Ishaq Williams reminds me of Jonas Gray...

[Domina Nostra]

When the light goes on, he is going to be a total beast.

Kendall Moore looked good too.

 

[pkt77242]

When the light goes on, he is going to be a total beast.

Kendall Moore looked good too.

Hopefully Ishaq doesn't wait for his senior year for the light to come on.

 

[LaJollaIrish]

Step behind so far, but looks good on camera...once he's ready to kill, he'll be fine...

 

[NDPhilly]

He is going to start next year probably

 

[Domer4ever]

Ishaq looks to be at his best with his hand on the ground and getting after the QB. He has natural pass rushing ability and I almost feel like that would be wasted as a 34 OLB where he is going to have to figure out coverage responsibilities, etc.

I would love to see this:

RDE- Lynch
DT- Nix
DT- Tuitt
LDE- Williams

 

[IrishLax]

He is going to start next year probably

Very likely unless Prince Shembo switches over from Dog. Shembo is clearly better suited for CAT based on his performance last year and this year.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I would love to see this:

RDE- Lynch
DT- Nix
DT- Tuitt
LDE- Williams

I think this will happen a lot. While the 3-4 we play does not use a pure WDE, the CAT is more of a mobile DE than a huge LB. Its the DOG that is really expected to play in space.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Very likely unless Prince Shembo switches over from Dog. Shembo is clearly better suited for CAT based on his performance last year and this year.

Bet on it. Good observation, btw.

 

[NDPhilly]

Bet on it. Good observation, btw.

If so then I'd say go 4-3 because you can't waste Ishaq

Spond...Teo(fox)...Shembo
Lynch......Tuitt.....Nix.....Ishaq

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If so then I'd say go 4-3 because you can't waste Ishaq

Spond...Teo(fox)...Shembo
Lynch......Tuitt.....Nix.....Ishaq

Switching to a true 4-3 would involve a serious change in defensive structure by Diaco. I don't really see it happening.

Shembo seems much better suited to WDE than LB; compare his impact last season at the Cat (mainly playing with his hand down) versus his struggles this year at the Dog.

We need at least two guys ready to play at Cat for 2012. Move Shembo over and let him duke it out with Ishaq. Regardless of who wins, both will see lots of reps if they're ready.

That will also help clear the way for Niklas and Councell at Dog.

 

[NDPhilly]

If Teo leaves I say put Shembo at his spot because we don't really have anyone unless Carlo steps it up

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If Teo leaves I say put Shembo at his spot because we don't really have anyone unless Carlo steps it up

I don't see Shembo doing any better at MILB than he's currently doing at DOLB (which isn't good). He needs to be playing with his hand down and getting after the QB.

I'm surprised you'd say that after Kendall Moore had a couple nice plays today against Navy.

 

[NDPhilly]

I don't see Shembo doing any better at MILB than he's currently doing at DOLB (which isn't good). He needs to be playing with his hand down and getting after the QB.

I'm surprised you'd say that after Kendall Moore had a couple nice plays today against Navy.

I switched channels a lot in the 2nd half. I saw the one hard hit but it was a PF

 

[Buster Bluth]

Notre Dame will not shift to the 4-3. Williams is the prototypical COLB recruit anyway.

This was the first time that I noticed Ishaq getting after it at full speed, at least in spurts. He looked fast as hell, and will be a force in no time.

 

[PLACforever]

I switched channels a lot in the 2nd half. I saw the one hard hit but it was a PF

That play was right in front of me, it was a bang bang play and a bad call.

 

[arrowryan]

I have pretty impressed by Moore this season. He definately hits hard and he will be a good replacement when Teo is gone

 

[Irishman77]

Fleming and Shembo have done nothing this year. Major disappointment to me. I would love to plug Noah Spence (a young Demarcus Ware) in, but feel Ishaq replaces Fleming and Shembo has a tough time getting on the field. I don't know if Teo leaves, but Shembo may get a shot inside then.

I just can't wait til we have a capable secondary. We then will be able to blitz.

 

[chyrspchuck]

Ishaq looks to be at his best with his hand on the ground and getting after the QB. He has natural pass rushing ability and I almost feel like that would be wasted as a 34 OLB where he is going to have to figure out coverage responsibilities, etc.

I would love to see this:

RDE- Lynch
DT- Nix
DT- Tuitt
LDE- Williams

This would be amazing, and we could have it possibly 2 or 3 more years after this one.

