'13 FL RB Greg Bryant (R.I.P.)

[wizards8507]

I don't think it was "harsh," just a look at the numbers.

I will refrain from hoping for a top-5 RB tandem in Bryant/Folston, and instead hope that the offense can be balanced in general. And also that the brand new left side of the OL can hold it down... or else there won't be holes for the studs to run through either way.

You're nervous about the OL? We'll have a new unit in terms of how they're arranged but I don't see us playing anyone without significant (quality) experience next year.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I don't think the offense will resemble last year's offense, or even the one from the year before. Folston and Bryant will be better than Theo and Cierre, IMO, and a bulkier Golson with a full year of experience under his belt is going to make this Kelly's best QB situation since he arrived at ND -- and probably the best RB situation too. Throw in a solid, experienced OLine and some talented WRs, and I think it is going to be really fun to watch...

Plus Niklas. He's one of the few players in the country who can run block 99% of a roster. I think the outside running game could be pretty strong, if done correctly.

 

[rocket66]

Plus Niklas. He's one of the few players in the country who can run block 99% of a roster. I think the outside running game could be pretty strong, if done correctly.

Niklas?

 

[IrishLion]

You're nervous about the OL? We'll have a new unit in terms of how they're arranged but I don't see us playing anyone without significant (quality) experience next year.

Not nervous, that's just what I'm looking forward to watching the most through spring ball and summer camp. I think they could be anywhere from "very good" to "doing unspeakable things to opposing front 7's in the fourth quarter," but I'm still trying to contain my excitement for the offense until (1) we see how the line gels once it's together, (2) we see Greg in extended reps for the first time and (3) we see the coaching staff put together balanced, smart game plans consistently.

 

[BeauBenken]

Niklas?

Somebody tell him.

 

[IrishLion]

Plus Niklas. He's one of the few players in the country who can run block 99% of a roster. I think the outside running game could be pretty strong, if done correctly.

Niklas?

Somebody tell him.

He gone.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Somebody tell him.

Oh yeah -- I actually knew that, but I must have suppressed that memory...

 

[Old Man Mike]

I don't know, guys. It may be irrelevant to worry about whether we'll run with Auburn, Navy, Oregon [to pick three wildly different types of running teams]. What we want is to be able to run like Kelly wants us to run. And THAT, I believe, we can do at an elite level, assuming that the OLine firms up.

I know that Kelly wasn't at Cincinnati in 2011, but that ground attack still, I think, mimics what he'd like. Isaiah Pead was the featured back, and a DCs nightmare. Pead, at 5'!0", almost 200 lbs, and 4.47 speed was an explosive threat to rip through the defenses whenever they overspread their spread defenses.

Folston has almost exactly these same measureables. Bryant is more powerful than either, plenty quick enough to and in the hole, and despite "only 4.56 speed" that's fine for ripping you for 15-30 yard gains once though to the second levels. When we add an elite athlete in Golson who is almost uncatchable when scrambling [Collaros was just as dangerous in a slightly different way], it doesn't seem a stretch to me that he, Greg, Tarean, and Cam could make life hell on opponents.

The horses seem to be abundantly there. We just need to hope that one of these units = Elmer// NMart// Hegarty// Lombard// Stanley, or Elmer// Bivin// NMart// Lombard// Stanley, or Elmer// Bivin// Hegarty// Lombard// Stanley can run-block the waddin' out of DLines and run-side linebackers. ... and a competent TE would help too.

We will not replace ZMart-the-eraser at PASS blocking, but Big Steve could well be his equal at violent run blocking. He seems, if anything, to be TOO violent.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

ZMart-the-eraser

I remember getting one of those in my Trapper-Keeper.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Tough crowd. In all honesty when is the last time we have seen this much talent at the RB position at ND? Folston/Bryant/Carlisle....and McDaniel are as talented a group as I can remember.

From Pinkett (86) to Bettis in (93) ND had ridiculous talent, including Culver, the Brooks bros., and Watters. From the '88 championship team alone there was, Ishmael, T Brooks, Culver, Ismael, and Watters.

Maybe these are the best since then!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You're nervous about the OL? We'll have a new unit in terms of how they're arranged but I don't see us playing anyone without significant (quality) experience next year.

I am thinking that we have good experience on the offensive line for as young as we are and as experienced as we were going into last year.

This year we may have the best over all starting package since Kelly has been here, even taking in to account the loss of ZMART. Chris Watt was a gamer, but as powerful as he was, I think he was hurt too much and didn't reach his potential. Which cost us mid-season. At the end you saw how the younger guys stepped in. We definitely have some speed. Power too.

I believe, to replace the blocking of Niklas, we move to what some teams have done, like Stanford, and Whiskey (? help me on this), and play two offensive tackles to show power. The tackle designee I think will be McGlinchey. Now you all realize what is interesting about this is he may be one of the fastest offensive linemen we have ever had. They say he runs like a thoroughbred on punt and kick coverage in practice. This would be frightening, because it allows us to show power/unbalanced one way, and pull back the other or, bounce McGlinchey outside on a short pull. Ouch! (for opposing defensive coordinators.)

