'12 IN DT Sheldon Day (Notre Dame Man)

NDWorld247

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I know this has debated in the past in some other threads, but I'd like to get some of your guys' opinions on how the NT position is going to look next year. Presumably we lose Nix as well as Kona, and we have no other non-seniors listed at the position on the depth chart.

So, in your opinion, does Day fit the NT mold? Will it be a freshman? Will our defensive scheme shift?

I think it will be a combination of Springmann, Jones, Day and Rochell. I don't think the staff will change from a base 3-4 to a 4-3, but they'll definitely adjust to the personnel we have. I'm not as concerned as most. There will definitely be a drop off from Nix, but I don't think the middle of our defense will become a sieve without him.

I think Thomas Holley is the only 2014 recruit currently on the board that can come in and log meaningful minutes at the NT position next season.
 

Old Man Mike

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In my uninformed opinion: Day will shift to NT, with the big Ginger-head spelling him. That's an awkward prediction, as it shifts Tony to DT "permanently." The number three NT/DT will be the best freshman to be named later. If Holley comes, then it's him, and Hayes can be back-up DE. If Holley doesn't come, then it's probably Dickerson. That back-up position is likely to play when we do a lot of 4-3 in a game. I could easily see Sheldon and Tony running off the field in 2014 for a breather, and two of Holley, Hayes, or Dickerson running on in a 4-3 set.

To fill in the now almost completely missing DE positions, I "brilliantly predict" the Colossal Coming of Big Isaac as the true anchor there, and the surprising impact of a "speed DE" as the other guy [my favorite has always been Okwara, but depending upon who wins CAT between Romeo and Ishaq, maybe the other becomes that DE.] Back-ups? ---- the coming hoard of frosh plus the sleeping bear, Jones. [this is assuming that Chase Hounshell never gets physically able.] I would like to think that Jacob Matuska will be able to help us here, but I never hear anything [yet] about whether that's expected from what the staff is [early] seeing.

Add-on: it has just occurred to me the ripe potential for total confusion concerning 2014 verbal MDickerson as a NT, and 2013 preferred walk-on MDickerson as a NT. So who was I even talking about?? The 2014 guy, I guess, BUT I have a "romantic intuition" about 2013 MDickerson too. He seems to "want it" more than almost anybody.
 
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STLDomer

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I know this has debated in the past in some other threads, but I'd like to get some of your guys' opinions on how the NT position is going to look next year. Presumably we lose Nix as well as Kona, and we have no other non-seniors listed at the position on the depth chart.

So, in your opinion, does Day fit the NT mold? Will it be a freshman? Will our defensive scheme shift?

I expect:

Springmann - Day - Tuitt (Rochell/Jones if Tuitt leaves)

Day will be a giant anchor in the run game by next fall
 

Whiskeyjack

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If Nikita Whitlock can be an effective NT at 5'11' 250, why not Sheldon Day at 6'2'' 290?
 

NDPhilly

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If Jones played like Springmann did last year as a RSfreshman we'd anoint him as the next great ND DL.
 

NDWorld247

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The only reservation I'd have about Day at NT is, is that his best position? Is the drop off from Day to Springmann at DE greater than the drop off from Day to Springmann at NT? I'd argue the gap between Day and Springmann at NT is much smaller than it is at DE, so wouldn't it make more sense to keep Day at DE and move Springmann inside? I feel we'd lose a lot of Day's pass rushing ability by sticking him at NT vs. keeping him at DE.

Tuitt is our most important 2014 recruit. His return would allow for a lot more flexibility along next year's DL. Come back and graduate with your class, big fella!
 

Old Man Mike

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NDWorld: actually I believe that this is exactly the weighing process that the staff will take. It will depend [probably] upon their assessment of whether Tony can occupy two blockers and stand ground as well as Sheldon. That's THE big deal if you want to play 3-4.

I actually have no good view of that potential as yet. Everything that I've seen makes me believe that Tony is very good when he's in a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE, but I don't know anything about how he holds up as NT.
 

Whiskeyjack

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The only reservation I'd have about Day at NT is, is that his best position? Is the drop off from Day to Springmann at DE greater than the drop off from Day to Springmann at NT? I'd argue the gap between Day and Springmann at NT is much smaller than it is at DE, so wouldn't it make more sense to keep Day at DE and move Springmann inside? I feel we'd lose a lot of Day's pass rushing ability by sticking him at NT vs. keeping him at DE.

