'14 WA DT Marcus Griffin

[TheTurningPoint]

That would be good reasoning. HOWEVER, that only works if Notre Dame meets their DL quota. They have not. To this point, ND has ZERO true NG. Matt Dickerson being the only one I'd consider a possible one in the making. This isn't one of those situations. ND whiffed on all of their DT prospects (Holley, Elam and Frazier).

There wasnt a huge push to get a DT this class. I have said this for almost a year, and people have disagreed with me. Getting a bigtime DT would have been great and helped the team out, but there arent very many good DTs in this class to choose from. DT and MLB have had 2 down classes the last two years, and thats part of the reason why ND hasnt gotten an elite player at those positions. EV was a luxury and obviously one of the better players in the country at his position already, but the defense didnt exactly fall apart without Nix this year. He had a hell of a season, but the problems on defense were not at DT.

From what I have been told, ND is at their quota for DL and they dont plan on breaking their word with other kids. Sure, if Holley picked up the phone, ND would listen. But, when the 2nd wave of offers went out and no DT was offered, that was a pretty solid indication of their view point. This DL class is just as solid as anyone in the country, outside of Alabamas. They have guys that can play inside or outside and guys that can stop the run along with guys that excel in pass rush. ND hasnt had a class like that for awhile, the 2011 class Ishaq/Tuitt/Lynch/Springmann/Hounshell is obviously the bar, but I think ND landed right at that hauls bar.

ND is just fine going into next season on the DL. Could it be better? Sure. I think every school in football can say that outside of Bama. Its a matter of getting on the training program as soon as they sign, so they can come in ready to compete. Athletic ability can be coached up and inserted into situations next fall. Lynch, Tuitt, Ishaq werent ready to play their freshman year mentally, but they were ready from a physical standpoint. I expect no less from the incoming kids. They all play with a chip on their solider and thats something some of the kids on the DL lacked over the last few years.

 

[Oberon]

Appreciate the insight, TP. Heading into the spring, we only have Jones at NT, with Springmann still recovering. Any thoughts on the staff's plan until the freshmen arrive in the summer?

Are there early enrollees still to be announced? Will we be active in the 5th year transfer market? Or just roll with what we have?

 

[ThePiombino]

There wasnt a huge push to get a DT this class. I have said this for almost a year, and people have disagreed with me. Getting a bigtime DT would have been great and helped the team out, but there arent very many good DTs in this class to choose from. DT and MLB have had 2 down classes the last two years, and thats part of the reason why ND hasnt gotten an elite player at those positions. EV was a luxury and obviously one of the better players in the country at his position already, but the defense didnt exactly fall apart without Nix this year. He had a hell of a season, but the problems on defense were not at DT.

From what I have been told, ND is at their quota for DL and they dont plan on breaking their word with other kids. Sure, if Holley picked up the phone, ND would listen. But, when the 2nd wave of offers went out and no DT was offered, that was a pretty solid indication of their view point. This DL class is just as solid as anyone in the country, outside of Alabamas. They have guys that can play inside or outside and guys that can stop the run along with guys that excel in pass rush. ND hasnt had a class like that for awhile, the 2011 class Ishaq/Tuitt/Lynch/Springmann/Hounshell is obviously the bar, but I think ND landed right at that hauls bar.

ND is just fine going into next season on the DL. Could it be better? Sure. I think every school in football can say that outside of Bama. Its a matter of getting on the training program as soon as they sign, so they can come in ready to compete. Athletic ability can be coached up and inserted into situations next fall. Lynch, Tuitt, Ishaq werent ready to play their freshman year mentally, but they were ready from a physical standpoint. I expect no less from the incoming kids. They all play with a chip on their solider and thats something some of the kids on the DL lacked over the last few years.

I would love for that to be the case, but I just don't see it. There was some seriously elite talent in that group. I'm not sure this year's class has anyone with as much potential as the 3rd best in the '11 class had.

 

[dwshade]

Appreciate the insight, TP. Heading into the spring, we only have Jones at NT, with Springmann still recovering. Any thoughts on the staff's plan until the freshmen arrive in the summer?

Are there early enrollees still to be announced? Will we be active in the 5th year transfer market? Or just roll with what we have?

Trumbetti and Brent are the only EE's.