 

[IrishLax]

Fleming and Shembo have done nothing this year. Major disappointment to me. I would love to plug Noah Spence (a young Demarcus Ware) in, but feel Ishaq replaces Fleming and Shembo has a tough time getting on the field. I don't know if Teo leaves, but Shembo may get a shot inside then.

I just can't wait til we have a capable secondary. We then will be able to blitz.

That's not true. Fleming has played well... just not awesome. People expected an All-American year from him and he's instead playing like a 6th round draft choice.

Shembo won't move inside. His strength is rushing the passer. The real questions are simply:

1. Does he get better at his other DOG linebacker responsibilities??
2. Does Troy Niklas emerge?
3. Does Ben Councel develop?

Because right now, hypothetically, we're looking at 4 guys at DOG between Shembo/Spond/Niklas/Councel and really only Ishaq at CAT. I wouldn't be suprised to see either Shembo or Niklas shifted over to CAT to get a solid 2 deep there. If I was a betting man, I'd guess that Ishaq/Shembo end up splitting time at CAT and some combo of Niklas/Spond/Councel hold down DOG. The wild card will be freshmen like Perkins and (hopefully) Ifeadi Odenigbo.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I switched channels a lot in the 2nd half. I saw the one hard hit but it was a PF

Blasphemy!

 

[Riddickulous]

He is going to start next year probably

I'd count on it.

Very likely unless Prince Shembo switches over from Dog. Shembo is clearly better suited for CAT based on his performance last year and this year.

Shembo is not an OLB.

If Teo leaves I say put Shembo at his spot because we don't really have anyone unless Carlo steps it up

Kendall Moore.

Fleming and Shembo have done nothing this year. Major disappointment to me. I would love to plug Noah Spence (a young Demarcus Ware) in, but feel Ishaq replaces Fleming and Shembo has a tough time getting on the field. I don't know if Teo leaves, but Shembo may get a shot inside then.

I just can't wait til we have a capable secondary. We then will be able to blitz.

Fleming has played well, but hasn't met expectations, as IrishLax alluded to.

That's not true. Fleming has played well... just not awesome. People expected an All-American year from him and he's instead playing like a 6th round draft choice.

Shembo won't move inside. His strength is rushing the passer. The real questions are simply:

1. Does he get better at his other DOG linebacker responsibilities??
2. Does Troy Niklas emerge?
3. Does Ben Councel develop?

Because right now, hypothetically, we're looking at 4 guys at DOG between Shembo/Spond/Niklas/Councel and really only Ishaq at CAT. I wouldn't be suprised to see either Shembo or Niklas shifted over to CAT to get a solid 2 deep there. If I was a betting man, I'd guess that Ishaq/Shembo end up splitting time at CAT and some combo of Niklas/Spond/Councel hold down DOG. The wild card will be freshmen like Perkins and (hopefully) Ifeadi Odenigbo.

Shembo is awful in contain. I don't want him at OLB. As soon as Spond/Niklas is ready at Dog, I want him moved inside.

 

[NDTampa]

Ishaq looked like 250 lb bullet when he got to the quarterback. Once he feels more comfortable in the defense and feels more comfortable with his own skills, he will be an "SEC" type linebacker which is exactly the kind of player ND needs. Speed Kills!

BTW How good did Tuitt look yesterday? I was amazed at how dominant he was. That D-Line is going to be incredible with another year under their belt.

 

[Domer4ever]

Switching to a true 4-3 would involve a serious change in defensive structure by Diaco. I don't really see it happening.

Shembo seems much better suited to WDE than LB; compare his impact last season at the Cat (mainly playing with his hand down) versus his struggles this year at the Dog.

We need at least two guys ready to play at Cat for 2012. Move Shembo over and let him duke it out with Ishaq. Regardless of who wins, both will see lots of reps if they're ready.

That will also help clear the way for Niklas and Councell at Dog.

I just hope Diaco is not one of these guys who is so rigid in "his scheme" that he ignores the obvious and does not play to the strenghts of his players. His 34 was absolutely shredded against USC and has been largely ineffective all year at applying pressure on the oppositions QB and creating turnovers. He made the switch to a 4 man line against Navy and the talent manhandled a Navy rushing attack that ranked 3rd in the country going in.

