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

[IrishLax]

Hercules is living up to his name. Insanely good blocker.

Yup, breakout game on the blocking front. Did a fantastic job just destroying Miami players.

 

[Cackalacky]

Yup, breakout game on the blocking front. Did a fantastic job just destroying Miami players.

LOL> I was watching with a Miami friend of mine and halfway into the 2nd quarter he goes "who the "F" is that guy. He's a f'ing bulldozer. I told him his story of being a LB last year and this year they coverted him to a TE. He was impressed by the calibre/versatility of kids playing and recruited by BK. Apparently he had not paid too much attention. When GAIII broke that run off, the guy was shaking his head saying he didnt think ND had those types of players.

At this point for me after watching BKs guys mature over the last 1.5 years in front of my eyes, they are developing great. Even Spond, Farley and Russell did excellent jobs last night after the 1st series.

Needless to say my buddy left with no illusion about ND's bright future.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Niklas' nearly superhuman ability to collapse whole sides of the edge was the jaw-dropping "discovery" of the game. What this means to me is:
a]. Niklas just "got it", blocking-wise;
b]. Kelly just "got it" as far as what plays Niklas can make go;
c]. We just got a nearly unstoppable element of our offense, which opposing DCs will have to unbalance their schemes to have any hope of counteracting. In this "small" way, Niklas may have become a game-changer.

 

[PraetorianND]

When everyone calls him strong, are they going by his nickname, his weightroom stats, or the eye-test? Just curious. Don't know much about him.

He's also just extremely strong for how long he is. He has great leverage. Watch the pep rally, he's head and shoulders above everyone else on stage. Also, he went to Servite HS and they have a pretty redic lifting program. Matt Kalil went there as well.

 

[Irishman77]

Troy "Nephilim" Niklas is a hybrid being that is mentioned in Genesis chapter 6

 

[luckyfc]

Game changer is right. His ability to both set the edge and be very mobile was like finding the single missing piece to the masterpiece puzzle that is our run game.

 

[PraetorianND]

Troy "Nephilim" Niklas is a hybrid being that is mentioned in Genesis chapter 6

"The sons of God joined with the daughters of mankind, who bore them children—they were the heroes of old, the men of renown."

.. Sounds like most of the players at ND.

 

[johnnykillz]

They were a race of giants that existed on the earth before and after the flood. I don't think Troy is evil but if he had 6 fingers and red hair I would be concerned..

Goro...?

Great.

Does Stanford have a Liu Kang?

 

[Luckylucci]

Agree, with everybody Niklas is playing great and I really like those formations with him split out and running behind him.

 

[anarin]

Maybe it was Niklas that had potential

 

[TDHeysus]

... When GAIII broke that run off, the guy was shaking his head saying he didnt think ND had those types of players.....

I have been thinking similar thoughts....when GAIII broke the run against NAvy, and also again against Miami....I looked to my father and said, "its been a long time since ND had a player that the other team just cant catch." and "Its been awhile since ND had the fastest player on the field."

 

[Bobias]

They were a race of giants that existed on the earth before and after the flood. I don't think Troy is evil but if he had 6 fingers and red hair I would be concerned..

That sounds more like Springmann minus the 6 fingers.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Big time mismatches going on when he and Eifert line up as wideouts. Thats what I call a schematic advantage.

 

[irishff1014]

This dude could block a train.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Just watched the game over again.

AND. My. Dear. Lord...

I thought Troy played phenomenal while watching live. After watching again, he played beyond phenomenal.

I can't wait to see what this kid develops into with more time at the TE position.

 

[IrishLax]

Troy "Nephilim" Niklas is a hybrid being that is mentioned in Genesis chapter 6

And or the protagonist of the popular video game trilogy Diablo.

Troy Niklas:

Barbarian:

Coincidence? I think not...

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Am I the only person who wants to see this beast at TE? That would be beast mode!

My goodness I'm the smartest man on this board.

Read posts 332-335 on page 9, especially you Whiskey

 

[Luckylucci]

Watching him and eifert line up on the outside and us run behind them was great play calling. The safties and Db's for miami and no chance making the tackles.

