'11 NY OLB Ishaq Williams (Signed ND LOI-EE)

[Bogtrotter07]

I agree with everything the previous poster had about learning the position. Considering he had never played LB before and still got in the 2 deep when he wasnt banged up is encouraging. I dont think any school in the country wants to have the possibility of 4 first year players playing large amount of time on D (Tuitt, Nix, Lynch, Ishaq) no matter how talented they are. I mean look at Tuitts progression for example. Kid was thinking so much at the start of the year he was behind plays to where he took himself out of the play. But by the end of the year he started to come out of his shell. That is part of the reason I feel we struggled against usc and stanford on that side of the ball. As far as experience and just plain ability to react instead of think and react their Oline's just had that advantage.

As for more of Ishaq, him getting spot PT and learning behind Darius I think is going to be a blessing. Ishaq got a taste of the speed of division 1 ball, and like the article stated he just got caught up with playing vs talent. The entire thing about him re-dedicating himself...ND was never going to lose him to a transfer or Ishaq didnt want to be at ND from what Ive been told. it was more of a wake up call to where he realized that he can be great, but it requires working his *** off to be great. BK and the staff have done a wonderful job of that. I mean how many of us thought Harrison would be a 1st round draft pick 2 years ago, Jonas Gray being virtually unstoppable for a large part of the year, or Eifert being possibly the best TE to come in the last 10 years when there have been an abundance of good TEs leaving ND to the league. BK and the staff is taking the time to get into each individual player and making them realize the situation they are in, and then getting them to EMBRACE the situation. I think that if they have gotten Ishaq to embrace it, then I feel there could be a great 2 year stretch of Ishaq tearing defenses apart. This year I expect to see him start to dig in more to the D, and then his jr/sr year play at the level ND hasnt seen at OLB for quite awhile.

This is maybe the greatest post I have ever read. The first statement, bolded and italicized is the difference between this staff and any staff since Lou or Ara.

Ishaq isn't the only one. They are taking mediocre and turning them into journeyment, and they are taking the special one's and turning them into walking legends. Just wait!

 

[ChiRish]

This is maybe the greatest post I have ever read. The first statement, bolded and italicized is the difference between this staff and any staff since Lou or Ara.

Ishaq isn't the only one. They are taking mediocre and turning them into journeyment, and they are taking the special one's and turning them into walking legends. Just wait!

Exactly. Another great example of this for me is Kona. Kid was raw coming to campus as a potential DE, worked his arse off under the staff to the point now that not only has he slid inside on the line, but the staff is comfortable enough with him there to be able to try other creative formations. Love it.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

After the first game, one would have to say Ishaq, came, saw, and conquered. He was beastly and brolic! How can you keep him from the field?

Anyone have a highlight video of his play to post?

 

[jimmymac]

Forgot how well he played, I was really encouraged by the emotion he showed on/after every play, whether on the field or the sideline. Just looks like a completely different player from last year.

 

[irishff1014]

Ishaq,Tuitt, Nix are going to be a 3 headed monster this year.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Ishaq,Tuitt, Nix are going to be a 3 headed monster this year.

Don't forget the leader of the gang, KLM baby.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Forgot how well he played, I was really encouraged by the emotion he showed on/after every play, whether on the field or the sideline. Just looks like a completely different player from last year.

Well said, last year he seemed disinterested and distant. Could he of been overshadowed by AL? just a thought.

Solid game by 11!

 

[Grahambo]

He looks completely different then last season and looks way more comfortable. He is going to be a force this season.

 

[tadman95]

After the first game, one would have to say Ishaq, came, saw, and conquered. He was beastly and brolic! How can you keep him from the field?

Anyone have a highlight video of his play to post?

Not a highlight video but look at this link to the 4:25 mark of OutintheBend's video. Ishaq nails the QB. No stat but damn it looks good.

