Rockne's Roundtable

QB play was a glaring problem this past season but all those losses weren't isolated to just the quarterback position.

and I say even if we do switch qbs we wouldn't have won every game

I am hoping that guy just started classes last week.

Well Cousins from Michigan St. Was and is a whole lot better than Rees and we won that game by 4 TDs....

All I'm saying is every game that we lost this year we were inferior at the quarterback position

not the South Florida game

We are more than one player from being "great". An improved qb would make us a lot better. There is no doubt about tha,t but "great". No way ! We need to getter better push from our offensive linemen and be able to dominate in the run game. We need improved corners. We need a big back who can get short yardage. We need a punt returner.

I think our QB play was only half of it, the other was turnovers, both lack of TO's on defense and too many on O (South Florida and USC were prime examples were turnovers were probably more important than QB). Granted, a lot of the turnovers were by our QB though, and the lack of turnovers by the other team, was partly because of their better QB. MSU was a special game where we won the turnover battle and our defense matched up perfectly with their power-run offense, we also got a KO return, and we got an almost pick 6 at our own goaline against them.

Imagine if ND just had a decent, solid QB like Cousins, instead of the one we had this year, and say those 2 freak 99 yard fumbles didn't happen. Everything else was the same, so still a lot of TO's and crappy punt return unit. We would have been like 11-2 at least. We beat USF and FSU definitely. (so 10-3) We probably beat at least one of Stanford, UM, USC. (11-2); and maybe we get 2 of those 3. So, 12-1.

I mean, it's really sad because ND had a once rvery 20 years ILB in TEO, once a decade WR in Floyd, an All-American TE, a very solid DL and OL, and a very experienced, decent secondary. Things don't often line up that much. I'm afraid we are gonna miss Teo, Blanton, H. Smith and Floyd a lot more than we think in the next couple of years....

With ALL due respect to the players I am about to name, I differ.

First of all, Teo comes back next year. Speaking of him, he is not a once in 20 years LB for ND. Not only that, it is the position of least significance for us. You NEED high quality DEnds and top notch CBs... you dont need a 1st team AA at ILB.

Floyd. I hesitate before I say what I am to say, but Michael Floyd is a tad overrated. Sorry but I believe it to be true. Will his 6'3, 225 pound frame be missed NEXT year? Absolutely. What we will miss most of him is his BLOCKING ability first, ability to elevate over lesser competition in the red zone. After that, he is an above average WR. He will be drafted in the first round, the second WR, a position in the draft that says that one should be elected to a pro bowl or 2 or 3 or 4(given that 10 ish WRs are taken for the pro bowl annually). MIchael Floyd IMO wont make the pro bowl. He was great for us at ND. We love him always and we'll miss him, but not for long.

Blanton was top quality, for all but Stanford game. He will be the position that we must hold serve for 2012 and hope to improve upon atthe other. Again, top teams have top notch CBs that say "dont dare throw it my way....warned ya!" Blanton was nice, but its possible to do better there.

Harr Smith has untouchable intangibles that all players and coaches point to. HIs ability was great, his leadership is all the charts fabulous... you cant have enough guys like that..

Your post has really stimulated us - good job:)) Not sure ND would have won vs Bartley or Luck but ND would have made it closer with a more moblie qb - gdomer2710 makes a good point about our lousy punt return game. But you've got our collective juices going - challenging post - good work!! GO IRISH!!