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

[FightingIrishLover7]

What's the status of Dayne's knee?

 

[BGIF]

What's the status of Dayne's knee?

Which one?

 

[ryno 24]

Theo/TJ
Middle Linebacker Spot,
Prince Shembo/
Roberson

Definitely Quarterback situation I want to see what the order is after the spring

 

[rikkitikki08]

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.

HAHA thats great, sounds like you got a smart little fella on your hands

 

[rikkitikki08]

What's the status of Dayne's knee?

I cant post a link but i swear i was reading on some site that he might be ready by the spring game

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

1) Theo Riddick, because he needs to be lightining in a bottle.. That way Floyd can put up video game numbers.

2) Manti Teo, just excited to see the development.

3) Cam Roberson.. please don't be another Aldridge.. (in terms of career/stats) *Great kid

4) Prince Shembo, TENACIOUS!

 

[BGIF]

I cant post a link but i swear i was reading on some site that he might be ready by the spring game

There was a Kelly quote that rehab was going well and he was expected back..

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

There was a Kelly quote that rehab was going well and he was expected back..

Good to hear. Wish Dayne could have a normal offseason to grow properly.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I look forward to seeing the guys in the Blue and the Gold ! just any ND action!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I wish that either DaVaris or George Atkinson III were EE's. I have a feeling they could both be contributors right away. And spring could have helped solidify that.

 

[Old Man Mike]

My earlier post shouted Quarterbacks and I still go with that. But we have a second major mystery that someone has pointed out. We are very thin on "obvious" choices for Kerry Neal's spot at drop linebacker. If Filer cannot step up, who will do so?? Spond? Moore to olb?? Shembo doesn't seem made for the spot, but does Diaco tinker with the backers to somehow get both him and Fleming on the field?? I am very interested to see what Diaco wants to do at linebacker.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

My earlier post shouted Quarterbacks and I still go with that. But we have a second major mystery that someone has pointed out. We are very thin on "obvious" choices for Kerry Neal's spot at drop linebacker. If Filer cannot step up, who will do so?? Spond? Moore to olb?? Shembo doesn't seem made for the spot, but does Diaco tinker with the backers to somehow get both him and Fleming on the field?? I am very interested to see what Diaco wants to do at linebacker.

Me too. Seems like this is the bottom line -What DIACO wants to do.... ND seems to have good athletes for the 5-2, and is a matter of given assignments from film watching and tendencies of opposing offenses. Calabrese needs to quit overpuruing and start breaking down a fraction sooner, but otherwise, I posted often and very early in the season that I really liked the D.

So I demand a scooby snack.

 

[InKellyITrust]

I wish that either DaVaris or George Atkinson III were EE's. I have a feeling they could both be contributors right away. And spring could have helped solidify that.

I feel the same way about Koyack.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I feel the same way about Koyack.

True true. Didn't really think about Ben. I thought od DaVaris and GAIII, because they could be used in the return game as well.

 

[Old Man Mike]

dshans, will you please give Neutered a Scooby Snack before he wees on your lawn again??

Oh, and slightly more on topic: If those ideas on filling Neal's spot wouldn't be working too well, having Ben Counsell here as an EE wouldn't have been bad. And the DBs. And Tuitt. And McDaniel. etc. etc. etc.

 

[TDHeysus]

I feel the same way about Koyack.

Eifert is a stud; losing Kyle Rudolph was huge in my opinion. but after watching Eifert last year, and with welch and koyack, I think ND is looking really good at the TE position. Eiferts' play last year eased my trepidation over losing Rudolph.

 

[InKellyITrust]

True true. Didn't really think about Ben. I thought od DaVaris and GAIII, because they could be used in the return game as well.

Good point. We need a game breaker at the returner position. Others may disagree, but I used to get really excited 2 years ago when I saw Riddick waiting deep for the kickoffs.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Two years ago, i was excited when golden tate was back there personally

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

dshans, will you please give Neutered a Scooby Snack before he wees on your lawn again??

