Scouts Incs breaks down Notre Dame talent

[jason_h537]

Scouts Inc.: Breaking down Notre Dame's talent - College Football Nation - ESPN

Article of Scouts breaking down some of Notre Dame's draft eligible players this season.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

From the article: "I wouldn't say they're lagging behind, but they're a step below the elite programs."

Sorry friends, but I have to agree with this. I think they are still one more year away from elite, even though they might have a great season this year.

 

[jason_h537]

Yeah but where gettin there. I say overall it was a fair assesment. I think Brian Smith is underarted but i am biased. Would love to hear his thoughts on Darrin Walls

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I agree that we are still probably a year away from competing at the absolute top level, but that doesnt change the fact that we can still have a very good year (BCS game)

 

[BGIF]

From the article: "I wouldn't say they're lagging behind, but they're a step below the elite programs."

Sorry friends, but I have to agree with this. I think they are still one more year away from elite, even though they might have a great season this year.

Looking at recruiting during the Weis years ND has upgraded talent with a lot of 4 Star type players but ND is still lacking at the elite 5 star players where ND is getting 1 or 2 a year and the elite programs get 4, 5, or 6. Considering that recruiting is a crap shoot some talent pans out and some doesn't you've got a better shot with a bunch of the better talent. During the Faust and early Holtz years ND dominated recruiting. If one or two deep blue chips didn't pan other there were two others to take their place.

Charlie is criticized for pursuing so many high level kids that reject ND. But its like dating, if you don't ask the pretty girls ... If you want to win the lottery you have to buy tickets. If ND can close better on 2 or 3 kids in a class of 20 they return to the elite statue. Otherwise we better find a schematic advantage but that's a topic for another thread.

 

[BGIF]

Yeah but where gettin there. I say overall it was a fair assesment. I think Brian Smith is underarted but i am biased. Would love to hear his thoughts on Darrin Walls

I agree on the fair assessment.

I though he has some interesting things to say about Brian Smith's shortcomings. I think we ND fans spend too much time dwelling on his 3 stars. We tend to be oblivious to the need to improve.

Smith is not as instinctive as McCarthy, and misdirections and play actions can be a problem. He's not a great athlete. But he's another guy I like because of the way he plays the game, because he's aggressive. He goes 100 miles per hour. He doesn't tackle as well as McCarthy, but they both tackle well.

No quibble with Smith's aggressiveness. Anybody got a comment on Smith's play on misdirection or play action and tackling? Is Brian Bennett on target or off base?

 

[BGIF]

As for Clausen:

It will be interesting to see how he progresses this year. He's got receivers now and there are some good prospects along the offensive line. The pieces are in place for him to really take that next step and realize his potential.

Jimmy has a healthy arm. He's got an experienced OLine. Best receiving corps I can recall top to bottom. In a 2 TE set he actually has 5 wide receivers. Rudolph is as good a Possession WR as anybody in recent memory regardless of where he lines up. Ragone has WR speed. Now add Floyd, Tate, and Kamara, Evans or the WR of your choice. Height, Speed, and experience.

Now add a FB who's a real running back not a 6th lineman.

If the running game jells, look out!

 

[phork]

ND should be atleast 11-1 this year, with this schedule. We should also be able, maybe not win, but be able to compete in a BCS game. This is where I have set my bar for this team this year.

 

[Riddickulous]

As for Clausen:



Jimmy has a healthy arm. He's got an experienced OLine. Best receiving corps I can recall top to bottom. In a 2 TE set he actually has 5 wide receivers. Rudolph is as good a Possession WR as anybody in recent memory regardless of where he lines up. Ragone has WR speed. Now add Floyd, Tate, and Kamara, Evans or the WR of your choice. Height, Speed, and experience.

Now add a FB who's a real running back not a 6th lineman.

If the running game jells, look out!

How long has it been since you've gotten an update? Mike Ragone is slow as hell. Two knee injuries does that to your speed.

 

[BGIF]

How long has it been since you've gotten an update? Mike Ragone is slow as hell. Two knee injuries does that to your speed.

The Spring Game. And you?

 

[GOLDENISTHYTATE]

I would have liked to hear what he thinks of our running backs

 

[BGIF]

I would have liked to hear what he thinks of our running backs

Agreed! I posted this in the comment section for that article:

Fair assessment but it gets an "I" for incomplete! The ineptitude of the running (and I use that word loosely) game under Charlie Weis demands a review of the RBs, Allen, Hughes, Aldridge, Gray, and Wood. What's Steve Muench's analysis of the ND RB film? Hopeful or hopeless?

