'13 CA DT Eddie Vanderdoes (UCLA)

[smcdonald5]

Looks like I have a Eddie Vanderdoes jersey, nice

 

[Irishman77]

Glad to hear no baseball for him this spring as he will devote his time to the weight room. Dude is a .400+ hitter!

 

[Domina Nostra]

On the near future of the Big Man [one old guy's opinion]:

.

Awesome post:

The only nit I have here is that I think that Tuitt will get spelled a lot more often this year, and that Springmann, Shwenke, EV will likley play inside and out depending on the situation.

The "DP" business should absolutely be dropped.

 

[Walter White]

I agree with Old Man Mike on that he will need to work on upper body strength. He does seem to have strong hands though.

While watching his highlights it seems his favorite means of tackling is to grab and jump on/fall down and twist. Could use some work on tackling technique. Something most freshman need and something our coaching staff is great at teaching.

I think he sees time on passing third downs spelling our starters while he learns the discipline of gap control and run stopping.

And as for nicknames, how about Darth Vander?

 

[tadman95]

On the near future of the Big Man [one old guy's opinion]:


4). Now I'll be curmudgeonly unpopular. I would not be unhappy to see the "Dutch Phuck" business dropped. It's unnecessary and doesn't even relate well with what the Big Man will be accomplishing as a DE for Notre Dame. Something like the "Flying Dutchman" or "The Dozer" [after Vander DOES], would be far more appropriate, civilized, and much less offensive for what seems to be a religious family.

Agree, let's save that for bar talk.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Awesome post:

The only nit I have here is that I think that Tuitt will get spelled a lot more often this year, and that Springmann, Shwenke, EV will likley play inside and out depending on the situation.

The "DP" business should absolutely be dropped.

I agree.

 

[NDBoiler]

On the near future of the Big Man [one old guy's opinion]:



4). Now I'll be curmudgeonly unpopular. I would not be unhappy to see the "Dutch Phuck" business dropped. It's unnecessary and doesn't even relate well with what the Big Man will be accomplishing as a DE for Notre Dame. Something like the "Flying Dutchman" or "The Dozer" [after Vander DOES], would be far more appropriate, civilized, and much less offensive for what seems to be a religious family.

The Vanderdozer!

 

[Bluto]

Since everyone is talking about the d line in general, what happened to Kona down the stretch last year? Seemed like he played less as the year went on. Was he injured?

 

[palinurus]

So I just watched that video and let me tell ya, he is exactly what ND looks for in a student athlete. Listen to Power Hour when Mike Frank interviews our commits. They are all so well spoken and very intelligent. I should listen to more of the interviews early in the year and I bet I could tell you whether or not which kids would fit in at the Dome. Just another outstanding member of the Fighting Irish!

Strongly endorse this. I heard about five of the class interviewed; the interview questions are the same for everybody and it's not Roy Firestone, but you get a great sense of these kids and their demeanors. With maybe one small exception of a guy who was hard to hear, the kids (Bivins, Rochell, Randolph, Redfield) sound like mature young people, much older than 18 years old; they have confidence, intelligence, and a sense of purpose, and they sound well grounded, and are polite and very well spoken. Credit to their parents, obviously, and also to Kelly and the staff for excellent judgment. Really a class to be proud of.

 

[Veer option]

Glad to hear no baseball

Baseballs everywhere let out a sigh of relief.

 

[CanadalovesND]

For all those interested in the power hour interviews, here's the link: Signing Day Show! 2013 Commits Talk Signing Day 2-6-2013 | Notre Dame Power Hour

 

[fitz_bu47]

.

 

[irishroo]

Yeah... you need to refine or remove the last part. One or twice in decade? He wasn't even close to a consensus 5... much less the best player in his class... much less the best player at his position! Jadeveon Clowney is the closest thing we've seen to a "once in a long time" prospect coming out of HS recently... and he was in the same year as Lynch.

People are right that "once or twice in a decade" type guys basically don't exist anymore. The closest thing I've seen recently on the pro level is Calvin Johnson because no other WR has his blend of size/speed.

Alright maybe I over-exaggerated a bit but I really don't think all that much. Keep in mind I'm talking strictly from a physical ability standpoint here. I am by no means saying Lynch is a one or twice a decade type player, just has once or twice a decade type physical abilities. He's bigger, stronger, and faster than Jadeveon Clowney. 6'6", 270 with supposedly legit 4.6 speed. Does no one realize how rare that is? There is not a player in the NFL right now who can match those measurable. Only guy who comes close is Jason Pierre-Paul, who was widely regarded as an athletic freak of nature when he came into the League a couple years ago.

