'11 CA ATH George Atkinson III (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[Walter White]

I've been saying for months upon months that I thought Riddick might be the best back on our roster. And I was scoffed at. SMH.

Can't back or dispute your claim, but I remember hearing Alford say during spring interviews that Riddick was pushing Wood hard for the number one job.

 

[D-BOE34]

My take:

1 RB:Wood
2:RB GAIII

SLOT/RB:

1 SL: Riddick
2 SL: Amir

Neal will work in. He won't be redshirt because of KO and PR. He will work in slop time. Not that this is bad by any means. I really think BK will look at him first as CB this year for the depth reason. Great on oneside and bad on the other. Go from there. Toma will be strong in the mix. (Not making a joke here) I can see Toma getting reps on very important drives and sprinkled in otherwise. He is solid just not a game breaker.

We have a huge issue that I love!

 

[IrishLion]

If that were the case, then Riddick would have stayed at Z.

The spring game showed absolutely nothing, whether your assumption is correct or not. Coaches simply don't show any cards in a spring game.

I don't think it's about Riddick "staying at Z"... Z and RB are essentially the same thing in the offense, as it's a bonus to have players flexible enough to do both.

The spring game showed me that BK wants Riddick to be able to still play in the slot, despite "moving back to RB." The card BK showed is that Theo needs to continue to build confidence catching the football, as that will allow him to be on the field at the same time as Wood, and not just in a two-back backfield. If Riddick can catch the football with more confidence than last year, while at the same time presenting a true threat to run from either the slot or the backfield, then the offense becomes truly unpredictable and is that much more difficult to stop.

 

[IrishLion]

My take:

1 RB:Wood
2:RB GAIII

SLOT/RB:

1 SL: Riddick
2 SL: Amir

Neal will work in. He won't be redshirt because of KO and PR. He will work in slop time. Not that this is bad by any means. I really think BK will look at him first as CB this year for the depth reason. Great on oneside and bad on the other. Go from there. Toma will be strong in the mix. (Not making a joke here) I can see Toma getting reps on very important drives and sprinkled in otherwise. He is solid just not a game breaker.

We have a huge issue that I love!

I think people underestimate Toma simply because he doesn't have the ability to truly "break away." It seems like every time he's on the field, he makes a big catch. And it upsets me in an odd way that there is so much talent at RB/Z because it cuts into Toma's reps.

 

[D-BOE34]

I think people underestimate Toma simply because he doesn't have the ability to truly "break away." It seems like every time he's on the field, he makes a big catch. And it upsets me in an odd way that there is so much talent at RB/Z because it cuts into Toma's reps.

I hope between this year and next he learns a great del of route running. Also, hope he gets a good connection. Danny Amendola type kid. TO thought Danny was in. Now he is with Rams, but still being successful. All I can hope for the kid.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Boy will we all be surprised!

 

[Bobias]

I'm having trouble keeping up.

So will the opposing defenses.

 

[Rocket89]

Theo is good, but Wood is a NFL caliber back, I think you are underestimating Wood, not overestimating Theo. Wood should easily be the premier back in my opinion.

^ This.

Riddick looked great this spring, and he's full of oodles and oodles of athleticism and ability, but he still has a lot to prove on Saturday's.

I'm just a little hesitant to buy into someone who's never carried the running game the way Wood has. Riddick has proved he's elite at making a defender miss, but I'm still questioning whether he can run between the tackles for a full season, whether he has the break away speed, and vision to be a No. 1 running back.

He can still be great and I think he'll have a fine senior season, but there's more than enough reason to tighten the reigns a little bit with Riddick's expectations, especially in comparison to a player much more proven, and arguably just as dynamic, as Cierre Wood.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

It ain't all about R vs. W; it is about adding the dynamic of AC and GAIII, along with Neal at slot. Give me a break. When have we had this kind of talent behind the line since Rocket, . , . , Bus.

 

[levicarvalho]

GA3 is like our DeAnthony Thomas, I would like to know why he doesnt receive more touches on offense. Everytime he is with the ball, he can take it to the house, especially in the 4th quarter when the defenses are tired.

 

[jimmymac]

GA3 is like our DeAnthony Thomas, I would like to know why he doesnt receive more touches on offense. Everytime he is with the ball, he can take it to the house, especially in the 4th quarter when the defenses are tired.

I like george a lot, but he is not close to the level of DeAnthony Thomas IMO

 

[PraetorianND]

GA3 is like our DeAnthony Thomas, I would like to know why he doesnt receive more touches on offense. Everytime he is with the ball, he can take it to the house, especially in the 4th quarter when the defenses are tired.

