SBT: Spring Game Overview/Recap

[SoCalDomer]

By JEFF CARROLL
Tribune Staff Writer


SOUTH BEND — How improved Notre Dame will be in the fall remains to be seen.

But if Saturday was any indication, the Irish plan to be feisty if nothing else.

Penalty flags littered the field after a touchdown in the Blue-Gold spring game, the result of a spontaneous skirmish between players from the first-team offense and defense. Sophomore safety Harrison Smith, who has been shuffling between linebacker and safety this spring, returned quarterback Jimmy Clausen's interception for 15 yards, entering the end zone with a forward flip

More:
ND Puts the Fight Back in the BG Game

 

[Steve]

anyone who watched. how did the offense look. better than last year? still alot of work to do? inquiring minds want to know.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

i watched the highlights on UND.com.... WAY EARLY but watch out Notre Dame might have an offense...

 

[SoCalDomer]

i think it's gonna be slow going. the same way they got better by the end of last year, i think it's going to take the whole season for them to progress and get better.

i think it's safe to say they're building a good foundation with fundamentals this spring.

 

[ndirishfan]

I am happy to hear the offense and defense did so well. We now have something to build on for the 08 season. Now they hav to carry that hard work into the summer and fall.

 

[teamalaska]

Offense looked solid with a consistent running game similar to what we saw towards the end of last year. The defense was even better than last year and with the offense actually holding it's own, I think it has a chance to be dominant...not kidding. The only question mark is the D-line, which go blown up a lot up front, but the depth and speed of the LB's and secondary was amazing. I can't tell you the number of times in the BG game that a back or receiver met a defender and just stopped. Hughes and Aldridge laid the wood a couple of times, but for the most part tackling was far improved from any year in the last few I've seen. Even in the two-deeps at those positions, we looked very solid...Harrison Smith is a gamer, which you could tell even before his big play. Kyle McCarthy is a stud supporting the run. There were a couple of plays on obvious pass-run downs where the edge rushers looked like they had literally been shot out of a cannon....one in particular was Neal I believe we blew past Sam Young so quickly it was like he was playing at a different level...very encouraging for next year. I think many people will be surprised. If I had to predict, I'd say our defense will be dominant and our offense will do what it needs to win games. I don't think we'll blow anyone out or have the firepower that the Brady Quinn offense had it's last two years, but certainly enough to keep teams honest. Grimes is the real deal and Aldridge is a hell of a blocker (pancaked McCarthy on a blitz). Hughes will start because of his superior vision--think Darius Walker with size--and Allen will serve as a complement to Hughes with Aldridge filling a niche role in the backfield. He looked much better than I've seen him since he's been here, but still doesn't quite seem to have the intangibles Hughes has. With the freshmen coming in and the young guys on the field, I couldn't help but shake my head in amazement at what's to come. I'd be surprised if we lost more than 2 games this year (USC and maybe one surprise team). Everyone else I think we'll overwhelm with speed and talent. Just my $.02.

 

[Junkhead]

Offense looked solid with a consistent running game similar to what we saw towards the end of last year. The defense was even better than last year and with the offense actually holding it's own, I think it has a chance to be dominant...not kidding. The only question mark is the D-line, which go blown up a lot up front, but the depth and speed of the LB's and secondary was amazing. I can't tell you the number of times in the BG game that a back or receiver met a defender and just stopped. Hughes and Aldridge laid the wood a couple of times, but for the most part tackling was far improved from any year in the last few I've seen. Even in the two-deeps at those positions, we looked very solid...Harrison Smith is a gamer, which you could tell even before his big play. Kyle McCarthy is a stud supporting the run. There were a couple of plays on obvious pass-run downs where the edge rushers looked like they had literally been shot out of a cannon....one in particular was Neal I believe we blew past Sam Young so quickly it was like he was playing at a different level...very encouraging for next year. I think many people will be surprised. If I had to predict, I'd say our defense will be dominant and our offense will do what it needs to win games. I don't think we'll blow anyone out or have the firepower that the Brady Quinn offense had it's last two years, but certainly enough to keep teams honest. Grimes is the real deal and Aldridge is a hell of a blocker (pancaked McCarthy on a blitz). Hughes will start because of his superior vision--think Darius Walker with size--and Allen will serve as a complement to Hughes with Aldridge filling a niche role in the backfield. He looked much better than I've seen him since he's been here, but still doesn't quite seem to have the intangibles Hughes has. With the freshmen coming in and the young guys on the field, I couldn't help but shake my head in amazement at what's to come. I'd be surprised if we lost more than 2 games this year (USC and maybe one surprise team). Everyone else I think we'll overwhelm with speed and talent. Just my $.02.

Good analysis. I'm not overly confident, but after watching the BG game last season, the team looked MUCH better at the same point this season. Was Haywood calling the plays also? H. Smith is too good to keep on the bench, and will find his way on the field some how.