 

[fitz_bu47]

On the near future of the Big Man [one old guy's opinion]:

1). Big Eddie will not start next year but he'll play a lot. We have two All-Americans and one All-American coming-to-be on that three-man Dline. Springmann and Schwenke will hold down the middle behind Irish Chocolate, so Eddie will be used at DE. At that position he will probably share the relief work minutes [mainly for Sheldon since Diaco doesn't like to sub for Tuitt much] with either Hounshell [who'll probably be stuck again behind Tuitt], Rochell, or Jones. All that will depend upon whether The Mighty Romeo becomes the violent monster yet that I believe he will. Upon reflection, this array of destroyers shows us how powerful ND is next year at Dline.

2). Comparisons to people like Aaron Lynch are not fruitful. Both players are going to be great, but with very different skill sets. Unlike others on this board, who maintain a useless hatred for Lynch, I don't, and instead see him as a "romantically-conflicted" immature young man, who will soon grow up to become an adult, a husband/father, and a kicka$$ NFL football player. Eddie seems to be FAR advanced from Aaron on very substantial maturity issues, probably attributable to a good "father presence" guiding his adolescence. By the way, I EXTREMELY admire and honor Aaron's mom, Alice, for doing all a mother could.

3). Eddie is going to be great because [paradoxically] he's quick. [Lynch is too]. Vanderdoes has the unteachable. He's quick and he's fast to the QB or RB. This, when combined with his size and proportions, makes him more like Nix than Lynch or Tuitt. What Eddie doesn't seem to have yet [from the film] is really powerful arm and hand strength. His base seems superb. Straight-on hits "stand him up" a bit, but his base doesn't go anywhere. He's getting by people more by out-quicking them and getting angle leverage than he is simply shedding them [like a Tuitt would do, or even Lynch to a degree]. This actually pleases me, as if the quickness is there [the God-given] but the upperbody strength needs to catch up [the Longo-able], then, unlike what some recruiting commentators claimed, Big Eddie DOES have quite a higher ceiling than he's already achieved. "A Year With Longo" is probably exactly what he needs.

4). Now I'll be curmudgeonly unpopular. I would not be unhappy to see the "Dutch Phuck" business dropped. It's unnecessary and doesn't even relate well with what the Big Man will be accomplishing as a DE for Notre Dame. Something like the "Flying Dutchman" or "The Dozer" [after Vander DOES], would be far more appropriate, civilized, and much less offensive for what seems to be a religious family.

^^^^^This all of it, OMM nails it again.

 

[NDdomer2]

fishsticks!
Vanderdoes
Vandekamp
Am I stretching it?

Great post OMM, the only thing I wanted to comment on is Lynch becoming a great NFL player.

That is just so hard to predict. His skill set (pass rush) matches perfectly with what the nfl wants out of their DE's but so many great college athletes don't pan out in the nfl.

I don't have any statistics on it but I would imagine those who transferred and sat out a year during their college career have even less success in NFL.

I am rooting for him though and sometimes find myself wishing he could have found his niche at ND.

 

[IrishLax]

Alright maybe I over-exaggerated a bit but I really don't think all that much. Keep in mind I'm talking strictly from a physical ability standpoint here. I am by no means saying Lynch is a one or twice a decade type player, just has once or twice a decade type physical abilities. He's bigger, stronger, and faster than Jadeveon Clowney. 6'6", 270 with supposedly legit 4.6 speed. Does no one realize how rare that is? There is not a player in the NFL right now who can match those measurable. Only guy who comes close is Jason Pierre-Paul, who was widely regarded as an athletic freak of nature when he came into the League a couple years ago.

I mean not to keep rehashing this but coming out of HS Clowney was 6'6", the same weight as Lynch, ran a 4.6, and was regarded by all industry experts as the most explosive/athletic DE they'd seen in a very long time.

Jadeveon Clowney - Yahoo! Sports
Aaron Lynch - Yahoo! Sports

Lynch expert quote: "Lynch is a big athlete at 6'5, 235 and still growing, he has prototype size for the next level. He is a competitor that plays with a good motor and possesses a quality first step. Lynch shows great lateral mobility. He is raw as a pass rusher relying on his athleticism, he needs to add some moves to arsenal."

