Who are you most looking forward to seeing in the 2011 Spring Game

[FightingIrishLover7]

So, with a little over a month to the spring game, I was wondering who you guys were most looking forward to seeing in action.

I couldn't decide on one player, so I've broken it down into different categories.

1) Returning offensive starter
2) Returning defensive starter
3) Up and coming offensive player
4) Up and coming defensive player

Here's my take

1) Cierre Wood - This man turned up the heat the last few weeks of the season, with time to get faster, stronger, healthier, and smarter in off-season, I'm craving to see some explosiveness out of Cierre.

2) Manti Teo - I know its a safe bet to assume Manti is gonna be beast. However, with the dramatic improvement from his frosh to soph year, I'm curious to see if this season he'll reach all-time elite status. He may be the best linebacker in the country this season, and this could be his starting block.

3) Cameron Roberson - With the departure of Armando Allen and Robert Hughes, ND is left with a hole in the RB depth chart. Cierre and Jonas are the only two returning contributors from the previous season. That means, ND is looking for a 3rd man or possibly a guy who could push for the 2nd seat. Kelly spoke good words about Cam last season. I'm interested to see how he preforms this spring.

4) Lois Nix, Ishaq Williams, and Aaron Lynch - I cheated. Picking one guy from this category seemed impossible. Lois would be my first choice if forced to vote, because his position must be filled right away. However, these two early enrollees are looking to make a name for themselves too. This category will be the most fun to watch.

Don't even get me started on the QBs.

With this being said, I'm heading into this spring with extreme optimism. I know some of you will say I'm jumping the gun... I don't care. This feeling is different. I always hope for the best for ND. But now, I'm saw a brief glimpse of were the program is heading, during the last four games of the season.

ND is making changes. They are starting to "buy into" Kelly's beliefs. They are playing with confidence, swagger, and pride that lacked during the past few coaching regimes.

I wasn't old enough to remember the Holtz years. But my grandpa and dad told me story after story about the mentality of the team. They expected themselves to win every game, whether the odds be great or small. Old Notre Dame would win over all.

I have a feeling the echoes are waking up.

 

[DillonHall]

1. Theo Riddick
2. Ethan Johnson
3. Chris Watt
4. Louis Nix

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

The lady cheerleaders.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

The lady cheerleaders.

Yes. They are quite popular with my son Brendan. We were having quite a father-son moment at the last spring game. Manti and Kyle were warming up on the field near us, at about our one o'clock, and Brendan asked if he could take some pictures. I helped him aim the camera, and he immediately swung to his 10 o'clock, and started clicking away madly. When we showed everybody our photo's, there were about 32 pictures of the cheerleaders, right in the middle of the game photo sequence. Brendan turned five in February.

 

[ThePiombino]

I honestly can't pick one player. I'm so stoked to see what the whole team has to offer. Can't wait to see the offense turn the corner in year 2 of Kelly's offense. Can't wait to see how high-energy the defense plays, ESPECIALLY with the momentum of the last five games plus an amazing recruiting year. Can't wait to see some of the new guys hopefully pump some life into the return game. Can't wait to see which QB will be the one to lead ND to a (hopefully) BCS game. I'm just so excited- haven't been this excited in MAAAAAANY years!

 

[irish1958]

Someone who can return punts and KOs. Anybody.

 

[rtrn2glory]

1. Roberson
2. Nix
3. Hendrix
4. Lynch
5. Moore

 

[Rocket89]

Hendrix, Roberson, Utupo, Moore, Lombard, Welch, Lynch, Ishaq, and Golson.

 

[Old Man Mike]

QUARTERBACKS!!!!

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

I would have to go with all the QBs, just because I want to see what each can bring to the table.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

1. Riddick
2. Darious Flemming (I think he is going to explode this year!)
3. Chris Watt
4. Moore (I think he will start beside Manti)

 

[Praytorian]

1 Theo Riddick - hope he stays WR.
2 Hayseed - lets hope he can stay as hot as he finished the season.
3 O-Line - lets hope they can stay as hot as well.
4 Lo Wood - time to run with the big boys.

 

[EddytoNow]

Players with Experience
1. Cierra Wood/T.J. Jones
2. Kendal Moore/Robert Blanton

Players without Experience
3. Andrew Hendrix/Kyle Brindza
4. Aaron Lynch/Ishaq Williams

I'm especially looking forward to seeing some kick-offs into or through the end zone. Brindza will be a key to holding the field position advantage.

 

[IrishLax]

1. QBs... outside of them TJ Jones
2. Ethan Johnson... can he finally take the next step? Or is his ceiling set at being a serviceable starter?
3. QBs... outside of them I'm most interested to see Welch/Watt
4. The outside linebackers besides Fleming. Ishaq/Filer/Shembo/all of the other guys. Someone is going to have to step up at the spot opposite Fleming. Filer went bonkers in the spring game last year but didn't carry that over into the regular season.
4a. Kona, Aaron Lynch, Louis Nix, etc. It's usually hard to gauge the DL in the spring game because of the rules against rushing and hitting the QB... but I just wanted to see if Kona has continued to grow, if AL has the goods to contribute this season and if Nix is ready to step up at NT with Cwynar and Stockton both getting surgery done.

