Issues in recruiting

[mizzouirish]

Every message board I go to has at least one thread that is worried about our DT position after this year. I agree, just like everyone else. So what's the deal? I would think that there are plenty of giant young men who can get off the line and disrupt the a play in the backfield, or at least disrupt a OL. I realize that the "cream of the crop" is in the south and ND has always had problems reeling in these bad-asses due to location, academic standards, and a smaller campus. After this year, Landri and Laws will be gone, then who do we have? Pat Kuntz? Dwight Stephenson Jr.? Paddy Mullen? No pun on these guys at all but Kuntz looks more like a DE, Stephenson is a converted linebacker, and Mullen will have no size either. I mean, Landri was way undersized for a long time and still probably is. When I watch SEC football I notice that these DT's are mammoths that disrupt most running plays unless the opposing offenses run to the outside. What about the option, that has been talked about, of moving Olsen and incoming Nuss to the inside? Landri and Laws have been reliable at holding their own on the run but as far as pass rush, it's been non-existant.

Also, I notice that ND hasn't been after any actual MLB. Other than Galipo (who commited to USC early on) and Toryan Smith with last year's class, I don't see any big LB's wanting to come here. And does anyone see MoRich staying at DE and possibly moving to a Falcon position (sort of like when the KC Chiefs used Derrick Thomas in his later days)?

Just something to think about.

 

[jiggafini19]

Nuss has mentioned a move to DT.

Are you assuming Laws skips his last eligible year? He is due back in 2007 as of now.

ND is in good standing with Barksdale and Blackwell, close with Ian Williams. Emeka Nwankwo could also be considered a possible DT.

Notre Dame has two LB already verballed in Nagel and Paskorz. They're in the running for Chris Donald and Martez Wilson, both of whom are "big LB".

And ND is high on both of their lists.

 

[mizzouirish]

Didn't know laws had another year of eligibility.

As for the DT's, none of them have signed yet; Barksdale seems to change his mind a lot depending on where he visits each week, Blackwell could be hard to sway out of the dirty south, and I am not real sure on the others.

As for the LB's, Nagel and Paskorz seem a little undersized. I know mendoza can but bulk up these guys but are either of them "studs" at linebacker on their HS teams? Isn't Nagel a huge offensive weapon for his team as opposed to his presence on defense?

 

[jiggafini19]

The season just started. Some guys want to take their visits.

Speed over size this time around. Plenty of well sized linebackers on the team right now. How's that working out? Nagel and Paskorz are both fast.

If they have offers from Notre Dame, that is really all that should matter.

 

[BGIF]

... As for the DT's, none of them have signed yet ...

Nobody's signed yet anywhere. There's almost 5 months between now and Signing Day. It's a Marathon not a Sprint. A lot of kids will change their minds between now and then. They do every year.

... As for the LB's, Nagel and Paskorz seem a little undersized. I know mendoza can but bulk up these guys but are either of them "studs" at linebacker on their HS teams? Isn't Nagel a huge offensive weapon for his team as opposed to his presence on defense?

Nagle and Paskorz are both talented athletes much like Travis Thomas. And that's a quality Weis seems to hold in high regard. And yes they're undersized if they were Div 1 LBs but there HS seniors with a year to get to 225 - 230.

As for Richardson as a freshman he's about 5 pounds heavier than Justin Tuck was. Tuck was 235ish as a sophomore, Richardson will be bigger. He could be an OLB (if he doesn't out grow it) or he and Ryan could be the future at DE along with Talley, Brown, Wade, and some highly regarded recruits.

 

[mizzouirish]

Now is it Charlie who is making the decision to implement offensive players into a defensive role or is it Minter and Oliver going to Charlie and saying, "Hey Chuck, our LB's don't have any skills, can I borrow your guys?"
I can see, from the criticisms Minter recieved in the past year, why he would rather go with more athletic LBs due to sluggish pass defense. But don't you think we leave a lot open to big-time running teams if our LBs get blocked easily because they can't hold their own? Since I can remember, even bad ND teams had rather good run defense. I just don't want to see us get burned in the running game now that our pass defense has recieved more emphasis.

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

I'll trust the coaching staff over you.

 

[rontdtarchala]

now now ralphy play nice hahahaha

 

[Dannyboy Ayers]

Now is it Charlie who is making the decision to implement offensive players into a defensive role or is it Minter and Oliver going to Charlie.

I think it is charlie's call, he most likley listens to the other guys but when said and done it is CW that makes the call to pull the trigger. I would love to be sitting at that round table discussion.

 

[BGIF]

Now is it Charlie who is making the decision to implement offensive players into a defensive role or is it Minter and Oliver going to Charlie and saying, "Hey Chuck, our LB's don't have any skills, can I borrow your guys?"

