Cierre Wood may be the starter?

[JughedJones]

BK said today that Wood may move in to the starting position, that's pretty serious news!

The kid's an absolute stud but is this AA slipping off a little or Wood growing into the full grown man we want to see? Both?

Or, is this a Coach Kelly strategy to light a fire under AA....


hmmmm......

 

[no.1IrishFan]

I would be very surprised to see Cierre jump ahead of AA. From what coach has said of late, he's been doing much better but I just don't see that happening. I'm more surprised that Hughes has fallen down on the chart. Looks like it's going to be AA, Wood, then either Gray or Hughes.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Armando will start against Purdue i believe. I thought Kelly made it sound like during the season Cierre could take the job... That's the way I took it anyway.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I seriously doubt that Armando Allen has slipped any at all. Allen is a very "solid" back, but he is not a gamebreaker. As soon as i saw Wood play I said "Wow!" --- something that never came spontaneously to mind when watching Allen. Allen is very good, and we're happy to have him, but I believe that Kelly was just waiting to see if Wood could do the other things required of a Kelly back than carry the ball. I'll bet that Kelly's found that out now. Either way, we're blest.

 

[DirtySecret]

Cierre Wood moving on up - Rivals.com Video

When ask how his first day of class were, Cierre replied "It was boring like usual!"

 

[JughedJones]

"Boring...Like usual"

HA! An honest chap at that.

 

[DirtySecret]

"Boring...Like usual"

HA! An honest chap at that.

His facial expression was funny.. On anoter note: fucking NCAA clearing house, some of Justin Utupo classes aren't carrying over. There's a kid who plays here for Tenn who just got rip off the team until his classes clear with the NCAA..

 

[GreatGolson]

i think a little bit was pushing AA but at the same time he was giving praise where praise was due, i think Cierre can have a great season! IMO i think he is the best RB for kelly's offense

 

[Riddickulous]

Cierre is supposed to be a bit of a comedian.

 

[TerryTate]

Future Rhodes Scholar

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I wood not be surprised at all...Allen is more of a 3rd down back...Wood has the moves to take it to the house.

 

[GoIrish41]

Cierre is the best back on the team IMHO. When AA gets injured (he always does) Cierre will seize the starting position for the rest of the season. AA will come back and get some carries, but Wood will not relinquish the starting job until he graduates.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I seriously doubt that Armando Allen has slipped any at all. Allen is a very "solid" back, but he is not a gamebreaker. As soon as i saw Wood play I said "Wow!" --- something that never came spontaneously to mind when watching Allen. Allen is very good, and we're happy to have him, but I believe that Kelly was just waiting to see if Wood could do the other things required of a Kelly back than carry the ball. I'll bet that Kelly's found that out now. Either way, we're blest.

I completely agree with you sir!

 

[GoingGreen]

I say start Allen at the beginning of the season, and give Wood some carries. Whoever has more success wins the job.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Is it just me...or does Wood look "leaner" I like this kid...honest....brings a little swagger...big year from him. 1 2 puch with him and AA.

 

[irishandy]

Cierre is the best back on the team IMHO.

I agree with you. I think Armando will start, but will have a short leash to impress. I don't see Armando being as nearly as explosive as Wood.

 

[TerryTate]

He hasn't sniffed the field yet. Before we start claiming he's the chosen one, let's see how it translates on the field.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

My understanding...is that Wood tore it up in the spring game.

 

[Junkhead]

I have always been an Armando fan, but he hasn't shown break away ability even though he's probably one of the fastest RBs in college football. I still think he can excel in this offense, but he really hasn't shown the vision of a top back yet. I would not be surprised if Cierre takes the top spot sooner rather than later. It is tough to judge now, since most of AA's weakness's may be due to the pathetic play of Weis' O-Line. Best guys plays, end of story.

 

[irishtrain]

I would be very surprised to see Cierre jump ahead of AA. From what coach has said of late, he's been doing much better but I just don't see that happening. I'm more surprised that Hughes has fallen down on the chart. Looks like it's going to be AA, Wood, then either Gray or Hughes.

This seems like BK keeping things competitve and going in the right direction on entitlement. I am hoping Hughes is a big part of this as he and Gray will be needed for tough stuff against physical teams this year. Make no mistake about it- this team will have many interchangable parts. I think its the sign of a good team not a sign of no talent.

 

[Rocket89]

He hasn't sniffed the field yet. Before we start claiming he's the chosen one, let's see how it translates on the field.

