'11 NY OLB Ishaq Williams (Signed ND LOI-EE)

[koonja]

When I said he'd be the breakout POY on defense last year, what I meant was this year.

 

[Luckylucci]

I hear a lot about his bigger size and his renewed sense of urgency, but I am most excited to see him play as a DE instead of an OLB. He just always seemed out of place playing in space. He needs to be rushing the passer, not covering TE' on flat routes.

While I completely agree with bolded. I'd say two things.

1. The ROLB in any 3-4 is usually the best pass rusher on the team or at least accumulates the most sacks and TFL's.

2. The reason Ishaq was on the field covering seam routes and TE's in the flat was because they would put him at a different position because he wasn't good enough to beat out the other pass rushers, mainly Shembo. I don't agree with how they used Ishaq but the alternative was that he wouldn't play at all. He never showed that he deserved to take meaningful snaps from Shembo or Tuitt who played DE on the other side of the 4-3 than Shembo a majority of the time.

 

[Luckylucci]

With that said I do think seeing a majority of snaps on Saturday has motivated Ishaq to where we'll see a different guy in the fall.

 

[koonja]

With that said I do think seeing a majority of snaps on Saturday has motivated Ishaq to where we'll see a different guy in the fall.

I expect so. Otherwise he's going to be the most disappointing ND football player with dreads since Sergio Brown. Not a label you want to take with you.

 

[GoIrish41]

I expect so. Otherwise he's going to be the most disappointing ND football player with dreads since Sergio Brown. Not a label you want to take with you.

I like Sergio and think he could have been good. His coaches failed him.

 

[IrishLax]

Remember, Kelly once said Gary Gray was practicing like an All-American. I take all coach-speak with a grain of salt.

With that being said, the change in defense puts the best two physical talents on the roster (Ishaq and Sheldon) in their natural positions that play best to their strengths. No excuses, play like a champion.

 

[Luckylucci]

I like Sergio and think he could have been good. His coaches failed him.

He's had a solid pro career. Played in 10+ games every season.

 

[Riddickulous]

I like Sergio and think he could have been good. His coaches failed him.

You've just described every player Charlie Weis ever recruited.

 

[connect the dots]

[/B]

While I completely agree with bolded. I'd say two things.

1. The ROLB in any 3-4 is usually the best pass rusher on the team or at least accumulates the most sacks and TFL's.

2. The reason Ishaq was on the field covering seam routes and TE's in the flat was because they would put him at a different position because he wasn't good enough to beat out the other pass rushers, mainly Shembo. I don't agree with how they used Ishaq but the alternative was that he wouldn't play at all. He never showed that he deserved to take meaningful snaps from Shembo or Tuitt who played DE on the other side of the 4-3 than Shembo a majority of the time.

Navy game in Dublin - Wasn't it Ishaq who caused the quarterback fumble that allowed Long Gone Tuitt to scamper for a touchdown. Cautiously optimistic that Van Gorder will be able to employ Ishaq's skill set at defensive end.

 

[woolybug25]

[/B]

While I completely agree with bolded. I'd say two things.

1. The ROLB in any 3-4 is usually the best pass rusher on the team or at least accumulates the most sacks and TFL's.

2. The reason Ishaq was on the field covering seam routes and TE's in the flat was because they would put him at a different position because he wasn't good enough to beat out the other pass rushers, mainly Shembo. I don't agree with how they used Ishaq but the alternative was that he wouldn't play at all. He never showed that he deserved to take meaningful snaps from Shembo or Tuitt who played DE on the other side of the 4-3 than Shembo a majority of the time.

I agree. What boggles my mind is that he rarely got to actually rush the passer from the ROLB position. Whenever he came in for Shembo, he was immedietely relegated to pass coverage.

What's your opinion of his noticeable absence when we showed four man fronts? We often shifted Tuitt inside on those fronts, but yet we wouldn't let Ishaq come in and put his hand in the dirt?

 

[woolybug25]

He's had a solid pro career. Played in 10+ games every season.

Went to the NFL too.

 

[Luckylucci]

I agree. What boggles my mind is that he rarely got to actually rush the passer from the ROLB position. Whenever he came in for Shembo, he was immedietely relegated to pass coverage.

What's your opinion of his noticeable absence when we showed four man fronts? We often shifted Tuitt inside on those fronts, but yet we wouldn't let Ishaq come in and put his hand in the dirt?

