'14 CA DL Matt Dickerson (UCLA Verbal)

[NDdomer2]

i understand staying close to home but i think these kids are clueless in the change in time commitments. it isnt like he is going to be home to aid his family except for a couple breaks a year.

it will be good for them as far as traveling restrictions but that is only benefit i see.

certainly dont think its the case here but if a parent pulled the guilt card on a kid that would be horrible.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I think rtrn2glory is really talking about no true NG/NT is going to come here again. Right now, it is hard to disagree. At least since Nix signed.
We need some, and need them bad IMO.

0 NG's in the 2013 class (only real one transferred)
0 NG's in the 2012 class (heck only 1 DT)
0 NG's in the 2011 class (Tuitt was in the class though)
1 NG's in the 2010 class (Nix, Kona did grow into it though)

Major, major flaw in BK's recruiting. Yes, Jones did do a good job this year, but he isn't a true NG type IMO.

1 in class of 2009
2 in class of 2008
1 in the 2007

 

[PANDFAN]

 

[MPClinton22]

Also, I don't have a lot of knowledge of this, but isn't UCLA not very close to San Francisco? It's not like he's really "staying home" to be able to really help out with his disabled mom or ill father, right?

Sorry, not trying to say anything negative about this kid because I really can't relate to his situation. Just curious about the distance involved here.

 

[gkIrish]

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer. One man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. And one man in 36 will die of this disease.

 

[gkIrish]

Also, I don't have a lot of knowledge of this, but isn't UCLA not very close to San Francisco? It's not like he's really "staying home" to be able to really help out with his disabled mom or ill father, right?

Sorry, not trying to say anything negative about this kid because I really can't relate to his situation. Just curious about the distance involved here.

It's 5.5 hours away. Not a bad drive.

 

[Classic Irish]

The cancers with the highest mortality rates in males are lung, followed by prostate and colon. Just sayin'.

 

[Brooklyn]

Im sorry but if my dad had any type of cancer (God forbid), especially if my mom was "largely disabled" (also God forbid), there is no chance I'd be leaving the tristate area and would be committing to Rutgers in a second. And I don't think highly of Rutgers at all.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer. One man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. And one man in 36 will die of this disease.

Don't you think almost all of the deaths are because it goes undisguised and untreated, and that the reason it is the second most deadly is because if how common it is? What percentage of American men get brain cancer? Based on my experience with it, I just have a hard time thinking of it the same way as most of you guys apparently do. It's just something you deal with.

I do hope his father gets well. I'm not evil. I guess I just think it sounds like an excuse to me if I'm being honest. (Which, by the way, is fine. Kid should go to school where he wants. I actually would respect him more if he just did what he wanted and didn't need to also be told he was a hero for it.)

 

[Ironman8]

I think rtrn2glory is really talking about no true NG/NT is going to come here again. Right now, it is hard to disagree. At least since Nix signed.
We need some, and need them bad IMO.

0 NG's in the 2013 class (only real one transferred)
0 NG's in the 2012 class (heck only 1 DT)
0 NG's in the 2011 class (Tuitt was in the class though)
1 NG's in the 2010 class (Nix, Kona did grow into it though)

Major, major flaw in BK's recruiting. Yes, Jones did do a good job this year, but he isn't a true NG type IMO.

1 in class of 2009
2 in class of 2008
1 in the 2007

We ran 4 man fronts at least half the time last year, and it could increase with BVG coming in. I just don't think a pure nose is as important as people think.

When we use those fronts, a huge frame that is capable of engaging and occupying the center and guard so LBs can flow and make plays is all we need. I think there are several guys on the roster that can do that, and we are bringing more in (Hayes in particular).

Idk, I may be in the minority, but I would rather have big versatile linemen who can play both end and inside depending on the gameplan and coach's preference (which is what Dickerson really was anyway, not a pure nose), than a pure nose. Those guys can only play one position, and really only on expected running downs, and never against spread teams.

 

[ND NYC]

can soeone embed a youtube video of "quinn-to-samrdjzia for the win vs ucla"

instead of sending pots of gold, Sandlin needs to sending HIPAA waivers to run medical histories on all CA recruits next of kin before their offers go out.

 

[rtrn2glory]

We ran 4 man fronts at least half the time last year, and it could increase with BVG coming in. I just don't think a pure nose is as important as people think.

When we use those fronts, a huge frame that is capable of engaging and occupying the center and guard so LBs can flow and make plays is all we need. I think there are several guys on the roster that can do that, and we are bringing more in (Hayes in particular).

