'12 IA WR Amara Darboh (Michigan Verbal)

[arrowryan]

I totally agree with you on this, but he's also really slight for an outside guy, and I think we need somebody at least 6'2 with a stronger build on the outside to pose a redzone and/or big play threat, unless they have blazing speed which Jones also doesnt. He is a very good route runner, and awesome complimentary guy, but right now I dont see big time threat. Hopefully he proves me wrong, and he still has plenty of time to do so.

When you said we need a guy thats at least 6'2 you described Justin Ferguson perfectly

 

[irishog77]

I totally agree with you on this, but he's also really slight for an outside guy, and I think we need somebody at least 6'2 with a stronger build on the outside to pose a redzone and/or big play threat, unless they have blazing speed which Jones also doesnt. He is a very good route runner, and awesome complimentary guy, but right now I dont see big time threat. Hopefully he proves me wrong, and he still has plenty of time to do so.

Frame and build aside (and injury freshman year), I could see Jones being like a Kamara in that he came in hyped as a freshman, produced early, and then kind of fell back each year after that. Obviously I hope this isn't the case, but I could potentially see Smith, Daniels, Greenberry, Ferguson, et al supplanting him on the outside.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The more I think about the possibility of filling up the class before a lot of the elite players decide, the more I psych myself out. But I keep trying to remember that the numbers always find a way of working themselves out. If we're "full" by the end of USC, I have little doubt the staff will "make room" for certain guys if they'd like to jump on board. It's a good position to be in. A position ND hasn't seen in quite awhile.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Frame and build aside (and injury freshman year), I could see Jones being like a Kamara in that he came in hyped as a freshman, produced early, and then kind of fell back each year after that. Obviously I hope this isn't the case, but I could potentially see Smith, Daniels, Greenberry, Ferguson, et al supplanting him on the outside.

I could be wrong, but wasn't part of Kamara's falloff due to lack of a strong work ethic? Similar to Walker? If so, I feel like that will not be the case with TJ. BK has these guys hungry. I don't see anyone just laying over and giving up their spots to younger guys w/o a fight. He earned that starting spot last year as a true frosh. I'm a huge fan of TJ's.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I was being facetious, Whiskey! The coaching staff wouldn't be the only ones doing cartwheels if that happens-- I'd jump in on that action too!

Where's that sarcastic font again?

 

[irishog77]

I could be wrong, but wasn't part of Kamara's falloff due to lack of a strong work ethic? Similar to Walker? If so, I feel like that will not be the case with TJ. BK has these guys hungry. I don't see anyone just laying over and giving up their spots to younger guys w/o a fight. He earned that starting spot last year as a true frosh. I'm a huge fan of TJ's.

I think you're right about Kamara, BBG. I was just kind of agreeing with Teo that Jones is an outside receiver for us, but lacks ideal size and speed for that position, and doesn't seem like a no-brainer to move to the slot. There's obviously something to be said for anyone that comes in starts as a true freshman and I expect Jones to keep working hard throughout his career. Those other guys I mentioned, and the ones it seems like Kelly is recruiting for the outside spots, are all 6'2-6'4 range.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i think we will take 3 true wideouts plus a slot/RB type like Theo. that will allow us to be a lot more picky about who we bring in for our third receiver spot. i think we'll bring in a russell type guy to play the slot...so i guess in a nut shell we'll get 4 WRs

 

[IrishLax]

Darboh is supposedly quite the athlete... it's too bad we're in a log jam right now. Only a couple skill position slots left... would love to see ND take 4 WRs with Darboh being one of them because I really think he could also play defense from some accolades I've read.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Darboh is supposedly quite the athlete... it's too bad we're in a log jam right now. Only a couple skill position slots left... would love to see ND take 4 WRs with Darboh being one of them because I really think he could also play defense from some accolades I've read.

i'm with you...i'm hoping we don't hold out on some of the "elite" guys too long only to lose these type of players like Darboh. that's a weis move that cost us drastically over the past 4 years.

