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

[goldandblue]

Cam McDaniel, please stand up....

 

[McGlovin]

It should be looked at in a positive light, now Wood and Riddick will likely split the majority of the carries. I feel like, as most people do, these guys are both way above average RB's, so if there were to be an offensive loss, this is where it isn't so catastrophic.

 

[rocket66]

Has Cierre been given the opportunities to break one open? Both of Atkinson's long runs this year were walk's in the park. Every running back on the roster could've made that a touchdown against Miami.

This just means that our best running back will get more touches. Fine with me!!

Exactly!! Wood has the best vision of the bunch and I want to see him get as many carries as possible. The ONLY things this loss impacts is KO return, and frankly, the return team has been bad this year anyway.

Keep the faith boys.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

It sucks, but two backs are enough for this offense.

Hurts worse in the return game IMO -- he basically kept us in the USC game last year.

 

[arrowryan]

It sucks, but two backs are enough for this offense.

Hurts worse in the return game IMO -- he basically kept us in the USC game last year.

We were in that game? Lol

 

[PLACforever]

I'll start with, "ugg, that stinks"

But, I really wanted to see CMD in there today anyway.
I think he's very well suited to get those 1,2,3 tough yards on third down.
Against Miami everyone in the stadium knew he was running and he still marched down the field.

 

[McGlovin]

We were in that game? Lol

Could've tied the game at one point, and had the momentum majorly in their (ND's) favor...until the ol' 14-point swing happened for like the 80th time last year.

 

[dublinirish]

im excited to see what cierre can do with increased carries, it kinda makes me mad when he breaks a decent run and then spends the next few plays on the sidelines. let him get some rhythm!

 

[IrishLax]

My question is whether or not the staff tries to do the same misdirection plays with Neal or a WR or Riddick or just scraps that part of the playbook.

Classic ND luck.

 

[ThePiombino]

This hurts, no doubt about it. However, this isn't nearly as bad as when we lost Gray and Wood was forced to carry the bulk. We still have Riddick (who has sort of played the power back role anyway) and Cam (will be interesting to see what he has when he's not just facing the 1st/2nd stringers in the 4th quarter).

While I wish this wasn't the game for it to happen, I do think this will allow Neal to finally have a coming-out. I'm anxious to see what CBK has in store for him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him or CMD on kickoffs, and would be perfectly at ease with either.

 

[NDdomer2]

Not sure why this is that big of a deal to some. He was our third back. He was getting as many kr's as handoffs in close games. Hadn't broke anything against anybody but Navy and Miami.

Kick return takes a hit but we have sucked at blocking it anyways and our jet motion might not be as believable but who is to say that play was in our Gameplan this week anyways? It isn't like we have used it all year, just last week really.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

To the people that are concerned with an increase of carries for the other backs..

How many carries has George even been getting the past couple games? 4 or 5?

The only thing that we lose is a super homerun threat, but other than that, its not an equivalent loss to that of missing cierre or theo.

Just my two cents.

 

[greyhammer90]

It's cool guys we have Cam McDaniel

 

[BurningRiver]

I'd really like to see what Neal and Brown can do on KR tonight considering GAIII hasn't done much this year. A lot of that has to do with the atrocious blocking that seems to have infected our special teams, but I'd still like to see what a fresh face can do back there.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Where this hurts is that we will need big plays today because I'm not confident that we will put together a bunch of 15 play scoring drives. We have to get the "chunk" plays and score from all over the field, whether that is in the run game, the pass game or the kick return game. GAIII is possibly our biggest big-play guy, so it obviously hurts. But it doesn't mean we can't get big plays; other guys will just have to step up. I think we have guys capable.

 

[peoriairish]

Where this hurts is that we will need big plays today because I'm not confident that we will put together a bunch of 15 play scoring drives. We have to get the "chunk" plays and score from all over the field, whether that is in the run game, the pass game or the kick return game. GAIII is possibly our biggest big-play guy, so it obviously hurts. But it doesn't mean we can't get big plays; other guys will just have to step up. I think we have guys capable.

Rhode, and all those who said that GAIII is our biggest HR threat guy, I would like to introduce you to the Mackey Award finalist, and the best tight end in the country, Mr. Tyler Eifert.

