'14 IL ILB Nyles Morgan (Notre Dame Signee)

[brewdog_14527]

Grace came in and played mlb, joe went outside. that's how I saw it anyways

So that makes Morgan the 3rd team MLB?

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I wonder if he is wanting to look on going elsewhere. After the fire and smoke of Hayes and Blankenship leaving.

 

[ThePiombino]

I wonder if he is wanting to look on going elsewhere. After the fire and smoke of Hayes and Blankenship leaving.

I would if I were him. Seriously. After having to sit behind that dumpster fire of a ILB Schmidt all year, to not have your name called when TWO LBs go down early in this game? I get that it's a different position, but the others appear to be "plug-and-play"able. Almost seems personal. It's probably not, but I wouldn't blame him if he went elsewhere next year. Fucking shame too, and other DC and I bet you the house this kid is seeing serious PT.

 

[ulukinatme]

I would if I were him. Seriously. After having to sit behind that dumpster fire of a ILB Schmidt all year, to not have your name called when TWO LBs go down early in this game? I get that it's a different position, but the others appear to be "plug-and-play"able. Almost seems personal. It's probably not, but I wouldn't blame him if he went elsewhere next year. Fucking shame too, and other DC and I bet you the house this kid is seeing serious PT.

You make a lot of assumptions. Maybe Nyles sees more playing time under any other DC, but my guess is he's struggling mightily to handle his assignments if both Grace and Coney came in before Nyles did. That speaks volumes there. Add in the fact that Martini saw some considerable time in certain games this year and I think it's safe to say Morgan isn't going to live up to his recruiting hype. I think a lot of people should taper back their expectations. Some kids just don't live up to the hype, and we have a track history it seems with highly rated recruits failing to adjust to the college game. Maybe next year is his year now that Schmidt is out of the picture, and I would hope so since Grace won't be there either (unfortunately).

 

[Rocket89]

Logically, it's probably one of two things.

1. He's been injured

2. He's really struggling to pick up the game

The first one can't be true because he's played special teams all season, got a bit of mop-up duty early in the season, and easily should have taken a redshirt since he wasn't used in the LB rotation.

The second one, though?

We all know about the injuries to the rest of the defense but his 5 games of starting-level snaps we gave up 6.1 YPP and an average of 234 rushing per game. He was out of position A LOT and his 3.4 solo stops during that stretch really weren't anything to write home about.

Sometimes guys just can't take the next step mentally. Just look at Steve Filer, another super talented kid from Chicago. It happens once in a while.

What's odd to me is that a long time ago Kelly made the comment that Morgan was a "student of the game" and worked really hard to get better, etc. etc. Since then--and that was long before he played in 2014--there really hasn't been much from the coaches except recently when BVG said he's working hard but still has a lot to learn.

I know many (or most?) will blame BVG's complexity but to me this screams of a kid that might really fight to become a starter again. If it was just the difficulty of running the defense from the Mike position, I'd think they might have moved him to Will or something just to take the pressure off and use his athleticism. Do they not even trust him to play another LB spot?

And yet BVG is adamant that he'll step in at Mike next year. Just so weird. I know a Onwualu-Martini-Coney trio wouldn't surprise me in the least bit, then again Coney might be out for a long time. Barajas or Bilal playing over Morgan wouldn't shock me, either.

 

[ThePiombino]

You make a lot of assumptions. Maybe Nyles sees more playing time under any other DC, but my guess is he's struggling mightily to handle his assignments if both Grace and Coney came in before Nyles did. That speaks volumes there. Add in the fact that Martini saw some considerable time in certain games this year and I think it's safe to say Morgan isn't going to live up to his recruiting hype. I think a lot of people should taper back their expectations. Some kids just don't live up to the hype, and we have a track history it seems with highly rated recruits failing to adjust to the college game. Maybe next year is his year now that Schmidt is out of the picture, and I would hope so since Grace won't be there either (unfortunately).

Looks like you're making assumptions too.

 

[ulukinatme]

Looks like you're making assumptions too.

The only assumption I made is that Nyles must be struggling mightily with his assignments if he can't beat out these other linebackers that are seeing the field before him. What's the other option, that he's in the doghouse I guess? That doesn't seem likely, since he's at least getting some special teams time right?

