'12 WA RB Keivarae Russell (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[woolybug25]

I suppose you could add the possibility of Devin Butler moving to safety or maybe James Onwalu getting moved back there if need be.

Yep. Possibly Farley and maybe Watkins could cross train from corner and rotate through the secondary. Not to mention we are getting Nicco in this class.

It's almost like the staff know what they're doing...*gasp*

 

[kmoose]

I suppose you could add the possibility of Devin Butler moving to safety or maybe James Onwalu getting moved back there if need be.

I'm not sure there is much of a possibility of Onwualu making a difference in the secondary. I don't know why, but I did notice that Onwualu was the odd man out when ND came out in a 4-2-5 defense. If Onwualu had the safety skills to be a contributor, I would think that they would have left him on the field.

 

[MartyIrish]

Corners MAYBE. Entire secondary? Sorry, not unless Shumate and Max get it all figured out this offseason.

Exactly. It's a big assumption to say our secondary is going to be "elite" after last year.

Better? Sure.

I personally think this is the season Redfield gets it together, he's just too athletic to not be a difference maker. I'm thinking Shumate is about where he's going to be don't expect much outta him. Same with Farley.

 

[ND4LIFE]

I'm not sure there is much of a possibility of Onwualu making a difference in the secondary. I don't know why, but I did notice that Onwualu was the odd man out when ND came out in a 4-2-5 defense. If Onwualu had the safety skills to be a contributor, I would think that they would have left him on the field.

Kid played WR the year before and started the next as a LB. I would say if he can make that conversion lets give him a little time to see where he best fits for this team.

 

[Grahambo]

I'm not sure there is much of a possibility of Onwualu making a difference in the secondary. I don't know why, but I did notice that Onwualu was the odd man out when ND came out in a 4-2-5 defense. If Onwualu had the safety skills to be a contributor, I would think that they would have left him on the field.

I completely understand. My point was more of, in terms of depth, safety wouldn't be as bare as it sounds like it could be right now. Who knows, maybe he takes to safety better then he took to LB and with the LB position a position of strength, it would be worth a shot.

Just spitballing.

 

[MartyIrish]

Kid played WR the year before and started the next as a LB. I would say if he can make that conversion lets give him a little time to see where he best fits for this team.

Or it could be a detriment....moving a guy around too much can cost us and him

Look at Harrison Smith. While he finished great, he was lost for about 2 yrs.

He's going into his Jr yr, I believe.....Let him keep developing where he's at

 

[Old Man Mike]

Random opinion:

A). Russell plus Luke = Elite cornerback position {just don't get hurt};

B). Redfield = maybe like Zeke, it clicks for him and he doesn't get embarrassed being so far away from his correct "space fill" that his athleticism can't make up for it;

C). Shumate = I hope he gets it, but I have great doubts. He's had a LOT more time than Max to see the light. But sometimes a safety DOES finally get it very late in his career --- frankly we've been a bit spoiled with our great safety crews/leaders of the recent past.

D). As to that, we still need a space manager back there to make the presnap adjustments. Max doesn't seem to be that guy as he's still fighting it himself. This is why Shumate might actually be under extra stress to be bumped. Can Tranquill do this? Maybe Matthias IS the smartest safety we have, and like Motta turns into somebody really good in his last year. Could a rook be instinctive enough to step in?

I don't see any reason to be more worried about any position on this team than safety, even the third linebacker, but excepting, as friggin' always, quarterback. This team is, with those exceptions, LOADED.

 

[MartyIrish]

Random opinion:

A). Russell plus Luke = Elite cornerback position {just don't get hurt};

B). Redfield = maybe like Zeke, it clicks for him and he doesn't get embarrassed being so far away from his correct "space fill" that his athleticism can't make up for it;

C). Shumate = I hope he gets it, but I have great doubts. He's had a LOT more time than Max to see the light. But sometimes a safety DOES finally get it very late in his career --- frankly we've been a bit spoiled with our great safety crews/leaders of the recent past.

D). As to that, we still need a space manager back there to make the presnap adjustments. Max doesn't seem to be that guy as he's still fighting it himself. This is why Shumate might actually be under extra stress to be bumped. Can Tranquill do this? Maybe Matthias IS the smartest safety we have, and like Motta turns into somebody really good in his last year. Could a rook be instinctive enough to step in?

I don't see any reason to be more worried about any position on this team than safety, even the third linebacker, but excepting, as friggin' always, quarterback. This team is, with those exceptions, LOADED.

I hope Redfield is much better than Motta...sheesh. I think you're over selling Motta IMO. He wasn't terrible, but wasn't a game changer, either. I think Redfield is a game changer.



