'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[CanadalovesND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mayock on former <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> TE Troy Niklas: "I don't think he's getting out of the 2nd round." Adds, a "better receiver than people think."</p>— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/D_Farmer/statuses/435869990953054208">February 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLion]

Maybe I'm wrong then haha. I always thought Troy was overpowering as a run-blocker, but needed more improvement on looking comfortable when running routes/catching the football.

 

[ulukinatme]

Maybe it's just lazy, assumption-based scouting? Since he's a TE from ND, he must be a freak athlete, pass-catcher first that needs to improve as a blocker, right?

And I honestly don't remember seeing Troy flexed out wide very often this past season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mayock on Troy Niklas: If he commits to becoming a good in-line blocker, he could become the best blocking tight end in the NFL.</p>— Eric Hansen (@hansenNDInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/hansenNDInsider/statuses/435869880030466048">February 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Pfft, what does Mayock know? Has he even watched Troy play?!

 

[GBdomer]

I am really going to miss Troy this year.

 

[ryno 24]

I heard our next tight end might have potential

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I heard our next tight end might have potential

 

[irishfan]

He was a great run-blocker when he had his guy engaged, he just seemed like his form was average at best. He kind of flailed a lot at guys.

And I know it was two years ago, but do you guys remember him in pass protection against Stanford in 2012?

 

[Ironman8]

Peshek: TE Metrics - Out Of The Box - Rotoworld.com

Nice analysis and comparison of the top 5 TEs in the draft. Niklas definitely compares favorably.

 

[IrishLax]

He was a great run-blocker when he had his guy engaged, he just seemed like his form was average at best. He kind of flailed a lot at guys.

And I know it was two years ago, but do you guys remember him in pass protection against Stanford in 2012?

Was the worst thing I've ever witnessed. Usually if a pass rusher wins clean more than once a game you screwed up pretty bad. He got beat by Trent Murphy literally every single play... couldn't even put hands on him.

Stanford's only TD in the entire game was a sack fumble in the endzone as Troy got beat like a rented drum.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Overall he's a good blocker, but as you guys are saying about the 2012 Stanford game can really struggle to block speed rushers with good pass rushing moves. I don't know what they're talking about as far as strength, he moves people off the line if he gets a hold of them.

In the passing game he has above average hands, but not elite. The biggest knock on him as a receiver IMO is the body control part. What made Eifert so great, besides the soft hands, was his elite ability at high pointing the ball. Niklas is still a good receiver but this is what differentiates him from the flex-TE red zone nightmare that's in vogue in the NFL today.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Kelly took a bit of the blame for that game. Scheme left him out there Martinless, if I remember correctly.

 

[PLACforever]

Anyone have a Combine schedule? Want to make sure I DVR Troy,Lou,Tuitt,etc

 

[PLACforever]

Anyone have a Combine schedule? Want to make sure I DVR Troy,Lou,Tuitt,etc

Nevermind

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/professional-teams/191712-2014-nfl-combine.html#post1233006

 

[Crazy Balki]

It's been awhile since this happened, but I still think Niklas made a major mistake by leaving early. For Tuitt, it made a little bit of sense, as the major concern was his weight and how it affected his athleticism. That change can be seen in the combine and will allow his stock to rise. Niklas is not in the same boat, because his athleticism is already a major plus for him. His con is that he is not a developed blocking/receiving TE. That can NOT be seen in the combine, because teams will always look at film first for those qualities.

 

[Wild Bill]

It's been awhile since this happened, but I still think Niklas made a major mistake by leaving early. For Tuitt, it made a little bit of sense, as the major concern was his weight and how it affected his athleticism. That change can be seen in the combine and will allow his stock to rise. Niklas is not in the same boat, because his athleticism is already a major plus for him. His con is that he is not a developed blocking/receiving TE. That can NOT be seen in the combine, because teams will always look at film first for those qualities.

He's the most developed blocking tight end in the draft and he made plays in the passing game when he was given an opportunity.

The combine is as big for him as it is any player in the draft. Scouts are going to fall in love with his size and body composition. If he runs a faster than expected forty and shows explosion with his broad jump and vertical, his stock will go through the roof.

