2014 Depth Chart Predictions

[stlnd01]

Between the rules of engagement and the TV crew's focus on the men with the ball, it was hard to get a read on the defense, but I would say that Okwara and Ishaq both looked good and will thrive in BVG's more aggressive approach. Got to find a way to get them on the field together. Also Shumate. The man's a hitter. If he can play with the discipline required of a safety, he could be a major contributor. I think Farley's done playing meaningful minutes.

On offense, it appears we have more quality WRs and RBs than we have positions to play them at. That's a nice problem to have. Doesn't even take into account Daniels - or Brent, who certainly fills out the uniform well. Gonna be interesting to watch who emerges there. But will also be a coaching job to keep them all engaged.

 

[NDBoiler]

Did Deeb make any plays today? I wasn't watching game that close but can't remember his name ever getting called.

He would've had a sack on blitz in the 2nd Q but the refs didn't call it and Zaire completed a longish pass to Brown.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Are we planning on playing Jaylon on the strong side- where the TE lines up? Is that because we want him to be as involved as possible? He is kind of an ideal weak-side LB, but it makes sense to have him in the middle of the action as much as possible, unless you are playing a pure running team like Wisconsin or Alabama. If Jaylon is the SAM, is Councell the weak side starter?

Linebacker will be interesting this year. We know Jaylon is set, but who will the other two be?

I guess I finally got my question got answered. Smith is going to be the WILL. He seems perfectly suited there. I was always confused why we were talking about playing him elsewhere.

I think Councell will emerge on the other side, and be a great fit to cover TEs, etc. I wonder if Randolph plays there or ends up in the middle? I think he'd be a good SAM, especially against run-first teams.

Not sure what is going to happen in the middle. I don't think we'll be bad there, but there is certainly room for a freshman stud to emerge.

It also looks like Turner/James O are going to provide depth at OLB. I feel like they should be WILLs and shift Smith over against teams that are pass-happy.

I still think it would have made sense to move Procise instead of James, but I certainly agree that he is an intimidating offensive weapon and now agree that he could end up being a difference maker. My argument was always based on lack of LBs, not so much his lack of potential at WR.

Its interesting that Ishaq is playing SDE. Didn't expect that either.

 

[Irish Fam]

I am thinking we show a lot of nickel with Jaylon and Schmidt as our starting linebackers day one.

However, I would love to see a younger player emerge over the summer and demand some serious PT at linebacker.


I doubt I am the only one that feels this way, but I really hope one of our more athletic safeties gets their head on straight and overtakes Collinsworth at safety. His athleticism is a liability. Perhaps, Riggs can come in and take over the spot opposite Max by Rice.

 

[Rizzophil]

Good posting.

To me it looks like we will play more match ups on defense. We will be much more successful against the spread this year. No doubt about it.

 

[Irish YJ]

Rivals made an update in the last few days.
Not that it's in any way final, but some adds and moves all over the place.

https://notredame.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

 

[ulukinatme]

Rivals made an update in the last few days.
Not that it's in any way final, but some adds and moves all over the place.

https://notredame.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

They've left Rochelle as a DE and Blankenship is a DT? I would have thought those two would be swapped.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

They also have Massa as the holder...

 

[Crazy Balki]

They've left Rochelle as a DE and Blankenship is a DT? I would have thought those two would be swapped.

No way in Hell is Blankenship a DT at 252. However, I'm kind of surprised (and highly doubt) that all he is. From what I was hearing, he was around the 6'6 270 range. What happened to that? And this wasn't just typical recruiting service hype (which for ND is virtually non-existent), this was all over the place.

 

[Irish YJ]

6-6 and 270... wonder if his body will allow him to put on another 40-60lbs. That would be one big boy at DT or DE.

