Even as I worry about losing the core of our defense (Tillery, Coney, Tranquill and Love), my bigger concern is the state of the OL. In 2017-18, we knew Harry and the boys on the OL could keep the D off the field for long stretches (remember "33 Trucking"?). We will need a lot more of that because our WRs are not special (not bad, but not wow) and our D is going to have some holes.
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Too much talent there that one or two of them don't become a major factor.
After Bars went down, ND played with 3 new starters...it was a transitional year for the OL. 4 starters return next year. OL is the one position where guys consistently get better each year in the program.
Bottom line is offense should be better, defense will probably be worse. Hopefully the team as a whole is just as good...the good news is the defense will still be able to pressure the QB with Okwara and Kareem back.
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assuming continued improvement from the second teamers, I think we'll also be good on defense. Maybe not quite as good as this past year, but still good enough to possibly win all our games assuming no injuries. We should be scoring regularly in the upper 30s, in my opinion, and that should keep us in every game.
is already losing a lot and I expect USC and Michigan will as well. That's going to go a long ways to determining our future success.
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Winovich and Gary, LB Bush and RB Higdon. These were all key players this past year. Georgia is losing their 3 top wide receivers, their TE Nauta, and starting RB Holyfield. Stanford is losing starters WR Arceaga-Whiteside, OL Herbig and TE Smith. USC was a relatively young team, and may have only WR Pittman and DE Rector declaring early. Athletes have until January 19th to declare for the draft. This does not include graduation losses.
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But before that gives you any sense of relief, know that they have recruited 15 five stars in the last three recruiting cycles. We're going to have our hands full.
Like most folks, I think Ga., UM and USC are going to be our 3 toughest games. We should be favored in every game except at Georgia and perhaps at Michigan. I like our chances at home vs. USC and away at Michigan, but I think we'll probably take it on the chin at Georgia. If so, that would still be a great year.
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Probably Michigan.
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