'11 FL DE Anthony Rabasa (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[rtrn2glory]

^ this

and if i may add....I am excited about Grace- not getting that much love..however I think he is going to be special!

i give you permission to add :awesomewo...Grace is definitely a sleeper in this class with the potential to be that bulldozing run stopper in the middle, maybe next too Fox.

 

[D-BOE34]

Been watching highlight vids again of this man-child. STOKED! I think he contributes right away. I was pumped up again so I felt it was worth posting.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Rabasa is a real roughneck and a stud. We just need to find a place for him to play. With Fleming and Ishaq in his "ordinary" position, we could keep him there as against the time Darius graduates, but there still would be Ishaq. I look across our linebackers and see Councell, Spond, and Shembo eating huge amounts of time and wondering how THEY will all fit. But when I look past Manti, I see a lot of possibility for a stud in the middle. Two studs in fact. Grace may well be one. Maybe Anthony is the other.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Rabasa is a real roughneck and a stud. We just need to find a place for him to play. With Fleming and Ishaq in his "ordinary" position, we could keep him there as against the time Darius graduates, but there still would be Ishaq. I look across our linebackers and see Councell, Spond, and Shembo eating huge amounts of time and wondering how THEY will all fit. But when I look past Manti, I see a lot of possibility for a stud in the middle. Two studs in fact. Grace may well be one. Maybe Anthony is the other.

I agree with you, to an extent. We need to find a way to get these guys on the field at the same time, so ILB might make sense for Rabasa.

However, as you pointed out, he was recruited for Cat, and with Darius gone after this season, Ishaq will be our only true Cat LB. I think Rabasa competes with Ishaq for the #2 at Cat in 2011 with an eye toward building depth for 2012.

 

[TerryTate]

MLB is his future IMO

 

[JDAtlanta]

MLB is his future IMO

I think he is perfect for ILB. I see a faster Calabrese. I can see him playing at the next level on the inside. I think he is an under publicized kid. I liked Carlo a lot when he was being recruited. I think Rabasa will be better than Carlo.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think he is perfect for ILB. I see a faster Calabrese. I can see him playing at the next level on the inside. I think he is an under publicized kid. I liked Carlo a lot when he was being recruited. I think Rabasa will be better than Carlo.

You make good points and that sounds correct.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If Rabasa moves inside, where does that leave Cat in 2012 and beyond? Ishaq > ...?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

If Rabasa moves inside, where does that leave Cat in 2012 and beyond? Ishaq > ...?

Shembo could also play the CAT...which I could see him and Ishaq over there with Spond and Councel at the DOG.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Shembo could also play the CAT...which I could see him and Ishaq over there with Spond and Councel at the DOG.

Good point.

I guess I've been overestimating the importance of height for our Cat and Dog LBs. Shembo is 6'2'' and Spond is 6'3''. I thought we wanted long rangy guys at those spots.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Shembo could also play the CAT...which I could see him and Ishaq over there with Spond and Councel at the DOG.

this has been my dream scenario for awhile considering Rabasa moves inside!!!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

MLB is his future IMO

I didn't know Rabasa was that good at baseball!

 

[Riddickulous]

A poster over at DomerDomain says he's going to wear #56.

 

[Rocket89]

^ That's a good looking number for a linebacker.

 

[Ironman8]

^ That's a good looking number for a linebacker.

Hell yes it is.

 

[TerryTate]

WOOOOOO WOOOOOO

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

WOOOOOO WOOOOOO

Hahahahahaha

 

[WabashFalcon]

Also a good number for an interior lineman.

 

[TerryTate]

From the smart poster on II regarding Rabasa:

He'll likely get an early fall look at both Rush ("Cat") OLB and Will ILB. We kind of know what he might do at Rush, but there's some interest and intrigue at any prospects of his ability to play some Will, too. It's experimental and developmental at this early stage.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

From the smart poster on II regarding Rabasa:

Good to have that confirmed. That's what we've suspected thus far, no?

 

[TerryTate]

Starting at ILB. Love. It.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Starting at ILB. Love. It.

This is probably dumb, but when you say "starting," you mean "starting his career" not "he is the starting ILB," correct?

 

[TerryTate]

This is probably dumb, but when you say "starting," you mean "starting his career" not "he is the starting ILB," correct?

Right.

 

[Rhode Irish]

In that case I love it, too. Just seems right to me.

 

[Zibby32]

Coupla Italian Stallions working the middle for the Irish....Rabasa and Calabrese

 

[EddytoNow]

For those of you who have been wondering, who might be filling the spot held by Manti in a year or two, the coaches are being proactive. Rabasa is one possibility. He is a player, and the coaches will find a way to use his talents on the field. Kendall Moore and Jarret Grace are other possibilities. Keep the big hitters coming.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I always thought he'd get a first look at Cat. Maybe this means the staff likes Niklas at Cat instead?

 

[DoverShores]

With Anthony's ability to get the QB I was really hoping to see him at the Cat position.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Councell, Williams, Shembo, Spond, Niklas, Perkins, Okwara - all safe bets outside. Rabasa, Grace, Moore, maybe Baratti if he keeps bulking up - all safe bets inside. This is just my opinion of course.

 

[TerryTate]

I'd think with his motor, he's going to be doing a lot of run stuffing and blitzing from the ILB spot.

It fits his measurables much better for this defense.