against Pitt. In the spread it is all about the QB. I also dont know how excited Michigan is about DickRod, there is still a lot of trepidation.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 8:12 am | #

My favorite Michigan streak is not having won a consensus national championship since 1948. I love that one.
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 1:13 pm | #

Drama-I'm in complete agreement with you. 3-9 is just not gonna happen at Michigan this year. There are a number of reasons why, not the least of which is their head coach didn't leave the recruiting cupboard bare.

If I were a UM fan, though, I'd be pretty nervous about this season. Lotta talent lost and the talent that's left is expected to know how to handle a motorcycle when they haven't even gotten off the tricycle yet.

Binny-they sure are proud of their Citrus/Alamo/Capital One Bowl streak, aren't they?
kmf | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 5:17 pm | #

What makes Michigan so despicable is its historic treatment of ND. From Fielding Yost to Fritz Crisler to Bo Schembechler, Michigan had football coaches who downright hated ND. Yost constantly accused Rockne of being a cheater, making sure ND would never gain acceptance to what became the Big 10. Disliking a team or coach is one thing. Showing total hatred is another. Here's hoping that UM gets what it truly deserves.
Lush | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 8:18 pm | #

kmf - atleast Michigan *wins* the citrus/alamo/capital one whatever bowl.
The Real Johnny Drama | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 8:58 pm | #

Gotta tip my cap to you on that one, Johnny D. Our bowl losses are a complete embarassment.

Fighting Binny, that is a good streak. Having grown up in Columbus, OH, you'll all please forgive me for my contrarian Buckeye-tolerating ways, but for me, my favorite current streak is this one (posted and updated daily on the Cols Dispatch football page that comes to my OSU-alum spouse everyday):
"Days since Michigan’s last victory over Ohio State in football: 1715"

That's gotta be like kerosene on an open wound for a wolverine...
Love Thee Notre Dame | Email | Homepage | 08.02.08 - 10:25 pm | #

I just looked at Phil Steele's rankings according to position. Eric Maust is not even on the list. Personally, I think he is one of the best.

He does seem to favor the Irish as he ranks them #19 this year. However, he ranks Aldridge. I would rank Thomas higher than Aldridge but of course that can change.
GB | Email | Homepage | 08.03.08 - 12:13 am | #

I meant Hughes instead of Thomas.
GB | Email | Homepage | 08.03.08 - 2:00 pm | #