2012 ND Coaches Clinic

[RyCo1983]

Pick me up on the way. I live a mile or so from the turnpike.

Remind me when registration opens up for next year...we can pay and make our arrangements and I will gladly do so sir!

 

[PANDFAN]

so how about some good news??? how is the clinic going???

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

If anyone gets sick, or hurt, come see me! I'm a mile from the stadium!

 

[NDinL.A.]

so how about some good news??? how is the clinic going???

Seriously, with all this Lynch drama...where are the practice reports from the board coaches who were there? I'm in town and I was at the Gug but didn't have a pass so they said I couldn't stay at the practice, but I did see a ton of coaches watching the practice at the Loftus Center, and I'm assuming there was a board member amongst that group.

Maybe you're still out there listening to speakers, but when you're done with all that, give the board a report about what you saw!

Oh, and I'll start, just because I noticed a couple of things from inside the Gug:

* Jalen Brown sure looked happy hanging with his teammates walking back from practice.

* Tuitt must be 28 yrs old. What a beast of a human being.

* Josh Atkinson is a great kid. Yes sir, no sir, I appreciate it sir, etc etc.

* Luke Massa was walking with a major limp and a wrap around his left knee. (if he is still #14, that is)

* When I didn't see Lynch, my heart dropped. Just wanted to see how big he is, instead, well, you know...

* Watching the walk-ons walk with the scholarship players is pretty funny. Such a difference in size.

* Alford was still in teaching mode after practice, talking with Theo for awhile.

That's all I got (which is pretty much nothing LOL...

 

[clashmore_mike]

Beau will give a report soon I'm sure. Cave and Golic Jr to help Hiestand with his presentation.

 

[BeauBenken]

So I have some notes from the half of practice that I caught today...

• Body notes:
  • Sheldon - looks short compared to the other guys, but I think that's just because they're all so big. He's only taller than Utopo and Stockton on the line.
  • Zeke - you know, I haven't been a fan of his play, but when they're just standing there, the boy looks like a physical specimen.
  • David Grimes is SHORTER than Diaco. Maybe this will help us peg down exactly how tall Diaco is.
  • Tuitt - Is TALL. He looks like he could easily carry plenty more weight.
• QB notes:
  • I started to write "Tommy looks good..." but in just a few plays I realized, no, Tommy looks like Tommy. He throws a beautiful fade once. The next pass he throws into double coverage and gets picked. This was followed by more of the same, good play then bad play.
  • Hendrix got the second most reps, but I'm not even sure he completed one pass. All his throws were just a touch off, but that makes all the difference.
  • Golson got zero reps. When asked, Kelly said Golson was late to a team meeting the day before by 15 minutes and that's why. Not because he isn't good. Kelly said he thinks he could be great.
  • Kiel - O M G. He didn't throw much, but everything he threw looked GORGEOUS.
• Skill notes:
  • Bennett looks good. It's not just lip service.
  • GAIII...oh my word he is dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield, but he fumbled later on when running the ball.
  • Riddick looked like he could be an absolute baller this year. I saw him lay a nasty juke on someone and almost get a one handed diving snag on a fade route.
  • Eifert aka Mr. Mackey aka All American. End of story.
• Side notes:
  • Appeared to be more motion used.
  • It was mentioned that there would be more timing routes used.
  • Goodman limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury towards the end of practice. I didn't see him come back.

Sorry I don't have more guys, but they started practice at 8am and I wasn't up until 7:30!

 

[Emcee77]

Thanks for the info Beau! Disappointing news about the QBs. Negative reviews for our two most experienced QBs? Troubling.

Utopo on the line? I did not realize he was playing line.

 

[irishff1014]

Thanks BB

 

[woolybug25]

Thanks fellas.

Regarding Kiel...

 

[BeauBenken]

Can't see your pic dude

 

[ShakeDown]

???

Thanks fellas.

Regarding Kiel...

 

[OCIrish]

I'm in South Bend as we speak - but I'm here to meet and greet principals and get my resume/application out for jobs for when we move here in July. So I'm not here for the clinic.

But I think I'm going to schedule my Friday so that I'm on campus at 10:00 when the players and coaches walk out of the practice complex and into the Gug. I'd like to get some pics and just see the enormity of some of these guys up close.

Have fun fellas...and give us a report!!!!

Are you going to change your handle to NDinS.B.??

