2012 Fall Camp Thread

[Ironman8]

Shouldn't be scheduled without a bye week following.

100% agree with you there. Even the NFL doesn't do that.

 

[IrishLion]

Still think it's Golson, too much smoke around the situations with the stories and practice reports. I think BK wants to announce it on his own terms, which means he makes the situation still seem "even" with the reps and whatnot.

 

[CarrollVermin]

So seriously, whats the deal with not naming a starting QB?

 

[Grahambo]

I'm wrong at least 75% of the time, but I'd be very surprised to see Davonte Neal at CB. If Kelly and Diaco wanted to reason this way: "Davonte was #5 CB in ratings, and his HS coach said he should be a CB, therefore we really should put him over there", that would have been done pre-Lo's injury --- Lo wasn't ever viewed as some kind of elite lock.

When corner looked ominously unstable, Kelly/Diaco STILL didn't move Davonte, but instead moved two other elite talents [Russell and Shumate]. Why? [If the "he's just too good" argument was making sense to them?] My opinion: Kelly's looked at Davonte and said "wow.... sorry Bob you can't have him".

For the "compromisers": you don't specialize all your time on the offense and step across the line and fill in a little at CB. By definition that scenario means that most of the snaps you field two other Starter CBs. If you have two starter CBs, why steal a super-O player? [Even in practice]. If you're talking only "nickels", then we have safeties to move in instead --- our nickel last year was almost always Gray, Blanton, Smith, Slaughter, and Motta.

I don't get the Neal-to-D theory, but, as said, I'm wrong most of the time.

I'm wrong probably more then you. Just was my opinion on things.

 

[NDdomer2]

At his last presser didn't he say that starting this week the reps would start to seperate themselves? So he is either backtracking on his own plan, not telling the truth about the reps still being even, or was never telling the truth to begin with. Personally, I don't care if he ever publically states who the qb is as long as he knows, the team knows, and we come out the 1st and beat some Navy arse.

 

[BGIF]

Still think it's Golson, too much smoke around the situations with the stories and practice reports. I think BK wants to announce it on his own terms, which means he makes the situation still seem "even" with the reps and whatnot.

^

Plus he gets to use it as a motivational tool for both guys. He has to have 2 guys ready to play. QBs in his system take hits.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Well that answers two questions. The coaches remain true to the philosophy they stated.

They must feel pretty strong about the team.

The slow corner means K Russel is going to be great, and J Brown is coming to his own with reps. Atkinson is solid, just not ready. He is an upper classmen starter kind of guy, I will wager.

Moves: The T Niklas and K Russel moves were not the result of a panicky coaching decision. Neither was the T Riddick move or move back. They were to do just what the coaching staff promised those players, help finding their right position.

The Cam McDaniels move was one of depth and BK was candid about that.

Riddik may be a complete player this year and off the hook. Niklas will be the monster tight end. And Russell may be an AA, but in either case, knock on wood, he will be so good the wrap will be off ND about corners, just like it is about d-linemen.

 

[yankeeND]

If anyone here really thinks that Kelly doesn't know who he's gonna start at QB come hang out with me for a little while and I'll blow smoke up your arse too! Haha!

This is like up above was stated, keeping the back-up motivated. Golson gonna be exciting! Lots of no no no yes!!!!! Just wait for the play to end before you guys start throwing sh!t!

 

[SaltyND24]

Brian Hamilton ‏@ChiTribHamilton
#NotreDame HC Brian Kelly says it's 4-6 month recovery for Lo Wood. "We expect him back for spring practice," Kelly said

Sounds about right...my college roommate and former Men's Soccer Big East Player of the Year, Bright Dike, had the same injury as Lo and was back on the pitch doing conditioning drills around 5-5 1/2 months later...The rehab obviously isn't without its struggles, but I'm sure Lo will be at 100% by May of next year

 

[IrishLion]

^

Plus he gets to use it as a motivational tool for both guys. He has to have 2 guys ready to play. QBs in his system take hits.

I have faith, when Dustin Grutza went down at UC in 08, he got adequate play from Tony Pike , Chazz Anderson, and Zach Collaros. That would be akin to Golson going down, and then getting good play from Hendrix (the true backup, Pike), Rees (the smart guy with limited tools, Anderson) and Kiel (the freshman with all of the talent, Collaros).

Golson will be great, but it would take a miracle for him to survive the year without getting banged up and needing to sit for a game or two. That's where BK makes his money, but everyone around here is familiar with that track record by now (even though the QB results in his first two seasons didn't show it).