 

[Jason Pham]

Offense looked solid with a consistent running game similar to what we saw towards the end of last year. The defense was even better than last year and with the offense actually holding it's own, I think it has a chance to be dominant...not kidding. The only question mark is the D-line, which go blown up a lot up front, but the depth and speed of the LB's and secondary was amazing. I can't tell you the number of times in the BG game that a back or receiver met a defender and just stopped. Hughes and Aldridge laid the wood a couple of times, but for the most part tackling was far improved from any year in the last few I've seen. Even in the two-deeps at those positions, we looked very solid...Harrison Smith is a gamer, which you could tell even before his big play. Kyle McCarthy is a stud supporting the run. There were a couple of plays on obvious pass-run downs where the edge rushers looked like they had literally been shot out of a cannon....one in particular was Neal I believe we blew past Sam Young so quickly it was like he was playing at a different level...very encouraging for next year. I think many people will be surprised. If I had to predict, I'd say our defense will be dominant and our offense will do what it needs to win games. I don't think we'll blow anyone out or have the firepower that the Brady Quinn offense had it's last two years, but certainly enough to keep teams honest. Grimes is the real deal and Aldridge is a hell of a blocker (pancaked McCarthy on a blitz). Hughes will start because of his superior vision--think Darius Walker with size--and Allen will serve as a complement to Hughes with Aldridge filling a niche role in the backfield. He looked much better than I've seen him since he's been here, but still doesn't quite seem to have the intangibles Hughes has. With the freshmen coming in and the young guys on the field, I couldn't help but shake my head in amazement at what's to come. I'd be surprised if we lost more than 2 games this year (USC and maybe one surprise team). Everyone else I think we'll overwhelm with speed and talent. Just my $.02.

Great post. Reps.

 

[GoIrish41]

Offense looked solid with a consistent running game similar to what we saw towards the end of last year. The defense was even better than last year and with the offense actually holding it's own, I think it has a chance to be dominant...not kidding. The only question mark is the D-line, which go blown up a lot up front, but the depth and speed of the LB's and secondary was amazing. I can't tell you the number of times in the BG game that a back or receiver met a defender and just stopped. Hughes and Aldridge laid the wood a couple of times, but for the most part tackling was far improved from any year in the last few I've seen. Even in the two-deeps at those positions, we looked very solid...Harrison Smith is a gamer, which you could tell even before his big play. Kyle McCarthy is a stud supporting the run. There were a couple of plays on obvious pass-run downs where the edge rushers looked like they had literally been shot out of a cannon....one in particular was Neal I believe we blew past Sam Young so quickly it was like he was playing at a different level...very encouraging for next year. I think many people will be surprised. If I had to predict, I'd say our defense will be dominant and our offense will do what it needs to win games. I don't think we'll blow anyone out or have the firepower that the Brady Quinn offense had it's last two years, but certainly enough to keep teams honest. Grimes is the real deal and Aldridge is a hell of a blocker (pancaked McCarthy on a blitz). Hughes will start because of his superior vision--think Darius Walker with size--and Allen will serve as a complement to Hughes with Aldridge filling a niche role in the backfield. He looked much better than I've seen him since he's been here, but still doesn't quite seem to have the intangibles Hughes has. With the freshmen coming in and the young guys on the field, I couldn't help but shake my head in amazement at what's to come. I'd be surprised if we lost more than 2 games this year (USC and maybe one surprise team). Everyone else I think we'll overwhelm with speed and talent. Just my $.02.

Great post. I like the enthusiasm.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Nice evaluation of the team, good post.

 

[jakerbluegold]

I think Robert Hughes is going to be a household name after this year. Having a power running game has got me excited. He just has that sixth sense about finding the hole, and always seems to keep going after initial contact. I think Weis had to look pretty hard to find a fault with his performance.
I think better days are in store this fall, and no I'm not just drinking the Kool-aid.
Go Irish!!

 

[Junkhead]

I think Robert Hughes is going to be a household name after this year. Having a power running game has got me excited. He just has that sixth sense about finding the hole, and always seems to keep going after initial contact. I think Weis had to look pretty hard to find a fault with his performance.
I think better days are in store this fall, and no I'm not just drinking the Kool-aid.
Go Irish!!

I've thought that Aldridge was still the man, but I'm starting to think Hughes's vision more than overcomes his lack of top end speed. A balance of the 3 guys will probably be the best, but Hughes has impressed, no doubt.

 

[irishmarine]

ya know what guys, we have hope. and for now thats enough for me. its been a rough year hell a rough decade plus (no bowl wins) but there is hope. and hope will see us through the dark days and bring us into the light that is the national championship and heisman winners with first rounders galore and restored history and mark mays fat ass suspended in air on a bar b que spicket over an open fire. oh yes we have hope, erin go brah and fightin irish for life ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MirageSmack]

So, after seeing the game guys, do you see any holes that the incoming freshmen may need to fill this season? I'm curious how many of those guys have a legit shot of PT this season.

 

[Mjrosko]

Floyd is one for sure, the receivers still have a hard time creating seperation and there are still some drops (Kamara). Floyd has the potential to be a big time contributer from the moment he steps on campus.

Also, Ethan Johnson could start getting playing time early in the year. We need help along the defensiver front.

Finally, I think that Filer or Fleming could get some time at MLB. Toryan Smith didn't completely wow me, but both these guys are faster than him which is something we're going to need.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

I found this on nbcsports about the game. There are 3 pages I didn't see it at first.

Walters: Blue-Gold game shows Irish flair for the dramatic - College football - MSNBC.com

Sorry if it was already posted.