 

[dublinirish]

Tbh there is nothing then ND staff can teach Troy right now that a NFL staff can't.

 

[Ironman8]

I've seen a few NFL guys stating Niklas is an early 'eye-test' winner - weighing in at a 'very well proportioned' 270 pounds.

 

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>ND TE Troy Niklas 6'6 1/2 270…Lot of buzz building on him as more guys get a chance to study him. Complete TE.</p>— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/statuses/436545302963560448">February 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLion]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Troy Niklas on telling Brian Kelly he was going pro: "It definitely wasn’t one of the more fun conversations I’ve had in my entire life."</p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/436606932967636992">February 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLion]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Troy Niklas: “It made me feel good that (Kelly) was kind of mad that I left because it means I was worth something I guess.” <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a></p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/436607085451563008">February 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Emcee77]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Troy Niklas on telling Brian Kelly he was going pro: "It definitely wasn’t one of the more fun conversations I’ve had in my entire life."</p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/436606932967636992">February 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Lol.

So interesting how that all went down. If Kelly can be believed, he filed paperwork for Niklas just so Niklas could start to familiarize himself with the process, not thinking he would really leave, only to see him decide to leave in the end.

Talk about your all-time backfires.

I get Kelly's frustration. Not saying Troy owes him another year or anything, but Kelly and his staff worked so hard to develop Troy into a tight end, not just an athlete, only to see him leave before he had even reached his full potential. Kelly must have been awfully excited about what Troy was going to do this year. Again, I don't mean to criticize Troy at all ...

... but I understand.

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EDIT: this ain't bad for a 5,000th post.

 

[#1rish]

You guess Troy?? You would have been Everett's favorite target.

 

[wizards8507]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Troy Niklas: “It made me feel good that (Kelly) was kind of mad that I left because it means I was worth something I guess.” <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a></p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/436607085451563008">February 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Dude sounds like a major asshat.

 

[CraigKrenzel]

Dude sounds like a major asshat.

Probably a little unfair. It'd make me feel good about my future if my coaches were clawing for me to come back another year. Seems like a pretty uninteresting point to make to a reporter at the combine.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Dude sounds like a major asshat.

I don't see it that way. Sounds like he was nervous and didn't articulate the point well. I assume he was trying to say something along the lines of, "The fact that Kelly was so upset that I was leaving made me feel like I had made the right decision, and that I will be successful in the NFL. He must think that I'm valuable if he got that upset about me leaving."

 

[wizards8507]

Probably a little unfair. It'd make me feel good about my future if my coaches were clawing for me to come back another year. Seems like a pretty uninteresting point to make to a reporter at the combine.

He didn't say it made him feel good about his future. He said he felt good that Kelly was mad. That's the NFL combine interview equivalent of "neener neener."

 

[#1rish]

I doubt that quote will have any effect on his draft stock, but boy you think he'd be able to word his thoughts better than saying it made him feel good he made his coach mad. Have a little bit more confidence than that Troy.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

He didn't say it made him feel good about his future. He said he felt good that Kelly was mad. That's the NFL combine interview equivalent of "neener neener."

So you're taking it completely literally. Making Kelly mad made him feel good, like warm and fuzzy inside? Niklas gets off on pissing Kelly off?

 

[wizards8507]

So you're taking it completely literally. Making Kelly mad made him feel good, like warm and fuzzy inside? Niklas gets off on pissing Kelly off?

Kind of, yeah. It's an ego thing. "Heh, coach was pissed. Sucks to be him without big Troy Niklas around next year." Otherwise he would have said something like "It means a lot to me that Coach Kelly wanted me to stick around but I think this was the best decision for my future."

Disclaimer: If there's video of this, I haven't seen it so all I'm basing my opinion on is the text.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

He didn't say it made him feel good about his future. He said he felt good that Kelly was mad. That's the NFL combine interview equivalent of "neener neener."

I don't see that at all. Obviously Kelly is going to be upset loosing a major asset to his team. Kelly wouldn't have been too upset if Niklas wasn't very good.