'23 MO CB Christian Gray (Notre Dame Signee)

[Rocketman84]

That was what, 4-5 years ago?

Josh Burnham was very athletic in HS.

I don't know what's going on or has been going on now for 2 years with grays lack of athleticism, hip turning, change of pace, etc. I thought he was going to be an absolute stud after his frosh year and possibly better than BenMo, I was very wrong. He's possibly playing worse than Clarence Lewis.

I know Freeman likes that Moore can take away one side of the field when he's boundary corner but I think if gray must keep playing then you need to have moore shadow the other teams top WR if a team has one, and have gray at boundary as much as possible. He has good length and needs less space to utilize the sideline as another defender.

We all hope to have a chance at playing Georgia or Alabama far into the CFP or championship game, Gray can not play even their second WR like tate to the field side. I know it's a tough ask to put moore on an island at slot or field, but that to me is a better option even vs Jeremiah Smith.

He went 4.55 electronically in '22, Gray's issue is he can get choppy with his feet and a high backpedal and it hinders his transition and torque of his hips. He also has to react faster at times as he can have delayed reactions at times which causes him to get unnecessarily handsy with the WR. Most times he has had a knack of making up for it but it has proven to be costly.

 

[Rocketman84]

That was what, 4-5 years ago?

Josh Burnham was very athletic in HS.

I don't know what's going on or has been going on now for 2 years with grays lack of athleticism, hip turning, change of pace, etc. I thought he was going to be an absolute stud after his frosh year and possibly better than BenMo, I was very wrong. He's possibly playing worse than Clarence Lewis.

I know Freeman likes that Moore can take away one side of the field when he's boundary corner but I think if gray must keep playing then you need to have moore shadow the other teams top WR if a team has one, and have gray at boundary as much as possible. He has good length and needs less space to utilize the sideline as another defender.

We all hope to have a chance at playing Georgia or Alabama far into the CFP or championship game, Gray can not play even their second WR like tate to the field side. I know it's a tough ask to put moore on an island at slot or field, but that to me is a better option even vs Jeremiah Smith.

Burnham is still very athletic albeit he isn't 215-220lbs anymore and closer to 265 which plays a big part. He also has had many nagging ankle injuries which can limit your explosiveness, but when healthy he is still plenty athletic.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Burnham is still very athletic albeit he isn't 215-220lbs anymore and closer to 265 which plays a big part. He also has had many nagging ankle injuries which can limit your explosiveness, but when healthy he is still plenty athletic.

Very athletic and plenty athletic, not sure there's game film showing that. Agree he's had nagging injuries, so can't fully write him off, but i think it's safe to say he's been a disappointment so far in his career. It happens, and why you need a lot of good players because some are misses.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

It is a shame Moore is so easily identified on the field with his height/size. It would be good to send someone out there who looks similar in a similar jersey number and hide Moore on the likely receiver every now and then. He would get a bunch of picks probably.

Lol. What does a "similar" jersey number look like? 16? 51? I think any numbers besides 15 is easily recognizable as not 15 but maybe I've been math'ing wrong this whole time.

 

[NDPhilly]

Trying to remember this when he gets burned - could have easily shut it down for his own sake. Appreciate MF bringing it up.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Feel like he has a stamina issue. His snap count is too high out of necessity. He burns out at end of games, and we saw his struggle at the end of the year, injuries aside.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Christian Gray is a warrior and a high effort football player. He's playing the position where only superheroes can win all game long. Give him his props.

 

[SportsingHard]

He ran 4.40 and 4.45 at Camp

Yes, and BenMo has has stated Gray is more athletic than he is. Injury has been an isuue, but physical talent is not.

 

[pumpdog20]

Feel like he has a stamina issue. His snap count is too high out of necessity. He burns out at end of games, and we saw his struggle at the end of the year, injuries aside.

Burning out at end of games must be why he makes game winning plays at end of games... or something like that.

 

[Kingbish01]

Epitome of high risk high reward. It's risky having him out there at times, but boy does he reward us as often as he hurts us.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Is an injured Gray better than Zachary get reps the next few weeks?

 

[PutuporShutup]

Trying to remember this when he gets burned - could have easily shut it down for his own sake. Appreciate MF bringing it up.

I assume this is a serious comment?

I'm sure Gray is banged up, but it's no excuse for his level of play and the coaches inability to get anyone ready to play better. He sure looked healthy after the pick he had. Funny how that works.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Adrenaline can due crazy things...

 

[SportsingHard]

Is an injured Gray better than Zachary get reps the next few weeks?

