'10 CO ATH Danny Spond (Notre Dame Man)

[BleedBlueGold]

I realize that Lacy is a beast, and no offense to Danny, but the NC game pretty much made me hesitant that he can play inside and be the hammer that we need to help stop the run. He's athletic as hell and I feel he's better suited for the outside. Maybe that one game is an anomaly and he's fully capable at handling the position, but until practices start and the coaches evaluate the possibility, I'm gonna have my reservations.

 

[Emcee77]

Going by his physical profile, absolutely. There have also been rumors of Okwara moving to DE, though Vanderdoes may have changed that. I can't see him at ILB.

I tend to agree with you, but Kelly said that the staff was really impressed with Okwara in coverage. He may be nimbler than we think. Of course, Kelly may have only been making the best of a not-great depth chart.

Not lobbying for Okwara to play ILB, and definitely not predicting it. If it turns out he can play there though, that would be great.

 

[Anchorman]

I feel like moving him inside would only worsen our ILB problems in '14 by taking away any development the younger guys would have.

Spond looked bad a couple times against Lacy, but who didn't? He's still a freak of a huge athlete. MOreover, while I love Smith and what he'll be able to do, Smith had some tackling issues in the all-star game, and those guys are nowhere close to Lacy. I think Spond holds down Dog through the year with Smith waiting and getting some reps there and at cat.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Going by his physical profile, absolutely. There have also been rumors of Okwara moving to DE, though Vanderdoes may have changed that. I can't see him at ILB.

Rumors? Other than people on this board, what have you heard? I have never heard one credible rumor of Romeo moving anywhere, or of anyone moving inside. May be in the plans, either or but the least likely is for Romeo to move to DE because he has way too many skills, he can cover an inside receiver, for instance. Kelly has put the DE move to rest at least four times that I am aware of; and if anyone has a current weight on Romeo this spring you should be able to tell. He should well be north of 260 if they are planning on turning him into beef.

Similarly, Kelly has stated in at least two interviews that Danny can cover like a corner. Ad to that his ability to track Denard and even punch the ball out, and that is a waste of skill at ILB, unless they change the configuration and move him to an inside cover kind of place. It is up to you guys though. I would hate to waste that kind of talent.

It is a good problem to have, having that many good guys on the outside. I am surprised no one mentioned moving Prince inside! That is about all we haven't heard speculation about!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Rumors? Other than people on this board, what have you heard? I have never heard one credible rumor of Romeo moving anywhere, or of anyone moving inside. May be in the plans, either or but the least likely is for Romeo to move to DE because he has way too many skills, he can cover an inside receiver, for instance. Kelly has put the DE move to rest at least four times that I am aware of; and if anyone has a current weight on Romeo this spring you should be able to tell. He should well be north of 260 if they are planning on turning him into beef.

Similarly, Kelly has stated in at least two interviews that Danny can cover like a corner. Ad to that his ability to track Denard and even punch the ball out, and that is a waste of skill at ILB, unless they change the configuration and move him to an inside cover kind of place. It is up to you guys though. I would hate to waste that kind of talent.

It is a good problem to have, having that many good guys on the outside. I am surprised no one mentioned moving Prince inside! That is about all we haven't heard speculation about!

I know the board has mixed feelings on TP, but I believe he recently posted that Okwara will end up along the DL at some point in his career. Pretty sure I read that anyways...

Moving Prince inside is just as bad for reasons you mentioned about Danny. Prince is an excellent pass rusher. Why waste a talent like his moving him inside? He should stay on the edge.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I know the board has mixed feelings on TP, but I believe he recently posted that Okwara will end up along the DL at some point in his career. Pretty sure I read that anyways...

I remember that. I took that as his own personal opinion. Which by the way is what Wooly often brings up. Many people took it as the next move Brian Kelly was going to make.

What I have heard all over is that along with Troy Niklas, Romeo Okwara has Superman's body. I mean the kid is so far beyond stud and freak both it is almost unbelievable. This kids output and size with the ability to move like a small man are off the chart. It is like blowing a guy like Tarean Folston, already benching 340, with his speed, up to 6'5" tall and 250lbs! Eyebrows are not raised around the program by this kid, they are singed!

About Prince, I fixed it, I forgot to use the facetious marks!

 

[RuntheBall]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>BK - Danny Spond will no longer be playing football.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/statuses/368779535770075136">August 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Other tweets said
1.) Spond's family will soon issue a press release
2.) The decision was very emotional for Spond. It wasn't easy, but he did what was best for him

I'm really disappointed to lose Spond, he was a very solid player for us and seemed like a great locker room guy.

