2014 Fall Camp Thread

[PANDFAN]

I think a little of both. I think he's done a good job of coming prepared to fill a specific role which is in-line TE that we lost when Niklas left. Tyler will not be our traditional ND TE that is making plays down the field. That will be Smythe, Koyack, and Weishar when he gets his shot. However, Luatua might prove to be the best in-line of the 4 already which is a huge development that he is receiving some credit for.

watching his clips, he reminds me of the fasano, carlson, irv smith, derek brown types...big physical guys but has hands to make the catches when it counts

 

[IrishLax]

Personally, I watch these videos always looking for the "surprising." I don't think you can get much value out of limited reps and drills and such. But you do get to see things that change perceptions.

Last year, we saw Tuitt grossly overweight, Niklas make an absurd one-handed catch, and Corey Robinson catch everything in his area code. Before that I had no idea Tuitt was still going to be feeling the effects of injuries, that Niklas had those kinds of ball skills, or that Corey Robinson had that kind of absurd catching radius.

The biggest thing so far this year is Luatua's physically imposing nature. Makes you realize why he was the #1 TE for such a long time. He lost his ranking because 1) he measured out shorter than listed at camps so people knocked him for not having elite frame 2) he's not a WR-listed-as-TE that is going to show out offensively at camps/all-star games 3) people questioned his demeanor and football motivation.

Towards 1 and 2, he may not have elite height but he sure seems capable of battling in-line or dominating in an h-back role... and we have plenty of guys to be pass catchers first, blockers second. Towards 3, only time will tell but I haven't heard anything negative yet.

It's stupid to overstate his potential impact based on a couple clips but there is no denying that he, at minimum, looks the part.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

WOW! Poor James O.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Impressive that it was James Onwualu, because James is one of the functionally strongest guys, with plenty of endurance. Short of Luatua burying Smith or Day, I am not sure many King Kupua's could impress me more by the freshman!

 

[ulukinatme]

I am not sure many King Kupua's could impress me more by the freshman!

That's King Koopa to you, faucet freak!

Sorry, I've been introducing my children to the old Super Mario Bros. cartoon.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Sorry, I've been introducing my children to the old Super Mario Bros. cartoon.

I did the same recently. But let's be honest here. We were all watching for this:

The joys of Netflix.

 

[ulukinatme]

I did the same recently. But let's be honest here. We were all watching for this:

The joys of Netflix.

"Well excuuuuuse me, princess!"

I have a bunch of Super Mario Bros. cartoons on DVD, but I haven't seen any Zelda ones in stores. I should probably just download some torrents and burn them to a disk, I used to have all the episodes on my hard drive. I'd love to have the old live action stuff too with Captain Lou Albano as Mario and Danny Wells as Luigi.

Also, someone rep Whiskey for me, I'm tapped out having repped people in the Tommy thread.

 

[pkt77242]

"Well excuuuuuse me, princess!"

I have a bunch of Super Mario Bros. cartoons on DVD, but I haven't seen any Zelda ones in stores. I should probably just download some torrents and burn them to a disk, I used to have all the episodes on my hard drive. I'd love to have the old live action stuff too with Captain Lou Albano as Mario and Danny Wells as Luigi.

Also, someone rep Whiskey for me, I'm tapped out having repped people in the Tommy thread.

Done.

 

[Emcee77]

I finally got a chance to watch all the practice vids.

--My favorite play was the play in the first video where Fuller just ran away from Cole Luke. Such speed.

It's amazing we weren't really aware of how fast Fuller is until he arrived at ND. I mean, I think we realized he was fast, but I don't think we realized until last year that we were getting a guy comparable to Chris Brown who can stretch the field and take the top off the coverage, unless it was just me. Coming in, some people were talking about using him in the slot; lining him up inside seems like a waste of great open-field speed now. How were we so wrong? I wonder what his fastest timed 40 was.

--We've all said it already, but Luatua is huge. I could not be more delighted with his physical condition.

-- I want KeiVarae to be my best friend. He is just so likable in his interviews.

 

[Luckylucci]

FYI, conventional thought over at II is that the team will practice in the stadium during media viewings. I thought that would be cool to get video footage of the guys practicing on the new turf prior to Rice. Small wins at this point, haha.

 

[NDdomer2]

Personally, I watch these videos always looking for the "surprising." I don't think you can get much value out of limited reps and drills and such. But you do get to see things that change perceptions.

Last year, we saw Tuitt grossly overweight, Niklas make an absurd one-handed catch, and Corey Robinson catch everything in his area code. Before that I had no idea Tuitt was still going to be feeling the effects of injuries, that Niklas had those kinds of ball skills, or that Corey Robinson had that kind of absurd catching radius.

The biggest thing so far this year is Luatua's physically imposing nature. Makes you realize why he was the #1 TE for such a long time. He lost his ranking because 1) he measured out shorter than listed at camps so people knocked him for not having elite frame 2) he's not a WR-listed-as-TE that is going to show out offensively at camps/all-star games 3) people questioned his demeanor and football motivation.

Towards 1 and 2, he may not have elite height but he sure seems capable of battling in-line or dominating in an h-back role... and we have plenty of guys to be pass catchers first, blockers second. Towards 3, only time will tell but I haven't heard anything negative yet.

It's stupid to overstate his potential impact based on a couple clips but there is no denying that he, at minimum, looks the part.

3 - If anything hes shown the opposite. Comes to camp in shape and clearly followed the off season lifting regimen. Those things tell the staff "i can trust him" early.

