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

[koonja]

You're right. Crazy thought. Let's keep our best athlete at 3rd string runningback because BK doesn't care about getting his athletes on the field, lol. My bad, I'll take a lap. Just my opinion, which apparently was way off.

 

[PerthDomer]

We have a lot of athletes at safety. It's not his position, he'd be as experienced as the frosh at it.

 

[PraetorianND]

We have a lot of athletes at safety. It's not his position, he'd be as experienced as the frosh at it.

Play Neal at CB.....

 

[koonja]

We have a lot of athletes at safety. It's not his position, he'd be as experienced as the frosh at it.

We have a lot of freshman athletes, who are no where the athlete GAIII is. I'm saying, I wish they made the change this summer, seeing the issue with him being 3rd string RB and the lack of depth/talent at safety. As soon as this year ends, he switches back to RB, to which he's already familiar with (again, Cam, as a freshman, has handled a similar position change just fine).

 

[GBdomer]

You're right. Crazy thought. Let's keep our best athlete at 3rd string runningback because BK doesn't care about getting his athletes on the field, lol. My bad, I'll take a lap. Just my opinion, which apparently was way off.

There is a reason he is our 3rd string back you know that right?

 

[PerthDomer]

if you did that during the Summer Riddick would be the one and only RB on the roster with Cam at CB.

 

[GBdomer]

Where would he have seen playing time this year with McCarthy, Slaughter, Motta, Farley and what was suppose to be Colinsworth.

 

[koonja]

There is a reason he is our 3rd string back you know that right?

Because he's not as good as Theo and Wood?

 

[koonja]

Where would he have seen playing time this year with McCarthy, Slaughter, Motta, Farley and what was suppose to be Colinsworth.

You don't think that with a summer training at the position that GAIII wouldn't blow those guys out of the water? I do. Outside of Shummate there's not a lot of people screaming talent at that list (and Slaughter, who's obviously out).

 

[GBdomer]

Because he's not as good as Theo and Wood?

 

[GBdomer]

You don't think that with a summer training at the position that GAIII wouldn't blow those guys out of the water? I do. Maybe I'm wrong. I don't see anyone listed above that has the potential GA III does (and I say potential cause half of the ppl you listed are fresh).

You want to move a guy who averages 9.5 yards per carry? His development in this offense will expand when he understands the offense more. He is on pace for about 400 yards. He is fine where he is no sense in moving him and there never was. He is a special athlete. He struggled at the Army Game playing safety. I didn't mean to come off like a dick but I was just surprised somebody even thought this.

 

[koonja]

IDK if you're just trying to poke fun or not, but if you agree that he's not as good, and yet supremely talented, why don't you buy BK's theory of moving guys around to get the athletes on the field? Do you think it'd be that hard for him to play safety this year (with a summer to prepare) and then start training at RB again come February? Maybe it's just me but I want our best players on the field (which BK would agree with I believe). He's too talented to be a 3rd string back on this team, especially given the DB situation, but maybe you don't think the DB situation is that bad. I do, however.

 

[Ironman8]

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?

Well originally I had more of an issue with you naming Will Fuller our 3rd string safety - no idea where that came from - but I also agreed with GB about having an issue of moving GAIII to safety. You name him our best athlete, and I am sure in doing so agree he is one of, if not the, biggest home run threat on the team. BK has already made it clear that not giving him touches v. Purdue was a mistake, and in the other two games this year he has a run of at least 30 yards.

I love the fact that we have 3 stud backs, and want to take advantage of this fact all year. Not only does it allow all 3 of our backs to be fresh at the end of the game, but it also provides valuable insurance should (God forbid) anything happen to one of them. Furthermore, it allows Amir Carlisle to sit, learn and recuperate until fully healthy, which is a huge added bonus.

Motta and Farley have been very solid this year, and Slaughter is a stud and will be sorely missed now. Hopefully one of Baratti, McCarthy, Salvi, etc can step up as the next man in and provide quality depth. Based on the other kids on our team stepping up with vigor when called, I am optimistic we will be ok.

 

[koonja]

Well originally I had more of an issue with you naming Will Fuller our 3rd string safety - no idea where that came from - but I also agreed with GB about having an issue of moving GAIII to safety. You name him our best athlete, and I am sure in doing so agree he is one of, if not the, biggest home run threat on the team. BK has already made it clear that not giving him touches v. Purdue was a mistake, and in the other two games this year he has a run of at least 30 yards.

