'18 IN S Paul Moala (Notre Dame Signee)

[Some Irish Bloke]

Assuming he’s OK in that sling, any chance Moala shifts back to safety now that Allen’s gone?

Purely speculation on my part but I doubt it. He looks the part at Rover and is #2 behind Wu. He really impressed at the Spring Game; felt like his name was called every other play.

Maybe he will cross-train but doubtful.

 

[Luckylucci]

Depth at S is Hamilton, Brown, Crawford. Right now it seems like Crawford is that guy getting cross trained. And it makes for interesting storyline for next season. Provided Crawford is healthy all year, I wonder if this increases the chances of an additional year for him.

 

[BobbyMac]

Edge dropping a... Jack's now the #2 Rover in Kizer's thread in 3-2-1...

 

[Armyirish47]

Depth at S is Hamilton, Brown, Crawford. Right now it seems like Crawford is that guy getting cross trained. And it makes for interesting storyline for next season. Provided Crawford is healthy all year, I wonder if this increases the chances of an additional year for him.

Ajavon too, and a cross trained Houston Griffith?

 

[Luckylucci]

Ajavon too, and a cross trained Houston Griffith?

I wasn't giving the whole depth chart, just the relevant guys if needed. I don't see Avajon being relevant this year, it'd have to get pretty crazy for Avajon to be in the mix. Crawford is repping ahead of him.

 

[Armyirish47]

I wasn't giving the whole depth chart, just the relevant guys if needed. I don't see Avajon being relevant this year, it'd have to get pretty crazy for Avajon to be in the mix. Crawford is repping ahead of him.

My bad, I was jumping ahead to next year.

 

[stlnd01]

Depth at S is Hamilton, Brown, Crawford. Right now it seems like Crawford is that guy getting cross trained. And it makes for interesting storyline for next season. Provided Crawford is healthy all year, I wonder if this increases the chances of an additional year for him.

Yeah, it's next year I'm worried about.
Griffith will be a corner. 2020 starters at safety right now would be Hamilton and Brown. Or Crawford if he can stay healthy and gets/wants another year (though he could also be a corner, or a nickel). Behind that it's Ajavon and... Isaiah Robertson? And recruiting's not exactly lighting it up at safety, so I wouldn’t count on a difference-maker showing up as a freshman.
I'm all for the rover but both JGH and Moala moving that way, and Allen leaving, kind of leaves us in a bind on the back end of the defense.

 

[NDIrish88]

Yeah, it's next year I'm worried about.
Griffith will be a corner. 2020 starters at safety right now would be Hamilton and Brown. Or Crawford if he can stay healthy and gets/wants another year (though he could also be a corner, or a nickel). Behind that it's Ajavon and... Isaiah Robertson? And recruiting's not exactly lighting it up at safety, so I would count on a difference-maker showing up as a freshman.
I'm all for the rover but both JGH and Moala moving that way, and Allen leaving, kind of leaves us in a bind on the back end of the defense.

Don't worry. ND is going to sign Ramon Henderson . . . .

 

[IrishLion]

Depth at S is Hamilton, Brown, Crawford. Right now it seems like Crawford is that guy getting cross trained. And it makes for interesting storyline for next season. Provided Crawford is healthy all year, I wonder if this increases the chances of an additional year for him.

I thought that during the Spring when BK talked about having Crawford back, he straight up said "and he'll be here for a 6th year, too."

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Don't worry. ND is going to sign Ramon Henderson . . . .

The staff did so well recruiting the other positions, people love shitting on the secondary this cycle.

Next year, we'll likely have a starting combo of Hamilton/Griffith at safety. Bracy and Wallace will be our starting corners unless someone makes a huge jump over this next year. Then we have the young guys coming in to challenge for PT. Unless Crawford comes back for one more.

Rather than worrying about next year, can we just enjoy what looks to be a very good secondary this year? I don't want to fret about 2020 or 2021 because we have a very good team this year.

 

[AllTimeIrish]

Yeah, it's next year I'm worried about.
Griffith will be a corner. 2020 starters at safety right now would be Hamilton and Brown. Or Crawford if he can stay healthy and gets/wants another year (though he could also be a corner, or a nickel). Behind that it's Ajavon and... Isaiah Robertson? And recruiting's not exactly lighting it up at safety, so I wouldn’t count on a difference-maker showing up as a freshman.
I'm all for the rover but both JGH and Moala moving that way, and Allen leaving, kind of leaves us in a bind on the back end of the defense.