You're probably right. Day may be our best pass-rushing DL this season; moving him to NT would be a waste of that very valuable ability.
 

STLDomer

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Devils advocate, next year we'll actually have 2 OLBs that can rush the passer whereas we have played with only 1 recently so maybe Day as a pass rusher won't be as important
 

NDPhilly

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We could possibly have 3 if Okwara improves to go along with Ishaq and Jaylon.
 

STLDomer

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We could possibly have 3 if Okwara improves to go along with Ishaq and Jaylon.

I was actually just talking DOG & CAT not Jaylon & Ishaq. I'd count Councell in there also as at least a threat to have a decent pass rush where Spond, not really.
 

WakeUpEchoes

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Don't feel like digging through the post-game thread. I know he was in a walking boot at the end of the game. Is he good to go?
 

stlnd01

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Don't feel like digging through the post-game thread. I know he was in a walking boot at the end of the game. Is he good to go?

F'in hope so. He's played better than Tuitt the last couple of weeks.
He did come off the field limping pretty bad with what looked like an ankle in the second half. Can't remember if he went back in, but Schwenke definitely played a bunch after that. But I thought I saw a tweet of Kelly saying there were no significant injuries.
 

Redbar

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QUESTION: Just curious for a medical update. How you guys came out of last night health-wise?

BRIAN KELLY: Not too bad. In a physical game, some bumps and bruises. After meeting with the doctors today, we might have a guy here or there that couldn’t go on Tuesday but it looks like nothing for the report as we put together Questionable or Doubtful. We don’t have any of that right now.
 

WakeUpEchoes

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QUESTION: Just curious for a medical update. How you guys came out of last night health-wise?

BRIAN KELLY: Not too bad. In a physical game, some bumps and bruises. After meeting with the doctors today, we might have a guy here or there that couldn’t go on Tuesday but it looks like nothing for the report as we put together Questionable or Doubtful. We don’t have any of that right now.

Thanks. I heard that in the presser but was just nervous when I saw a pic of Sheldon in a walking boot. Sounds like all is well.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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It didn't look good with him hobbling off of the field, did it?
 

stlnd01

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Any word on what happened with him today? Still hurt? Despite reports of him practicing all week and taking warm-ups?
I even saw him jumping up and down on the sideline at one point. Hope he's back for next week.
 

palinurus

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Any word on what happened with him today? Still hurt? Despite reports of him practicing all week and taking warm-ups?
I even saw him jumping up and down on the sideline at one point. Hope he's back for next week.

The announcers just said in passing that he was out again with a high ankle sprain. I, too, was led to believe by reports that he would be back this week.
 

CanadalovesND

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Any word on what happened with him today? Still hurt? Despite reports of him practicing all week and taking warm-ups?
I even saw him jumping up and down on the sideline at one point. Hope he's back for next week.

Must have done something in warm ups to tweak or bring discomfort to the muscle.
 

Irish Insanity

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Pregame reports said that he was warming up and looked good. But they also said he wasn't warming up with the 1st or even the 2nd team D. Also said he wasn't backpeddling at all.
 

stlnd01

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Pregame reports said that he was warming up and looked good. But they also said he wasn't warming up with the 1st or even the 2nd team D. Also said he wasn't backpeddling at all.

Our defensive linemen shouldn't be going backwards anyway. Attack! Attack! Attack!
 

Sherm Sticky

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We are so thin at the dline. No Hounsell, Springman, Day. This has forced Tyler Stockton to see significant PT. The dline with no depth is getting worn down and that was obvious in the 4th qtr


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CanadalovesND

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Or Kelly wasn't all that truthful this past week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>According to Brian Kelly, Sheldon Day "tweaked" his ankle in pre-game and did not look good. "That was more of a coaching decision."</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/statuses/384365324293771264">September 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Or, you know, what I said
 

BeauBenken

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I don't like how this injury has lingered. We need Sheldon.
 

sportallyr

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Sorry to bump without any new info, but does anyone have an update on Day? How likely is it that he'll be on the field vs SC?
 

PANDFAN

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Sorry to bump without any new info, but does anyone have an update on Day? How likely is it that he'll be on the field vs SC?

very likely..has been improving and COULD have played vs asu but basically due to their offense BK said it wasn't worth it
 
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