2014 Spring Practice Thread

[irishog77]

If Okwara and Williams are both starting at DE in the base set, with their hand in the dirt, then the defense will be much different than it was under The Hair.

 

[stlnd01]

That defensive line looks LIGHT. Hoping Springmann can play. And, hopefully the freshman can at least play goal line.

Light compared to what we've been running out there the last couple of years, but probably a good bit faster. I like the front four - I think Okwara could be huge for us - but pray no one gets hurt and the reinforcements arrive ready to play.

 

[koonja]

I think our pass rush will be better, although our rush defense will suffer quite a bit. Imagine Bama's OL facing our undersized front 7. They'd run for 1,000 yards.

Really I hope I'm wrong and these guys shut me up.

 

[arrowryan]

I think our pass rush will be better, although our rush defense will suffer quite a bit. Imagine Bama's OL facing our undersized front 7. They'd run for 1,000 yards.

Really I hope I'm wrong and these guys shut me up.

This was LSU's defensive front seven depth as of 12/23/13. I don't think Alabama ever ran for 1,000 yards against this "undersized" defense

DE-Jermauria Rasco 6-3 262
Danielle Hunter 6-5 241

DT-Anthony Johnson 6-3 294
Ego Ferguson 6-3 309

Sam-Kwon Alexander 6-2 218

Mike- D.J. Welter 6-1 226

Will- Lamin Barrow 6-2 232

 

[koonja]

This was LSU's defensive front seven depth as of 12/23/13. I don't think Alabama ever ran for 1,000 yards against this "undersized" defense

DE-Jermauria Rasco 6-3 262
Danielle Hunter 6-5 241

DT-Anthony Johnson 6-3 294
Ego Ferguson 6-3 309

Sam-Kwon Alexander 6-2 218

Mike- D.J. Welter 6-1 226

Will- Lamin Barrow 6-2 232

Fair point, but their defense was also much stronger and more athletic than the front 7 we will play, IMO.

 

[arrowryan]

Fair point, but their defense was also much stronger and more athletic than the front 7 we will play, IMO.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised

 

[STLDomer]

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oF4DZhyQGR8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

WHERE YOU AT JACK??

Jaylon

 

[ryno 24]

I think against the spread we will go light and against stanford another smash mouth teams we go 3-4 look and heavy. I think we have the personnel for both defenses

 

[#1rish]

Wish Nyles was an EE. Really want to see what he can do.

edit: brainfart, forgot he didn't even commit till the AA game.

 

[koonja]

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oF4DZhyQGR8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

WHERE YOU AT JACK??

Jaylon

Bryant, Golson, and Brent look just filthy in the few seconds of action we've seen of them.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I think our pass rush will be better, although our rush defense will suffer quite a bit. Imagine Bama's OL facing our undersized front 7. They'd run for 1,000 yards.

Really I hope I'm wrong and these guys shut me up.

Oklahoma was even lighter on the line, and look how that turned out.

 

[koonja]

Oklahoma was even lighter on the line, and look how that turned out.

Didn't Alabama run all over them? I don't have the numbers but I feel like they did.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

If they did, it wasn't nearly enough to win.

 

[GBdomer]

I mean shes not fun to look at but its better then Jack Nolan

Alright everybody now lets dig into this video and break it down

 

[CraigKrenzel]

Didn't Alabama run all over them? I don't have the numbers but I feel like they did.

Basically, yeah. 172 on 25 carries if you subtract out McCarron's "attempts." 43 on one carry from Mr. Henry.

 

[NDBoiler]

Basically, yeah. 172 on 25 carries if you subtract out McCarron's "attempts." 43 on one carry from Mr. Henry.

But how effective was that rushing? I would venture to say not very, and that a lot of it came in "garbage" time. Otherwise, those kind of rushing numbers piled up in a more effective way would have significantly changed the complexion of that game.

 

[CraigKrenzel]

But how effective was that rushing? I would venture to say not very, and that a lot of it came in "garbage" time. Otherwise, those kind of rushing numbers piled up in a more effective way would have significantly changed the complexion of that game.

Fair question.. I'm not sure any time in that game was "garbage" time at least to the concern that it'd skew statistics. Alabama was down 2 TDs at half, 1 TD at the start of the 4th quarter, and 1 TD with 6 minutes left in the game.

Alabama outgained Oklahoma 512-429. The problem wasn't that they couldn't move the ball (they did, it appears, the whole game). They simply had 5 turnovers to Oklahoma's 1.

 

[NDBoiler]

Fair question.. I'm not sure any time in that game was "garbage" time at least to the concern that it'd skew statistics. Alabama was down 2 TDs at half, 1 TD at the start of the 4th quarter, and 1 TD with 6 minutes left in the game.

