'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[NDFANnSouthWest]

You usually get concussions when you play in space and someone is able hit you at full velocity and you're unprepared for it.

This^


F=m(a)

 

[Chamellion]

Defenders who are "big hitters" have the worst risk. Safeties and certain linebackers.... outside of that, RBs, WRs, QBs with bad pass protection... the OL/DL have so many micro-collisions..... really no one is safe except for lockdown CBs.

P/K

 

[Me2SouthBend]

From... Inside the Irish

Niklas is ultimate wild card | Inside the Irish

 

[NDinMich]

From... Inside the Irish

Niklas is ultimate wild card | Inside the Irish

Seriously though, I hope his concussion issues are behind him. Wasn't Dan Wenger another one recently who had concussion problems?

 

[Grimm]

According to Keith's latest article, Niklas may be suffering from occular migraines rather than concussions. Here is an article on ocular migraine basics. Ocular Migraines: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Couldn't find much on football and migraines (other than stories on Terrell Davis), but my guess is that this isn't impacted by football, but it is difficult to play during episodes.

 

[Grahambo]

* Perhaps the most impressive physical feat accomplished in practice was 6-7, 260-pound sophomore tight end Troy Niklas blocking so hard that he twice capsized the blocking sled.

Notre Dame football notebook: Riddick, Kelly turn the page - southbendtribune.com

 

[Emcee77]

LOVE THIS. I can't wait to see him terrorizing lbs and dbs

 

[calvegas04]

lol after the 2nd time the player behind him was like WTF?

 

[BGIF]

HOORAY!!

So it's OK with you to take a second RB now?



Stay healthy Troy.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I would be interested to know if that writer got one detail correct: He wrote that Mike Golic began as the starting right TACKLE. That makes no sense to me. He then went on to name the second string, and since Lombard was not mentioned, that meant that Lombard was the starting right GUARD.

I am going to assume that he got this backwards and that Lombard was at Right Tackle and Golic at Right Guard. IF that is true, then the world makes sense again, even if it is really Nick Martin who will start at right guard. Kelly and staff tend to put the guys on the field initially according to seniority when the position is a competition [QB is the exception this August], and Golic would get the veteran's "first shot". The WRs were in exactly the same pattern. [Toma still getting no true love, but Riddick being required, psychologically as well as physically, to be in there].

As far as Troy is concerned: I would rather hear of him making some great catches as practice goes on, rather than breaking sleds. We already knew that he was more "Man" that practically anyone. It's important that he is viewed by opponents as a serious pass-catching threat, if we're really going to exploit our TE wealth schematically. The real significant positive of this is, of course, that if we become a rushing offense emphasis [a bit more like Oregon] then it's nice to know that we have a Monster Debris Sweeper stationed to seal the corner of the line-of-scrimmage.

 

[Ricochet]

As far as Troy is concerned: I would rather hear of him making some great catches as practice goes on, rather than breaking sleds. We already knew that he was more "Man" that practically anyone. It's important that he is viewed by opponents as a serious pass-catching threat, if we're really going to exploit our TE wealth schematically. The real significant positive of this is, of course, that if we become a rushing offense emphasis [a bit more like Oregon] then it's nice to know that we have a Monster Debris Sweeper stationed to seal the corner of the line-of-scrimmage.

I hear what your saying but that won't be his main responsibility most likely if he's the other starting TE in the 2 TE sets is that of a more traditional TE rather than the modern ND TE who's a well rounded but at the end of the day is more of a flex TE who a pass catcher first and will move around in WR positions from time to time.

The other TE, the one Niklas would most likely be play is going to be more than just a blocker especially in spread offense, that said his game is going to be much more of a traditional TE. So what I think we will from him is a lot of in-line blocking and a lot of short and/or quick passing plays for him. IMO he will be the beneficiary of getting the dump off passes rather than Eifert.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I would be interested to know if that writer got one detail correct: He wrote that Mike Golic began as the starting right TACKLE. That makes no sense to me. He then went on to name the second string, and since Lombard was not mentioned, that meant that Lombard was the starting right GUARD.

I am going to assume that he got this backwards and that Lombard was at Right Tackle and Golic at Right Guard. IF that is true, then the world makes sense again, even if it is really Nick Martin who will start at right guard. Kelly and staff tend to put the guys on the field initially according to seniority when the position is a competition [QB is the exception this August], and Golic would get the veteran's "first shot". The WRs were in exactly the same pattern. [Toma still getting no true love, but Riddick being required, psychologically as well as physically, to be in there].

As far as Troy is concerned: I would rather hear of him making some great catches as practice goes on, rather than breaking sleds. We already knew that he was more "Man" that practically anyone. It's important that he is viewed by opponents as a serious pass-catching threat, if we're really going to exploit our TE wealth schematically. The real significant positive of this is, of course, that if we become a rushing offense emphasis [a bit more like Oregon] then it's nice to know that we have a Monster Debris Sweeper stationed to seal the corner of the line-of-scrimmage.

I have seen tape on Troy from high school to this last spring, and his hands look more than adequate to me. I think when they signed his letter in February, two years ago, Kelly used him as the prototypical big skill player, and noted that even though he was going to play defense, he could play tight end. I remember using that a lot when people went on about turning him into an offensive lineman. In fact, there is a video highlight of him in high school intercepting the ball and taking it to the house some seventy yards. I saw tight end.

 

[yankeehater]

Anyone else besides me concerned that Niklas is just going to be wasting this year buried on the depth charts at TE? Maybe my question is....does he actually have a chance at playing with our current depth?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Anyone else besides me concerned that Niklas is just going to be wasting this year buried on the depth charts at TE? Maybe my question is....does he actually have a chance at playing with our current depth?