 

[Old Man Mike]

I believe that Coach is one of the smartest football coaches that I've seen. For sure he's not going to have some "rigid plan" for a situation that he knows isn't itself "fixed". Kelly has always said that he can't force the situation to fix itself on his timetable, but that he was hoping that it would resolve enough so that he could begin emphasizing one starter. And, he has always said that he DOES want ONE starter.

That said: BGIF is correct [as usual]. Any coach worth anything will use everything that he can to motivate "immature" players. Here the term "immature" is meant in its dictionary definition of "not yet completely formed to the ideal condition". Both Everett and Andrew are "immature QBs" in that sense. They will achieve "maturity" quicker if they work really hard at it. Although Kelly only wants ONE starter, he wants at least TWO players who "can play winning football" at each position. He needs BOTH Everett and Andrew motivated. Not naming a starter in this sort of situation is not surprising, or shouldn't be.

 

[Grahambo]

Sounds about right...my college roommate and former Men's Soccer Big East Player of the Year, Bright Dike, had the same injury as Lo and was back on the pitch doing conditioning drills around 5-5 1/2 months later...The rehab obviously isn't without its struggles, but I'm sure Lo will be at 100% by May of next year

I saw that it was a ruptured achilles tendon and not an ACL tear. I thought ACL tears were more of the 6-8 month variety then the 4-6 which would explain it.

 

[yankeeND]

I believe that Coach is one of the smartest football coaches that I've seen. For sure he's not going to have some "rigid plan" for a situation that he knows isn't itself "fixed". Kelly has always said that he can't force the situation to fix itself on his timetable, but that he was hoping that it would resolve enough so that he could begin emphasizing one starter. And, he has always said that he DOES want ONE starter.

That said: BGIF is correct [as usual]. Any coach worth anything will use everything that he can to motivate "immature" players. Here the term "immature" is meant in its dictionary definition of "not yet completely formed to the ideal condition". Both Everett and Andrew are "immature QBs" in that sense. They will achieve "maturity" quicker if they work really hard at it. Although Kelly only wants ONE starter, he wants at least TWO players who "can play winning football" at each position. He needs BOTH Everett and Andrew motivated. Not naming a starter in this sort of situation is not surprising, or shouldn't be.

It's because you say it so eloquently that makes me appreciate you! That's pretty much what I was trying to say!

 

[irishog77]

Sounds about right...my college roommate and former Men's Soccer Big East Player of the Year, Bright Dike, had the same injury as Lo and was back on the pitch doing conditioning drills around 5-5 1/2 months later...The rehab obviously isn't without its struggles, but I'm sure Lo will be at 100% by May of next year

Is "Bright Dike" his real name???

 

[BGIF]

Is "Bright Dike" his real name???

Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.

 

[BGIF]

I have faith, when Dustin Grutza went down at UC in 08, he got adequate play from Tony Pike , Chazz Anderson, and Zach Collaros. That would be akin to Golson going down, and then getting good play from Hendrix (the true backup, Pike), Rees (the smart guy with limited tools, Anderson) and Kiel (the freshman with all of the talent, Collaros).

Golson will be great, but it would take a miracle for him to survive the year without getting banged up and needing to sit for a game or two. That's where BK makes his money, but everyone around here is familiar with that track record by now (even though the QB results in his first two seasons didn't show it).

Games against stronger defenses like MSU, UM, USC, and OU are obvious cause for concern but I'm more concerned about Navy in Week 1. As OMM noted there is a need for 2 QBs and Rees is suspended for this game. If Hendrix wasn't "ready for prime time", Kiel loses a year of eligibility when he isn't ready either. I want to see the #2 guy Hendrix or ?, ready to go lead a drive downfield not just run 3 and outs.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

While there's reason for concern w/ depth, I can't say that I will lose sleep over the idea of the next man stepping in to fill the void at corner.

I've been excited to see Jalen play since he first committed to ND. He's a prototypical DB from Texas with size and speed. He spent his entire redshirt season defending arguably the best WR to ever play for ND, only to later receive praise from Mike about how well he's picking things up and progressing.

On top of that, like someone has already mentioned, this secondary won't truly be tested until a handful of games into the season. With our front seven, Zeke, and Jamoris holding things down, I feel relatively confident that BJax and Jalen (if he ends up getting the start) will perform well enough for this team to win games.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If anyone here really thinks that Kelly doesn't know who he's gonna start at QB come hang out with me for a little while and I'll blow smoke up your arse too! Haha!

I heard that about you Yankee!

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I don't understand the logic. The first half of the season is much tougher than the second half.

Oklahoma and USC are the two elite threats to pick us apart and exploit our inexpierience at CB.

Denard may throw hail marys, but he's not going to meticulously shred our defense apart with all-world WR's.

MSU is in week 3. Their QB is just as green as our corners. Both will make mistakes.

