Clausen Doing More Recruiting

[jiggafini19]

Removed.

 

[jiggafini19]

ND has offered all three.

Landing Clausen is going to lead to a slew of verbals for whoever gets him.

Notre Dame and South Carolina in the hunt.

 

[Aerosmith777]

How could Jimmy Clausen really consider USC? By the time he got there there'd be an entrenched starter w/ at least 2 more years of eligibility, and maybe 3 if Sanchez wins the starting job this year.

Although I have a lot of faith in Frazer, I really hope Charlie get's this kid.

 

[jiggafini19]

How could Jimmy Claussen really consider USC? By the time he got there there'd be an entrenched starter w/ at least 2 more years of eligibility, and maybe 3 if Sanchez wins the starting job this year.
Although I have a lot of faith in Frazer, I really hope Charlie get's this kid.

They're referring to SOUTH CAROLINA when they're saying USC.

Clausen can go in just about anywhere and compete. But no matter where you go, you're going to have to compete either way. No one gets handed a starting job.

 

[Domer95]

ND has offered all three.
Landing Clausen is going to lead to a slew of verbals for whoever gets him.
Notre Dame and South Carolina in the hunt.

How nice it would be to take one (two...five?) from Steve Superior.

 

[Aerosmith777]

They're referring to SOUTH CAROLINA when they're saying USC.
Clausen can go in just about anywhere and compete. But no matter where you go, you're going to have to compete either way. No one gets handed a starting job.

oooh, they really gotta say "The other USC" then.

Oh, I know he'd have to compete anywhere, but there's a HUGE difference between coming to ND the year after a starter graduates and the position is wide open, and going to a school that will have somebody starting for a year already. It's a helluva lot easier to win a position battle when there are no incumbents (especially encumbents as talented as Booty and Sanchez). Whoever wins that battle between them 2, if they go out next year and have success, I don't care how good Clausen is in practice, he's not stealing their job. Its a whole different animal if the position is open though.

 

[weisfaninmass]

How could Jimmy Clausen really consider USC? By the time he got there there'd be an entrenched starter w/ at least 2 more years of eligibility, and maybe 3 if Sanchez wins the starting job this year.
Although I have a lot of faith in Frazer, I really hope Charlie get's this kid.

easy -- it is called two Heisman winners in Leinart and Palmer.

 

[scooper]

oooh, they really gotta say "The other USC" then.

Nah, they were USC first.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

Nah, they were USC first.

Right! USC is the University of South Carolina. SC is Southern California. There might be a relationship between cocks and trojans, but don't get them confused.

 

[jiggafini19]

Right! USC is the University of South Carolina. SC is Southern California. There might be a relationship between cocks and trojans, but don't get them confused.

Rep points.

 

[scooper]

Yep, from me too. That was too funny.

 

[domerfor life]

Right! USC is the University of South Carolina. SC is Southern California. There might be a relationship between cocks and trojans, but don't get them confused.

Very good. That was clever. LOL!

 

[iloveirish_12]

We need Jimmy more than anyone for next years class.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

We need Jimmy more than anyone for next years class.

With all due respect...We're just fine on the offensive side of the ball for the next few years. Time to get "nasty" on the defensive side of the ball with a couple of bulls in the middle of the DL and maybe a few fellas who can play LB who can run sideline to sideline and "bring the noise" to opposing ball carriers and strike fear in qb's every time he takes a 5 step drop.

 

[iloveirish_12]

With all due respect...We're just fine on the offensive side of the ball for the next few years. Time to get "nasty" on the defensive side of the ball with a couple of bulls in the middle of the DL and maybe a few fellas who can play LB who can run sideline to sideline and "bring the noise" to opposing ball carriers and strike fear in qb's every time he takes a 5 step drop.

I agree with that about the defensive. I know we need to get better on the defensive, I think everyone knows that. But all the talk you hear about who is going to college with Jimmy Clusen. You are going to get a very good package where ever these guys end up at.

 

[jiggafini19]

We need Jimmy more than anyone for next years class.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE.

Remember how this year was all about offensive linemen and the secondary? 2007 will be defensive line intensive, especially DT.

Clausen, while talking to a lot of prospects, is talking to offensive skill players. The more the better, but I hope Jimmy has some defensive tackles on his speed dial too.

I hope the plan is to get 4 DT and 2 DE. Otherwise, get 3 at the very least.

 

[Irish Envy]

Is anyone concerned about the potential with disaster if Clausen does commit and then decommits? While it's cool that he has a pack of guys that want to sign with him, if he sours and moves on, I'd image they all follow since most seem to be puppy dogs right now.

That is a bit scary to me. Anyone else with any concerns?

 

[scooper]

I a player were to commit and bring guys with him and then decommit, I think he'd lose some luster in their eyes. Why follow someone who is toying with your own future?

 

[IrishFan16]

A player is not going to choose a school simply because Jimmy Clausen is going there. What Clausen will do is catch the eye of these recruits and have them give the school he chooses a serious look. And if Jimmy jumps on board and can call these high-profile guys and get them to visit I like our chances.

 

[Aerosmith777]

A player is not going to choose a school simply because Jimmy Clausen is going there. What Clausen will do is catch the eye of these recruits and have them give the school he chooses a serious look. And if Jimmy jumps on board and can call these high-profile guys and get them to visit I like our chances.

While most of the time I'd agree w/ that statement, this kid is different. He is being hyped up as the second coming of Christ. The words "Lebron James of football" have been used more than once on the four-letter network in describing him. I think there are a couple of 4-5 star skill players who will take his decision to sign somewhere as a huge factor in where they consider signing, especially if it's a place that isn't incredibly deep at their own position (for ND, read "reciever").