Someone mentioned Cam Hart as a potential move to safety due to his size, and depth at the WR position. This was just spitballing, but given the lack of safety recruits this year, a WR sliding over may become a reality.

Given corner depth, including three new ones coming in this class, it is likely Griffith is a safety next year and starts next to Hamilton. Not sure Brown is more than a solid depth player, but we will see what happens.

Those are just my opinions. Everything could change if ND finally gets on the board at safety in this class.

 

[BabyIrish]

Agreed, I think it's more likely Griffith moves back to safety than Moala, and I think that would be the right decision.

 

[Edge]

Edge dropping a... Jack's now the #2 Rover in Kizer's thread in 3-2-1...

I like this guy 👆

 

[Luckylucci]

Someone mentioned Cam Hart as a potential move to safety due to his size, and depth at the WR position. This was just spitballing, but given the lack of safety recruits this year, a WR sliding over may become a reality.

Given corner depth, including three new ones coming in this class, it is likely Griffith is a safety next year and starts next to Hamilton. Not sure Brown is more than a solid depth player, but we will see what happens.

Those are just my opinions. Everything could change if ND finally gets on the board at safety in this class.

I think one of the 3 CB’s currently committed will end up at S.

 

[NDIrish88]

Someone mentioned Cam Hart as a potential move to safety due to his size, and depth at the WR position. This was just spitballing, but given the lack of safety recruits this year, a WR sliding over may become a reality.

Given corner depth, including three new ones coming in this class, it is likely Griffith is a safety next year and starts next to Hamilton. Not sure Brown is more than a solid depth player, but we will see what happens.

Those are just my opinions. Everything could change if ND finally gets on the board at safety in this class.

Cam Hart at Safety makes the most sense for immediate depth.

 

[NDMIA]

The staff did so well recruiting the other positions, people love shitting on the secondary this cycle.

Next year, we'll likely have a starting combo of Hamilton/Griffith at safety. Bracy and Wallace will be our starting corners unless someone makes a huge jump over this next year. Then we have the young guys coming in to challenge for PT. Unless Crawford comes back for one more.

Rather than worrying about next year, can we just enjoy what looks to be a very good secondary this year? I don't want to fret about 2020 or 2021 because we have a very good team this year.

I super pumped for this season and can’t wait for the games to start. But, many many fans find faults in the recruiting cycles. That’s how that stuff works a lot of the time. Alabama fans complain about not getting this guy or that and they had 8 straight #1 classes. Recruiting a playoff caliber level is a yearly thing. Taking a year off isn’t an option for these coaches. Terry Joseph and Todd Lyght has an excellent cycle last year reeling in 4 4* DB’s but this cycle just hasn’t been good flat out. There’s potential for there to be 3 non-freshman scholarship Safeties with Kyle Hamilton, Litchfield Ajavon, and DJ Brown (probably Houston Griffith too) and you think it’s all fine and dandy that they can’t convince a single 4* safety to potentially have a strong shot at being in the two deep as a freshman??? Also at CB you’ve got KJ Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford, Avery Davis, and Tariq Bracy coming back and maybe Shaun Crawford. There’s some chance that your #4 CB could be a true freshman and that guy gets PT in games. That just isn’t good enough to win championships. I think when all is said and done in this cycle, people will see some movement in the 4* department with DB’s before December but right now as it stands, the numbers and talent just isn’t good enough for a top tier program in the country. I have confidence that Terry Joseph and Todd Lyght are able to turn it around and maybe flip someone or grab some impact talent before the end of the cycle.

 

[stlnd01]

. There’s potential for there to be 3 non-freshman scholarship Safeties with Kyle Hamilton, Litchfield Ajavon, and DJ Brown (probably Houston Griffith too) and you think it’s all fine and dandy that they can’t convince a single 4* safety to potentially have a strong shot at being in the two deep as a freshman??? Also at CB you’ve got KJ Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford, Avery Davis, and Tariq Bracy coming back and maybe Shaun Crawford. There’s some chance that your #4 CB could be a true freshman and that guy gets PT in games.

This, to me, is the trouble. Even if you move Griffith (who is potentially the best corner) back to safety, you’re awfully thin back there next year. Yes, I figure some safety will find their way into our ‘20 class, and/or at least one of the recruited corners becomes a safety. But it’s not really a position where you want to be relying on true freshmen in the two-deep (unless they’re a total stud like Hamilton apparently is). We always hear how mentally challenging safety is in this defense. You want guys who’ve seen some action.
Meanwhile we recruited three safeties in the current sophomore class - Allen, Moala and JGH - who won’t be playing safety for us.