Miami stinks and Stanford will no doubt be good, but not on the level with Andrew Luck running the show.

The two tests that will be able to exploit our CB's are in the back half of the season which gives whoever steps up plenty of time to mature. I wasn't trying to say that the second half is more difficult overall, just that the challenges facing our young DB's are much greater.

Would you rather face Oklahoma in week 3 than week 8? And USC in week 5 instead of week 12?

 

[Domina Nostra]

He needs BOTH Everett and Andrew motivated. Not naming a starter in this sort of situation is not surprising, or shouldn't be.

Good point. To take it a step farther, I wonder if he believes that keeping EG inwardly focused on the QB battle will keep him from getting caught up in the exterior pressure of leading the team.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Good point. To take it a step farther, I wonder if he believes that keeping EG inwardly focused on the QB battle will keep him from getting caught up in the exterior pressure of leading the team.

Eh. I don't know. I think that both AH and EG bring a lot to the table and each have their own strengths and weakness'. EG may be winning the race, but I don't think he's blown the competition away. BK is probably still evaluating to make sure the best man wins, and the best man functions smoothly with the rest of the offense. I think EG is winning the race, but I don't think he's asserted himself as the without a doubt number 1.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Just saw the press conference. Did anyone else see what I saw. I believe that Kelly set the stage for what you will see; Golson and Hendrix, with Kiel in close proximity, leaving Tommy behind.

Also, I don't think there is a whole lot of difference between the cornerback's on schollarship.

Finally, the biggest difference between this and past years, once again is the COACHING STAFF! Cooks and Elliot. The are the men. Watch how they prep this year.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Is "Bright Dike" his real name???

"Intelligent Rug-Muncher" wouldn't fit on a jersey.

 

[johnnykillz]

"Intelligent Rug-Muncher" wouldn't fit on a jersey.

Who is Ellen Degeneres.

I'll take rag tag for $500.

 

[yankeeND]

I heard that about you Yankee!

Hehe! I'm just saying you want me to take a crap in a box and mark it guaranteed fine I got spare time!

 

[Domina Nostra]

BK is probably still evaluating to make sure the best man wins, and the best man functions smoothly with the rest of the offense. I think EG is winning the race, but I don't think he's asserted himself as the without a doubt number 1.

Personally, I think that while the job really has legitimatly been up for grabs, it was basically EG's all along. Why? Because while all three QBs had to undergo some major changes to become "the guy," only EG's progression seemed natural (a matter of course). Everyone else required an extreme makeover. I did not see that happening in eight months.

What I mean is that Tommy would either have to become athletic or change his instincts. The former is impossible, the latter very unlikely. Hendrix was going to have to learn how to be a comfortable pocket passer. Not everyone has that skill set--it does not just develop--so why assume Hendrix is going to develop it over an off-season. On the other hand, Golson had to grow up, become a better leader, learn the play book, protect the ball better, etc. All of these things will occur with a good kid who is putting in the effort under good coaches.

EG is the only kid who currently has the skills to run the whole offense at a high level. He is young, inexpereienced, and a little immature, so it is not suprising that the race has stayed objectively close. But I don't think it was really as close as it appears.

 

[aubeirish]

Why would you want to tell the other team which quarterback they are going to face early. Let them guess. We can wait. Here is to a season with very few turnovers.

 

[SaltyND24]

Is "Bright Dike" his real name???

Hahaha naw...I called him Chinedu one time and he gave me the death stare but it was always funny because most people would always mess up the pronunciation of his last name...(Dike as opposed to DEE-Kay)

 

[fightingirish26]

Waiting to let the opposition know about a Qb didn't work too well last year against usf even if the turnovers were unpredictable

 

[EifertPower]

pardon me if this is already in another thread but this is the most devastating preseason camp of injuries that i ever recall of a ND team.

We lose Austin Collingsworth for the season at a position we badly need depth at. Collingsworth i thought was going to break out this year and at worst be our #3 safety behind Slaughter and Motta.

We lose Alex Welch for the season. Welch was supposed to be a stud when we got him. This one was tough but with Eifert, Koyack, and Niklas it looks like we have the depth to overcome it.

Losing Lo Wood our starter at CB, the position that worries me the most. Even with Wood out there this year we still were going to be shaky. Now without him i envision an absolute mess. Teams exploited Gary Gray real bad last year and i don't think Gray was really that bad of a cornerback.

This doesn't even get into the fact that we "lost" Lynch and Sheppard and Prestwood has transfered out.

The schedule this year didn't scare me as much as it scared others, but now with the injuries is scares me a lot. I knew we'd get injuries and i know we'll get a lot more but this many this early??