'14 MI DE Malik McDowell (Momma Has To Put Up With MSU)

[BeauBenken]

Tried updating the rankings and offer list. Where's the ESPN updated ranking? Still a four star on their list.

 

[PANDFAN]

Pete said in his podcast that he's just not a need. ND staff has him in same class as Jay Hayes.

From when Hayes was wavering in his commitment awhile ago, I remember reading that Diaco promised Hayes that if he stayed true and committed that we wouldn't recruit guys over the top of him. I'm assuming that's what actually happened but its hard to say that to kids or there parents.

What do you think that reason is? Do you just not like him becuase the staff cooled on him at one point or do not like his game. I look at his tape, offers and ratings... and he seems like a stud to me.

see bolded

 

[PANDFAN]

Size-Strength-Speed
Might be a little bigger than listed in both height and in particular weight and looks to have room to add more good size and strength with time in a college weight program.
Versus the Run
Not a disruptive penetrating presence, but displays a nice initial burst and good anticipation. A big kid who needs to watch his pad level, but demonstrates the ability to fire out low and get under blockers' pads and generate good power from his lower body. Is able to take on blockers and hold his ground. Flashes the ability to keep his hands active and can control a blocker, but needs to continue to improve hand usage and upper body strength. With his long arms and strong hands he can be a good reach-and-grab type tackler who flashes the ability to wrap-up and drive through ball carriers.
Pass Rush Skills
As a pass rusher can fire off low and press the pocket with a bull rush. Shows flashes of attacking half-a-man and being active with his hands and can develop a solid little pass rush arsenal with some work.
Toughness/Motor
Displays a good motor and will turn and pursue flashing good range for his size.
Bottom Line
It is quite possible that McDowell could draw interest on offense and we wouldn't at all be surprised to see him on that side of the ball at any point. We don't see an immediate starter, but this is a big kid with some good raw tools and nice upside. Offers potential on both sides of the ball, but shows enough to develop into a real productive D-Tackle at the college level.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

It's important to note that Wiltfong still thinks it's a long shot but this is a start.

 

[irishog77]

What do you think that reason is? Do you just not like him becuase the staff cooled on him at one point or do not like his game. I look at his tape, offers and ratings... and he seems like a stud to me.

Didn't we hear something earlier that the staff (or BK, perhaps specifically) liked other guys more? This guy's been off the radar for so long it's hard to remember.

I think his size and weight has always been iffy too-- wasn't he originally listed at something like 6'8", 285 too? Not that a guy a couple, few inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter can't be good too. Just thought it was strange to have kind of a large discrepancy in that front.

When first hearing about Malik as a SO/JR, I thought this guy was going to really be a bad ass-- like Top 10 overall player. He never seemed to turn into that.

I don't dislike him though. I'm just not super excited about him. Granted, landing him after losing Dickerson would be an amazing fall back plan though.

IDK, maybe I'm just still upset about losing Dickerson. Not that I thought Dickerson was an all-world talent, but the fact that he seemed like he'd be the one true interior DL had me a little excited. I'm not sure Malik can truly be an interior DL, at least not a NT type. So even if he comes, the team still needs an interior guy or two.

Maybe you could say I see landing Malik similar to what it would've been like had the staff landed Braden Smith? Braden's a great player and he'd be great for ND, but there isn't really a need for him this cycle, particularly with other needs still unmet. Does that make any sense?

 

[woolybug25]

see bolded

Ok. I read Hog's response wrong. I thought he was saying that he didn't like him as a prospect.

The more I reassociate myself with his film and profile, the more I like this kid. I'm not willing to say that I like his skillset better than Hayes yet (mostly because of how highly I think of Hayes), but he might be better, imo.

Ultimately... I don't see them competing for the same spot anyway. So that shouldn't be an issue. That being said, I would be kind of disapointed in Hayes if he was that concerned with us recruiting his position. Competition is something that is important.

 

[woolybug25]

I'll add... a future 4-3 front could look pretty nasty with McDowell....


Pair McDowell with Day, Ishaq, Rochelle, Trumbetti, Hayes, JWilliams, Blankenship and Jones all on the front 4.

I believe a 4-3 front would put Okwara down as a weakside DE too, correct?

 

[jerboski]

I'll add... a future 4-3 front could look pretty nasty with McDowell....


Pair McDowell with Day, Ishaq, Rochelle, Trumbetti, Hayes, JWilliams, Blankenship and Jones all on the front 4.

