Starting Experience at ND: 2005 thru 2009 (projected)

by FunkDoctorSpock, Your Nightmares, B* tches, Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 13:22 (6300 days ago)
edited by FunkDoctorSpock, Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 13:28

This the number of starts that the players at each position group had at the start of the season. (if anyone wants to throw this into one of them fancy graphs, please do):

2005 SEASON
QB: 21
OL: 102
RB: 16
WR: 32
TE: 20
RB: 16
TOTAL: 191

DL: 18
LB: 16
DB: 15
TOTAL: 51

OVERALL: 242
COMMENTS: Of Weis's first four teams, this was the most experienced overall on offense and, in particular, along the offensive line. The lack of experience on defense was the main reason I decided to give Minter something of a pass even though ND finished 75th in Total Defense.

2006 SEASON
QB: 33
OL: 91
WR: 32
TE: 15
RB: 16
TOTAL: 187

DL: 66
LB: 12
DB: 66
TOTAL: 144

OVERALL: 331
COMMENTS: The most experienced team of the Weis Era. While many feel the offense took a step back in 2006 I've always felt that the unit was just about as good as the 2005 group. They played six Top 30 defenses. What dragged them down was the lack of depth at tailback and OL. The performance overall of the defense was unacceptable. They only improved to 65th in Total Defense. The number that jumps out, though, is the lack of experience at LB. That said, there was still more than enough talent to much better.

2007 SEASON
QB: 0
OL: 46
WR: 8
TE: 19
RB: 5
TOTAL: 78

DL: 26
LB: 34
DB: 66
TOTAL: 126

OVERALL: 204
COMMENTS: Sh*t show.

2008 SEASON
QB: 11
OL: 60
WR: 34
TE: 3
RB: 20
TOTAL: 128

DL: 18
LB: 57
DB: 36
TOTAL: 111

OVERALL: 239
COMMENTS: Inconsistency, thy name is the 2008 Fighting Irish. As expected, the offense improved signficantly but still was absolutely maddening. The defense, while not overly talented, played hard all year.

2009 SEASON (projected)
QB: 22
OL: 100
WR: 46
TE: 13
RB: 22
TOTAL: 202

DL: 44
LB: 19
DB: 60
TOTAL: 123

OVERALL: 325
COMMENTS: Projected to be the most experienced offense of the Weis Era. Experience, in my opinion, matters more on offense and, in particular, at QB and OL. The team should gave the second most experienced OL. The big switch with the DL having more experience than the LBs is simply a product of including Neal, Ryan, and Fleming. Overall, this team has no excuse to play at anything less than the level that we saw in 2005 and 2006.