'14 TX DB Nick Watkins (Notre Dame Signee)

[woolybug25]

what about difference between 11-1 and 10-2?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Any news on Nick?

 

[gkIrish]

what about difference between 11-1 and 10-2?

Do other teams have injuries, or not?

Either injuries are an excuse, or they aren't. Everyone is (justifiably) ripping on Koon for what he said, but those same people are the ones that make excuse after excuse when we lose games. I just don't think that makes sense.

 

[OCIrish]

Anybody know anything yet?

I know we're cursed.......Thanks, Koon.........

 

[CIrishWin]

You have to have depth injuries are going to happen we are ND.
Have to recruit better and develop better so back ups are ready to play.

 

[OCIrish]

The reason Alanama doesn't suffer as much from injuries is better recruiting and over-recruiting, lower academic and disciplinary standards, and pushing out injured players, not better lifting regiments...

You're also forgetting they don't have Paul Longo

 

[Ndaccountant]

Do other teams have injuries, or not?

Either injuries are an excuse, or they aren't. Everyone is (justifiably) ripping on Koon for what he said, but those same people are the ones that make excuse after excuse when we lose games. I just don't think that makes sense.

Injuries and academics are part of the game. However, where those casualties hit, when they hit and how frequently they hit are more luck than not. Having 3 people at the same position get injured is bad luck and is an excuse. Having three impact starters get hurt is bad luck and makes a huge difference. Having one starter, one back-up and one practice player get injured is not grounds for excuses. As with most things in life, "it depends".

 

[NDohio]

Do other teams have injuries, or not?

Either injuries are an excuse, or they aren't. Everyone is (justifiably) ripping on Koon for what he said, but those same people are the ones that make excuse after excuse when we lose games. I just don't think that makes sense.

But can't you agree that sometimes it is the difference between a win and a loss? And that many college football teams go through injuries every year and it's the teams that can, for the most part, avoid the injury bug that have greater success(Ohio State being the one exception)?

Look at Clemson last year - they really only had one major injury(WR) and stayed healthy for the most part beyond that. Do you think that them NOT having more injuries played a roll in their success?

I am not a big fan of the injury excuse, but there are definitely times that it's true (ND at the end of the season 2 seasons ago).

 

[NDdomer2]

Do other teams have injuries, or not?

Either injuries are an excuse, or they aren't. Everyone is (justifiably) ripping on Koon for what he said, but those same people are the ones that make excuse after excuse when we lose games. I just don't think that makes sense.

Did Stanford or Clemson have injuries last year? I couldnt tell you, I feel like they were pretty healthy. So do you think ND could have won at least 1 more game last year with a full healthy roster of Jarron Jones, Shawn Crawford, and whoever else?

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think that ND would've won 1 more game with just Folston. Prosise and Adams were more explosive, but neither of them could grind out the tough yards like Folston. It's going to be a real treat to watch him run behind Q and Big Mike this year.

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[gkIrish]

Did Stanford or Clemson have injuries last year? I couldnt tell you, I feel like they were pretty healthy. So do you think ND could have won at least 1 more game last year with a full healthy roster of Jarron Jones, Shawn Crawford, and whoever else?

If we played every team at full strength and they also played at full strength we would probably have the same record. I remember Clemson specifically had a handful of players out for our game.

But can't you agree that sometimes it is the difference between a win and a loss? And that many college football teams go through injuries every year and it's the teams that can, for the most part, avoid the injury bug that have greater success(Ohio State being the one exception)?

Look at Clemson last year - they really only had one major injury(WR) and stayed healthy for the most part beyond that. Do you think that them NOT having more injuries played a roll in their success?

I am not a big fan of the injury excuse, but there are definitely times that it's true (ND at the end of the season 2 seasons ago).

Sure, it can be the difference between a win and a loss. But EVERY team deals with injuries so, in the end, it evens out.

Injuries and academics are part of the game. However, where those casualties hit, when they hit and how frequently they hit are more luck than not. Having 3 people at the same position get injured is bad luck and is an excuse. Having three impact starters get hurt is bad luck and makes a huge difference. Having one starter, one back-up and one practice player get injured is not grounds for excuses. As with most things in life, "it depends".

