2012 Fall Camp Thread

[NDinFL]

Um, talking about the system, nobody has been in it that long. Kelly only got here three years ago. And it took him the first year to establish basics. Do you remember the long myopic from Diaco, the first year Football 101, the second year Football 201, the third year 301 . . . The system isnt in place.

Three of Kelly's assistants have all said you need speed where you need it. They have the athletes.


Notre Dame does not look like a Big 10 team. Wait a minute what does a Big 10 team look like?

3 yards and a cloud of dust?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Did Kelly say that Brown and Daniels would be starters?

No.

 

[DillonHall]

No.

He called them 'first time starters' but I guess he meant to say first time players.

 

[Damion704]

BK said CB and DD are "first time starters".

 

[elboricua]

Um, talking about the system, nobody has been in it that long. Kelly only got here three years ago. And it took him the first year to establish basics. Do you remember the long myopic from Diaco, the first year Football 101, the second year Football 201, the third year 301 . . . The system isn't in place completely, yet. So it is a good thing for guys to progress fast, now. Then they don't have to learn all of the stuff they missed later?

Three of Kelly's assistants have all said you need speed where you need it. They have the athletes.


Notre Dame does not look like a Big 10 team. Wait a minute what does a Big 10 team look like?

As far as Diaco likening years in the system to classes at a university, let's say for the sake of conversation that that's completely how the ND staff expects everyone to progress. Who are the legit athletes at the skill positions ND has? I'd say Riddick, Wood, Atkinson, Carlisle, Daniels, Brown, Neal, and Ferguson. Maybe you could throw in Jones. Mahone won't play but he looks good too. I'm not including TEs for the sake of this convo. That is pretty average. If you are looking at this freshman class in isolation, I'd say it looks fantastic. But you see all these guys are at the football 101 or 201 level at best. Riddick and Wood are the lone exceptions. So what I'm saying is that yes, the staff did an excellent job last year getting explosive athletes in recruiting. But it's like D-lineman. Everyone understandably freaked out when Kelly got elite D-line talent to come here. He's pretty much kept that going although there is only 1 this year and he needs more. What I'm saying is that we are all understandably happy, but there aren't a lot of these great athletes at the skill positions, either on offense or defense. Weis left holes and Kelly can't afford to miss in classes and he's missed a few times. ND needs some explosiveness in this year's class and they don't have any at all really. I'm just trying to tell people to put it in perspective. Maybe that's not what's needed right now. If not, disregard.

 

[IrishLion]

From the ESPN article that is kind of unclear about BK calling Daniels and Brown "first time starters," it also says that Golson didn't just get the okay to wear a visor because he's starting now. BK actually had them put the visor on Golson's helmet while he was in class, that way he would come back to find that he was officially the guy and see the visor already on his helmet, waiting for him. Thought that was pretty cool.

 

[elboricua]

3 yards and a cloud of dust?

As for them looking like a Big10 team, I mean they look athletically like a good solid Big 10 team at the skill positions. They look like a solid Michigan team, but not at the level athletically of an elite Michigan or Ohio State and I think they can get there. I understand they will never look like USC or some teams in the SEC but I think if they recruit the right guys they could look like an Oregon or Arkansas speed wise and athlete wise at the skill positions by taking raw 3 star guys with big time speed. It can be done. Many of the solid big 10/service academies/major conference non-elite teams will struggle big time to handle this and ND can blow them out with tempo and speed. This is what Oregon does all the time. So basically everyone except USC, elite teams on schedule like Oklahoma, and Michigan when they are at full strength will struggle with very good team speed and ND needs to get to that point. They're not there yet. They still don't have the athletes to easily out-athlete people at the skill positions because they don't have many of them.

As for what a Big 10 team looks like, touche. Kind of vague. But basically when compared to elite top 15 teams(arbitrary but it's a place I think ND can get to) they usually are well-sized and slower than the top teams. They only 2 that have all around good speed are Michigan and Ohio State when they are on. Ohio State will soon have more than Michigan at the skill positions by a mile. ND currently has more than Michigan but needs to increase its advantage.

 

[tdbaum1]

It's always scary to see a freshman starting in the secondary.

If there is anywhere for a freshman to start it would be the outside. The further out you are on the football field the more physical ability is needed and less mental ability. As you work your way in the more mental it gets.

 

[Naptown]

I think it's the other way around.

Corner is probably the most difficult position on the field in terms of discipline. Yes, it requires phenomenal athleticism but when it comes to playing corner. Reading the play while covering the possibly the most athletic players on the field takes more than fluid hips and catchup speed.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I think it's the other way around.