Notre Dame vs Navy 2012 First Half Condensed - YouTube

Sorry- I don't know how to cut into the video and embed just that.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I'm sure that maturity and dedication are playing big roles here, but I believe that the main thing is that Diaco has decided to cut through the fog and put Ishaq where he really needs to be with his talents. What I'm seeing is a fired-up Dragon just bursting with football energy. And by the way, Ishaq may have been more spectacular, but his buddy The Prince really sealed off the edge when he was in there too. This is a two-headed Dragon at CAT. And the rest they give one another just stokes the flames. Our Crashmasters are as good as anybody's as a pair.

 

[tadman95]

I'm sure that maturity and dedication are playing big roles here, but I believe that the main thing is that Diaco has decided to cut through the fog and put Ishaq where he really needs to be with his talents. What I'm seeing is a fired-up Dragon just bursting with football energy. And by the way, Ishaq may have been more spectacular, but his buddy The Prince really sealed off the edge when he was in there too. This is a two-headed Dragon at CAT. And the rest they give one another just stokes the flames. Our Crashmasters are as good as anybody's as a pair.

He did didn't he!

 

[stlnd01]

It's funny, Ishaq's box score probably doesn't show him making many big plays. But he was in on tons of them, most notably Tuitt's TD, which wouldn't have happened with out his pressure. The guy wreaked havoc in Navy's backfield all day.

 

[irishff1014]

It's funny, Ishaq's box score probably doesn't show him making many big plays. But he was in on tons of them, most notably Tuitt's TD, which wouldn't have happened with out his pressure. The guy wreaked havoc in Navy's backfield all day.

Staying home is against a team like Navy is huge. Yes it doesn't show in the stats but it means alot to the outcome for the defense.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

i loved seeing ishaq get quality minutes. it was also good to see him fired up on the sideline.

the guy is just so chill that it scares me that he may be complacent. he is not. i think he was swimming last year and its clicking now. leaps and bounds game to game this year. watch out.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I think that a lot of people overreacted and i love the people that called Ishaq a bust. Kid is a sophmore in college, battled through injuries his freshman year, and now is about to make a lot of ND nation eat their words.

 

[irishff1014]

I think that a lot of people overreacted and i love the people that called Ishaq a bust. Kid is a sophmore in college, battled through injuries his freshman year, and now is about to make a lot of ND nation eat their words.

If anyone called him a bust they were smoking some good ****

 

[blueNDgold44]

Multiple people have already said it but when I saw Ishaq going crazy after he "forced" the fumble that Tuitt picked up it was truly awesome. This team seems to play with a lot of passion, something we haven't seen in a couple years!

 

[Buster Bluth]

Multiple people have already said it but when I saw Ishaq going crazy after he "forced" the fumble that Tuitt picked up it was truly awesome. This team seems to play with a lot of passion, something we haven't seen in a couple years!

2009: Wow these players fight back tooth and nail every game! These games are so close but they keep fighting!

2010: Wow the toughness Kelly has installed, so awesome! Could have been finished after Tulsa but these players play with such passion!

2011: These guys fight! They turn the ball over but don't ever give up! We played with passion and almost came back against the Trojans!

Honestly it's been said every season I've paid attention. The players always play with passion.

 

[NDinFL]

2009: Wow these players fight back tooth and nail every game! These games are so close but they keep fighting!

2010: Wow the toughness Kelly has installed, so awesome! Could have been finished after Tulsa but these players play with such passion!

2011: These guys fight! They turn the ball over but don't ever give up! We played with passion and almost came back against the Trojans!

Honestly it's been said every season I've paid attention. The players always play with passion.