And that's exactly my point on Shumate. It's not like he hasn't have every opportunity to show what he's got. To me, he's probably a great kid, he's just a filler.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I hope Redfield is much better than Motta...sheesh. I think you're over selling Motta IMO. He wasn't terrible, but wasn't a game changer, either. I think Redfield is a game changer.



And that's exactly my point on Shumate. It's not like he hasn't have every opportunity to show what he's got. To me, he's probably a great kid, he's just a filler.

Redfield is going to be more like Harrison Smith.

 

[phork]

Redfield is going to be more like Harrison Smith.

Except Redfield hits like a mack truck.

 

[MartyIrish]

Except Redfield hits like a mack truck.

Yep.

Smith was a good tackler but not a guy that was known for dropping huge hits on people.

 

[NDohio]

I hope Redfield is much better than Motta...sheesh. I think you're over selling Motta IMO. He wasn't terrible, but wasn't a game changer, either. I think Redfield is a game changer.



And that's exactly my point on Shumate. It's not like he hasn't have every opportunity to show what he's got. To me, he's probably a great kid, he's just a filler.

Not speaking for OMM, but I read that as a comparison for the mental part of the game. It seemed like Zeke was lost back there and all of a sudden one day it just clicked. Even with his limited athletic abilities, he was almost always in the right place his senior year(the one exception being the NCG). I am fairly certain OMM is not comparing them as overall players ... sheesh.

 

[BobbyMac]

I remember Smith almost broke a Miami player in two at Soldier Field. I bet it's on Youtube. People still don't get what level of an athlete he is. If he was on this team, I'd move Redfield up to a SS position. Smith at his best was better at playing center field than Redfield has shown so far. There probably isn't much difference in physical tools between them for the record btw.

.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Not speaking for OMM, but I read that as a comparison for the mental part of the game. It seemed like Zeke was lost back there and all of a sudden one day it just clicked. Even with his limited athletic abilities, he was almost always in the right place his senior year(the one exception being the NCG). I am fairly certain OMM is not comparing them as overall players ... sheesh.

Yet he seemed the only person that could tackle anybody (including Manti). I believe he lead the team in tackles, which never a good statistic for a team.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Random opinion:

A). Russell plus Luke = Elite cornerback position {just don't get hurt};

B). Redfield = maybe like Zeke, it clicks for him and he doesn't get embarrassed being so far away from his correct "space fill" that his athleticism can't make up for it;

C). Shumate = I hope he gets it, but I have great doubts. He's had a LOT more time than Max to see the light. But sometimes a safety DOES finally get it very late in his career --- frankly we've been a bit spoiled with our great safety crews/leaders of the recent past.

D). As to that, we still need a space manager back there to make the presnap adjustments. Max doesn't seem to be that guy as he's still fighting it himself. This is why Shumate might actually be under extra stress to be bumped. Can Tranquill do this? Maybe Matthias IS the smartest safety we have, and like Motta turns into somebody really good in his last year. Could a rook be instinctive enough to step in?

I don't see any reason to be more worried about any position on this team than safety, even the third linebacker, but excepting, as friggin' always, quarterback. This team is, with those exceptions, LOADED.

...Really? Spoiled would be like having Ha-Ha Clinton Dix and Landon Collins back there, or Mark Barron and Rob Lester. That's being spoiled. We've had some good ones, but never really a crew of them. We had McCarthy, but he was practically our only good defender in 2009. Smith came along later in 2010 and had a good 2011, and they did have Slaughter, but he was always hurt. I never fully understood the hype about Motta. He was very slow, meh in coverage and was a very good tackler. That's great and all, but I'd rather have a Barron-like guy who can do all 3 well. We have definitely not been spoiled at Safety.

 

[Old Man Mike]

My comparison with Motta [NDOHIO is close to being exactly on target]--- I only hope that Redfield gets "smart" about systems as did Zeke or he'll not have the career Zeke had --- apparently people [some of them] forget that Zeke made an NFL team and actually started some games. Redfield can have all the on-paper measurables that one wants, but until he makes the correct defensive fits and stops getting us killed by the occasional big over-the-top play, he will NOT be as good a FOOTBALL PLAYER as Zeke Motta. Now, I said that I think that Max WILL get it ultimately, but I wish people would stop equating 40 speeds and occasional highlight plays with winning football. In his senior year, and part of his junior year, Zeke Motta played winning football. ... ask Kelly or anyone who played with him.

As to being spoiied at safety, short-term memory I guess --- Motta, HSmith, McCarthy, Bruton, Zbikowski, even Slaughter ... most of these guys not only made NFL teams but started some. If someone refuses to believe that having that many NFL quality safeties in recent years is not being spoiled --- well, ... no comment. Michigan fans used to joke about Notre Dame having their next great "white safety" back there. Well, the race remark was theirs, but we HAVE had a recent tradition of a great NFL quality safeties "back there". We did NOT have that last season, and it hurt us. I have very painful memories of Redfield and Shumate not only blowing their coverages, but as their "man" sailed towards the endzone our closest pursuer would be Luke or Riggs. Our corners actually broke their own coverage to try to clean up safety messes faster than the safeties did.

