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

[koonja]

I think Shummate should play the middle in 3rd and long. If we're going to have Carlo/Ishaq do it, just have them blitz because they're not going to be able to cover anyone.

 

[Emcee77]

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.

This. Kelly addressed this either Saturday night or Sunday: Moore is next man in, Schmidt will have to step up, Deeb is behind them. It sounded to me like Kelly trusts them to do the job.

 

[Ironman8]

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.

I'd rather have a safety right there. It was 3rd and 20. Ishaq should either be rushing the passer or off the field. It's no surprise he could drop 20 yards into the proper zone for coverage - I am sure he doesn't have a ton of experience doing it, and nor should he.

Give me 4 rushing the passer with Fox on the field with Jackson, Russell, Farley, Collinsworth (or Redfield), Luke and Shumate.

 

[BeauBenken]

I'd rather have a safety right there. It was 3rd and 20. Ishaq should either be rushing the passer or off the field. It's no surprise he could drop 20 yards into the proper zone for coverage - I am sure he doesn't have a ton of experience doing it, and nor should he.

Give me 4 rushing the passer with Fox on the field with Jackson, Russell, Farley, Collinsworth (or Redfield), Luke and Shumate.

Ishaq's pass rush is honestly very unimpressive to me. I don't mind him dropping into coverage as long as we actually get a pass rush. Otherwise, I agree in that he should be rushing as well. Or someone else.

 

[koonja]

Ishaq's pass rush is honestly very unimpressive to me. I don't mind him dropping into coverage as long as we actually get a pass rush. Otherwise, I agree in that he should be rushing as well. Or someone else.

Ishaqs rush caused two sacks on Saturday. Once he forced the qb into tuitt and the other time I believe it was Shembo. He hasn't been as great as I thought he'd be, but I think he's been pretty solid.

 

[koonja]

I'd rather have a safety right there. It was 3rd and 20. Ishaq should either be rushing the passer or off the field. It's no surprise he could drop 20 yards into the proper zone for coverage - I am sure he doesn't have a ton of experience doing it, and nor should he.

Give me 4 rushing the passer with Fox on the field with Jackson, Russell, Farley, Collinsworth (or Redfield), Luke and Shumate.

Hey, we agree on something!

 

[BeauBenken]

Ishaqs rush caused two sacks on Saturday. Once he forced the qb into tuitt and the other time I believe it was Shembo. He hasn't been as great as I thought he'd be, but I think he's been pretty solid.

He can definitely be AWESOME at the pass rush. He just seems to lack any moves. He seems to just lock linemen out and bull rush or run by them. He has to learn to get their hands off him, although, his locking out has drawn holding calls.

 

[koonja]

He can definitely be AWESOME at the pass rush. He just seems to lack any moves. He seems to just lock linemen out and bull rush or run by them. He has to learn to get their hands off him, although, his locking out has drawn holding calls.

Agreed because he seems to only bull rush like you said. He's solid at it, but an undersized DE should be relying on quickness and spin moves, not overpowering the OL. He should watch clowney film over the bye. I know Ishaq isn't clowney, but clowney a the same size and bull rushes less than half of the time.

 

[PANDFAN]

This. Kelly addressed this either Saturday night or Sunday: Moore is next man in, Schmidt will have to step up, Deeb is behind them. It sounded to me like Kelly trusts them to do the job.

but in the game, schmidt came in and played which the isd guys discussed saying how lil confidence has in moore who has been here how many years???

 

[irishknight35]

Just need better consistency out of Ishaq at this point in his collegiate career. On some plays he looks great and found ways to cause pressure but doesn't finish the play and on others you wonder what he is doing and why it was productive to the team for him to be in the game.

Smith and Councell in space on passing plays looks and feels better than Fox and Calabrese in space but it has to be an obvious passing down.

like many have said I think ND puts itself in the best position to succeed when Tuitt, Nix, Shembo, and Ishaq are rushing the passer. That puts pressure on the QB to make quicker decisions and hides the fact that our safeties just aren't very good right now.

 

[Emcee77]

but in the game, schmidt came in and played which the isd guys discussed saying how lil confidence has in moore who has been here how many years???

Haha I thought the same thing when I heard Kelly say that Moore is next man in. "But Schmidt actually played in the game ..."

My guess is that that was a packaging issue ... Schmidt played in the nickel, right? Evidently Kelly thinks Schmidt is better suited for that situation, but Moore is better suited for reps in our base D. I'm guessing here but I think that's the explanation.

If there is anything I'm learning from following ND these days, it's that depth charts are misleading. Who plays on a given play depends almost more than anything on the context of the game.