 

[NDdomer2]

considering lynch only played one season this years def. matches imo. their might not be a tuitt like but as a group awesome awesome awesome

 

[ThePiombino]

considering lynch only played one season this years def. matches imo. their might not be a tuitt like but as a group awesome awesome awesome

Perhaps, but TP was talking about haul = haul. Haul as in hasn't played yet, as in only thing we have to go on at that point is POTENTIAL. No way this year's DLine haul comes close. It's good and I'm not complaining, but it is NOT 2011.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Tuitt and Ishaq have 61 tackles and 7 sacks in 2013. I think next years Dline will be more productive than the 2013 line. It will be a smaller but quicker line. I mean Tuitts a good player, but really struggled this year. 2014 class will add a mentality to the team that Kelly has needed for a few years.

*Please new DC let them play downhill.

 

[PANDFAN]

Tuitt and Ishaq have 61 tackles and 7 sacks in 2013. I think next years Dline will be more productive than the 2013 line. It will be a smaller but quicker line. I mean Tuitts a good player, but really struggled this year. 2014 class will add a mentality to the team that Kelly has needed for a few years.

*Please new DC let them play downhill.

they better, we were close to dead last in sacks, take aways etc...

 

[EuropeanDomer]

Tuitt and Ishaq have 61 tackles and 7 sacks in 2013. I think next years Dline will be more productive than the 2013 line. It will be a smaller but quicker line. I mean Tuitts a good player, but really struggled this year. 2014 class will add a mentality to the team that Kelly has needed for a few years.

*Please new DC let them play downhill.

90% of that stat is owned by Tuitt.

 

[connor_in]

Tuitt and Ishaq have 61 tackles and 7 sacks in 2013. I think next years Dline will be more productive than the 2013 line. It will be a smaller but quicker line. I mean Tuitts a good player, but really struggled this year. 2014 class will add a mentality to the team that Kelly has needed for a few years.

*Please new DC let them play downhill.

Is this a TP "buzz buzz" that we are getting Narduzzi????

 

[ThePiombino]

90% of that stat is owned by Tuitt.

Ishaq has been a big disruptor this year. His contributions are plentiful - often moving the QB out of the pocket - which doesn't show up in the stats column.

 

[NDdomer2]

Ishaq has been a big disruptor this year. His contributions are plentiful - often moving the QB out of the pocket - which doesn't show up in the stats column.

i can remember a couple that he pushed right to Tuitt as well.

Really hope Stephon stays and Day can be healthy all year.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

90% of that stat is owned by Tuitt.

Thats the point i was trying to make. Tuitt/Ishaq/Lynch was a great class. Great talents by 2 of them possibly leaving early, and Ishaq will find himself on a NFL roster next year. But from a production standpoint its not going to be hard to match that. Was it scheme that held them back? Was it injuries? Was it them falling into the hype machine? Was it all of that? All I know is that i was disappointed in the overall production and play of the Dline this year. ASU and USC were the two games where they truly made the difference that all Summer we talked about, and the media wrote about. Two games they all were healthy, concidence? I posted after the USC game, that Tuitt might have turned the corner. I dont think that happened.

Anyway, in the numbers game, its going to improve. This year was just unacceptable in the stats column for the talent that was on the field.


*GET THEM PLAYING DOWNHILL and stats will be better. Defense will be better!

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bellevue (Wash.) four-star defensive tackle Marcus Griffin has locked in an official visit to Mississippi State on January 31st...</p>— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman/statuses/421670200480501760">January 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[IrishLax]

Just got crystal balled to ND by Loy.

 

[Luckylucci]

Loy is saying that he should be the next player offered by ND and if so expect an official visit. I really hope we do offer and soon.

 

[Ironman8]

Just got crystal balled to ND by Loy.

Would be an awesome pickup if it happens.

 

[PANDFAN]

Size-Strength-Speed
Prospect with good overall size at this stage and looks to carry his weight well with room to still on pack on some additional good mass. Displays adequate initial quicks for size. Displays good lower body playing strength, but needs to look to improve upper body strength.
Versus the Run
Can be a stout presence inside displaying the ability to fire out with pad level and gain leverage and hold his ground versus single- and double-team blocks. Needs to improve hand usage and work to extend quicker as he can get low and maintain with a good base, but can let blockers into his frame and struggle to play off blocks and at times get rooted out and give ground. Flashes adequate lateral mobility to be active between the tackles. Can work to improve recognition skills.
Pass Rush Skills
Strength at this stage looks to be as a run defender and may be more of a two-down player at the next level. Has some bull rush ability to press the pocket some as he can fire out low. Needs to learn to be more active with his weapons.
Toughness/Motor
Displays a good motor. Range is marginal, but gives effort to retrace and pursue on the plays on the perimeter. Needs to better utilize size and improve strength, but will battle in the trenches. An adequate wrap-up, drag-down tackler.
Bottom Line
With some development, Griffin can grow into a tough interior run defender. Also has experience as a center and a career on the O-Line is very possible. We wouldn't be surprised to see him eventually land on that side of the ball as he may offer more to a team in the long term in the offensive trenches.