 

[RyCo1983]

I do loves me some dobro ... and some of his high-tech cousin, the electric slide guitar.

‪Panama Red‬‏ - YouTube

Darboh...Dobro
I feel ya.

This kid is legit.

 

[hungryhippo]

btw, gbdomer i dig your updates; didn't know where to send that shout out.



that is all.

 

[GBdomer]

the ballad of curtis loew was by lynyrd skynyrd

unless of course that was a keen witticism.



btw, gbdomer i dig your updates; didn't know where to send that shout out.



that is all.

i got you. but it isn't just me.

 

[Big23Head]

Darboh picks officials

Anyone summarize?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

247: , 15th WR, 148th Nationally
Rivals: , 28th WR, 194th Nationally
ESPN: , 69th WR
Scout: , 23rd WR

Composite Score: 3.75, 34th WR, 171st Nationally

Tossing out ESPN, which is the clear outlier, brings him up to 4 and 22nd WR.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

247: , 15th WR, 148th Nationally
Rivals: , 28th WR, 194th Nationally
ESPN: , 69th WR
Scout: , 23rd WR

Composite Score: 3.75, 34th WR, 171st Nationally

Tossing out ESPN, which is the clear outlier, brings him up to 4 and 22nd WR.

ESPN SMH

 

[GBdomer]

Iowa, Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin. Only OV set up is Michigan. That is from II not sure if ISD has a different update.

 

[Big23Head]

Wiltfong tweeted UM was the only set up visit with 4 others in waiting. So all are probably the same.

 

[IrishLax]

Basically it appears that when we got 2 commits we slowed things down a little and after a visit to Michigan they are no in the driver's seat. I'd love to add this kid because he is supposedly a great athlete... but if we're turning down Tommy Schutt you can imagine that we are taking our time with WRs.

My guess is that Ian Thomas commits after the USF game, Darboh commits after his official to Michigan and Jordan Payton ends up at Cal.

Got to say I wish we'd just move TJ Jones inside and get another bigger bodied WR in this class. I think TJ is a liability in the run game.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Got to say I wish we'd just move TJ Jones inside and get another bigger bodied WR in this class. I think TJ is a liability in the run game.

Could happen. TJ's getting reps at both X and Z in camp. From what we're hearing about Daniels, he could end up being the one to push TJ inside.

 

[NDPhilly]

Do you think we cooled on him because we want only one more receiver and we want a slot guy like Thomas?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Actually Lax, looking at our depth chart, I'm not sure TJ gets moved inside at all. We likely lose Floyd, Goodman, and Walker after this season. Riddick and Toma will be senior Z receivers. The only other big bodies on our roster will be Smith, Daniels, and Massa. I have a hard time seeing Massa develop into anything other than John Goodman 2.0, so we're basically looking at two boundary receivers (three if GA III gets moved back).

TJ will be among the most experienced WRs at that point. I don't think we'll be able to stick him behind Theo given how thin we'll be on the outside. He might move to Z as a senior in 2013 if Farley and whatever Z WR we pick up this cycle aren't ready yet, but that's the earliest I think he could move.

Do you think we cooled on him because we want only one more receiver and we want a slot guy like Thomas?

We really need both a slot and another boundary guy this cycle. Maybe the staff is counting on converting a DB like Prosise at some point.

 

[IrishLax]

Do you think we cooled on him because we want only one more receiver and we want a slot guy like Thomas?

Yup. Basically Amara is pretty darn similar to both of the guys we have on board. Now I don't know how much the staff has cooled on him... maybe not at all. But to my knowledge we're looking at 1 more WR (slot) and 1 more skill ATH. Ian Thomas fits the bill over Darboh in the slot and ND probably wants to let things play out some more for that last skill ATH.

Have they completely pulled his offer like Schutt? I doubt it. But I also don't think we're going all-in for him right now because we're so tight on numbers. Whereas Michigan probably needs 1 more outside WR really, really badly right now.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Actually Lax, looking at our depth chart, I'm not sure TJ gets moved inside at all. We likely lose Floyd, Goodman, and Walker after this season. Riddick and Toma will be senior Z receivers. The only other big bodies on our roster will be Smith, Daniels, and Massa. I have a hard time seeing Massa develop into anything other than John Goodman 2.0, so we're basically looking at two boundary receivers (three if GA III gets moved back).

