2009 defensive depth chart???

[fightinirish68]

have yall thought about the depth chart for next year on defense?? i dont see offense changing that much, but defense is gonna be hit.

if darrin walls comes back, does he start? or does a good offseason of robert blanton help him move up to starter? does gary gray transfer? maybe marlon pollard or ej banks will be that good to play early.

i would imagine defensive line would look something along the lines of ethan johnson, ian williams, and someone other than john ryan, hopefully kapron lewis-moore.

and linebackers i would imagine theres 1 spot sealed and thats brian smith. other than that, kerry neal at an outside, and darrius flemming at the other?

 

[jonesman]

I would say that Darrin Walls is solid on coming back. Read the South Bend Tribune article. According to that, he will be on campus and enrolled in January. He expects to play in spring ball. McNeil and Walls make a solid tandem.

 

[tko]

I would say that Darrin Walls is solid on coming back. Read the South Bend Tribune article. According to that, he will be on campus and enrolled in January. He expects to play in spring ball. McNeil and Walls make a solid tandem.

maybe walls can refresh mcneil's memory on how to tackle

 

[sportallyr]

I would say that Darrin Walls is solid on coming back. Read the South Bend Tribune article. According to that, he will be on campus and enrolled in January. He expects to play in spring ball. McNeil and Walls make a solid tandem.

Robert Blanton will start opposite Walls next year in my opinion. McNeil will be the nickel back. That's my opinion. Having two playmakers like Walls and Blanton on both sides would be really fun to watch.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Hey... Blanton could be a Day One pick if he keeps improving. Him and Walls should be able to just shut people down in man.

 

[bernbabybern820]

Since McCarthy will be back does that mean Harrison Smith will stay at OLB? Or will he be a safety and Sergio Brown hit the bench?

 

[alleycat9]

i was SO impressed with ethan johnson late in the season, he really seems to be one of those kids that gets it! i was most pleasantly surprised with him out of all the freshmen.

i also liked what i saw out of fleming, he will definitely be on the field next year. im not sure about whether someone will be able to beat out john ryan at this point, i really didnt see anything from any of the other young guys to assure me of that. however i really do hope someone steps up. (i am not sure how i could put what i truely think more sensitively)

this defensive team really does have the ability to be very good next season.

 

[goldandblue]

Since McCarthy will be back does that mean Harrison Smith will stay at OLB? Or will he be a safety and Sergio Brown hit the bench?

I think H.S. will have to battle with Brown for the position but he will be Brown out. I think Brown will remain the nickel back and McNeil and Blanton will trade time.

 

[fightinirish68]

sergio is a strong safety and harrison would play free

 

[jboxer562]

i think kyle mccarthy is coming back. does anybody know where jarmois slaughter fits in this mix?

 

[fraymont]

Yeah...the DBs are loaded.

Hopefully Walls comes back and doesnt lose too much of a step.

I could see Harrison staying at OLB if Sergio/Slaughter can play FS, or isnt Herring coming back too? SS is locked up.

But should be interesting to see McNeil/Walls/Blanton battle it out.

Oh, isnt it nice to see our D not gettin burnt for long balls now....and notice Lambert wasnt on the field haha

 

[Axl Rose]

Is ND running a 3-4 or a 4-3?

 

[WabashFalcon]

Is ND running a 3-4 or a 4-3?

3-4 my brotha from another motha

 

[tko]

3-4 my brotha from another motha

actually heard them talking during the bowl game about the 4-3. i know we were trying to run the 3-4 but have we actually accomplished it? i'm not trying to stir the pot just wondering. it seems like i see more 4-3 but what do i know. wabash, weigh in pls.

 

[fightinirish68]

jamoris will play cb. i see harrison droppin to safety. mccarthy i believe is comin back so that locks up ss. so maybe harrison and sergio(changed positions) to battle or switch time at free

 

[fraymont]

Zeke has impressed everywhere he has been so who is to say he cant replace harrison if harrison moves back. Hopefully McDonald, David P can get healthy come spring, and Calabrese is enrolling early correct?

 

[WabashFalcon]

actually heard them talking during the bowl game about the 4-3. i know we were trying to run the 3-4 but have we actually accomplished it? i'm not trying to stir the pot just wondering. it seems like i see more 4-3 but what do i know. wabash, weigh in pls.

The 3-4 and the 4-3 really hinge on your ability to recruit/draft damn good dline talent. With the 4-3, your DLinemen are only responsible for a single gap and for picking up double teams. In the 4-3 scheme, create chaos, control the line of scrimmage, and let your Mike destroy plays in the backfield. The one draw back is the middle of the field and the seams are more open for exploitation.

When looking at the 3-4, it all hinges on the creativity of the D-Coordinator and the ability to have a stud nose that can command a double and still play the two gap scheme. The 3-4 all hinges on the ability for the Nose to hold the LOS and for the Mikes, Sam and Will to blitz quickly and maintain their gap integrity. Thus, you are always blitzing one backer... they never know from where. As for pass coverage, the 3-4 gives you a really, really nice blanket the field with zone. Sam and Will are able to combo the flats and deep sidelines. Both Mikes split the area between the hashes in twaine. The Safetys and Corners can combo with Cover 2, Man 2, Cover 3 with a Robber, Cover 3 Man X, or even Cover Four with the complex zone underneigth. If you can stuff the run, force them into 2nd and 3rd and long and just play zone, the 3-4 is beautiful. The Irish just can't stop the mother fucking run. Why do you think we did so well against Hawaii? All we did was drop back and play zone because they refused to run the ball. This is why I still cry at night for Omar defecting to Florida.

My two cents. I myself am a 3-4 guy and plan to use it if I become a D-Coordinator when I coach high school. As for my O playbook, strong I, weak I, Two back Gun, Four wide gun, Two tight gun, three wide Tight strong gun, and finally 5 wide with trips and 5 wide outta the Phillip Rivers diamond... or the Oopty Oop from Varsity Blues

 

[tko]

The 3-4 and the 4-3 really hinge on your ability to recruit/draft damn good dline talent. With the 4-3, your DLinemen are only responsible for a single gap and for picking up double teams. In the 4-3 scheme, create chaos, control the line of scrimmage, and let your Mike destroy plays in the backfield. The one draw back is the middle of the field and the seams are more open for exploitation.

When looking at the 3-4, it all hinges on the creativity of the D-Coordinator and the ability to have a stud nose that can command a double and still play the two gap scheme. The 3-4 all hinges on the ability for the Nose to hold the LOS and for the Mikes, Sam and Will to blitz quickly and maintain their gap integrity. Thus, you are always blitzing one backer... they never know from where. As for pass coverage, the 3-4 gives you a really, really nice blanket the field with zone. Sam and Will are able to combo the flats and deep sidelines. Both Mikes split the area between the hashes in twaine. The Safetys and Corners can combo with Cover 2, Man 2, Cover 3 with a Robber, Cover 3 Man X, or even Cover Four with the complex zone underneigth. If you can stuff the run, force them into 2nd and 3rd and long and just play zone, the 3-4 is beautiful. The Irish just can't stop the mother fucking run. Why do you think we did so well against Hawaii? All we did was drop back and play zone because they refused to run the ball. This is why I still cry at night for Omar defecting to Florida.

My two cents. I myself am a 3-4 guy and plan to use it if I become a D-Coordinator when I coach high school. As for my O playbook, strong I, weak I, Two back Gun, Four wide gun, Two tight gun, three wide Tight strong gun, and finally 5 wide with trips and 5 wide outta the Phillip Rivers diamond... or the Oopty Oop from Varsity Blues

awesome explanation coach