 

[Luckylucci]

Would be an awesome pickup if it happens.

He'd be my #1 want at DT of guys we have a realistic shot with. He's also very close to the top of my overall board of available players. Quick and JuJu may be the only two ahead of him.

 

[rtrn2glory]

hard to take Loy seriously after the week he's had

 

[Domina Nostra]

Get Griffin or Sawyers or neither. BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD WE TAKE TWO DTS!!!

 

[Philmcd]

Get Griffin or Sawyers or neither. BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD WE TAKE TWO DTS!!!

I assume you're joking?

 

[Irish8248]

Get Griffin or Sawyers or neither. BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD WE TAKE TWO DTS!!!

Why? When was the last time we had a "numbers" crunch? Hell, how many K, P, and K/P did we have on schollie at one time a couple years back?

 

[STLDomer]

italics = sarcasm

 

[GBdomer]

Haha god kids not good enough three weeks ago but he's good now. I will pass but we do need a 300 pound body.

 

[woolybug25]

Haha god kids not good enough three weeks ago but he's good now. I will pass but we do need a 300 pound body.

I don't see any italics there.

I don't know anything about this kid, but i'll take him. Why?

Because we are staring a 75 man roster down the barrel right now.

 

[Irish2155]

I don't see any italics there.

I don't know anything about this kid, but i'll take him. Why?

Because we are staring a 75 man roster down the barrel right now.

What else is new? Getting old.

 

[Emcee77]

I don't see any italics there.

I don't know anything about this kid, but i'll take him. Why?

Because we are staring a 75 man roster down the barrel right now.

Well, let's not exaggerate. We are at 78, so with the four 5Ys, even if we get nobody else in the 2014 class, we are at 82. I doubt we'll be below 80 ...

... but three days ago if you'd asked me how many guys we'd have on NSD I'd have said likely 86 or 87, with approximately 90 guys in play. With GAIII, Niklas and Dickerson all gone, 87 would represent stunning, improbable recruiting success. Everyone above 82 is a huge question mark, and you never know when the next unexpected departure will occur, so we could easily miss 85.

Very frustrating, but there is only so much you can do. The max we can take is 27, and that leaves zero EE spots for next year. We don't even want to take that many frosh, I don't think.

 

[IRISHbluehen]

Well, let's not exaggerate. We are at 78, so with the four 5Ys, even if we get nobody else in the 2014 class, we are at 82. I doubt we'll be below 80 ...

... but three days ago if you'd asked me how many guys we'd have on NSD I'd have said likely 86 or 87, with approximately 90 guys in play. With GAIII, Niklas and Dickerson all gone, 87 would represent stunning, improbable recruiting success. Everyone above 82 is a huge question mark, and you never know when the next unexpected departure will occur, so we could easily miss 85.

Very frustrating, but there is only so much you can do. The max we can take is 27, and that leaves zero EE spots for next year. We don't even want to take that many frosh, I don't think.

Agree with everything you said but taking 27 does not afford us 0 EEs next year, we just can't count them against the 2014 25 limit. Not really a big deal actually.

 

[LoveThee]

Well, let's not exaggerate. We are at 78, so with the four 5Ys, even if we get nobody else in the 2014 class, we are at 82. I doubt we'll be below 80 ...

... but three days ago if you'd asked me how many guys we'd have on NSD I'd have said likely 86 or 87, with approximately 90 guys in play. With GAIII, Niklas and Dickerson all gone, 87 would represent stunning, improbable recruiting success. Everyone above 82 is a huge question mark, and you never know when the next unexpected departure will occur, so we could easily miss 85.

Very frustrating, but there is only so much you can do. The max we can take is 27, and that leaves zero EE spots for next year. We don't even want to take that many frosh, I don't think.

Not to nitpick, but I think that 78 could drop again if Josh Atkinson/Jalen Brown/other players transfer.

The staff certainly is in a pickle in regards to numbers.