I think our RB situation is pretty stacked, I think BK feels like he can give anyone the ball and good things are going to happen. Theo has been playing like a beast and Cierre looked good.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I think BK is a genius, with CM,* trying to get all of these guys into a situation where they can succeed. Those counters with GAIII were as sweet as pie against MSU! Wait till this weekend! You ain't seen nothing yet!


Brian Kelly and Chuck Martin

 

[BeauBenken]

I like george a lot, but he is not close to the level of DeAnthony Thomas IMO

Yea, George's speed may put him on another level athletically, but Thomas' puts him on another planet. That kid averages over 20 yards every time he touches the ball, I would bet.

 

[GBdomer]

I am a huge fan of George Atkinson but to put him in the same sentence with DeAnonthy Thomas just goes to show you don't know how good DAT is.

 

[GBdomer]

I have said it several times DeAnothy Thomas is the fastest player other than Jeff Demps I have ever seen on the football field.

 

[levicarvalho]

I didnt mean that the two players are of the same level, I just said they are similar in style of play. And I agree about the black mamba be much faster and explosive than GA3.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I have said it several times DeAnothy Thomas is the fastest player other than Jeff Demps I have ever seen on the football field.

You never seen Deon Sanders play?

 

[koonja]

If hind-sight was 20-20, I wonder if BK would consider having GAIII at safety for just this year. He's too talented to be the 3rd anything, and he's got perfect size for safety, and since Will Fuller's pretty much our 3rd string safety at this point, why not.

 

[Ironman8]

If hind-sight was 20-20, I wonder if BK would consider having GAIII at safety for just this year. He's too talented to be the 3rd anything, and he's got perfect size for safety, and since Will Fuller's pretty much our 3rd string safety at this point, why not.

Uh what?

 

[IrishMoore1]

If hind-sight was 20-20, I wonder if BK would consider having GAIII at safety for just this year. He's too talented to be the 3rd anything, and he's got perfect size for safety, and since Will Fuller's pretty much our 3rd string safety at this point, why not.

Because after this season, Riddick and C. Wood are gone. GONE!

 

[aubeirish]

I would certainly consider his father in there.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

After missing two games to start the season.. I don't see Wood leaving early.

 

[IrishMoore1]

After missing two games to start the season.. I don't see Wood leaving early.

Even if he plays lights out for the next 9 games against several opponents ranked in the top 25? And technically he wouldn't be leaving early. He's a redshirt junior who will be graduating after this season. Let's not forget that RB's don't last very long in the game of football.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

I don't think he is going to get the draft grade he really wants, that is all. He is splitting Carries with two other backs.

 

[koonja]

Uh what?

I'll try to make this more clear..

GAIII is extremely talented. Has perfect size for safety.

BK is 'famous' for moving players around, swapping positions to get the best athletes on the field (could literally name at least 8 guys since he's been here).

GAIII has a lot of horsepower, but no room to gallop being the 3rd string RB behind behind Wood and Theo.

We are in dire need of talent in the 2ndary, not to mention the depth is extremely scary (I assume you agree with both of these).

I'm saying, I wish BK would consider moving GAIII to safety. Probably too late now, but I wish he would have done it this summer (which I did mention in August).

It's not an incredible transition from changing from RB to DB, at least not with a year/summer to work on it (hell, Cam's been at ND for what, 6 months and he's already made that change).

Got it?

 

[GBdomer]

why in the world would we do that? George will probably be our feature back next year. We already have 52 safeties on scholarship

 

[PraetorianND]

After missing two games to start the season.. I don't see Wood leaving early.

Have you seen the Blue Mountain State episode where Thad goes on a coke binge and decides to play another year? Yea....

 

[koonja]

why in the world would we do that? George will probably be our feature back next year. We already have 52 safeties on scholarship

Because he will be our featured back NEXT year, and like I said, we have little talent at safety and no depth. He's too talented to not be on the field somewhere.

But maybe I'm crazy. Maybe GAIII is best burried at RB, regardless of his talent so that he can be ready for playing runningback next year.

 

[GBdomer]

I'll try to make this more clear..

GAIII is extremely talented. Has perfect size for safety.

BK is 'famous' for moving players around, swapping positions to get the best athletes on the field (could literally name at least 8 guys since he's been here).

GAIII has a lot of horsepower, but no room to gallop being the 3rd string RB behind behind Wood and Theo.

We are in dire need of talent in the 2ndary, not to mention the depth is extremely scary (I assume you agree with both of these).

I'm saying, I wish BK would consider moving GAIII to safety. Probably too late now, but I wish he would have done it this summer (which I did mention in August).

It's not an incredible transition from changing from RB to DB, at least not with a year/summer to work on it (hell, Cam's been at ND for what, 6 months and he's already made that change).

Got it?