Alabama outgained Oklahoma 512-429. The problem wasn't that they couldn't move the ball (they did, it appears, the whole game). They simply had 5 turnovers to Oklahoma's 1.

 

[ACamp1900]

Boomer freaking Sooner....




...

that is all.

 

[Luckylucci]

So II's next practice video won't be until March 19th as that's the next time they get to watch practice but it will be BVG and the DL for those interested. Now, UND.com will have one from every practice more than likely.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Romeo's mask is awesome.

 

[returnofthemack]

Haven't seen that kind of zip on the ball since Clausen left. Even in Golson's first year he didn't have that kind of velocity. Don't think I need to point out the obvious with Reesus.

 

[Pachuco]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kyle Brindza says backup long snapper Hunter Smith will replace Luke Massa as the holder on field goals and PATs.</p>— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_AndrewOwens/statuses/440514472344432640">March 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thee "Hunter Smith"?

We are winning the title. Book it.

One of the best punters in ND history.

Just his name on the team brings good vibes . . .

 

[Pachuco]

Folston running 1st team

Cam/Bryant 2nd team

Obviously Folston is going to be the starter


Justin Brent #11 looks the part

I expect him to be a big target for Golson THIS year. If he can get the mental aspects up to speed, he should see the field often.

 

[Pachuco]

Beautiful, high release point on the throw. This is very important, especially for a short QB as it allows him to avoid more deflected passes by the DL. Great example of the improved mechanics with the individual coaching received while away.

Do you think that this transformation is something that Kelly would have furthered also if Golson hadn't been suspended or is this rate of progress unique to Whitfield's abilities? I'm curious what you guys think.

 

[West Coast Domer]

It looks like Greg Bryant has great hands. I remember that being mentioned in the fall as well. It will be nice to have running backs catch the ball.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Fair point, but their defense was also much stronger and more athletic than the front 7 we will play, IMO.

It's definitely true that light doesn't equal athletic, but a lot of programs have shown that athleticism trumps weight. Miami at their peak was built around lighter, more athletic LBs. In the 30 for 30 about them, they talked about how almost all their LBs played safety, and that's one of the reasons I was high on Tranquil from the first reports of his camp performance. LSU and Georgia have also had a lot of success taking that approach.

I think the guys we've brought in are much more of the Miami, LSU, and Georgia profile than just then undersized-LB type. Morgan is athletic, Sykes played safety until his senior year, Tranquil played safety, Randolph's coach talked about him and Martini covering receivers 40 yards downfield, Jaylon is a freak athlete, Turner was a safety, etc. I think we have the athletes now and going forward to play at a lighter average weight and a higher performance level.

 

[koonja]

It's definitely true that light doesn't equal athletic, but a lot of programs have shown that athleticism trumps weight. Miami at their peak was built around lighter, more athletic LBs. In the 30 for 30 about them, they talked about how almost all their LBs played safety, and that's one of the reasons I was high on Tranquil from the first reports of his camp performance. LSU and Georgia have also had a lot of success taking that approach.

I think the guys we've brought in are much more of the Miami, LSU, and Georgia profile than just then undersized-LB type. Morgan is athletic, Sykes played safety until his senior year, Tranquil played safety, Randolph's coach talked about him and Martini covering receivers 40 yards downfield, Jaylon is a freak athlete, Turner was a safety, etc. I think we have the athletes now and going forward to play at a lighter average weight and a higher performance level.

Good points. I guess I'm more concerned with the DL than the LBs.

Ishaq and Okwara being every down DE's worries me, but hopefully they prove me wrong.

 

[Irishman77]

Do we have a spring roster with official ht/wt? Smythe looks like he eats defensive backs by the handful while waiting for his dinner.

 

[TheChosen1]

It's definitely true that light doesn't equal athletic, but a lot of programs have shown that athleticism trumps weight. Miami at their peak was built around lighter, more athletic LBs. In the 30 for 30 about them, they talked about how almost all their LBs played safety, and that's one of the reasons I was high on Tranquil from the first reports of his camp performance. LSU and Georgia have also had a lot of success taking that approach.

I think the guys we've brought in are much more of the Miami, LSU, and Georgia profile than just then undersized-LB type. Morgan is athletic, Sykes played safety until his senior year, Tranquil played safety, Randolph's coach talked about him and Martini covering receivers 40 yards downfield, Jaylon is a freak athlete, Turner was a safety, etc. I think we have the athletes now and going forward to play at a lighter average weight and a higher performance level.

I think it has a lot to do with the spread offenses also. Need guys who can run.