starting db's??

[Irish_Fan85]

looking for some backround info on the irish db's? who is the starting 4? and how good are they? I know tommy z is good but thats all i know for now

 

[jiggafini19]

looking for some backround info on the irish db's? who is the starting 4? and how good are they? I know tommy z is good but thats all i know for now

Tommy Z at safety, Mike Richardson at corner. After that, anyone's guess. I think Vernaglia will win the other safety spot. The other corner could be Ambrose Wooden since he's back. Maybe Leo Ferrine.

I'd take Darrin Walls right now....

 

[VAIRISH84]

I don't think the coaches even know beyond Richardson and Tommy Z. I am sure even Tommy Z may flip between strong and free safety. I imagine the corners will be in and out and starter a fluid term. Hopefully, not for too long. I would want someone to seize the job.

 

[BigIrish]

I don't think the coaches even know beyond Richardson and Tommy Z. I am sure even Tommy Z may flip between strong and free safety. I imagine the corners will be in and out and starter a fluid term. Hopefully, not for too long. I would want someone to seize the job.

it's thin back there, for sure, but i think the coaches have a fairly good idea of how things are shaping up. although it doesn't seem clear what that plan is, they'd have never let j. jabbie move to RB this late in the game if they felt like they didn't have a solution in place for the secondary.

 

[Irish Envy]

I think Ferrine has to step up and take the spot, although I've heard excellent things about Lambert, his speed and his work ethic.

 

[jiggafini19]

This is really going to be an issue this season. This group will have to be very well coached and the defense will have to be a team unit in every sense of the word. I'd expect to see Bruton and Herring out there as well.

This area of the team is very scary and a cause for great concern.

 

[Aerosmith777]

I think Lambert is the most naturally talented of the bunch, so if he's working hard I really hope he wins out at the other corner spot.

 

[Irish Legend]

Lambert will be a starter.

 

[Guest]

Agree with Lambert, he has a legit chance to be a shut down corner. Just needs some experience. I hope he gets plenty of playing time this year, so he can take his lumps and be great for us down the road...

Lambert redshirted last year so if we land Walls, we could have Lambert and Walls starting for us, wow that would be a deadly potential combo....

 

[jiggafini19]

Playing time is such an issue here. No one has played except Richardson and Richardson was terrrible as far as I was concerned. He would have to start digging from rock bottom, so the only way to go is up.

These other guys are going to be baptized by fire this year. Michigan, Purdue, USC....they'll have no choice but to come of age quick.

 

[ACCIrish]

ya the main concern is experience and depth but i think they all are highly talented and may suprise a lot of people

 

[jiggafini19]

ya the main concern is experience and depth but i think they all are highly talented and may suprise a lot of people

With not a second of playing time to their credit, we are going on blind faith and optimism.

These guys have not been tested in a game situation. When they go up to Ann Arbor and all 500,000 people they cram into that place are going nuts and those guys can't hear themselves think, they might be taken back a bit. It will be a far cry from the Blue and Gold Game or practice in South Bend.

Even if they are talented, which we don't really know yet, they are going to come of age in the first month and make mistakes. With the schedule ahead, are these mistakes that ND can afford? On the job learning will not lead to 7 or 8 wins I can assure you.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Yeah, but all I can think of is how could it possibly get any worse than last year? At least w/ some of these kids there's some actual natural ability there. I'm sure mistakes will be made, and I have no doubt the big pass play will be the bane of the defense yet again this year, but I think there's at least room for hope that the unit will come together as the year progresses, as opposed to last year.

 

[jiggafini19]

As a Bears fan, we thought there was no way Terry Shea could be worse than John Shoop. Turns out that was the case.

I've seen it before. Hitting rock bottom, then start digging. The offenses ND plays and the secondary personnel they have could make it happen.

My optimistic hope is that the new staff designs a system that revolves around disguising looks and playing team defense. If ND has to go man to man on anyone, they're dead.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Oh yeah, that's true, I'm not expecting much man-to-man, at least at the beginning of the year, especially if Richardson holds on to his job as a starter...still though, I think the unit could be better than most are expecting, precisely b/c of how well coached I think they'll be. we shall see though.

 

[guff]

I know Weis is seen as an offensive guy but the team he left won the Super Bowl with a veteran wide reciever at nickel back. By the end of the year the New England secondary was a "The Who's Who's of Who's That". Weis has a better understanding of defense than he is given credit for.

With defense the system is as important as the talent. You need 11 guys playing as unit. Everyone has an assignment and everyone completes the assignment. No freelancing no mental breakdowns. Weis and Minter will come up with the system that enhances strengths and minimizes weaknesses.

