'14 KY DT Matt Elam (Kentucky Verbal)

[Bogtrotter07]

If he was, (big IF) he didn't stay there. He was one of the best. In my opinion with hindsight, he should have left last year with Manti. It would have been better for him, and for the team.

Ok. I'll bite.

How would the ND team have been better if Nix left last year?

I will tell you and then you can fix the quote by moving the bold closing outside of the rest of the close quote, okay?

My statement was a compound. Looking at his 2013 season, he did nothing to improve his draft stock. He played in what 7 out of 13 games this season? ND only played the golden line of Tuitt-Nix-Day for the equivalent of one half of the season. All things being equal, with the lack of senior leadership and what the team needs to develop moving forward, I think Louis and the team would have been better off with an open dance card to fill for '13.

If you want to show it as an equation like; "Louis better off by 1000 - team slightly worse off during the season = Net gain for Louis and Team leaving after 2012," fine. I just don't think that if you look a the plays he played this year, minus penalties, etc., that the team couldn't have made up of it. Let us see how many All-American teams he makes, or post season awards he wins.

And I am not saying that he isn't a "Notre Dame Man," that I don't love everything he has done, and that he shouldn't have had a space on the team, even if he was only able to take one snap. It is just that looking at it, it isn't like he improved his draft stock, couldn't have graduated, got more physically mature, etc. In fact, if staying in school until he finished his degree was what happened, bravo! I am a believer in moving through in four years unless you are an o-lineman, even with eligibility on the table.

It would have been so much better four Louis, and I don't think it would have nearly cost the team a game, (this season). Planning could have happened differently. Jones could have been moved to the middle earlier; Etc.

 

[Irish#1]

Per Loy the staff is going all in on Elam this week.

This probably just means that we are going to send 1,000 letters a day until he schedules a return visit.

Or we send him 1,000 letters a day until he says, "Will you stop with the letters if I commit?"

 

[Irish#1]

I will tell you and then you can fix the quote by moving the bold closing outside of the rest of the close quote, okay?

My statement was a compound. Looking at his 2013 season, he did nothing to improve his draft stock. He played in what 7 out of 13 games this season? ND only played the golden line of Tuitt-Nix-Day for the equivalent of one half of the season. All things being equal, with the lack of senior leadership and what the team needs to develop moving forward, I think Louis and the team would have been better off with an open dance card to fill for '13.

If you want to show it as an equation like Louis better off by 1000 - team slightly worse off during the season = Net gain for Louis and Team leaving after 2012 fine. I just don't think that if you look a the plays he played this year, minus penalties, etc., that the team couldn't have made up of it. Let us see how many All-American teams he makes, or post season awards he wins.

And I am not saying that he isn't a "Notre Dame Man," that I don't love everything he has done, and that he shouldn't have had a space on the team, even if he was only able to take one snap. It is just that looking at it, it isn't like he improved his draft stock, couldn't have graduated, got more physically mature, etc. In fact, if staying in school until he finished his degree was what happened, bravo! I am a believer in moving through in four years unless you are an o-lineman, even with eligibility on the table.

It would have been so much better four Louis, and I don't think it would have nearly cost the team a game. Planning could have happened differently. Jones could have been moved to the middle earlier; Etc.

You gotta love hindsight! lol

 

[Cackalacky]

Per Loy the staff is going all in on Elam this week.

This probably just means that we are going to send 1,000 letters a day until he schedules a return visit.

Wow. This is bad news IMO. We could miss on him too. We pretty much have to land a NT this cycle right?

 

[pkt77242]

Wow. This is bad news IMO. We could miss on him too. We pretty much have to land a NT this cycle right?

We have Dickerson already.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

BK, Diaco, Elston and Elliott all in-home on Wednesday.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Again, I don't share your sentiment. Nix always had the ability, it all came down to trimming the fat and getting him to a playable weight. I think that's what doomed the season this year, is that they didn't maintain his steady weight. Nix was dominant at 325-330, but they let him gain 20 pounds and it did in his knees. Jones, while I believe is serviceable, doesn't fit the mold of a NG. He's 6'6 and 300 pounds. That's a 3-4 DE right there, no if and's or buts about it. Adding more weight to that will only dilute his prominent trait. His athleticism. We need somebody around 6'2-6'4 and 315-335. Only reason Elam is an exception is that his frame is MUCH larger than somebody like Jones. He's tall, but he can handle the weight, because he can bully interior linemen with his upper body strength. In addition, even if Jones is able to hold down NG, they'll still have an issue where they have just ONE NG and nobody to back up Jones. That's a serious problem!