 

[koonja]

Don't worry. ND is going to sign Ramon Henderson . . . .

I hope we wait and find others interested after a few games, or get a couple surprises to the USC game.

Ramon Henderson is the longest striding CB I can remember watching, and that doesn't work against WRs who can run routes, IMO. I don't think Gamble is the answer either.

Hoping new names pop up.

 

[Luckylucci]

I hope we wait and find others interested after a few games, or get a couple surprises to the USC game.

Ramon Henderson is the longest striding CB I can remember watching, and that doesn't work against WRs who can run routes, IMO. I don't think Gamble is the answer either.

Hoping new names pop up.

Certainly doesn't look like a natural DB, totally agree on that. However, I'd take both and continue to recruit a 6th. I like Gamble quite a bit. He does seem like a natural DB with good athleticism. And I believe Henderson is being recruited as a S. While I agree that he has a lot of work to do from technique standpoint, he'd also be one of the more impressive athletes in the class. And if we were able to bring in 6 DB's, taking a flier on a guy that runs a faster 100M than AJ Henning seems like a decent risk.

 

[NDIrish88]

What about the transfer portal? Kelvin Joseph is there. Is there anyone good enough?

 

[koonja]

Certainly doesn't look like a natural DB, totally agree on that. However, I'd take both and continue to recruit a 6th. I like Gamble quite a bit. He does seem like a natural DB with good athleticism. And I believe Henderson is being recruited as a S. While I agree that he has a lot of work to do from technique standpoint, he'd also be one of the more impressive athletes in the class. And if we were able to bring in 6 DB's, taking a flier on a guy that runs a faster 100M than AJ Henning seems like a decent risk.

If Ramon is being recruited as a safety I'm ok with taking him. You can get away with not being quick twitch/change of direction there if you're a good athlete with instincts. But that forces at least 1 more of the current commits to stick at CB - which I actually think all 3 are solid prospects.

 

[Luckylucci]

If Ramon is being recruited as a safety I'm ok with taking him. You can get away with not being quick twitch/change of direction there if you're a good athlete with instincts. But that forces at least 1 more of the current commits to stick at CB - which I actually think all 3 are solid prospects.

The way I see it, we got 3 current commits and 2 need to play CB and 1 S within that group. You add Gamble as a Nickel CB. And Henderson as a S. Then bring in the best DB available for a 6th spot.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Tore a tendon in his hand and needed surgery to reattach it. Kelly said he should be back in practice next week though.

 

[stpeteirish]

Tore a tendon in his hand and needed surgery to reattach it. Kelly said he should be back in practice next week though.

might be tough to grab a ballcarrier with a torn tendon in your hand.

 

[Henges24]

might be tough to grab a ballcarrier with a torn tendon in your hand.

Eh, punch them in the gut hard enough and they’ll go down.

 

[Rizzophil]

It will be interesting if he can hold onto the backup rover with a case on one hand / thumb

 

[stlnd01]

It will be interesting if he can hold onto the backup rover with a case on one hand / thumb

Didn't Drue Tranquil play a big part of either last season or the one before (or both?) with a broken hand. Aside from maybe intercepting passes, you don't REALLY need opposable thumbs to play linebacker.

 

[BobbyMac]

Up to 222 at weigh in.

 

[Mattmags]

Any update on his injury. Slow motion replay looked nasty the way his calf “popped” when he planted so hard. Looked like a torn Achilles, but I could be exaggerating.

Edit: Q. Another injury question. In addition to an update on Liam, what about an update on Paul Moala?

BRIAN KELLY: I don’t have one for you. It looked to be an ankle, then I got updated that it was more severe than that. I don’t have specific information about the severity of it. We’ll get an MRI and then we’ll have further information for you when we talk on Monday.

 

[IrishLax]

Any update on his injury. Slow motion replay looked nasty the way his calf “popped” when he planted so hard. Looked like a torn Achilles, but I could be exaggerating.

Edit: Q. Another injury question. In addition to an update on Liam, what about an update on Paul Moala?

BRIAN KELLY: I don’t have one for you. It looked to be an ankle, then I got updated that it was more severe than that. I don’t have specific information about the severity of it. We’ll get an MRI and then we’ll have further information for you when we talk on Monday.

That's almost certainly what it was, but him walking on it at all afterwards was surprising so it could be something else. 99% of the time you see that "explosion" it's an Achille's rupture.