Random thoughts on McCoy / Lewis / Mustain

[loweND]

Am I the only one a little confused by what we saw yesterday? About a month ago, there were several sources reporting that Notre Dame was "finished recruiting". Word then, was that we were leans for both Young and McCoy. In fact, it even seemed that the Irish staff pushed West to enroll early because they knew they needed the space.

I was sure that we were either going to get Lewis or McCoy. For what other reason would we have stopped recruiting Kates? For what other reason would we have told recruits like Terrence Austin we no longer had space? Why else would the staff have pushed West to enroll early (West enrolling early despite his reluctance REALLY made me think we were going to get McCoy). Not to mention, usually the coaching staff knows a little bit in advance when they've been dropped by a recuit and you see them offer somebody else before the player's decision. This hasn't happened.

There are only a few things that would explain this. #1: One of Lewis or McCoy lead our staff to believe they were in, then changed their minds or weren't totally honest (fairly possible in Lewis' case since he went USC). In this case, I think we offer a DT sometime this week. #2: The coaching staff knew this was going to happen and have decided to go for Mustain instead. #3: There's still a shot we can get McCoy.

Let's also remember that the coaches may have plans to move another player to DT, so that might also explain why we haven't been recruiting other Defensive Tackles.

At the very least, this definitely makes our pursuit of Sam Young for optimistic.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

In the end, I'm only worried that if we offer Mustain, that it might turn Clausen away from ND... then again, if he's as good as he's supposed to be, it shouldn't matter to him what kind of competition he gets.

But if you consider that ND is probably leading for Clausen and that he'll probably commit to our next class, then what's the point of taking a 3rd QB?

Not that it matters because it's just the AA game, but Mustain looked horrible yesterday. I feel bad for him because he seems to really want to come to ND, but he just doesn't fit into the equation.

 

[irish4life99]

In the end, I'm only worried that if we offer Mustain, that it might turn Clausen away from ND... then again, if he's as good as he's supposed to be, it shouldn't matter to him what kind of competition he gets.

But if you consider that ND is probably leading for Clausen and that he'll probably commit to our next class, then what's the point of taking a 3rd QB?

Not that it matters because it's just the AA game, but Mustain looked horrible yesterday. I feel bad for him because he seems to really want to come to ND, but he just doesn't fit into the equation.

There is the rumor of Jones moving from QB to either WR or DB? Seems things are up in the air at the moment. Not a whole lot of wiggle room and the choices are getting narrowed quickly. The drama is killing me.

 

[bigdon]

Am I the only one a little confused by what we saw yesterday? About a month ago, there were several sources reporting that Notre Dame was "finished recruiting". Word then, was that we were leans for both Young and McCoy. In fact, it even seemed that the Irish staff pushed West to enroll early because they knew they needed the space.
I was sure that we were either going to get Lewis or McCoy. For what other reason would we have stopped recruiting Kates? For what other reason would we have told recruits like Terrence Austin we no longer had space? Why else would the staff have pushed West to enroll early (West enrolling early despite his reluctance REALLY made me think we were going to get McCoy). Not to mention, usually the coaching staff knows a little bit in advance when they've been dropped by a recuit and you see them offer somebody else before the player's decision. This hasn't happened.
There are only a few things that would explain this. #1: One of Lewis or McCoy lead our staff to believe they were in, then changed their minds or weren't totally honest (fairly possible in Lewis' case since he went USC). In this case, I think we offer a DT sometime this week. #2: The coaching staff knew this was going to happen and have decided to go for Mustain instead. #3: There's still a shot we can get McCoy.
Let's also remember that the coaches may have plans to move another player to DT, so that might also explain why we haven't been recruiting other Defensive Tackles.
At the very least, this definitely makes our pursuit of Sam Young for optimistic.

When the word came out that ND was "finished recruiting" I posted that it led me to conclude the McCoy AND Young were ND. At that time Lewis had dropped out of the picture and Kates was no longer mentioned. The EE pressure on West seemed to indicate the ND needed that spot. We knew we had Carufel so McCoy and Young were the logical candidates.

I think your post spells out very plainly what the possibilities are. In the after game interview with McCoy he did not specifically say that he was no longer considering ND but he did not include them either. We all took that to mean we were out. Unfortunately, the interviewer did not follow up on that remark so we could conclude that it was just an oversight and we are still in the picture but I can not buy that. I believe we are ,in fact, out.