... I just don't want to see us get burned in the running game now that our pass defense has recieved more emphasis.

Does it make a difference if it was Charlie's idea or one of the assistants he hand picked?

Looks like incorporating one offensive player into a defensive role is working and it hasn't hurt the offense which many including myself were concerned about.

Do you think the LB Corps would be performing better without Travis?

 

[mizzouirish]

Can't really be certain if they would be better or not. I don't think that either of the teams we played this year have had offensive lines comparible to michigan. But further down the road, who's to say we won't face teams that will strategize a running game that runs to the outside, thus minimizing the effects of our defensive line?

BTW, I never said Travis Thomas, Maurice Crum, or Mitchell Thomas were bad linebackers. I just think bigger linebackers are better against the run.

 

[onenybrother]

It's disrespect to come on here and question the mad scientist. Charlie know what he's doing.

 

[mizzouirish]

I guess next time I decide to discuss Irish football, I will post a thread titled, "No problems here, this team is without fault". I think it is pretty narrow-minded to believe that there are no issues with our team after only 2 games. Anybody who knows anything about competitive sports knows that you can't sit back and think that there is nothing to work on. Last time I checked, this was a DISCUSSION BOARD which allows us to talk about issues on our mind whether it be positive or negative. If everything were positive on this board and with the team, we would be winning national championships and worry about nothing.

I trust Charlie Weis' decision making process, but to believe there won't be issues with this team after this year is just plain rediculous. And that is why the thread started in the first place.

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

But you're not "finding fault" with the team - you're straight up saying the coaches are building their football team incorrectly, ie that they're incompetent.

If you like bigger defenses, fine. That's very 1980's. I prefer my D's like the Chicago Bears D - fast, athletic, and mean, to the point that size isn't so important. Urlacher was a safety in college. They use smallish d-lineman where they can, if they have superior speed. They like fast athletic players at the outside linebacker and safety spots. And it looks like it's working out all right.

 

[SillyIrish]

I would take speed and sound tackling over a bigger player any day.

 

[scooper]

We face one good power running team all year. And this is the week. The rest of the season, speed trumps size, or we'll see a repeat of last year's defense. I would not worry about our LB size.

 

[jiggafini19]

Why are we even mentioning the issues of this team NEXT YEAR during Michigan week?

After having watched Miami-FSU, I'll take 210-220 pound linebackers any day of the week, preferably Saturday, if they have the speed those guys do.

A Fantastic Four of Nagel, Paskorz, Tez Wilson and Chris Donald would be without question a linebacker recruiting haul that is superior to nearly everyone else's.

And it is going to happen.

 

[BGIF]

Can't really be certain if they would be better or not. I don't think that either of the teams we played this year have had offensive lines comparible to michigan. But further down the road, who's to say we won't face teams that will strategize a running game that runs to the outside, thus minimizing the effects of our defensive line?

BTW, I never said Travis Thomas, Maurice Crum, or Mitchell Thomas were bad linebackers. I just think bigger linebackers are better against the run.

Having spent a year with the talent ND has including a season and Spring Football, the coaching staff determined they needed to upgrade the talent. Can you think of anyone on the offense to move to DLine? Or to the Secondary? LB was a logical position and Travis a logical choice as he's a great athlete that doesn't see much PT on offense because of Walker's many talents.

People make much of Travis weight but he claims his current weight is 217-218. No, that's not the A.J. Hawk's weight but there aren't many of his caliber either. Not all the better LBs are 240. McKeon at Nebraska is 225 as is Adibi of VT, Latimer at OU is 220, Pleasant OU 225 Graham at Michigan is 225, Connors at PSU 225, Herring Auburn 220, Gooden Miami 220, Beason Miami 225, Simpson Alabama 222.

Players tend to be bigger today but the 240 size LBs also tend to have trouble covering RBs on pass routes. See ND (among others) over the past few season. I suspect that was a large factor in moving Travis to LB.

In press conferences Weis has repeatedly said the defense will be flexible to meet the style of play of the opponent. GT has possibly the best WR in the country. ND went to extra DBs and double covered him and shut him down. The extra DBs begged GT to run. ND would concede yards but not the big play. PSU had a deeper receiving corps than GT. ND against keyed on the receivers with more DBs, again conceding the run. PSU had a nice rushing yards per carry number but few sustained drives. ND again kept PSU's most significant weapon from doing damage. Without the last two drives of the game in garbage time, PSU was held to under 100 yds rushing.

Despite the lighter LBs, ND has yielded only 31 more TOTAL yards rushing than last season. Meanwhile the dropped the passing yardage allowed has dropped, the Total Defense has dropped, and the most important factor, Scoring Defense has dropped 11 points/game.

