8/1 FALL PRESS CONF #1

[Whiskeyjack]

Good things about the freshman DL, but I'm surprised that Blankership, Hayes, and Trumbetti were left out of the comments.

If I had to predict my top freshman 3, it would be them.

That's probably not a coincidence. Which players get praised or criticized publicly seems to mostly be driven by motivational concerns. Perhaps those three freshman are the most likely to contribute on defense, and Kelly needs them to remain focused and disciplined, so he intentionally slights them by talking up other freshman instead.

Yet another reason to take this stuff with a grain of salt.

 

[ThePiombino]

The Springmann news is absolutely 1000% crushing - for both Tony and the squad. Man, he was crucial to this year's depth IMO

 

[Emcee77]

The Springmann news is absolutely 1000% crushing - for both Tony and the squad. Man, he was crucial to this year's depth IMO

Yeah, I'm not over it either. We had to be aware that it was possible that he wouldn't come back strong from the knee injury because that's always a possibility, but for this back news to come out of nowhere ... Crushing.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yeah, I'm not over it either. We had to be aware that it was possible that he wouldn't come back strong from the knee injury because that's always a possibility, but for this back news to come out of nowhere ... Crushing.

Hounshell hasn't officially taken a medical yet, but he's occupying the same territory that Springmann was prior to the announcement-- a talented yet injury-prone upperclassmen at a position of serious need. Remove him from the roster too (since he's unlikely to have a healthy and productive season this late in his career) and our interior DL depth is scary bad.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm damn glad we picked up both Cage and Mokwuah late...can't imagine if we only had Jay Hayes in this last class, we'd be in an even worse position than we are now without Springmann.

 

[koonja]

I just watched the press conference, I don't understand the concern over BK's comments on Ishaq. I didn't think they were telling one way or another.

Coach Kelly Preseason Practice Kickoff Press Conference - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site

It's between 40 and 45 minutes, I believe around 43 to be exact.

 

[scUM Hater]

Motivation to Ishaq....do something or see some bench.

 

[CoachB]

Pre fall practice/Post presser thoughts and concerns...

Offensive line definitely looks like the strength of the team again. Will be really interesting to see if Nelson is good enough to play. I say redshirt if not a starter.

Tight Ends look to be in good shape as well. Will be interesting though, to see if we have as many two tight end sets with our multitude of receiving weapons. Smythe sounds like an interesting addition, though.

It sounds like we may have more receivers on the field. I imagine we may spread it out more in the more traditional style rather than the power spread. I could see an up tempo spread attack rotating in receivers often to keep them fresh.

Running backs - I really do think we rotate them all to keep them fresh. I don't know if I see one becoming the main back. Maybe Bryant down in the red zone.

Quarterbacks - I have always been in Golson's camp and it really sounds like he was much more consistent in spring camp, but Zaire sure does sound like he is impressing. Which can only be a positive for our team.

How many questions do we have on defense? It is crazy. Not only with new scheme, which we probably won't see until Michigan.

Defensive line is just scary depth wise. Poor Tony. That's a tough loss. Hopefully he can be a help like Danny was when we lost him. I think our starting DT's will be tough. Behind them, we are scary thin. Hopefully we can get something out of Hounshell. Our defensive ends are the same. Extremely unproven. Hopefully Ishaq and Romeo can give us something, but HUGE question marks.

Linebackers - In my opinion, I am pretty comfortable with the idea of Ben at SAM, Grace at Mike, and Jaylon at Will. That is some good experience. However, if Ben and Grace can't go, it gets really scary there as well. I would love for the other guys to be necessary depth rather than starters.

DB's I think are in pretty good hands. I hope we can lock it down on the edges, because I feel we may need all hands on deck in the box. Should be interesting. I can't wait to get her started.

Thanks Panda for the updates, and to all of you for your incredible and interesting insight.

 

[stlnd01]

I just watched the press conference, I don't understand the concern over BK's comments on Ishaq. I didn't think they were telling one way or another.

Coach Kelly Preseason Practice Kickoff Press Conference - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site

It's between 40 and 45 minutes, I believe around 43 to be exact.

I'm an Ishaq believer, but Kelly's eyes didn't exactly light up on that question. Who knows, though. Dude's got all the talent in the world, and it doesn't sound like there's anything physically or mentally holding him back at this point. Hopefully this new scheme fits him better and he becomes a solid, impact player for us.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I just watched the press conference, I don't understand the concern over BK's comments on Ishaq. I didn't think they were telling one way or another.

Coach Kelly Preseason Practice Kickoff Press Conference - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site

It's between 40 and 45 minutes, I believe around 43 to be exact.

Coach speak for motivation IMO. Seems to be telling him that he has guys behind him that's gonna pass him up if he doesn't work harder. I don't expect him to be great, but he should be able to contribute more under BVG's defense. But like BK said, at this point, that is up to Ishaq. He will get his chances.

 

[rocket66]

BK isn't the type to gush over his players in the pressers. He basically said they all need to get better in certain areas.

 

[Old Man Mike]

My off-center takes from one press conference [therefore not to be taken TOO seriously]:

1). Kelly answers the questions asked and doesn't go about fishing in things beyond those specific questions. Coach was asked about the problem that Springmann's loss causes us at the NT/DT "muscle" DT position, not the DT/SDE "muscle+plus+athleticism" DT position. He therefore talked Cage, Mokuah, Utupo, and not Hounshell, Hayes, or even Trumbetti. Matuska was mentioned as also possibly being in there. There was nothing in Coach's talk about the DLine that I took as anything but upbeat except for Tony's loss and a honest skepticism whether Ishaq will actually take charge of the opportunity presented him.

2). Coach spoke of Councell and Grace as if he definitely expects them to be on the field a lot this season. Comments about Councell were near raves. He spoke of Smith, Grace, and Councell as being a very good array when BVG wants to get physical, and "smaller" players "moving down" [translation: ex-safeties] when we go speed and space coverage [where he sounded like Smith and Councell would still be on the field.] This is the first wide-ranging conference in which I heard no mention of Joe Schmitt even though there were plenty of opportunities to do so.

3). Riggs is a corner... end of story.

4). Smythe is the real deal... almost never heard a Kelly response to a question that fast.

5). Team leaders seem to be NMart, Day, Russell --- add McDaniel and you might have the Captains. Chris Brown's leadership of the receivers was a pleasant surprise.

6). [and I'll quit my over-analysis]... BVG got a lot of praise. Again, read between the lines ---a]. BVG does a really good job at assessing talents and massaging schemes so that great athletes can play to their strengths and make things happen; b].BVG communicates really well with the other coaches; c]. BVG is NOT a micro-manager and allows the other coaches to coach. These things [...meditate...] hang together and say something else to us if we're listening. "Let those who have ears hear, Let those who have nose sniff."

Expect more plays-for-loss and turnovers this season as well. {my BS, not Coach's words.}