'19 GA S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame Signee)

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Or you could say they moved him until they found his perfect position. If only they would have realized he is a down hill safety from the beginning.

Smith was recruited as a safety and spent freshman year as a scout team safety per his ND bio. Then he moved to linebacker for his sophomore season. Starting out his junior year he was again a (starting) safety but halfway through the season was moved back to linebacker. After that season he moved back to safety and stayed there.

ND was lucky he stayed for a fifth year and became a standout player. If he had played special teams instead of red-shirting his freshman year then his fifth year never happens at all.

Anyway, Smith probably wasn't moved to find his best position. He was moved around because the defense was terrible.

EDITED to include info from a more careful reading of his bio.

 

[GowerND11]

Smith was recruited as a safety and spent freshman year as a scout team safety per his ND bio. Then he moved to linebacker for his sophomore season. Starting out his junior year he was again a (starting) safety but halfway through the season was moved back to linebacker. After that season he moved back to safety and stayed there.

ND was lucky he stayed for a fifth year and became a standout player. If he had played special teams instead of red-shirting his freshman year then his fifth year never happens at all.

Anyway, Smith probably wasn't moved to find his best position. He was moved around because the defense was terrible.

EDITED to include info from a more careful reading of his bio.

Right. Didn't we have a massive shortage of OLBs and they were forced to play him down there just due to his athleticism and the fact that, while undersized, he wasn't AS undersized as a safety could have been?

 

[Domina Nostra]

Personally, I don't think getting Griffith on the field practicing his coverage skills everyday is going to hurt his long-term prospects at safety. It actually exactly what he needs to be an effective FS.

I don't really see Hamilton as a nickel, though. Seems like a stretch since short distance lateral quickness is not his best trait. But if he's better than the other guys...

 

[KizerWilhelm]

Interestingly, Sampson suggests here that the offensive staff really want Hamilton to play offense his first year on campus. Says in the comments it’d probably be as a wide receiver in red zone situations https://theathletic.com/1037897/2019/06/20/notre-dame-football-freshmen/

 

[NDMIA]

Interestingly, Sampson suggests here that the offensive staff really want Hamilton to play offense his first year on campus. Says in the comments it’d probably be as a wide receiver in red zone situations https://theathletic.com/1037897/2019/06/20/notre-dame-football-freshmen/

If that’s the case. I hope he transfers. I’d shake his hand, pat him on the back and wish him well. Dude is a defensive back. A potential NFL defensive back. Don’t screw it up

 

[T-Boone]

If that’s the case. I hope he transfers. I’d shake his hand, pat him on the back and wish him well. Dude is a defensive back. A potential NFL defensive back. Don’t screw it up

Agreed, the entire focus should be him being a starting safety for 2020. There are plenty of red zone threats.
Clarke Lea could return serve by trying to get Claypool to play a little bit of linebacker this year.

 

[fightingirish26]

this is why we can't have nice things, etc

 

[NDIrish88]

Interestingly, Sampson suggests here that the offensive staff really want Hamilton to play offense his first year on campus. Says in the comments it’d probably be as a wide receiver in red zone situations https://theathletic.com/1037897/2019/06/20/notre-dame-football-freshmen/

For the love of god no. What is chip thinking?

 

[NorthDakota]

This is dumb

 

[BeauBenken]

Lol. Almost every year there is a player that is mentioned as having elite athletic traits that make him able to play both sides of the ball. In the past, this community has always praised the idea of getting the best athletes in a position to contribute. These ideas were genius...and then they never came to fruition.

This is probably the first time ever I've seen this community hate on the idea of letting a player play both ways.

 

[PerthDomer]

It's how we finally get a defensive player the Heisman. A little stat padding on offense...

 

[Luckylucci]

Dude needs to stay on defense and learn it. He’s a starting S in 2020, with 1st rd potential after 2 years starting. Nothing in our control should interfere with that.

 

[NorthDakota]

I just want to leave him be. Let this young beast master his craft.

 

[NDdomer2]

I don't see how telling a kid to run a fade from the ten interferes with learning the defense.

 

[Luckylucci]

I don't see how telling a kid to run a fade from the ten interferes with learning the defense.

Ultimately maybe it wouldn’t but that’s a really simplistic way of putting it. He’d obviously have to practice it. How much, who knows but they ain’t just taping him on the shoulder come gameday and saying run a fade from the 10. He’s our starting FS in 2020 and I’d want all his minutes spent on that. If he has extra minutes I’d want those spent on S as well. Plus, he might be needed this year. Going to be enough on his plate.

 

[Irishnuke]

I don’t understand why the coaches aren’t listening to us IE members. Who do they think they are?

 

[irishfan]

I don't see how telling a kid to run a fade from the ten interferes with learning the defense.

