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

[Bogtrotter07]

Good reason for a bump I guess if the question is, "How much improved is our defensive secondary?"

Not only would I like to hear good opinions on that, I would like to know if AS really could start for most opponents as you postulate Wooly; would he have started at Cal this year? Or is that irrelevant based upon different schemes? Or the fact that Cal is a pile of steaming shit?

And how much could packages and personnel groupings by BVG affect the conversation and the effectiveness of the defensive backfield?

Also, it seems like there has been a lot of talk about pass rushing pressure from safeties and corners this year. How does that affect the conversation?

Finally, the other thing : Most ND fans want to write the d-line off as less than dynamic, but most concede that the linebacking corps is pretty awesome. I believe most would agree that we have at lest two, if not three linebackers, maybe more that can provide downfield coverage, particularly on tight ends and backs out of the backfield. How does this affect the conversation about the quality and effectiveness of ND's defensive backfield?

 

[returnofthemack]

“We don’t feel like your receivers are going to be as good as ours, and they don’t feel like your secondary is going to be as good as ours, so we’re going to come with the ultimate confidence, and when you have a guy running at you like Will Fuller, I mean probably 4.3 easily, with confidence ... wow many dudes do you think can stop that?”
You tell me, the reporter responded.
“I know one,” Russell said.
Who?
“Starts with a ‘K.’ “

Irish rout of Texas, response to injury show ND is thinking big - Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ESPN

 

[irishfanjho15]

“We don’t feel like your receivers are going to be as good as ours, and they don’t feel like your secondary is going to be as good as ours, so we’re going to come with the ultimate confidence, and when you have a guy running at you like Will Fuller, I mean probably 4.3 easily, with confidence ... wow many dudes do you think can stop that?”
You tell me, the reporter responded.
“I know one,” Russell said.
Who?
“Starts with a ‘K.’ “

Irish rout of Texas, response to injury show ND is thinking big - Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ESPN

Love it.

Rumble young man, rumble.

 

[tussin]

How did he play on Saturday? Don't recall his name being mentioned that much... I assume that's a good thing?

 

[greyhammer90]

How did he play on Saturday? Don't recall his name being mentioned that much... I assume that's a good thing?

Played well most of the night, knocked the shit out of Heard one play, got burned badly one-on-one one play.

 

[Irishman77]

Heard never returned after that play . My guess is concussion

 

[NDBoiler]

Played well most of the night, knocked the shit out of Heard one play, got burned badly one-on-one one play.

I believe that one play was where he thought he had safety help over the top but he didn't. Not sure if he in fact was supposed to have the help, but it would def explain why he let the receiver get by him so easily, and therefore not really a case of being burnt and more of a case of busted coverage.

 

[Junkhead]

I believe that one play was where he thought he had safety help over the top but he didn't. Not sure if he in fact was supposed to have the help, but it would def explain why he let the receiver get by him so easily, and therefore not really a case of being burnt and more of a case of busted coverage.

This. Plus he is probably a bit rusty.

 

[tussin]

Is there a gif floating around of the hit on Heard?

 

[GUknights75]

Played well most of the night, knocked the shit out of Heard one play, got burned badly one-on-one one play.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. I haven't replayed the game yet but I remember him being right on the receivers hip. It was just the one great throw he had all night. I believe Doug Flutie even said it was good coverage.

 

[ulukinatme]

Heard never returned after that play . My guess is concussion

Yeah, Strong played it off in the post-game as getting the wind knocked out of him I think, but Heard definitely looked like he got his bell rung a little bit at least. Strong may have wanted it downplayed if he attempts to insert Heard this week against Rice (Probably a better game for a freshman to get lots of reps in instead of under the lights against ND). At least he didn't send him back out onto the field ala Hoke.

 

[BGIF]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. I haven't replayed the game yet but I remember him being right on the receivers hip. It was just the one great throw he had all night. I believe Doug Flutie even said it was good coverage.

^

 

[Emcee77]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. I haven't replayed the game yet but I remember him being right on the receivers hip. It was just the one great throw he had all night. I believe Doug Flutie even said it was good coverage.

I saw the play again yesterday, and I think it's fair to say he was burned (or someone was ... was it Russell or Cole Luke who was supposed to be covering the guy? Both Russell and Luke were there when the tackle was made, but I'm not sure as I sit here which one was helping and which one was burnt) The receiver had gotten a fair amount of separation. If the QB had hit the receiver in stride it might have been a TD.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Redfield got suckered up on that play leaving no midfield help.

