Carlson to come back for 5th year!

[GoshenGipper]

according to a mpls star tribune newspaper, it had said today that people close to Carlson say he is planning on coming back for a 5th year at ND. I read it in the paper version, i need to see if it's linked to their website.
this would be great for ND.

I saw this on Irish Illustrated and I just thought I would pass it along. I just checked the StarTribune's site and I couldn't find the acticle, but if this were to come to fruition it would be great news for the Irish.

 

[lattedatte]

Nice, the tutelage that he will provide Ragone and Konrad will be huge....

 

[Seymore]

Nice, the tutelage that he will provide Ragone and Konrad will be huge....

Excellent point !

 

[omissionrock]

To have Carlson back for his fifth year is probably going to be better for ND next year than having Clausen sit on the sidelines, way to go carlson!!!!

 

[Clotho]

Still, I would like to see Rueland get involved more next season and be brought along for the day when he's #1 or 1A with Ragone.

Considering the QB situation, and that he'll be likely to put up less numbers (even playing a full season) than this year, this is actually a surprise. Good for John.

 

[Irish Envy]

I'm not sure how I feel about Carlson coming back. While you'd like to think it's simply a positive, I'm wondering if it could possibly set back the development of our young tight ends. Only time will tell.

 

[patches12345]

I know that I feel that he can do for Konrad, Will, and Mike what Anthony did for him.

 

[scooper]

This will be his deepest year yet at TE, so I think Charlie will use multiple TE's more often. So I think the others will develop. More importantly, I think he will help with the development of whoever plays QB. Not to mention, with such a young team, any veteran leadership will be a plus.

I think we've all tempered our expectations for next year, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to win them all, and I think having Carlson there will help toward that goal.

That guy's going to feel like a geezer in the locker room next season.

 

[Clotho]

I know that I feel that he can do for Konrad, Will, and Mike what Anthony did for him.

You mean keep them on the bench? Because otherwise I dunno what an upperclassman tightend does for a younger TE teammate.

 

[nayers]

You mean keep them on the bench? Because otherwise I dunno what an upperclassman tightend does for a younger TE teammate.

He shows the younger one the ropes..he gives him advice and answers questions regarding to the playbook...he helps him with blocking and running routes(he isnt 1st string for nothing)

 

[nayers]

per B&G
Ashley McConnell, Mitchell Thomas, and Chase Anastasio were all asked to return but won't...Zibby looks to be leaving, Ambrose Wooden, John Sullivan, Trevor Laws, and Travis Thomas all plan on coming back, Carlson will make his decision final in 5-7 days.

 

[IrishDon103]

...Brockington?

 

[guff]

If I'm Carlson I'm gone. TEs only go so high in the draft, unless you're a Shockey/Solider type talent. Both are asshats but both had huge potential. I don't think Carlson will ever be the type of pro prospect.

Second reason and the more important one in my mind. TEs only have so many years to make money. Carlson's pro career will be done when he when he is in early 30s regardless of when it starts. He will lose one year of earning big bucks.

 

[NDAlumSon]

I'm not sure how I feel about Carlson coming back. While you'd like to think it's simply a positive, I'm wondering if it could possibly set back the development of our young tight ends. Only time will tell.

First thing that came to my mind too. I think I'm leaning more toward the "out with old and in with the new" philosophy while Charlie re-builds the franchise. Even though that sounds horrible.

This will be his deepest year yet at TE, so I think Charlie will use multiple TE's more often. So I think the others will develop. More importantly, I think he will help with the development of whoever plays QB. Not to mention, with such a young team, any veteran leadership will be a plus.

There's the other argument. Scooper's a guru.

If I'm Carlson I'm gone. TEs only go so high in the draft, unless you're a Shockey/Solider type talent. Both are asshats but both had huge potential. I don't think Carlson will ever be the type of pro prospect.

Second reason and the more important one in my mind. TEs only have so many years to make money. Carlson's pro career will be done when he when he is in early 30s regardless of when it starts. He will lose one year of earning big bucks.

I think in this ONE year under Bernie Parmalee, in Charlie Weis' offensive system, John has proven what a dangerous weapon he could be at the next level. I think NFL teams see that too. If I'm him, I'm gone.
He's got great size and agility. He's got the numbers to prove it and the ability to greatly improve with time. And I think pro scouts see this.
ALL in one year ! Phenominal.

 

[Pete]

I just think it's best for him to leave this year. Next season ND is breaking in a new QB, two new starting WR, 4 new OL. It might take awhile to for all of that to gel, which would probably hurt his numbers, which would directly effect his draft stock.

 

[dyrtdogg]

Not trying to be negative here, but other players have said the same thing on this side of bowl season. The first one to come to mind is a certain QB from Texas last year. Granted, Carlson doesn't look to be turning down the same sort of jack that Young would have been, but I generally take a wait-and-see attitude with these sorts of things.

 

[guff]

I think Posluzny is good example of "get while the gettin's good." He was forced to stay because of injury but I think he hurt his draft status this year. I may be wrong but I think he and Hawk were seen as #1 and #1A at LB. I don't think he's the #1 LB this year.

 

[scooper]

I think Posluzny is good example of "get while the gettin's good." He was forced to stay because of injury but I think he hurt his draft status this year. I may be wrong but I think he and Hawk were seen as #1 and #1A at LB. I don't think he's the #1 LB this year.

Very good point. It seemed to take Posluzny until later in the season to really get up to speed. That definately hurt his stock.

 

[Pete]

Very good point. It seemed to take Posluzny until later in the season to really get up to speed. That definately hurt his stock.