He is being hyped up so far that I'm a little bit hesitant about him if he does commit next year. Might come in a little too cocky. However, I think ND has the kind of coach who can break a kid like that down, and even if he doesn't work out in the long run, it would be a huge feather in Charlie's cap in the immediate future if he got him to commit.

 

[jiggafini19]

What worries me is that all the junior talk is about OFFENSIVE players so far. Lots of articles about skill players on the offensive side of the ball.

You know, there is that other side of the ball that likes to hurt those guys. I forget what they're called....

This, however, is Weis' forte and thus going to be the fluff focus of recruiting writers. Meanwhile, the need is on the other side of the ball.

 

[scooper]

jigg, you nailed it when you said this is the fluff focus of the writers. And not just because it's Weis' forte but also because of the "Lebron of football" aspect of it. Recruiting has become big news in recent years and Clausen may be the biggest recruiting story they've had to cover yet. They are going to cover every angle of him that they can.

But I wouldn't be concerned about neglecting the defense based on who the media's reporting on. Look at your list in the other thread. 17 offers. In my opinion (which is worth 1/6 cent) that list includes eight slam dunk sure offensive players with 1 QB, two rb's, two WR's and 3 OL. Both TE's have been mentioned as potential DE's to go along with two other DE prospects. Tyler is probably a RB, but can appently be a LB as well, there are two true corners and and athlete in Everson that could be a corner as well. Not to mention two LB's in Dailey and Galippo that could very well have offers coming. And when junior test scores start rolling in during the spring, I expect to see quite a few more offers out there-hopefully to some DT's.

I don't think the staff is neglecting defense at all. CB, OL and QB were clearly seen as the main targets this year and all were filled with flying colors.

 

[iloveirish_12]

I don't worry about the DT. I think CW has that undercontrol. But evertime I hear about Jimmy I want him to come to ND more and more. Put it this way Jimmy Clausen is the O.J. Mayo of juniors for football.

 

[irishwavend]

You can hardly say we are deep on either side of the ball. You also don't want to rush into things on the defensive side of the ball, either. Obviously, we know who the top O guys are, but do we really know who is tops on defense yet? It's not like play Defense for ND is going to be a really hard sell, because we are noticeably less deep on that side of the ball which means very early PT. Anyway, just figured I would throw in my two cents. I would definitely be happy with 2 more RBs and some O line.

 

[IrishFan16]

I think ND might recruit DTs like they recruited OL this year. Be very selective and offer only the best. We need top DTs so we have to sell the fact that they are so important to the program. If offers go out to 10 different DTs early you look desperate and the offer may not mean as much if only 3 or 4 were offered.

I remeber early in the recruiting process this year when solid OL recruits came to summer camp and was basically begging for an offer and telling the staff you need to give me an offer or I'm commiting elsewhere. The staff held there ground and it obviously paid off.

 

[Irish Envy]

I see us doing what Georgia and Auburn do yearly... taking 5-6 DT/DE. There is no explanation needed why they're always putting our pro prospects and having fierce defenses. Can you imaging the intensity, competition and drive it takes to start there. We had that at Notre Dame in the late 80s/early 90s.

 

[Aerosmith777]

What worries me is that all the junior talk is about OFFENSIVE players so far. Lots of articles about skill players on the offensive side of the ball.
You know, there is that other side of the ball that likes to hurt those guys. I forget what they're called....
This, however, is Weis' forte and thus going to be the fluff focus of recruiting writers. Meanwhile, the need is on the other side of the ball.

yeah, I think as long as Weis is here though get used to it. When you combine the fact that offense draws all the crowds (even though defense wins championships) & its all writers/commentators/most fans want to talk about anyway with the fact that Weis is an offensive mastermind, the end result is offense is gonna hog all the glory for quite awhile, probly the length of Weis' tenure. Even at USC (excuse me, "Southern Cal") where they have a defensive minded head coach, the offense is all that really get talked about. Even when they had a good defense last year and the year before, I didn't see too many ESPN spots about Kenechi Udezi (or however the hell you spell it, definetely not putting in the effort to spell an 'SC player's name right). So, yeah, while I like good defensive teams too, I think we're gonna have to get used to the fact that under Weis the offense is gonna be the unit that really wins or loses games, and the defense is only gonna be asked to do so much (and sadly they couldn't even do that last year...).

 

[jiggafini19]

You also don't want to rush into things on the defensive side of the ball, either.

I think the problem has been that the past few recruiting hauls have done exactly this.

The numbers don't lie. In the past FOUR years they have TWO true defensive tackles that have signed: Laws and Hand. Completely unacceptable. Now they need to double that in one recruiting season. They got six O linemen this year. They'd better get 4 DT this year. Once Landri and Laws are gone, the cupboard is empty.

When you have high school DE like Stephenson and Kuntz moved inside for depth issues, you have major problems. Stephenson is NOT a defensive tackle. 240 pounds? Kuntz, well he's a mite compared to Stephenson at 260.

ND is on the hunt for a lot of defensive tackles already. I think the sense of urgency is there because they have no other choice. The inept recruiting of the previous regime has put them in a real bind.

 

[irishwavend]

What is Landry out of curiousity? He seems a bit small for a DT, doesn't he? Maybe we could use a lil speed on the inside...a little bit smaller guys to shoot the gaps...I don't know...just an idea.

 

[scooper]

Landri is upper 260's. Lower 270's tops at this point. He's had trouble bulking up due to injury.