2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2010 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are hoping that the latest coaching change will finally push their football team back a top the college football landscape. The Irish fired head coach Charlie Weis after the team went just 6-6, losing their final four games of the season. In comes former Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly, who led the Bearcats to three consecutive ten win seasons. The change has fans believing that 2010 will be the year the Irish get back to a BCS bowl game.
It won't be easy turning a 6-6 team into a BCS contender, especially with only 14 starters back and the loss of star quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide out Golden Tate. The team also plans to make the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 on defense this season. To help you get ready for the 2010 season, here is a quick look at what the Irish will be sending on to the field on both sides of the ball, plus ill give you my prediction on how I see this team finishing up the year.
Offense: Kelly is well known for turning just about anyone into a solid starting quarterback, and he figures to do just that with sophomore Dayne Crist, who has the talent to be very good by the time he leaves South Bend.
At running back the Irish return their top rusher from 2009 in senior Armando Allen. While Allen will get the majority of the carries, fans should get a good look at the future in red-shirt freshman Cierre Wood.
The Irish lose a huge weapon in Tate at wide receiver, but I believe they could have another star in the making in junior Malcolm Floyd, who was second on the team with 795 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. Also keep an eye out for junior tight end Kyle Rudolph.
The offensive line is a bit of a concern for the Irish heading into the 2010 season, as they only starters back are junior right tackle Trevor Robinson and senior left guard Chris Stewart. Junior right guard Taylor Dever and sophomore center Braxston Cave both got playing time in 2009, and figure to be solid replacements. It looks as though the Irish plan on sending red-shirt freshman Zack Martin out at left tackle, and he will have to produce for this unit to be good as a whole.
Defense: The Irish were not good at all on this side of the ball in 2009, allowing 170 rushing yards and 228 passing yards a game. The switch to the 3-4 figures to really help this unit, but will likely still struggle at times this season.
Up front it looks as though senior Ian Williams will take over at the nose tackle spot, while sophomore Kapron Lewis-Moore and junior Ethan Johnson handle the two defensive end spots. If this trio can just plug up the middle, look for the Irish to be much better against the run this season.
The Irish figure to have a very strong group at linebacker this season. They return all three starters from 2009, and will add a talented young kid in sophomore Anthony McDonald. This group will be the key to the 3-4 success this season, as Darius Fleming and Brian Smith must put pressure on the quarterback from the outside spots.
The Irish look to have a pretty solid secondary in 2010, as they return both starters at corner in junior Gary Gray and senior Darrin Walls. Adding to the mix will be sophomore free safety Jamoris Slaughter, who should fit in nicely alongside junior strong safety Harrison Smith.
Prediction 9-3: I think there is a great chance the Irish win all of their home games in 2010, plus I have them beating both Army and Navy, which would give them their 9 wins. They could reach the ten win mark if they can find a way to beat Michigan State, Boston College, or USC on the road.
See if Jack Jones has the Irish in his preseason top ten in his 2010 college football predictions. If you plan on betting college football this season, than you owe it to yourself to check out our live college football odds page each week to ensure you have the best odds available.
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