Team Speed

[Junkhead]

We always hear about lack of speed, and mainly in the secondary, since that's seemed to be a weakness at times. Looking it up, HS stats show Zibby with a 10.4 100m, Lambert with a 10.5 100m, Richardson with a 14.4 110mh, etc. I don't think speed is the problem. Its the defensive schemes. Thoughts?

 

[Golden_Domer88]

Its the Schemes, the players, the speed. Its everything for that Defense.

 

[Golden_Domer88]

Top 5 Weaknesses/Strengths of this years team

Top 5 Weaknesses/Strengths of this years team

These are my Top 5 Weaknesses/Strengths of this years team.

Weaknesses
1. Rick Minter
2. Secondary
3. Linebackers
4. O-Line
5. Kicking (Field Goals/Kickoffs)


Strengths
1. Quarterback
2. Wide Receivers
3. Punter
4. Running Back
5. Sam young

 

[tgolden]

sure the guys have speed. Lambert can fly. Wooden has great numbers. Walls can fly. Zibby can fly (although sometimes lately it really doesn't look like it). Nedu isn't slow. Richardson isn't slow.

Dwight Ellick won the 100m state championship in NY and Fla in high school. There's more to football than speed.... although it surely does help.

 

[irishX25]

i totally agree. i think the problem is that for the most part, our players are out of position. zibby is all about run support and he gets to caught up in that sometimes. our corners are just inconsistent and nedum, i think, has made good improvement

 

[Junkhead]

sure the guys have speed. Lambert can fly. Wooden has great numbers. Walls can fly. Zibby can fly (although sometimes lately it really doesn't look like it). Nedu isn't slow. Richardson isn't slow.

Dwight Ellick won the 100m state championship in NY and Fla in high school. There's more to football than speed.... although it surely does help.

I guess that's what I thought of this thread. I keep reading how ND needs more speed, and speed obviously isn't enough. The defense reacts slow.

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

We aren't ever going to have much more speed in the Defensive backfield than we do right now. Heck 3 of our starters are being looked at by the NFL (only Ndukwe doesn't seem to have a lot of interest in him) If they have enough speed for the NFL, they have enough speed for College football, IMO its scheme combined with lack of pressure on the QB...

 

[jiggafini19]

Speed is a luxury, but it is even more potent if WR can run precise routes, running backs have vision, and defensive backs can actually cover people.

Ndukewe got exposed in the SC game as a safety that will struggle in pass coverage while in the NFL. And as an NFL safety, you have to possess coverage skills or you'll be on special teams.

 

[tgolden]

I actually thought Ndukwe was right there on most of those plays, and Jarrett just made great catches. It's not like he was way out of position. I'm kinda suprised Ndukwe isn't getting any interest. Personally, I think as a safety, he is better than Zibby a lot of the times.

 

[jiggafini19]

Jarrett smoked everyone that night. Anyone that got near him looked bad.

 

[hmoney]

What game would everyone say was our best defensive game this past year? I would have to say Georgia Tech....They atleast gave the illusion at that point in the year that they would be good defensively

 

[jiggafini19]

The job they did on Calvin Johnson in the second half was very impressive.

Shane Walton and Vontez Duff weren't track stars. They made plays because of positioning and instinct.

If a guy like Lambert improves the way Mike Richardson did over these past two seasons, add to the young talent of Walls and McNeil with Gray in the wings and you'll have a very deep CB squad.

 

[hmoney]

I would agree.....football instincts are a measurement that no recruiting website can measure....you can be the fastest athlete on the field but if you are in the wrong position or do not anticipate they play you will get beat every time....granted speed can help make up for those mistakes. Hopefuly these recruits we have gotten this year and last will not only be fast but will also have good football IQ...I was very impressed by Walls in the AA game last year he always seemed to be in the right position...I expect big things from him

 

[jerseyborn1971]

A great pass rush can make average corners look like superstars. A bad pass rush can make great corners look like fat guys with cement shoes.

 

[jiggafini19]

I was very impressed by Walls in the AA game last year he always seemed to be in the right position...I expect big things from him

You must mean McNeil. Walls didn't play due to injury.

McNeil had a great game. Both need time in the weight room.

 

[hmoney]

Yeah you are right sorry.... I knew it was one of the two couldn't remember which....I guess I assumed it was Walls becasue of the PT he got earlier this year.

 

[hmoney]

I have slept a lot since last Jan.

 

[Junkhead]

Ndukewe got exposed in the SC game as a safety that will struggle in pass coverage while in the NFL.

Wasn't he out for more than half of the game with a knee injury???

 

[jiggafini19]

He was in long enough to have been beaten at least once for a TD.

I recollect Bruton replacing him in the late third, early fourth. Could be wrong. I was extremely drunk by that time in the game.

 

[tgolden]

Shane Walton and Vontez Duff weren't track stars. They made plays because of positioning and instinct.

QUOTE]

Duff was in high school. He had some very good times. But yea, Shane wasn't exceptionally fast, but he was very good.

And I recall Bruton coming in fairly early in the 3rd although I could be wrong. I do know he was in for a long time before the commentators noticed.

 

[Get Nasty]

Team Speed

You guys are looking at team speed the wrong way. You keep looking at 100m and 40yd dash. What is just as important is the shuttle. Corners need to be more quick then fast. Zibby, lambert, richardson, etc they all have the fast straight ahead speed but do not have the quick speed and burst. That is especially evident when they slightly bite on a playfake and then get burnt because they can't make up for it.

 

[sonomairishfan]

You guys are looking at team speed the wrong way. You keep looking at 100m and 40yd dash. What is just as important is the shuttle. Corners need to be more quick then fast. Zibby, lambert, richardson, etc they all have the fast straight ahead speed but do not have the quick speed and burst. That is especially evident when they slightly bite on a playfake and then get burnt because they can't make up for it.

couldn't agree more. footwork is key to being a DB or safety. our kids don't have it. lack of coaching in that department.


richardson and lambert were by far the most improved players. good enough for the nfl?? no way. we don't have anybody in the secondary that will contribute in the nfl.

we should have made zibby a linebacker since all he wants to do is hit people. i think he would have been a good LB.

 

[jiggafini19]

"It's all in the hips....it's all in the hips."

 

[tgolden]

You guys are looking at team speed the wrong way. You keep looking at 100m and 40yd dash. What is just as important is the shuttle. Corners need to be more quick then fast. Zibby, lambert, richardson, etc they all have the fast straight ahead speed but do not have the quick speed and burst. That is especially evident when they slightly bite on a playfake and then get burnt because they can't make up for it.

I still think Lambert has that kinda speed although I agree that Zibby and Richardson aren't quite up there.

 

[irishmike46]

Its not our speed as much as our thought process. Our guys are doing to much thginking for a split second and that causes us to look slow. We need to be like robots and just react instantly.

 

[johnchampion]

Bear Bryant once said, "Luck follows speed."

Lou Holtz quoted this and once said, "I wish that luck would follow us."