Rockne's Roundtable

Wait... are we actually talking football here... about a player that is still on the team. Wow!

Anyway, I really think there are more issues that Rees needs to address than just his running ability, but I love the mentality that Coach Martin is instilling in him. He truly sounds like the leader of the QB's, even if he isn't the starter come fall.

Great article Lou.

It appears that BK and Martin have designed a spring ball season tailor made for one of the youngsters to overtake Rees as the starter. By scaling back the playbook to page one, not adding checkdowns until the end of spring, making all 4 QBs run, they have taken any advantage Rees has over the other 3 QBs away.

If none of the 3 can step up now and at least even themselves with Rees, when will they?

Just curious Jigga, why do you believe that? We lost the best WR in school history, our top pass rusher, and all but one starter from our entire secondary. I believe the best this group might be able to do is 8 wins. I'd like to hear what others who believe this team has more talent than last year's is seeing.

Stronger, deeper front 7 on Defense and an experienced and deep Offensive line, stronger RBs, and (whoever it is..) a better QB than last year.

I didn't mention Lynch. Tuitt is much better, Nix and Schweneke are better, KLM is at least as good, Day is going to another stud and is game ready now. Spond, Grace, Utopo, Ishaq are better, Manti, Calabrese, Fox, and Shembo will be better. Wood Riddick, Atkinson will only be better, Eifert? he's the 'go to' guy and the younger guys will be better, and Davonte Neal can only be a plus.
We haven't had this kind of depth of talent in the trenches in quite some time. That is the critical difference.

Rees to run is like training a turtle to run faster....unlikely to work out..defensive tackles are faster....

How do you know all of these kids are better players now than they were in December when you haven't seen them play? Just because an experienced player is returning doesn't mean he is going to play better. (Crist, Ruffer, Riddick, TJ Jones, Gary Gray just off the top of my head from last year's team) We all wish it meant that, but I can give you player after player at ND that didn't fulfill those expectations. The last time we saw our front seven, they were getting outplayed by an OL with 5 freshman in the bowl game and couldn't keep them out of the end zone when we needed a stop. Until I see improvment on the field against at least even if not better competition (on paper), I can't get excited about it. In the third year of a coaches tenure, it's time to show people on the field.