Clowney expert quote: "Clowney makes plays that only special players make. He gets up field in a hurry and really explodes off the ball. He has great range, long arms to get into passing lanes, and he does not have many weaknesses. He is just such an explosive player, that is what stands out the most and a lot of athleticism."

So in a sense I totally agree with you that Lynch had very, VERY rare traits. But I think you're downplaying Clowney... who also possessed those same traits and then some. Clowney would be the #1 pick this year a soph if he could come out because his upside is just that high with his physical tools.

 

[irishroo]

I mean not to keep rehashing this but coming out of HS Clowney was 6'6", the same weight as Lynch, ran a 4.6, and was regarded by all industry experts as the most explosive/athletic DE they'd seen in a very long time.

Jadeveon Clowney - Yahoo! Sports
Aaron Lynch - Yahoo! Sports

Lynch expert quote: "Lynch is a big athlete at 6'5, 235 and still growing, he has prototype size for the next level. He is a competitor that plays with a good motor and possesses a quality first step. Lynch shows great lateral mobility. He is raw as a pass rusher relying on his athleticism, he needs to add some moves to arsenal."

Clowney expert quote: "Clowney makes plays that only special players make. He gets up field in a hurry and really explodes off the ball. He has great range, long arms to get into passing lanes, and he does not have many weaknesses. He is just such an explosive player, that is what stands out the most and a lot of athleticism."

So in a sense I totally agree with you that Lynch had very, VERY rare traits. But I think you're downplaying Clowney... who also possessed those same traits and then some. Clowney would be the #1 pick this year a soph if he could come out because his upside is just that high with his physical tools.

Ok yeah coming out of high school you're right, Clowney was more impressive physically. But now? Lynch is 15 pounds heavier and, if internet reports are to be believed, runs the same or even a bit faster 40. Clowney is clearly the far superior player, but in terms of physical talent they're probably on the same level with maybe a slight edge to Lynch.

 

[ndfb3]

Big shout out to Grubl for getting Vanderdoes to ND.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Ok yeah coming out of high school you're right, Clowney was more impressive physically. But now? Lynch is 15 pounds heavier and, if internet reports are to be believed, runs the same or even a bit faster 40. Clowney is clearly the far superior player, but in terms of physical talent they're probably on the same level with maybe a slight edge to Lynch.

I tend to agree that Lynch could close the gap significantly. Clowney is a freak, but, IHMO, so is Lynch. While I agree that Clowney is better, I don't agree that he is on a totally different level. It's just hard to compare kids with that much talent. It's like comparing Colin Kapernik and RGIII.

 

[md_bennett]

I tend to agree that Lynch could close the gap significantly. Clowney is a freak, but, IHMO, so is Lynch. While I agree that Clowney is better, I don't agree that he is on a totally different level. It's just hard to compare kids with that much talent. It's like comparing Colin Kapernik and RGIII.

Charlie Weiss couldn't/didn't stop RGIII

 

[Irish#1]

How come I'm not hearing anymore media talk about ND can't recruit top classes anymore because of academics, weather and location?

 

[ND NYC]

just not enough D-1 reps to make an accuarte assesment on an EV vs Lynch comparision.
i struggle to make a comparison, those 2 seem so different to me in many ways (body type, skill sets, mental makeup) and i dont see them at all having the same role along the DLine no matter who they play for.

so damn happy we got EV

 

[IrishSpartan]

Look at that EV's thread jumped jaylons in posts didn't expect that

 

[Ironman8]

Updated Rankings on the Front Page

 

[IrishLion]

Look at that EV's thread jumped jaylons in posts didn't expect that

No drama with Jaylon's choice

 

[brewdog_14527]

EV didn't really cause any drama either. Oh, wait, we caused his announcement to be drama filled.

 

[NDohio]

EV didn't really cause any drama either. Oh, wait, we caused his announcement to be drama filled.

No drama, but a lot of speculation.

 

[ulukinatme]

I hate drama personally, so it was refreshing to see Jaylon so committed to the University. Both are studs for sure though, and I'm not sure which one will be more exciting to watch.

 

[Irish#1]

I hate drama personally, so it was refreshing to see Jaylon so committed to the University. Both are studs for sure though, and I'm not sure which one will be more exciting to watch.

I feel sorry for the offense when they line both up on the same side. No wait a minute, not really.

 

[scUM Hater]

Can we just start the season already?