To me it seems obvious to scrap the 34, put guys like Ishaq on the defensive line and let them get after it. We have more talent on that line then I can remember in a long time and with guys like Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day coming in next year to join a young/talented group, Diaco needs to let the dogs loose and let these guys do what they do best. I dont see that happening in the 34.

 

[IrishLax]

I just hope Diaco is not one of these guys who is so rigid in "his scheme" that he ignores the obvious and does not play to the strenghts of his players. His 34 was absolutely shredded against USC and has been largely ineffective all year at applying pressure on the oppositions QB and creating turnovers. He made the switch to a 4 man line against Navy and the talent manhandled a Navy rushing attack that ranked 3rd in the country going in.

To me it seems obvious to scrap the 34, put guys like Ishaq on the defensive line and let them get after it. We have more talent on that line then I can remember in a long time and with guys like Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day coming in next year to join a young/talented group, Diaco needs to let the dogs loose and let these guys do what they do best. I dont see that happening in the 34.

For what it's worth.... people "in the know" have talked about a hybrid defense of sorts that will become the staple once we get the personnel to run it. I have no idea what this means, but Diaco is certainly not married to the 3-4 even in current games if you watch film of the last 2 seasons. He shows a lot of flexibility to fit his personnel. The truth of the matter is that with EJ and KLM out we don't have the big space-clogging ends we really need to play the 3-4 as effectively as we did earlier.

 

[BeauBenken]

Ishaq just has to be certain of what he is doing or what he is going to do. He was bit slower on a pass rush when navy rolled out because he was afraid to give up the flats or something like that. When he can go out there and just play, he will be really, really good.

 

[Irishman77]

That's not true. Fleming has played well... just not awesome. People expected an All-American year from him and he's instead playing like a 6th round draft choice.

Shembo won't move inside. His strength is rushing the passer. The real questions are simply:

1. Does he get better at his other DOG linebacker responsibilities??
2. Does Troy Niklas emerge?
3. Does Ben Councel develop?

Because right now, hypothetically, we're looking at 4 guys at DOG between Shembo/Spond/Niklas/Councel and really only Ishaq at CAT. I wouldn't be suprised to see either Shembo or Niklas shifted over to CAT to get a solid 2 deep there. If I was a betting man, I'd guess that Ishaq/Shembo end up splitting time at CAT and some combo of Niklas/Spond/Councel hold down DOG. The wild card will be freshmen like Perkins and (hopefully) Ifeadi Odenigbo.

I haven't missed a down this year so where have you seen Shembo's pass rush skills? He is a physical specimen, but looks confused out there. Fleming refuses to contain the edge and has no moves. 6th round? No way Jose'
I don't mean to sound negative, but it is time to start Ishaq and see what he can do. JMHO

 

[BeauBenken]

I haven't missed a down this year so where have you seen Shembo's pass rush skills? He is a physical specimen, but looks confused out there. Fleming refuses to contain the edge and has no moves. 6th round? No way Jose'
I don't mean to sound negative, but it is time to start Ishaq and see what he can do. JMHO

His pass rushing skills were shown last year when on limited plays he had 5.5 sacks. (I think that's the correct number.)

 

[IrishLax]

His pass rushing skills were shown last year when on limited plays he had 5.5 sacks. (I think that's the correct number.)

Yup. And the couple times they've let him put his hand on the ground without other responsibilities this year he has shown great ability to get pressure.

As for Fleming, if you don't think he'll get drafted, you're crazy. Absolutely certifiably crazy. He was a ~4th round grade last year. He hasn't elevated his play to the level most thought he would, but you're saying things like "he sucks" or "he can't keep contain" when they're simply not indicative of his full body of work. He has many, many more "good" plays than he has "bad" plays.

 

[Rambler09]

It's clear that Ishaq has promise... but I remember watching a few plays where he failed to pursue when the play got past him. I actually yelled at the TV at one point. He should always be flowing to the ball... he has enough speed that he should never take himself out of a play unless it's a pass down field.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

It's clear that Ishaq has promise... but I remember watching a few plays where he failed to pursue when the play got past him. I actually yelled at the TV at one point. He should always be flowing to the ball... he has enough speed that he should never take himself out of a play unless it's a pass down field.

I saw that too. If he would've kept running hard on his angle, he wouldve been involved in the tackle, but he (saw him on the bottom of the screen) just stop running after the ball and jogged. Kind of pissed me off because if we were playing an all-american RB the cut back to the middle was there for a big gain, and if that were to happen, Ishaq's slowing down wouldve been the reason