I believe a 4-3 front would put Okwara down as a weakside DE too, correct?

Throw in Sawyer and I like that look.

 

[Cackalacky]

I'll add... a future 4-3 front could look pretty nasty with McDowell....


Pair McDowell with Day, Ishaq, Rochelle, Trumbetti, Hayes, JWilliams, Blankenship and Jones all on the front 4.

I believe a 4-3 front would put Okwara down as a weakside DE too, correct?

.

 

[jerboski]

With his dad's comments I don't see how we haven't stayed on top of this kid..... Pretty strange but anyways hope his dad comes through and can pull a Morgan for us

 

[RDU Irish]

A kid like this in your backyard who has shown legit interest should STAY in contact regardless of who you have committed. If you are full you stay in contact and be ready to pounce if something like Dickerson, or GAIII, or Troy, or whatever else happens. You absolutely sign this kid if you have space regardless of the depth chart. It shouldn't be that hard to be upfront and honest with his position - we most likely have room but have to wait until closer to signing day to know for sure. Say you are full but might have room if you can't fill another position of greater need.

Only thing I see, the staff was content with their D line commits and rested on their laurels. How this kid isn't top of the contingency list is beyond me.

 

[koonja]

A kid like this in your backyard who has shown legit interest should STAY in contact regardless of who you have committed. If you are full you stay in contact and be ready to pounce if something like Dickerson, or GAIII, or Troy, or whatever else happens. You absolutely sign this kid if you have space regardless of the depth chart. It shouldn't be that hard to be upfront and honest with his position - we most likely have room but have to wait until closer to signing day to know for sure. Say you are full but might have room if you can't fill another position of greater need.

Only thing I see, the staff was content with their D line commits and rested on their laurels. How this kid isn't top of the contingency list is beyond me.

1) Completely agree

2) Disagree kind of. I'm all for bringing him on no matter what, but for some reason the staff wasn't as high on him as others, so why should they sign him, if, say, we got Elam and Dickerson stayed on board?

3) Again, agree.

 

[IrishLax]

A kid like this in your backyard who has shown legit interest should STAY in contact regardless of who you have committed. If you are full you stay in contact and be ready to pounce if something like Dickerson, or GAIII, or Troy, or whatever else happens. You absolutely sign this kid if you have space regardless of the depth chart. It shouldn't be that hard to be upfront and honest with his position - we most likely have room but have to wait until closer to signing day to know for sure. Say you are full but might have room if you can't fill another position of greater need.

Only thing I see, the staff was content with their D line commits and rested on their laurels. How this kid isn't top of the contingency list is beyond me.

Totally agree. This is what Mike Frank was talking about and I think he was spot on. The main issue right now is that Diaco (and others) basically dropped the ball keeping lines of communication open with other prospects once needs were met. Oh well... live and learn I guess... we have very rarely had this kind of issue on the offensive side of the ball, but we routinely have it on defense. Hopefully BVG changes that.

 

[ACamp1900]

D Line recruiting gives me the shits...

 

[Irish#1]

Size-Strength-Speed
Might be a little bigger than listed in both height and in particular weight and looks to have room to add more good size and strength with time in a college weight program.
Versus the Run
Not a disruptive penetrating presence, but displays a nice initial burst and good anticipation. A big kid who needs to watch his pad level, but demonstrates the ability to fire out low and get under blockers' pads and generate good power from his lower body. Is able to take on blockers and hold his ground. Flashes the ability to keep his hands active and can control a blocker, but needs to continue to improve hand usage and upper body strength. With his long arms and strong hands he can be a good reach-and-grab type tackler who flashes the ability to wrap-up and drive through ball carriers.
Pass Rush Skills
As a pass rusher can fire off low and press the pocket with a bull rush. Shows flashes of attacking half-a-man and being active with his hands and can develop a solid little pass rush arsenal with some work.
Toughness/Motor
Displays a good motor and will turn and pursue flashing good range for his size.
Bottom Line
It is quite possible that McDowell could draw interest on offense and we wouldn't at all be surprised to see him on that side of the ball at any point. We don't see an immediate starter, but this is a big kid with some good raw tools and nice upside. Offers potential on both sides of the ball, but shows enough to develop into a real productive D-Tackle at the college level.

What no violent hands?

I'll add... a future 4-3 front could look pretty nasty with McDowell....


