'11 CA ATH George Atkinson III (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[Booslum31]

Just curious what is the difference between catching a punt and a kickoff?

They do have a different spin to it but can it really affect a players "catch-ability" of the ball?

I know returning punts the kick coverage is on you quicker than with a kickoff. Maybe that could be it.

One is going end-over-end, relatively low, and in space. The other is doing all sorts of crazy movement, higher, and in traffic.

 

[RDU Irish]

From a draft stock perspective, I have a hard time seeing how GAIII was going to improve his stock with another year at ND. His RB production is going the wrong direction and he is as fast as he ever will be. He wasn't really going to play his way into guaranteed money so go now and try to make a roster on potential.

NFL teams draft on combine results all the time. If you are a top speed guy who isn't tiny you have a pretty good shot.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Huh? Sorry, maybe I missed something here, but what does that have to do with Torii Hunter Jr.?

Sorry, I was multi-tasking back then.

I think Torii Hunter Jr. if given half a chance will tear up the slot next year.

Fixed it for you.

Now back to the conversation about ND athletes getting accepted back after they leave for OS sporting endeavors:

I talked with Mariel Zagunis, I can't remember exactly, but I think she has gone to school for her undergraduate degree for over ten years. I don't think ND has a problem taking a student athlete in good standing back.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Irish#1]

Just curious what is the difference between catching a punt and a kickoff?

They do have a different spin to it but can it really affect a players "catch-ability" of the ball?

I know returning punts the kick coverage is on you quicker than with a kickoff. Maybe that could be it.

Huge difference. A KO is coming toward you at a lower level and is about to die right before you catch it. On a punt it's coming from a more vertical position and is picking up speed on its descent. The KO also gives you an opportunity to see the field better.

Add what the others mentioned about coverage and spin and there you go.

 

[phork]

From a draft stock perspective, I have a hard time seeing how GAIII was going to improve his stock with another year at ND. His RB production is going the wrong direction and he is as fast as he ever will be. He wasn't really going to play his way into guaranteed money so go now and try to make a roster on potential.

NFL teams draft on combine results all the time. If you are a top speed guy who isn't tiny you have a pretty good shot.

If looking at a RB wouldn't ball handling skills be a huge factor? That assessment earlier is pretty scathing and wouldn't shock me if he went undrafted.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Denard Robinson got drafted, GA III better

 

[GBdomer]

Denard Robinson got drafted, GA III better

? Kuejhna comparison

 

[Calabrese's People]

Plays too soft to be a RB, Hands to wooden to be a WR, Cant be trusted to take punts in traffic. Needs open lanes to take Kick-Offs down the field (Wont make defenders miss).
Its a start-from-scratch and rebuild project.

 

[phork]

Denard Robinson got drafted, GA III better

And I would draft Robinson before I drafted GA III. Robinson is just one of those guys that make stuff happen. GA III, not so much.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Wish him the best in his future, wherever that may be. I was surprised at first but after some thought, I don't blame him. TF should be our #1 back next year and there is a possibility that GAIII may have not even been number two, depending on how things play out in the spring and summer.

 

[CanadalovesND]

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - George Atkinson

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
Outstanding timed speed -- has been clocked below 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters. Has kickoff-return experience and returned two for scores as a freshman. Can take it the distance when he gets in the clear. Has plenty of tread on his tires having carried just 153 times at Notre Dame. Has NFL bloodlines.

WEAKNESSES
Has an upright, linear running style -- exposes himself to some violent hits. Does not convert speed to power. Gears down to cut. Struggles to create on his own. Limited elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability -- too often grounded by the first tackler or ankle tackles. Crude eyes and instincts. Head-scratching career production. Has underachiever traits. Competitiveness and coachability need to be looked into.

BOTTOM LINE
A height-weight-speed prospect who slid down the depth chart as a junior, Atkinson made a premature jump to the NFL knowing he likely would have been behind underclassmen had he returned as a senior. Is not a natural running back, but has raw tools to warrant consideration as a developmental, one-cut slasher. Better tester than football player

 

[IrishLion]

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - George Atkinson

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
Outstanding timed speed -- has been clocked below 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters. Has kickoff-return experience and returned two for scores as a freshman. Can take it the distance when he gets in the clear. Has plenty of tread on his tires having carried just 153 times at Notre Dame. Has NFL bloodlines.

WEAKNESSES
Has an upright, linear running style -- exposes himself to some violent hits. Does not convert speed to power. Gears down to cut. Struggles to create on his own. Limited elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability -- too often grounded by the first tackler or ankle tackles. Crude eyes and instincts. Head-scratching career production. Has underachiever traits. Competitiveness and coachability need to be looked into.

BOTTOM LINE
A height-weight-speed prospect who slid down the depth chart as a junior, Atkinson made a premature jump to the NFL knowing he likely would have been behind underclassmen had he returned as a senior. Is not a natural running back, but has raw tools to warrant consideration as a developmental, one-cut slasher. Better tester than football player

That's all just about on the money.