 

[wizards8507]

I am thinking that we have good experience on the offensive line for as young as we are and as experienced as we were going into last year.

This year we may have the best over all starting package since Kelly has been here, even taking in to account the loss of ZMART. Chris Watt was a gamer, but as powerful as he was, I think he was hurt too much and didn't reach his potential. Which cost us mid-season. At the end you saw how the younger guys stepped in. We definitely have some speed. Power too.

I believe, to replace the blocking of Niklas, we move to what some teams have done, like Stanford, and Whiskey (? help me on this), and play two offensive tackles to show power. The tackle designee I think will be McGlinchey. Now you all realize what is interesting about this is he may be one of the fastest offensive linemen we have ever had. They say he runs like a thoroughbred on punt and kick coverage in practice. This would be frightening, because it allows us to show power/unbalanced one way, and pull back the other or, bounce McGlinchey outside on a short pull. Ouch! (for opposing defensive coordinators.)

Are you suggesting he'll be the "flex" type TE guy, or that he'll be the starting LT?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Are you suggesting he'll be the "flex" type TE guy, or that he'll be the starting LT?

I am not suggesting.

(Kidding)


Neither actually. A number of teams put two tackles in. Neither are eligible, because they still cap the line with a receiver. And they bring the guy in to supplement the starting tackle. I imagine, barring anything unforeseen that the starting positions will go to Stanley and Elmer. Those guys are big and strong and prototypical tackles. McGlinchey will spell them, first, also. There are a bunch of inside guys. Martin, and Hegarty in the middle. Well here :

74 Lombard, Christian Offensive Guard/Tackle 6-5/315 SR Inverness, IL/Fremd
72 Martin, Nick Offensive Guard/Tackle 6-4.5/295 JR Indianapolis, IN/Bishop Chatard
57 Bivin, Hunter Offensive Line 6-5.5/291 FR Owensboro, KY/Apollo 67
79 Elmer, Steve Offensive Line 6-5.5/317 FR Midland, MI/Midland
75 Harrell, Mark Offensive Line 6-4/305 SO Charlotte, NC/Catholic 68 McGlinchey, Mike Offensive Line 6-7.5/290 FR Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter
62 McGovern, Colin Offensive Line 6-4.5/313 FR New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West
60 Montelus, John Offensive Line 6-4/340 FR Everett, MA/Everett
78 Stanley, Ronnie Offensive Tackle 6-5.5/318 SO Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman

This is the 2013 without any new guys, and with the guys with exhausted eligibility taken off. With Lombard and Martin making it back, healthy, and no problems moving forward, that is nine guys, six for three positions inside and three for two positions outside.

 

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Coach Cooks getting me right for PR. Big year in the return game next season! <a href="http://t.co/OuSaMhRjoU">pic.twitter.com/OuSaMhRjoU</a></p>— Greg Bryant J.r #⃣1⃣ (@GB6for6) <a href="https://twitter.com/GB6for6/statuses/435958664114216960">February 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[CanadalovesND]

Punt return, interesting..

Never really envisioned Bryant in that role.

 

[Damion704]

He has quick feet so that should help him.

 

[koonja]

Side note, I found out today that a girl on my working team is best friends with Kerry Cooks daughter.

 

[peoriairish]

Side note, I found out today that a girl on my working team is best friends with Kerry Cooks daughter.

Coon for IE 2014 insider of the year.

 

[greyhammer90]

Coon for IE 2014 inside-her of the year.

FIFY

 

[peoriairish]

FIFY

 

[dublinirish]

Lads i had a dream last night that Coach Cooks left ND to join the staff at Baylor. Not joking, and I think its a sign i spend too much time on IE haha. No more IE before bed now thats for sure

 

[tko]

Lads i had a dream last night that Coach Cooks left ND to join the staff at Baylor. Not joking, and I think its a sign i spend too much time on IE haha. No more IE before bed now thats for sure

Seek counseling immediately!

 

[rikkitikki08]

I never envisioned GB on punt returns, is this the year ND actually has at least an average return game? Average at this point would be a success

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I really like the sound of him doing returns.
Lately, other than Floyd, we've been using more finesse guys.

I want a guy with strength ala zibby back there.

 

[GoIrish41]

I really like the sound of him doing returns.
Lately, other than Floyd, we've been using more finesse guys.

I want a guy with strength ala zibby back there.

Lets put Springman back there and see what he can do.

 

[Emcee77]

Lets put Springman back there and see what he can do.

Lol.

No joke, Trumbetti returned punts for his high school team. Can you imagine??

 

[koonja]

From his film, he's compact and makes extremely quick cuts. Like, elite cuts. Perfect for PR IMO.

 

[GoIrish41]

From his film, he's compact and makes extremely quick cuts. Like, elite cuts. Perfect for PR IMO.

We're still talking about Springman, right?

 

[koonja]

We're still talking about Springman, right?

Duh. I don't talk about Bryant unless the topic is really, really ripped abs.

Edit: fail on the zoo lander image.

 

[irishfan]

Lol.

No joke, Trumbetti returned punts for his high school team. Can you imagine??

Urlacher had 5 kick returns for TD at New Mexico his senior year. Pretty crazy.