Pair McDowell with Day, Ishaq, Rochelle, Trumbetti, Hayes, JWilliams, Blankenship and Jones all on the front 4.

I believe a 4-3 front would put Okwara down as a weakside DE too, correct?

That's an 9 man front. We playing two CAT's or two CB"s?

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

I think his size and weight has always been iffy too-- wasn't he originally listed at something like 6'8", 285 too? Not that a guy a couple, few inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter can't be good too. Just thought it was strange to have kind of a large discrepancy in that front.

IDK, maybe I'm just still upset about losing Dickerson. Not that I thought Dickerson was an all-world talent, but the fact that he seemed like he'd be the one true interior DL had me a little excited. I'm not sure Malik can truly be an interior DL, at least not a NT type. So even if he comes, the team still needs an interior guy or two.

Looks to me like he's built much like Tuitt, aka a prototypical 3-4 DE. To 2-gap at the position you need to have the length to control the tackle and be able to react on either gap, with the weight/strength to be able to collapse the pocket inward. Could also play a 4-3 DT very well, although I prefer somewhat shorter DT for a classic 3 tech (see Sheldon Day).

 

[rtrn2glory]

unless FSU hits a HR this weekend i see this as a Urban vs Sparty battle

 

[eNDzone]

Totally agree. This is what Mike Frank was talking about and I think he was spot on. The main issue right now is that Diaco (and others) basically dropped the ball keeping lines of communication open with other prospects once needs were met. Oh well... live and learn I guess... we have very rarely had this kind of issue on the offensive side of the ball, but we routinely have it on defense. Hopefully BVG changes that.

If you are comparing O Line to D Line prospects it seems that O Line prospects tend to be a little more grounded in general. Many of them know what they want early on in high school and are not easily swayed. Many of them also understand the relevance of a ND degree and this factors into where they want to spend the next 4 years. Most O linemen are not on the field for recognition from fans. You have a job to do and if you do it well everybody else looks good.

 

[connor_in]

unless FSU hits a HR this weekend i see this as a Urban vs Sparty battle

Ya know...Urban is the name brand, but I don't see why more defense players aren't looking to Sparty considering what they have been doing up there lately. If they can do that with low 3 star kids, what could they do with a solid 4 star one?

 

[Me2SouthBend]

good find, here's the video embedded.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6faKO1nvr48?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

From some time back. "My whole family loves Notre Dame". I like.

 

[woolybug25]

That's an 9 man front. We playing two CAT's or two CB"s?

haha... that's an example of the depth. Although... I did present a 1-4-4-2 scheme in another thread. MOAR CATS


My take on McDowell is that he is elite talent. Why pass on elite talent because he isn't a NT? Even if he ended up as a DE, he would be our highest rated defensive lineman in our class. The reality is that we consistently can't get true NT's, so we need to adapt to the talent on our roster. I do know that our current front 7 guys (and McDowell, if we can land him) would fit better to a 4-3. I read the BVG prefers a defense where he can create pressure via the defensive line vs blitzing LB's. That sure sounds more like a 4-3 to me. For instance, what defensive front would cause more pressure?

Rochelle....Jones.....Day......McDowell/Trumbetti/etc

........................or.........................

Rochelle.........Jones...........Day

Obviously, i'm just throwing names in there, not predicting a depth chart. But hopefully my point makes sense. We would have a very large, tall and athletic front 4 with 2 (at a minimum) potentially elite "in space" linebackers. It seems like a shame if we don't play to our strengths. If we did... I pity any short QB we face.

 

[Cpnd1]

@Obey_Pride: @D1_LEEK dm me yo line bro

Morgan putting in work...

 

[L-cart ND-ana]

@Obey_Pride: @D1_LEEK dm me yo line bro

Morgan putting in work...

translation?

 

[koonja]

translation?

It's the twitter equivalent of someone asking another person to facebook message them their phone number.

 

[L-cart ND-ana]

It's the twitter equivalent of someone asking another person to facebook message them their phone number.

Who is talking to whom?

 

[PANDFAN]

Who is talking to whom?

morgan talking to malik

 

[JughedJones]

morgan talking to malik

Do work Nyles

 

[PANDFAN]

i was surprised that sykes isn't following him as he is a core 6 guy

 

[Irishman77]

He will be ours per my intuition....

 

[lcaps20]

while i hope that your intuition is correct, i think that we are to late to the party for malik. Just way to much ground to make up on others that have been recruiting him all year (sparty/buckeyes)