Well now he's sniffing the shit out of the field.

We could see some Reggie Brooks-type of yards per carry from Wood this year.

 

[TerryTate]

Well now he's sniffing the shit out of the field.

We could see some Reggie Brooks-type of yards per carry from Wood this year.

He's still #2 and a redshirt freshman. I'm not saying he's overrated, I'm saying we need to relax with this flavor of the week stuff. We haven't even seen what Kelly's offense will look like. AA is better catching the ball out of the backfield, which I assume is an integral part of Kelly's offense. FWIW, Cierre and Armando were rated the exact same coming out of HS.

 

[Riddickulous]

This seems like BK keeping things competitve and going in the right direction on entitlement. I am hoping Hughes is a big part of this as he and Gray will be needed for tough stuff against physical teams this year. Make no mistake about it- this team will have many interchangable parts. I think its the sign of a good team not a sign of no talent.

Hughes is too slow and is not powerful enough to make much of an impact, IMO.

Well now he's sniffing the shit out of the field.

We could see some Reggie Brooks-type of yards per carry from Wood this year.

Reggie Brooks was a monster. Come to think of it, Holtz just a monster backfield to work with throughout his entire career here: Green, Johnson, Bettis, Tony Brooks, Reggie Brooks, Watters, Kinder, Culver, Denson, Edwards, Zellars. Beasts. Hopefully we can see a couple of beasts this year.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

AA was listed as a 4.38 and I dont see him pull away from anyone...dont get me wrong I like AA - the issue I have is that he has had his chance(s)...and done "ok"...I would like a RB to take the job and PROVE everytime they touch the ball or block that there is no doubt who the #1 back is....

 

[DirtySecret]

He's still #2 and a redshirt freshman. I'm not saying he's overrated, I'm saying we need to relax with this flavor of the week stuff. We haven't even seen what Kelly's offense will look like. AA is better catching the ball out of the backfield, which I assume is an integral part of Kelly's offense. FWIW, Cierre and Armando were rated the exact same coming out of HS.

Agree.. As for the Reggie Brooks comment, the game has evolve since those days, defensive players are as fast as runningbacks..

 

[Riddickulous]

AA was listed as a 4.38 and I dont see him pull away from anyone...dont get me wrong I like AA - the issue I have is that he has had his chance(s)...and done "ok"...I would like a RB to take the job and PROVE everytime they touch the ball or block that there is no doubt who the #1 back is....

His broken leg in high school took his speed down a peg. The play I always remember when regarding Allen's speed was in 2008, when he had a massive open lane against USC and Taylor Mays ran him down for a one yard gain.

 

[Rocket89]

He's still #2 and a redshirt freshman. I'm not saying he's overrated, I'm saying we need to relax with this flavor of the week stuff. We haven't even seen what Kelly's offense will look like. AA is better catching the ball out of the backfield, which I assume is an integral part of Kelly's offense. FWIW, Cierre and Armando were rated the exact same coming out of HS.

True, but Wood just seems to have "it" and he had the opportunity to grow physically and mentally as a redshirt. He was rather scrawny in high school and now he's pretty jacked up.

I still think AA will be the featured back, in part like you said, because he's so well rounded and can be utlilized in the passing game with ease, but I really think Wood is going to get 75 to 100 carries and do some serious damage.

 

[TerryTate]

AA was listed as a 4.38 and I dont see him pull away from anyone...dont get me wrong I like AA - the issue I have is that he has had his chance(s)...and done "ok"...I would like a RB to take the job and PROVE everytime they touch the ball or block that there is no doubt who the #1 back is....

We agree. I don't think Adrian Peterson could have run the ball with the blocking the past few years. The line looked like it could make a pocket, but it could never run block. I am hoping AA, Gray, and CW get their share of carries this year. I'm confident that Kelly will put the best player on the field for the given situation. If Wood explodes as a kick returner, look for him to earn his starting spot.

All 3 RBs were rated 6.0 4 Stars.

 

[Rocket89]

I doubt Hughes gets any carries. The reality is he doesn't fit the system, and his career has been made up of scoring short yardage touchdowns and impressing against the weakest defenses the Irish play.

Put the kid at H-back!

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

TerryTate - very well said. And I am so happy we have 4 good RBs....and I hope the competition will push them from GOOD to Great. Damn...wish the season was starting tomorow...and Damn...going to have a hard time sleeping...I hope ND goes back to its roots- tough smart football.