TJ will be among the most experienced WRs at that point. I don't think we'll be able to stick him behind Theo given how thin we'll be on the outside. He might move to Z as a senior in 2013 if Farley and whatever Z WR we pick up this cycle aren't ready yet, but that's the earliest I think he could move.



We really need both a slot and another boundary guy this cycle. Maybe the staff is counting on converting a DB like Prosise at some point.

I completely agree with your assessment on moving TJ to the slot.

As for Prosise I've been saying for a while that he could easily be moved to WR, but everyone keeps shutting me down. Kelly really really wants Prosise on his side of the ball.

 

[IrishLax]

We really need both a slot and another boundary guy this cycle. Maybe the staff is counting on converting a DB like Prosise at some point.

Not too sure about that. The main reason being that Ian Thomas has the versatility to play outside as well as slot. Kinda like a slightly bigger TJ. So I think the staff's goal is to take Ian Thomas and then push all-in for a DGB/Agholor/Cyrus Jones type... or maybe even use that extra spot on a Keivare Russel if it plays out that way... basically an awesome athlete that fits either slot or outside and then Ian Thomas will have the flexibility to play either inside or out as later needs dictate.

However, that is all predicated on getting Ian Thomas, who gets knocked for not having burner speed (see: Ferguson and Greenberry... interesting trend, huh?) but has some really good film.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Not too sure about that. The main reason being that Ian Thomas has the versatility to play outside as well as slot. Kinda like a slightly bigger TJ. So I think the staff's goal is to take Ian Thomas and then push all-in for a DGB/Agholor/Cyrus Jones type... or maybe even use that extra spot on a Keivare Russel if it plays out that way... basically an awesome athlete that fits either slot or outside and then Ian Thomas will have the flexibility to play either inside or out as later needs dictate.

You're probably right. WR still makes me nervous; if there's one position where Kelly's offense requires talented depth, it's WR, and we don't have it.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

You're probably right. WR still makes me nervous; if there's one position where Kelly's offense requires talented depth, it's WR, and we don't have it.

I'm not sure if it requires talented depth, more just depth. It's not like he had big time talent at Cincinnati. He made Gilyard and Binns from 2* recruits into players, because of his system.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm not sure if it requires talented depth, more just depth. It's not like he had big time talent at Cincinnati. He made Gilyard and Binns from 2* recruits into players, because of his system.

Kelly's explicitly stated he needs 7 WRs that he "can work with". That's a large number to have ready for battle. Will we have that this year? In 2012? There's a lot more question marks there than some other position groups we tend to fret over.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Kelly's explicitly stated he needs 7 WRs that he "can work with". That's a large number to have ready for battle. Will we have that this year? In 2012? There's a lot more question marks there than some other position groups we tend to fret over.

I'm assuming since Kelly recruited him and Kelly moved him to WR that he "can work with Massa." so I go back to more point that he needs depth at WR more than a whole bunch of talented guys.

Though of course the more talented the better. But I wouldn't worry about the WR corp. we will be fine in the years to come.

 

[Big23Head]

Kelly's explicitly stated he needs 7 WRs that he "can work with". That's a large number to have ready for battle. Will we have that this year? In 2012? There's a lot more question marks there than some other position groups we tend to fret over.

For this year Kelly could adapt some and use the awesome arsenal of TE's we have.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

For this year Kelly could adapt some and use the awesome arsenal of TE's we have.

Seems more than likely with the recent focus on toughness and power running in camp. Run from a heavy set a few times, and then motion Eifert and/or Welch out wide if the opponent starts selling out against the run.

I doubt it'll be our base package, though. Probably more of a Plan B if the offense isn't clicking.

I wonder if Kelly's 7 workable receivers includes TEs. If so, we're in great shape.