'13 IN ATH Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man & Graduate)

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Alright got you. He most def can play CAT, but Shembo has that spot locked down next year as a Sr, then you have Ishaq as a Jr backing him up and a good shot that AQM joins the Mob and he will be a Fr with Jaylon.

I just see him better used elsewhere.
 

NYMIKE6

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I'm going out on a limb.... maybe he will become a 6'3" 230lbs safety that runs 4.4???
 

NDhoosier

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i think his quote is being misunderstood to be honest... Jaylon was probably told he was going to be an OLB and the first OLB he thought of was Shembo (who has had a great year)... doesnt mean Jaylon is saying he is play CAT. In the very next sentence, he said he would like to be in Teo's spot in managing the defense, that has been given to the ILB of the group. I think Jaylon is just excited to play LB at ND and doesnt really understand the positions and who is suppose to play where yet.

Seriously, look at Jaylon's skill set, how does that not put him at DOG LB.
 

JughedJones

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I think Jaylon is terribly well suited for any of the positions on defense, save interior line.

(I know he's a bit big for a CB, but there's nothing in athleticism that makes me think he couldn't do it.)
 
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Buster Bluth

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Count me in the group of people who think he was simply mistaken. He's a DOG.
 

cody1smith

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i think his quote is being misunderstood to be honest... Jaylon was probably told he was going to be an OLB and the first OLB he thought of was Shembo (who has had a great year)... doesnt mean Jaylon is saying he is play CAT. In the very next sentence, he said he would like to be in Teo's spot in managing the defense, that has been given to the ILB of the group. I think Jaylon is just excited to play LB at ND and doesnt really understand the positions and who is suppose to play where yet.

Seriously, look at Jaylon's skill set, how does that not put him at DOG LB.
^^^This. I feel he has no desire to play the middle linebacker spot. Strictly means he just wants to be the leader of the front seven or the entire defense for that matter. He is a stud where ever he lines up at. This kid has crazy football vision.
 
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Grahambo

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I think Jaylon is good enough to play anywhere in the LB corps however, I think his greatest contributions would come from the dog position.

Speaking of LB, ISD has a quick update on the one wavering.
 

Emcee77

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i think his quote is being misunderstood to be honest... Jaylon was probably told he was going to be an OLB and the first OLB he thought of was Shembo (who has had a great year)... doesnt mean Jaylon is saying he is play CAT. In the very next sentence, he said he would like to be in Teo's spot in managing the defense, that has been given to the ILB of the group. I think Jaylon is just excited to play LB at ND and doesnt really understand the positions and who is suppose to play where yet.

Seriously, look at Jaylon's skill set, how does that not put him at DOG LB.

Good point. Probably right. We probably make too much of those fine distinctions between positions.
 

ThePiombino

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I think Jaylon is good enough to play anywhere in the LB corps however, I think his greatest contributions would come from the dog position.

Speaking of LB, ISD has a quick update on the one wavering.

Can we get an update somewhere since the AA thread is locked? Perhaps in the "Who's Next" thread.
 

peoriairish

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Just clarifying the Dog/Cat dispute, Jaylon tweeted a response saying he wants to play Cat.

Jaylon Smith ‏@JaeeSmiff9ENT
“@NDFanboy: @JaeeSmiff9ENT Hey man are you gonna be a Dog or Cat LB at ND? Or both?”cat
 

KPENN

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"@JaeeSmiff9ENT: @AlexAnzalone_24 Keep thinkin #Irish fam!!!�� Don't forget why you really chose this school~"
 

IrishLion

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If Spond keeps playing like a monster like he has the past couple of games, and continues to improve defending the pass (which it seems he's getting better every week at this as well), then Jaylon's easiest road to PT is CAT for sure. They'll take the veteran in coverage situations every time when Jaylon is a freshman, meaning Spond at Dog. And Ishaq doesn't necessarily get forced out of PT, because he's seen most of his time on the field this year at DE anyway. We would probably see Jaylon relieving Shembo in pass rush situations at times, especially if Shembo has seen heavy work on 1st and 2nd downs.

What the D would look like next year in this situation in Diaco's 4-down nickel package:

Ishaq-Day-Tuitt-Shembo/Jaylon
Spond-Fox/Calabrese
Russel-Jackson-Shumate
Farley-Collinsworth

Of course, we could see Shumate at Safety in place of Farley or Collinsworth, which means Jaylon could play Shumate's current nickel/star spot.

EDIT: I realize the situation with Jaylon at the Star contradicts my earlier point of Spond playing in coverage situations because of his experience, but Shumate has learned that nickel/star spot pretty well already, I'm sure Jaylon could do the same. Plus, it maximizes the pass coverage talent on the field because Jaylon is a freak. But if it comes down to Spond vs Jaylon in coverage, and only one can be on the field, it's going to be Spond.
 
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cyrano

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I believe the staff gave him an honest assessment of where they see him playing, but I also think that the final evaluation won't occur until his first few practices.

It still is interesting that the staff currently sees him at the CAT position when we all thought his unparalleled coverage skills at LB would make him a no-brainer for the DOG position. After all, it seems like a great drop LB would be far rarer than a great rush LB.
 

NDdomer2

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Maybe the staff feels finding someone with rush and coverage skills is the rarest of all and moving said skills to our "rush" position allows our defense to be more balanced and dangerous.
 

Luckylucci

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I agree with everybody that Jaylon's abilities currently are best suited for DOG LB. With that being said I remember a summer interview that Diaco did where he said that ideally both sides of the defense (left and right sides) would look exactly the same. Therefore the offense wouldn't know where the pressure is coming from (or which side is going to drop and which side will blitz). And that goes for the ILB's as well.
 

ChiRish

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"@JaeeSmiff9ENT: @AlexAnzalone_24 Keep thinkin #Irish fam!!!�� Don't forget why you really chose this school~"

This shows that what's more important than where he is on the field is the leadership he'll naturally have both on and off. Can't wait for Jaylon to get to ND.
 

tadman95

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"@JaeeSmiff9ENT: @AlexAnzalone_24 Keep thinkin #Irish fam!!!�� Don't forget why you really chose this school~"

Got to love this kid.

On a side note, at 6'3 220 lbs 4.44 forty he can play tail back if he wants. Heck, can he throw? He may be one of the best athletes we've had in a long time.

Can he dunk? Him and Golson would add some great depth to Brey's group.
 
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