'08 GA DT Omar Hunter (Florida Verbal)

[Irishknight1023]

Nobody but fans have been calling for Kuntz to move to end. Yes he's undersized but he's going to stay put. Having him as a Sr. hold it down another year with Ian sharing alot of time is essential. Also to all of those Omar is going to be God people....yes he'll be a nasty NG for us, but chill out on him being a major contributor...especially on the DL. Justin Brown and Hand will probably be starting ends.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

We'll see, I think Omar is too good to keep off the field.

 

[johnnd05]

Here are Kuntz stats and you are still think he isn't any good.
43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 9 pass break ups

And remember that he missed a fair amount of p/t the last two weeks because of injuries.

 

[johnnd05]

Nobody but fans have been calling for Kuntz to move to end. Yes he's undersized but he's going to stay put. Having him as a Sr. hold it down another year with Ian sharing alot of time is essential. Also to all of those Omar is going to be God people....yes he'll be a nasty NG for us, but chill out on him being a major contributor...especially on the DL. Justin Brown and Hand will probably be starting ends.

Is that true? I could swear I remember Weis talking about it in one of his pressers ... in any case it does seem to make a fair amount of sense since he really is undersized to play in the middle, and the LDE spot really is just another defensive tackle in the 3-4. As for Brown and Hand, if they haven't even managed to get consistent playing time THIS year, I have trouble imagining them being starters in '08.

In any case, the Kuntz thing is a non-issue, since the point is that Omar's not going to see the field a ton, and certainly won't be starting, next year whether it's just Williams, or Williams and Kuntz as well, ahead of him on the depth chart.

 

[mikejND]

I think Kuntz should move to end. He's effective at NT, but he doesn't do the job of holding up two offensive lineman. Maybe with added depth, it will give him the opportunity to do that on every play, being that we could rotate multiple guys. Because at this moment he's taking the majority of the snaps, and it's hard to exert that much energy and be effective. I think Omar should start, but at the same time, we are bringing in five defensive lineman who are highly rated. I could see any of them stepping up. We all see how Brian Smith did, and nobody was talking about him.

 

[fitz_bu47]

We are gonna be in a good situation next year on the d-line, b/c it looks like we are gonna have a lot of guys who can play. Experience may be an issue but w/ Kuntz back, Williams gettin time this year, and Hand/Brown etc. Plus a bunch of talented freshman, it looks good. Don't forget about Cwynar maybe contributing early, he is gonna enroll early and I hear he is nasty as well.

 

[johnnd05]

I think Kuntz should move to end. He's effective at NT, but he doesn't do the job of holding up two offensive lineman. Maybe with added depth, it will give him the opportunity to do that on every play, being that we could rotate multiple guys. Because at this moment he's taking the majority of the snaps, and it's hard to exert that much energy and be effective. I think Omar should start, but at the same time, we are bringing in five defensive lineman who are highly rated. I could see any of them stepping up. We all see how Brian Smith did, and nobody was talking about him.

Exactly - that just shows how hard it is to predict how good these kids will be, let alone how quickly they'll develop. It's a lot easier, though, to step in and contribute right away at linebacker or defensive back than along the defensive line - the lack of "man strength" is less of an issue.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

not saying Omar is GOD, just saying Omar is pretty much the closest thing to being GOD... sorry, I'm just really excited about each and everyone of our recruits. The impact they might generate might not be until 09, or 10, but honestly..... look at Brian Smith and Kerry Neal this year, even Ian Williams and Armando Allen..... I can't wait for these guys to be household names next year and then talk about some of the freshmen that make an impact.

 

[mikejND]

Omar Hunter benched 425 as a junior, Brandon Newman 350, Hafis Williams 340, and Cwynar 385.

Ian Williams was rated as a 3 star prospect and benched 385 out of high school, even though he did have an amazing squat max of 540 compared to Hunters 475. Omar is rated higher and stronger right now than a lot of our DTs. He has the entire summer to get bigger and stronger, I just don't see anyone holding him back from making a significant move for playing time.

 

[johnnd05]

Omar Hunter benched 425 as a junior, Brandon Newman 350, Hafis Williams 340, and Cwynar 385.