 

[NDPhilly]

Blankenship is 6'4" 252 not 6'6" 265+ we were lead to believe. Probably the most disappointed I was with any of the freshman measurements

 

[Crazy Balki]

Blankenship is 6'4" 252 not 6'6" 265+ we were lead to believe. Probably the most disappointed I was with any of the freshman measurements

Honestly, he is pretty damn big for "just" 6'4. If he's only 252, then he must have pretty much zero body fat. Honestly, those are some very questionable measurables. That being said, I thought he'd make a better DE regardless. Kind of surprised at his and Trumbetti's size. Thought they were much bigger, Trumbetti at around 6'4-6'5 and Blankenship up to 6'6. Both look like AT LEAST 260+.

 

[irishfan]

Really interested to see where Rochell plays this year. I think he's going to be moved all around. He's the only backup on the D-line we have who has any experience. We don't know what we're going to get out of Hounshell or Mustaka. Utupo and Rabasa are not realistic options IMO. I was in favor of moving Councell to DE and sliding Rochell in at DT but Kelly seemed adamant that Councell will be a big piece of the LB unit.

I think Rochell's position will be determined by how the Frosh DEs and DTs step up.

Our D-line depth chart without true frosh is very scary. It's bad that we need 3-5 of them to play at a high level this year. All that talk about us having 3-6 strong Cornerbacks wont matter if we're getting gashed in the run game or can't get any pressure.

DE: Ishaq/Rochell
DT: Jones/Utupo/Mustaka
DT: Day/Hounshell
DE: Okwara/Rabasa

 

[Jackalope1977]

Rivals made an update in the last few days.
Not that it's in any way final, but some adds and moves all over the place.

https://notredame.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

Who is Austin Larkin and why is he ahead of Nyles Morgan?

 

[stlnd01]

Our D-line depth chart without true frosh is very scary. It's bad that we need 3-5 of them to play at a high level this year. All that talk about us having 3-6 strong Cornerbacks wont matter if we're getting gashed in the run game or can't get any pressure.

DE: Ishaq/Rochell
DT: Jones/Utupo/Mustaka
DT: Day/Hounshell
DE: Okwara/Rabasa

Man. When you put it that way, we've got absolutely zero depth up front.
I was never as big as some on Springmann, but at least the dude had logged some meaningful minutes, which is more than you can say for #any 2 on that list but Rochell. And what I wouldn't give for another year of Kona Schwenke. Has to go down as one of the all-time worst burned redshirts.
Oh well. Gotta hope a couple of these freshmen step up and become players.

 

[Luckylucci]

Who is Austin Larkin and why is he ahead of Nyles Morgan?

He's a walk-on that had a pretty good spring in BVG's new system. I don't expect that to stick but until they actually practice and break into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams it's unknown what the depth chart really is.

 

[Jackalope1977]

He's a walk-on that had a pretty good spring in BVG's new system. I don't expect that to stick but until they actually practice and break into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams it's unknown what the depth chart really is.

OK, thanks for the info Lucky.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Really interested to see where Rochell plays this year. I think he's going to be moved all around. He's the only backup on the D-line we have who has any experience. We don't know what we're going to get out of Hounshell or Mustaka. Utupo and Rabasa are not realistic options IMO. I was in favor of moving Councell to DE and sliding Rochell in at DT but Kelly seemed adamant that Councell will be a big piece of the LB unit.

I think Rochell's position will be determined by how the Frosh DEs and DTs step up.

Our D-line depth chart without true frosh is very scary. It's bad that we need 3-5 of them to play at a high level this year. All that talk about us having 3-6 strong Cornerbacks wont matter if we're getting gashed in the run game or can't get any pressure.

