'10 FL CB Lo Wood (Notre Dame Signee)

[irishog77]

I think it is a great sign when a starter from last year's top-notch D may not start this year.

As for Team Wood or Team Russell, I have no clue. I, like others, think the term "starter" may be a bit of semantics, as both could play a whole helluva lot. Didn't honey badger technically not start his great year? Wasn't he the nickel/slot guy.

 

[woolybug25]

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.

KRuss had 8 tackles in the game, so he couldn't have gotten mauled that bad. It was his second highest total of the year.

 

[dshans]

... by the time Bennett Jackson (he has two last names!!!!!) 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.

Just to be fair I added the bold portion for you ....



IE won't let me format the way I want. I give up. See below.

 

[Ndaccountant]

KRuss had 8 tackles in the game, so he couldn't have gotten mauled that bad. It was his second highest total of the year.

Ah yes, because tackling = success in not getting pushed around. Of his 8 tackles, only three were solo. Remember, Bama had their way in the passing game. I would like to see a breakdown of those tackles and where they came run/pass. My hunch is that his solo tackles came in the passing game.

For comparison sake, Zeke had his highest tackling game of the year, matching his total of the previous three games combined. MF had his third highest game tackling. I give ZM all the credit in the world for his effort, but just because he tackled a bunch of people doesn't mean he played well.

 

[Domina Nostra]

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.

Right. It's funny talking about KR being overrated and then talking about Lo Wood unseating him.

To me Lo is a guy who never challenged for playing time and then got a lot of praise during a period where absolutely had to step up based on an incredibly thin depth chart. I am not saying Coach was blowing hot air, apparently the interception at MD gave him a lot of confidence, and his time in the system paid off. However, instilling confidence in your starting CB was a very, very important at that time, so I took that praise of Lo with a grain of salt.

In an absolutely deperate moment, along comes KR and turns out to be just a stud athlete, if very raw at the position. He makes the freshman AA squad. Is he lights out? Apparently not, but he has a very high upside to say the least. KR made up for a lot with his athleticism. On the other hand, technically sound but less athletic CBs get burned regularly.

So now we are talking about Lo Wood unseating him? This is not Bennett Jackson, or even Gary Grey or Darrin Walls coming back. It seems to me that it's Lo that's now being overrated. If Lo is currently clearly beyond where KR was last season, that is a big development, IMO. That will improve my view of our depth chart considerably.

 

[Redbar]

I love and root for all our guys.
They love and pull for each other.
These two in particular are both really capable players.
The staff will play the best person in the proper situation.
Both will play.

 

[arrowryan]

I'm not going to try and make a bold prediction on who the starter is going to be. I'm just glad to see that there is great competition all over the secondary, all it's going to do is give us a great secondary for the next 4-5 years. Would I like to see KVR continue his success from last year? Absolutely. Would I like to see Lo Wood make a strong comeback from his injury? Of course. Like others have said, it's not going to matter who starts against Temple because there will be a rotation.

Let the best man win

 

[woolybug25]

Ah yes, because tackling = success in not getting pushed around. Of his 8 tackles, only three were solo. Remember, Bama had their way in the passing game. I would like to see a breakdown of those tackles and where they came run/pass. My hunch is that his solo tackles came in the passing game.

For comparison sake, Zeke had his highest tackling game of the year, matching his total of the previous three games combined. MF had his third highest game tackling. I give ZM all the credit in the world for his effort, but just because he tackled a bunch of people doesn't mean he played well.

I hear ya, but I think you will be hard pressed to find someone that believes that our defensive struggles against Bama didn't start up front. KRuss wasn't the reason we got smoked in that game.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I hear ya, but I think you will be hard pressed to find someone that believes that our defensive struggles against Bama didn't start up front. KRuss wasn't the reason we got smoked in that game.

Agree, which also helps explain why it wasn't an issue prior to that. Russell readily admitted after the game he was physically out matched. However, it wasn't a problem previously since the front 7 was able to protect KR.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Just to be fair I added the bold portion for you ....

?

 

[dshans]

?

It was a failed attempt at humor. I just wanted to point out that while Cole Luke has two first names, Bennett Jackson has two last names.

 

[woolybug25]

It was a failed attempt at humor. I just wanted to point out that while Cole Luke has two first names, Bennett Jackson has two last names.

Or two first names. My nephew is named Jackson and I have a friend with the first name Bennett. I guess you could say that he is the only player with two first AND last names.

Moral of the story... he wins at names.

 

[ND NYC]

i'm more surprised at the sampson pegging of Baratti as a starter than the Wood/Russell debate

 

[nd1989]

i'm more surprised at the sampson pegging of Baratti as a starter than the Wood/Russell debate

Right. Baratti over Collinsworth to me is a bigger story.

 

[FLDomer]

Right. Baratti over Collinsworth to me is a bigger story.

I am not shocked by this Baratti, I believe is faster than AC and has a much higher ceiling. NB is way underrated. This kid will be a stud for the Irish.

