S of the Decade

[jason_h537]

So here is thelast poll and we got some real competition here.

Tom Zbikowski 04-07
300 Tackles
8 INT
7 Forced Fumbles

Gerome Sapp 99-02
155 Tackles
5 INT
3 Forced Fumbles

Glenn Earl 00-03
169 Tackles
4 INT

David Bruton 05-08
214 Tackles
7 INT

Chinedum Ndukwe 03-06
157 Tackles
* Had that great hit on Calvin Johnson

Quinten Burrell 01-04
135 Tackles
5 INT

Kyle McCarthy 06-09
223 Tackles
8 INT
3 Forced Fumbles

Top 2 guys will be taken

 

[jason_h537]

Went with Sapp because i think most will vote Zibby but it was hard picking over Earl, Bruton and McCarthy

 

[We_Are_ND]

Gotta vote Zibby, was a game changer and had a nose for the endzone. The punt return against SC will forever be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Notre Dame Stadium. Loudest I have ever heard it.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

Zibby was my favorite player as I grew up going through high school.

 

[BillyIrish]

I went with Glenn Earl. It was either him or Sapp for me. They were half of one of the best secondaries at ND. Zibby made big plays, but got smoked more often. This isn't special team player of the decade, it's safety of the decade. He and Ndukwe played on bad defenses.

 

[GOLDENISTHYTATE]

Ndukwe! Seriously underrated player by ND fans, always was in the right place and tackled very well in space. Hence his success with the Cincy Bengals

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Bruton...

 

[Riddickulous]

Three-way tie between Sapp, Earl, and Ndukwe.

Nothing against Tommy Z, but he was an average cover safety and ATROCIOUS in run support.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Zibby... with Chimmy a not-so-near second.

 

[49er-Irish]

Three-way tie between Sapp, Earl, and Ndukwe.

Nothing against Tommy Z, but he was an average cover safety and ATROCIOUS in run support.

Zibby was definitely not the best coverage safety, but atrocious in run support?

I don't think so. The guy had 300 tackles and they weren't all from tackling wide receivers. His biggest problem in coverage was that he bit hard on play action because he was trying to make plays for the run defense.

Oh yeah, I voted for Tommy.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Zibby's pass defense was too bad to warrant a vote.

 

[Riddickulous]

Zibby was definitely not the best coverage safety, but atrocious in run support?

I don't think so. The guy had 300 tackles and they weren't all from tackling wide receivers. His biggest problem in coverage was that he bit hard on play action because he was trying to make plays for the run defense.

Oh yeah, I voted for Tommy.

Zibby was the guy who was always so out of position that he had to sprint all the way across the field to catch up to the opposing running back.

 

[49er-Irish]

Zibby was the guy who was always so out of position that he had to sprint all the way across the field to catch up to the opposing running back.

300 times?

Sure, Zibby was out of position at times - although I would still argue that it was almost always on pass defense rather than run support - but he was the only safety I can remember at ND that hit high and knocked ball carriers backwards. Guys like Bruton and McCarthy made more than their share of tackles, but they were ankle biter tacklers. ND has lacked a physical, intomidating presence in the secondary for awhile.

I'm hoping that Barr can be that enforcer at SS to remember for the upcoming decade.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I went with Zibby because of his personality and leadership.

Sure he got burnt a lot, but still this guy was the Brady Quinn of the Defense.

The other candidates are equally deserving, but I've always loved Zibby.

 

[IrishAddiction]

Bruton made plays for sure, and so did Ndukwe(who can forget that Calvin Johnson hit, IMO turned the tide in the game). They both are

I had to go with Zibby though. If it wasnt for neck injuries his last two seasons (stingers specifically, which suck nuts if you have ever had them), he would have been even better...... even with the injuries though, he still hit like a truck.

 

[IrishAddiction]

One thing that i forgot to mention, is the fact of how many tackles our Safety of the decade has had...... its very bad news when our safeties are the leading tacklers on the team. It sadly speaks volumes of the underachievement of our front seven in the last decade.

 

[DKSchrute]

Tom Zbikowski is probably the most overrated Notre Dame player in history.

He was terrible his senior year. Terrible. Always loaded up for a knockout hit and whiffed a lot.

He was Harrison Smith as a safety before Harrison Smith.

 

[Riddickulous]

Tom Zbikowski is probably the most overrated Notre Dame player in history.

He was terrible his senior year. Terrible. Always loaded up for a knockout hit and whiffed a lot.

He was Harrison Smith as a safety before Harrison Smith.

Harrison Smith? Come on, man. Harrison Smith might be the worst safety in the history of the world. Zibby was not the worst safety in the history of the world before Harrison Smith was the worst safety in the history of the world.

 

[fitz_bu47]

You guys are crazy or not watching the whole field, or crazy! Zibby when on an average defense was fine in coverage, when the d stunk and he had to make almost EVERY tackle, he got beat on some play action. One of the best playmakers I have ever gotten to see play, once he got a pick, or caught a punt he just willed himself to the endzone...That punt return against SC is one of my favorite all time sports moments....just wish it ended better....F-Usc, ZIBBY RULES!!!

 

[fitz_bu47]

He would also make a great President, Pope, or Leader of the World! Zibby!!!

 

[GOLDENISTHYTATE]

It's hard for me to fathom Zibby running away with this when as a three-year starter, he was on every highlight reel for wide receivers drafted to the NFL in the first three rounds. Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Steve Breaston, Adrian Arrington, Derrick Williams, Devin Thomas, Craig Davis, Early Doucet, Anthony Gonzalez, Ted Ginn - all players Zibby helped earn better paychecks for always falling for the play action and his inability to catch anyone who had a step on him. Love Zibby, but he does not deserve this award. Ndukwe, Bruton, and Sapp were all better safeties.

 

[jason_h537]

Zibbyas a healthy Sophmore was a playmaker. He was great aginst the run and good in coverage when he had a front seven. Asthose d-lineman and LB's started graduating and he got hurt his Junior and Senior year he was forced to move up into the box more and stop the run causing him to get hurt and bit often on play action. Remember his senior year he was surrounded by true freshman and several key positions including a starting corner 2 linebackers and DT

 

[Aerosmith777]

Had to go with Glenn Earl.

 

[fitz_bu47]

Thank you Jason!

 

[TDHeysus]

Bruton - less 'highs' then others, but not nearly as many 'lows' either.

I'll take Bruton and his consistancy.