 

[STLDomer]

Honestly Gunner IMO as the best arm on the team and I don't think that's an unfair judgement on the other candidates, we're taking about I guy that is compared to the likes of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.

From what I have seen, Gunner has the slowest footwork and probably knows the least, if he can overcome this by end of summer which he should be able to do I want him starting over a perfect max potential Golson, Rees, or Hendrix.

Team that has success every year and always starts a true frost every 3-4 yrs? Alabama

Just need gunner to get some confidence and swagger.

 

[OCIrish]

Beau, I just read your scouting report.....thanks for the report, but, I'm not going to lie, it's awful disheartening reading your report about our QB's. Tommy is not making the necessary strides IMO. By now, he shouldn't be throwing into double coverage. Hendrix didn't complete any passes?? Our DB's aren't that good, I understand off days, but today didn't raise my hopes any for our QB play this fall. Hope you're enjoying your stay in the Bend. The surrounding area is actually quite nice, I always enjoyed getting to work up there, or to visit my college buddy.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Are you going to change your handle to NDinS.B.??

Soon I have to do something! June 27th or 28th is the day I leave SoCal, but I don't want to leave behind my roots in my handle! Right now, I'm leaning towards, "NDwasinL.A." LOL. I'll figure something out...only 2.5 more months!!!

 

[Redbar]

Thanks for the insight Beau.

 

[phork]

This time tomorrow I will be in Sunny South Bend, Indiana, taking in the ND coaches clinic.

I am soo stoked! I will confirm aaron lynchs attendance at one of the two Spring practices i will be able to watch!

Can't wait, i'll post anything of worth here!

I guess we don't need your Lynch report, but thanks!

 

[DSully1995]

Anyone see Ben turk? id like to know if hes huge since hes got crazy bench numbers...

 

[woolybug25]

???

Can you not see it like Beau? It's just a pic of Montgomery Burns, I just find myself with a creepy smile and cackling whenever I read that Kiel is doing well. Kinda like Mr Burns.

 

[BeauBenken]

Anyone see Ben turk? id like to know if hes huge since hes got crazy bench numbers...

He looks well built, but he looks small compared to everyone else.

 

[BeauBenken]

Beau, I just read your scouting report.....thanks for the report, but, I'm not going to lie, it's awful disheartening reading your report about our QB's. Tommy is not making the necessary strides IMO. By now, he shouldn't be throwing into double coverage. Hendrix didn't complete any passes?? Our DB's aren't that good, I understand off days, but today didn't raise my hopes any for our QB play this fall. Hope you're enjoying your stay in the Bend. The surrounding area is actually quite nice, I always enjoyed getting to work up there, or to visit my college buddy.

Well this coming season, I don't expect much more than (if anything, less than) 8 wins. And if Kelly can pull that off, he's the first coach in almost 16 years, I believe, to have 3 or more consecutive 8+ win seasons. Consistency is a big step in making this team into a program.

Look to the future and look towards Gunner.

 

[D-BOE34]

Thanks for that Beau. I read in the thread about NDinLA meeting with Rick at the airport, Rick thought Rees was the best we have so far. Beau says he sucks. It sounds like Rees is the best QB of 3 guys that shouldn't be in the game.

Start Gunner with Golsen as change of pace. Rick said he is to athletic to keep off the field.

 

[BeauBenken]

I don't think Tommy sucks, he just makes too many throws that just aren't good. He's relatively accurate and on point, but then he does something like throws into double coverage and it gets picked or just the throw a short out and it gets picked. He can't throw a 15 yard out either. It falls short every single time.

If he had either better arm strength or better mobility, I'd be confident in what he can do, but he doesn't so no matter how good he looks throwing over the middle, we can't do that all game which means he can't lead us to a BCS bowl. IMO

 

[BobD]

I don't think Tommy sucks, he just makes too many throws that just aren't good. He's relatively accurate and on point, but then he does something like throws into double coverage and it gets picked or just the throw a short out and it gets picked. He can't throw a 15 yard out either. It falls short every single time.

If he had either better arm strength or better mobility, I'd be confident in what he can do, but he doesn't so no matter how good he looks throwing over the middle, we can't do that all game which means he can't lead us to a BCS bowl. IMO

LOL Thats kind of like saying that race horse doesn't suck, he's just a donkey.

