Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/705594
UNDER THE DOME Phil Steele's annual college football publication is often described as the bible of its sport. He has Notre Dame ranked No. 9 heading into the 2016 season. BGI: What impact did the QB situation have on your predictions? Steele: "I don't think they can make a wrong choice at quarterback. I personally went with [DeShone] Kizer because I think Kizer is the better passer and in one game he almost set the Notre Dame quarterback rush- ing record, coming up three yards short. But Malik Zaire is a guy that's a dangerous run- ner and improved as a passer. I think that they can't make a wrong decision. "I will say this: last year heading into the year I said with Ohio State, 'Well Urban Meyer is in a great situation here,' and they say when you have two quarterbacks you don't have one, and that's not the case with Ohio State. That turned out to be the case because they didn't have the one defined starting quarterback. I think they need to make a decision and name one of those guys as the main starter." BGI: What is the X-factor for the Irish this year? Steele: "Staying healthy. This is a team that last year continued to lose key players and not just a starter here or a starter there, but key players on both the offense and defense to injury. "That's sort of been the case the last two years." BGI: What player could surprise? Steele: "I'm going to go with Equanimeous St. Brown. … He's got one career catch and I think he might be a guy that comes right to the forefront of the offense, especially with the receiving corps being so young this year." BGI: Is there a trap game on ND's schedule? Steele: "I'm concerned about the Texas game right out of the box. Texas is my No. 1 most-improved team in the country; it's a team Notre Dame beat 38-3 last year, so I think a lot of Irish fans are probably thinking that's going to be a walkover. … "If they get past Texas in the opener, I have them favored in all the rest of their games until USC in the season finale. USC is taking on the toughest schedule in the country, you wonder how healthy they'll be for that one." BGI: Is Notre Dame recruiting well enough to win a national title in the near future? Steele: "Yes. It's laid out where this year it could happen. This year's schedule I like a lot as far as if they get past Texas in the opener, they only have three true road games overall — at Texas, at NC State and at USC. I have them rated No. 12 in my power poll, which is overall talent, but I've got them rated No. 9 in my top 10 because of the talent and schedule combined could have them contending. "I think they're a legitimate title contender this year." — Matt Jones Five Questions With … COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST PHIL STEELE Steele believes the Irish are a legiti- mate national title contender in 2016. PHOTO COURTESY PHIL STEELE