Happy, happy, happy talk, but until we protect the top of our defense consistently all game, we've got defensive problems that BVG can't solve no matter what a genius he is. I remember "back in the day" when we were pretty much a yearly powerhouse. We beat almost everyone, but would lose just here and there to stop us from being champs. Why? The opponents revealed that if you listened carefully. "You have to Bomb Notre Dame" was the message. Why? Safeties were great on run fill but not pass. I'd like not to return to those days --- REAL frustrating to beat the crap out of the opponent and lose to a few big plays.

 

[BobbyMac]

If we are going back a decade, let's not forget Ndukwe. and Robert Blanton is recording over 100 tackles for the Vikings.. I'd have to guess by NFL participation there can't be more than 5 schools in the country who have produced as many starting NFL safeties.

.

 

[koonja]

David Bruton, who Farrar reminds me of, although Bruton is probably a bit faster.

 

[CanadalovesND]

If we are going back a decade, let's not forget Ndukwe. and Robert Blanton is recording over 100 tackles for the Vikings.. I'd have to guess by NFL participation there can't be more than 5 schools in the country who have produced as many starting NFL safeties.

.

Not too mention David Bruton is still kicking around with the Broncos. I believe he just finished his sixth season. Also, Sergio Brown. Despite a rather so-so college career, he's stuck around in the NFL for five years now as a back-up and special teamer.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Not too mention David Bruton is still kicking around with the Broncos. I believe he just finished his sixth season. Also, Sergio Brown. Despite a rather so-so college career, he's stuck around in the NFL for five years now as a back-up and special teamer.

Sergio Brown is a starter.


Sent via tapatalk

 

[CanadalovesND]

Sergio Brown is a starter.


Sent via tapatalk

Yes, that's right. He was a rotational starter for the Colts this past year. Filled in for LaRon Landry when he got injured.

 

[MartyIrish]

I totally get it. Hindsight looking back it seems we've been "spoiled" at S, but......

I always shake my head when people bring up how successful a guy is in the NFL when referencing his play in college. None of our safeties have been all that impressive at the college level other than Zibby and Smith...the rest are ehhh. Have they made something of themselves? Sure! And I'm proud of them. They're playing good football at the highest level, and it's awesome to see Domers do that.

But let's separate Saturday's and Sunday's. When it comes to Saturday's, we haven't been spoiled.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I totally get it. Hindsight looking back it seems we've been "spoiled" at S, but......

I always shake my head when people bring up how successful a guy is in the NFL when referencing his play in college. None of our safeties have been all that impressive at the college level other than Zibby and Smith...the rest are ehhh. Have they made something of themselves? Sure! And I'm proud of them. They're playing good football at the highest level, and it's awesome to see Domers do that.

But let's separate Saturday's and Sunday's. When it comes to Saturday's, we haven't been spoiled.

This is why it is unwise to right of off a talented DB after his first or second year.

 

[MartyIrish]

This is why it is unwise to right of off a talented DB after his first or second year.

Of course.

Or maybe the NFL coaches are tapping into something we've been unable to tap into?

 

[CanadalovesND]

Kei continues to put it that work.

KeiVarae Russell Continues Offseason Workouts in Washington

https://instagram.com/p/z-lfHfKacD/?modal=true

 

[ResLife Hero]

Kei continues to put it that work.

KeiVarae Russell Continues Offseason Workouts in Washington

https://instagram.com/p/z-lfHfKacD/?modal=true

Damn, it looks like he really took advantage of and put the work in this year.

 

[Irish YJ]

4.34 and 4.37, crazy.
Russell's Island.

 

[Big23Head]

Sampson is out here in Seattle and hoping to get an interview with him. He watched him practice and said he is very physically fit. 4.3-4.4 40, 40" vert, 11'5 broad according to trainers. Plans to head to ND next month but has not officially been re-admitted.

 

[irishknight35]

Sampson is out here in Seattle and hoping to get an interview with him. He watched him practice and said he is very physically fit. 4.3-4.4 40, 40" vert, 11'5 broad according to trainers. Plans to head to ND next month but has not officially been re-admitted.

Is there time frame in which this is suppose to happen? Want him back and training/practicing with ND players as quickly as possible. He's a motivator and a leader. The team needs him back on campus ASAP for summer workouts and gearing up for fall camp. His presence alone will be a boost.

 

[clashmore_mike]

thanks for the update, but man was that a scary thread bump for today.