 

[jjsccer2]

LOL yea he sucks we just don't want to think we're going to go 7-5 next season.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

This is the stuff that always gives me the butt giggles... We're not allowed to get on a guy who quit on his teammates/University, but it's more than ok to destroy a guy that wants to be at ND, does everything that is asked of him and is a good teammate. And it's not just this thread...It's all over this site. Double standard much?

 

[BeauBenken]

All I'm really trying to say is if Tommy didn't turn the ball over, I'd be fine with him, but he turns it over. OR I'd be okay with Tommy turning the ball over some if he was a more explosive player and could create more points.

 

[BobD]

This is the stuff that always gives me the butt giggles... We're not allowed to get on a guy who quit on his teammates/University, but it's more than ok to destroy a guy that wants to be at ND, does everything that is asked of him and is a good teammate. And it's not just this thread...It's all over this site. Double standard much?

I hope nobody is out to destroy Tommy, he's a great kid. It's tough this game of football. If you're gonna play it, you better be strong, not just physically but mentally too.. It's a spectator sport so you have to be willing to accept the jeers as well as the cheers.

As far as quitters go. I think they're open game personally.

Either way, there are ways of maintaining some dignity while handing out criticism or opinions.

The Sh!t Sandwich approach below works pretty well:

Cookie: "Tommy is a great young man."

Sh!t filling: "He couldn't hit the broadside of a barn if he was in it."

Cookie: "He's working as hard as he can to improve"

 

[clashmore_mike]

does everything that is asked of him

I bet Kelly has asked him multiple times to stop throwing into triple coverage or to not go into the fetal position if someone breathes on him.

 

[mick2]

Hey All,

I'm back from the coaches clinic, pretty uneventful weekend if you ask me!

anyways it sucks that we lost a great player in lynch but i'm pretty confident that the program is still in awesome shape, and after hearing the coaches, the program is definitely in the right hands.

Some of my observations,

Ishaq was taking some reps with his hand in the dirt, he's got a similar body type to lynch, i think diaco was trying some different things out to see if we can fill the void left by lynch.

this isn't news but Teo is an absolute beast/stud/thoroughbred whatever you want to call it, saw him in orlando at the bowl close up, and on saturday right before my eyes, the kid is the best linebacker in the country, he is just different than the other backers, really no comparison.

Chuck martin is hilarious and has a really neat perspective on how he plans to run the offense, more based on creating mismatches and throwing motions and misdirections into the mix to really confuse a defense. He has the unique perspective of having coached defense and can really read them well. had some awesome ideas, the offense is in good hands.

As far as the qb's go, imho its between hendrix and golson. Gunner isn't far behind but i believe they save a year for him. hendrix and golson were both very accurate in practice and seem to have a good grasp of the offense. hendrix will make a boneheaded throw every once in a while and golson will try to run his way out of trouble(unsuccessfully) when things are breaking down. but one of those guys i think will be the starter. Now the feeling i get from the coaches is that tommy is in the thick of it, coach martin said although it doesn't show sometimes, tommy has the arm strength to make every throw in the book, and he took a majority of the reps with the 1's from what i saw, so don't be surprised if that is our starter in 2012.

Our defense is really really really strong, even without lynch, i am confident we will have a very strong bordering on dominant defense, our weakest point is at the cb spot, but lo wood and bennet jackson are more than serviceable, Motta still takes some incorrect lanes but i hope to see some big improvement from him and Jmo is a great safety. kona was making great plays, and Tuitt is going to be an all star! the coaches touted nix's play in both practices, and klm will be taking the starting spot that lynch left, a 3 year starter is not a bad 2nd option! Look to see a lot more spond this year, diaco loves that kid. councell is another up and comer. and utupo and moore are ridiculous hitters!

My concerns are our boundary passing attack, outside of eifert, nobody has really stood out to me as a gamechanger in the pass game, daniels is impressive looking but wasn't 100% on every rep, daniel smith is a big guy and looks like a good option but time will tell. Toma, goodman and tj look like our best receivers right now. The run game looks pretty strong but thin, hopefully carlisle can get healthy and add another weapon for us back there.

i am also concerned that the qb of the future still won't be decided this offseason, but i hope i am wrong.

all in all, i know this is pretty much all positive, but i really think we are in the moving year, and are going to be a very strong team. limiting turnovers will be key, and with the passing options being limited i think the coaches will need a qb with that running ability to keep d's honest.

only 4.5 more months! GO IRISH!