'08 CA ILB Anthony McDonald (Signed LOI to ND)

[johnnd05]

Via BGI:

Anthony McDonald (LB): Crist’s teammate is carving out quite a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball. He helped lead the defense in the first game, a 17-7 win, until the offense got into gear.

 

[GoshenGipper]

I put this same thing in Crist profile, but I thought I'd put it here as well.

ND Sherman Oaks is playing Servite on FSN Prime ticket if anyone is interested. ND is leading Servite 17-7 midway through the 4th. Both Crist and MCDonald are having pretty good games for ND, and not to long ago McDonald was able to beat USC verbal DJ Shoemate to the corner preventing him from getting a TD and forcing a Servite FG attempt which was missed. Servite is also playing without the USC verbal Matt Kalil because he somehow suffered 3rd degree burns in an incident on a ATV. They will be replaying the game at 4am EST, 1am PST.

 

[Epitome]

Statistics G Tck TFL Sck
2006 (Jr.) - 101 30 10
2007 (Sr.) 11 79 - 1

 

[Junkhead]

Statistics G Tck TFL Sck
2006 (Jr.) - 101 30 10
2007 (Sr.) 11 79 - 1

Those don't make sense. Tackles 101 and 79? Games, ? and 11? Sacks? I was curious about senior stats for the new guys, so that is appreciated.

 

[knute]

Nice article on Crist and McDonald. Not sure how old it is:

Anthony McDonald, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior linebacker who will play college ball at Notre Dame next year, is the defense’s fiery leader who plays with a Brian Urlacher-type passion and lifts the spirits of the entire unit. ...

“I love to hit people,” McDonald says. And he’s been doing plenty of that since his sophomore year, when he started and made an impact immediately. In the Southern Section Division III championship game that year, McDonald recorded 22 tackles in a loss to Dominguez.

“What stood out about him was his quickness, aggressiveness and instincts as a linebacker,” Rooney says. “He’s very strong and is able to run through blocks or play off blocks quickly and is good in pass coverage.”

McDonald also has great football bloodlines — his dad, Mike, played linebacker at USC and was a long snapper for the then-Los Angeles Rams.

RiseMag.com

 

[koonja]

Anyone hear anything about this guy's injury? If I'm not mistaken he was projected to be a starter for us this year but had a pectoral injury? How's that coming along? I couldn't find anything.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Can't find anything recent.

A torn pectoral muscle caused him to miss all of spring ball. He's projected to be 100% by the start of training camp. He pushes C4 pretty hard when he's healthy, but he keeps getting clipped by injury at the worst times.

Kendall Moore, Justin Utupo, and Dan Fox all saw a ton of reps during spring ball because of the injuries to Manti and Anthony. Missing spring ball might given Moore the inside edge on the #2 behind C4 over McDonald.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Anyone hear anything about this guy's injury? If I'm not mistaken he was projected to be a starter for us this year but had a pectoral injury? How's that coming along? I couldn't find anything.

He was not projected to be a starter this year.

Can't find anything recent.

A torn pectoral muscle caused him to miss all of spring ball. He's projected to be 100% by the start of training camp. He pushes C4 pretty hard when he's healthy, but he keeps getting clipped by injury at the worst times.

Kendall Moore, Justin Utupo, and Dan Fox all saw a ton of reps during spring ball because of the injuries to Manti and Anthony. Missing spring ball might given Moore the inside edge on the #2 behind C4 over McDonald.

Pretty much spot on. I'll add to that that he was going to start last year but got injured, then CC did so well that Mac got kinda forgotten about. He got healthy but was just too light for that spot, so when CC got injured B Smith stepped in and the rest is history. Now that he missed spring ball, he'll have to leapfrog a bunch of kids to get back into the rotation. But he is very athletic, and he should know the position by now very well, so I wouldn't count him out to get some PT just yet as some fans have done. We'll see...

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Wasn't his inability to be stout against the run one of BK's knocks towards Anthony? Injuries can make it hard to gain mass in the weight room. Does anyone know if he's been able to pack on the pounds during this offseason (while dealing w/ an injury)? If not, my guess says he's winds up third behind C4 and Moore.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

While we're talking inside LBs, what are the chances Shembo gets moved in (similar to B. Smith last year) to make room for Councell, Ishaq, Flemming, and Spond to see the field? BK wants the best on the field, even if he has to move them around. Am I being insane to think this? (I'll be the first to admit that I don't know all the ins and outs of Diaco's "prototypes" and how they decide who plays which position). It's just the though of Flemming, Teo, Shembo, Williams on the field at the same time makes me giddy as hell.

