ESPN-Insider Article on ND Football

[maison bleu]

Story is by Adam Rittenberg.

Here are the first few (free) graphs. Anyone an ESPN Insider (their name for paid subscriber), who can fill us in on the rest?

The article begins:

Spring practice breeds both optimism and unease. At Notre Dame, those sentiments apply to either side of the line of scrimmage.

On the offensive side, the Irish still have their brain, coach Charlie Weis, whose elaborate NFL system transferred seamlessly to the college level in one season. They also have their body, Brady Quinn, who bought into Weis' system and restored respectability to the quarterback position at Notre Dame.

Add studs such as wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, running back Darius Walker and a healthy WR Rhema McKnight, and the Irish offense could break all those records it set in 2005.

 

[ND4me]

Please do not post copyrighted materials. If you would like to read and then provide a synposis of what the article was about, please do!

 

[jiggafini19]

Nickel back Leo Ferrine should see more playing time, and incoming freshmen CBs Darrin Walls and Raeshon McNeil could challenge for starting positions.

Starting positions? Is he serious? Wow.

Notre Dame finished 103rd nationally in pass defense (264.6 yards per game), though Weis often said yards mean little if points are limited. Nevertheless, relying on red-zone turnovers seems too risky.

Yeah, maybe melting people's faces off and destroying them is a better approach. The bend but don't break thing, not so much. Opportunistic attitudes are ones I tend to shy away from in most aspects of life. Right place, right time can't happen all the time. Be consistent.

A deep and talented line figures to be the strength of Notre Dame's defense in 2006.

Deep? He's joking, right? Talented maybe, but that's the four starters. I'm not so sure about deep.

ND4me, thanks for the post.

 

[ND4me]

sorry bout that Svoboda.

Yea the piece basically over-hyped the Irish defense I think.
I believe we'll be better, but it overstates the potential of the cornerbacks, basically inferring that the incoming fresh will probably start

And that our D-line is deep and talented. I agree with Jigga... talented yea.. probably. Deep? No way!

 

[Irish Envy]

sorry bout that Svoboda.

Yea the piece basically over-hyped the Irish defense I think.
I believe we'll be better, but it overstates the potential of the cornerbacks, basically inferring that the incoming fresh will probably start

And that our D-line is deep and talented. I agree with Jigga... talented yea.. probably. Deep? No way!

Not a problem... just covering our arse so we don't get sued by ESPN.

Anyhow, thanks for the synopsis... I'm a bit worried about the defense myself and we play quite a few good offensive squads this year.

 

[leppycole]

With Zibby and Ndukwe being so aggresive on the run, why not play a Nickel and cheat Zibby up for the run/middle zone? If Mcneil is all he is supposed to be and Walls is healthy, you could play a 3-5 stack on 3rd and long. God I cannot wait until football season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

 

[jiggafini19]

Gary Gray told BGI Bill Lewis told him if he were coming in this fall instead of 2007, he'd be playing. And Gray is a JUNIOR.

I'm thinking Walls and McNeil are going to see a lot more playing time than we think. Lambert and Ferrine might get passed over on the depth chart before too long once the season starts.

 

[leppycole]

Gary Gray told BGI Bill Lewis told him if he were coming in this fall instead of 2007, he'd be playing. And Gray is a JUNIOR.
I'm thinking Walls and McNeil are going to see a lot more playing time than we think. Lambert and Ferrine might get passed over on the depth chart before too long once the season starts.

Jiggs do you have any more info on Gray?

 

[jiggafini19]

http://southcarolina.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=41417

He has offers from everyone. Charlie Strong from Florida and Bud Foster from Va Tech are recruiting him. Weis is recruiting Gray himself, so you can imagine how good he is. Many think he'll be the top rated corner in the class of 2007.

He was at Junior Day this past weekend and enjoyed the trip...liked the facilities and whatnot. He keeps in touch with Jimmy Clausen. Gray said he plans on being at the Blue and Gold Game.

Mike Frank of Scout said that he plays QB, WR and CB. He is good at moving his hips, a key technique for defensive backs and has great recovery speed that can allow him to stick with just about anyone.

South Carolina appears to be one of the heavy favorites. Gray hasn't told anyone of his top choices yet. Still sorting things out.