 

[Ironman8]

Well he will be staying on as a 'player' coach, so at least there is that. But tough break for a great kid.

 

[RuntheBall]

Well he will be staying on as a 'player' coach, so at least there is that. But tough break for a great kid.

Glad to hear that. I know that is [obviously] not what he wants, but it is great he still has a role with the team and can be a part of a special unit.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Damn. This related back to the issue he had last year, I presume?

 

[rtrn2glory]

Very sad news...Great young man whose had to battle quite a bit. Glad he will earn a degree and he's the true example of why you choose a school with football not in the equation.

 

[Junkhead]

Well that stinks, but health comes first. If that's what it is.

 

[IrishHokie22]

Wow, really tough break. I hate that for Spond. He was a solid, if underrated, player and seems like a good guy. I certainly understand the decision, assuming it pertains to the concussion issues he's had. As the previous poster said, health comes first.

 

[Irishnuke]

NCAAF Career over for Irish LB Danny Spond - ESPN

I'm heartbroken for the guy. Glad he made the right 40 year decision.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Despite still having two great athletes at the DOG position, this hurts us alongside the immensely worse hurt to Danny himself --- by the way, God Bless You, Warrior --- you were one of our best.

Mayock, as last season went on, began regularly referring to Danny as the most under-rated player on our great defense, and one of our best. Mayock continue to say such things in Spring and just recently. I thought that this was true, but having a defensive expert [Mayock is really good ay assessing especially back-end, pass-coverage defensive play, which was where he played at BC] say this repeatedly made me believe my own eyes more.

Even with Ben and Jaylon, we cannot simply assume that losing Danny's own superb athleticism and rep-tested savvy instincts is not going to hurt. I think that this probably bothers me more defensively than most IE'ers.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Despite still having two great athletes at the DOG position, this hurts us alongside the immensely worse hurt to Danny himself --- by the way, God Bless You, Warrior --- you were one of our best.

Mayock, as last season went on, began regularly referring to Danny as the most under-rated player on our great defense, and one of our best. Mayock continue to say such things in Spring and just recently. I thought that this was true, but having a defensive expert [Mayock is really good ay assessing especially back-end, pass-coverage defensive play, which was where he played at BC] say this repeatedly made me believe my own eyes more.

Even with Ben and Jaylon, we cannot simply assume that losing Danny's own superb athleticism and rep-tested savvy instincts is not going to hurt. I think that this probably bothers me more defensively than most IE'ers.

I don't want to seem like I'm disrespecting Spond, because he was truly underrated player and a great guy. ND will move on. It doesn't matter the incident, it's all about Next Man In, and Notre Dame has 2 REALLY good ones in Councell and Smith. If anything, this gives Smith the chance he very much wanted. Sucks for Spond, but this is just another message to those players who pick schools as a easy road to the NFL.

 

[Redbar]

I would just say to Danny, thanks for everything you are, dont even try to make sense of it right away, just understand things happen for a reason. Coach Kelly still sees a role for you on this team helping the younger guys learn the dog position. One thing is for certain this is the first day of the rest of your life, and that is an exciting thought.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I feel so terrible for him. At least he has the right attitude and will help the team in another way.

 

[dublinirish]

i presume its related to the migraines he was having last fall?

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Damn...

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Poor young man. Good luck, Spond! May God bless you.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm with you old man mike. Mayock really like Spond and said the defense was came together and was complete once Spond entered the lineup.

Danny Spond you were one of my favorites, best of luck Danny!

 

[mgriff]

Damn, this sucks. He was rock solid for us. Best of luck, Danny! You'll still be a success!

 

[dublinirish]

One of the first BK guys at ND, sad to see his career end so soon, dude would have been a definite mid round pick in the NFL Draft next April.

 

[ND NYC]

tough break for the kid...wishing him all the best.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

While we are all excited to see Jaylon and what Councell can do, this is what concerns me:

“There’s not a guy in the 11 that does things more right than him on a regular basis,” Diaco told us in our 2013 Football Preview this summer. “There is not a higher-graded player week in and week out than Danny Spond.”

 

[BobD]

"When God closes one door, he opens another" ~Danny's mom

He is slowly recovering and will be ok.

 

[Cackalacky]

While we are all excited to see Jaylon and what Councell can do, this is what concerns me:

Disappointed to say the least and wish Spond the best. That statement says a lot.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Really sad to hear this news. I wish him nothing but the best.

 

[Kak7304]

While we are all excited to see Jaylon and what Councell can do, this is what concerns me:

Jaylon will make some "WOW" plays that Danny couldn't because of Jaylon's athleticism but there will also be the occasional head scratcher from being out of position. Spond was about as solid of a player as can be.