I think the recruiting activities of the next week will give us some idea of where we stand with McCoy and Young. Perhaps the recruiting is not "finished" after all.

 

[irish4life99]

That could be, but I think were pretty wrapped up as far as recruting. I think the only ? mark is Young. If I were a betting man I don't think McCoy, or Mustain come, and leave one or two scholarships open for early enrollies next year. IMO

 

[Gizmo]

I read some speculation (I think on NDNation) that McCoy is outwardly leaning to Oklahoma because he is such a highly touted in-state recruit. The reasoning is that the pressure to go anywhere but OU is unbelievable.

On the one hand, this could make sense. Look at the pressure on Mustain once he decomitted from Arkansas. The entire state gave (and is still giving him) a hard time. On the other hand, this could be extremely wishful thinking by people trying to talk themselves off the ledge.

For the record, think back to this time last year, take a deep breath, and realize how unbelievably far we've come in recruiting. Ty was busy hitting the links, but Weis is already working on next year's class. We're in great shape.

 

[iloveirish_12]

I think it ends up as we get Young, Mustain and Jones ends up at WR. But I hope we get a DT instead of Mustain. So we can get Clausen for next year.

 

[TexasDomer]

Getting a good QB is more important this year than next, IMO. That gives the QB a full year in Weis' system before competing for the starting job. Claussen is a heckuva player, but I'd take a Mustain, Frazier or Jones with a year in the system and four years eligibility over a true freshman.

 

[alaska_rick]

One in the bag is worth two in the bush. Besides, Clausen knows that even if we pick him up next year, we're going to be after the best QB's every year. He and his family (dad, QB brothers) understand this and seem fine with it, confident that he'll be the starter either way.

 

[jiggafini19]

I've been reading up on Jimmy Clausen, trying to gather as much information as I can about him.

This personal coach he has works with Leinart, JP Losman and some other pro QBs. They won't work out with Clausen because their skills pale in comparison. Now, experience and intelligence don't count of course, but his technique and fundamentals are supposedly flawless.

ND has put all of their chips in on McCoy and Young. I'm going to stick to my guns and say they still get both. They're both future starters at Notre Dame. Again, I don't know the depth charts of other teams are and where these two fit in elsewhere. Young will assume a tackle spot in his first or second year. McCoy probably the same.

Young's family background, being the child of an educator and McCoy's religious beliefs give ND a very very good chance with these guys. West and Wenger don't really have much to do with either one. But it doesn't hurt.

 

[scooper]

Getting a good QB is more important this year than next, IMO. That gives the QB a full year in Weis' system before competing for the starting job. Claussen is a heckuva player, but I'd take a Mustain, Frazier or Jones with a year in the system and four years eligibility over a true freshman.

I agree with you. I'm surprised at how many people have Claussen penciled in as a starter as a true frosh. All the while, there will be physically talented guys already on the roster with experience in the system.

 

[PantsB]

I've been reading up on Jimmy Clausen, trying to gather as much information as I can about him.
This personal coach he has works with Leinart, JP Losman and some other pro QBs. They won't work out with Clausen because their skills pale in comparison. Now, experience and intelligence don't count of course, but his technique and fundamentals are supposedly flawless.

The BS detector has to be going off here.

 

[jiggafini19]

The BS detector has to be going off here.

I think he's going to USC. The Fonz, Lindsey Lohan... the glamour in South Bend isn't even close. Clausen's ego is said to be growing and that might be the best place for him if that's the case.

Jason Munns or Matt Simms wouldn't be bad alternatives. Getting Munns out of Washington state would be a sweet victory for some of you who despise you know who up there.

 

[scooper]

If his ego gets that big, I agree. I wonder what kind of QB the younger Powlus is. I know his brother was considering ND before ending up at Duke for BBall.

I still have high hopes for Claussen, but I'm leary of messianic all-world QB's with big egos rivaled only by their fathers'.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

good point on the ego. nd isn't used to having players around too long if they have big egos. i dont think charlie will be into those guys. the clausen boy should be an interesting story to follow.

i've been reading the signing day blunders thread as well and it made me realize that there's no reason to worry about mccoy and young. charlie will do everything in his power (except cheating) to land these guys. every school has been burned by a recruit. perhaps this year a different school will get burned and we'll end up with the biggest 'yoink' of this recruiting season. come on everyone, let's be a little more optimistic!