I'm not entirely sure it's bad luck. If 3 players at the same position gets hurt then I think it's more likely than not a flaw in either equipment, training/conditioning, and/or technique. I don't believe that ND is cursed. I believe that there is something we do that makes us more injury prone. But I can't say what that is.

 

[Domina Nostra]

But can't you agree that sometimes it is the difference between a win and a loss? And that many college football teams go through injuries every year and it's the teams that can, for the most part, avoid the injury bug that have greater success(Ohio State being the one exception)?

Look at Clemson last year - they really only had one major injury(WR) and stayed healthy for the most part beyond that. Do you think that them NOT having more injuries played a roll in their success?

I am not a big fan of the injury excuse, but there are definitely times that it's true (ND at the end of the season 2 seasons ago).

The problem is that people have absorbed the whole "no excuse" motivational mentality, which makes perfect sense for players and coaches preparing for a game or season, and treat it as some sort of law or meaningful analytical tool.

It's great as a motivational technique for, say, Bill Belichick to tell the Patriots "no excuses" as they enter the season without Tom Brady. They don't have him, and their still a decent team without him, so you don't want your players to stop trying their hardest. But if you don't think losing one of the best QBs of all time is a valid reason to lose a couple extra games, you are not being reasonable.

Attributing a loss to an injury is not always an "excuse." Injuries deprive you of a star player. If all players were interchangeable, we wouldn't have All-Star games or drafts. If an injury deprives you of a particularly valuable player, and his back-up isn't as good, you aren't making an "excuse" when you attribute lower performance to the injury, you are simply trying to understand what happened.

College Football, however, is not a level playing field. A few teams can recruit to a level where an injury to, say, Mark Ingram leaves you with Trent Richardson and Eddy Lacy. In those cases, they have "no excuse." But that doesn't translate across the board to even, say, MSU, LSU, or Stanford. Those schools need certain players to stay healthy to have a shot at being great.

We are in the latter camp still.

 

[Blaise]

^^^

Exactly this... If Michigan lost Peppers, their defense would be expected to play at a lesser level.

If we lose Hunter this year, we shouldn't expect the next WR to pick up his production. More likely it can cost us a win.. Why I have stated over and over, the reason MSU has had their rise in the Big Ten is staying healthy.. With exception of OSU game last year, I can't remember them having a key player out in a big game

 

[OCIrish]

It is what it is......we recruit fairly well, and by that, I mean we get classes that are pretty damn good, however, all things considered, we are just not gonna out recruit tOSU & Bama year in and year out. They can sell kids on things that we just cannot. At ND, kids have to take actual classes, and do actual studying.......they can not just show up to play football, and academics be damned. Do I expect us to contend for a playoff spot, hell yeah I do, but at the same time, injuries.....academic casualties & even disgruntled kids, are all a part of college sports. ND isn't immune to them, no more than Bama is, but, as somebody already pointed out, the playing field isn't level, nor will it ever be.

 

[gkIrish]

It is what it is......we recruit fairly well, and by that, I mean we get classes that are pretty damn good, however, all things considered, we are just not gonna out recruit tOSU & Bama year in and year out. They can sell kids on things that we just cannot. At ND, kids have to take actual classes, and do actual studying.......they can not just show up to play football, and academics be damned. Do I expect us to contend for a playoff spot, hell yeah I do, but at the same time, injuries.....academic casualties & even disgruntled kids, are all a part of college sports. ND isn't immune to them, no more than Bama is, but, as somebody already pointed out, the playing field isn't level, nor will it ever be.

We aren't really competing against Bama and OSU though. We are competing against MSU, Michigan, Stanford, LSU etc. for the most part. Bama and OSU's are givens. It's the other 2 playoff spots that we need to focus on.

