Who is Likely Next (2013)

[Whiskeyjack]

I agree and IMO, this means Jones to the OL.

Terrible idea. We've at least got #s on the OL, if not experience. Can't afford to pull guys from the DL.

 

[Emcee77]

Right, I think we'll play the freshmen before we move Jones. Our DL depth is not ideal right now either, imo. Here's hoping the IrishMob13 O-linemen come in in good shape, like Stanley did this year.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Terrible idea. We've at least got #s on the OL, if not experience. Can't afford to pull guys from the DL.

I think it would matter how he has transitioned. During his recruitment, many believed he would be a better OL than DL. I have not heard anything on how his development has gone, but if it has not been smooth, a switch wouldn't shock me.

 

[NDdomer2]

3). This is just another episode in the constant wrong-headed "enthusiasm" which goes on in this board about getting another fancy flyboy other than a lineman. Though not precisely identical, replacing Nichols with a DB or WR or RB reduces to exactly that. I am really hoping that the big man makes it fully back to functional lineplay, and there is no need next season to either juggle the line mid-season or burn a frosh year of eligibility. If Zach comes back this will [barring more than one injury or sickness] solve this problem, but, alas, we can't count on our super LT turning the pros down, with a degree in hand.

So you think we should take another lineman if Nichols in fact does receive a medical hardship?

 

[stlnd01]

Terrible idea. We've at least got #s on the OL, if not experience. Can't afford to pull guys from the DL.

Right. Assuming Jones has been practicing on the DL this year, doesn't make a lot of sense to switch him back to offense when we'll have five incoming freshman with the same amount of remaining eligibility. We'll need him on D sooner, if not in '13 than in '14 for sure.

By the way, is it fair to think at this point the coaching staff has a pretty good idea about the NFL plans of Mr's. Martin, Watt and Wood? Or do they really just wait and see?

 

[DSully1995]

So you think we should take another lineman if Nichols in fact does receive a medical hardship?

No i think he means that people should stop acting as if a medical would help the team

 

[NDdomer2]

No i think he means that people should stop acting as if a medical would help the team

See I thought that was point 1 and 2.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think it would matter how he has transitioned. During his recruitment, many believed he would be a better OL than DL. I have not heard anything on how his development has gone, but if it has not been smooth, a switch wouldn't shock me.

Assuming Nichols is done, we'll have 14 OL for next year. Not ideal depth, but still pretty good numbers. As OMM has pointed out, the problem isn't OL #s, but experience. Moving Jones would improve depth (which isn't a problem), but wouldn't help at all with experience.

If we move Jones, we'll only have 8/12 DL for next year. We simply can't afford to let depth at the most important position group bottom out like that. Not to mention that Jones' first year of practice will have been largely wasted.

 

[stlnd01]

So you think we should take another lineman if Nichols in fact does receive a medical hardship?

No. We've got five incoming. That's plenty. The trouble is about spacing.
Our current offensive line depth is bunched in a couple of classes and we're about to lose 2-4 of them without experienced guys to take their place. Taking a sixth freshman doesn't help that problem. If anything, it makes it worse down the road.
Ideally, you take 3/yr, give or take, redshirt the freshmen and let them develop in a natural progression. But for a variety of reasons (Decker flipping, Prestwood transferring, Matt James falling off a balcony) that hasn't worked out for us the last few years.

 

[Emcee77]

So you think we should take another lineman if Nichols in fact does receive a medical hardship?

I know you're not asking me, but I'd say probably not. I think we'll be ok with both Watt and Martin back next year. It's huge that Lombard and N. Martin can play both guard and tackle. Gives us some flexibility; it's as if we have more guys than we actually do.

But taking more 5th years means fewer freshmen; that's the thing. Before, I thought only one of Watt and Martin needed to come back; now I think both do.

But in any case, even if Watt and Martin don't come back, we've already got 5 stud OL committed. If we need to play a frosh, one or two of those guys will be fine. We just didn't want to have to play them next year. No need to take 6 frosh.

EDIT: didn't see stlnd's post before I posted this ... I agree with what he said, too.

 

[dublinirish]

Heggie your time is now.

 

[ThePiombino]

This may be a stupid question, but can the school give out medical schollies on a year-to-year basis? Let's say Nichols can't go in 2013, but would be 100% by 2014- can ND designate him for medical in 2013 only? Of course, that would limit what's going to be an already-light 2014 class for us by an additional schollie, but I would think this would be best for the sake of the O-line depth down the road PLUS afford us the additional 2013 schollie.

 

[NDdomer2]

I know you're not asking me, but I'd say probably not. I think we'll be ok with both Watt and Martin back next year. It's huge that Lombard and N. Martin can play both guard and tackle. Gives us some flexibility; it's as if we have more guys than we actually do.

But taking more 5th years means fewer freshmen; that's the thing. Before, I thought only one of Watt and Martin needed to come back; now I think both do.

But in any case, even if Watt and Martin don't come back, we've already got 5 stud OL committed. If we need to play a frosh, one or two of those guys will be fine. We just didn't want to have to play them next year. No need to take 6 frosh.

EDIT: didn't see stlnd's post before I posted this ... I agree with what he said, too.

You guys are putting down what I am picking up, or whatever way the saying goes. If we are to get Nicholas scholarship because of medical hardship we can't say "that is a lineman scholarship" when we already have 5 on board.

I would like to think that the odds are at least 1 out of the 5 comes in physically able to perform at a level needed to provide solid back up play as well.

Stanley is a beast too, IMO.