 

[dublinirish]

considering baratti watched spring ball from the sidelines its indeed a shock that sampson pegged him to start

 

[FLDomer]

considering baratti watched spring ball from the sidelines its indeed a shock that sampson pegged him to start

Wasnt he injured? Minor shoulder injury or something?

 

[irishroo]

Wow what a difference a year makes. Remember last year when Lo went down and we were freaking out about getting somebody who could at least compete out there? Now we're talking about sitting a freshman All-America because we've got a fifth-year senior who's a better option, and we've got 6-8 guys (Jackson, Russell, Wood, Farley, Baratti, Collinsworth, Shumate, Redfield[?]) who could start for most other teams in the country. I don't think there's a better illustration of the effect Kelly, Diaco and Co. have had on the program than that.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Now we're talking about sitting a freshman All-America because we've got a fifth-year senior who's a better option...

Minor correction, but Wood is a rising senior with two years of eligibility left. Which is nice, because there's no telling if Luke will be ready to start next year.

 

[Emcee77]

Wasnt he injured? Minor shoulder injury or something?

Yes, exactly.

i'm more surprised at the sampson pegging of Baratti as a starter than the Wood/Russell debate

Right. Baratti over Collinsworth to me is a bigger story.

Really?? I can't understand that. When we're talking about Lo Wood we are talking about a guy coming off an injury who, while a senior, doesn't have many game reps at CB under his belt. If he can take the starting job away from a returning player who started all last year, I'd consider that a big surprise -- not saying it's impossible, but a big surprise.

On the other hand, at safety, there is no returning starter. There is a just void left by Zeke Motta. We know the staff regards Collinsworth highly, but, like Lo Wood at CB, he is coming off an injury and doesn't have a lot of game reps at safety under his belt. Baratti, for his part, did get some game reps last season and by all accounts practiced well and impressed the staff. I still think Collinsworth could be the more advanced player, but why shouldn't Baratti win the job? He's had a year practicing at safety and has outstanding athleticism.

As I typed all that I realized that you may be thinking in terms of seniority. Wood is more experienced than Russell, in terms of time in the program, as is Collinsworth as compared with Baratti. I get that; I retract the "I can't understand that" that I started this post with. Not sure if I agree though. I guess I don't know what is more important: game experience or time in the program. I lean toward the former.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I guess I don't know what is more important: game experience or time in the program. I lean toward the former.

Agreed. Seems like guys who don't see much of the field for the first 3-4 years of their career have a very poor chance of ever becoming a starter.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Baratti, for his part, did get some game reps last season and by all accounts practiced well and impressed the staff.

And remember that Barratti's role in high school was basically "do everything." Now that he is focused on the nuances of that position, he could really blossom.

At some point in the future, opposing WR's are possibly going to have to deal with Russell, Luke, Shumate (nickel), Barratti, Redfield, and Jaylon Smith all on the field at the same time during 3rd downs. Ouch.

 

[ScooterIrish]

So people think Barratti beats out Shumate?? Interesting...

 

[STLDomer]

Mentally Baratti knows the safety position better than Shumate.

If Redfield can pick it up quickly he stands just as good a shot as any IMO.

 

[Emcee77]

So people think Barratti beats out Shumate?? Interesting...

Since you asked ... No. I do expect Shumate to win the job. But thats mostly just a gut feeling based on the way Diaco raved about his athletic ability. My above post was just in response to the suggestion that it would be a surprise if Baratti beat out Collinsworth ... I think all three of Baratti, Collinsworth and Shumate have equal chances to win the job. It will be fun to watch this fall.

 

[Rack Em]

Ready for another quick square in the nuts?

Pete Sampson confirmed a rumor that Wood is deciding this week "whether or not he stays with Notre Dame this season".

 

[koonja]

Ready for another quick square in the nuts?

Pete Sampson confirmed a rumor that Wood is deciding this week "whether or not he stays with Notre Dame this season".

Well if he's getting passed by two freshman, I say see you later. If you're afraid to compete, adios.

 

[tko]

Ready for another quick square in the nuts?

Pete Sampson confirmed a rumor that Wood is deciding this week "whether or not he stays with Notre Dame this season".

Kid wants to go somewhere to play. He won't play at ND with the kids in front of him. Anyone hearing same regarding Josh Atkinson? I heard the two of them mentioned this morning.

 

[Rack Em]

Kid wants to go somewhere to play. He won't play at ND with the kids in front of him. Anyone hearing same regarding Josh Atkinson? I heard the two of them mentioned this morning.

I updated Atkinson's thread.

Wood has also graduated, so he's free to play somewhere else right away.

 

[fitz_bu47]

Seriously, I like Lo, and want him to stay...but this is getting ridiculous. It's not a Notre Dame thing or problem, it's a generational problem. No one wants to stay and compete if they get beat out, it's not on them, it's not the "right place". I hope Lo realizes he can compete, and be part of a great team, and get a great education, and decides to stay.