 

[ACamp1900]

Unless something escapes me, that's fair.

 

[ulukinatme]

Pretty spot on there.

 

[Luckylucci]

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - George Atkinson

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
Outstanding timed speed -- has been clocked below 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters. Has kickoff-return experience and returned two for scores as a freshman. Can take it the distance when he gets in the clear. Has plenty of tread on his tires having carried just 153 times at Notre Dame. Has NFL bloodlines.

WEAKNESSES
Has an upright, linear running style -- exposes himself to some violent hits. Does not convert speed to power. Gears down to cut. Struggles to create on his own. Limited elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability -- too often grounded by the first tackler or ankle tackles. Crude eyes and instincts. Head-scratching career production. Has underachiever traits. Competitiveness and coachability need to be looked into.

BOTTOM LINE
A height-weight-speed prospect who slid down the depth chart as a junior, Atkinson made a premature jump to the NFL knowing he likely would have been behind underclassmen had he returned as a senior. Is not a natural running back, but has raw tools to warrant consideration as a developmental, one-cut slasher. Better tester than football player

Yea, this is a pretty spot on eval. I found the bolded interesting. Recent events make me think there is more to this than I realized previously.

 

[IrishLion]

Yea, this is a pretty spot on eval. I found the bolded interesting. Recent events make me think there is more to this than I realized previously.

I would still like to know what he did aside from "texting during team dinner" to get himself suspended.

 

[ulukinatme]

Yea, this is a pretty spot on eval. I found the bolded interesting. Recent events make me think there is more to this than I realized previously.

Yeah, you have to wonder about his coachability. The kid seems to think he knows best, or his dad knows best, or he's just unable to change his ways. We saw the coaches get on him on the sideline for his high pad level, and then praising him when he does actually do the right things and it turns into a big gain. Yet, he consistently seemed to fall back into his old habits.

 

[Luckylucci]

I would still like to know what he did aside from "texting during team dinner" to get himself suspended.

I don't have an answer for you, maybe somebody else can shed some light on it. I've just continued to see things like this be stated and when you see multiple outlets or people saying the same thing, there's probably something to it.

 

[Irish#1]

Yea, this is a pretty spot on eval. I found the bolded interesting. Recent events make me think there is more to this than I realized previously.

I would still like to know what he did aside from "texting during team dinner" to get himself suspended.

Yeah, you have to wonder about his coachability. The kid seems to think he knows best, or his dad knows best, or he's just unable to change his ways. We saw the coaches get on him on the sideline for his high pad level, and then praising him when he does actually do the right things and it turns into a big gain. Yet, he consistently seemed to fall back into his old habits.

I don't have an answer for you, maybe somebody else can shed some light on it. I've just continued to see things like this be stated and when you see multiple outlets or people saying the same thing, there's probably something to it.

I don't have the answer either, but I always felt that once the staff decided he wasn't going to get the results they wanted that was the point where things went downhill. He saw his playing time gone and decided to sulk. JMO

 

[CanadalovesND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mayock: "(Atkinson) is draftable if only as a kick-off returner." "His key is going to be special teams."</p>— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/D_Farmer/statuses/435887581922725889">February 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Cackalacky]

I don't have the answer either, but I always felt that once the staff decided he wasn't going to get the results they wanted that was the point where things went downhill. He saw his playing time gone and decided to sulk. JMO

I can't tell you how many videos I saw of the staff telling him to run low, power through, blah blah... and it just never happened.

 

[rocket66]

Hell I don't even think he was that great of a kick returner, either. He had two or three great returns as a frosh but I swear he softened up big time last year and looked scared of contact.

 

[Emcee77]

He's a fast guy without a position.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

He's the fastest guy without a position.

FIFY

 

[fitz_bu47]

I wish him well, I just don't see success at the NFL level in his future. That description was spot on, even on his kick returns, he got some great blocks and he out ran people to the end zone. On paper w/ his size/speed combo he looks awesome, but on the field it hasn't translated yet. I hope it does and he has a great career.

 

[Irish#1]

I can't tell you how many videos I saw of the staff telling him to run low, power through, blah blah... and it just never happened.

I know what you're saying. Once in a while he'd lower his shoulders and he'd have decent results then back to his old self. I think what we saw, was a failed attempt to make a track athlete into a running back.

 

[dublinirish]

in fairness if he goes well at the combine it will be good for ND as it will go a little way to dispel the notion that ND players lack speed. Don't see an NFL career in the offing for him though, often teams spend a 7th on a KR and then cut go and cut them after if they aren't successful in preseason

 

[rocket66]

I wonder what his career would have been had they kept him at WR?

 

[zelezo vlk]

It actually may have been worse. He's got bad hands.

 

[dublinirish]

I wonder what his career would have been had they kept him at WR?

dont you remember those 3 swing passes he got in 3 consecutive plays last year? if anything he should have been moved to defense but even then i doubt he would have been any good.