Ian Williams was rated as a 3 star prospect and benched 385 out of high school, even though he did have an amazing squat max of 540 compared to Hunters 475. Omar is rated higher and stronger right now than a lot of our DTs. He has the entire summer to get bigger and stronger, I just don't see anyone holding him back from making a significant move for playing time.

Bench press strength is not the same as man strength. Nor does it prove that one's skills are at a high enough level to get the job done (see: Schwapp, Asaph).

It takes TIME to develop into a D-I player, and Omar deserves our patience as much as Clausen, Allen, Tate, etc. ... get excited, by all means. But don't get so excited that you're disillusioned when your overly high hopes come crashing down to earth.

 

[mikejND]

I understand Johnny, and I believe he does deserve our patience, but what I'm saying is that, I can't see anyone besides Williams, and Kuntz holding him back. He's no project, he's college ready in my opinion, but I do see where your coming from. Hopefully the incoming talent along the d line will cause for good competiton and the upperclassmen to step up. But the production along the line this year doesn't have me feeling warm and fuzzy if you know what I mean.

 

[SoCalDomer]

How about we let him get on campus as a student before we pencil him in for x-amount of playing time, x-amount of stats, or what position he ought to play? I'm just glad he's aboard with the other 20 recruits. Keep the class together boys!

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

I just wrote a letter to Mark May asking what he thought about Omar Hunter's potential playing time... he said Omar would be a bust....WELCOME ABOARD MR. HUNTER!!!!!!

 

[IHateMarkMay]

I just wrote a letter to Mark May asking what he thought about Omar Hunter's potential playing time... he said Omar would be a bust....WELCOME ABOARD MR. HUNTER!!!!!!

Anyway you can forward that to Omar himself? Maybe give him some more motivation...

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

I think ND's current woes is all the motivation Mr. Hunter needs to bust some heads when he gets here. Plus, the sight of Mark May is enough motivation to stop watching ESPN. If it wasn't for the great Lou that segment would be awful.

 

[rockne19]

with this dl ,omar will play alot next year.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Actually i enjoy Kirk Herbstreit quite a bit. Even today on his Good Call/Bad Call he defended Weis when the question was posed: "Should Charlie Weis's job be in jeopardy?" 76% of the nation agreed and he disagreed, stating that its only his 3rd year and what not. He is not biased like most "experts."

 

[Ant4NDIrish]

Omar may not start from day one, but I think he has a shot by end of year.

He will start from day one

 

[SoCalDomer]

Her Loyal Sons' blog just posted about Omar.

Her Loyal Sons » Omar Hunter is Awesome

 

[johnnd05]

Anyway you can forward that to Omar himself? Maybe give him some more motivation...

I think he's got enough ... I know that SCD just linked to this, but the pic is worth attaching - it's from his official visit to campus:

(Here's the original link.)

 

[Junkhead]

I think he's got enough ... I know that SCD just linked to this, but the pic is worth attaching - it's from his official visit to campus:

(Here's the original link.)

Omar is the white dude on the left? He looks NFL ready NOW!!!!

 

[johnnd05]

with this dl ,omar will play alot next year.

What do you mean, "this dl"? They're in their first year of adjusting to a new scheme that demands totally different personnel, Laws has been a frigging All-American, Kuntz has been a beast, and Williams has shown that he can get the job DONE. There will be PLENTY of competition for Omar. He'll see the field, but not as a starter.

 

[johnnd05]

He will start from day one

Like I said: No. Way. I love the enthusiasm, but let's keep our heads on straight. It's these kinds of unrealistic expectations about our recruits that lead people to panic when they don't shine right off the bat.

 

[Irishknight1023]

I see why people get so caught up with incoming Fr. because of their long term impact, but it'll most likely take 2 or 3 years to see them make any significant contributions. Of course there are exceptions here and there, but for the most part they will be competing and waiting. I see Omar getting in the mix but probably as much or less than Ian Williams this year. If I had to pick the players I think will make contributions for next season it would be.......Omar and maybe Ethan Johnson. Ethan will have to beat out Kallen Wade, Paddy Mullen, Justin Brown, and Darrell Hand which won't be easy but I expect him to work his way into contributing in a small amount. As for Justin Browns contributions this year, they have been Weis' most pleasant suprise and he is definently expected to come back for a 5th year. Brown has been starting over Stephenson for most of the season and when Hand came back he saw alot of time.

