Spring Game Position Reviews Defense: Some reality!!!
Well, I waited a couple days to let the game soak in. Plus, I went back and watched it for a second and third time. Here are my thoughts and realities, now that every ND fan has gone all “Beano Cook – Three Heisman’s” about Lynch. Let’s begin. I will give my starters and depth grades.
DEFENSE:
Safeties – Hard to make much analysis here because most of the starters here spent more time watching than playing. The reality is here that we have two studs in Harrison and Zeke, plus a really good third option with Slaughter. I was hoping to get some ideas on McCarthy, but he was in a red jersey. He had to bypass making a tackle on Golson later in the game because of his jersey. Noticed Collinsworth making a few good tackles, he will be a player in the future.
Starters: A(Zeke and Harrison are both smart, experienced and athletic)
Depth: C(Slaughter is a really good player who will play a ton, but who will be the other? McCarthy or Collinsworth??)
Cornerback – I am not sure that Gray or Blanton got mud on their pants on Saturday. Reality is that they are both BCS elite. No need to risk injury. So, we got to watch the only other two CB’s on the roster right now. Wood looks the part of a player. He turns on the ball well, plus he will come up and tackle. The other rookie CB, Bennett J, had one of the overlooked plays of the day when he came totally across field to tackle Riddick on the end around. Jackson can flat out fly and loves contact. The two new kids on the block are going to be players.
Starters: A(Gray and Blanton are as lockdown and physical as any pair in football.)
Depth: C-(This grade is trending up with the performance of both Wood and Jackson this spring. Both hit hard. Jackson has awesome speed.)
Outside LB – Did Darius Fleming put his helmet on?? Again, Diaco was not going to risk a 3-year starter. So, we got to see Filer, Ishaq, Shembo and Spond. After watching these 4 play, I feel blessed with LB riches. The player who I was most interested was actually not Ishaq, but Spond. He did NOT disappoint. Spond is a player and plays with a great motor. He was one of those so-called throw in recruits two years ago, but he is no longer. Shembo is the stud we all expected. Filer is athletic, but still gets out of position. Ishaq looks good, but he appears to be thinking too much at this point. He will be a great situational player this year. On 3rd and long, you send in Ishaq and say, “go get the damn QB!!”. Fall starters: Fleming and Shembo, with a lot of Spond too. Level of concern – ZERO, ZERO for depth.
Inside LB – Teo asked the coach if he could fly home to Hawaii for the spring game, but all the flights from SB were full. So, we got to see a little of Carlo and he looked good. The rest of the day was spent watching new blood. Fox is a good LB with some speed. Pozlusky saw his only game action at ILB. He is a good kid, but physically outmanned. The most impressive newcomer at ILB was K Moore “8”. He was really jacked up and played well. Fall Starters: Teo and Calabrese with Moore and Fox playing a lot.
Starters: A-(Carlo’s pass coverage takes this down from A+)
Depth: B(Two big solid guys in Fox and Moore, McDonald should also return)
Nose Tackle – Hide the women and children because BIG LOU is in town!! I don’t believe ND has ever had a wealth of talent at NT like this year. Both Big Lou and Hafis looked the part of run stopping NT’s. The good news is that the guy with the most experience will be back in the fall to help, Cwynar. If you are going to run on the Irish, you better plan on running wide away from the middle.
Starters: B+(Lou needs more stamina, Cwynar missed spring are the two reasons, not an A)
Depth: A(Tell me how many teams in the BCS can roll out 3 legit players in Hafis, Lou, Cwynar)
Defensive End - Amazing how fast fans are ready to cast a 4-star player who has started for more than two seasons to the trash heap. Yes, I was impressed with Lynch, but he still has major gaps in his game. He will get them worked out during his freshman season, but let’s allow the kid to grow into a role. So, we go into the season with two really good DE’s of KLM and Ethan J. The even better news is that they know there are real players behind them. This has a double benefit: One, they will be pushed to perform every single game. Believe me, EJ heard all the same Lynch stuff and will be bringing his best effort ever. Second, our front line starters do not have to worry about getting worn down. So, they will not be pacing themselves during a game. They will be going 110% every down. On long 3rd down passing downs, expect to see Lynch turned loose.
Starters: B+(Both KLM and EJ are solid players who will never be All-American, but very solid)
Depth: A+(How many teams have a Lynch, Tuitt, Kona, Newman backing up the starters?? Ummm, NOBODY!)