Idk, I may be in the minority, but I would rather have big versatile linemen who can play both end and inside depending on the gameplan and coach's preference (which is what Dickerson really was anyway, not a pure nose), than a pure nose. Those guys can only play one position, and really only on expected running downs, and never against spread teams.

if that's the case than i'd say our base should be a 4-3 and not 3-4.

 

[tko]

I can't wait for BVG to be announced. I want to see if he is worthy of a cup or two of coffee down the stretch.

 

[rtrn2glory]

can soeone embed a youtube video of "quinn-to-samrdjzia for the win vs ucla"

instead of sending pots of gold, Sandlin needs to sending HIPAA waivers to run medical histories on all CA recruits next of kin before their offers go out.

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7Q_WWf3K_N0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[IrishSteelhead]

So frustrating. No other program has to deal with decommittments.

 

[Ironman8]

if that's the case than i'd say our base should be a 4-3 and not 3-4.

We have and will always utilize both under BK. Won't change. He recruits to that scheme as well, getting big and versatile prospects.

It couldn't be more obvious that BK doesn't want pure noses in that scheme - so I don't understand why people are begging for one, especially considering how many teams are now going to more spread type schemes. A pure nose could never be effective on the field against those teams, but a guy like Springman, Kona, Hayes, etc could.

 

[ND NYC]

im just disappointed this decommit provides IE yet ANOTHER reason to debate 4-3 vs 3-4.

when will it end haha?!

seriously folks, dont let this decommit get you down. we are ND.

 

[Classic Irish]

seriously folks, dont let this decommit get you down. we are ND.

This.

 

[ND NYC]

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7Q_WWf3K_N0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

thx bud!

 

[woolybug25]

Don't you think almost all of the deaths are because it goes undisguised and untreated, and that the reason it is the second most deadly is because if how common it is? What percentage of American men get brain cancer? Based on my experience with it, I just have a hard time thinking of it the same way as most of you guys apparently do. It's just something you deal with.

I do hope his father gets well. I'm not evil. I guess I just think it sounds like an excuse to me if I'm being honest. (Which, by the way, is fine. Kid should go to school where he wants. I actually would respect him more if he just did what he wanted and didn't need to also be told he was a hero for it.)

I don't care what level of danger his father is in. It's his life and if he chooses to be closer in the case of things turning worse, then fine. No reason to be a complete asshole about the kid. Did you honestly think that the general public would think those comments were appropriate? I like you, man... but damn are you offensive sometimes. That's saying something coming from me of all people.

 

[rtrn2glory]

We have and will always utilize both under BK. Won't change. He recruits to that scheme as well, getting big and versatile prospects.

It couldn't be more obvious that BK doesn't want pure noses in that scheme - so I don't understand why people are begging for one, especially considering how many teams are now going to more spread type schemes. A pure nose could never be effective on the field against those teams, but a guy like Springman, Kona, Hayes, etc could.

i hope you're right, but i saw us struggle quite a bit stopping the run against stanford without a pure DT in there to protect our backers. look at how good of a year manti had with a stud in front of him

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

I understand that this decommitment might be unrelated, BUT CAN WE FREAKING ANNOUNCE VAN GORDER ALREADY? We need positive momentum, now. I want this guy in front of a camera and I want him to hype this defense ASAP.

 

[woolybug25]

oh... and if anyone was wondering. Ironman paid up immedietely. The man pays his debts.

I wish I would have lost this one though. Dang.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I don't care what level of danger his father is in. It's his life and if he chooses to be closer in the case of things turning worse, then fine. No reason to be a complete asshole about the kid. Did you honestly think that the general public would think those comments were appropriate? I like you, man... but damn are you offensive sometimes. That's saying something coming from me of all people.

post of the year nominee!

 

[Brooklyn]

We have and will always utilize both under BK. Won't change. He recruits to that scheme as well, getting big and versatile prospects.

It couldn't be more obvious that BK doesn't want pure noses in that scheme - so I don't understand why people are begging for one, especially considering how many teams are now going to more spread type schemes. A pure nose could never be effective on the field against those teams, but a guy like Springman, Kona, Hayes, etc could.

I just want someone who is 270 lbs with a good frame to put on more weight. Im not looking for us to get the next Nix, those guys are very hard to find, but right now we have one guy who might have the frame in Jay Hayes and he's at 260 lbs. I don't think he can contribute at NT/NG in his first year. We lost Dickerson who had enough size and Tuitt who in a spell can move inside (also in passrushing downs) and we are now running thin on able big bodies.

