'22 CA LB Niuafe Tuihalamaka (Notre Dame Signee)

IRISHMAN

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didn't see the B&G game but heard he was all over the field and will probably see lots of action this fall.
 
Veritate Duce Progredi

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I just wonder if he challenges for real minutes this year. He looked incredibly instinctive and never appeared to miss an assignment but I haven't gone back and done a full rewatch.
 
BobbyMac

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I remember being this impressed with Nyles Morgan early on.

Didn't always pick the right hole to attack but he blew up wherever he ended up whether the ball was there or not.
 
Old Man Mike

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Nyles Morgan was a good guy who gave it all on the field, but he had terrible MLB "instincts." Almost his entire senior year, our DC had him (almost every play) steam-roller into one hole on one side or the other of the G-C-G Oline and play like a run-plugger DLineman. It was up to the other two LBs to get to the actual runners. I admired Morgan's willingness to do this hard work, but we have to hope that young Mr. Tuihalamaka has WAY better intuitions --- what Diaco used to call "werewolf" sense.
 
Irish du Nord

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indianamouse said:
Why not? Good instincts, solid build. Maybe trust the coaches a little.
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I understand hoping for the other freshmen to show something promising first, but yeah he’s shown the coaches he can do something at the role and he’s been fairly effective blitzing from vyper type positions (albeit in limited action)
 
Luckylucci

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Maybe it’s just me but I think it’s just for this game. Long term I don’t see it. At least in the traditional sense that the Vyper is the premiere edge rusher. It seems like a low upside high floor move. I don’t see the twitch or speed to make him a consistent pass rush threat on the edge. But, I can see him bring a physical presence setting the edge.
 
Crazy Balki

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Luckylucci said:
Maybe it’s just me but I think it’s just for this game. Long term I don’t see it. At least in the traditional sense that the Vyper is the premiere edge rusher. It seems like a low upside high floor move. I don’t see the twitch or speed to make him a consistent pass rush threat on the edge. But, I can see him bring a physical presence setting the edge.
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Agreed.

Junior is a big dude, but not necessarily a long dude. He's built more like Justin Ademilola than he is Foskey or even Botelho. And he isn't particularly quick off the edge, whereas somebody like Burnham has that length and twitch to be a pass rush threat.

I really don't understand the move. I could see it if LB play was good moving forward, but none of the returning guys really showed us anything to be confident in. To put it simply, nobody has anything close to a guaranteed starting spot at LB in '23. So, I'd rather Junior get a chance to state his case at Mike, where the prospects are limited. That and we really need to see if Botelho can give us what we're gonna need to replace Foskey. I don't see Junior or even Justin replacing that.
 
Domina Nostra

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Crazy Balki said:
Agreed.

Junior is a big dude, but not necessarily a long dude. He's built more like Justin Ademilola than he is Foskey or even Botelho. And he isn't particularly quick off the edge, whereas somebody like Burnham has that length and twitch to be a pass rush threat.

I really don't understand the move. I could see it if LB play was good moving forward, but none of the returning guys really showed us anything to be confident in. To put it simply, nobody has anything close to a guaranteed starting spot at LB in '23. So, I'd rather Junior get a chance to state his case at Mike, where the prospects are limited. That and we really need to see if Botelho can give us what we're gonna need to replace Foskey. I don't see Junior or even Justin replacing that.
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They need someone they trust for the bowl game. They don't want to trust someone green and get exploited in the process.

After the bowl game, I bet he moves right back.
 
Dale

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Yeah wasn’t that noteworthy to me, he’s been playing Vyper besides the Navy game. It’s really more just playing SAM or a couple blitz packages. Golden calls it being a “combo guy”
 
IrishSpartan

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He’s a Mike to me. I hate cross training like this, I feel like it messes kids up. We use to do this crap all the time with quarterbacks. He is a very natural player at Mike just throwing him at vyper to fill a need is stupid just play the younger vyper’s
 
Dale

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I think JR playing a small handful of snaps at Vyper, really simplify it to playing on the edge instead of up the middle is a bit different than cross training a QB?

It’s also not just to fill a need, he’s appeared since mid season there.
 
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Luckylucci

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IrishSpartan said:
He’s a Mike to me. I hate cross training like this, I feel like it messes kids up. We use to do this crap all the time with quarterbacks. He is a very natural player at Mike just throwing him at vyper to fill a need is stupid just play the younger vyper’s
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I disagree. I think our best defenses of the last 10 years had LB's comfortable playing multiple spots. It also creates more depth within the program long term.

Now is the perfect time to get film on guys doing just this.
 
Armyirish47

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Luckylucci said:
I disagree. I think our best defenses of the last 10 years had LB's comfortable playing multiple spots. It also creates more depth within the program long term.

Now is the perfect time to get film on guys doing just this.
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Yup, I know a Gator Bowl win is cool and all but these bonus bowl practices are exactly when you throw some stuff on the wall and see what might stick for spring ball and beyond.
 
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