'12 WA RB Keivarae Russell (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[PraetorianND]

Irish Illustrated ‏@NDatRivals
Transcribing a 5-minute interview with KeiVarae Russell = Transcribing a 15-minute interview with anybody else.

LMAO

LOL - so true. Dude talks faster than anyone I've ever heard.

 

[ACamp1900]

This guy is my hero... to be thrown into the role he was thrown into... story book would be KR taking a pick 90 yards for a score in this game to seal it...

seriously, I wouldn't have believed his season had I not seen it for myself.

 

[chicago51]

At the begining of the year this question would have been ridiculous.

Are Bennett Jackson and Keivarae Russell better than Gray and Blanton were?

I thought losing Gray and Blanton would be such a big loss and it hasn't been. One deciding which pair is better one has to take into account the superior pressure from the D-line this year. We also do protect them at times. Even taking that into account though I think I guys this year might actually be better.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Losing gray was going to be an improvement. No matter his replacement.

But seriously, keivarae and bennett came through huge for us.

 

[PANDFAN]

At the begining of the year this question would have been ridiculous.

Are Bennett Jackson and Keivarae Russell better than Gray and Blanton were?

I thought losing Gray and Blanton would be such a big loss and it hasn't been. One deciding which pair is better one has to take into account the superior pressure from the D-line this year. We also do protect them at times. Even taking that into account though I think I guys this year might actually be better.

i would take BJ/KR all day everyday...faster/more upside and played better

 

[rocket66]

It's simple. KR has speed AND he turns to make a play on the ball. A frosh KR> a senior GG. Jackson and Blanton are a wash IMO. Both very solid.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Russel just has it. Whatever "it" is I don't know.

I mean I had no idea this could would play corner in college. I thought he would be the future slot receiver a couple of years from now. Shows you how much I know...

 

[Old Man Mike]

I try not to denigrate our older warriors. Take away about a half dozen plays over an entire hard-working career and Gary Gray is a Hero. Given what he bled out of his body for the team, he's a hero to me anyway.

Keivarae Russell is an absolutely great talent --- an All-American in the making. Thanks to the Maker that we have him and Bennett manning the corners. That's enough for me.

 

[chicago51]

I try not to denigrate our older warriors. Take away about a half dozen plays over an entire hard-working career and Gary Gray is a Hero. Given what he bled out of his body for the team, he's a hero to me anyway.

Keivarae Russell is an absolutely great talent --- an All-American in the making. Thanks to the Maker that we have him and Bennett manning the corners. That's enough for me.

Gary Gray always had some of the best tackling technique on the team. Just got beat a couple of times in really critical spots.

So happy to have KR and BJ as well.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

IrishIllustrated.com - Bama's underrated passing game

“We’re going to stop the run for sure,” Russell said. “I told Zeke and Matthias, don’t worry about the outside receivers. Me and Bennett are going to handle it.”

Respect mon.

Gotta love the kid.

 

[Redbar]

Quote:
“We’re going to stop the run for sure,” Russell said. “I told Zeke and Matthias, don’t worry about the outside receivers. Me and Bennett are going to handle it.”

#Swag.

 

[ThePiombino]

IrishIllustrated.com - Bama's underrated passing game
Respect mon.

Gotta love the kid.

This kid oozes confidence. Love it

 

[chicago51]

Confidence, I love it!

 

[NDhoosier]

we have this kid for 3 more years... that is just unfair for our opponents.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

we have this kid for 3 more years... that is just unfair for our opponents.

2 or 3.

 

[chicago51]

Are corners this year were certainly better than expected. That said we had to play a great deal of zone. It would be nice to corners that if you wanted to you could leave on an island if need be.

So I will ask the questions are any of the players on ND KVR included or committed to ND like Luke that are true leave on an island type corners?

Remember there is a difference between good corners and I as call them "on an island" corners. One advantage that Bama in the NC is that despite there suspect overall pass D heading into the game was that Dee Millner was type of AA corner you could leave on an island.

 

[arrowryan]

Are corners this year were certainly better than expected. That said we had to play a great deal of zone. It would be nice to corners that if you wanted to you could leave on an island if need be.

So I will ask the questions are any of the players on ND KVR included or committed to ND like Luke that are true leave on an island type corners?

Remember there is a difference between good corners and I as call them "on an island" corners. One advantage that Bama in the NC is that despite there suspect overall pass D heading into the game was that Dee Millner was type of AA corner you could leave on an island.