I don't have %'s but I don't think Tuitt slid inside the majority of the 4-3 fronts. Meaning I would bet that Tuitt was lined up at DE opposite Shembo for 60+% of 4-3 downs. Tuitt was by far our best pass rusher even last year when he was out of shape. So, if thats true (which I don't know for fact but feel good about) it doesn't leave a lot of snaps for Ishaq. So if we are playing 4-3 50% of the time and and Tuitt is at DE for 60% of those that leaves 20% of overall snaps where Ishaq is in that positon. That sounds close to right and doesn't allow for a lot of production. Also, Diaco has always had high regard for Ishaq from an athletic standpoint. Meaning he always seemed to think Ishaq could do more than maybe he really could. So the real answer is I think it was a collection of things but just mainly we put Tuitt outside more quite often because he was or best edge rusher and Shembo was 2nd best. I really wish Ishaq would have red shirted.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You all have excellent points. I think part of the deal is that Ishaq needed to turn it up. But as with most cases, "it ain't the whole story!"

I think between Ishaq's laid back attitudes, and his 'tweener position on the team, there was more for him breaking through. And I think we all can think of the player that just rubbed the coach the wrong way, whether it be for something substantive or imaginary; I think that was the case with Ishaq. I do not think that will be the case this year. I think after looking at film BVG picked up Ishaq and started building his confidence right back up!

 

[Irish#1]

I agree. What boggles my mind is that he rarely got to actually rush the passer from the ROLB position. Whenever he came in for Shembo, he was immedietely relegated to pass coverage.

What's your opinion of his noticeable absence when we showed four man fronts? We often shifted Tuitt inside on those fronts, but yet we wouldn't let Ishaq come in and put his hand in the dirt?

I just think he didn't impress Coach D enough in practice.

 

[NDdomer2]

I feel like every year Kelly has said "Ishaq is just a different player then at any point I've seen him at Notre Dame". It's time for Ishaq to come out and play and not just talk about it. I still remember I've never been so jacked up about a commitment like I was with Ishaq. Hopefully 11 has a big year because we are gonna need him and there aren't anymore excuses IMO.

maybe i missed it, but where has ishaq been doing this talking? seems like its always the public/media/coaches doing the talking.

 

[GBdomer]

2015 NFL Draft: Top 100 prospects

Made CBS top 100 draft prospect. I had to read it twice to make sure. Man if this kid can put it all together this year! Still my favorite recruit of all time.

 

[Bluto]

This kid has been poorly managed in my opinion in terms of his fit for the first three years he has been at ND. If you go back and look at the games he was playing in he was getting pressure on the QB quite a bit when he was allowed to and as part of the d line unit he was getting it done much more often than not.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

This kid has been poorly managed in my opinion in terms of his fit for the first three years he has been at ND. If you go back and look at the games he was playing in he was getting pressure on the QB quite a bit when he was allowed to and as part of the d line unit he was getting it done much more often than not.

He was only suited to play ROLB in Diaco's scheme, but he simply wasn't good enough to beat out Shembo. Here's hoping that Ishaq blows up in BvG's scheme since he's clearly better suited to a 4-3, but I'm not sure we can point to any definite mismanagement on the staff's part.

Except maybe for recruiting him in the first place. My very first post here on IE expressed anxiety that Lynch, as an elite 4-3 WDE, wouldn't be happy having to two-gap in Diaco's scheme, and we all know how that panned out. I'm just grateful Ishaq stuck it out long enough to have a chance to shine.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yep. like I said in another thread he would have been drafted in the 5th round if he came out this year.

 

[connect the dots]

He was only suited to play ROLB in Diaco's scheme, and he simply wasn't good enough to beat out Shembo. Here's hoping that Ishaq blows up in BvG's scheme since he's clearly better suited to a 4-3, but I'm not sure we can point to any definite mismanagement on the staff's part.

Except maybe for recruiting him in the first place. My very first post here on IE expressed anxiety that Lynch, as an elite 4-3 WDE, wouldn't be happy having to two-gap in Diaco's scheme, and we all know how that panned out. I'm just grateful Ishaq stuck it out long enough to have a chance to shine.

I wonder, in his three years, if Ishaq ever regretted not going with Larry Johnson(with Franklin hire, now at Ohio State) and Penn State. Not just Ishaq, but the entire Notre Dame defense will benefit from Bob Diaco taking the head coaching job at Connecticut. In his very first game, wasn't it Williams who caused the Navy quarterback fumble that allowed Tuitt to ramble sixty yards for a score?

 

[GBdomer]

Yep. like I said in another thread he would have been drafted in the 5th round if he came out this year.

really? based on what

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I wonder, in his three years, if Ishaq ever regretted not going with Larry Johnson(with Franklin hire, now at Ohio State) and Penn State. Not just Ishaq, but the entire Notre Dame defense will benefit from Bob Diaco taking the head coaching job at Connecticut.