 

[Irishman77]

Seeing troy and Tyler flexed out together in twins formation against Miami was sweet. Would love to see some more this weekend.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Seeing troy and Tyler flexed out together in twins formation against Miami was sweet. Would love to see some more this weekend.

I think we can expect to. It's the perfect formation to run a flare with Wood to. You can't ask for two better blockers in space. Other than Koyack...

 

[yankeeND]

Troy is really something special! His blocking is tremendous and we haven't even scratched the surface with his ability as a receiver! What an amazing signing day addition he was! Still think Koyack will be a good one though, but man has he struggled in his young career. Once the light goes on watch out!

 

[BGIF]

My goodness I'm the smartest man on this board.

Read posts 332-335 on page 9, especially you Whiskey

I've provided a link so all can recapture your words of wisdom. (If you're gonna shill for reps make it easy for 'em.)

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/520979-post332.html

Shame on Whiskey for not realizing it takes TWO TEs to run a spread offense successfully.

What was he thinking?



All Hail Sherm!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I've provided a link so all can recapture your words of wisdom. (If you're gonna shill for reps make it easy for 'em.)

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/520979-post332.html

Shame on Whiskey for not realizing it takes TWO TEs to run a spread offense successfully.

What was he thinking?



All Hail Sherm!

Thank you...finally someone recognizes my greatness.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Watching him and eifert line up on the outside and us run behind them was great play calling. The safeties and Db's for miami and no chance making the tackles.

Could also see some of them in trips with the two TEs up and Riddick or Neal behind them as the third guy, then run a sort of bubble screen type of action. The Patriots run this play all the time with the two TEs and Welker as the "ball carrier" and with those kinds of weapons you can really punish defenses for cheating, too.

Off topic, but an interesting read on how the Patriots have incorporated some of the Chip Kelly offense, check out this piece in the Boston Globe. Whatever you think about Belichick, and whether you care at all about the Pats or Ducks or neither, if you're a football person and are interested in the constant evolution of offenses and defenses, I think this is a worthy read. Belichick and Kelly are as good of innovators as there are at their respective levels.

 

[yankeeND]

Could also see some of them in trips with the two TEs up and Riddick or Neal behind them as the third guy, then run a sort of bubble screen type of action. The Patriots run this play all the time with the two TEs and Welker as the "ball carrier" and with those kinds of weapons you can really punish defenses for cheating, too.

Off topic, but an interesting read on how the Patriots have incorporated some of the Chip Kelly offense, check out this piece in the Boston Globe. Whatever you think about Belichick, and whether you care at all about the Pats or Ducks or neither, if you're a football person and are interested in the constant evolution of offenses and defenses, I think this is a worthy read. Belichick and Kelly are as good of innovators as there are at their respective levels.

Hey Rhode, are you loving the running game as much as I am!? Ridley is the truth!

 

[Rhode Irish]

Yeah definitely a breath of fresh air to see some speed out of the backfield. He's not a burner, but I had gotten so comfortable with BJGE that I became used to his plodding style.

 

[yankeeND]

Yeah definitely a breath of fresh air to see some speed out of the backfield. He's not a burner, but I had gotten so comfortable with BJGE that I became used to his plodding style.

Yeah it's so nice and Bolden isn't a push over either! The law firm was very dependable but these young guys are a different element. They have been great out of the gate and it seems like they pick up chunks of yards and move the chains instead of just a HB dive that keeps the defense honest. On another note I did not see any one just give the ball away this past weekend!

 

[West Coast Domer]

Out here the kid was always a stud and one of the biggest kids On the field...but damn Longo turned him into a Monster

 

[yankeeND]

Out here the kid was always a stud and one of the biggest kids On the field...but damn Longo turned him into a Monster

He's starting to look like a pro-wrestler fo sho!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

He had a really rough game on Saturday. Which I think is a good thing. He was receiving all this praise as the best blocking TE in the nation and got a reality check. Now he has to focus on improving and getting better each week.