Rockne's Roundtable

not optimistic when you have basically no proven experience at qb in an offense (spread) that i wish would go away. i think the defense will be fine providing the offense does'nt 3 and out to the point where the D runs out of gas by the third qtr. kelly had better get it right this year. exactly what is his backup plan on offense if the qb's don't deliver? he has an aversion to the power running game, insists on the hurry up (for what?) offense, and shows zero patience himself on the sidelines when things are rocky. you tell me lou. why should we show any optimisim? and i am not a natural skeptic. the eyes don't lie.....

What if it's Hendrix or Kiel lighting it up?

I don't much care who it is either, just as long as they either a) win or b) learn the system and noticeably progress, and come ready to play in 2013

I am the same every year. I expect great things from the Irish each and every season.

Just remember one thing my friends:

WE ARE ND!!!!!

......? hey it's just my 2 cents. i hope i'm dead wrong, but as others have stated, optimisim in the spring does'nt always hold up on fall saturday's. i think kelly is sweating bullets on who hopefully will be able to run the spread.....as he wants it. and, mr. blah, try and tell me we have something (on offense) proven if the qb's don't deliver. like what, a running game? really. so for me so far all this optimisim is worth just that. 2 cents......

your points are well grounded and made me rethink some things. and i'll admit i not a bk (mainly spread) fan. that's in part because i'm 63 yrs old and still prefer smashmouth football. but we are seeing more of the spread type options gravitating upwards into the nfl, and i suspect we will see more cam newton/rg III types. but running with power between the tackles is also imperative to make the spread effective. you have to make defenses repect the middle, and driving the facemask into the dlineman's face has always made me happy. so again, tks for the counterpoints......

Coach Clancy,

I believe 58% of ND's plays last year were running plays and all signs point to
an increased percentage this year, especially in the early part of the season with
an inexperienced QB and a more mature, better coached, offensive
line. Historical perspective is also in order---Lou Holtz was a
"smash-mouth type." Yet, by the 1988, 1989 season, people were criticizing
him for not being willing to install more of a pro-set, passing type of offense.
Obviously, there are multiple styles of offense, from smash-mouth, run-dominated
to the most extreme form of the spread. I believe, however, the real issue is
whether the coaching staff can land the talent to implement its preferred
style on a consistent basis. To date, BK has not done this, since we have
not seen ND's offense mature so that BK can truly implement his version
of the spread. Until that happens, we will continue to be inconsistent.
Your underlying point is well-taken---if BK wants to run the spread,
for heavens sake, put the pieces on the field and run it! I know its easier
said than done but, again in my opinion, Golson, Hendrix and even Kiel
have the talent to run it so my plea is that BK start this season to use
these guys to install and run his system. I feel that the saddest thing
that could be said by BK if he is not successful at ND is that "I never
did get to run my offensive philosophy." My feeling: let's go and
let's go now!!

I'm always optimistic before the season. I've been following the team for 40 plus years.

The reality as to the success of the season for me is how the QB position is handled both by the QBs themselves and by the coaches. There are an endless amount of possible permutations. If they cut down the turnovers, particularly QB turnovers, then I think we can have a good season.