'10 FL CB Lo Wood (Notre Dame Signee)

[Irishman77]

What our coaches accomplished last year with our depth/inexperience and injury issues is nothing short of miraculous.Think about the conversations we had this time last year!

Staff will play the best player. We have some very healthy competition now. Russell played much better than Sampson's comments allude to. It would take an astonishing performance matched with no health issues for wood to unseat Russell IMHO. However Wood will play a ton and will start opposite Russell in his 5th yr.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Don't shoot the messenger, Sampson:

I actually agree with Sampson 100% here. Russell is still completely raw at the position. Lo Wood is a polished veteran. Let Russell sit behind or split time with Lo Wood this year.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I actually agree with Sampson 100% here. Russell is still completely raw at the position. Lo Wood is a polished veteran. Let Russell sit behind or split time with Lo Wood this year.

A polished veteran? Russell has already taken more career snaps as a DB than Wood hasn't he?

 

[woolybug25]

I actually agree with Sampson 100% here. Russell is still completely raw at the position. Lo Wood is a polished veteran. Let Russell sit behind or split time with Lo Wood this year.

"Polished Veteran?" Lo Wood has seen action in 21 games in his Notre Dame career spanning over three seasons (1 sat out because of injury). Here are some stats:

Total Tackles - 10
Tackles For Loss - 0.5
Interceptions - 1
Sacks - 0

Here is what KRuss accomplished in 13 games as a freshman.

Total Tackles - 58
Tackles For Loss - 2
Interceptions - 2
Sacks - 0.5

Not to mention, KRuss STARTED 13 games while Wood only appeared in his 21. KRuss has more experience and production.


Polished my @ss...

 

[tko]

Wood is just a veteran imo and that's it. KR trumps him on big game experience and will build on that again this year. It's nice to have Wood back in the fold and competing for PT, but KR will prevail.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Polished veteran because Wood has been playing DB for oh idk his whole life. Russell has played DB for 1 year. Back pedal, footwork, recognition all goes to Lo. I say they split time this year.

 

[GoIrish41]

No way Russell isn't the starter.

 

[CanadalovesND]

I'm in on Wood being the starter. Just because KR had this "fantastic" season, he was still pretty much an average corner, but he has the tools to become a great corner.

Wood, has been playing the position for years, has a better understanding of the position and of this defense (due to the fact that he's been here for four years now), he's just more polished. And don't give me stats to back up who's more polished. Obviously a 13 game starter is gonna have more production than a 21 game appearance-er (i doubt that's a word?), but Wood has mostly been a special team and back up CB. If he had the opportunity to start last season, his production numberswould be much higher.

I really don't see the issue if KR isn't a starter. He's still gonna get a lot of reps, which is something unthinkable considering this time last year he was a RB with NO CB experience (played DB in HS, but was a S).

Then, after 2013-14 season, by the time Bennett Jackson graduates and leaves, he'll take over the vacant opening along side Wood, and then the marvelous Cole Luke (he has two first names!!!!!) will fill that 3rd CB role in the rotation.

 

[STLDomer]

Can we stop with the "no way" Wood is the starter? There's a fair chance it happens. I'm on the Russell side but to say a veteran that the staff has always liked has no way of starting is just not true IMO.

 

[pumpdog20]

I'm sure Sampson has a point about overrating in a relative sense, but...

- We did go 12-0 and gave up very, very few points. It's all pretty relative. People were not eating KR up by any stretch and we were able to protect him while having one of the best defenses in the country;

- Saying he was the "fifth-best defensive back behind Jackson, Motta, Slaughter and Farley" because "Notre Dame had to protect him all season by rolling coverages to his side" is just silly. There are two corners on the field most plays; ND had one that was really good and one that was a freshman RB. Of course they were going to roll coverages to his side. Safeties are called safeties for a reason, they float and do not have to line up across from someone. We sure as heck weren't going to roll a CB somewhere to "protect" Farley! That's almost like saying it proves that the QB was not as good as the RB because the RB was constantly used to protect him from rushers.

This x 1000. Of course safeties were rolled over to protect a CB. It's damn near impossible to cover a WR at this level by yourself any more.

 

[dublinirish]

Plus, he continues our illustrious line of white safeties. Collinsworth could also break in here.)

aha this is the truth!

 

[woolybug25]

Polished veteran because Wood has been playing DB for oh idk his whole life. Russell has played DB for 1 year. Back pedal, footwork, recognition all goes to Lo. I say they split time this year.

I don't think anyone is debating that they will split time, we are debating if the staff is going to give the starting nod to a kid that sat out all last year over a returning all american.

KRuss didn't just play RB in high school either, he played on defense as well. It's not like his first snap as a DB was at Notre Dame.