 

[koonja]

https://twitter.com/ndfootball/status/497461403583021056

I'm surprised Bryant rode the horse, not the other way around. #squad

 

[Ndaccountant]

FYI, conventional thought over at II is that the team will practice in the stadium during media viewings. I thought that would be cool to get video footage of the guys practicing on the new turf prior to Rice. Small wins at this point, haha.

Also a great benefit to the team mindset come Rice. I remember BK talking over the years by how the team plays differently in the stadium at certain times. If they are practicing in there more, perhaps that can alleviate the issue.

 

[Ndaccountant]

https://twitter.com/ndfootball/status/497461403583021056

I'm surprised Bryant rode the horse, not the other way around. #squad

The horse joked afterward to his friends that he is hung like a Bryant

 

[phgreek]

Re: my post from yesterday about the PI, I'm just now getting back on to catch up. To those who are not concerned, that's fine. You bring up valid points and could very well be right about the situation. (Btw, as stated in that post, I'm aware that these are very short clips we're analyzing and the whole body of work may not be an issue, but this is what we have to go with at the moment so...) The video featuring the DBs shows a lot of great plays, physicality, etc. I have no doubt they'll be a solid group. However, STL, idk what videos you've been watching but even the guys who aren't concerned are at least acknowledging the PI shown throughout them. Maybe the coaches want that kind of play and are willing to gamble that it won't get called. Idk. I'll contain my concern and see how things play out on Saturdays.

PI was one of my first thoughts too...yea short clips, defensive concept changes to more contact...coaches encouraging aggressive, physical play right now...get all that...you can get away with alot when your body is tight on the receiver...but a handfull of shirt or a grab away from your body, or a shove late in the route...thats PI

 

[Ironman8]

<script height="381px" width="672px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=5e83fc845d86487e88b6953600eaff54&ec=9oaWRpbzq_24qKDT6wAofFbvV98h4b5j"></script>

 

[NDinL.A.]

FYI, conventional thought over at II is that the team will practice in the stadium during media viewings. I thought that would be cool to get video footage of the guys practicing on the new turf prior to Rice. Small wins at this point, haha.

This is true. My wife forwarded me the email about the open practice for faculty and staff, and it says that the practice on the 16th will be at the stadium.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Booker seems like a great coach. That sequence with Luatua was some quality teaching.

 

[Luckylucci]

This is true. My wife forwarded me the email about the open practice for faculty and staff, and it says that the practice on the 16th will be at the stadium.

Dude, I'm jealous. That will be great watching them practice on the new turf.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Dude, I'm jealous. That will be great watching them practice on the new turf.

Dude, the field is niiiiiiiice. On Saturday night my wife's department had their bi-annual dinner in the press box for the students, and some students went down to the field w/out permission. Before you know it, there was like 50 students on the field. I said screw it and got on it for a minute. So nice. This definitely ain't your grandpa's AstroTurf.

Ruth Riley is in the program and I got a pic with her on the field...thank God she took off her heels LOL. I got some good pics that I'll post one of these days. Nothing you haven't already seen, but still cool to see.

 

[dublinirish]

Booker seems like a great coach. That sequence with Luatua was some quality teaching.

i was surprized how calm Booker was when Tyler pancaked JO, alot of other coaches would be getting hype after a play like that

 

[tko]

Respect

 

[JughedJones]

Q: What do you think about the idea of TE U? Do you think these kids
understand that there's something they have to live up to? Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolf, et al?

A: That's why they come here.


Wrong.



EDIT: Sorry, that was what I took out of the practice film today. It made me a little mad.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

It looks like we have quite the pipeline of TE talent, let's see them produce on the field! I hope we see at least three TEs being used this fall.

Early odds appear to be: Koyack, Smythe and Luatua.

 

[ndfi78]

Who pissed in your cheerios Jughed? There is literally nothing to get pissed off about in that quote.

 

[JughedJones]

Who pissed in your cheerios Jughed? There is literally nothing to get pissed off about in that quote.

Whoa!!!

Now we're into something real! lol

I just didn't like the thought that kids come to ND purely to go to the NFL.

It's great that it might be a benefit, but a full ride to Notre Dame is the prize. That's all I was saying.

No harm, no foul.

 

[irishog77]

If Luatua is as game ready as people seem to think he is practice ready, let's just hope the staff doesn't use him with spotlights, sirens, bells, and flashers for the opposition to indicate a running play, a la Daniel Smith.

 

[Irish#1]

Whoa!!!

Now we're into something real! lol

I just didn't like the thought that kids come to ND purely to go to the NFL.

It's great that it might be a benefit, but a full ride to Notre Dame is the prize. That's all I was saying.

No harm, no foul.

Like it or not, it's a great recruiting tool. Kids notice these things. Might as well take advantage of it.

 

[JughedJones]

Like it or not, it's a great recruiting tool. Kids notice these things. Might as well take advantage of it.

Word.

It just rubbed me the wrong way. Of course we should use TE U as a recruiting tool.

I'm just bent out of shape about the way college sports seems to be going and I took it out on a benign quote. My bad.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Like it or not, it's a great recruiting tool. Kids notice these things. Might as well take advantage of it.

I agree. There's a reason the famous Pot of Gold focused on the total number of players ND put in the League. It's basically the cherry on top, but the staff realizes kids are enamored with the NFL so they pump it up a little. Nothing wrong with that.