I'm thrilled to have Zackery on the roster, but based on his performance in limited snaps, my guess is the staff will try to minimize his playing time as a freshman.

 

[Irish#1]

Nice for Gray to get a bye week to help with the healing process.

 

[Rocketman84]

I assume this is a serious comment?

I'm sure Gray is banged up, but it's no excuse for his level of play and the coaches inability to get anyone ready to play better. He sure looked healthy after the pick he had. Funny how that works.

Yea, he's been playing with a bun shoulder which has been pretty obvious in the breakdown of his technique, needs to clean the high backpedal up more than anything.

 

[mrmcgrail]

For put up being a former big ten CB you would think he would see it isn't an athletic thing with gray. His backpedaling is choppy and he takes way too long to open his hips because he sits on so many routes thus why he's kind of feast or famine

 

[stlnd01]

I assume this is a serious comment?

I'm sure Gray is banged up, but it's no excuse for his level of play and the coaches inability to get anyone ready to play better. He sure looked healthy after the pick he had. Funny how that works.

And I assume this is a serious comment?

 

[BeatSC]

Burning out at end of games must be why he makes game winning plays at end of games... or something like that.

Ohio State 50 yard pass play was at the end of the game…….

 

[BeatSC]

Epitome of high risk high reward. It's risky having him out there at times, but boy does he reward us as often as he hurts us.

Reward to hurt is 1 to 4 not including PIs

 

[PutuporShutup]

Adrenaline can due crazy things...

And confidence. I think it was very obvious he was down on himself and just not fully locked in until freeman got on him.

 

[stlnd01]

Might have missed but was there any discussion on TV or press conferences of why he didn’t play yesterday?

He was on the sideline and dressed but no helmet on. I assume just resting his banged up shoulder?

 

[tko]

Resting banged up body.

 

[irishff1014]

With them still running a ton I think he will sit. I think we will see more Sneed and Ausberry.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I’m sure the excuse given will be resting nagging injuries. I’d bet though this is a case where yeah he’s sore but not injured and the staff wants to teach a lesson that his lack of effort many times in the usc game is unacceptable so you will not be playing in the BC game. A game they don’t need him. Maybe the effort was in part due to nagging injuries, but it doesn’t matter, if you’re out there it has to be 100%.

 

[jprue24]

I’m sure the excuse given will be resting nagging injuries. I’d bet though this is a case where yeah he’s sore but not injured and the staff wants to teach a lesson that his lack of effort many times in the usc game is unacceptable so you will not be playing in the BC game. A game they don’t need him. Maybe the effort was in part due to nagging injuries, but it doesn’t matter, if you’re out there it has to be 100%.

You're just being an asshole, at this point.

 

[Dale]

I’m sure the excuse given will be resting nagging injuries. I’d bet though this is a case where yeah he’s sore but not injured and the staff wants to teach a lesson that his lack of effort many times in the usc game is unacceptable so you will not be playing in the BC game. A game they don’t need him. Maybe the effort was in part due to nagging injuries, but it doesn’t matter, if you’re out there it has to be 100%.

So you think Marcus Freeman is blatantly lying about injuries to cover up a benching of a starter, who never comes off the field for two seasons including said USC game, due to lack of effort?

 

[jprue24]

So you think Marcus Freeman is blatantly lying about injuries to cover up a benching of a player, who never comes off the field including said USC game, due to lack of effort?

Mind bottling.

 

[PutuporShutup]

So you think Marcus Freeman is blatantly lying about injuries to cover up a benching of a starter, who never comes off the field for two seasons including said USC game, due to lack of effort?

Was he on the injury report earlier in the week (don’t think he was)? If he was and I missed it I’ll apologize for my comment. If he wasn’t this is absolutely a coaching decision due to a player not performing and living up to the standard of effort and being locked in. He was worse usc 25 than usc 24 and I didn’t think that was possible.

Freeman needs to get him mentally right for Pittsburgh and beyond because we don’t have another option shockingly.

Coaches are always playing mind games.

 

[PutuporShutup]

You're just being an asshole, at this point.

You really don’t think coaches bench players to teach them a lesson even if they’re full time starters and capable of playing ? Especially vs a terrible team!!!

It’s not ideal but it happens. I personally think it’s this …. If you’re not going to give 100% when you’re not 100% then you won’t be able to play unless you’re completely healthy.
Leonard Moore gave 100% on a high ankle sprain then sat the next 3 games as he was really injured. I’m sure gray is banged up, but again, you gotta bring it, he didn’t a lot of plays.