 

[johnnd05]

Right on, IK. As I've said, that's especially true along the defensive line, where strength (and again, I mean REAL strength and not just weight room numbers) is such a priority.

But can we keep talking about Kuntz for a minute? What makes you so sure he won't switch to the outside? I'd really had the sense that it was a move made out of necessity more than anything else, and that he'd be moved to a more natural position if the personnel necessary to replace him (in this case, Williams) turned up. In any case, as well as he's played this year, he IS pretty heavily undersized, and definitely doesn't seem able to consistently take on two o-linemen in order to stop the run. I just think he'd be a pretty dynamic player in a role more like Laws has had this year; I don't see why the staff wouldn't give that a shot, given that Williams has got the size and has shown some real ability when he's had the chance.

 

[Irishknight1023]

Right on, IK. As I've said, that's especially true along the defensive line, where strength (and again, I mean REAL strength and not just weight room numbers) is such a priority.

But can we keep talking about Kuntz for a minute? What makes you so sure he won't switch to the outside? I'd really had the sense that it was a move made out of necessity more than anything else, and that he'd be moved to a more natural position if the personnel necessary to replace him (in this case, Williams) turned up. In any case, as well as he's played this year, he IS pretty heavily undersized, and definitely doesn't seem able to consistently take on two o-linemen in order to stop the run. I just think he'd be a pretty dynamic player in a role more like Laws has had this year; I don't see why the staff wouldn't give that a shot, given that Williams has got the size and has shown some real ability when he's had the chance.

------Before the year started those were my thoughts exactly. I just don't feel comfertable with a So. in Ian Williams and any True Fr. backing him up to seriously hold down the middle next year. Especially since Kuntz showed me he's crazy enough to get it done. I feel with Ian getting another year of spelling Kuntz he will be finally ready to take over for good his Jr. year strength and maturity wise. If Ian was older and our depth was better I'd be all for the move.

 

[ACamp1900]

So what we are saying here is Omar will be a First team All American by the end of next year??

right??

 

[johnnd05]

------Before the year started those were my thoughts exactly. I just don't feel comfertable with a So. in Ian Williams and any True Fr. backing him up to seriously hold down the middle next year. Especially since Kuntz showed me he's crazy enough to get it done. I feel with Ian getting another year of spelling Kuntz he will be finally ready to take over for good his Jr. year strength and maturity wise. If Ian was older and our depth was better I'd be all for the move.

Got it - I hear ya. I guess I figured that "crazy" - no matter how crazy - isn't enough to get it done at NG. The fact is that teams have been pretty successful running the ball up the middle against us, and that's not /just/ because of poor tackling by the ILBs. Kuntz is wicked undersized at the end of the day, and I feel like his speed and effort could be put to better use on the outside.

You're right about Williams's youth and inexperience, though, and it's a shame there's no other upperclassman (at least none that I can think of) who can even be a backup to him. Oh well, I'm sure the staff will work something out.

 

[johnnd05]

So what we are saying here is Omar will be a First team All American by the end of next year??

right??

No, he's gonna be a PRE-SEASON All-American. By the END of the year he'll have won the Bednarik award, with the Heisman coming in '09.

 

[Get Nasty]

Are you guys watching the same run defense I am? If what you are saying is true then a lot of times Laws takes up 2 O-linemen, kuntz takes up two because he's a beast, and then brown takes up the 5th o-linemen. WRONG!!!!!!!!

Laws sometimes gets double teamed, Kuntz never takes on two o-linemen, and brown just engages with the tackle everytime. That is why O-linemen are always getting to our LB's and opening up the run game for them. I will admit it doesn't help when you have John Ryan and Joe Brockington at LB. They might be two of the slowest LB's in ND history.

I am fine with Kuntz starting next year, but the starting lineup can not be Kuntz, williams, and brown. That would pretty much mean williams is replacing Laws. Not good.

I see potential in williams and hunter replacing laws and brown. We would have 3 large Dlinement to occupy the O-line and let our athletic LB's run around and make plays.