 

[jason_h537]

I agree on the fair assessment.

I though he has some interesting things to say about Brian Smith's shortcomings. I think we ND fans spend too much time dwelling on his 3 stars. We tend to be oblivious to the need to improve.



No quibble with Smith's aggressiveness. Anybody got a comment on Smith's play on misdirection or play action and tackling? Is Brian Bennett on target or off base?

true, but he is young, these are things that he will improve on as he enters his Junior and Senior years. Notre Dame may not get as many 5 star players as USC but have done a great job of evaluating players like Harrison Smith and Golden Tate who are 5 star caliber players. They are not at the elite level yet but are not too far off

 

[Riddickulous]

The Spring Game. And you?

I was at the spring game. Ragone's slow.

 

[BGIF]

I was at the spring game. Ragone's slow.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. The reports I got from fans there was he ran tentatively, particularly making cuts, but he looked good running straight. The tentative part I expected coming from post surgery rehab and confronting the fear of another breakdown.

Does he run run with the speed of a "normal" TE, say the 4.9 - 5.0 range like Chryplewicz? Or slower? How does he compare speedwise to Rudolph and Fauria?

How'd he get so wide open on that 34 yd catch?

And how did he block? Did he mix it up or just chip block?

If he's only dropped from a TE with WR speed to a TE with average speed I still like him in a Twin TE set down by the goal line.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Hey... I know a thing or two about being tentative after surgery. Going into my senior year, I was benching 410 when my pec gave out and ripped on my last rep. It hurt. Bad. After surgery, every time I felt a twinge when benching, I stopped. Since then, I havn't tried to do anything over 230. I totally understand what Ragone's going through. Trying to cut, like trying to bench, can end it pain, tears, and the end of a career.

 

[BGIF]

Hey... I know a thing or two about being tentative after surgery. Going into my senior year, I was benching 410 when my pec gave out and ripped on my last rep. It hurt. Bad. After surgery, every time I felt a twinge when benching, I stopped. Since then, I havn't tried to do anything over 230. I totally understand what Ragone's going through. Trying to cut, like trying to bench, can end it pain, tears, and the end of a career.

I think we're all in agreement about the mental aspects of rehab.

But there seems to be diverse opinions as to Ragone's physical condition/progress. I received emails from people who attended the game indicating that he was back - not 100% but close. He had to work through the cobwebs but considering that he looked good on straight runs. I took that as a very good sign.

I take ClausentoFloyd's comment, as one who was there, as not so. Hence my follow-up questions to CtF to expound upon what he saw. Quantify "slow". Instead of Ragone challenging for his old #1 slot (at least on paper) is Fauria who was forced to give up a year of eligibility the real #2 TE. And should we be hoping to find a #3 TE in Eifert or Golic?

Speaking of Eifert, I was sure would sit out a year to add weight and strength. Pete Sampson has an article at IrishIllustrated which indicates that might not be so:

It’s all going according to plan for Tyler Eifert. The incoming freshman wanted to pack on at least 20 pounds this off-season. - Check. The product of Bishop Dwenger in Fort Wayne, Ind., wanted to follow Notre Dame’s off-season workout plan with religious conviction. Check. The tight end also wanted to get an early grasp of the Irish offense through his playbook. Check.

That would put Eifert at 240. Not a heavy duty blocking TE but sounds like another athletic TE with height (6-6) hands and mobility. Down by the goal line I'm not interested in the stretch the field guys I like the tall TE on a delay, the WRs on the corner fade, and the need for defenders to check first on play action as the double TE reads run.

 

[IrishAddiction]

Overall fair assessment, but i agree with BGIF, it would have been nice to see the RBs evaluated..... though i dont think it would have been a pretty evaluation if there would have been one.

 

[Riddickulous]

Ragone doesn't have WR speed. He has pretty good speed for a TE, but he's slower than Rudolph. It really doesn't mean much. He's about as fast as Fasano, and Fasano was great.

On the 34 yard play, he was wide open, and he did make a huge play. To give him credit, I think Jamoris Slaughter was in coverage, and maybe that's why he didn't score. Nate Montana can't throw very hard, either, so that might've been a factor, too.

On a side note, it was pretty freaking sweet seeing how hard Clausen actually throws.