I love the fact that we have 3 stud backs, and want to take advantage of this fact all year. Not only does it allow all 3 of our backs to be fresh at the end of the game, but it also provides valuable insurance should (God forbid) anything happen to one of them. Furthermore, it allows Amir Carlisle to sit, learn and recuperate until fully healthy, which is a huge added bonus.

Motta and Farley have been very solid this year, and Slaughter is a stud and will be sorely missed now. Hopefully one of Baratti, McCarthy, Salvi, etc can step up as the next man in and provide quality depth. Based on the other kids on our team stepping up with vigor when called, I am optimistic we will be ok.

That was just a play on how much we lack depth at safety right now. Sorry for the confusion.


About Amir. I was thinking he'd be back by now, and I think we all expect him to be a good player. That just adds to the 'log jam' at RB, if you will. I also LOVE having this many backs, it's always a great thing to have a surplus of talent. I just think we have a need at safety which could allow more PT for one of our best athletes (again, if he could handle the transition).

To begin the year, I would have been more excited to say we have Motta, Slaughter, and GAIII playing safety (rotating in, essenially 2nd string but getting a lot more time than at RB currently. How explosive would our 2ndary be!?). Sorry, forgot to multi-quote lol. Since noone seems to share my opinion, we might as well end this disagreement. Go Irish!

 

[GBdomer]

IDK if you're just trying to poke fun or not, but if you agree that he's not as good, and yet supremely talented, why don't you buy BK's theory of moving guys around to get the athletes on the field? Do you think it'd be that hard for him to play safety this year (with a summer to prepare) and then start training at RB again come February? Maybe it's just me but I want our best players on the field (which BK would agree with I believe). He's too talented to be a 3rd string back on this team, especially given the DB situation, but maybe you don't think the DB situation is that bad. I do, however.

Dude I agree with everything you are saying. When you are trying to become an elite level program like us your damn right are 3rd string running back should be talented. DeAnothy Thomas was Oregon's 3rd back last year, TJ Yeldon is Alabama 3rd string back this year. Chris Gable, Joe McKnight, Stefon Johnson, Emanuel Moody, Demps were all 3rd string running backs at some point. When you bring in top tier talent like we do ya it sucks that George doesn't get more playing time but hes simply just not as good as Theo and Cierre are at this point plain and simple. Wasn't poking fun at you this is all my opinion just like you are 110% able to have yours.

 

[koonja]

Dude I agree with everything you are saying. When you are trying to become an elite level program like us your damn right are 3rd string running back should be talented. DeAnothy Thomas was Oregon's 3rd back last year, TJ Yeldon is Alabama 3rd string back this year. Chris Gable, Joe McKnight, Stefon Johnson, Emanuel Moody, Demps were all 3rd string running backs at some point. When you bring in top tier talent like we do ya it sucks that George doesn't get more playing time but hes simply just not as good as Theo and Cierre are at this point plain and simple. Wasn't poking fun at you this is all my opinion just like you are 110% able to have yours.

It's not necessarily that fluid. I'd bet these teams were a lot more talented and deep at the DB position than we are. We aren't stacked like Bama and USC at every position, so that's why I think the idea of making that move this year was leggit.

 

[woolybug25]

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Wait a minute here. Can someone explain to me how we have no depth at safety?

 

[koonja]

Wait a minute here. Can someone explain to me how we have no depth at safety?

We have Farley and Motta starting, with two true freshman (Proise/Baratti) and Collinsworth behind them (that's a significant drop in talent I'd say). Is that right? That's a shaky situation. I pray we stay healthy and we're not starting Proise or Baratti before season's end.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

We have Farley and Motta starting, with two true freshman (Proise/Baratti) and Collinsworth behind them (that's a significant drop in talent I'd say). Is that right? That's a shaky situation. I pray we stay healthy and we're no starting Proise or Baratti before season's end.

What about McCarthy, Badger, Hardy? You don't think they would move Shumate to safety instead of nickle situations? Not to mention you left off John Turner also.

 

[koonja]

What about McCarthy, Badger, Hardy? You don't think they would move Shumate to safety instead of nickle situations? Not to mention you left off John Turner also.

