'23 MO CB Christian Gray (Notre Dame Signee)

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BigErnMcCracken

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pumpdog20 said:
"He would be amazing at most other schools in that role, but we have dawgs everywhere. And he sticks out..."
I can't believe that guy had the audacity to get beat once on saturday.

Man, this kid is hated on so much. And all he's done is make big plays in big games.
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Exactly. A lot of teams would kill have to someone like CG as their #1 CB. Has he had some tough moments? Sure, just like most CB's not named Leonard Moore.
 
ACamp1900

ACamp1900

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How is "Gray might get exposed against the big boys" a hot take?? It's been a concern here for years now, and I've defended him for the most part but that's a super lukewarm take... we all know if anyone could get targeted against a better team, it would most likely be him... right?
 
SportsingHard

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2013Irish said:
I literally provided details and the GoFundMe several posts ago. Sick reaction gif, though. Definitely speaks to your comedic talent.
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You literally dopped the words "Heartbreaking news about Travis Thomas" with no other context, which is an asshole move. I went easy on you.

Fielding questions about it after the fact does not absolve you.
 
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BeatSC

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I was looking for the reason on the Travis Thomas take but found it out a few posts later. I would call it all a misunderstanding and leave it at that. Send a prayer his way.
 
ulukinatme

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Ophiocordyceps said:
Mike Goolsby show was highly critical of Christian Gray. Dereck Curry pointed to him as the weak spot on the defense who doesn’t know how to read his keys and is chasing. Stating this will get exposed vs better competition. 37:05 mark.

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I tried to make this point the last two years and people acted like I was crazy. Yes, came up with some big plays against USC and in the playoffs, but not before he gave up a bunch of big plays. He's very feast or famine.
 
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PutuporShutup

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I re watched the game last night play by play focusing on each position group.

Let me give you my hopefully objective view on gray specifically vs purdue

Purdue threw everything at ND coverage wise from formation, to motion, to unbalanced, 5 wide, bunch, etc etc.

ND as a whole switched off a ton when purdue went bunch and our communication and ability to be assignment correct was exceptional. Gray did really well here. You could tell he communicated well and switched off well.

Gray played the short game very well being so assignment correct, and he does and did a goob job sticking his foot in the ground and driving on the ball, specifically short passes.

The negative, Gray has no shot playing man against a fast/quick slot wr without help when that receiver runs routes downfield. He does a terrible job turning his hips and going laterally or backwards into full speed (his full speed is not good). Like the Goolsby video stated, he just flat out chases on most routes over 10yds downfield, but he has help a lot. He gave up the 20 yd pass, but there was a play or two downfield that was coming wide open but our pass rush either disrupted Browne or got to Browne.

You can tell Dallas has more physical ability, but I don't think he has the coach's confidence yet probably due to all the time he's missed with injuries.

I do think they can disguise coverages and help gray a lot more and allow him to play a bit more to his strengths (short game). It's crazy to me we didn't get a true field corner for the 2025 season. He's so obviously not a field corner.

Other point of note, Zackery needs to lose his backup role. I have no clue where adams is in the process, but IMO for next year the corner situation (unless they go portal) needs to be Sanders replacing moore, pouncey replacing mckinney, dallas replacing gray, and Adams playing the next man in (or beating out sanders and sanders is next man in). It's not Zackery, he has no instincts and isn't great laterally (has good straight-line speed).
 
Ophiocordyceps

Ophiocordyceps

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pumpdog20 said:
Being the third best corner on the field on the #1 ranked passing defense doesn't make you a weak link. Seems like the coaches have Gray in the best spot for him.
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He played corner in high school and college until his senior season. Then coaches decided to move him to a completely different position and bring in another corner to replace him. Historically, when we played teams with elite receivers he got called for penalties and was susceptible to vertical routes and double moves. He led ND with 6 penalties in 2025 and 9 in 2025. Less than 5% of multi-year CB starters move to slot their senior year. I recognize his name has not been called a lot this year, which is great but its sounds like he was/is a weakness.
 
pumpdog20

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Ophiocordyceps said:
He played corner in high school and college until his senior season. Then coaches decided to move him to a completely different position and bring in another corner to replace him. Historically, when we played teams with elite receivers he got called for penalties and was susceptible to vertical routes and double moves. He led ND with 6 penalties in 2025 and 9 in 2025. Less than 5% of multi-year CB starters move to slot their senior year. I recognize his name has not been called a lot this year, which is great but its sounds like he was/is a weakness.
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According to a a few post prior he's given up 58 yards in 4 games. Weakness must mean something different in your part of the country.

He ended the 2024 Texas A&M, USC, and Penn State games. Got worked a bit in the 2025 USC game, came back with a big pick. Really sucks he got beat by Smith in the championship game. 99% of corners would have though.

I'm glad he's on our team.
 
Irish du Nord

Irish du Nord

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Ophiocordyceps said:
He played corner in high school and college until his senior season. Then coaches decided to move him to a completely different position and bring in another corner to replace him. Historically, when we played teams with elite receivers he got called for penalties and was susceptible to vertical routes and double moves. He led ND with 6 penalties in 2025 and 9 in 2025. Less than 5% of multi-year CB starters move to slot their senior year. I recognize his name has not been called a lot this year, which is great but its sounds like he was/is a weakness.
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Has this happened against any team besides USC? The Jeremiah Smith catch is the only other instance I can think of.
 
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