Okay, so I decided it was time to really dive in and put together my thoughts for the Notre Dame 2024 season. It’s something I like doing each year, helps me get my head straight about what to expect.
Getting Started – The Info Hunt
First thing I did was just open up my browser and start digging around. You know how it is. I needed the latest scoop. I looked up the official team roster first, trying to see who actually came back, who left through the draft or the portal. That transfer portal thing, man, it really changes how you have to track things year to year.
Then I pulled up the schedule for 2024. I wrote down each opponent, noted if it was home or away. That away game factor is always big, especially for tough matchups. I spent some time just looking at the flow of the season – where are the tough stretches? Are there any trap games tucked in there?
Breaking Down the Team
With the roster and schedule in hand, I started thinking about the actual team units.
Offense:
- Quarterback situation was top of my list. Who’s taking the snaps? Riley Leonard coming in is a big deal, so I looked up what I could find about his recovery and how he might fit.
- Checked out the offensive line situation. Always key for Notre Dame. Who are the returning starters? Any big losses?
- Looked at the running backs and receivers. Who’s expected to carry the load? Any new guys, freshmen or transfers, likely to make a splash?
Defense:
- Same process here. Started with the defensive line, then linebackers, then the secondary.
- I paid attention to who the key returning players were, especially guys who made plays last year.
- Tried to figure out where the strengths might be and where potential question marks are. Losing guys to the NFL always leaves holes you gotta think about.
Special Teams:
Didn’t forget special teams. Looked up the kicker and punter situation. Field position and reliable kicking can swing close games, so I always check this.
Putting it All Together – The Writing Part
Okay, so I had all these notes and thoughts floating around. Next step was actually writing the preview down. I didn’t aim for anything too fancy. I just started typing, organizing it section by section like I broke it down:
- Quick intro about the upcoming season.
- Deep dive into the offense – QB, line, skill players.
- Shifted over to the defense – going through each level.
- Talked about special teams briefly.
- Analyzed the schedule game-by-game, or at least the key stretches and toughest opponents.
- Finally, I wrapped it up with my overall thoughts, what I think a realistic expectation for the season is. Maybe a predicted record range, but I try not to get too specific, football is crazy.
I tried to keep the language pretty straightforward. Like I was just talking to a buddy about the team. Used simple terms, focused on what I actually saw in my research and what my gut feeling was based on past seasons and coaching staff.
Final Polish
Once I had a first draft, I read it over. Cleaned up any sentences that sounded weird, made sure my points were clear. Checked if it flowed logically from one section to the next. It’s easy to ramble, so I tried to tighten it up a bit. Made sure all my tags like and were closed properly, keeps things neat.
And that was pretty much it. Got my thoughts down, organized them, wrote it out, and gave it a quick polish. Now I feel like I’ve got a good handle on what the Irish might look like heading into the fall. It’s always a fun exercise before the season kicks off.
