2013 Spring Practice Thread

[vinnymac2402]

That catch Robinson had was just digesting filthy. Man that guy got some damn hands

 

[UmphreakDomer]

i am hoping for some good arguments with this one:

i like DD. what he is not, is the second coming of michael floyd, i think as many were hoping he would be.

i like him. but, from the beginning it's been a work ethic problem to go along with measurables and the hope for great things.

please--give me reasons to not lose that "want" for him to be (close to) great.

as of now--im huge on robison and prosise. yes. i am drinking the non-proven kool aid.

 

[Redbar]

Kendall Moore plays with a nasty disposition. I hope he puts it all together because he has the temperament to be a great LB.

 

[Big23Head]

Free Scout article by Tim O'Malley "Ten Takeaways":

O'Malley turns to an old standby, a 10-point list, for the first of many observation columns regarding Saturday's two-hour open practice inside the Loftus Sports Center.

Notre Dame has spent 11 of its 12 spring practices to date inside due to unseasonably cold temperatures in South Bend. Saturday morning, the entire session was made available to the media's gaze.

Here's a recap from the 50-yard line of Meyo Field:

#1 Statement of the Day
Stealing the show at running back was junior Cam McDaniel, who offered nothing spectacular, but found a way to churn for gains of six yards (all leg drive after contact), 12 yards (power and a low base through the heart of the first team defense), and finally a drive-capping touchdown in today's end-practice scrimmage.

McDaniel isn't the team's most explosive back. He's not the quickest, the best pass-catcher, the most elusive, and he might not be the strongest. But he possesses bits of every skill necessary to be a quality running back for Notre Dame.

#2 -- George Atkinson can take a hit
First, sophomore Elijah Shumate cleaned up the junior runner on the sidelines, this after a 12-yard gain on a swing pass to the right side. With Matthias Farley wrapping Atkinson's feet, it was Shumate who came in for a vicious blow on the sidelines, no more than 8 feet away from my feet.

Shumate later drilled Atkinson on a stretch run to the right, though it was a false step that caused Atkinson to buckle that aided Shumate's tackle in space. Later in the scrimmage, just one snap after the first string defense gave up a full-field touchdown pass, senior nose guard Louis Nix blew through the line and engulfed and slammed Atkinson to the turf, effectively ending his day.

(Atkinson appears fine, but Kelly noticed the repeated beating and removed him for the final minutes.)

#3 -- Golson's flick of the wrist
The points belonged to C.J. Prosise, but it was junior quarterback Everett Golson's sprint to the sidelines and last millisecond throw to a cutting Prosise just inside the right hash that broke down the Irish secondary. With Farley falling at his feet, Prosise collected the pass, cut inside, and out-raced cornerback Keivarae Russell the final 60 yards for the score.

Golson is the only quarterback capable of such a play Under the Dome since Jarious Jackson in the late 90s.

#4 -- Robinson Can Go Get It
He might not catch 10 passes this year. He might not catch five (Chris Brown didn't). In fact, he might not see the field, but early enrollee wide receiver Corey Robinson is a pass-catching machine. The downfield star of our brief practice viewings to date, Robinson again registered the day's best reception, this time a diving, juggling, one-handed 35-yarder down the right sidelines past junior Josh Atkinson. (Robinson earned some time with trainer Rob Hunt and a wrap on his arm as a result, returning later to scrimmage.)

Some day, Irish fans will see such pass-catching prowess from the 6'5" fluid weapon on Saturdays.

#5 -- Koyack, Seek and Secure
Asked last week to evaluate his weakness as a first-time regular last season, junior tight end Ben Koyack immediately noted: "Blocking in space."

Saturday Koyack found starting Dog 'backer Danny Spond near the right hash, engaged the physical defender, and shoved him toward the sidelines before depositing him out of the play on Atkinson's aforementioned swing pass that netted 12 yards.

With Troy Niklas, Alex Welch, and Koyack, Notre Dame could have three quality veteran tight ends ready for 2013.