Corner is probably the most difficult position on the field in terms of discipline. Yes, it requires phenomenal athleticism but when it comes to playing corner. Reading the play while covering the possibly the most athletic players on the field takes more than fluid hips and catchup speed.

Which is why I expect to see a lot of Cover 2 and rolling coverage. Diaco is no dummy, he's not going to put Russell in a position to get abused out there.

 

[Irishman77]

Navy will barely throw the ball and are front 7 will dominate. Russell has time.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

BK said CB and DD are "first time starters".

He meant players.

 

[Riddickulous]

He meant players.

...Or did he? *dundundun*

 

[amgarvey]

I really hope that was a slip. Daniels and Brown sound a lot better to me than Goodman and Jones.

 

[stlnd01]

If there is anywhere for a freshman to start it would be the outside. The further out you are on the football field the more physical ability is needed and less mental ability. As you work your way in the more mental it gets.

Interesting point. But I think it's true on offense moreso than defense. Like Naptown said, playing corner well requires a tremendous amount of both discipline and confidence, both of which are mental. The physical stuff won't save you if you let a good WR get in your head, or fail to hold outside contain on a run.
Regardless, I hope it's not "grass is greener" syndrome, but I love the athleticism that's bubbling up in our younger classes. K. Russell just walked into a new position and won a starting job in camp. Despite the injuries, that's something.

 

[Riddickulous]

Notre Dame Football: Why the Irish Are a Lock for BCS Bowl This Season | Bleacher Report

Oh God. It has begun.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

BK said CB and DD are "first time starters".

He used that term, but when you listened he kept refering to them as in the mix. He was not talking starter for Navy like first person on the field in that position. A whole lot of wide outs are going to play regularly.


EDIT: I love the bleacher report; 44th in rushing defense with a 130-yadidty yards per game. The Pooch never makes it through a season with the Bleacher Report writers.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Notre Dame Football: Why the Irish Are a Lock for BCS Bowl This Season | Bleacher Report

Oh God. It has begun.

strong with this one, the Kool-Aid is.....

 

[IrishLax]

Here's the quote for on Brown/Daniels:

Do you feel that your offense is finally evolving now that you are entering into your third year?

“Sure. You’re starting with DaVaris Daniels and Chris Brown, two guys that are going to play a lot for us on the perimeter as first-time starters. And George Atkinson didn’t play very much at the running back and you will see a lot of him and Troy Niklas."

So we're looking at a timeshare of some sort.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

From the ESPN article that is kind of unclear about BK calling Daniels and Brown "first time starters," it also says that Golson didn't just get the okay to wear a visor because he's starting now. BK actually had them put the visor on Golson's helmet while he was in class, that way he would come back to find that he was officially the guy and see the visor already on his helmet, waiting for him. Thought that was pretty cool.

I can't wait to see Golson wearing his new helmet.

TP, how about some practice pics asap?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Here's the quote for on Brown/Daniels:

Do you feel that your offense is finally evolving now that you are entering into your third year?

“Sure. You’re starting with DaVaris Daniels and Chris Brown, two guys that are going to play a lot for us on the perimeter as first-time starters. And George Atkinson didn’t play very much at the running back and you will see a lot of him and Troy Niklas."

So we're looking at a timeshare of some sort.

Yea, at another time during the interview he talked about how with Golson, they won't be attacking the defense with a quick tempo. Instead they'll attack with more packages - more player packages. So yes, lots of different players getting on the field this year. I think Ferg redshirts, but Brown and Neal play...A LOT

 

[Ironman8]

Pretty sure it will be a clear visor.

 

[BobD]

Next week will be the longest week of my life.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Pretty sure it will be a clear visor.

Ah, disappointed to hear that. Ohwell.

 

[Irishman77]

Yea, at another time during the interview he talked about how with Golson, they won't be attacking the defense with a quick tempo. Instead they'll attack with more packages - more player packages. So yes, lots of different players getting on the field this year. I think Ferg redshirts, but Brown and Neal play...A LOT

gonna love the Niklas,Koyack,Eiffert package! QB sweep or option to Wood. Good ole fashioned pummeling of a defense!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Pretty sure it will be a clear visor.

Aren't you suppose to be on an airplane?

 

[Ironman8]

Aren't you suppose to be on an airplane?

Flight leaves at 1 brah. Leaving in a half hour.

Keeping it real till then.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

To Dublin?

 

[PANDFAN]

Pretty sure it will be a clear visor.

correct sir! ncaa bans the use of dark visors unless they have a medical clearance for them...oregon has tried skirting this issue by using a clear but reflective visor so it gives off a tinted look

Clear vision - USC Trojans

 

[Ironman8]

To Dublin?

Flying into Shannon actually, and then a big group of us rented a party bus to tour most of the country and then head to Dublin Thursday.