This completely. Read he tested at a 40+ inch vertical. Let’s see if he’s a huge mismatch on fades.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

If the coaches think he could be our best red zone WR why can’t he play both ways?! I’m all for it

 

[NDMIA]

Lea has mentioned that Safety is probably the most convoluted or complicated to learn and perform at in his defense so I don’t think having even a 10 minute period in practice devoted to offense would be wise by the coaching staff. It would probably be fun for Hamilton but he’s probably going to be the starting FS in 2020. There’s a really really important need there and he needs every second of the limited practice time learning the defense and everything that comes with it. He has to learn everything about Clark Lea’s defense in the next 14.5 months. That should be enough time but these guys don’t get unlimited practice time. It’s important to remember that. Chase Claypool, Kevin Austin, Micah Jones (remember him?), George Takacs, Tommy Tremble, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet should be enough tall and long bodies to find someone who get their hand to 10ft+ for a jump ball. If they had 1-2 6’3”+ guys then I’d say maybe try him for a practice session of two, but if you can’t accomplish it with arguably the biggest receiving corps in BK’s tenure then what’re they doing? I think a package of Kevin Austin, Chase Claypool, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet in the redzone could be lethal. Lots of mismatches potentially.

 

[NDIrish88]

Lea has mentioned that Safety is probably the most convoluted or complicated to learn and perform at in his defense so I don’t think having even a 10 minute period in practice devoted to offense would be wise by the coaching staff. It would probably be fun for Hamilton but he’s probably going to be the starting FS in 2020. There’s a really really important need there and he needs every second of the limited practice time learning the defense and everything that comes with it. He has to learn everything about Clark Lea’s defense in the next 14.5 months. That should be enough time but these guys don’t get unlimited practice time. It’s important to remember that. Chase Claypool, Kevin Austin, Micah Jones (remember him?), George Takacs, Tommy Tremble, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet should be enough tall and long bodies to find someone who get their hand to 10ft+ for a jump ball. If they had 1-2 6’3”+ guys then I’d say maybe try him for a practice session of two, but if you can’t accomplish it with arguably the biggest receiving corps in BK’s tenure then what’re they doing? I think a package of Kevin Austin, Chase Claypool, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet in the redzone could be lethal. Lots of mismatches potentially.

This,this and this again. Let Kyle Hamilton just be a safety. God forbid he runs a fade into the back corner and tears an ACL.

 

[Irish#1]

Agree with NDMIA. The first year is spent learning the D and getting ready for next season with a few plays on D this year when we are spanking an opponent. Oh wait we don't do that.

Along with learning the defense, he'll be learning techniques and repetitive drills to reinforce the techniques. If they were to use him on offense it should be later in the season after he's had a chance to digest the defense some and get comfortable with everything.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Lea has mentioned that Safety is probably the most convoluted or complicated to learn and perform at in his defense so I don’t think having even a 10 minute period in practice devoted to offense would be wise by the coaching staff. It would probably be fun for Hamilton but he’s probably going to be the starting FS in 2020. There’s a really really important need there and he needs every second of the limited practice time learning the defense and everything that comes with it. He has to learn everything about Clark Lea’s defense in the next 14.5 months. That should be enough time but these guys don’t get unlimited practice time. It’s important to remember that. Chase Claypool, Kevin Austin, Micah Jones (remember him?), George Takacs, Tommy Tremble, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet should be enough tall and long bodies to find someone who get their hand to 10ft+ for a jump ball. If they had 1-2 6’3”+ guys then I’d say maybe try him for a practice session of two, but if you can’t accomplish it with arguably the biggest receiving corps in BK’s tenure then what’re they doing? I think a package of Kevin Austin, Chase Claypool, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet in the redzone could be lethal. Lots of mismatches potentially.

Even Jafar Armstrong, you have all of those big bodies in the red zone, he could be lethal in creating mismatches out of the backfield with those big boys being accounted for.

I'm in agreement here, why mess with a kids defensive development when we already have enough tools for the purpose they're discussing him for.

 

[Irish#1]

Even Jafar Armstrong, you have all of those big bodies in the red zone, he could be lethal in creating mismatches out of the backfield with those big boys being accounted for.

I'm in agreement here, why mess with a kids defensive development when we already have enough tools for the purpose they're discussing him for.

USC learned Jones can catch it coming out of the backfield.

 

[BobbyMac]

If he wants to, let him. He had something like a 25 ypc last year on @ 30 rec.

Good thing to be able to show future 5* DB/WR recruits... ND allows players to make plays.

That said, he's your starting FS in 2020 so don't feck it up.

 

[NDinMI]

I don't think having a small package for him on offense would really hinder his learning on defense too much. Get him in there. Any way he can help have him help. Get used to the speed and size. Use the weapons you have now. I'm happy ND has an athlete that they think can help in all 3 phases of the game as a true frosh. It's not like they're saying it's going to be 50/50. He's the future at safety, but right now he may be able to help at more than just a small safety/nickel role. If he’s that good and that capable then get him as many snaps as possible. Whatever helps win.

 

[Old Man Mike]

We're going to score a bunch in the Red Zone this season with or without this: not only will Book's precision be surgical, but he and Count Chunkula (Williams) will run it in. There will be plenty of time for Hamilton to get his offensive specialty plays later (as do most "two-way" players.)

But what-the-Heck, Hamilton may just be a Natural on this.

 

[NDty9]

Apparently had 3 INTs in 7on7 drills today ! LETS GOOO

 

[rtrn2glory]

Going to be impossible to keep him off the field

 

[SoIll]

Apparently had 3 INTs in 7on7 drills today ! LETS GOOO

off of PJ..

 

[NDty9]

off of PJ..

Yes but I guess two of them weren’t PJs fault.... regardless, Kyle is going to be a damn playmaker !!