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

[koonja]

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.

No. Read above. In this idea (which has gotten out of control lol), I suggested he go back to RB after this year, because he'd be the #1 back. Cam has already gone through a similar change, and he's a freshman. This idea is premised on getting the best players on the field. But what do I know.

 

[koonja]

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.

I wouldn't condemn a player from playing a position when he's dealing with new coaches, distractions of an all-star game, and a ridiculously condensed gameplan. I like to think with a summer's preparation it'd look way different than a weekend all-star game.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

No. Read above. In this idea (which has gotten out of control lol), I suggested he go back to RB after this year, because he'd be the #1 back. Cam has already gone through a similar change, and he's a freshman. This idea is premised on getting the best players on the field. But what do I know.

Cam is a sophomore.

Secondly, if GA III had been playing safety the past two years and moved to RB next year he wouldn't be the starting back. He would have to learn the playbook and the nuances of the position. not to mention he can't block me right now, so image how he would be if he had been playing safety. People seem to miss that GA III is the 3rd rb because he can't pass protect!

 

[Meacon Irish]

GA3 is one of our star running backs next year with Amir. We need to continue developing that, not wishing he had moved to safety. It's that simple.

 

[GBdomer]

This thread has given me a huge migraine.

 

[koonja]

Cam is a sophomore.

Secondly, if GA III had been playing safety the past two years and moved to RB next year he wouldn't be the starting back. He would have to learn the playbook and the nuances of the position. not to mention he can't block me right now, so image how he would be if he had been playing safety. People seem to miss that GA III is the 3rd rb because he can't pass protect!

Fair point. I'm checking out, apparently I'm way off. Really wish he'd be on the field more, even if it means a position change for one year, but to each his own.

 

[ND NYC]

if you really want GA3 one the field i say put him in at WR...despite a GREAT catch by Goody...im still not sold on Goodie/Daniels at the X...or is it the Y...or is it the Z?

ps how about Chris Brown blowing by guys this year...at some point he and EG are gonna hook up...and when they do watch out! definitely the sleeper of last yrs class IMO

 

[GBdomer]

Kue I really like you as a poster but the Sharks are starting to swim around you right now.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Fair point. I'm checking out, apparently I'm way off. Really wish he'd be on the field more, even if it means a position change for one year, but to each his own.

It's all good bro. Don't take it personally.

 

[Emcee77]

Also, GAIII is not a good safety prospect for the same reason he's not a good WR prospect ... poor ball skills. His main skill is running, and I think that's why the staff wants him at running back.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

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.

I think this conversation should go to the golden arches for some fries and a refreshing soft drink or I will have Luis Nixon bull rush you.

 

[Walter White]

Fair point. I'm checking out, apparently I'm way off. Really wish he'd be on the field more, even if it means a position change for one year, but to each his own.

Don't worry about it Kue.

I think Brian Kelly has Atkinson in the best position for him and the team right now. We are going to need him to carry the team at RB next year (possibly). Its a different situation than Cam, because Cam was being a great team player and providing depth where we need it right now. Cam also has an incredibly high football IQ. Not saying that Atkinson doesn't but that's why I think that Kelly has been moving him around so much.

I agree that Atkinson could possibly be a great safety, but I think his best position is on offense. He's a playmaker with the ball. Similar situation as Neal.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think this conversation should go to the golden arches for some fries and a refreshing soft drink or I will have Luis Nixon bull rush you.

lmao!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Fair point. I'm checking out, apparently I'm way off. Really wish he'd be on the field more, even if it means a position change for one year, but to each his own.

No actually you are not. Did you see that counter play Saturday night against MSU? I don't know what they call it now, but it is what we called a counter, or a crossbuck in the old days. It is a conscious and specific attempt to get a fast defense to flow one way, (as Golson rolls right as he did on the quick pitch, and then have Atkinson receive the ball with a full head of steam heading the other, and let him find the seam. This is putting a player in a position to succeed. He was one player in the way of breaking one of them, as Riddick was a Gholston trip away from breaking the other, (against a great defense.)

 

[koonja]

No actually you are not. Did you see that counter play Saturday night against MSU? I don't know what they call it now, but it is what we called a counter, or a crossbuck in the old days. It is a conscious and specific attempt to get a fast defense to flow one way, (as Golson rolls right as he did on the quick pitch, and then have Atkinson receive the ball with a full head of steam heading the other, and let him find the seam. This is putting a player in a position to succeed. He was one player in the way of breaking one of them, as Riddick was a Gholston trip away from breaking the other, (against a great defense.)