 

[OCIrish]

Fine, throw in LSU, Sparty, Michigan & the Tree.....point being, we're always going to be at a disadvantage recruiting wise because ND makes their kids ACTUAL student athletes. Tell me that LSU, Sparty, or the other two crap holes hold their players to the same standard as ND??? They don't, and it's not even close. My whole point, is some need to come off the ledge every year over stupid $hit.......every school has issues, it's not exclusive to ND

 

[OCIrish]

I'm not making excuses as to why we lose games. Sometimes it's talent, sometimes it's coaching.....and sometimes it's just plain bad luck. I'm just saying there's no point in throwing in the towel the 2nd week of August.

 

[dad4aa]

The procedure Nick had was to stimulate bone growth. It is now being reported on ISD

 

[woolybug25]

The surgery Nick had was a procedure to stimulate bone growth. It is now being reported on ISD

Only out 4 weeks. Terrific news!

 

[arrowryan]

Only out 4 weeks. Terrific news!

Absolutely. He could be back before the MSU game

 

[koonja]

Sending him to Madam' Pomphrey for some skelegrow and get him on the field.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Sending him to Madam' Pomphrey for some skelegrow and get him on the field.

Nerd.

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[dad4aa]

Only out 4 weeks. Terrific news!

This is what I am hoping. But I'm not sure if they said he is out for four weeks or if they will look at him in four weeks. The procedure was done because the bone was not healing properly. Hopefully they meant he is back in four weeks.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I saw him today, and it was funny because he walked into practice in his jersey (no pads) and I was reminded of this thread because he sure didn't look like he had surgery yesterday LOL. A procedure makes more sense, and hopefully when they look at him in 4 weeks he'll be good to go.

 

[koonja]

I saw him today, and it was funny because he walked into practice in his jersey (no pads) and I was reminded of this thread because he sure didn't look like he had surgery yesterday LOL. A procedure makes more sense, and hopefully when they look at him in 4 weeks he'll be good to go.

Is this a wrist or a forearm injury? Regardless, he should be able to keep his legs a go so he's in shape once the arm is ready to take contact.

 

[Luckylucci]

This is what I am hoping. But I'm not sure if they said he is out for four weeks or if they will look at him in four weeks. The procedure was done because the bone was not healing properly. Hopefully they meant he is back in four weeks.

Kelly's statement was that they'll re-evaluate in 4 weeks, not that he's expected back in 4 weeks. Meaning he's on the shelf until then and maybe longer.

 

[dad4aa]

Is this a wrist or a forearm injury? Regardless, he should be able to keep his legs a go so he's in shape once the arm is ready to take contact.

Broken humerus.

 

[IrishLax]

The surgery Nick had was a procedure to stimulate bone growth. It is now being reported on ISD

To clarify, because certain words mean different things to different people, ISD did not say Watkins "had surgery." When most people think surgery, they think of incisions and otherwise cutting people open to do work. That's not the literal definition of the word, but that's the connotation people associate with it.

What Watkins had done involved a couple needles and that was it. It's closer to getting an IV than it is to what people would consider "arm surgery." So I just want to make sure that everyone understands that what he had done was a rather routine procedure, and that the rumors of Watkins demise were premature.

 

[dad4aa]

To clarify, because certain words mean different things to different people, ISD did not say Watkins "had surgery." When most people think surgery, they think of incisions and otherwise cutting people open to do work. That's not the literal definition of the word, but that's the connotation people associate with it.

What Watkins had done involved a couple needles and that was it. It's closer to getting an IV than it is to what people would consider "arm surgery." So I just want to make sure that everyone understands that what he had done was a rather routine procedure, and that the rumors of Watkins demise were premature.

You can call it what you want. When he sends a Snapchat of his arm in a sling and says "surgery day"… He considered it surgery. However, the bone was not healing as they were hoping and he is still out for at least another four weeks so it's not a good thing

 

[IrishLax]

You can call it what you want. When he sends a Snapchat of his arm in a sling and says "surgery day"… He considered it surgery. However, the bone was not healing as they were hoping and he is still out for at least another four weeks so it's not a good thing

Yeah... that's literally why I just posted what I posted. Because it's important to clarify what surgery means in this context....

It's also not about "what I want to call it"... it's about premium sites contacting me saying "why is someone saying we reported that Watkins had surgery." Cool?