'11 NC OLB/DE Ben Councell (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[Riddickulous]

Kelly has stated that Shembo will not be working in the DOG LB spot. Pretty sure I heard that in a presser.

He said they can move him there if necessary, but that hasn't happened yet.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Spond will be back. And no. I don't think Slaughter is under any consideration.

Oops. I didn't mean to put Slaughter in that list. Got carried away.

I do recall BK saying that he wants to keep Shembo at the CAT, but his most recent presser brought a change of heart. He mentioned that he would move him around if necessary. So while I don't feel Shembo will play DOG this season, the possibility is out there.

This being Ben's thread though, I feel confident with Councell being on the field. He was a solid athlete in high school. Time to step up. We need ya, Ben.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Other than Everett [or Andrew] it is my feeling that Ben Councell is the most important untried piece on this football team [even beyond the corners].

We know Manti will be Manti. We know that the combo of Shembo/IWilliams will constitute a nightmare. We know that we have at least solid quality in Dan Fox. But DOG.... nothing certain. If Ben is the real deal [and I have been waiting for his break-out --- thought that we should have tried him even last year], THEN the front seven solidifies and with great safety play, our corners are a lot better off. So... I believe that in a strange way, as Ben Councell goes, so does the defense [or Diaco has to get creative again].

A lot of people sweat multiple positions on offense. I don't. It's just QB. Kelly manufactures 40 points a game without All-Americans and we have AT LEAST one.

C'mon, Everett!!! C'mon, Ben!!! This Rolls Royce is ready to roll. Make sure we don't have any flat tires.

 

[ryno 24]

Ben Councell was one of my favorite recruits from last year. He is extremely fast and extremely tall. I think he is a perfect fit for the defense and I dont think he has to come off the field all the time.

 

[dshans]

This Rolls Royce is ready to roll. Make sure we don't have any flat tires.

Agreed. I just want to feel the comfort of having full service AAA support (better yet a NASCAR pit crew) at our beck and call on the sidelines to jump start batteries and quickly replace tires as needed.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Kelly has stated that Shembo will not be working in the DOG LB spot. Pretty sure I heard that in a presser.

Correct, M2SB! It is one of the misquoted and least understood of Kelly's lines this year. He was naming off candidats Councell, Spond. Stopped and said Shembo could play it if he were needed. And then went back to naming Okwara, and Prosise. And then he said that would be enough depth.

 

[Kanye West]

I'm really not sure about Spond after his injury. Councell can be very good and is the ideal dog. Prossise is also a good star if we have to run a 4-2-5 or 3-3-5

 

[NYMIKE6]

There is no way we'd run a 4-2-5 or a 3-3-5.... Those are defenses suited for smaller schools who have to find creative schemes that suit the athletes they get. Plus Diaco's defense is at year 3 and i still don't know if it's fully in place... Theres no way they'd scrap what they've been working on for 3 years and run another defense...

 

[NDinFL]

There is no way we'd run a 4-2-5 or a 3-3-5.... Those are defenses suited for smaller schools who have to find creative schemes that suit the athletes they get. Plus Diaco's defense is at year 3 and i still don't know if it's fully in place... Theres no way they'd scrap what they've been working on for 3 years and run another defense...

It's just a personnel package, not an overhaul of a defensive scheme...

Like a "dime" defense uses 5-6 DB's

 

[NYMIKE6]

It's just a personnel package, not an overhaul of a defensive scheme...

Like a "dime" defense uses 5-6 DB's

People have to clear that up because there is a huge difference between a 4-2-5/3-3-5 and a true Nickel defense what he's doing is talking scheme not package...

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I see fewer db heavy packages for some reason, but I know that seems wrong.

 

[Kanye West]

People have to clear that up because there is a huge difference between a 4-2-5/3-3-5 and a true Nickel defense what he's doing is talking scheme not package...

Well yeah. I wanted to point out the differences in the Front 6 in what will happen if that occurs. It's still a 3-4 base that will have 4 man fronts and differences in fronts in Extra DB situations

 

[NYMIKE6]

Well yeah. I wanted to point out the differences in the Front 6 in what will happen if that occurs. It's still a 3-4 base that will have 4 man fronts and differences in fronts in Extra DB situations

Understood, thanks. Some people don't understand the difference.

When you have a 3-4 base and jump into a 4 man front some refer to it as "Mesh" (where your Rush, Stud or Cat will walk down put his hand down and shift alignment into a 4-3) Works really well against offenses after their line sets protection.

Two fronts for a "Nickel Defense" either 3 or 4

Standard:
Personnel groupings: 4 man front- 4 d-linemen 2 linebackers 3 corners 2 (high) safety

Personnel groupings: 3 man front- 3 d-linemen 3 linebackers 3 corners 2 (high) safety

Standard 3-3-5- defense personnel

3 d-linemen 3 linebackers 2 corners 3 (1 high) safety

Standard 4-2-5 defense personnel

4 d-linemen 2 linebackers 2 corners 3 (1 high) safety

There are similarities between Nickel and 3-3-5/4-2-5 in reference to subbing linemen for linebackers but big differences in alignment and assignment.

 

[Irishman77]

TP says Ben is moving inside....hmmmm

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Now that actually makes sense to me. I was just thinking about this. Spond and Jaylon will take all the reps at dog.

 

[irishff1014]

6'5" is nice and tall for a ILB

 

[Emcee77]

Wow, caught off guard by this one. Thought he was an OLB for sure, with his length and speed.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

What is he 6'5" about 240 lbs now....I don't mind a fast ILB at all as long as he has gotten stronger.

 

[Irishman77]

Fixes a depth crisis until we knock it out of the park with the 14 class at ilb.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I've already started praying for Raekwon.

 

[ChiRish]

That's a lot of athleticism up the middle but I agree with those hoping he's stronger... I don't want to lose any effectiveness in run defense.

Then again, if he's replacing where Anzalone would have been on the depth chart, I'll take it.

 

[IRISH FAN IN EASTL.A.]

Wow, caught off guard by this one. Thought he was an OLB for sure, with his length and speed.

Caught off guard too with his length, speed, and cover skills sounds like olb to me.

 

[L-cart ND-ana]

So he is the "next man in" now that Spond will be unavailable?

 

[IrishHokie22]

So he is the "next man in" now that Spond will be unavailable?

Just an educated guess, but I think Councell will start the first couple of games with Smith also getting looks at DOG, with Smith becoming the starter full-time at some point in the season.

 

[koonja]

This could all go and stay in the '2013 fall camp' thread. No need to bump his thread because another player at the position is out.

Or maybe I'm grumpy .

 

[blueNDgold44]

Brennan Clay: Notre Dame linebacker Ben Councell's ejection for targeting wasn't 'justified at all' | News OK

Good read and I couldn't agree w/ Clay more

 

[stlnd01]

Would it make any sense to move him into the ILB rotation with Grace hurt? Or Okwara?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Councell might have the instincts; can't imagine how Romeo would.

 

[Ironman8]

Can't see a drastic change happen during the middle of the season, personally. I think the most drastic step would be taking the RS off of Deeb. I think the first guys up are Schmidt and Moore.

Please no more Ishaq at MLB on 3rd and long, regardless. Please.

 

[BeauBenken]

Can't see a drastic change happen during the middle of the season, personally. I think the most drastic step would be taking the RS off of Deeb. I think the first guys up are Schmidt and Moore.

Please no more Ishaq at MLB on 3rd and long, regardless. Please.

You'd rather have Carlo out there? haha I understand Diaco's reasoning. Ishaq has the length and athleticism to clog up all kinds of passing lanes.