 

[ThePiombino]

Ishaq's pass rush is honestly very unimpressive to me. I don't mind him dropping into coverage as long as we actually get a pass rush. Otherwise, I agree in that he should be rushing as well. Or someone else.

I feel like the impact he's been making this year is one that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Like mentioned above, he is often seen flushing the QB out of the pocket and into the arms of another ND rusher. Personally, he's exceeded my expectations of his coming into this year, but overall has disappointed my expectations coming out of high school.

 

[koonja]

I feel like the impact he's been making this year is one that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Like mentioned above, he is often seen flushing the QB out of the pocket and into the arms of another ND rusher. Personally, he's exceeded my expectations of his coming into this year, but overall has disappointed my expectations coming out of high school.

I never though ironman and thepionimbi would echo my feelings on the same day, same thread. You two should be ashamed of yourselves.

 

[Emcee77]

I feel like the impact he's been making this year is one that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Like mentioned above, he is often seen flushing the QB out of the pocket and into the arms of another ND rusher. Personally, he's exceeded my expectations of his coming into this year, but overall has disappointed my expectations coming out of high school.

I agree with this. He hasn't gotten the sacks but he's been around the QB a lot this year.

 

[Wild Bill]

The defense has been getting shredded on third and long by athletic quarterbacks running the ball. If it's third and long and you're rushing four men, the bull rush is a good technique to use to maintain your rush lanes and keep the QB in the pocket. Swim moves, spins, clubs, etc really open up lanes that the QB can run through for a big gain. The bull rush isn't as effective but it definitely keeps the QB in the pocket.

 

[PANDFAN]

Haha I thought the same thing when I heard Kelly say that Moore is next man in. "But Schmidt actually played in the game ..."

My guess is that that was a packaging issue ... Schmidt played in the nickel, right? Evidently Kelly thinks Schmidt is better suited for that situation, but Moore is better suited for reps in our base D. I'm guessing here but I think that's the explanation.

If there is anything I'm learning from following ND these days, it's that depth charts are misleading. Who plays on a given play depends almost more than anything on the context of the game.

as we are certainly finding out...it's personnel packages as #1 not depth chart

 

[BeauBenken]

I agree with this. He hasn't gotten the sacks but he's been around the QB a lot this year.

I simply expect him to be doing better. He is capable of it.

 

[stlnd01]

I agree with this. He hasn't gotten the sacks but he's been around the QB a lot this year.

Ishaq often seems to have a hand in collapsing the pocket, forcing sacks for Tuitt or Shembo on the other side. He may not be racking up stats but he's playing pretty well lately.

Back to the man who's thread this is: I guess I just wonder, with a year-plus (or more?) of eligibility remaining and Jaylon Smith getting better by the week, what's the role for Councell other than as a Calabrese-style situational run defender? We've got a lot of talented OLBs.

 

[NDWorld247]

Ishaq often seems to have a hand in collapsing the pocket, forcing sacks for Tuitt or Shembo on the other side. He may not be racking up stats but he's playing pretty well lately.

Back to the man who's thread this is: I guess I just wonder, with a year-plus (or more?) of eligibility remaining and Jaylon Smith getting better by the week, what's the role for Councell other than as a Calabrese-style situational run defender? We've got a lot of talented OLBs.

He has two full seasons left after this season. He redshirted in 2011.

 

[Luckylucci]

Even with Jaylon coming into his own, I think Councell is gonna continue to get significant snaps somewhere on the field. He's a quality LB that they'll move to another spot if they need to.

 

[Ironman8]

Done for the year with a knee injury per BK.

 

[Irish Insanity]

****

 

[caribirish]

****

Totally agree. The defensive injuries can fill an entire hospital. Next man in, if one can be found.

 

[Luckylucci]

Damn this hurts.

 

[BGIF]

****

Well said!

 

[Junkhead]

Ok, who has the list of all the D players out this year at this point?

Councell
Grace
Springmann
Nix?
Spond
...

I lost track of a few already.

 

[TheChosen1]

Ok, who has the list of all the D players out this year at this point?

Councell
Grace
Springmann
Nix?
Spond
...

I lost track of a few already.

Defensive Injuries Mount for Notre Dame, but Irish Still Find a Way vs. Navy | Bleacher Report

 

[Junkhead]

Defensive Injuries Mount for Notre Dame, but Irish Still Find a Way vs. Navy | Bleacher Report

Thanks. Reps.

 

[irishff1014]

This sucks.

 

[rtrn2glory]

wow....we are getting closer and closer to being mediocre due to the fact of injuries killing our depth