Since Diaco brought his 3-4 to South Bend, virtually all of our NT reps have been taken by the following players:

• Ian Williams (6'2'' 305)
• Sean Cwynar (6'4'' 285)
• Louis Nix (6'2'' 345+)
• Kona Schwenke (6'3'' 303)
• Tony Springmann (6'6'' 296)
• Jarron Jones (6'6'' 305)

I used to be among those wringing their hands over our lack of a "true" NT to take over in Nix's absence, but I've long since given it up. We're likely exaggerating the importance of having a NT that fits within a very specific physical profile, and the difficulty of successfully playing NT in a 3-4.

My understanding is that it's not especially hard to do if you've got the requisite strength and technique; Saban's NTs are plenty effective, but they rarely get the sort of pub Big Lou has. Nix was special because he could also pass-rush effectively from a 0-1 tech, which is rare. But I'm not worried about our pass-rush going forward, are you?

 

[Emcee77]

Watching Jones play great football at NT in these last couple games has really lessened my anxiety about NT recruiting. We will be just fine next year with Jarron Jones and Springmann (assuming he comes back strong from that knee injury), with some of our other bigger, more physical DEs rotating in. Ideally we will get a big space eater in this class, but if not it won't be the end of the world.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Since Diaco brought his 3-4 to South Bend, virtually all of our NT reps have been taken by the following players:

• Ian Williams (6'2'' 305)
• Sean Cwynar (6'4'' 285)
• Louis Nix (6'2'' 345+)
• Kona Schwenke (6'3'' 303)
• Tony Springmann (6'6'' 296)
• Jarron Jones (6'6'' 305)

I used to be among those wringing their hands over our lack of a "true" NT to take over in Nix's absence, but I've long since given it up. We're likely exaggerating the importance of having a NT that fits within a very specific physical profile, and the difficulty of successfully playing NT in a 3-4.

My understanding is that it's not especially hard to do if you've got the requisite strength and technique; Saban's NT are plenty effective, but they rarely get the sort of pub Big Lou has. Nix was special because he could also pass-rush effectively from a 0-1 tech, which is rare. But I'm not worried about our pass-rush going forward, are you?

Not so much!

Don't forget the most brilliant thing Bob Diaco may have done all season is to put a "true linebacker in the nose tackle position" to follow an opposing ball carrier or quarterback! (I think it was mostly Romeo, but Prince and a couple of others may have taken a snap or two.) I say this just to add further credence to your point WJ. There are times, and teams you would rather play with mobility on defense. (However what made Lou 1 out of 1 on this is that he actually with his size had the ability to get after the quarterback, as you noted.) Can you imagine being a qb with some wheels and having this guy gaining on you? Santa Maria!

That was part of my point earlier. You cannot replace a guy like Louis Nix III. Don't try. Get on to what is next.

How is that preferred walk on from Arkansas, Marquis, doing? Didn't he have some of the players talking about him? Was it ball?

 

[Cackalacky]

We have Dickerson already.

I thought Dickerson was DE. Still we need depth regardless.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I think Jones will be good enough for the OG to have to at least account for him most plays. If he can garner enough attention - even for a scrub block - the line will be just fine.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I think Jones will be good enough for the OG to have to at least account for him most plays. If he can garner enough attention - even for a scrub block - the line will be just fine.

Good point.

 

[Irishman77]

Watching Jones play great football at NT in these last couple games has really lessened my anxiety about NT recruiting. We will be just fine next year with Jarron Jones and Springmann (assuming he comes back strong from that knee injury), with some of our other bigger, more physical DEs rotating in. Ideally we will get a big space eater in this class, but if not it won't be the end of the world.

Exactly. I was starting to write Jones off as a bust and bam out of nowhere the kid comes to life!

Jarron and Romeo will be a very good 2/11 going forward.