Badger's red-shirting. McCarthy is a senior, no? And he's been passed by about everyone that's tried out it seems. His ship has sailed. John Turner? No. Please no. Not this year. He couldn't handle that Dieter kid last year. Shummate's a corner and we need him there, obviously. Yes, we have players at safety. No where near the talent of a GAIII.

 

[Ironman8]

We have Farley and Motta starting, with two true freshman (Proise/Baratti) and Collinsworth behind them (that's a significant drop in talent I'd say). Is that right? That's a shaky situation. I pray we stay healthy and we're no starting Proise or Baratti before season's end.

I'm not sure what you mean by Collinsworth behind them, since he was originally our 3rd safety before his season ending injury. You are forgetting about 5th year SR Danny McCarthy, Eliar Hardy, Chris Badger, John Turner, and the Salvi brothers.

 

[woolybug25]

What about McCarthy, Badger, Hardy? You don't think they would move Shumate to safety instead of nickle situations? Not to mention you left off John Turner also.

I'm not agreeing with the GAIII thing, but I think you are missing Keuhna's point. Sans Shumate, I literally have no faith that any of the guys you just mentioned could play the position at a BCS level. Not yet anyways.

So while we have a lot of bodies at Safety, we lack quality depth.

 

[Ironman8]

I'm not agreeing with the GAIII thing, but I think you are missing Keuhna's point. Sans Shumate, I literally have no faith that any of the guys you just mentioned could play the position at a BCS level. Not yet anyways.

So while we have a lot of bodies at Safety, we lack quality depth.

Why would we have faith in GAIII being able to play Safety at a BCS level position this year though?

 

[GBdomer]

Than you move Atkinson to safety and are left with Cierre and Theo. Don't have faith in anybody else after that until Amir is healthy.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm not agreeing with the GAIII thing, but I think you are missing Keuhna's point. Sans Shumate, I literally have no faith that any of the guys you just mentioned could play the position at a BCS level. Not yet anyways.

So while we have a lot of bodies at Safety, we lack quality depth.

How could you say a kid from Utah who Florida State wanted really bad couldn't play at a BCS level. Come on Wooly.

 

[koonja]

I'm not sure what you mean by Collinsworth behind them, since he was originally our 3rd safety before his season ending injury. You are forgetting about 5th year SR Danny McCarthy, Eliar Hardy, Chris Badger, John Turner, and the Salvi brothers.[/QUOTE]

The staff must not be high on McCarthy.

Eliar even healthy? Where is he?

Badger's red-shirting because he needs to get into football shape, or whatever.

John Turner cannot play for ND this year. He's not good enough, imo.

Salvi brothers. Are they GAIII? I mean, is this list above what we want playing against Oklahoma, USC, Stanford, Michigan?

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

GB, are you sleeping on Cam?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

The staff must not be high on McCarthy.

Eliar even healthy? Where is he?

Badger's red-shirting because he needs to get into football shape, or whatever.

John Turner cannot play for ND this year. He's not good enough, imo.

Salvi brothers. Are they GAIII? I mean, is this list above what we want playing against Oklahoma, USC, Stanford, Michigan?

Did you see GA III play safety in the Army All American game? He was really bad.

Dude it is stupid saying he should be playing safety. That means next year we a re left with Carlisle (will he be able to stay healthy?), Cam McDonald, Will Mahone and whatever incoming freshmen at RB.

 

[Ironman8]

I'm not sure what you mean by Collinsworth behind them, since he was originally our 3rd safety before his season ending injury. You are forgetting about 5th year SR Danny McCarthy, Eliar Hardy, Chris Badger, John Turner, and the Salvi brothers.[/QUOTE]

The staff must not be high on McCarthy.

Eliar even healthy? Where is he?

Badger's red-shirting because he needs to get into football shape, or whatever.

John Turner cannot play for ND this year. He's not good enough, imo.

Salvi brothers. Are they GAIII? I mean, is this list above what we want playing against Oklahoma, USC, Stanford, Michigan?

This is kinda the point though man - not that these guys should be starting right now for us this year, but that they provide depth if needed. Right now we look ok with Motta and Farley starting (who really won't ever come off the field) and I know the staff is very high on Baratti. We have a ton of bodies there, and to write anyone off is just silly given how well our young 'fill in' players have played this year already.