That play was sexy. Perhaps I'm undermining how difficult it is to make a position change, let alone twice. I guess in a perfect world he could play safety this year (imo) and be back at RB next year, without skipping a beat.

 

[Buster Bluth]

if you really want GA3 one the field i say put him in at WR...despite a GREAT catch by Goody...im still not sold on Goodie/Daniels at the X...or is it the Y...or is it the Z?

You're assuming he has the hands to get the job done. It's not all about speed.

 

[DSully1995]

Bog, Jack nolan just called it a misderection, so i guess thats what its called nowadays

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

You're assuming he has the hands to get the job done. It's not all about speed.

Kelly has said that George's hands have improved quite a bit. He makes it sound like he could possibly split out, but probably just in a slot role i'd imagine.

Ga3 is a rb. Simple as that.

 

[Irishnuke]

This thread has gone full retard. You never go full retard.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

This thread has gone full retard. You never go full retard.

 

[sportallyr]

This thread has gone full retard. You never go full retard.

LMFAO!

 

[woolybug25]

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

Literally the very first line I wrote said that I don't necessarily agree with GAIII being that guy, I said you were missing his point about the lack of quality depth. So you missed both points, really.

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

Yes... I am saying that the that the three star kid from Utah, that literally hasn't started a down of college football and has played zero football in general in the last two years, isn't ready to play BCS level college football.

 

[Patulski]

Putting GAIII at safety for a year is like taking a thoroughbred who is being groomed for the Kentucky Derby and putting him with the mill horses.

 

[Ironman8]

Literally the very first line I wrote said that I don't necessarily agree with GAIII being that guy, I said you were missing his point about the lack of quality depth. So you missed both points, really.




Yes... I am saying that the that the three star kid from Utah, that literally hasn't started a down of college football and has played zero football in general in the last two years, isn't ready to play BCS level college football.

1. You were actually telling Sherm he was missing a point, not me.

2. Questioning how GAIII would be a BCS caliber safety this year directly speaks to his point on the lack of quality depth, rather than quantity (which I think everyone can agree we have).

 

[Old Man Mike]

All these comments are all of our pretty uniformed opinions, and hopefully no one takes them seriously [especially one's own opinion]. My opinion, not taken seriously, is that we may BADLY need GAIII at RB this year --- i.e. it's not optional.

My reasoning, shallow as it is, is that although GAIII was not optimal for a ton of carries vs Purdue and MSU, there are more "blockable" teams coming up where he might just roll in some 70 or 80 yarders, and not only give us points but break the opponents' spirit. I want not only Cierre's and Theo's 20 yarders in my backfield, but also GAIIIs occasional 70 yarders.

And we better believe that when the opposing DCs try to plan for ND in the pre-week, they are going to be terrified of the threats that all three of these guys pose in their different ways. And THAT gives Golson more time and space with hesitating linebackers.

 

[woolybug25]

1. You were actually telling Sherm he was missing a point, not me.

I realize that. I was talking about the "royal you".

2. Questioning how GAIII would be a BCS caliber safety this year directly speaks to his point on the lack of quality depth, rather than quantity (which I think everyone can agree we have).

Uhhh.... I agree? I'm not catching you here. Kuehna was throwing the hypothetical of GAIII to safety because of "lack of quality depth", not quantity. Everybody that jumped all over him used the "quantity of depth" as their rebuttal. I was trying to clarify that it was indeed the quality he was addressing vs quantity. So... we agree?

 

[Bluto]

Met this kid after the Purdue game. Can't even begin to explain how cool and down to earth he is. Anyhow, carry on.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Bog, Jack nolan just called it a misderection, so i guess thats what its called nowadays

You taking Jack's word? HEY, technically didn't GAIII already move positions once? Wasn't he actually recruited more as a wide receiver? And, didn't Kelly say, no, we movin' him to rb full time?

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Met this kid after the Purdue game. Can't even begin to explain how cool and down to earth he is. Anyhow, carry on.

Great, but did he seem like a safety? Kidding.

 

[Bluto]

Great, but did he seem like a safety? Kidding.

Hmmm...saftey? Yeah sure, why not? I was a few beers deep by that point so it might have clouded my ability to assess elite talent.