You said you'd bet the house that any other DC gives him serious playing time. That's hard to believe if Nyles can't beat out a former walk-on in Joe, a player in Grace that hasn't even seen the field in 1 1/2 seasons, and a true freshman in Coney. Of course there's Martini too. That's a lot of guys to pass over someone like Morgan who was considered a stud by a lot of recruitniks. If Morgan was even close to handling the position you would think he would have gotten some reps for Joe at points this season, or at least come in after Coney got hurt. I wonder if Nyles is even in the 2 deep, given the way the substitutions went today.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BK: Bilal could get work at multiple LB positions. Nyles Morgan will be at MIKE.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/709774581033275393">March 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bogtrotter07]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BK: Bilal could get work at multiple LB positions. Nyles Morgan will be at MIKE.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/709774581033275393">March 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Interesting comments from Kelly. How important Joe was, but how good it will be for Nyles to have Joe gone and no one in front of him.

Sounds to me like Nyles problems last year may have been over-exaggerated, and that the coaches feel he may come out looking purdy good.

Comments keep the egg off anyone's face!

 

[Luckylucci]

The comments, tho could be coach speak, align with what Driskell has said a few times at BGI. He's really stepping up as a leader of the group and the expectation is that he's going to perform.

 

[Shamrock Theories]

Maybe. Or maybe they are just saying that Bilal is more Agile and suited to OLB

Devil's advocate

 

[Luckylucci]

Maybe. Or maybe they are just saying that Bilal is more Agile and suited to OLB

Devil's advocate

I was speaking to Kelly's comments about Nyles specifically, not the tweet above.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You know most people figured short of injury, Nyles problem had to be ' a head in the game' issue. People went as far as blaming it on BVG's system being too complex.

Yes, Morgan probably took a while to adjust. But in fairness, I don't think he got enough work. And with BVG and Morgan both so new, I think that was a bad combination.

For BVG it wasn't just that he was new to ND. He had been out of the college game for a while. Auburn kind of doesn't count because their defense was a dumpster fire before he got there, and everyone knew Gene was headed out the door.

So BVG was used to professionals coming in that had nothing to do but master the game. Instead he has Nyles Morgan, who has to deal with the new, unreal situation of being a student athlete at Notre Dame. We all can agree that this is brutal, even for the most gifted.

And then BVG discovers Joe Schmidt, by all accounts a (football) genius. Hmm? How many meaningful reps does Nyles get?

Remember DeShone before Sanford got established? In last years Spring Game he threw it into the ground, what? Twice? Had no idea where he was at!

Then what happened when Malik went down? He got some meaningful reps due to Sanford before Malik went down, then got 'em all afterwards. And, he still made freshman mistakes.

Granted it is a bit different for quarterbacks, and we are talking linebackers here, but in a 4-3, your Mike is the closest thing to a quarterback the defense has.

Remember what Kelly said about Wimbush last season, in the PC today? He was played last year before he was ready. So it happens.

 

[ThePiombino]

The comments, tho could be coach speak, align with what Driskell has said a few times at BGI. He's really stepping up as a leader of the group and the expectation is that he's going to perform.

Let's hope it's legit, but every year we hear about someone who the staff thinks is gonna break out and it almost never happens. That said, not too many have Nyles' raw skillset, so if anyone could, he would be a prime candidate.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Nyles might be my favorite player on the team.

It's extremely impressive that he didn't transfer off this team with the shit he's gone through.

 

[Oberon]

Nyles might be my favorite player on the team.

It's extremely impressive that he didn't transfer off this team with the shit he's gone through.

Give it time. First spring practice isn't even in the books yet

 

[BobbyMac]

Nyles might be my favorite player on the team.

It's extremely impressive that he didn't transfer off this team with the shit he's gone through.

What did he go through? The inability to unseat a hobbled walk on? Was he wronged or did he not pick the best scheme for him? Every top tier program in the country is stocked with highly ranked ILB's. If he couldn't beat out Joe, why do you think he would have beat out anyone else?

He had a good freshman year all things considered, he had a bad soph year. If you flip them he's on the right track. If he comes out and lives up to his potential the next two years, it was will be looked at as a very good career. It's up to him.

 

[Shamrock Theories]

What did he go through?

Getting shit - talked on IE, duh.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I'll never trust coach talk in the spring... Or really any season for that matter. I trust results.