#6 -- Kona Schwenke
It was often second string vs. second string, but senior backup Kona Schwenke was a force inside during scrimmage and 11-vs.-11 tag-off work. Schwenke forced a fumble by WIll Mahone, made three stops at or near the line of scrimmage, and appeared in my notes four times in what couldn't have been more than 12 total snaps.

That's exactly what the Irish need from their No. 2 nose behind Nix.

#7 -- Ishaq Explosion
The hit of the day belonged to either SHumate (Atkinson) or Nix (Atkinson), but Ishaq Williams' in-space annihilation of WIll Mahone on a shovel pass to the left side can't be overlooked. Mahone had no chance because early enrollee freshman Mike Heuerman either missed a check from the quarterback (Tommy Rees) or simply couldn't get to Williams in time.

Most of us only saw the end result: a massive #11 exploding through Mahone before he had a chance to make a football move in space.

#8 -- Ailing in April
Senior linebacker Dan Fox (shoulder), senior cornerback Bennett Jackson (shoulder), senior cornerback Lo Wood (Achilles), junior RB/Slot Amir Carlisle, and sophomore safety Nicky Baratti (shoulder) are three two-deep/starting candidates that won't/shouldn't appear in next Saturday's spring game.

Expect Kelly to error on the side of caution with Wood (the others are definitely out) and evaluate the quintet for their respective jobs over the summer and in August camp.

Just eight months removed from ACL surgery, expect senior tight end Alex Welch to play at least briefly next weekend. Sophomore wide receiver Chris Brown (hamstring) took part in today's scrimmage. I wouldn't be surprised if he's cleared, though time on the sidelines seems more valuable than a few meaningless snaps in a game that means nothing by the time summer conditioning begins.

#9 -- Daniels: As good as he wants to be…
A leaping, one-handed grab with his left arm barred by the defender.

A leaping, juggling, "I-have-no-idea-how-he-caught-that touchdown secured just prior to slamming to the turf.

Three pass interference penalties drawn during the scrimmage (one made irrelevant because he caught the contested pass anyway).

Junior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels ranks as Notre Dame's top (future) NFL prospect on the offensive side of scrimmage. But he's not the top college wide receiver, in fact, at this point he's noticeably behind polished senior T.J. Jones.

But that doesn't have to be the case by September, October, or November 2013.

#10 -- Old Reliable(s)
There aren't many certainties in the Irish offense but you can take the following to the bank: T.J. Jones, Zack Martin, and Everett Golson will begin, and end 2013, as three of the four most reliable players on the offensive side off scrimmage.

Daniels is the obvious candidate to fill out that quartet, with Troy Niklas, Chris Watt, Amir Carlisle, George Atkinson and a host of others showing the promise to that end.

But one takeaway from Notre Dame's spring session 2013, despite all reports of players on the rise or their vast potential and variable performance ceilings is this: Jones, Martin, and Golson are three commodities you can take to the bank.

 

[NDWorld247]

i am hoping for some good arguments with this one:

i like DD. what he is not, is the second coming of michael floyd, i think as many were hoping he would be.

i like him. but, from the beginning it's been a work ethic problem to go along with measurables and the hope for great things.

please--give me reasons to not lose that "want" for him to be (close to) great.

as of now--im huge on robison and prosise. yes. i am drinking the non-proven kool aid.

Daniels is not the 2nd coming of Floyd, but it's still very early to lose the "want" for him to be great. He had as "great" of a performance in the NCG (6 rec, 115yds) as anyone on the Irish offense and he has 3 seasons of eligibility left. They had comparable first seasons given the evolution of the offenses at the time, with the biggest difference being Floyd's TD production (7 TDs to Daniels' 0). That scoring production is the only thing that concerns me with Daniels, but I suspect it will increase as the offense improves.

I'm not real worried about the reported work ethic issues. Every player adjusts differently to college life / football and Kelly's expectations are much greater than Weis' when Floyd stepped on campus. Daniels will continue to mature. Don't forget he's still young and won't legally be able to drink until after the 2013 regular season.

