'14 IL ILB Nyles Morgan (Notre Dame Signee)

[Luckylucci]

Somewhere there was a rumor that BVG might try to get JSmith, JSchmidt, and Morgan all out there at the three positions. Maybe that's feldercarb, but it's an interesting thought.

... but also, with the 21st century offenses we face, our nickel should still be played a lot, stealing reps.

Its not a rumor at all. BK in one of his more recent pressers talk about Morgan's ability to play all 3 LB positions with the thought of having those 3 on the field at the same time.

 

[PANDFAN]

Its not a rumor at all. BK in one of his more recent pressers talk about Morgan's ability to play all 3 LB positions with the thought of having those 3 on the field at the same time.

correct and he also said they might have made an error in putting jaylon inside sometimes

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Somewhere there was a rumor that BVG might try to get JSmith, JSchmidt, and Morgan all out there at the three positions. Maybe that's feldercarb, but it's an interesting thought.

... but also, with the 21st century offenses we face, our nickel should still be played a lot, stealing reps.

Its not a rumor at all. BK in one of his more recent pressers talk about Morgan's ability to play all 3 LB positions with the thought of having those 3 on the field at the same time.

correct and he also said they might have made an error in putting jaylon inside sometimes

Mother of God, I really like that idea. Who would be NMI at each position (time for a new acronym?) ?

 

[NOLAIrish]

Mother of God, I really like that idea. Who would be NMI at each position (time for a new acronym?) ?

This makes the most sense to me based on skill-sets:

Smith - Onwualu
Schmidt - Grace/Martini
Morgan - Grace/Hill(?)/Coney

 

[DonnieNarco]

Put the best players on the field. Playing Morgan, Schmidt, and Jaylon would definitely do that.

 

[Irish YJ]

This makes the most sense to me based on skill-sets:

Smith - Onwualu
Schmidt - Grace/Martini
Morgan - Grace/Hill(?)/Coney

with #6, 8, and 12 LBs (at their positions) coming in with the #12 an EE.... finally a position of strength and depth for the Irish for years to come.

 

[dshans]

... (time for a new acronym?) ?

As one with no middle name, for years (in both FL and MN) my driver's license read "Richard, NMI." On other "official" documents it read "NMN."

[No Middle Initial, No Middle Name.]

Just what is "NMI" in your scenario?





So many acronyms, so little time ...

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> ND A-to-Z: Nyles Morgan - Grasping Brian VanGorder’s complex, pro-style defense was not easy for... <a href="http://t.co/l5qbC07st3">http://t.co/l5qbC07st3</a></p>— Notre Dame on Scout (@NDonScout) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDonScout/status/607896121877393408">June 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[GBdomer]

Player I'm most looking forward to this season. True "SEC" linebacker somebody we haven't had playing middle linebacker in a long time. I don't know if he will as popular as Manti but I think he could be just as good.

 

[Luckylucci]

Player I'm most looking forward to this season. True "SEC" linebacker somebody we haven't had playing middle linebacker in a long time. I don't know if he will as popular as Manti but I think he could be just as good.

I think the answer is in your own post. That was only 3 years ago. He was the middle LB on the best D in the country through the regular season (2012). I'd call Manti (one of the most decorated LB's ever) a true SEC LB. Also, we have this guy named Jaylon Smith who is pretty good, he might be playing on Sundays soon.

 

[BobbyMac]

Player I'm most looking forward to this season. True "SEC" linebacker somebody we haven't had playing middle linebacker in a long time. I don't know if he will as popular as Manti but I think he could be just as good.

With 2 former starting grad students in the middle, an even faster converted WR on one side and a top 15 pick on the other side, he's sorta landlocked. If he does get to the point where he's on the field more plays than not, it will probably because he's putting up huge stats. I'd like to see him get outside and stay there with Martini and Coney holding down the middle going forward. When I see him, all I can think of is Lance Briggs. Physically, they are clones.

.

 

[dublinirish]

Morgan is the sort of kid who if he plays and is allowed make mistakes (and then learn from them) then he could be really great really soon. But if he sits behind Schmidt then i feel his growth might be stunted. I feel like his progression is alot like Greg Bryant's, he will need reps and more reps to get better

 

[GBdomer]

I think the answer is in your own post. That was only 3 years ago. He was the middle LB on the best D in the country through the regular season (2012). I'd call Manti (one of the most decorated LB's ever) a true SEC LB. Also, we have this guy named Jaylon Smith who is pretty good, he might be playing on Sundays soon.

No doubt Manti was good then took off his senior season and then just had an awful game vs Bama. Maybe Bama showed us what he really is or maybe he had the worst game ever. Now he's been ok in the pros but Chargers drafted another Mike linebacker so maybe Manti getting pushed out? No doubt our 2013 season helped him with the Heisman season and being such a profile program he was the leader. ND is always going to have a Heisman candidate if they are undefeated. But I do think he was a little overrated on the field but off the field he was the best at ND since I've been alive. I don't think he should have won the Heisman that year. Heck you could argue Jarvis Jones had a better season but there was a discussion of who was the best LB over the past twenty years and Manti made very few lists in people's eyes. The whole fake gf and Bama game killed him I think. Just all my opinion I know it won't be a popular one on here but o well

 

[Luckylucci]

You're definitely entitled to your opinion but here are some of his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior stats. Also provided the link below.

Sophomore: 133 tackels, 9.5 TFL's, 1 sack.

Junior: 128 tackles with 13.5 TFL's and 5 sacks. Selected second-team All-American by Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, SI.com, Rivals.com and Phil Steele

Senior: 113 tackles, 5.5 TFL's, 1.5 sacks, and 7 INT's (which was the second most in the country that season). Was deemed one of the most decorated players in the history of college football and selected to the all world team by everybody who watched college football (I added that last part)

Manti Te'o Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Thats some really darn good production against what is always a good to great schedule.