I want to see Nyles ready to play his designated position. If I hear some excuse about catching up with the playbook or reading offenses I will square the blame directly on the staff.

 

[BobbyMac]

Getting shit - talked on IE, duh.

I hope your italics button is broke.

 

[Shamrock Theories]

I hope your italics button is broke.

Didn't think I needed it lol

 

[BobbyMac]

Didn't think I needed it lol

Ya never know when you're being interrogated by a 14 year old here at IE. No italics.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Funniest thing I've seen all spring.

I believe Eric Murtagh wins hands down. When talking about Nyles' play this spring , he inserted this gif :



When throwing out the cliché, 'embarrassment of riches,' one position that isn't talked about so much is linebacker.

With Morgan's development, all on the roster healthy, and the addition of this years haul, Jones, Jones, and Hayes, (with the idea Perry could move up,) I think it won't be long before that term is used with the linebacker position.

 

[NDRock]

That's great news. Amazing how a player can transform in only 4 months since he was obviously not able to beat out an injured, walk-on not that long ago. Great job of development by the staff.

 

[Rocket89]

Funniest thing I've seen all spring.

I believe Keith Arnold wins hands down. When talking about Nyles' play this spring , he inserted this gif

Damn bruh, Keith doesn't even have a practice report up yet.

Notre Dame 2016 Spring Practice Report: Kizer Wins the First Open Practice - One Foot Down

 

[Irish Man3]

I'm not even really sure who's fault it is or who to be mad at, but I'm mad. Reading how well he's playing this spring bothers me. There's just no way he wasn't a better player than Schmidt last year. Was it BK's call or BVG? What a difference this guy would have made last year.

One of my biggest gripes in the BK era is his personal love for certain players out-weighing on field performance. It happened with Tommy, it happened with Cam, and it happened with Joe Schmidt. If these guys are such great individuals and leaders, than let them lead and support from the sidelines when there's clearly more talent behind them.

Everyone saw flashes of Morgan as a freshman when he was forced to play. He was clearly out of place but I'm sorry, there's no way you can convince me that Joe was better than Nyles last year.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm not even really sure who's fault it is or who to be mad at, but I'm mad. Reading how well he's playing this spring bothers me. There's just no way he wasn't a better player than Schmidt last year. Was it BK's call or BVG? What a difference this guy would have made last year.

One of my biggest gripes in the BK era is his personal love for certain players out-weighing on field performance. It happened with Tommy, it happened with Cam, and it happened with Joe Schmidt. If these guys are such great individuals and leaders, than let them lead and support from the sidelines when there's clearly more talent behind them.

Everyone saw flashes of Morgan as a freshman when he was forced to play. He was clearly out of place but I'm sorry, there's no way you can convince me that Joe was better than Nyles last year.

You don't think it was telling that Nyles wasn't in goal-line or even was the first linebacker in after Jaylon, nor the second, once Coney went down in the bowl game? Something was clearly holding Nyles back, whether it be being in the doghouse (which would have leaked), or just not being ready to contribute on the field. Nyles wouldn't be the first player to have everything click in his junior year.

 

[Irish Man3]

You don't think it was telling that Nyles wasn't in goal-line or even was the first linebacker in after Jaylon, nor the second, once Coney went down in the bowl game? Something was clearly holding Nyles back, whether it be being in the doghouse (which would have leaked), or just not being ready to contribute on the field. Nyles wouldn't be the first player to have everything click in his junior year.

What did Joe do last year? I don't want to hear the "on field leader" talk because he couldn't get himself lined up correctly last year.

 

[zelezo vlk]

What did Joe do last year? I don't want to hear the "on field leader" talk because he couldn't get himself lined up correctly last year.

What did Nyles do last year?

 

[NDRock]

You don't think it was telling that Nyles wasn't in goal-line or even was the first linebacker in after Jaylon, nor the second, once Coney went down in the bowl game? Something was clearly holding Nyles back, whether it be being in the doghouse (which would have leaked), or just not being ready to contribute on the field. Nyles wouldn't be the first player to have everything click in his junior year.

Nyles not playing at all was really one of the most baffling things I can remember. How they couldn't find any snaps for the kid is beyond me. It was almost as if they didn't want him to play at all make Joe look even worse (I really don't believe that).