Losing Nichols would suck, no doubt, but if it does give us another scholarship getting a Max Redfield or AQM because of it is outstanding!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

This may be a stupid question, but can the school give out medical schollies on a year-to-year basis? Let's say Nichols can't go in 2013, but would be 100% by 2014- can ND designate him for medical in 2013 only? Of course, that would limit what's going to be an already-light 2014 class for us by an additional schollie, but I would think this would be best for the sake of the O-line depth down the road PLUS afford us the additional 2013 schollie.

No. Taking a medical ends one's college career.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

What are the chances of Prestwood coming back? IIRC, he had to leave due to grades, and many other players returned after similar sabbaticals. He still tweets at our current players frequently, so there doesn't seem to be any bad blood.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Our current O-Line commitments are optimal, and we'd be stupid in my opinion to alter that. Recruiting another O-Line with this class doesn't help. The Nichols situation is just one of those things which happens to possibly screw you because you haven't been able to maintain a good spread of positional talent across the classes.

This goes all the way back to the great tackle dying in Kelly's first [and almost impossibly difficult] recruiting year, and continued through losing Decker and Prestwood, and whiffing on too many last year. This created a terrible hole in Lombard's class [where Nichols resides] and the Prestwood/Carrico things get us short there too. Add that we have only Ronnie and Mark for the class following and that pictures out to two very lean classes surrounding a diminished one. Potential Problems!!

But we have had to go with a starting five plus just two operative back-ups once before in these three years, so, with zero injury curse, it can be done. We are just going to have to soldier through this, hope that Zach comes back, and get through to 2014.


Re: Jarron Jones. I REALLY hope that he doesn't have to go to O-Line. He is our only "new" jumbo. Since we have difficulties recruiting jumbos, I want the big man to try to do a Stephon Tuitt imitation very badly --- or a KLM imitation would be OK too.

 

[dublinirish]

Springman back to the OL perhaps?

 

[Emcee77]

Springman back to the OL perhaps?

No, for the same reason as Jones. That's just borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. DL depth is worse than OL. Ride with the guys we've got on the OL, plus the 5 incoming frosh.

 

[stlnd01]

Springman back to the OL perhaps?

That might make more sense than Jones.

 

[dublinirish]

NT depth next year: Nix, Kona and maybe you can slide Jones inside on longer downs. Thus letting Springman go back to the OL?

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Springman back to the OL perhaps?

I'm pretty sure Kelly has said recently in a press conference that he is done moving guys from position to position once they are at ND. So I really doubt he would move a guy to the other side of the ball where he is likely to never contribute. I don't think this Nichols thing came out of no where for them so they were probably planning accordingly for a while just in case.
Also I think next year, when Nix probably leaves and Kona is out of eligibility, Springman would be the only nose tackle that has seen any playing time. I think if he were to change sides he could go from starting in two years to never seeing a snap offensively. His importance seems to be magnified since no true nose tackle is taken in this years class.

 

[DANsanity15]

Anyone know when AQM is announcing his decision?

 

[Ironman8]

Anyone know when AQM is announcing his decision?

Army All-American Game.

 

[irishog77]

I got to thinking about the 5 OL this cycle the other day (pre Tate news) and was wondering if Kelly may try and play 1 or 2 of them next year anyway. Yes, we all know it is best to sit an OL for a year, but getting 5 guys in one cycle may warrant 1 or 2 of them almost needing to play next year to space out eligibility and balance the depth chart better.

And OMM's post got me to thinking about it more. And as Whiskey said, the total numbers won't really be a problem (if Nichols can't continue), but the game-ready depth is a bit worrisome. I think the staff could have gotten away with out playing Stanley this year. I think, assuming Martin and Watt come back, that there will be 2 or 3 guys ready as serviceable back ups (Stanley, Hannratty, and maybe Harrell). So HAVING to play a freshman next year maybe won't really be a necessity (assuming ND is blessed with decent health there), but Kelly may OPT to play 1 or 2 there.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Sometimes you see a frosh step right in not out of desperation but simply because he's that "body-ready" and is coachable. If we would lose ZMart, and if only Watt, Hegarty, Lombard, and Stanley are truly ready, then maybe a "body-ready" frosh would play, and even start. It would help a great deal if he were an early enrollee.

Because we have five good young-uns coming, this separating out of one from the rest on eligibility isn't completely crazy. It still is not the greatest idea, though, and does require the line to have more whole-unit growing pains most likely. It would be a shame to cripple a potentially outstanding season with early errors by a raw O-Line.

 

[Irishman77]

I really really hate to lose Tate. Lots of hope riding on Z.Mart and watt coming back. Stanley would be the back up tackle, hanratty and Harrell backup inside. In a real pinch I would purely speculate Montelous most ready out of the five fr and playing inside.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Wait what?

Why do you people want to move Springman and Jones to OL? that doesn't make any sense.

Say Martin leaves after this year, Stanley will be the LT with the younger Martin being the OT backup.

BTW Stanley is going to be an absolute stud when all is said and done.

 

[dublinirish]

having seen Elmer play in person i definitely think he is body-ready to play as a freshman, he definitely one of those recruits that passes the eye-test.

 

[ThePiombino]

No. Taking a medical ends one's college career.

Oh wow, OK- thanks for the clarification.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Wait what?

Why do you people want to move Springman and Jones to OL? that doesn't make any sense.

Say Martin leaves after this year, Stanley will be the LT with the younger Martin being the OT backup.

BTW Stanley is going to be an absolute stud when all is said and done.

I agree. With Golic gone next season anyone think Lombard slides in to guard and Stanley takes over right tackle? This is assuming Martin comes back.