OnwardToVictory07
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Yea, because no underclassmen have EVER declared for pro drafts and been drafted late, or not at all. You're a moron, and your breath stinks.
D Walk leaving ND
- Thread starter loomis41973
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Yea, because no underclassmen have EVER declared for pro drafts and been drafted late, or not at all. You're a moron, and your breath stinks.
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Fighting_Irish9
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Who cares if he is drafted "late", if the kid gets drafted, he will make more his first year than you will see in your life....
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Fighting_Irish9
Guest
Well if it was a "failed experiement", why wasn't one of the other LB's playing LB the last few games....has weis just given up on everything?
LOVEMYIRISH
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That's great news! I like DW, but I would rather just see the newer kids get the reps...this is the best way to start it.
I hope he gets picked up by someone...not sure he will, but I hope he does.
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Fighting_Irish9
Guest
I would rather have the best possible players playing, but GL to Walker
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TexasDomer
Guest
I've read other places (NDN, for example) that he hasn't signed with an agent. He may just be exploring the options at this point.
irishranger
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Good luck to you Darius, thank you for staying through the hard years and being part of the rebuilding. I wish you nothing but the best in the NFL. You are a stand up guy and a great person.
IrishRamMan10
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Is this because of alridge and Allen??? Because in no way is he an elite back... Just a solid college back
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Fighting_Irish9
Guest
If anything it likely has to do with his family needing money, and even a late round draft pick will make a damn good bit of coin.
I seriously doubt he was concerned about Aldridge as that guy wasn't good enough to become the #2 back (a spot held for our LB)....
I do think this is why Thomas was moved back to RB as he will be the #1 RB next year with Aldridge and Allen to compliment him
IrishRamMan10
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ya it will be interesting to see how thomas fits into the LB line up... however i would rather see A 50/ 50 Alridge Allen combo compared to a 80% thomas 10% alridge 10% allen kind of deal.
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Aaronl
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your an idiot. aldridge was injured and got very little reps. hes young and you will eat that trash your talking about him in the future.
Ultimate Penn St. Hater
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I wish DW wasn't leaving. He's an asset to the school and the team. Best of luck Darius! I wish you nothing but the best. Go Irish!
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JessHarper
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First Post.I was surprised but not sad.No question in my mind it's not a bad thing for ND.Good luck to him.He is a nice young Man.
Junkhead
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http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/NDSports02/603050334/-1/NDSPORTS
I don't think his family is broke after that $3 million settlement. I hate to bring crap like that up, since they deserve it after such as mess. Anyway, I wish DW the best either way.
IrishAlum1997
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Thanks to DW for his 3 years at ND. However, trust me, he was not as innocent as everyone of those news stories would lead you to believe. I hate to play National Enquirer, but that incident was C-R-A-Z-Y.
Aldridge was out of the picture this year for two reasons:
1. Early knee injury
2. True freshman
2a. 1 combined with 2 contributed to him not being able to learn the "system" as quickly as he could have
Walker had the advantage of health and experience. I'm not saying that Aldridge would have taken his spot, but from the physical ability I've seen from Aldridge I'd say the only thing holding him back is inexperience with this offense (specifically pass blocking, which DW just became proficient at this year.) Given that, if I were DW, I'd probably recognize that my stock was not going to get any higher than it is right now after lighting up LSU like almost nobody else this season has. The alternative is coming back next year to split carries with possibly superior backs in Aldridge/Allen. For a player that is a marginal draft pick (which DW is) you need to maximize your chances and go when your stock is the highest, i.e. NOW.
And please do not take this post as a knock or insult to DW; he has been a great back for us and has contributed to many W's and I wish him the best of luck; but in reality, there are those much more talented, a couple of whom happen to be sitting on our bench right now. Let's just hope they deliver their talent.
Well, with whatever he decides, I wish Darius the best. He was fun to watch and seemed like a very good guy. I was at the UM game in 04 and that was definitely one of the best games I've ever been to.
and if Darius does leave, I'm a huge Travis Thomas fan, so I'd love for him to get more carries... and of course get the younger guys in there too.
but Darius and his whole family will surely be missed. He scored a TD on his last carry in ND stadium, didn't he? I think he did.
and if Darius does leave, I'm a huge Travis Thomas fan, so I'd love for him to get more carries... and of course get the younger guys in there too.
but Darius and his whole family will surely be missed. He scored a TD on his last carry in ND stadium, didn't he? I think he did.
