The way too early 2012 starting lineup (Offense)

[GBdomer]

no i disagree Amir should not red shirt. This team lacks play makers in the worst way. Why would we red shirt one of our best? All 4 running backs will see the field and will all line up in different positions. It wouldn't shock me to see different sets where 3 of them are on the field at the same time. Plus Theo is always hurt and GA like's to put the ball on the deck. Dont red shirt amir.

 

[BGIF]

Damn didn't know Massa is out for the season.

Is he?

Like two others here I recall reading 5 months or September. He might be available for Dublin and then he might be available later on in the month. I haven't seen anything more definite than that. The Arnold article doesn't say he's out for the season.

Arnold wrote ...

The loss of Luke Massa to a knee injury, after he looked good during spring drills, can’t help from a sheer numbers perspective either.

... in an article entitled, "The way too early 2012 Starting Lineup". Unless somebody has a Kelly or Massa update on his injury/rehab, it's way too early to write him off for the season.

 

[BGIF]

no i disagree Amir should not red shirt. This team lacks play makers in the worst way. Why would we red shirt one of our best? All 4 running backs will see the field and will all line up in different positions. It wouldn't shock me to see different sets where 3 of them are on the field at the same time. Plus Theo is always hurt and GA like's to put the ball on the deck. Dont red shirt amir.

^

If he's healthy, he plays. He's already demonstrated on the Div 1 field that he can play at that level. He's already accustomed to the speed of Div 1 DLs and LBs, the speed of the game, blitzes, and audibles. He's got about 4 more months to get ND's playbook down. He already knows how to watch film. He's already been exposed to reading defenses. He's a veteran. If healthy by Dublin, in time to shake out the cobwebs in preseason camp, I expect him to play and be productive from his first snap.

 

[STLDomer]

I'm aware there is more than 11 but:

QB Golson Rees Hendrix RS Kiel
RB Wood Carlisle RS Mahone
HYBRID Riddick GAIII RS Russell
X Goodman Smith Ferguson
Y Jones Daniels Brown
SLOT Toma Neal RS Russell
Receiving TE Eifert Koyack
Blocking TE Niklas Welch
LT Martin RS Stanley
LG Watt Hanratty
C Cave Golic Jr
RG Lombard Martin
RT Nichols

Also I expect this is not the depth chart come USC

 

[Domina Nostra]

I heard that Collinsworth asked the staff to return punts last year, but they told him that they wanted an upperclassman. Apparently, Collinsworth loves to have the ball and would play RB if he could. I would not be surprised at all if he returned them this year. He has that Zibby edge to him, if not the same wheels (though that edge allows him to play faster than he clocks), and that is key for punt return.

I think KOs are GAIII and Neal. Quite a duo.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I don't know why people are dismissing Carlisle. He was going to be a top 2 running back on the best team in the country. Why would he not be in the top 2 on Notre Dame? He's going to get a lot of playing time.

 

[IrishLax]

I don't know why people are dismissing Carlisle. He was going to be a top 2 running back on the best team in the country. Why would he not be in the top 2 on Notre Dame? He's going to get a lot of playing time.

I totally agree, and I've loved Carlisle since he was coming out of HS. Thought he was arguably the best RB for a spread that I saw on film because of his versatility + blinding speed.

At the same time... missing all spring probably really hurts his prospects of getting on the field for significant snaps. Why? Because GAIII and Riddick have stepped up. A lot of people out there have said Riddick was a better RB than Wood from Day 1 that they both stepped on campus. And GAIII is basically a bigger Carlisle with less fluidity and worse hands. Also, it takes awhile to come back from any kind of ankle injury to full speed. Even after the bones heal, he'll have to spend weeks building up strength. He'll probably be near 100% by the time camp starts... but that means he'll miss out on a lot of the optional work.

All things considered Wood might be the least talented of our 4 RBs. How crazy is that? With that being said, he's sure to carry the ball at least ~10-15 times a game because he will be by far our best short yardage runner. He's surprisingly big. So that leaves... 15 carries to go around tops? Just hard to imagine Carlisle getting more than 50 total touches this season unless there is an injury.

"But he was arguably the best back at USC"... frankly, Marc Tyler sucks and McNeal was hurting at the start of the season. ND has much more talent than USC had.

 

[ryno 24]

interestingly they didnt play GAIII out at slot at all during the blue and gold game. I think he could legitamitely play slot.

 

[Patulski]

I don't see any evidence that is bringing on this love for Collinsworth, neither in speed, strength or quickness. Has he even lined up as a kickoff returner or punt returner once? We have so many faster, more athletic guys to return kickoffs and punts.

 

[Patulski]

interestingly they didnt play GAIII out at slot at all during the blue and gold game. I think he could legitamitely play slot.

I would not be surprised to see George playing the Jonas Gray role, and I think we're going to run some two back sets (George and Cierre) with Riddick in the slot, or with Eifert and Niklas. That's a lot of options and firepower.

 

[ryno 24]

He was a kick returner some last year and a lot with bennet during 2010. He is a hard player and would be a great lead blocker

 

[STLDomer]

I don't see any evidence that is bringing on this love for Collinsworth, neither in speed, strength or quickness. Has he even lined up as a kickoff returner or punt returner once? We have so many faster, more athletic guys to return kickoffs and punts.

Yes he has. A former RB who was a kick returner for us two years ago

 

[Patulski]

Yes he has. A former RB who was a kick returner for us two years ago

With Mahone, Russell, Neal, Carlisle and Prosise-not to mention Wood, Riddick and George- I don't see him getting on the field for returns. We'll see.

 

[NDPhilly]

I want Neal and Atkinson back there.

 

[STLDomer]

I don't think he will either but u asked if he had played KR and he did.

It will be Atkinson III and Riddick/Neal at KR
Atkinson III/Neal/Riddick/Prosise at PR

 

[NDPhilly]

Atkinson won't be a PR. He doesn't have the lateral agility to make people miss on PR. Neal or Riddick please.

 

[CHIDomer9]

I understand and agree with your thoughts on Carlisle, but, if he wouldn't have transferred he would be battling for the number 1 rb position with the #1 ranked team in the nation as a sophmore.

Not if he didn't take a single spring rep and was still using a crutch 4 months prior to the first game.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Almost too many options to discuss. I plan to just sit back and enjoy the ride....and hope that the potential translates to on-the-field success for a change.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

All I know is this. If Tommy Rees is the starting QB, I probably won't be able to stomach it enough to watch the game.

 

[stlnd01]

All I know is this. If Tommy Rees is the starting QB, I probably won't be able to stomach it enough to watch the game.

Well, then, hope for the continued development of Everett Golson. Him, plus Wood and Eifert and all those stud slot/tailback hybrids, could make this a very entertaining offense to watch next year.

 

[Riddickulous]

Well, then, hope for the continued development of Everett Golson. Him, plus Wood and Eifert and all those stud slot/tailback hybrids, could make this a very entertaining offense to watch next year.

Get him some receivers first.