Oh, and slightly more on topic: If those ideas on filling Neal's spot wouldn't be working too well, having Ben Counsell here as an EE wouldn't have been bad. And the DBs. And Tuitt. And McDaniel. etc. etc. etc.

lol. SirDishands prohibited me from doing wee wee on his lawn. Posted sign, dropped some poison, joined neighborhood alert, hired a sniper...

Back to point, I really liked what Diaco did with the 5-2. My only question was what he had his ends do. Well, that, and the Navy fiasco. But I think the D will be as strong as the D STAFF making the right calls. And I will say it again, I thought this was the BEST D since Alvarez.

 

[dshans]

dshans, will you please give Neutered a Scooby Snack before he wees on your lawn again??.

I was thinking of doing just that. The deer lad seems to be hungry all the time – and occasionally with a bladder filled with **** and vinegar.

I'm just not sure what a "Scooby Snack" might be. I get the feeling that I'm a bit too old and my son (perhaps) a bit too young to know. Maybe my dog owning neighbors could help. I just have a couple of persnickety cats.

I'd love to eliminate the brown patches on my lawn. And the lad-a-deer never knocks on my door ... I'd love to invite him in for a brew. One that he could "process" on someone else's grass.

 

[InKellyITrust]

Two years ago, i was excited when golden tate was back there personally

Good choice. Again, something better than who we had in that position last year but I'm confident that Kelly will improve the production at that position.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Eifert is a stud; losing Kyle Rudolph was huge in my opinion. but after watching Eifert last year, and with welch and koyack, I think ND is looking really good at the TE position. Eiferts' play last year eased my trepidation over losing Rudolph.

Don't forget about Alex Welch either.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Moore is the player I cant wait to see the incoming freshman obviously. Returning starters probably the qbs or Wood and then on defense my obsession prince shembo.

 

[dshans]

I am most looking forward to seeing the results of the coaches on the ability of the lads to play coherently as a team. Individual talent don't mean Jack if it ain't properly focused.

 

[fightinirish68]

i really like shembo but its gonna be hard for him to get decent PT unless he moves inside. and even there he has a battle

 

[InKellyITrust]

i really like shembo but its gonna be hard for him to get decent PT unless he moves inside. and even there he has a battle

Potential long-term replacement for Manti?? He's a big dude. I can't imagine how big he'll look in the fall.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

i really like shembo but its gonna be hard for him to get decent PT unless he moves inside. and even there he has a battle

Why do you think that? I believe Shembo is going to be our best pass rusher of the edge this season and for the next couple. I think he gets a lot of playing time on passing downs. He showed signs of greatness last season.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Potential long-term replacement for Manti?? He's a big dude. I can't imagine how big he'll look in the fall.

Actually, Manti and Carlo's size this past season kinda scared me. LB in the 5-2 need to be, possibly the best athletes on the team. Able to take on an OG, FB, OT, squeeze through on a blitz, lateral coverage, breakdown on cutback, and drop back into pass coverage. Getting too big and chunky can make you vulnerable, and almost worthless at pass hook coverage or lateral pursuit, or even flat coverage.

Ends: people forget that coaches call assignments. ND coaches need to improve their total LB scheme. It is not the athlete's fault if coach calls a certain coverage or sight coverage and it fail on one play. I think this ND defense is almost "there" already. ND was so many "half inches" on defense this past season to complete shut all teams down. Fans know about Sam or Will or whatever they call them LB blitzes, but don't realize coaches call for an OLB assignment. (Inside thunder, blitz, flat...yada yada...).

D calling is a risk.

Well, so is offense,,, but ... what were we talking about?

Oh yeah, hamstring injuries. Rudolph. Tough to create a lifting and running practice that can cover blocking a 250 lb. Dlineman, then go out for a 50 yard route.

 

[IrishandColts]

Not Lynch

 

[BeauBenken]

Things I want to see in the spring game would be huge plays by our offense both running and passing while at the same time huge plays by our D. I want it to be an absolute battle out there. I want to see sick nasty athleticism on both sides of the field. I want to see the potential for us to put up 49 points a game on O while at the same time the potential for us to keep teams below 14 on D. I want to see a scary (for other teams) team.