 

[Cackalacky]

Watching Jones play great football at NT in these last couple games has really lessened my anxiety about NT recruiting. We will be just fine next year with Jarron Jones and Springmann (assuming he comes back strong from that knee injury), with some of our other bigger, more physical DEs rotating in. Ideally we will get a big space eater in this class, but if not it won't be the end of the world.

I am glad Jones finally got to play but I can't classify what he did as great. He played well enough. I hope he continues to improve at his young age. Everything you say above is really just uncertainty heading into next year. I am sorry I don't share your optimism

I will be fine with going 6'6" and 300 lbs across the line provided Springmann returns healthy, Jones improves, and we can get some added depth and PT.

 

[aubeirish]

Bringing the House. Go get him boys. I know it's a given, but Diaco will arrive on a white horse with his hair in the wind.

 

[GoIrish41]

Bringing the House. Go get him boys. I know it's a given, but Diaco will arrive on a white horse with his hair in the wind.

and yet oddly not a strand out of place.

 

[Emcee77]

I am glad Jones finally got to play but I can't classify what he did as great. He played well enough. I hope he continues to improve at his young age. Everything you say above is really just uncertainty heading into next year. I am sorry I don't share your optimism

I will be fine with going 6'6" and 300 lbs across the line provided Springmann returns healthy, Jones improves, and we can get some added depth and PT.

Really? Not to be argumentative, but I'm surprised. Certainly in the BYU game he was better than just "good enough" ... he had 7 tackles.

 

[aubeirish]

and yet oddly not a strand out of place.

Haha, yes of course. I heard from a source that Ron Burgundy has contacted Diaco about his hair secret.

 

[Irishman77]

Jarron played with a tenacity that meant more than any stat. He will be fine.

Romeo made a play that difference makers make at crucial points. He will be playing football for a long time on weekends when it is all said and done IMHO

 

[Cackalacky]

Really? Not to be argumentative, but I'm surprised. Certainly in the BYU game he was better than just "good enough" ... he had 7 tackles.

Yeah... sorry, I mean I am still in waiting. IMO he played well against BYU (better tha n I expected). Stanford, he was ok but they ran at will up the gut on us. I know that is not all on him, but I can't call two games worth of data as "great." I am excited to see him get better and I hope he does.

I am really slow to laud a player though. Don't take it personally.

 

[rocket66]

Reason for optimism for Jarron is he played really well against solid teams without a ton of PT early this season. He's going to be a good one.

 

[Pachuco]

Bringing the House. Go get him boys. I know it's a given, but Diaco will arrive on a white horse with his hair in the wind.

Hopefully, Elam sees such majesty. They say when you look into the Diaco, you see what you truly are... Thomas Holley had this reaction:

 

[Cackalacky]

Reason for optimism for Jarron is he played really well against solid teams without a ton of PT early this season. He's going to be a good one.

I have optimism, but he was also on the scout team early this year for some big reasons, even with the major injuries we had to deal with. He was the "next man up," even if he was the last man up this year. Props to that. He played well when called upon.

 

[aubeirish]

Hopefully, Elam sees such majesty. They say when you look into the Diaco, you see what you truly are... Thomas Holley had this reaction:

I thought Satan was visiting this week. Huh, I mean Saban...

 

[Ndaccountant]

Yeah... sorry, I mean I am still in waiting. IMO he played well against BYU (better tha n I expected). Stanford, he was ok but they ran at will up the gut on us. I know that is not all on him, but I can't call two games worth of data as "great." I am excited to see him get better and I hope he does.

I am really slow to laud a player though. Don't take it personally.

I agree with you, but I was much more optimistic after the Stanford game given that Stanford had a great OL and he more than held his own, IMO. That game, coming on the heels of BYU, gave me the hope that consistent play is the future for Mr. Jones.

As far as Stanford running up the middle, all I remember seeing is both MLB's getting earholed by down blocks from the T or TE and getting flattened on the plays with a pulling guard. Simply put, they could have run a pulling guard at Fox all day long while double teaming Jones and the end. I thought Fox really struggled when they ran straight at him.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I feel we are in trouble in our current scheme as it is right now. Yes, Jarron was fine. He will get better, but will he take up two blockers next year? You almost have to in this scheme. And Tony is coming back from a knee injury. Our MLB's are coming back from a Knee/ injury. That is a lot of pressure to put on guys coming back from Major knee injuries. Heck, look at Jonas and KLM they are not even ready for the big time with their injuries. And we are relying on them to be our men to stop the run?

