2012 Linebackers

[STLDomer]

Who do people think start at Linebacker next year?

The Dog Candidates ( Outside backer who can drop in coverage or rush)
- Ben Councell, Danny Spond, Troy Niklas, Prince Shembo, Ishaq Williams, Nick Barrati
The Cat Candidates ( Outside backer who can rush like a defensive end)
- Romeo Okwara, Troy Niklas, Prince Shembo, Ishaq Williams
Mike Candidates
- Te'o, Grace, Moore
Will Candidates
Shembo, Fox, Calabrese, Rabasa

Personally I think the best players should be on the field and to me that is:
Dog - 1. Ishaq ( I believe and hope he is athletic enough to switch) 2. Spond 3. Councell
Cat - 1. Niklas 2. Williams (Niklas gets hurt Spond plays Dog)
Will - 1. Shembo ( played mike in high school and is one of our best 4) 2. Fox 3. Calabrese
Mike - 1. Teo 2. Moore 3. Grace

 

[D-BOE34]

I am hoping Rabasa and Ishaq come up huge this year. I think someone a lot of us are looking forward to and expect to bust out for sure is Moore. This group could be sick! If they have the attitude that BK wants with Manti as their leader... d@mn!

 

[aubeirish]

Excited to see what Rabasa, Moore, and Werewolf can do in the middle. Carlo and Dan are good players, but I doubt they ever will be elite. Reliable guys to have out there, but do not have the upsides the other guys have.

 

[NDPhilly]

IMO Carlo has just about reached his sealing. He will be a nice player but lacks the athletic ability to be truly elite. Fox on the other hand I could see improving significantly from the past year because of how athletic he is.

 

[Domer4ever]

This is going to be an interesting situation to watch. I still tend to believe that the talent on the roster is more condusive to more 4-3 looks like we saw towards the end of last season. I just dont see the LB talent being up to par when comparing it to what ND has on the defensive line. I think we will see more:

LDE: Lewis-Moore
DT: Tuitt
DT: Nix
RDE: Lynch

With a rush package of:

LDE: Ishaq Williams
DT: Lewis-Moore
DT: Tuitt
RDE: Lynch

Throw into the rotation; Hounshell, Niklas, Schwenke, Day, and Jones and that is more talent and depth then ND has had.....maybe ever.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

This is going to be an interesting situation to watch. I still tend to believe that the talent on the roster is more condusive to more 4-3 looks like we saw towards the end of last season. I just dont see the LB talent being up to par when comparing it to what ND has on the defensive line. I think we will see more:

LDE: Lewis-Moore
DT: Tuitt
DT: Nix
RDE: Lynch

With a rush package of:

LDE: Ishaq Williams
DT: Lewis-Moore
DT: Tuitt
RDE: Lynch

Throw into the rotation; Hounshell, Niklas, Schwenke, Day, and Jones and that is more talent and depth then ND has had.....maybe ever.

I could live with that.

 

[Crazy Balki]

This is going to be an interesting situation to watch. I still tend to believe that the talent on the roster is more condusive to more 4-3 looks like we saw towards the end of last season. I just dont see the LB talent being up to par when comparing it to what ND has on the defensive line. I think we will see more:

LDE: Lewis-Moore
DT: Tuitt
DT: Nix
RDE: Lynch

With a rush package of:

LDE: Ishaq Williams
DT: Lewis-Moore
DT: Tuitt
RDE: Lynch

Throw into the rotation; Hounshell, Niklas, Schwenke, Day, and Jones and that is more talent and depth then ND has had.....maybe ever.

I expect them to keep a 3-4 package, but more like the Alabama defensive scheme. Which is very good, because it is a lot more aggressive. Ishaq will be utilized similar to Courtney Upshaw, pretty much a hybrid OLB/DE, because of his superior rushing ability. I actually think Williams can become a better rusher than Upshaw was for Bama. He has great length (6'6) and has an incredibly fast first step. I think Ishaq can end up being the leader of the LB crew, once Te'o graduates.

I would like to see lineups like this

KLM - Nix - Lynch (Standard 3-4 formation)
Councell/Niklas - Shembo/Fox - Te'o - Williams (Councell seems like a good coverage LB and is good in run stop, which is good for the DOG position, meanwhile I think Shembo's lack of length and ability to plug holes is better suited at Will, either him or Fox)

KLM - Nix - Day/Jones - Tuitt (Jumbo package)
Councell/Niklas - Te'o - Spond (Both Spond and Councell are the better good coverage LB's, with Slaughter playing up)

Williams - Nix - Tuitt - Lynch (Blitz Package)
Councell/Niklas - Te'o - Fox/Calabrese (Ishaq plays up to the line to create a better front and opening up a lane for the blitz)

All in all, the focus has to be pressure and getting the superior front in the backfield. ND has the ability to camp out in their opponent's backfield. They need to take advantage of it. That will take the load off a relatively unknown secondary.