I think when it's all said and done, Daniels will have had a very productive career at ND. If not, there's about 6 younger WRs (Brown, Prosise, Robinson, Onwaulu, Hunter, Fuller), as well as a few TEs and RB/Slot players, working to get as many targets as possible.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If Redfield gets through the learning curve pretty quick, I think he will pass up Farley on the depth chart before August 31st. That would give us a very impressive and athletic pair of safeties

Wasn't it established that Farley and Collinsworth were the short side safeties, and Shumate, Baratti, and Redfield would be wide side safties? I am just trying to keep all of this straight!

Plus Russell and Jackson at corner. Unbelievably athletic secondary! If we can solve ILB this defense will be the single most feared unit in the country for quite some time.

Don't forget Lo Wood; I have heard he is looking extremely distinguished this spring. Remember Jackson is out for the spring. There are going to be three going into fall, with three right behind them. Quite a difference a year makes at corner.


Remember guys we see one play highlights. I am trying to express an over camp performance when I talk about players.

Some folks around here are what you might consider "romantics".

You think the Spond thing is bad? Go check the McDaniel thread...

Just two things to say here:

b) Not everybody can be a genuis and get things right on every time, be beyond reproach and right every time.

A) Nobody, has the knowlege, insight, or intelligence on this site to criticize Old Man Mike. Let alone on his expressed opinion. It comes off as petty, pedantic and ignorant.

Mathias Farley and Cam McDaniel have had as good of spring as anyone at their position, Spond has done well and has been injured. Spond severed the ball from Denard last fall. That was one of one of those that I saw.

 

[arrowryan]

Good article on 5 players that have made a name for themselves this spring.

Notre Dame Football analysis: Five players who have surged this spring - southbendtribune.com

A pretty good read on Golson. Does anyone else see a few punctuation errors in this article or is it just me?

Notre Dame football: New Golson gear good for Irish - southbendtribune.com

 

[STLDomer]

Wasn't it established that Farley and Collinsworth were the short side safeties, and Shumate, Baratti, and Redfield would be wide side safties? I am just trying to keep all of this straight!

FS has been Farley and Hardy
SS has been Shumate and Collinsworth

Baratti has been hurt but he backed up Farley last year and I believe Redfield to be a FS

 

[rtrn2glory]

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/63971220" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

didn't know if posted yet from II

defense looks to be leaps ahead of offense in this video highlight

passing game still needs a ton of work and I imagine we'll see a lot of passing next saturday

 

[NDTH91]

Hahaha was that meant to be a lowlight reel for Rees? Ouch... Golson looks much more confident back there, but still looks prone to a few bad throws/decisions every so often.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Idk if i'd call it a lowlight, but a highlight of how good the defense looks, although It didn't show prosise's long TD pass from Golson

 

[Bogtrotter07]

FS has been Farley and Hardy
SS has been Shumate and Collinsworth

Baratti has been hurt but he backed up Farley last year and I believe Redfield to be a FS

2. Elijah Shumate, safety: The 6-0, 213-pound sophomore played an outside linebacker/safety hybrid in high school, then played cornerback out of necessity as a freshman last season.

He’s back at the position for which he was recruited, and is pushing hard toward the top of the depth chart. Shumate took all of the No. 1 reps Saturday at one of the safety spots, with Matthias Farley at the other.

“He is what we thought he was in terms of a tackler,” Kelly said. “He’s a very good tackler, sure tackler. He’s physical. What all this is going to be about (is) picking up the nuances. The spring has been really good for him. He’ll have to continue to take steps forward in the summer.”

Fellow sophomore Nicky Baratti, limited this spring following shoulder surgery, and redshirt junior Austin Collinsworth, still shaking the rust from nine months away from football, figure to challenge in August.

But if Shumate can expand his knowledge base of the defense to go along with what he’s already shown, it’s going to be tough to move him out of the top spot.

I haven't heard anyone in the ND program use the Free/Strong Safety nomenclature for a year or more now. Everything they say for safety or corner, is wide side or short (boundary) side. From everything I have heard Mathias has boundary safety wrapped because of his play. I heard that Austin was behind him. Field side was Shumate, Nicki, and Hardy, with Redfield coming in this summer. That seems to be reflected in what Eric Hanson's article stated, (2nd quote).