Right now our big bodies are Sheldon Day, Chase Hounshell, Jarron Jones, Tony Springmann and Jay Hayes. Only one is proven, 2 are coming off injuries and one might be undersized to play immediately.

We need bodies bad right now.

 

[Ironman8]

i hope you're right, but i saw us struggle quite a bit stopping the run against stanford without a pure DT in there to protect our backers. look at how good of a year manti had with a stud in front of him

Think that had more to do honestly with Stanford having an absolutely elite OL, and the fact that our main healthy inside guy in that game was a redshirt freshman who was on the scout team earlier in the year, and then some inside backers not exactly known to be thumpers like Manti was.

Think it should improve as the talent improves. Nyles Morgan, Jarrett Grace and Michael Deeb flowing to the football with Springman and a stronger Jones in front of them occupying blocks should be pretty solid. We'll see if I am wrong.

 

[Ironman8]

I just want someone who is 270 lbs with a good frame to put on more weight. Im not looking for us to get the next Nix, those guys are very hard to find, but right now we have one guy who might have the frame in Jay Hayes and he's at 260 lbs. I don't think he can contribute at NT/NG in his first year. We lost Dickerson who had enough size and Tuitt who in a spell can move inside (also in passrushing downs) and we are now running thin on able big bodies.

Right now our big bodies are Sheldon Day, Chase Hounshell, Jarron Jones, Tony Springmann and Jay Hayes. Only one is proven, 2 are coming off injuries and one might be undersized to play immediately.

We need bodies bad right now.

Isaac Rochell is easily 270, and benched 225 26 times when he first reported. I think he could slide inside as well if need be.

Plus, I think people are forgetting Dickerson sat out all year with a fractured vertebrae in his back. He would need significant work in the weight room in the spring just to even be back where he was pre-injury, let alone ready to play on Saturdays. I think he was a RS next year no matter what.

 

[pkt77242]

I say best of luck to Dickerson. He has to make the choice that he feels best for him and at least this didn't happen on signing day.

I hope we get Braden Smith so that we can slide Mustipher over to D.

 

[woolybug25]

Yeah. The only thing is, we are not recruiting to 85 this year, are we? We have enough realistic targets to get to 90 or thereabouts if everybody commits. I've got 80 in the boat so far, plus 4 5Ys I'd like to take (Lombard, Collinsworth, Utupo, Moore), plus at least 6 targets whom the staff appears to believe have legit interest in ND (Juju [Hendrix backup plan?], Quick, Schultz, McKenzie/Nelson [counting as one; we won't take both], Braden Smith, Alexander). Then we are still after some DTs like Valentine or maybe Sawyer.

I guess I don't know how much is a safe amount of over-recruiting. How much attrition can we count on? Not 5 guys' worth, right?

This isn't meant to sound snarky, btw. I am agreeing that we should "oversign" to some degree ... but I honestly don't know how much is too much.

Because pushing guys off the team in August because we don't have room for them is an unacceptable outcome, obviously. Kelly said so explicitly at a recent presser. I think we all agree on that.

We literally only lead for one of the guys you listed. We also wouldn't let Hendrix commit when he wanted to. So that leaves us with us leading for one guy, which wouldn't fill our class. That is BEFORE we find out if DaVaris stays or any other attrition happens.

Oversigning isn't pushing guys off the team. DaVaris, EV, Golson, etc are all regular events here at Notre Dame. If we aren't grey-shirting or pulling schollies, then we have to do something. Having a clear conversation with potential 5th year guys will handle it. At that point, the staff would know whether a guy would be willing to wait in order to find out if their 5th year is accepted. Let's be real, most 5th year guys or players that their football career is coming to an end. Most of them would be willing to wait to see if it comes available or not.

I know the staff said that they were going to try to oversign to attrition, but I haven't seen it yet. As I said before, i'll believe that we field an 85 man team when we actually do it for once.

 

[Ironman8]

oh... and if anyone was wondering. Ironman paid up immedietely. The man pays his debts.

I wish I would have lost this one though. Dang.

Shame too. He is the only guy I think we lose, and it was for totally reasonable, unexpected and not to be helped circumstances. Definitely not the usual decommit we have, and certainly not one I can be upset with the kid for.

Hopefully we add a couple other studs to the fold before NSD, especially one more DL now, and keep the rest of the class intact.