 

[Rack Em]

I'm curious why so many of you think Shembo is a good fit for the WILL? He played DOG last year and was uncomfortable playing in space. Why would the staff want to move him to another position that requires him to play in space? Not to mention it would be his third position in three years.

He excels with his hand down to rush the QB. I believe he'll split time at the CAT with Ishaq, unless he somehow makes a leap in pass coverage this offseason don't look for him to play WILL or DOG.

DOG: Councell or Niklas or Spond
MIKE: Te'o
WILL: Fox/Calabrese
CAT: Shembo/Williams

The only way I see this changing is if Grace can firmly establish himself at the WILL over the more experienced Fox and Calabrese.

 

[STLDomer]

I'm curious why so many of you think Shembo is a good fit for the WILL? He played DOG last year and was uncomfortable playing in space. Why would the staff want to move him to another position that requires him to play in space? Not to mention it would be his third position in three years.

He excels with his hand down to rush the QB. I believe he'll split time at the CAT with Ishaq, unless he somehow makes a leap in pass coverage this offseason don't look for him to play WILL or DOG.

DOG: Councell or Niklas or Spond
MIKE: Te'o
WILL: Fox/Calabrese
CAT: Shembo/Williams

The only way I see this changing is if Grace can firmly establish himself at the WILL over the more experienced Fox and Calabrese.

Shembo is alot better in coverage then Fox or Calabrese and was recuited as a inside linebacker. Also the best players should be on the field so I want Ishaq on the field over Fox or Calabrese

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I just can't wait till Moore becomes a starter.

 

[Emcee77]

I'm curious why so many of you think Shembo is a good fit for the WILL? He played DOG last year and was uncomfortable playing in space. Why would the staff want to move him to another position that requires him to play in space? Not to mention it would be his third position in three years.

He excels with his hand down to rush the QB. I believe he'll split time at the CAT with Ishaq, unless he somehow makes a leap in pass coverage this offseason don't look for him to play WILL or DOG.

DOG: Councell or Niklas or Spond
MIKE: Te'o
WILL: Fox/Calabrese
CAT: Shembo/Williams

The only way I see this changing is if Grace can firmly establish himself at the WILL over the more experienced Fox and Calabrese.

Yep, this is how I see it too. Shembo is at his best when he is rushing the passer. Really excited to see what Councell can do ... he seems tailor made for this position.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yep, this is how I see it too. Shembo is at his best when he is rushing the passer. Really excited to see what Councell can do ... he seems tailor made for this position.

I think councell is still a year or two away. Niklas can play DOG, but might not be the best position for him. Danny Spond is a prefect fit at Dog, he just needs to stay HEALTHY

 

[Emcee77]

I think councell is still a year or two away. Niklas can play DOG, but might not be the best position for him. Danny Spond is a prefect fit at Dog, he just needs to stay HEALTHY

With Councell we'll just have to see, but I definitely agree re: Spond and especially Niklas. I think Niklas is a better fit at CAT than DOG, but Shembo and Williams are probably even better fits at DOG. Not sure whether Niklas should stay at CAT or move ... he's one of those guys (kind of like Shembo) who is a great athlete that belongs out there somewhere but doesn't seem like a perfect fit at any one position. I wonder if he can catch ... he seems to have all the physical tools for tight end, but not sure whether he has the skills.

 

[STLDomer]

With Councell we'll just have to see, but I definitely agree re: Spond and especially Niklas. I think Niklas is a better fit at CAT than DOG, but Shembo and Williams are probably even better fits at DOG. Not sure whether Niklas should stay at CAT or move ... he's one of those guys (kind of like Shembo) who is a great athlete that belongs out there somewhere but doesn't seem like a perfect fit at any one position. I wonder if he can catch ... he seems to have all the physical tools for tight end, but not sure whether he has the skills.

Both Niklas and Ishaq played TE in high school I think. Ishaq definitely did but I think Niklas may have played on the line

 

[me9rob]

Both Niklas and Ishaq played TE in high school I think. Ishaq definitely did but I think Niklas may have played on the line

Niklas played TE most of his high school career. He played o line his senior year. Stanford was recruiting him at TE

 

[STLDomer]

Anyone know why Councell was red shirted and Niklas wasn't? Rivals has Councell has the 91st overall player from last year, higher than Niklas

 

[BeauBenken]

Troy was more ready. It's really that easy. lol

 

[aubeirish]

Anyone know why Councell was red shirted and Niklas wasn't? Rivals has Councell has the 91st overall player from last year, higher than Niklas

Rankings doesn't mean much once the guys get on campus... It's all about performance, and development.

 

[TerryTate]

Anyone know why Councell was red shirted and Niklas wasn't? Rivals has Councell has the 91st overall player from last year, higher than Niklas

I will refer you to the size and weight section of the football roster:

Official Football Roster - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site

 

[STLDomer]

I will refer you to the size and weight section of the football roster:

Official Football Roster - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site

Thanks that makes sense. For the other two that commented obviously I get that he must not have been ready, I was asking why he wasn't ready and Troy was

 

[dublinirish]

Niklas actually ended his HS career playing Dline and Offensive Guard..