Seriously. Eifert is a mismatch against this team. Their tallest CB on the depth chart is 6'1". Not to mention that over the past few weeks, almost all big chunk plays have either been from Eifert or TJ.

Settle down fellas. It's a lose of depth, but we will be fine.

 

[levicarvalho]

I think its time to Davonte Neal get involved on the offense

 

[johnnykillz]

I think its time to Davonte Neal get involved on the offense

Impossible to do without practice reps.

 

[NDhoosier]

We were in that game? Lol

we lost by 14 with a fumble on the one yard line that was ran back... That was a 14 point swing. Lol, you actually think that "wasnt" close?

 

[gkIrish]

Giving cierre wood more touches is never a bad thing

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

Don't need to worry about the return game if OU doesn't score. Big day, D!!! I'm hoping to see Neal on a few sweeps...maybe even CB

 

[Rhode Irish]

Rhode, and all those who said that GAIII is our biggest HR threat guy, I would like to introduce you to the Mackey Award finalist, and the best tight end in the country, Mr. Tyler Eifert.

Seriously. Eifert is a mismatch against this team. Their tallest CB on the depth chart is 6'1". Not to mention that over the past few weeks, almost all big chunk plays have either been from Eifert or TJ.

Settle down fellas. It's a lose of depth, but we will be fine.

Easy, feller. I agree with you. My post was not panic. It was intended to be the opposite. I don't think being without GA3 is crippling, but I also think you have to acknowledge that it does matter. And his ability to break a big one is the main reason why. Having said that, though, I did say that we have other guys that are capable.

 

[NDdomer2]

Impossible to do without practice reps.

Were you at practice? How many reps did he get?

 

[Bluto]

This sucks. Kid is a home run threat from anywhere at anytime and more importantly has proven to be so. Implying that other running backs or return people on the roster are comparable in that way doesn't hold much water in my opinion. He's the only guy I've seen on the roster that has looked at a defender with a good angle on him, kicked it into gear and out ran said defender. As for the kickoff return situation it is clearly a result of the new rules. I haven't seen many teams take one to the house. It sucks for sure but not the end of the world because the defense is the key to this game.

 

[AFisch86]

Does Neal get more plays/ targets as our next legit home run threat?

 

[arrowryan]

I think Robby could play the role Atkinson did last week

in these type of games, experience trumps everything

 

[peoriairish]

Easy, feller. I agree with you. My post was not panic. It was intended to be the opposite. I don't think being without GA3 is crippling, but I also think you have to acknowledge that it does matter. And his ability to break a big one is the main reason why. Having said that, though, I did say that we have other guys that are capable.

Yeah, I know. We were on the same page. It was more towards everyone saying we lost our 'only home run threat'. If I go the rest of the day without seeing some type home run threat, I'll be a happy man. This team is loaded with big play players who can break it open at any time.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Too bad. I mostly feel bad for GAIII. It makes us worse. But, if I had to pick one position to lose a very involved guy, it might be here. Especially with how impressive Theo was last week.

Go Irish!

 

[UmphreakDomer]

it's true GA3's speed is unparalleled, but he's still the third back averaging, what, 5 carries a game? granted his YPR are amazing because of big play ability, but i believe we will ok.

this is a larger loss on KR, but even there we should be ok.

there are options here to explore. Bennet could relive those days from 2010. i think Cam is very serviceable.

let's keep the doomsday feelings and comments on the low side here. we have a stable at RB. and chris brown could be like GA3 last year on KR.

this doesnt scare me at all. it sucks because i like GA3 and watching him, and i feel bad he's sick and probably will not even be able to enjoy our win today. i hope he's ok. next man in. lets go irish!

 

[Luckylucci]

I'm not freaking out but I do think this is a big deal. In all of bk's interviews he keeps mentioning the offense having to come up with big plays and he has been our best consistent big play player. 2 returns for td's last year. Averaging 8.1 yds/carry and has 2 50+ yd td runs most on the team. Also keep in mind that he is the guy that has been able to run the misdirection plays the best. For a game like this we r gonna need everybody at their best.