 

[NDWorld247]

Can we stop with the "no way" Wood is the starter? There's a fair chance it happens. I'm on the Russell side but to say a veteran that the staff has always liked has no way of starting is just not true IMO.

I agree with this and will add none of us have enough information to make any definitive statements, unless of course you've been to practice, summer workouts, etc. Opinions and predictions are fine, but definitive statements are a big no no IMO.

My take is all of this competition in the defensive backfield will make us a much better team and it appears we will have more game ready DBs than any season in recent memory. I think we'll see a much heavier rotation than 2012 regardless of who starts at CB and S.

 

[IrishLax]

Sampson's logic is really flawed. Saying "5th best DB" and then listing 3 safeties... none of which could play Russel's position... is just one of the dumbest things I've ever seen a professional write.

Not that this has any bearing on Lo Wood and his prospects of starting, but the logic does not hold.

 

[dublinirish]

when KVR was making picks versus USC when he was in man coverage on Marquis Lee he definitely wasn't having coverage rolled to his side. Kid's a baller

 

[koonja]

In CFB, you need at least 3 starting-type CBs, so it really doesn't matter who 'starts', but FWIW, I think Russel will be the #2.

And IDK the meaning of 'veteran'. Is it years on a team? Or actual field experience? Because if it's actually real game experience, Russel's the veteran, not Wood.

 

[CanadalovesND]

when KVR was making picks versus USC when he was in man coverage on Marquis Lee he definitely wasn't having coverage rolled to his side. Kid's a baller

He made one pick, and it was against an underthrown go route by Wittek. He also had like four penalties, although they were smart penalties, they were in the redzone, otherwise, would have been a Marquise Lee touchdown

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm in on Wood being the starter. Just because KR had this "fantastic" season, he was still pretty much an average corner, but he has the tools to become a great corner.

Wood, has been playing the position for years, has a better understanding of the position and of this defense (due to the fact that he's been here for four years now), he's just more polished. And don't give me stats to back up who's more polished. Obviously a 13 game starter is gonna have more production than a 21 game appearance-er (i doubt that's a word?), but Wood has mostly been a special team and back up CB. If he had the opportunity to start last season, his production numberswould be much higher.

I really don't see the issue if KR isn't a starter. He's still gonna get a lot of reps, which is something unthinkable considering this time last year he was a RB with NO CB experience (played DB in HS, but was a S).

Then, after 2013-14 season, by the time Bennett Jackson graduates and leaves, he'll take over the vacant opening along side Wood, and then the marvelous Cole Luke (he has two first names!!!!!) will fill that 3rd CB role in the rotation.

^This reps.

 

[koonja]

I'm in on Wood being the starter. Just because KR had this "fantastic" season, he was still pretty much an average corner, but he has the tools to become a great corner.

Wood, has been playing the position for years, has a better understanding of the position and of this defense (due to the fact that he's been here for four years now), he's just more polished. And don't give me stats to back up who's more polished. Obviously a 13 game starter is gonna have more production than a 21 game appearance-er (i doubt that's a word?), but Wood has mostly been a special team and back up CB. If he had the opportunity to start last season, his production numberswould be much higher.

I really don't see the issue if KR isn't a starter. He's still gonna get a lot of reps, which is something unthinkable considering this time last year he was a RB with NO CB experience (played DB in HS, but was a S).

Then, after 2013-14 season, by the time Bennett Jackson graduates and leaves, he'll take over the vacant opening along side Wood, and then the marvelous Cole Luke (he has two first names!!!!!) will fill that 3rd CB role in the rotation.

What do you base the statement that Wood has a better understanding of the position and defense on? Russel has more collegiate level game experience. Wood's never taken a snap as the starter, Russel has 13 games as the starter.

Not to mention, BK spoke glowingly about how intelligent Russel is and how he's beyond his years; I don't think 'not knowing the system as well' is applicable to Russel.

If you're just counting years in the system, do you also think Connor Cavalaris and Joe Ramono should be ahead of Russel?

I disagree with your reasoning, but either way, we have a great problem on our hands.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I still think size is a major issue here. Wood is listed in the spring roster as being 5-10 195 versus 5-11 182 for KR. Diaco really likes CB's that can set the edge against the run and KR's size limits his ability for now.

 

[GoIrish41]

I still think size is a major issue here. Wood is listed in the spring roster as being 5-10 195 versus 5-11 182 for KR. Diaco really likes CB's that can set the edge against the run and KR's size limits his ability for now.

Russell was one of the best natural tacklers on the team last year.

 

[Emcee77]

Russell was one of the best natural tacklers on the team last year.

Right. I didn't notice a problem with Russell's tackling.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Russell was one of the best natural tacklers on the team last year.

Tackling is different than setting the edge against a blocker. Russell can tackle just fine, but the question is whether or he can avoid getting pushed up field/outside/inside by a blocker. He got mauled by Bama in that regard.