To be fair, Diaco's scheme deserves credit for turning Nix, Tuitt, Te'o and Smith into early-round draft picks. But there were plenty of kids on our roster--like Ishaq-- who suffered from it. The thought of a kid regretting his choice to play for ND really bothers me, and Ishaq is one of the few who may legitimately have been better off elsewhere (at least from a football perspective).

 

[Luckylucci]

I wonder, in his three years, if Ishaq ever regretted not going with Larry Johnson(with Franklin hire, now at Ohio State) and Penn State. Not just Ishaq, but the entire Notre Dame defense will benefit from Bob Diaco taking the head coaching job at Connecticut. In his very first game, wasn't it Williams who caused the Navy quarterback fumble that allowed Tuitt to ramble sixty yards for a score?

Just an FYI but Lou at BGI put out a statistic a couple months back that detailed ND's defense under Diaco on a PPG basis. Basically, it was the best 4 year stretch in like 20-30 years. I'll try and find the stat. I expect BVG's system to benefit the Dline as a whole and it should be more fun to watch. But the fact remain if Ishaq was better than Shembo he would have played. I hope this year he plays better than Shembo did last year but its pretty apparent that the light didn't go on and to blame somebody other than Ishaq is a little ridiculous.

The goal is to consistently win. You don't do that by playing some of the time.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

really? based on what

Based on height, weight, speed and projecting to the NFL. Also took into account a lot I read from from scouts. Consensus of his ranking in this current draft was around #150.

When he was healthy this year he was a force on the line. He was getting big time push.

In his very first game, wasn't it Williams who caused the Navy quarterback fumble that allowed Tuitt to ramble sixty yards for a score?

No, that game took place during his sophomore year.

 

[stlnd01]

Based on height, weight, speed and projecting to the NFL. Also took into account a lot I read from from scouts. Consensus of his ranking in this current draft was around #150.

When he was healthy this year he was a force on the line. He was getting big time push.

Yeah. I can recall numerous plays last year where he collapsed a pocket by driving the o-lineman back and set up someone else's sack/hurry. He can get a little lost in space on pass coverage, but he's a good rush end. And with a good season he's definitely got the makings of a first-three-rounds pick.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yeah. I can recall numerous plays last year where he collapsed a pocket by driving the o-lineman back and set up someone else's sack/hurry. He can get a little lost in space on pass coverage, but he's a good rush end. And with a good season he's definitely got the makings of a first-three-rounds pick.

Exactly. Don't drop him into coverage, except on a zone blitz where he has a small area to drop into. Let him do what he does best, which is pushing the pocket.

 

[EuropeanDomer]

He does not play with attitude, i like this example, look at how Day runs, pursuit the play and goes to the ground -even with an OL trying to blocking him- and how an unblocked Ishaq it's all about hesitation:

http://zippy.gfycat.com/BothSinfulCassowary.webm


Of course, he plays soft too

http://zippy.gfycat.com/FlashyRichKookaburra.webm

Does not convert speed (average speed) to power and when an OL or TE put his hands on Ishaq's pads, the play is over, he plays withoud hands/pass rush moves:

http://zippy.gfycat.com/AntiqueSnarlingDuck.webm

I don't understand the hype with him. He is the less productive player on the D. He basically plays walking through the plays trying to avoid contact, it's really frustrating sometimes. Maybe Farley is not the most skilled football player but that guy plays 100 times harder.

 

[Irishman77]

I feel sorry for the kid. Diaco tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. Diaco was going to run his nuclear fission defense no matter how many smart soccer players he had to field.

I hope this is the year we unleash the beast and have him destroy qbs!

 

[Domina Nostra]

I don't really blame Diaco, the scheme, or the kid-- although I do think this is a much, much better fit for him.

I blame NY. Williams is from a basketball state, and simply was psychologically wired to play big-time college football. He's too cool and laid-back. If he had been playing under the lights in Texas for 4 years in high school, he would have been a different animal.

What they need to do is figure out how to get him angry.

 

[Ricochet]

I feel sorry for the kid. Diaco tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. Diaco was going to run his nuclear fission defense no matter how many smart soccer players he had to field.

I hope this is the year we unleash the beast and have him destroy qbs!

you lost me at "no matter how many smart soccer players he had to field."

What does that mean?

IMO Ishaq and A.Lynch were never good fits for Diaco's 3-4 defense. I believe that both are better suited to being out and out 4-3 DE's that just get after the QB.