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EARLY
BIRD 2006 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED
THANKSGIVING 2005
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NOTRE
DAME FIGHTING IRISH |
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OFFENSE
- 6 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Rashon Powers-Neal-FB, Maurice Stovall-WR, Matt
Shelton-WR, Dan Stevenson-OG, Mark LeVoir-OT, D.J.
Fitzpatrick-K/P, Anthony Fasano-TE (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Corey
Mays-MLB, Brandon Hoyte-OLB |
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Quarterback/Receiver
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The Quinn-to-Samardzija
combination may be the best nationwide.
Don't count out other targets Anthony
Fasano and Rhema McKnight (returns
from season-ending injury?)
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Linebacker
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Two of the top
tacklers depart in LBs Mays and Hoyte.
The positions are wide open in the
spring.
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QB
Brady Quinn
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SS
Tom Zbikowski
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players that
received the most playing experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing
personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers,
injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with our full 2006 Preseason
Preview due out this coming spring. |
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NOTRE
DAME 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Brady
Quinn-Sr |
David
Wolke-So |
FB |
Asaph
Schwapp-So |
.. |
HB |
Darius
Walker-Jr |
Travis
Thomas-Jr |
WR |
David
Grimes-So |
Rhema
McKnight-Sr (inj.) |
WR |
Jeff
Samardzija-Sr |
.. |
TE |
John
Carlson-Jr |
.. |
OT |
Ryan
Harris-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Dan
Santucci-Sr |
.. |
C |
John
Sullivan-Jr |
Bob
Morton-Sr |
OG |
.. |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
K |
.. |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
Chris
Frome-Sr |
Ronald
Talley-So |
DT |
Trevor
Laws-Jr |
Brian
Beidatsch-Sr |
NG |
Derek
Landri-Sr |
.. |
DE |
Victor
Abiamiri-Sr |
.. |
ALB |
Maurice
Crum-So |
.. |
MLB |
.. |
.. |
OLB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Mike
Richardson-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Ambrose
Wooden-Jr |
Leo
Ferrine-So |
SS |
Tom
Zbikowski-Jr |
.. |
FS |
Chinedum
Ndukwe-Sr |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS
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Coach
Charlie Weis took over a program sitting nowhere
near Top 25 preseason consideration. In his second
year, he now gets the pressure every Notre Dame
coach eventually gets - a preseason top five spot
given the array of talent coming back to South
Bend. QB Brady Quinn is sure to be a leading Heisman
contender. His main target will be the uprising
playmaker Jeff Samardzija. But don't count out
Rhema McKnight, the Irish top receiver for two
straight years before an injury sidelined him
for '05. If he can return for another season,
the loss of Maurice Stovall will be felt less.
TE Anthony Fasano is a top candidate for the John
Mackey Award (nation's top TE) and the offensive
line is boosted as well with the return of four
quality starters. Although none have appeared
even on the long list of all-Americans, they have
proved to be more than capable. The big question
this time around won't be on defense. Only two
main players are leaving from a defense that surprised
many people with solid play. Watch out for DE
Abiamiri putting pressure on QBs while cover men
such as Zbikowski and Wooden secure the secondary.
Opponents will be hard pushed to keep up with
the scoring barrage the Irish are ready to dish
out, especially given their experience in the
defensive backfield – this Irish squad will
keep the play in front of them to squelch points.
Coach Weis has proven already that he can coach
at the college level. Given his wide-open offense
style, the Irish are blessed to have a plethora
of playmakers, from QB to RB to pass catchers.
The schedule will be as difficult as any season
(Georgia Tech, UCLA and Penn State bump in), but
there is no question this team is stacked athletically
and mentally to better handle that daunting challenge
within which so many past coaches have failed
to deliver. The only thing that can kill Notre
Dame (as usual) are how expectations play out
versus another rough schedule. Being an unaffiliated
independent, nothing else will do but a national
championship appearance, and that is still a tall
order.
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2006
SCHEDULE
9-2
@ Georgia Tech
9-9 Penn State
9-16 Michigan
9-23 @ Michigan State
9-30 Purdue
10-7 Stanford
10-21 UCLA
10-28 Navy @Baltimore, MD
11-4 North Carolina
11-11 @ Air Force
11-18 Army
11-25 @ Southern California
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