One of the more interesting offseason pieces every year comes from Athlon Sports, which gets opposing coaches to talk anonymously about certain teams. The gang unveiled the assorted comments on Notre Dame on Monday, with critiques and appraisals covering everything from quarterback play to the defense in its second year under coordinator Brian VanGorder.

The most telling quote?

“The big thing is just finding consistency on the offensive side because they’re going to have some weapons. Their receivers and their backs are really good, and I think their O-line and tight end group is one of the best in the country.”…

This should not be surprising, but it shows just what first-year starting quarterback Malik Zaire has to work with. The offensive line, as Brian Kelly has said before, is the deepest it has been during his six years in South Bend. We all know what some of the top-end skill guys can do — Tarean Folston and Will Fuller among them — and this all should, at the very least, ease the transition with a new QB, especially a 220-pounder who is capable of running the way Zaire can. We saw that in his start last year in the Music City Bowl win over LSU, when Zaire rushed for 96 yards. And we saw some more of it this spring in the Blue-Gold game, when he tallied 40 rushing yards in the first half (while splitting time with Golson.)

Of course, finding offensive consistency has been easier said than done in recent years. But the pieces are certainly there for a breakout year across the board for the Irish.