Yes. He seems to be the best blocking TE on our roster. Thus, he's more likely to be the 2nd TE in our 2-TE sets than anyone else behind Eifert.

 

[IrishMoore1]

Yeah he's already in the 2 deep at TE. He's gonna play. I just hope he doesn't bang his head again.

 

[yankeehater]

Yeah he's already in the 2 deep at TE. He's gonna play. I just hope he doesn't bang his head again.

I don't remember the site I saw a depth chart, but he was 3rd or 4th and that was not counting the fact they had our two "blocking TE's" listed as 2A and 2B.

 

[yankeeND]

I don't remember the site I saw a depth chart, but he was 3rd or 4th and that was not counting the fact they had our two "blocking TE's" listed as 2A and 2B.

Hey where the hell have I been. I have my own heckler! Did you grow up a yankeehater, or has my poor posting forced your hand?

 

[yankeehater]

Hey where the hell have I been. I have my own heckler! Did you grow up a yankeehater, or has my poor posting forced your hand?

Always been a "Yankeehater." And by the way I was on this site first :smilewink.

 

[yankeehater]

Hey where the hell have I been. I have my own heckler! Did you grow up a yankeehater, or has my poor posting forced your hand?

Problem is as a Sox fan, I have nothing to cheer about this year. Bring on ND football!

 

[Irish YJ]

Next year he will be the go-to stud, and we will not miss a beat at TE. Total package, numbers on par with Eifert. Book it...... Going to be a great year seeing both these guys running in the RZ together. I just can't wait for him to throw some poor DB around like some china doll. If he can learn the position quickly, TE and TN could easily be our bread and butter.

 

[yankeeND]

Always been a "Yankeehater." And by the way I was on this site first :smilewink.

Ah, I see now just more reasons to be disliked! It's hard being a pompous ***, has taken me years to perfect being a jerk. Haha, my bad brotha I need to learn to be more observant.

Back to the story, I am worried as well that Troy may not get the reps he should but I do believe Kelly will play the best player so if it's warranted it shall be done!

 

[yankeeND]

Problem is as a Sox fan, I have nothing to cheer about this year. Bring on ND football!

Yeah they are looking rough this year but I blame Valentine for the mess of a team this year. He really is a jerk!

Side note, not a Yankees fan just a damn Yankee!

 

[scUM Hater]

Niklas may be a breakout player. Put him in the back field to block for our runningbacks. Maybe a three person backfield, with Eifert the TE, put riddick, wood, and niklas in backfield, spread niklas and riddick out, keep niklas back there to block........oh my the possibilities, I gotta stop.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Next year he will be the go-to stud, and we will not miss a beat at TE. Total package, numbers on par with Eifert. Book it...... Going to be a great year seeing both these guys running in the RZ together. I just can't wait for him to throw some poor DB around like some china doll. If he can learn the position quickly, TE and TN could easily be our bread and butter.

Eifert's blocking is passable these days, but it's never been his strong suit. If Niklas begins to produce similar receiving numbers as the Eifert Tower, he may end up being the best in our recent run of great TEs.

 

[yankeeND]

Whisky, I am with you brother! This guy really could be the best of the bunch and that would really be something!

Do you guys remember on signing day two years ago how excited Kelly was to get Troy? Now I see why!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Koyack is too all-around good not to get some snaps. Eifert is our most feared player. Niklas is the ball-breaker. Welch is the one in danger of getting lost in this shuffle, I fear. And HE is a fine player. Tight End U indeed... we can't get them all on the field.

 

[johnnykillz]

Koyack is too all-around good not to get some snaps. Eifert is our most feared player. Niklas is the ball-breaker. Welch is the one in danger of getting lost in this shuffle, I fear. And HE is a fine player. Tight End U indeed... we can't get them all on the field.

I say the lone player who hasn't red shirted gets one.

Save em.

Like money.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I think you guys are missing how the offense is going to look this year. Troy will be on the field more than you think. Not only can he turn over blocking sleds, he can block in space. He is going to make our option game the quickest hitting in the nation.

Also, I think it turns out he never had a concussion. I believe it was only described officially as concussion like symptoms. As it turns out it was an optical nerve issue, (Migranes). Not a concussion, (brain slushy). People in the media just keep lazily refering back to his concussion. Never happened. But they took the right precautions at the end of spring, either that or it was a coaching staff conspiricy, and they didn't want anyone to see the kind of havoc he could reek.

 

[RuntheBall]

I think you guys are missing how the offense is going to look this year. Troy will be on the field more than you think. Not only can he turn over blocking sleds, he can block in space. He is going to make our option game the quickest hitting in the nation.

Also, I think it turns out he never had a concussion. I think it was only described officially as concussion like symptoms. As it turns out it was an optical nerve issue, (Migranes). Not a concussion, (brain slushy). People in the media just keep lazily refering back to his concussion. Never happened. But they took the right precautions at the end of spring, either that or it was a coaching staff conspiricy, and they didn't want anyone to see the kind of havoc he could reek.

Wow. Thanks never heard that.

I think Niklas plays alot; he offers great versatility. I think and I'd like to see us run some hurry up/ no huddle to force the defense to keep the same guys on the field while we utilize our versatile guys. Run a play or two with 1 WR, Eiftert, Niklas, and some of Theo/GAIII/Wood with a power running formation then flex guys out wide and run 4 or 5 out wide- I think it could cause alot of problems for opposing defenses- even for the most talented groups.

I think Niklas could give us that versatility. (Others will too, but I feel Niklas is vital to something like this).

But I digress. Thanks for the update. Glad it wasn't a concussion- though eye injuries are scary as well.

 

[NDhoosier]

so what you guys are saying is that we are looking pretty good at TE?

I think Niklas will be the best out of the 4 to be honest, his size coupled with that athleticism is hard to overcome.