Under Weis' regime they didn't have the same kind of toughness that Kelly has instilled

 

[Bluto]

Watching Connecticutt run off tackle like 8 times in a row on the game winning drive in 2009 and seeing the D let Stanford score (most embarrassing thing I've seen from a team in a long time) did not make me think of the phrase "tooth and nail" that year. Anyhow, we blew out Navy like we should have. After watching some of the top 25 teams (Wisconsin, Stanford, Florida and Oklahoma) struggle with some suspect competition we looked like a pretty finished product in comparison. I'm thinking Purdue will be kind of like last years game.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Your right maybe passion wasn't the right word but there seems to be a lot more, hate to say it but swag on this team. I know passion and swag don't really correlate but I think you get my point

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Its passion/emotion. Weis teams had that swag where they knew they were good, but then they didnt have heart to dig down deep. Id say Clausen had it just bc every damn game he was leading a comeback in the last seconds, but that defense lol. Sergio Brown and Brian Smith could talk a mean game, but they never did squat on the field. They sure as hell would havent of stopped navy on a 4th and 1, nor held them to under a 150 yards rushing.....in a half.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Its passion/emotion. Weis teams had that swag where they knew they were good, but then they didnt have heart to dig down deep. Id say Clausen had it just bc every damn game he was leading a comeback in the last seconds, but that defense lol. Sergio Brown and Brian Smith could talk a mean game, but they never did squat on the field. They sure as hell would havent of stopped navy on a 4th and 1, nor held them to under a 150 yards rushing.....in a half.

I don't question the heart of the Weis teams. I question their conditioning. And, let's be honest, USC was supremely talented and we were only supremely talented at a few positions.

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

Multiple people have already said it but when I saw Ishaq going crazy after he "forced" the fumble that Tuitt picked up it was truly awesome.

Instead of slowing down and clapping and fist pumping, shouldn't Ishaq have tried to help escort Tuitt into the end zone like Farley was doing? Nonetheless, still loved the overall excitement and passion he's showing (including those fist pumps).

 

[NDinL.A.]

Instead of slowing down and clapping and fist pumping, shouldn't Ishaq have tried to help escort Tuitt into the end zone like Farley was doing? Nonetheless, still loved the overall excitement and passion he's showing (including those fist pumps).

If you watch it again, he rolled over the QB, and by the time he got up, Tuitt was gone (and he knew he wasn't catching Tuitt or anyone else). He started to run, then started celebrating while jogging.

Farley is far faster, but even then, he didn't join the convoy, I think he was just trailing the play and going to celebrate with his boy. Ishaq celebrated with his sideline teammates...

 

[IrishJayhawk]

If you watch it again, he rolled over the QB, and by the time he got up, Tuitt was gone (and he knew he wasn't catching Tuitt or anyone else). He started to run, then started celebrating while jogging.

Farley is far faster, but even then, he didn't join the convoy, I think he was just trailing the play and going to celebrate with his boy. Ishaq celebrated with his sideline teammates...

I actually thought that KLM could have done a better job of shielding the guy who was trailing. In the end, it didn't matter. Couldn't believe how fast Tuitt looked.

 

[pumpdog20]

2009: Wow these players fight back tooth and nail every game! These games are so close but they keep fighting!

2010: Wow the toughness Kelly has installed, so awesome! Could have been finished after Tulsa but these players play with such passion!

2011: These guys fight! They turn the ball over but don't ever give up! We played with passion and almost came back against the Trojans!

Honestly it's been said every season I've paid attention. The players always play with passion.

But has it been a criminal-like passion?

 

[NDisme]

Idk if anyone saw but when they show a slow mo replay of shembo and klm sacking miller when shembo got the facemask penalty... You can see ishaq in the background on the sidelines going nuts! Thought that was cool to see

 

[koonja]

NO INJURY, lol.

From yours truly (Eric Hanson chat):

Comment From Jake
Eric, love the chat. Do you see Ishaq eventually starting and/or taking the majority of the snaps from Prince? In the small sample size we have, he seems to be causing ruckus in the backfield.
12:37

Eric Hansen:
He is pushing now, but they were toying with packages on third down that put them both on the field at the same time, and I believe those are still in play. It's a nice problem to have.


I'd love to see them on the field at the same time.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i really don't think that we'll have to worry about ishaq getting his snaps this year...i think the staff is smart enough to see the talent they have and they're not going to waste it.