'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

Old Man Mike

Old Man Mike

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What BGIF says is true [obviously; BGIF=True].

Koyack is, however, at the top of my list.
 
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BGIF

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Speaking of Koyack, for all the praise we heap on him (and I'm A Believer) he had only 1 reception for 5 yds despite playing in 12 games (DNP USF).

Welch, who gets short schrift, actually was more productive posting 60% better receiving yards (8) on his single catch of the year (10 games).

Considering the stats, Nicklas is 90 receptions behind Eifert, but his first college catch puts him at parity with the rest of the ND TE receiving corps.
 
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Buster Bluth

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BGIF said:
Speaking of Koyack, for all the praise we heap on him (and I'm A Believer) he had only 1 reception for 5 yds despite playing in 12 games (DNP USF).

Welch, who gets short schrift, actually was more productive posting 60% better receiving yards (8) on his single catch of the year (10 games).

Considering the stats, Nicklas is 90 receptions behind Eifert, but his first college catch puts him at parity with the rest of the ND TE receiving corps.
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hahahah I certainly wouldn't be basing their futures on things like that. Not that you are.
 
TheTurningPoint

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Niklas is more than capable of playing TE, he played LG in high school. I think it says more about how good NDs olb's are progressing and not about the TEs. You cant have too many kids that can play multiple positions. Getting athletic guys outside only helps the run/pass game and the screen game. Having guys who can get to the 2nd level on screens to the WRs is almost as vital as having a Davonte Neal to catch the screen. Remember Fla's shovel pass to the TE off an option look? We got a kid that can hang in tough situations in the trenches. Not saying Eifert/Koyack/Welch cant but clearly Niklas is a physical breed.
 
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Domer4ever

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I dont have any proof of this obviously (just trying to read the tea leaves) but to me this move is about ND going with more 43 front's defensively because the of talent they have along the line, which would mean less playing times for hybrid guys like Niklas and Ishaq Williams (who I am guessing will play more DE this season).

I think the coaches understand that Niklas is too good of a player to not see the field and saw an opportunity to use him in some of these TE heavy formations we hear they are looking to run offensively. I think it's a good move as Niklas's size and physicality as a blocker will certainly be an asset and add depth to a position that is going to need it after this season.
 
Old Man Mike

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I've felt that a "flexible" flowing 3-4 with dynamic surprises is what Diaco has been heading towards. Translation: plenty of versatility on the field to either settle in or rapidly change just as the QB is changing his mind. This is no insight on my part as I see most every 21st century coordinator going for some variety of this speed-&-confusion defense.
 
Rhode Irish

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Maybe I'm alone in this, but I'm not bothered at all by this move. He is too athletic to be spending entire games on the sidelines, so if he was beat out on defense or the coaches feel he's more valuable on offense, why not do this? Athletically, there is no reason he can't be a NFL caliber TE. And we don't know where he's at skill-wise as a TE because none of us have seen him do it. So I'm a bit confused by some of the chafing going on here.
 
ChiRish

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Rhode Irish said:
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I'm not bothered at all by this move. He is too athletic to be spending entire games on the sidelines, so if he was beat out on defense or the coaches feel he's more valuable on offense, why not do this? Athletically, there is no reason he can't be a NFL caliber TE. And we don't know where he's at skill-wise as a TE because none of us have seen him do it. So I'm a bit confused by some of the chafing going on here.
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I agree that he's too athletic to sit on the sidelines, I've always thought he was an absolute beast. But I also thought that he was in line to start this year, right? And didn't he play a bunch towards the end of last year? I guess I just want to know why they made the move, not that I don't support it. He'll be a beast wherever he lines up.
 
NDdomer2

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If his moving to TE means less red zone interceptions then I am most definitely for it!
 
TerryTate

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GB actually told me about this move to TE either last week or two weeks ago.

Giving him a proper shoutout.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Thinking about it some:

Niklas could play both ways situationally;

Welch had a nagging injury, bad medical condition last season, he shouldn't have been walking, let alone playing (MRSA);

I think the way to extend the horizontal playing field is to move Eifert out (on some plays) and beef up your existing TE tallent, with a game breaker or two in the mix coming out of the backfield.
 
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Domer4ever

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TheTurningPOint said:
They are not going to a 4-3 look. They dont have the kids to play a 4-3 as their base D.
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Not to hijack the thread, and you would certainly know better then myself, but I am curious as to why that would be? They looked to certainly have more success the second half of the season going with the more stacked defensive line looks on top of the talent along the line being deeper than it ever has before. Teo and the other LB's stayed cleaner with more bulk up front covering them.

On the flip side, they have not had much success rushing the passer out of their 34 looks and frankly don't have anybody proven that would justify going with that as the base D to exploit their talents. Ishaq looks much more comfortable with his hand in the dirt and I kind of took his tweet about "getting swol" this offseason as he was bulking up to perhaps get more looks as a DE in a 43. If they were sticking with the 34, then why move Niklas who seemed to be the most talented of the young OLB's?
 
STLDomer

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Domer4ever said:
Not to hijack the thread, and you would certainly know better then myself, but I am curious as to why that would be? They looked to certainly have more success the second half of the season going with the more stacked defensive line looks on top of the talent along the line being deeper than it ever has before. Teo and the other LB's stayed cleaner with more bulk up front covering them.

On the flip side, they have not had much success rushing the passer out of their 34 looks and frankly don't have anybody proven that would justify going with that as the base D to exploit their talents. Ishaq looks much more comfortable with his hand in the dirt and I kind of took his tweet about "getting swol" this offseason as he was bulking up to perhaps get more looks as a DE in a 43. If they were sticking with the 34, then why move Niklas who seemed to be the most talented of the young OLB's?
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No one we have in our linebacking core is better suited in the 4-3 and guys like Nix and Lynch are better suited for the 3-4.

Ishaq is our most vauable linebacker and since presumably shembo starts at one OLB then of Councell/Spond starts u would have 2 elite OLBs (Ishaq and Niklas) on the bench and if Ishaq starts then u still have 1 elite OLB (Niklas) on the bench. makes more sense to have him on D where rotation is easier
 
STLDomer

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Domer4ever said:
Not to hijack the thread, and you would certainly know better then myself, but I am curious as to why that would be? They looked to certainly have more success the second half of the season going with the more stacked defensive line looks on top of the talent along the line being deeper than it ever has before. Teo and the other LB's stayed cleaner with more bulk up front covering them.

On the flip side, they have not had much success rushing the passer out of their 34 looks and frankly don't have anybody proven that would justify going with that as the base D to exploit their talents. Ishaq looks much more comfortable with his hand in the dirt and I kind of took his tweet about "getting swol" this offseason as he was bulking up to perhaps get more looks as a DE in a 43. If they were sticking with the 34, then why move Niklas who seemed to be the most talented of the young OLB's?
Click to expand...

No one we have in our linebacking core is better suited in the 4-3 and guys like Nix and Lynch are better suited for the 3-4.

Ishaq is our most vauable linebacker and since presumably shembo starts at one OLB then if Councell/Spond starts u would have 2 elite OLBs (Ishaq and Niklas) on the bench and if Ishaq starts then u still have 1 elite OLB (Niklas) on the bench. makes more sense to have him on O where rotation is easier
 
military_irish

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I would think the elite moniker is meant for potential, at least I hope.


EDIT: STLDomer replied as I was typing
 
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