Lastly, his NFL success has nothing to do with being a "SEC LB". No offense, but it literally makes no sense because you'd be deeming these guys SEC caliber players before they ever get to the NFL.

 

[GoIrish41]

Morgan is the sort of kid who if he plays and is allowed make mistakes (and then learn from them) then he could be really great really soon. But if he sits behind Schmidt then i feel his growth might be stunted. I feel like his progression is alot like Greg Bryant's, he will need reps and more reps to get better

I agree. I think Morgan could be very very good for ND. I love his agressiveness and his ability to smack people. If he can get the mental side down, he is going to be amazing. Last year he was out of position at times, but if he learns from those mistakes and puts it all together, he is going to be fun to watch. He is a far more physically gifted player than Schmidt or Grace.

 

[GBdomer]

You're definitely entitled to your opinion but here are some of his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior stats. Also provided the link below.

Sophomore: 133 tackels, 9.5 TFL's, 1 sack.

Junior: 128 tackles with 13.5 TFL's and 5 sacks. Selected second-team All-American by Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, SI.com, Rivals.com and Phil Steele

Senior: 113 tackles, 5.5 TFL's, 1.5 sacks, and 7 INT's (which was the second most in the country that season). Was deemed one of the most decorated players in the history of college football and selected to the all world team by everybody who watched college football (I added that last part)

Manti Te'o Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Thats some really darn good production against what is always a good to great schedule.

Lastly, his NFL success has nothing to do with being a "SEC LB". No offense, but it literally makes no sense because you'd be deeming these guys SEC caliber players before they ever get to the NFL.

I was more less talking about his senior year. No doubt Manti was a great linebacker at ND. Arguably the best we've ever had. I was more or less referring to his senior year with the Heisman run and everything. I should have been more clear with my original post.

 

[kmoose]

Player I'm most looking forward to this season. True "SEC" linebacker somebody we haven't had playing middle linebacker in a long time.

Manti Teo has only been gone for two seasons....

 

[Luckylucci]

I was more less talking about his senior year. No doubt Manti was a great linebacker at ND. Arguably the best we've ever had. I was more or less referring to his senior year with the Heisman run and everything. I should have been more clear with my original post.

I thought the point of this was you said we have't had a "SEC LB" in a long time. I was just pointing out that, IMO, Manti would definitely be in that category.

 

[BeauBenken]

Why is it even "SEC LB"? Great linebackers are found everywhere, not just the SEC. The comment kinda diminishes the argument in my mind.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Not that it is recent, but the best LB duo in my lifetime has to be Jimmy Friday and Kory Minor. Those two were beasts.

 

[IrishGlory]

Why is it even "SEC LB"? Great linebackers are found everywhere, not just the SEC. The comment kinda diminishes the argument in my mind.

Exactly. I remember one that played up in Chestnut Hill, MA just a few years back. Goes by the name Luke. Last name Kuechly. You know, 3x First Team All American, picked #9 in the 2012 NFL Draft, 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2013 AP Defensive Player of the Year. It's all true. I googled it.

 

[ACamp1900]

Not that it is recent, but the best LB duo in my lifetime has to be Jimmy Friday and Kory Minor. Those two were beasts.

Stonebreaker, Bolcar and Kolwalkowski...

 

[BobbyMac]

What's an SEC LB? A black guy who runs a sub 4.6? I don't get this statement at all.

I'll take Paul Posluszny, Luke Keuchly, Mark Herzlich and Clay Matthews Jr and destroy the "SEC LB's". That's with three, 3 stars and a NR walk on.

Besides ND's current crop of "SEC LB's" which include Smith, Morgan, Coney, Barajas, Bilal and skipping the obvious guys like Teo and Kory Minor... Darius Fleming and Prince Shembo were "SEC LB's" by any metrics coming out of high school with either SEC offers or offers that included schools like Oklahoma and SC.

I'll even throw this in there, Dan Fox would have started for half the teams in the SEC and been in the rotation of the others his senior year. There are a lot of kids IN the SEC that can't say that.

You are selling these kids and the program short.

.

 

[kmoose]

Stonebreaker, Bolcar and Kolwalkowski...

More recently, Mike Goolsby and Brandon Hoyte were a pretty good tandem, as well, in 2004.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

There's a lot of optimisim on IE about Morgan, and I certainly hope he justifies it next year. However I don't know if the fact that Coney, a true freshman, is first linebacker off the bench is not something that gives me a lot of confidence. Are the linebacker positions so much different that Morgan couldn't be inserted over Coney?

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Here is what baffles me. Nyles Morgan played last year and played farley well when he came in. Yes he made a mistake here and there which schmidt did every game but he also had multiple double digit tackle games. He didn't even get a shot this year. Guys like Bonner, trumbetti, martini all played extremely well when they got time but barely played which doesn't make much sense

 

[brewdog_14527]

There's a lot of optimisim on IE about Morgan, and I certainly hope he justifies it next year. However I don't know if the fact that Coney, a true freshman, is first linebacker off the bench is not something that gives me a lot of confidence. Are the linebacker positions so much different that Morgan couldn't be inserted over Coney?

Add in the fact that when Coney went out, Jarrett Grace took his position.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Yea I just can't figure out how he is basically 4th on the depth chart at all LB spots.

 

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Grace came in and played mlb, joe went outside. that's how I saw it anyways

 

[stlnd01]

There's a lot of optimisim on IE about Morgan, and I certainly hope he justifies it next year. However I don't know if the fact that Coney, a true freshman, is first linebacker off the bench is not something that gives me a lot of confidence. Are the linebacker positions so much different that Morgan couldn't be inserted over Coney?

Don't Morgan and Coney play different positions though?