This week the defense will game plan for Michigan's strengths. Whether they execute that plan is another question. But they will key on Michigan's strengths and defend accordingly. And while Hart is healthy, the OLine he's running against isn't the OLine Michigan had in '05. And they won't be blocking against the Commodores or the Chippewas this time. In both games Michigan pounded on the opposing DLine and simply wore them down. They won't do that with Mendoza's conditioning. This will be by far the best defense Michigan has faced. The most talented and deepest.

If you watched the Central Michigan game you saw their pass rush putting pressure on Henne. He won't be throwing against Vandy and CMU DBs this time. He hasn't seen the speed of Wooden, Zib, and Nedu this year.

 

[donnie hoss]

size matters?

size matters?

I don't think size is that big of a factor for a LB. We are recruiting speed at all positions.(look at Auburn, VA Tech, Miami, and others) Most great LB'S have a natural ability to find the ball, the key is to attack the blockers and shed the block. If a player has speed and ability, technique and coaching will take care of the rest. A talented, well coached LB will play the run and the pass and be in the right place at the right time. We are now recruiting football players that are smart and nasty. I trust this staff's ability to find the type of players that fit in the scheme. I think Thomas could have been a great LB with 2 more years with our staff. GO IRISH

 

[scooper]

I was leafing through the Sporting News college football preview last night. Just for kicks, I took a look at the LB units of some of the better teams around the country, specifically, the best defenses of the SEC and ACC. Teams like Auburn, LSU, Miami, VT, GT and FSU. The average weight of our linebackers is right in there with them. Heck, Auburn has a LB under 200 pounds. Our guys are not undersized.

 

[mizzouirish]

Ok, ok, I am starting to buy into this theory because everyone seems to have backed up their opinions with good facts. But after this year, you've got to think we lose a lot of size up front with the departures of Abiamiri and Landri, maybe even Laws if he doesnt stay for a 5th year. Don't some of you guys think that we will get slammed by opposing offenses that have superior size? I mean, do you think that we could hang with Texas, LSU, or Miami. I know that after this year, we will have a lot of issues with our team losing so much on both sides of the ball and this is just one of the many worries that I have with ND after this year. I was always taught that games are won and lost in the trenches. If we don't have big guys up front, with technique, I think opposing OL will run all over us and eat up our LBs.

Maybe I am just thinking of this too much and am blaming some of Ty's failures on Charlie. It's just a worry that I have about the future, and who knows, if we win this weekend maybe Barksdale, Blackwell, and Williams will all "see the light" and commit to a program that is in dire need of size on the DL. CW is the man and knows what he is doing more so than I or any of us ever will.

On that note, GO IRISH, BEAT MICHIGAN, this weekend will be huge.

 

[scooper]

Ok, ok, I am starting to buy into this theory because everyone seems to have backed up their opinions with good facts. But after this year, you've got to think we lose a lot of size up front with the departures of Abiamiri and Landri, maybe even Laws if he doesnt stay for a 5th year. Don't some of you guys think that we will get slammed by opposing offenses that have superior size? I mean, do you think that we could hang with Texas, LSU, or Miami. I know that after this year, we will have a lot of issues with our team losing so much on both sides of the ball and this is just one of the many worries that I have with ND after this year. I was always taught that games are won and lost in the trenches. If we don't have big guys up front, with technique, I think opposing OL will run all over us and eat up our LBs.

Maybe I am just thinking of this too much and am blaming some of Ty's failures on Charlie. It's just a worry that I have about the future, and who knows, if we win this weekend maybe Barksdale, Blackwell, and Williams will all "see the light" and commit to a program that is in dire need of size on the DL. CW is the man and knows what he is doing more so than I or any of us ever will.

On that note, GO IRISH, BEAT MICHIGAN, this weekend will be huge.

Your concerns about next year are well founded. But the issue will be due to inexperience and lack of physical stength and maturity due to youth. It won't have anything to do with size. And yes, you are blaming some of Ty's failures on Charlie. Then again, some of it also is due to the natural attrition that happens with coaching changes.

Next year may be a down year, relatively speaking. But you can't worry about that right now or place the blame on anybody. It is what it is and we have the best coach in place to make the most out of it.

Just don't panic or jump off a bridge if the Irish lose a few games next season. The future looks bright. Very bright.

 

[jiggafini19]

This is a senior dominated team. Why worry about next year before spring ball 2007 gets here?

This Urban Meyer-Rich Rodriguez spread offense craze is going to make three linebacker defenses a rarity for a little while. Right now, you've got to be looking for speed over size.

Look at Lambert's PT last season and look at it against GT in the opener. ND has two frosh CB playing this year and they're rotating DBs all over the field.