BONUS: I am VERY interested in seeing how Brindza competes with Turk punting the football and with Ruffer kicking off.

 

[InKellyITrust]

1. Riddick (He showed a glimpse last year of his potential production. Hopefully, he stays at WR)
2. Carlo (Manti can't make every tackle although he'll try. Someone else needs to make plays)
3. Golson (Kelly talked about bringing in some more offensive playmakers. I'm excited to see him bring a new dimension to the QB position)
4. Ishaq (I think he'll contribute right away. He has too much talent to keep off the field)

 

[anarin]

1. Every QB ! (especially Hendrix)
2. TJ Jones (will he take the leap?)
3. The runningbacks (will riddick be there? Is roberson gonna make his mark? Has wood improved?)
4. Of course Ishaq and Lynch are given (we havent seen them in action yet)
5. The direction of the offense from kelly (will it look like last years offense or will it hit this 2nd gear I keep reading about?)


Thats where my focus will be mainly.

 

[mick2]

crist (i'd like to see how far hes come)
floyd (the man)
nix (our nick fairley)
the freshmen (the future)

 

[fightinirish68]

its gotta be the qbs. whos gonna play well. is hendrix going to be the recruit we thought he would? and golson, he was brought in for the scheme and enrolled early but is this his yr?

 

[Ironman8]

Really looking forward to seeing if Dayne can show a further grasp of the offense (i.e. quicker reads and hitting WRs in stride), and if Tommy has been making significant gains in the weight room like he has to be in order to gain the necessary strength to be a distinguished D-1 QB.

That being said, I am most looking forward to seeing Hendrix for the first time. First impressions are huge (especially to the ND fanbase), and I would love for him to come out with an impressive showing, not just for himself, but to truly create some extensive competition for the job, and to show that we have several capable options at the position in case injuries occur.

 

[irishtrain]

The o-line big and nasty and Harrison Smith as a legit all american candidate. My other 2 guys I'm hoping for but not counting them for much is Jonas Gray and Steve Filer-man would it be nice to see them fullfill their expectations as college ball players.

 

[IrishLax]

The o-line big and nasty and Harrison Smith as a legit all american candidate. My other 2 guys I'm hoping for but not counting them for much is Jonas Gray and Steve Filer-man would it be nice to see them fullfill their expectations as college ball players.

Yeah, the interesting thing about Filer is that he had something absurd like 10 tackles in the Spring game last year. Played out of his mind... then never really broke the lineup.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Has anyone heard confirmation if Dayne will be participating in a limited role again?

I know that this was Kelly's game plan, but I was wondering if Dayne's knee was on pace.

 

[Irish Fam]

1. Cierre Wood- I think he could have a breakout season if we are able to spread defenses out with the pass.
2. Harrison Smith- I like safeties and I hope he can use his athletic ability to make some big plays.

3. Andrew Hendrix- I like his athletic ability and he received quite a bit of praise from the coaching staff this past year.
4. Louis Nix- Another guy receiving alot of praise from the coaching staff. Dominate linemen win championships

 

[mgriff]

I'm excited to see Floyd for another year, but new player I anticipate watching would be Nix, since he's got so much potential at a position we've struggled with, until Ian last year in his better NT spot.

 

[BGIF]

THE Starting QB!

I don't care what number he wears as long as we get it resolved.

 

[mgriff]

THE Starting QB!

I don't care what number he wears as long as we get it resolved.

Haha. That's definitely the most imperative to our success next season regardless of who I'm looking forward to seeing in action for the first time. I guess I'm not entirely hyped on anyone as the two we saw in action had their deficiencies, and our other two options have only had a few months at the school, or a redshirt year. Someone may show up and take the nation by storm, it certainly isn't out of the question and a few usually pop up like that yearly. Here's to hoping it's one of our QBs this year.

 

[Irish Man3]

1. A healthy Theo Riddick and a focused Michael Floyd.
2. A faster and healthier Calabrese along with Blanton taking the next step.
3. Cam Roberson stepping into a new role and taking the number two spot and how much progress TJ makes over his first off-season.
4. Can Kendall Moore show us what the coaches are raving about and can the young DEs challenge for playing time?

Quarterbacks will be a hot topic all through the spring but after I saw what Brian Kelly did with Tommy Rees, im not worried about who starts at quarterback. Im more concerned about watching this defense continue to evolve from a bottom of the barrel "highschool" joke, to our teams backbone. BK can "manufacture offense." I want to see Diaco take this defense to a level that we havent seen in over a decade and in doing so, make a name for himself in the coaching community.

 

[TDHeysus]

The QB's and the defensive front 7.

I'm interested in other areas too, but the QB's and Def front 7 is going to fun to watch. In both situations ND has stockpiled some talent, and it should a joy to watch the coaching staff come up with the best opportunity to win, as opposed to being stuck with only 1 or 2 options.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. The 4 QBs
2. Robert Blanton
3. TJ Jones
4. Louis Nix

 

[eNDzone]

1) Riddick
2) Blanton
3) Hendrix - Got to see tihs guy in action!
4) Nix