DE: Ishaq/Rochell
DT: Jones/Utupo/Mustaka
DT: Day/Hounshell
DE: Okwara/Rabasa

I don't see that big of an issue relying on freshman in the 2-3 deep. We've done that the last 3 years anyway. I for one am pretty confident that they'll hit the ground running. This is the deepest and most physically ready group we've had under Kelly. I'd rather have Rochell at DT. His skillset and size seems more appropriate as a 3-tech behind Day (makes sense, since he backed up Day last season). The way I see the front 4 panning out this year:

DE: Ishaq/Blankenship/Bonner
DT: Jones/Cage/Mokwuah/Utupo
DT: Day/Matuska/Hounshell/Hayes
DE: Okwara/Trumbetti/Rabasa/Jhonny

Honestly, if there was a position that I'd be forced to play more freshmen at, it's DL. Sure there's a lot of know-how in terms of technique, assignments and scheme, but the learning curve can be alleviated if the player is physically ready. This group is. It's not an ideal situation, but far from dire.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Man. When you put it that way, we've got absolutely zero depth up front.
I was never as big as some on Springmann, but at least the dude had logged some meaningful minutes, which is more than you can say for #any 2 on that list but Rochell. And what I wouldn't give for another year of Kona Schwenke. Has to go down as one of the all-time worst burned redshirts.
Oh well. Gotta hope a couple of these freshmen step up and become players.

While it's still TBD, I'm sure Romeo will go down as THE worst burned redshirt. There was literally no reason for him to see the field in '12.

 

[Domer_Nurse09]

Who is Austin Larkin and why is he ahead of Nyles Morgan?

thank god i am not the only one who said that when i looked at the updated depth chart. Are they keeping councell off the depth chart due to the injury or did he fall that far behind. i see nick martin who was out with injury to, but no councell ? I know take these things with a grain of salt on august 4th but that just caught my eye.

 

[IrishLax]

People spending way too much time dissecting a creation of II that is obviously not "accurate"... wait until ND puts out a depth chart.

 

[koonja]

I wouldn't put too much weight into that rivals depth chart. I don't expect Morgan to be that far back, and Trumbetti to be the 3rd end either.

 

[Domer_Nurse09]

People spending way too much time dissecting a creation of II that is obviously not "accurate"... wait until ND puts out a depth chart.

I suppose you are also going to try to convince me pro wrestling is fake??? i havnt even made 20 posts and i am starting to question you guys already

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I suppose you are also going to try to convince me pro wrestling is fake??? i havnt even made 20 posts and i am starting to question you guys already

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eeaTXwGo9r8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[irishfan]

I don't see that big of an issue relying on freshman in the 2-3 deep. We've done that the last 3 years anyway.

In 2013, Rochell was the only true frosh for us to get PT on the line.
In 2012, Day was the only true frosh for us to get PT on the line.
In 2011, we had Tuitt, Lynch, and Hounshell.

That's 5 in three years. 3 of those guys (Tuitt, Day, Lynch) were blue-chips. I don't see that status with any of our incoming freshmen.

6 frosh have been mentioned by Kelly or summer reports on the D-line: Cage, Mokwuah, Trumbetti, Bonner, Williams, Blankenship. Most were seen as 3-stars. Relying on 1-2 would be one thing. Needing an absolute minimum of 3 (but most likely 4-5) to be as productive as Rochell was last year is scary.

 

[#1rish]

Newsome isn't listed. Whack

 

[Riddickulous]

Hahahaha Matt Hegarty is listed as 395 pounds on that Rivals depth chart.

 

[GoIrish41]

Hahahaha Matt Hegarty is listed as 395 pounds on that Rivals depth chart.

Longo doing work!!!!!

 

[Irishman77]

Looking at that depth chart is rather glaring as to why all the DB' s in the 15 class. Hopefully Russell returns! Then Luke, Watkins, Butler. The rest could be gone at corner. That is an amazing two deep, but could create early opportunities for Crawford and Coleman etc...

I don't see Farley, Hardy, Brown, Atkinson asked back.

 

[NDdomer2]

Looking at that depth chart is rather glaring as to why all the DB' s in the 15 class. Hopefully Russell returns! Then Luke, Watkins, Butler. The rest could be gone at corner. That is an amazing two deep, but could create early opportunities for Crawford and Coleman etc...

I don't see Farley, Hardy, Brown, Atkinson asked back.

I think it depends on how we finish the class at DB. Safety isn't exactly our deepest position. I could see Farley/Hardy being 1 depending on their play this year and our finish in recruiting.