I read from an ESPN draft guru that he thinks Poz is now in the second round.

Adam Gettysburg Pa: What round does Penn states LB Paul Poslozny go and where does he fit best in a 3-4 defense?

Steve Muench: Adam, I think he may slip into the second round and he would fit best on the inside in a 3-4 scheme.

 

[TexasNDFan]

Having Carlson back will help in the development of Clausen and all the WR's. Teams will have to account for Carlson early on, besides from what I hear about Rueland he maybe a guy we could move around and maybe motion into the slot, much like the Cowboys use Witten and Fasano.

 

[NDAlumSon]

Having Carlson back will help in the development of Clausen and all the WR's. Teams will have to account for Carlson early on, besides from what I hear about Rueland he maybe a guy we could move around and maybe motion into the slot, much like the Cowboys use Witten and Fasano.

That's a solid 5th post, Tex. Welcome

 

[ndirish302000]

If I'm Carlson I'm gone. TEs only go so high in the draft, unless you're a Shockey/Solider type talent. Both are asshats but both had huge potential. I don't think Carlson will ever be the type of pro prospect.

Second reason and the more important one in my mind. TEs only have so many years to make money. Carlson's pro career will be done when he when he is in early 30s regardless of when it starts. He will lose one year of earning big bucks.[/QUOTE]


Thats when the Notre Dame education kicks in and he makes big bucks in a job. It's not like he'll get out of the NFL and sell hotdogs on the corner.

 

[RichardRiot]

I think Posluzny is good example of "get while the gettin's good." He was forced to stay because of injury but I think he hurt his draft status this year. I may be wrong but I think he and Hawk were seen as #1 and #1A at LB. I don't think he's the #1 LB this year.

I know this is about Carlson, but I never really saw Posluzny having the 'upside' in the NFL that AJ Hawk did. Just my opinion.

On Carlson: would personally love to have him back, as I believe that his 'sure hands' would be a big confidence booster for the new QB (whoever it is will be good, but will be guaranteed to struggle through significant parts of the season - given their inexperience). However, I am in the camp that feels he will decide to go in the draft (based on how the Fasano situation last year).

 

[BGIF]

I'm not sure how I feel about Carlson coming back. While you'd like to think it's simply a positive, I'm wondering if it could possibly set back the development of our young tight ends. Only time will tell.

Look for Yeatman to move to OT. He's 265 and 9 months of a knife and fork and Mendoza will make him an inside guy. He played 25 minutes this year, 10 more than Reuland and didn't catch a pass. He's a blocker. Think Pettigout and Heck.

Fasano didn't hurt Carlson's development. Competition encourages development.

 

[Indydomer]

Carlson will give whoever the young qb is a go to guy all the time. That constant dump off valve that is needed for any young guy. We will be somewhat inexperienced at wideout with grimes being the only reliable guy coming back. (maybe Hord if he's healthy watch out). So having the reliable Carlson and Walker will help tremendously. Teams win with a solid TE, and a great running game, and if our O-line plays good next year, we could have just that. With Walker, Aldridge, Prince, AA, Schwaap, and Schmidt, at the RB and FB, and Carlson, Reuland, and Ragone at TE, you couldn't ask for anything more for a young QB. The o-line should be better next year, and I think our young receivers can step in and fill the roles of the guys we lose.

Carlson coming back is a great thing fellas. It never hurts having a first to second round TE playing on your team.

 

[lattedatte]

Carlson coming back should viewed as nothing but a good thing, I mean Charlie ran several multiple TE sets at NE(and they still do.) He will get the best players on the field. If that means three TE's then so be it. Ragone will be coming back after taking the whole year off to recover, we shouldn't expect to see him much this year(but ya never know).

 

[njuneardave]

bittersweet.

i only want the best for carlson, and while i am happy (as an Irish fan) that he is returning, I can only worry that he has hurt his draft stock for the future. I hope for the best to come from this decision.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Look for Yeatman to move to OT. He's 265 and 9 months of a knife and fork and Mendoza will make him an inside guy. He played 25 minutes this year, 10 more than Reuland and didn't catch a pass. He's a blocker. Think Pettigout and Heck.

Isn't he a Lacrosse player too though? He might not want to add the weight, especially since he'd probably never start at either position in football.

 

[irishfan]

Expect to see Ragone to have 5+ touchdowns in 2007. Near the goal line, Samardzija was our 3rd Tight End, and often had many touchdown catches when we were inside the 5 yard line. He would often cut across the middle of the endzone, and be wide open after the defense was fooled on the playaction. Ragone has fairly similar size and speed to Samardzija, so it is likely that he may be in that same position near the goal line.

 

[BGIF]

Isn't he a Lacrosse player too though? He might not want to add the weight, especially since he'd probably never start at either position in football.

He was originally coming to ND on a LAX scholarship but that was changed to football before he was a student. I don't know if he is playing LAX at ND. He would have had to miss the Fall action due to football. He's not listed on the '06 LAX team roster

http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/nd-m-lacros-mtt.html

and I haven't seen an '07 roster. Take a look at the the weights of those players on the '06 LAX roster. Only two are over 200 pounds, one is 224 the other 225. At 265 Yeatman's a long way's from LAX size. The LAX '07 schedule starts up in Feb. Spring Football would require him missing about one third or more of the LAX season.

Considering ND's dearth of upperclass OLs, his size (and growth potential), his primarly on field role (blocker), Carlson's return and Ragone's impending arrival I wouldn't find a move to OT surprising at all. It provides depth on a team sorely lacking in depth and should one or more of the other TEs go down he could easily fill in ala Travis Thomas.