 

[BGIF]

... I know that after this year, we will have a lot of issues with our team losing so much on both sides of the ball and this is just one of the many worries that I have with ND after this year. I was always taught that games are won and lost in the trenches. If we don't have big guys up front, with technique, I think opposing OL will run all over us and eat up our LBs. ...

I think we're all in agreement that we lose a lot of key players in the trenches. LBs getting run over should be among the least of concerns. The DLine will have size, strength and maturity. Keep in mind Hand has been out with an injured foot. (Sorry but it's stikes my funny bone that Hand "has a foot".) Laws, Kuntz, Hand, Mullen, and whatever stud recruit thinks he can play with the big boys in front of a returning veteran LB corps with another year of weight training seems like a better setup than next year's offense.

In the trenches Harris, Morton, Santucci, and supersub Mattes are out of eligibility and Sullivan may go to the NFL. That leaves true sophomore Sam Young as the only returner of the top 6 OLs. There's probably more depth of talent on the OLine than DLine but there's more slots to fill. More plays to learn. More chemistry to generate.

And while there may be some concern about the LBs playing behind the DLine next year. Who's going to line up behind the center on offense? Sharpley, Frazer, Jones, or the new kid that's not here yet? There will be no senior QB to quiet down the OLine after a bad play. Just some kid running for his life trying to find the receivers that replaced Shark and Rhema. That QB will be a talented kid no doubt but primarily focused on staying alive. Ala Quinn as a freshman except with great coaching, better preparation and play calling. Nonetheless if you think teams are blitzing ND this year just wait till next year.

Next year we most likely will need the defense to carry the offense.

When we get into the softer part of the schedule I expect to see a lot of play by the younger guys to get them experience for next year. Talentwise next year we can matchup with Texas, et al - with our underclassmen.

 

[scooper]

This is a senior dominated team. Why worry about next year before spring ball 2007 gets here?

dunno. I think some people just aren't happy without a reason to jump.

 

[BGIF]

I fear Navy

Lou Holtz

 

[Axl Rose]

I think we're all in agreement that we lose a lot of key players in the trenches. LBs getting run over should be among the least of concerns. The DLine will have size, strength and maturity. Keep in mind Hand has been out with an injured foot. (Sorry but it's stikes my funny bone that Hand "has a foot".) Laws, Kuntz, Hand, Mullen, and whatever stud recruit thinks he can play with the big boys in front of a returning veteran LB corps with another year of weight training seems like a better setup than next year's offense.

In the trenches Harris, Morton, Santucci, and supersub Mattes are out of eligibility and Sullivan may go to the NFL. That leaves true sophomore Sam Young as the only returner of the top 6 OLs. There's probably more depth of talent on the OLine than DLine but there's more slots to fill. More plays to learn. More chemistry to generate.

And while there may be some concern about the LBs playing behind the DLine next year. Who's going to line up behind the center on offense? Sharpley, Frazer, Jones, or the new kid that's not here yet? There will be no senior QB to quiet down the OLine after a bad play. Just some kid running for his life trying to find the receivers that replaced Shark and Rhema. That QB will be a talented kid no doubt but primarily focused on staying alive. Ala Quinn as a freshman except with great coaching, better preparation and play calling. Nonetheless if you think teams are blitzing ND this year just wait till next year.

Next year we most likely will need the defense to carry the offense.

When we get into the softer part of the schedule I expect to see a lot of play by the younger guys to get them experience for next year. Talentwise next year we can matchup with Texas, et al - with our underclassmen.

I don't think we'll be that bad off next year, maybe a bit un expierence but if recruiting this year turns out as good as I think and a few seniors stay for their 5th year we could be in good shape. This is how I see the team next year.

Defense

Lambert---------McCarthy------------Harrison Smith---------Wooden

----------Thomas-----------Crum---------------Verneglia--------------

Richardson-------Barksdale---------Laws----------Talley

Offense

Benn----------Turkovich-Olsen-Sulivan-Stewart-Young-Rueland----------Hord

-----------------------------------Clausen----------------------------------

-----------------------------------Schwapp---------------------------------

------------------------------------Walker----------------------------------

 

[isotopes]

It'll be one of those coin toss seasons. We could be really good, but with less experience me might take a couple on the chin.

I don't know if sulivan or wooden come back, and i think Bruton starts at one of the safety spots

 

[scooper]

Herring will be in the mix at safety as well.

I really hope Wooden comes back. I think it will be in his best interest to do so.

 

[lattedatte]

Is everyone convinced that Clausen will be the starter right off the bat?? I really don't have any strong thoughts, but I could see Sharpley starting for one year or even a half year to ease jimmy into it.