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RichardRiot
Guest
For the number of touches that Travis Thomas, James Aldridge, and Armando Allen have between them, it is hard to say that we will definitively be better at RB in '07 than in '06. This is no knock on any of these other 3 players, but: if Thomas was better than Walker in '06, CW would surely have had him in the backfield more; Aldridge didn't get nearly enought touches to demonstrate that he is better than Walker; Allen is a Frosh, and will also be coming off of a significant rehab (which is why he wanted to EE - not dissimilar to Aldridge last year).
Again, not a knock on any of these players (hoping that both JA and AA have very bright futures at ND), but I am certain that at some point next year most of those applauding this move will wish that DW had stayed another year: great hands; great blocking; very few balls put on the ground; usually got positive yards.
Re. the comment that TT is a better blocker.....I definitely don't see that.
Again, not a knock on any of these players (hoping that both JA and AA have very bright futures at ND), but I am certain that at some point next year most of those applauding this move will wish that DW had stayed another year: great hands; great blocking; very few balls put on the ground; usually got positive yards.
Re. the comment that TT is a better blocker.....I definitely don't see that.
Sir, you are ignoring the fact that we were DESPERATE for athletes in the LB position. Sure, the TT experiment didn't work out, but the fact that he was moved to LB is no indication that he was not as good a RB as Walker- merely that he filled the need at LB better than anyone else.
As for Aldridge, one cannot really judge definitively his potential based on his extremely limited play; but during that limited play, I (but admittedly I don't know how many others) saw a MUCH stronger, MUCH faster back than DW. I also saw a back that has the physical ability to be a "gamebreaker," or whatever you want to call it. Aldridge was held out of this offense due to an early injury that kept him behind the learning curve. Look for him to be a big part of ND's offense next year, regardless of whether or not DW stays.
And to go back to the Thomas issue, I would guess that he's going to be coming to the backfield as a short yardage back since he has been so effective at that, even when he was in the program as a LB.
GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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RichardRiot
Guest
Not ignoring the LB issue, but I don't think that Thomas was moved to LB despite the fact that he was ahead of Walker at the RB position. Weis moved Thomas because he was behind Walker as a back, and Walker is durable, so there wasn't the significant concern about a Walker injury. Would think that if Thomas was ahead of Walker, you might have seen Thomas more in '05 (although Thomas did have a very good SC game that year).
On Aldridge, he did look good OCCASIONALLY in limited carries. But given the relatively few number of touches and how late they tended to be in games, everything is just POTENTIAL. We haven't seen Aldridge tested with: picking up blitzes; catching out of the backfield; carrying in 'tough' situations; don't know about how well he secures a ball.
Again, as I stated in the previous post I like the POTENTIAL of Aldridge, and I also love the speed of Allen, but my point is that it isn't the slam dunk that we are better at RB next year.
I think that we will miss many of the things that Walker does extremely well. IMO
On Aldridge, he did look good OCCASIONALLY in limited carries. But given the relatively few number of touches and how late they tended to be in games, everything is just POTENTIAL. We haven't seen Aldridge tested with: picking up blitzes; catching out of the backfield; carrying in 'tough' situations; don't know about how well he secures a ball.
Again, as I stated in the previous post I like the POTENTIAL of Aldridge, and I also love the speed of Allen, but my point is that it isn't the slam dunk that we are better at RB next year.
I think that we will miss many of the things that Walker does extremely well. IMO
GoshenGipper
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Here you go, complete with video.
http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/5148597.html
I'm not really suprised, and I actually predicted this mid-season. My thinking was that he had already maxed out his potential at ND and he knew this. Chances are he thinks his numbers will go down next year due to all the new starters on offense, which will in turn drop his draft stock. Plus most of the guys that he came in with or has played with will be graduating, or have transferred. No one really want to feel like the outsider because you're several years older than the next generation/era comming through.
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Stalking_Eagle
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Does this mean that JC will take the special #3 jersey?
brucejcarr
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Not at all he wants #7, the number he has worn in HS.
I wish Darius all the best even though I think he is a second day guy and a third down back at best in the NFL...he was good this year for ND. I am so confused by this decision though...the offense would of been centered around him next year with our lack of experience in the passing game. And after this year I would of expected him to get about 85% of the carries next year...oh well guess you will all get your wish and see much more of Aldridge and Allen. Darius will truely be missed especially in pass coverage and as a receiver......
kjones
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Best of luck to you Walker, you always brought it, always played your best at all facets of your game. You worked your butt off to improve in areas you were weaker, and are just an all-around quality person. We tip our hats to the good job you've done the last three years.
Satans Little Helper
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good point. he is fast getting to the outside. I hope he does well.