 

[iloveirish_12]

Getting a good QB is more important this year than next.

They have a two good QB and Tom Lemming said JC is better than any QB or player in the all-star game. So you tell me who you would reather have?

 

[BigIrish]

They have a two good QB and Tom Lemming said JC is better than any QB or player in the all-star game. So you tell me who you would reather have?

hmmm...i don't know if JC is better that the two QB's we have in hand, but starting statements with "tom lemming said...." on these boards won't buy you any credibility. ;-)

 

[TexasDomer]

They have a two good QB and Tom Lemming said JC is better than any QB or player in the all-star game. So you tell me who you would reather have?

This was my point: "Claussen is a heckuva player, but I'd take a Mustain, Frazier or Jones with a year in the system and four years eligibility over a true freshman in 2007."

Chances are slim we would get a Mustain in 2006 and a Claussen in 2007 and not have one of them transfer somewhere where they could play. Failing this, Claussen probably wouldn't truly compete for the starting job until 2008 unless he can enroll early in 2007, which may not be possible, depending on the number of scholarships we end up signing in 2006.

Besides, Claussen may have better physical tools and mechanics than anyone in our current class, but would he fit Weis' offense better as a true freshman than our current/potential QB recruits with a year under Weis backing up Quinn? Which puts us in a better position to win in 2007?

Lemming, with all his merits, also loves hype. Weis will make the right decision for the program, regardless.

 

[TexasDomer]

I think he's going to USC. The Fonz, Lindsey Lohan... the glamour in South Bend isn't even close. Clausen's ego is said to be growing and that might be the best place for him if that's the case.

One can almost see the second coming of Todd Marinovich here.

 

[IrishfaninLA]

One can almost see the second coming of Todd Marinovich here.

Speaking of Marinovich, just recently there was an article in the LA Times about the 1990 SC football team that won the Rose Bowl. Last April Marinovich was is jail for drugs in Orange County - some of the players from the team collected money to post his bail and pay for drug rehab. After getting out of jail and spending a couple of days in rehab, ol Robobackas he was called skipped out. Several months later he turned himself in and is currentl in jail. What a dip sh*t!

 

[Champion10]

Well Weis has dealt with Egos of NFL players a I am pretty sure he can deal with college players egos. Clauson can enroll early next year even if we are full this year because you can count his scholership towards 06 or 07.

 

[guff]

Based soley on seeing pictures of Clausen, he is California all the way. The only way ND gets him is if he is kept far away from South Bend in January and February. I can't see someone that looks like him embracing cold, snow and wind.

 

[UpstateIrish]

I think Claussen to USC is 50-50, depending upon what happens this year. If Sanchez wins the job and puts up big numbers, Claussen may look elsewhere for the opportunity to play right away. Sanchez will be a freshman next year. Maybe Claussen looks ait it as a challenge, maybe he doesn't want to play behind a QB that will have three more years of eiligibility when he steps foot on the LA campus.

 

[jiggafini19]

One can almost see the second coming of Todd Marinovich here.

If so, I hope he goes to USC.

Clausen is very good, but I wouldn't expect him to come in and replace Quinn as a freshman. How often do you see freshman QBs starting? It is rare and usually because a team has run out of options and bowl eligibility.

Having read all that I have about his arm, mechanics, footwork, etc. I have yet to see anything about him picking up an entire playbook in three weeks. No matter how good he is, he would still need to get some things down mentally.

 

[scooper]

This is NOT Tom Lemming's team. He doesn't decide who fits or who plays. And we can all be thankful for that.

If Charlie takes Claussen, good. That's who he wanted. Claussen goes elsewhere, good for him.

I agree with the sentiments in this thread about rather having one of this year's guys stepping in for the 07 season than a true fresman. It's not like Frazer and Jones are noodle armed guys that Charlie was able to steal from St. Rose school for the blind. They are big, strong-armed highly recruited QB's.

Jimmy Claussen may be the future QB of the fighting Irish, but he is not the second coming of Jesus Christ that some fans(and Tom Lemming) are making him out to be. Not to mention the fact that his highly ranked team is in one of the lowest divisions in Cali and plays nobody.

They were scheduled to come to Ohio next season and play Moeller, they were also scheduled to play one of the bigger Cali powers, though I don't remember which. They backed out of both games in favor of easier ones.