 

[BeauBenken]

While we're talking inside LBs, what are the chances Shembo gets moved in (similar to B. Smith last year) to make room for Councell, Ishaq, Flemming, and Spond to see the field? BK wants the best on the field, even if he has to move them around. Am I being insane to think this? (I'll be the first to admit that I don't know all the ins and outs of Diaco's "prototypes" and how they decide who plays which position). It's just the though of Flemming, Teo, Shembo, Williams on the field at the same time makes me giddy as hell.

What made Shembo so spectacular last year though was his pass rushing.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

While we're talking inside LBs, what are the chances Shembo gets moved in (similar to B. Smith last year) to make room for Councell, Ishaq, Flemming, and Spond to see the field? BK wants the best on the field, even if he has to move them around. Am I being insane to think this? (I'll be the first to admit that I don't know all the ins and outs of Diaco's "prototypes" and how they decide who plays which position). It's just the though of Flemming, Teo, Shembo, Williams on the field at the same time makes me giddy as hell.

It could happen-- Shembo's versatility is one of his most valuable qualities-- but I don't think it will because: (1) Shembo's natural ability as a pass rusher is more easily utilized as an OLB than an ILB; (2) Spond is ready to start at the Dog, but Councell is probably not ready for significant reps at the #2; and (3) while the Will LB is the least settled position among our linebacking corps, we still have lots of talent there.

C4 is excellent against the run, but a liability in pass coverage; if he improves in coverage, moving Shembo inside probably won't be an improvement. Also, Kendall Moore, Dan Fox, Justin Utupo, and Anthony McDonald are all talented (though largely untested) options at ILB.

 

[BeauBenken]

And I also believe that the player who will be moved inside will be Rabassa.

Note: That's not factual. It's purely my opinion.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Thanks for clearing that up. I knew that Shembo was a beast on the outside and thoroughly enjoyed watching him rush into the backfield. I guess I'm just at a loss when it comes to figuring out who will play which position. I can't remember the last time the depth chart looked this promising.

 

[jason_h537]

Shembo did not spend all of spring learning to play a position of need just to be moved inside. The staff is comfortable with who they have there.

IShaq is backing up Fleming who leaves this year, Councell hasn't played a down yet either to project him as starting.

 

[IrishLax]

If any OLB were to be moved inside it would likely be Filer... why? Because if Ishaq ends coming along well he could play behind Fleming giving us two deep at CAT with Filer a very athletic odd man out (much like Brian Smith who went all over the place from starting OLB to benched to ILB).

 

[koonja]

C4?

 

[NDPhilly]

C4?

Carlo Calabrese

 

[NDPhilly]

Joining Weis at KU

 

[notredomer23]

Joining Weis at KU

Good for him, but its kinda weird how KU will probably have 3 or 4 players from ND starting next year.

 

[peoriairish]

Good for him, but its kinda weird how KU will probably have 3 or 4 players from ND starting next year.

And 1.5 coaches...

 

[NDdomer2]

And 1.5 coaches...

Ba duh buh!

 

[greyhammer90]

And 1.5 coaches...

 

[STLDomer]

The Jayhawks released their first depth chart of the Charlie Weis era yesterday at the start of training camp. Former Irish players Dayne Crist, Mike Ragone and Anthony McDonald are all listed as starters heading into camp.

Good luck to them.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Good luck to them.

^Yes!

 

[Emcee77]

I'll definitely be watching. Hope they have a great season.

 

[PANDFAN]

Good luck to them.

yes sir!!! although i can't get that scared look of Dayne's eyes out of my head....it will forever be burnt into my brain.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

yes sir!!! although i can't get that scared look of Dayne's eyes out of my head....it will forever be burnt into my brain.

If Dayne stays healthy I think he has a shot of getting drafted.

 

[fitz_bu47]

Dayne is an astronomical upgrade over what the Hawks had out there last year. As are Ragone, and A-Mac if they can stay healthy.

 

[NDhoosier]

I truly am hoping for Dayne to do well at Kansas, that is the one issue I had a problem with Kelly last year, he pulled the senior QB way too early. Dayne was very mature in how he handled the situation as well. Hopefully he does well enough to get drafted in the later rounds.