'17 CA CB Thomas Graham (Oregon Verbal)

[PANDFAN]

I respectfully disagree about TE coaching. Sometimes poor play is on the players, not always the coaches. $hit, Booker can't be to blame for Weishar dropping the ball. That's ridiculous. And Frank is a sour puss often times. I too hope to see Wright and/or Kmet on the field this year.

you didn't say coaching in your initial response of "Although we haven't been passing to the TE much, there hasn't been any signs of poor TE play at all. "

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

you didn't say coaching in your initial response of "Although we haven't been passing to the TE much, there hasn't been any signs of poor TE play at all. "

Oh...my bad.

 

[beryirish]

But production has gone down considerably. May not be the TE's fault but that doesn't matter if you are going to call yourself Tight End U.

http://www.onefootdown.com/2016/9/15/12928456/notre-dame-football-what-has-happened-to-tight-end-u

Notre Dame Football: What Has Happened to Tight End U?

Notre Dame’s tight end production has fallen off mightily the past few seasons. If the first two games are any inclination, 2016 won’t be much better.


For over the past 10-15 years Notre Dame has been known as “Tight End U”. They’ve produced some of college football’s premier tight ends that have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. From Anthony Fasano to John Carlson, from Kyle Rudolph to Tyler Eifert, the Irish have had loads of success developing tight ends.

But in the past two seasons the tight end has really been a none factor in the Irish offense, and 2016 is no different. Through the first two games Irish tight ends have caught just one pass for eight yards, which was to Durham Smythe against Texas. Against Nevada, none of the Irish tight ends were even targeted.

Here is the tight end production through the first two games of every year since Brian Kelly has been the coach.

Year Receptions Yards Touchdowns
2010 14 224 1
2011 11 154 0
2012 12 207 1
2013 7 142 2
2014 5 65 0
2015 2 13 1
2016 1 8 0

As you can see ever since the departure of Troy Niklas in 2013, no one really has been able to carry the torch of being the tight end at Notre Dame. Ben Koyack had a decent year in 2014, but he paled in comparison to the guys that came before him. Last year Smythe was injured in the second game of the year and Alize Jones was just a freshman, not to mention there was a guy named Will Fuller who got the ball thrown his way a lot.

We know this year would probably be a different story if Jones wasn’t ruled academically ineligible, but it is what it is. For those out there, myself being one of them, that were optimistic about Smythe and Nic Weishar picking up the load for Jones, it’s safe to say that won’t be the case this season.
Washington v Notre Dame Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Why has tight end production fallen off? Notre Dame has simply got better, much better at other positions over the past three seasons. They’ve had guys like Fuller and Chris Brown on the outside. In recent years Kelly has been more committed to the run, so guys like C.J. Prosise, Tarean Folston and Josh Adams have received more touches. On top of all that Notre Dame’s quarterback play has been better than it has been in quite some time, so DeShone Kizer tends to call his own number more often.

This season is no different. Notre Dame simply has better options than Smythe and Weishar. Adams, Folston, Equanimeous St. Brown, C.J. Sanders, Torii Hunter Jr., heck even Dexter Williams and Kevin Stepherson will all get their named called before either of Notre Dame’s tight ends.

Another reason is that there are no Kyle Rudolph or Tyler Eifert on the roster. There is just no clear-cut stud at tight end, and there hasn’t been one since Niklas. Jones would have been that guy this year if he could have stayed eligible.

If the first two games are any type of measuring stick, don’t expect much from Notre Dame’s tight ends for the rest of 2016. Things will change though next season as Jones should return from being ineligible.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Production has gone down, yes but I put that 100% on the offensive scheme. It needs to change and I think with Alize playing next year as well as a possible emergence of one of our freshman TE's plus coaching deciding to add the TE to part of our pass game, this will change. I sure hope so anyways.

 

[BoredIrish]

Production has gone down, yes but I put that 100% on the offensive scheme. It needs to change and I think with Alize playing next year as well as a possible emergence of one of our freshman TE's plus coaching deciding to add the TE to part of our pass game, this will change. I sure hope so anyways.

I dont agree with his at all.

Scheme would indicate that the TE's were being kept in as blockers... Except none of them has even developed good blocking technique. Furthermore there should at least be signs of improvement with the position group but they have been bad for the past two years.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

I dont agree with his at all.

Scheme would indicate that the TE's were being kept in as blockers... Except none of them has even developed good blocking technique. Furthermore there should at least be signs of improvement with the position group but they have been bad for the past two years.

What?? Smythe had a few mishaps I guess but other than that he was a pretty solid blocker if you ask me. Luatua is a good blocker too but for some reason didn't play much this year.

 

[Cackalacky]

I dont agree with his at all.

Scheme would indicate that the TE's were being kept in as blockers... Except none of them has even developed good blocking technique. Furthermore there should at least be signs of improvement with the position group but they have been bad for the past two years.

Since Niklas left the TEs are strictly max pass protection or an afterthought on passing plays. The DC doesn't have to even worry about them on passing downs. It's infuriating. Weishar was a great receiver coming out of high school yet he doesn't play much because he doesn't max protect or run block well yet isn't good enough of a receiver to take targets away from the WRs.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

So Thomas Graham is coming in as a TE now?