 

[Booslum31]

Redfield got suckered up on that play leaving no midfield help.

Max isn't immune to biting on the play-action.

 

[TheChosen1]

Watching the tape the past 2 weeks. Teams are targeting 6 on defense.

 

[stlnd01]

Watching the tape the past 2 weeks. Teams are targeting 6 on defense.

As in they're throwing at him? OK.
To be fair, Ga. Tech hardly threw. Va. had a lot of luck. And Texas barely had any time.
I don't think we'll really know much about our pass defense until the Clemson game.

 

[Emcee77]

Yeah I haven't noticed that teams are targeting him (not saying they aren't; just saying I haven't noticed), but I do think he has looked a little rusty at times. I guess that's to be expected.

 

[koonja]

I know he's in a great shape, but has his weight increased significantly since 2013? Because let's be honest, he looks like he's lost a step, and we haven't even played a team with great WRs yet. I wonder if he added too much muscle in the time off. Some players lose weight during the season, so if that is a factor, maybe he's get into mid season form pretty quickly.

 

[Luckylucci]

Part of my issue through the first two games and even a little on Saturday with scheme has been one reason why I think KVR has looked a little out of place. We seem to be playing more off man coverage than I expected. A couple of times KVR didn't look good against UVA he was in off man and when he had that holding penalty on saturday he was once again in off man coverage. His best skillset is his physicality ala Richard Sherman. When you take him off the line it negates that part of his skillset.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Who else do you expect them to target? He's the 2nd best CB in the roster and missed an entire year.

 

[GBdomer]

He seemed a little out of place I recall a play that I tweeted out where he thought it was a pass play and was legit running with the receiver down field for about 30 yards and the run was coming right at it. Didn't read or react to it at all and then seemed to be blocked an additional ten yards down the field. Hopefully it's just rust and he balls out the next two weeks. Scott for Clemson will show to me just really how good he is or if he's back. Pray to God this doesn't turn out to be a Gary Gray type season for him.

 

[Grahambo]

Shaking off the game rust. Give it time.

 

[johnnycando]

He seemed a little out of place I recall a play that I tweeted out where he thought it was a pass play and was legit running with the receiver down field for about 30 yards and the run was coming right at it. Didn't read or react to it at all and then seemed to be blocked an additional ten yards down the field. Hopefully it's just rust and he balls out the next two weeks. Scott for Clemson will show to me just really how good he is or if he's back. Pray to God this doesn't turn out to be a Gary Gray type season for him.

Spot on post.

And I agree.

Both Skov TDs he chose not to shuck the block and confront him near goalline. (I'm pretty certain it was him.)

NFL scouts will not appreciate that.

 

[GBdomer]

Spot on post.

And I agree.

Both Skov TDs he chose not to shuck the block and confront him near goalline. (I'm pretty certain it was him.)

NFL scouts will not appreciate that.

I am glad you know what play I was talking about because I was bitching to about five different people and they had no idea what I was talking about. I was going nuts

 

[Old Man Mike]

I re-watched the game and Russell made several great plays. Worrying about Keivarae Russell is not something that keeps me awake at night. I worry a he!l of a lot more about our safety play all across the board. [and our DBack depth in general].

 

[johnnycando]

I am glad you know what play I was talking about because I was bitching to about five different people and they had no idea what I was talking about. I was going nuts

I mean I get it.

Skov was gonna hurt whoever got in his way.

Honestly the dude is a bulldozer.

But if you have the swagga you gotta attempt to stick him.

 

[Henges24]

Spot on post.

And I agree.

Both Skov TDs he chose not to shuck the block and confront him near goalline. (I'm pretty certain it was him.)

NFL scouts will not appreciate that.

I just got done watching the game because I missed it Saturday. Definitely noticed he didn't go after Skov on that 2nd last TD. I wouldn't put it against him though. The game was practically over (at the time we thought) and that TD really didn't matter much. No reason to suffer a dislocated shoulder with 30 secs left.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

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

IIRC, he was one of the only guys who consistently tried to take down Eddie Lacy head-on a few years ago, seeing he wasn't getting touched until the second level practically every carry. I personally wouldn't question his toughness.

 

[scUM Hater]

Is it a matter of Russel being one on one more than the other CB's? I haven't gone back and looked at film in writing this? Maybe he isn't getting the safeties coming over to assist him as much as others?