 

[Luckylucci]

Lets not discount Lo guys. He's had very good camps when healthy and whether he starts or not this development is positive. With Jackson leaving after this year we want Lo to be playing a lot so there isn't a significant drop off next year. Its not an all or nothing situation. Both will play and hopefully both get better.

 

[ACamp1900]

It's REALLY hard to be critical of KR (as a true freshman running back) after the year he had last year... you could make the case he was the single most important contributor/surprise last year... I thought he was great.

That said, sophomore slumps do happen, and I hope Lo Wood is at least there to drive KR past any backward slides that many in his situation tend to have… and if he does slip, here’s hoping Wood is ready to go.

 

[GoIrish41]

Tackling is different than setting the edge against a blocker. Russell can tackle just fine, but the question is whether or he can avoid getting pushed up field/outside/inside by a blocker. He got mauled by Bama in that regard.

outside of Nix, who didn't?

 

[CanadalovesND]

What do you base the statement that Wood has a better understanding of the position and defense on? Russel has more collegiate level game experience. Wood's never taken a snap as the starter, Russel has 13 games as the starter.

Russel started as a freshman, not to mention, BK spoke glowingly about how intelligent Russel is and how he's beyond his years; I don't think 'not knowing the system as well' is applicable to Russel.

If you're just counting years in the system, do you also think Connor Cavalaris and Joe Ramono should be ahead of Russel?

I disagree with your reasoning, but either way, we have a great problem on our hands.

Simple fact that KR has not been playing the position or has been in the system long. Wood has.

BK also spoke glowingly about Lo Wood heading into and during last year's fall camp, saying how he was the biggest surprise (in a good way obviously) of camp before he got hurt.

Russell may be "beyond his years" but he still has lots of work to do in the technique department. Being fast and athletic isn't enough to be a big time, elite CB. It's the attention to detail, the little things that truly make any player great, elite etc.

Wood also has his work cut out for him too, especially coming off injury.

I just don't see why Russell has to be, or has the #2 CB role firmly in hand. He's young, he's raw. We should take our time with him. That doesn't mean hold him back, but it doesn't mean expose him. Some will say last year was exposure, and yes, they are correct to assume so, but KR was somewhat "babied" last year. Meaning the staff didn't throw him into the fire being left all helpless. He had a lot of help coverage and scheme wise.

 

[Ndaccountant]

outside of Nix, who didn't?

There is a difference, IMO, between being out-schemed and outmanned. Nix outmanned despite being out-schemed. Bama clearly out-schemed us elsewhere, which led to them appearing to physically dominate. No doubt, they had a physical edge, but not as much as the game led people to believe.

As far as KR is concerned, he was just outmanned on the edge. I recall Warmack pulling and heading right for him and KR ducked, as would I in his shoes. Other times their WR's were able to push him around. His problem was being able to physically match up and it really didn't show until the DL and LB's were not able to stop anyone.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Simple fact that KR has not been playing the position or has been in the system long. Wood has.

It's hard to put a value on "time in the system". Tyler Stockton was a borderline 5 recruit who's entering his 5th year; so why is Nix considered a lock to start at NT, hrm?

BK also spoke glowingly about Lo Wood heading into and during last year's fall camp, saying how he was the biggest surprise (in a good way obviously) of camp before he got hurt.

Again, we can't take Kelly's public statements at face value, so it's hard to accurately value that praise. "Time in system + vague praise from Kelly = Wood starts!" is gonna be a tough sell.

Russell may be "beyond his years" but he still has lots of work to do in the technique department. Being fast and athletic isn't enough to be a big time, elite CB. It's the attention to detail, the little things that truly make any player great, elite etc.

Russell is more athletic than Wood and has far more experience as a starter (particularly "big game" experience, which the staff feels is very valuable). You assume since Wood has had more time in the system, that he has a mental edge over Russell. That's pure speculation.

Some will say last year was exposure, and yes, they are correct to assume so, but KR was somewhat "babied" last year. Meaning the staff didn't throw him into the fire being left all helpless. He had a lot of help coverage and scheme wise.

My understanding is that our inexperienced secondary primarily hindered Diaco schematically; as a unit, they couldn't be trusted in man-coverage often, so we rarely blitzed (and fortunately for us, our DL was good enough to generate pressure on its own.) Farley and Jackson were also being protected, not just Russell. Why do you think Wood would have been proficient enough in man-coverage to allow Diaco to blitz more often than he did? I've seen no evidence for it.

Russell was a freshman All-American last season; he racked up impressive stats and lots of big game experience as a 13-game starter during our '12 title run. So yes, barring some crazy development in fall camp, he's a lock to start against Temple. The case for starting Wood over Russell is extremely weak.

 

[Damion704]

AMEN