Well, I waited a couple days to let the game soak in. Plus, I went back and watched it for a second and third time. Here are my thoughts and realities, now that every ND fan has gone all “Beano Cook – Three Heisman’s” about Lynch. Let’s begin. I will give my starters and depth grades.
DEFENSE:
Safeties – Hard to make much analysis here because most of the starters here spent more time watching than playing. The reality is here that we have two studs in Harrison and Zeke, plus a really good third option with Slaughter. I was hoping to get some ideas on McCarthy, but he was in a red jersey. He had to bypass making a tackle on Golson later in the game because of his jersey. Noticed Collinsworth making a few good tackles, he will be a player in the future.
Starters: A(Zeke and Harrison are both smart, experienced and athletic)
Depth: C(Slaughter is a really good player who will play a ton, but who will be the other? McCarthy or Collinsworth??)
Cornerback – I am not sure that Gray or Blanton got mud on their pants on Saturday. Reality is that they are both BCS elite. No need to risk injury. So, we got to watch the only other two CB’s on the roster right now. Wood looks the part of a player. He turns on the ball well, plus he will come up and tackle. The other rookie CB, Bennett J, had one of the overlooked plays of the day when he came totally across field to tackle Riddick on the end around. Jackson can flat out fly and loves contact. The two new kids on the block are going to be players.
Starters: A(Gray and Blanton are as lockdown and physical as any pair in football.)
Depth: C-(This grade is trending up with the performance of both Wood and Jackson this spring. Both hit hard. Jackson has awesome speed.)
Outside LB – Did Darius Fleming put his helmet on?? Again, Diaco was not going to risk a 3-year starter. So, we got to see Filer, Ishaq, Shembo and Spond. After watching these 4 play, I feel blessed with LB riches. The player who I was most interested was actually not Ishaq, but Spond. He did NOT disappoint. Spond is a player and plays with a great motor. He was one of those so-called throw in recruits two years ago, but he is no longer. Shembo is the stud we all expected. Filer is athletic, but still gets out of position. Ishaq looks good, but he appears to be thinking too much at this point. He will be a great situational player this year. On 3rd and long, you send in Ishaq and say, “go get the damn QB!!”. Fall starters: Fleming and Shembo, with a lot of Spond too. Level of concern – ZERO, ZERO for depth.
Inside LB – Teo asked the coach if he could fly home to Hawaii for the spring game, but all the flights from SB were full. So, we got to see a little of Carlo and he looked good. The rest of the day was spent watching new blood. Fox is a good LB with some speed. Pozlusky saw his only game action at ILB. He is a good kid, but physically outmanned. The most impressive newcomer at ILB was K Moore “8”. He was really jacked up and played well. Fall Starters: Teo and Calabrese with Moore and Fox playing a lot.
Starters: A-(Carlo’s pass coverage takes this down from A+)
Depth: B(Two big solid guys in Fox and Moore, McDonald should also return)
Nose Tackle – Hide the women and children because BIG LOU is in town!! I don’t believe ND has ever had a wealth of talent at NT like this year. Both Big Lou and Hafis looked the part of run stopping NT’s. The good news is that the guy with the most experience will be back in the fall to help, Cwynar. If you are going to run on the Irish, you better plan on running wide away from the middle.
Starters: B+(Lou needs more stamina, Cwynar missed spring are the two reasons, not an A)
Depth: A(Tell me how many teams in the BCS can roll out 3 legit players in Hafis, Lou, Cwynar)
Defensive End - Amazing how fast fans are ready to cast a 4-star player who has started for more than two seasons to the trash heap. Yes, I was impressed with Lynch, but he still has major gaps in his game. He will get them worked out during his freshman season, but let’s allow the kid to grow into a role. So, we go into the season with two really good DE’s of KLM and Ethan J. The even better news is that they know there are real players behind them. This has a double benefit: One, they will be pushed to perform every single game. Believe me, EJ heard all the same Lynch stuff and will be bringing his best effort ever. Second, our front line starters do not have to worry about getting worn down. So, they will not be pacing themselves during a game. They will be going 110% every down. On long 3rd down passing downs, expect to see Lynch turned loose.
Starters: B+(Both KLM and EJ are solid players who will never be All-American, but very solid)
Depth: A+(How many teams have a Lynch, Tuitt, Kona, Newman backing up the starters?? Ummm, NOBODY!)