 

[STLDomer]

Fine terminology doesn't really matter but in every practice this spring first unit has been Farley and Shumate, second unit has been Hardy and Collinsworth behind them respectively

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Fine terminology doesn't really matter but in every practice this spring first unit has been Farley and Shumate, second unit has been Hardy and Collinsworth behind them respectively

Thank you.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Farley
Shumate
Hardy





everyone else at this point.

Farley is making up for this lack of speed/athleticism with brains and knowledge of where to be and leading.

Shumate is the most athletic, talented back there, and has great ball skills. Still lacks knowning where to line up and had to get reset by Farley a few times. But his hips/back pedal are very smooth.

Hardy - just flows all over the field with ease. Doesnt have the best ball skills, but gets from point A to point B very easy. Look like he is gliding around out there. Makes good decisions.

 

[IrishLion]

I know I'm a bit late, but my goodness.

Dat Video.

So much athleticism everywhere. So much visible confidence from Golson. So much Louis Nix III. So much Baby Admiral crazy hands.

The spring koolaid has stricken me, and I'm not even mad about it.

 

[IrishMoore1]

What ever happened to Chris Badger? I thought he was back on the team but no mention of him at all anywhere.

 

[STLDomer]

He's on the team, #16 I believe

 

[irishff1014]

Tommy looked bad.

 

[Walter White]

Farley
Shumate
Hardy





everyone else at this point.

Farley is making up for this lack of speed/athleticism with brains and knowledge of where to be and leading.

Shumate is the most athletic, talented back there, and has great ball skills. Still lacks knowning where to line up and had to get reset by Farley a few times. But his hips/back pedal are very smooth.

Hardy - just flows all over the field with ease. Doesnt have the best ball skills, but gets from point A to point B very easy. Look like he is gliding around out there. Makes good decisions.

Not doubting you, but I'm surprised by Hardy. Thought it would be Collinswprth and Barratti in the 2 deep. Great to see him excelling back there.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Tommy looked bad.

defense looked good...golson made plays with his feet, nothing open in the passing game from the pocket

 

[FearTheBeard]

Hopefully playing against a tough defense like ours in practices are really gonna help the offense in the long run. Cant wait to see Golson on the field again this year

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Not doubting you, but I'm surprised by Hardy. Thought it would be Collinswprth and Barratti in the 2 deep. Great to see him excelling back there.

Baratti isnt practicing so im not sure what he brings.

 

[PANDFAN]

Baratti isnt practicing so im not sure what he brings.

correct...shoulder issue

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Anyone else notice this in the article

-- Prosise, Carlisle, George Atkinson III, Cam McDaniel and Collinsworth all got some work catching kickoffs, as did Justin Utupo. That’s 281-pound defensive end Justin Utupo, who is slated to be an up man on kickoffs.

I just remember Utopo taking out two guys on kick return for a GA III td.

 

[Damion704]

That was Salvi... Michigan St.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Utopo against USC though.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Tommy looked bad.

I was noting that, and I wondered if it was just that everything else has improved that much.

 

[koonja]

Irish Illustrated ‏@NDatRivals 51m

So historic Wrigley Field will add a massive video screen to enhance the stadium and fan experience. Your move, Notre Dame.
Retweeted by Eric Hansen

FROM ESPN:

The Cubs said the video screen they are proposing to build is 6,000 square feet, and would be built with "minimal impact on rooftops with whom (the) Cubs have an agreement." The current center-field scoreboard is slightly more than 2,000 square feet; the Cubs also have plans to add a left-field sign of 1,000 square feet.

The video screen and new signs around the park offer the team a chance to reach new advertising deals and pay for the overhaul, even if it changes the character of the historic park. The city and club said they hope the agreement would allow the Cubs to obtain necessary city approvals for the work by the end of the current season.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

When are the remaining practices being held?

Saturday was the 12th or 13th.

You can only have 15 total, right? Or is it based on number of hours?