 

[jiggafini19]

Gerald McCoy – Defensive tackle, West squad: Like Young on the offensive line, you don’t find many players that appear ready to play as freshman along the defensive line, but McCoy looks like that type of player. At 6-4, 300 pounds, McCoy simply dominates offensive linemen.

While McCoy has great size, it’s his ability to get off the ball quickly that differentiates him from your average player. Gerald has a very quick first step that allows him to get leverage on the offensive lineman. He also has the ability to change direction quickly and he moves very well laterally. During the one-on-one pass blocking drills he was in the backfield with nary a paw laid upon his jersey and the look on the offensive lineman face asked, “How did he do that?” The players he was going against in practice were some of the best offensive linemen in the country, and he did the same to the East offensive linemen during the bowl game.

As a high school senior McCoy has very good strength and he uses his leverage very well to power past the offensive lineman. He has several moves that he uses to combat the offensive lineman, and he can go inside or outside. If the offensive lineman didn’t use perfect technique McCoy would eat him up. If an offensive lineman was able to contain Gerald, they knew they had done a very good job.

McCoy is a great character and he likes to keep things lively. The LSU coaches were at one practice to watch their committed player Al Woods. McCoy was standing off to the side and yelled out to an unsuspecting Woods, “Al, have you told the LSU that you de-committed and you’re going to Texas?” The LSU coaches jerked their heads around as if, out of the corner of their eye, they spotted a hundred dollar bill sitting on the ground.

McCoy to me he is deciding between Notre Dame, USC, Oklahoma, LSU, Miami and Virginia Tech. Later reports have said he’s down to Oklahoma, LSU and USC. Gerald said that he could have a decision the week after the bowl game, but that he could also wait until signing day. McCoy should be a top 10 national recruit and he is a difference maker.

 

[bigdon]

Gerald McCoy – Defensive tackle, West squad: Like Young on the offensive line, you don’t find many players that appear ready to play as freshman along the defensive line, but McCoy looks like that type of player. At 6-4, 300 pounds, McCoy simply dominates offensive linemen.
While McCoy has great size, it’s his ability to get off the ball quickly that differentiates him from your average player. Gerald has a very quick first step that allows him to get leverage on the offensive lineman. He also has the ability to change direction quickly and he moves very well laterally. During the one-on-one pass blocking drills he was in the backfield with nary a paw laid upon his jersey and the look on the offensive lineman face asked, “How did he do that?” The players he was going against in practice were some of the best offensive linemen in the country, and he did the same to the East offensive linemen during the bowl game.
As a high school senior McCoy has very good strength and he uses his leverage very well to power past the offensive lineman. He has several moves that he uses to combat the offensive lineman, and he can go inside or outside. If the offensive lineman didn’t use perfect technique McCoy would eat him up. If an offensive lineman was able to contain Gerald, they knew they had done a very good job.
McCoy is a great character and he likes to keep things lively. The LSU coaches were at one practice to watch their committed player Al Woods. McCoy was standing off to the side and yelled out to an unsuspecting Woods, “Al, have you told the LSU that you de-committed and you’re going to Texas?” The LSU coaches jerked their heads around as if, out of the corner of their eye, they spotted a hundred dollar bill sitting on the ground.
McCoy to me he is deciding between Notre Dame, USC, Oklahoma, LSU, Miami and Virginia Tech. Later reports have said he’s down to Oklahoma, LSU and USC. Gerald said that he could have a decision the week after the bowl game, but that he could also wait until signing day. McCoy should be a top 10 national recruit and he is a difference maker.

You previously posted that his failure to include ND in the OK interview may have been an intentional tongue-in-cheek answer. Sounds like he likes a good practical joke. Let's hope we're laughing on signing day!

 

[jiggafini19]

You previously posted that his failure to include ND in the OK interview may have been an intentional tongue-in-cheek answer. Sounds like he likes a good practical joke. Let's hope we're laughing on signing day!

Personality goes a long way.

I like the nature of these recruits just based on what I'm reading. Very down to Earth, laid back, fun loving guys that are goal oriented.

 

[Rip Rap]

Apparently Mustain does still have an offer:

http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4331388&nav=menu151_4

 

[jiggafini19]

Apparently Mustain does still have an offer:
http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4331388&nav=menu151_4

Interesting. "A couple" of expected public commitments.

Butch Lewis? Terrence Austin?

Carufel was expected and Lewis was rumored.