YOUR 2009 STARTING LINEUP

Offense

X……..Golden Tate

LT……Trevor Robinson

LG……Eric Olsen

C……..Dan Wenger

RG…...Chris Stewart

RT……Sam Young

TE……Kyle Rudolph

Z……..Duval Kamara

QB…..Jimmy Clausen

WR….Michael Floyd

RB…..Armando Allen

1) As for wideouts, I never paid too much attention as to who was listed as the starters, since after about the second game it became evident that Floyd and Tate were the go-to guys. Kamara started his entire freshman season and so is basically a starter as well. In this lineup you have Notre Dame's No. 1 and No. 2 all-time leaders in receptions by a freshman (Floyd, Kamara) and yet neither was the team's leading receiver in '08. That would be Tate.

2) Steve Paskorz would be the starting fullback, but I think Charlie will go with 3 WRs most of the time to take advantage of the team's deepest and most talented position.

3) Allen is the starter at running back, but that position now runs five deep: Robert Hughes, James Aldridge (who could be the most marginalized of the group), Jonas Gray and superstud frosh Cierre Wood.

4) Trevor Robinson is a de facto starter from '08, having filled in more than ably when Chris Stewart was injured.

5) Unlike 2007 and 2008, there will be no freshmen starters on the Irish offense. That is, unless Wood absolutely blows people away in fall camp. But I highly doubt that will happen. Besides, Allen has become an able receiver out of the backfield. He's not quite at Darius Walker levels yet, but he's getting there.

Defense

 DE…...John Ryan

NG……Ian Williams

DE……Ethan Johnson

Sam….Harrison Smith

Mike….Brian Smith

Jack….Darius Fleming

Will…...Kerry Neal

CB……Darrin Walls

FS……Sergio Brown

SS……Kyle McCarthy

CB……Robert Blanton

1) Who's your other defensie end? Does John Ryan  (oops, wrong Ryan) slide into that position, or does Morrice Richardson finally land a starting nod as a senior? Or is Emeka Nwankwo--2 inches taller and nearly 50 pounds heavier than Richardson--playing that spot? Against Nevada, which loves to run the option, the Irish are going to need great defensive end play, and unfortunately, this is likely their weakest position.

2) Whither Harrison Smith? Do you turn him into your stud free safety, in the role of a David Bruton? With H. Smith (the Tim Riggins of the Irish roster) in the secondary, it becomes perhaps the strength of the team. However, Sergio "Crank Me Up" Brown had a stellar '08 and may have earned a starting spot, which would keep the 6-2 Smith at outside linebacker.

3) Linebacker is the deepest position on this defense. Brian Smith and Darius Fleming (Pat Haden's choice as the player who will surprise you most in '09) are givens as starters. After that? Does H. Smith remain an LB? Does Toryan Smith, who had an eye-opening game against Navy, land atop the depth chart? What about Kerry Neal? John Ryan never seems to stir that much excitement, but he seems to be on the field a lot. With his 6-4 height, does he move down to DE permanently? And then there's the wildcard: If Manti T'eo commits to the Irish, does the nation's top-rated linebacker prospect find a way into the opening day starting lineup?

4) The secondary. Will Darrin Walls, who started all of 2007, return to South Bend and if so, does he bounce Raeshon McNeil and/or Gary Gray? I say if he's back, he's starting. Robert Blanton has too much talent to keep off the field. He's a future All-American. 

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Your 2009 captains:

Offense............Jimmy Clausen

Defense...........Brian Smith (possibly Kyle McCarthy, who led the Irish in tackles and could make a few preseason All-American lists)

Special Teams....Mike Anello (if there's any justice in this world)

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Feel free to chime in and enlighten me. I'm pretty solid on that offensive lineup, but the front seven of the defense is a little bit of a mystery, as is the position where we will find Harrison Smith.