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Yes let's get this thread back to Graham.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

So good news per 247. Kelly and Lyght are doing an in-home visit with Graham, the #56 overall recruit per 247, this evening. Previously, CB picks were 30% Arizona, 20% ND. This week Arizona's DB coach, whom Graham was close to, took a job as ST coach @ Nebraska. This has changed things and Wiltfong has now changed his CB to Notre Dame. Apparently ND staff is feeling confident to land this stud. There was some speculation the Darnay Holmes may flip from UCLA to OSU thus opening a spot for Graham at UCLA (close to home) but those rumours have been squashed as Holmes has strong family ties to UCLA. Gotta love this news! This would be the highest rated corner recruit we've landed in some time.

 

[Irish YJ]

very very nice...
shouldn't get my hopes up though...

 

[Sherm Sticky]

So good news per 247. Kelly and Lyght are doing an in-home visit with Graham, the #56 overall recruit per 247, this evening. Previously, CB picks were 30% Arizona, 20% ND. This week Arizona's DB coach, whom Graham was close to, took a job as ST coach @ Nebraska. This has changed things and Wiltfong has now changed his CB to Notre Dame. Apparently ND staff is feeling confident to land this stud. There was some speculation the Darnay Holmes may flip from UCLA to OSU thus opening a spot for Graham at UCLA (close to home) but those rumours have been squashed as Holmes has strong family ties to UCLA. Gotta love this news! This would be the highest rated corner recruit we've landed in some time.

Highest rated since Gary Gray.


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[Calabrese's People]

Highest rated since Gary Gray.


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[Andy in Sactown]

Highest rated since _________.


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[Cackalacky]

Highest rated since Gary Gray.


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[Andy in Sactown]

Ironic gif. Stephen can turn his head around.

 

[Cackalacky]

Ironic gif. Stephen can turn his head around.

ding ding ding

My humor is multidimensional.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Lol to all the gif's, but it's true he was composite #38 overall. He was a big time get out of high school. Notre Dame is where high rated high school Corners come to die:

Darrin Walls
raeshon mcneil
Gary Gray
Tee Shepard
Ambrose Wooden
...


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[Cackalacky]

Lol to all the gif's, but it's true he was composite #38 overall. He was a big time get out of high school. Notre Dame is where high rated high school Corners come to die:

Darrin Walls
raeshon mcneil
Gary Gray
Tee Shepard
Ambrose Wooden
...


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You forgot Cole Luke who is now at best a 6th-7th round draft pick per latest reports.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Lol to all the gif's, but it's true he was composite #38 overall. He was a big time get out of high school. Notre Dame is where high rated high school Corners come to die:

Darrin Walls
raeshon mcneil
Gary Gray
Tee Shepard
Ambrose Wooden
...


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Blah blah blah. This kid is great and Lyght I a great coach. Let's hope we get him and he turns into a dynamite lock down corner.
GO IRISH

 

[Cackalacky]

Blah blah blah. This kid is great and Lyght I a great coach. Let's hope we get him and he turns into a dynamite lock down corner.
GO IRISH

 

[Sherm Sticky]

You forgot Cole Luke who is now at best a 6th-7th round draft pick per latest reports.

Eeeeesh Luke really fell. He was a 2-3 TD pick to start the season. But being able to play nickel now helps him.


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[Bluto]

For what it's worth I was hanging out with my nephew who attends and plays football at Rancho this weekend. He said Thomas Graham is "going to Notre Dame".

 

[Irish YJ]

For what it's with I was hanging out with my nephew attends and plays football at Rancho this weekend. He said he's "going to Notre Dame".

Hoping your nephew is a bit DT or DE if he's going to ND!!

 

[NDPhilly]

For what it's with I was hanging out with my nephew attends and plays football at Rancho this weekend. He said he's "going to Notre Dame".

Did he mention anything about Fleck talking to Notre Dame?

 

[Bluto]

Hoping your nephew is a bit DT or DE if he's going to ND!!

Lol. Actually he (my nephew) plays safety and wide receiver. We'll see. If he gets an ND offer and doesn't take it I'm going to put my foot up his ass. Haha.

 

[Bluto]

Did he mention anything about Fleck talking to Notre Dame?

Nope. He just kind of mentioned it in passing when we were talking about all the ways ND found to lose this season. Something along the lines of "one of our DB's is going to ND".

 

[ThePiombino]

So good news per 247. Kelly and Lyght are doing an in-home visit with Graham, the #56 overall recruit per 247, this evening. Previously, CB picks were 30% Arizona, 20% ND. This week Arizona's DB coach, whom Graham was close to, took a job as ST coach @ Nebraska. This has changed things and Wiltfong has now changed his CB to Notre Dame. Apparently ND staff is feeling confident to land this stud. There was some speculation the Darnay Holmes may flip from UCLA to OSU thus opening a spot for Graham at UCLA (close to home) but those rumours have been squashed as Holmes has strong family ties to UCLA. Gotta love this news! This would be the highest rated corner recruit we've landed in some time.

Ahhhh, the dreaded "sources inside the Gug" kiss of death!

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Ahhhh, the dreaded "sources inside the Gug" kiss of death!

I think the most important notes here are that Arizona lost it's DB coach, Kelly and Lyght did an in-home tonight and Wiltfong CB'd him to ND.

 

[arrowryan]

Is he an All-American game or NSD announcement?