Well you have to remember KVR is a true freshman that came in here originally to play running back and Jackson came in here to play wide receiver and was on special teams until this year. Of course they wont be "on an island" corners. And I'm pretty sure Milliner wasn't an "on an island" corner his freshman year either.

We have to give them time, especially KVR. But with KVR's great athleticism and speed, he has a great shot to be a "on an island" corner by his junior year. All-Americans don't happen over night

 

[yankeeND]

Not yet but Luke could be that. Jackson may as well be by next year but I don't know if he reaches that point here.

 

[ThePiombino]

Are corners this year were certainly better than expected. That said we had to play a great deal of zone. It would be nice to corners that if you wanted to you could leave on an island if need be.

So I will ask the questions are any of the players on ND KVR included or committed to ND like Luke that are true leave on an island type corners?

Remember there is a difference between good corners and I as call them "on an island" corners. One advantage that Bama in the NC is that despite there suspect overall pass D heading into the game was that Dee Millner was type of AA corner you could leave on an island.

Russell still has some developing to do and could be that cover guy you speak of IMO. That said, I think Luke is where the smart money would be at this point, but that wouldn't be right away.

 

[chicago51]

BTW my post was not meant to knock our DBs. I am very welll aware that all positions including Corner take time to develope. I just asking if any of our guys eventually may have what it takes to be that type of corner.

 

[ThePiombino]

BTW my post was not meant to knock our DBs. I am very welll aware that all positions including Corner take time to develope. I just asking if any of our guys eventually may have what it takes to be that type of corner.

Read the 3 posts above you.

 

[Old Man Mike]

We tend to ask and answer questions in absolutes rather than in shades. This question is no different. Example: every corner we have could be left on an island against the Little Sisters of the Poor, anyone on IE, or 90% of the receivers in college football. None of our corners could be left on an island against any receiver currently uninjured in the NFL. So the question is: what are we talking about?

Kelly tells us the starting point for almost all of these discussions. He says that what he wants are 22+ guys "capable of playing championship football". So what does HE mean? I think that he means that he wants a guy at every position who within the designed team concept contributes consistently to successful plays. So, how does that relate to Russell, Jackson, Luke, or anybody else?

Kelly and Diaco talk about what they want to do defensively all the time. It is they who know whether they think that they need a "Revis Island" to play championship football. Anyone would LIKE to have a Revis Island, but in fact that is so rare as to be nearly non-existant. What they want is competence and even excellence within the scheme. With no Revis Island's available [even in the SEC] they want players who can zone and man-to-man, read the run accurately and tackle --- something most Revis Islands cannot or will not do, play press coverage or soft as called, and not get beat too often when gambles or contain breakdowns put them in an unfair situation. They also want them to be tough mentally.

How do Russell and Jackson stack up to that? They are actually pretty good for first timers, and frankly we cannot have much idea as to how good Luke might be until he lines up against the college men instead of the high school boys, and against the tricks of a Kelly rather than the simplicities of a HS coach.

My intuition watching especially Russell, but Jackson too, is that while neither of these guys is going to be Deion Sanders, they're going to be VERY good.... and Kelly and Diaco will probably realize that nobody's Deion Sanders and design the eleven man systems to function accordingly. If everyone of the eleven holds up their part of it, Keivaree and Bennett will " play championship football" though not on Revis Island.

 

[Ironman8]

Only a Sith deals in absolutes OMM.

 

[chicago51]

Only a Sith deals in absolutes OMM.

Nick Saban is a Sith.

 

[IrishinTN]

Nick Saban is a Sith.

 

[RyCo1983]

and you get some fresh REPS!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Kelly: "I was lead to believe Barrett Jones was injured..."

Saban: "As you can see, Coach Kelly, your young defense has failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL All-American Center!"

 

[Redbar]

CBS sports.com Freshman All-American team:

CB: KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame -- 2 interceptions, 50 tackles for key member of nation's No. 1 scoring defense.

Hmmm... Somebody saw this coming. Congrats to Kev!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Outstanding!

No not just outstanding yet; suck it Ronald Darby, and Brian Poole, and anyone else that walked like a pussy.

Now, outstanding!

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

CBS sports.com Freshman All-American team:

CB: KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame -- 2 interceptions, 50 tackles for key member of nation's No. 1 scoring defense.

Hmmm... Somebody saw this coming. Congrats to Kev!

Nice. Congrats Keivarae!