The key to this defense will be the front seven and the pressure that they can bring. If ND can put enough heat on the QB without having to blitz and expose the secondary then the defense will be good enough to win games. If not, then there will be trouble.

With the offensive talent this team has the defense doesn't have be the second coming of the Steel Curtain.

 

[gingtoad]

Lets not forget the unkown sleeper out there. There is one every year somewhere. Shane Walton came out of no where and was probably our best cover man in a long time with Duff. Hell, Shane Walton was a walk on from soccer. He was the type of player that thrived on pressure. Don't get scared just because we're going to Ann Arbor, that atmosphere will bring out the best in some.

 

[jiggafini19]

Lets not forget the unkown sleeper out there. There is one every year somewhere.
Don't get scared just because we're going to Ann Arbor, that atmosphere will bring out the best in some.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Trevor Laws and Victor Abiamari.

Ann Arbor = good game, but UM has too much offensive for ND's defense to overcome. They'll compete, but I can't expect a victory in this game.

 

[BGIF]

Lets not forget the unkown sleeper out there. There is one every year somewhere. Shane Walton came out of no where and was probably our best cover man in a long time with Duff. Hell, Shane Walton was a walk on from soccer. He was the type of player that thrived on pressure. Don't get scared just because we're going to Ann Arbor, that atmosphere will bring out the best in some.

Shane Walton did not come out of no where. He was an All-State CB from California but he was an ALL-American Soccer player. It was assumed he would pursue a pro soccer career so he received little football interest from football recruiting services.

He spent years running backwards, reading plays on the fly anticipating soccer passes, sharpening reflexes and his ability to handle pressure. He was a two time captain both in football and soccer in high school. In high school he earned 4 letters in football and soccer. He also had almost 900 yds in pass receptions as a HS senior and over 1000 yds in punt returns. Walton was conference athlete of the year in both football and soccer. Walton also played on club soccer teams that won national titles, twice. Contrary to myth Walton was not a Rudy that played beyond his talent. Walton was considered a future professional - in soccer, his sport of choice.

Walton came to ND on an soccer scholarship with the understanding that he could try out for football. He wasn't Ronald Reagan on an playing another sport on an adjacent field until "discovered" by Pat O'Brien. Walton came to ND with a plan. And despite leading the ND soccer team in scoring as a freshman and being selected Second Team All Big East he walked away from soccer for football.

He wasn't an unknown to the coaching staff. As he was on Soccer Scholarship NCAA regulations prohibited him from playing football his freshman fall. As a sophomore he played in 9 games, as a junior and senior he started 21 of 21.

 

[Irish Legend]

Thanks Shane!

 

[kickerbg31]

I wouldn't expect to see Herring in there much this year. He hasn't practiced much in camp due to an injury and been on the stationary bike for most of the practices

 

[Irish Legend]

Everyone will play on special teams, I want to see more on Lambert. I've heard good things.

 

[jiggafini19]

Everyone will play on special teams, I want to see more on Lambert. I've heard good things.

Special teams will be an area of emphasis for Weis.

Hopefully the led-footed Chase Anastasio will not be bringing back kicks anymore. The guy runs like he has cynder blocks tied to his waist.

Keep your fingers crossed with this secondary.

 

[mikasa]

well stated Jiggafini19..thats is the only way to bring these kinda guys up to that level...buck up or get burnt..look for CW to suprise us all.

 

[Irish Envy]

Special teams will be an area of emphasis for Weis.

Hopefully the led-footed Chase Anastasio will not be bringing back kicks anymore. The guy runs like he has cynder blocks tied to his waist.

Keep your fingers crossed with this secondary.

Not to mention Chase is a tattle tale. LOL

 

[jiggafini19]

Not to mention Chase is a tattle tale. LOL

fill me in...what do you mean?

 

[irishnd31]

Special teams will be an area of emphasis for Weis.

Hopefully the led-footed Chase Anastasio will not be bringing back kicks anymore. The guy runs like he has cynder blocks tied to his waist.

Keep your fingers crossed with this secondary.

My God, you hit the nail on the head there. This kid is slow as death and seems to run the kick off towards the defenders and not around them. That's great if you have a snow plow dangling from your nose, but I can't remember a time when CA came remotely close to breaking one. Who is returning kicks this year??

 

[Irish Envy]

fill me in...what do you mean?

When I was trying to contact players looking for Q&A sessions via email, he told the SID on me and I got a nasty letter to contact them in whereas all of the other players were cool about it or even said yes.