The sky isn't falling, or we are going to lose every game. But, we are far-far from elite with Jarron/Tony as our DT/NG in our current scheme. I peronally was hoping for at leat 2 big 300 pound guys to come in and be in the rotation this year. Thank god for Hayes, he maybe can grow into that--only 272 lbs right now. Dickerson missed the whole year of football with a back injury so can we count on him next year (260 lbs).

No-ZERO-NADA DT's in the 2013 class. And Sheldon and Jarron the DTs in the 2012 Class. And Day isn't a DT. Now he can bounce in and out. But, a run stuffing DT he is not.

The one huge, major weakness in our staff is recruiting DT's (over the last 2/3 years) And if we stay in a 3-4 don't we need a DT/NG that takes up 2 blockers so our MLB can make plays?

This is a serious problem if we want to be an elite team. IMO Or we have to just be solid to OK on defense and out score everyone. This is a major problem I see. One that isn't "the sky is falling"---but serious enough to cause alarm IMO.

Go Irish, pick up some big guys to stuff the run (Griffin from Bellevue, Washington??? 300+ right now and has push).

 

[Irishman77]

Rochelle and Matuska in 13 along with a lg body walk on (Dickerson )

 

[ACamp1900]

Wow. This is bad news IMO. We could miss on him too. We pretty much have to land a NT this cycle right?

Which cycle are you talking about? 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014... because the answer to each of these is "Yes".

 

[yankeeND]

Day, Springman, Rochelle, Matuska, Hounshell, Hayes, Dickerson, Trumbetti, Blankenship, Bonner, Ishaq, Okwara, Jarron and maybe Tuitt and maybe Elam. I am not nearly as worried as everyone else.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

"Day, Springman, Rochelle, Matuska, Hounshell, Hayes, Dickerson, Trumbetti, Blankenship, Bonner, Ishaq, Okwara, Jarron and maybe Tuitt and maybe Elam. I am not nearly as worried as everyone else. "

Day is a DE, and a sometimes DT. So, not a true DT
Sprinigman is coming back from a serious knee injury
Rochelle is a DE as well, but maybe can grow into a DT. But, still not a true DT.
Matuska, not ready!
Chase Hounshell, 2 lost years because of major injury and looking at a medical. Most likely done. Or close to it.
Haye, he is our best chance at a true DT IMO. Only 272 now, and can grow into it.
Dickerson, lost his senior year to a back injury. 260 pounds. So, he is far-far away IMO.
Trumbetti, very interesting. I think this kid is special. But, at DE. Not a true NT that needs to take up blocks.
Grant Blankenship is really-really light. And will be a DE. But very athletic.
Bonner, RAW and is not a true DT.
Ishaq-DE Not a DT.
Okwara, DE but played DT because of major injury issues. Tooooooooooo Light for DT to take up blockers.
Jarron is our only True type DT (outside Hayes, and he isn't even here yet). The only one.
Tuitt is gone IMO. And he is DE. Can do both, but he is DE in our scheme. Putting him inside all the time is taking away his edge rush abilties.

So, we have exactly 1 possible true NT/NG in the whole bunch. I am extremely worried. EXTREMELY. We lost Eddie to transfer. WE didn't get any, zero NT/NG in the 2013 recruiting cycle. Got 1 in the 2012 and Tony/Tuitt/Chase in the 2011. And 1 has major injury issues (may end career) one coming off serious knee injury/1 most likely going to the NFL.

We have to get as many DT's as possible in this recruiting class. We don't have any guys that can take up 2 blockers right know. And with Nix gone, that is a serious issue. WE will have to make some major changes to our defense because of it. Stanford had Gaffney run for 190 against us and nother guy with 40 yards. BYU had 2 100 yard guys against us. So, even with Jarron and how well he playe we got gashed. WE need DT's, and need them bad. IMO

Otherwise we will have to work differently with our scheme. And I am sure Diaco will do that. Without Nix and most likely Tuitt, a lot of things will have to change.