2015 PRE SEASON CAMP THREAD

[koonja]

Blitzkreg:

https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637039726126592001

 

[#1rish]

Yeah no Morgan is a bit concerning, I thought for sure he'd be right there behind Schmidt.

 

[Huntr]

Where is this coming from?

Brian Kelly's mouth.

 

[woolybug25]

What do you mean? These are live tweets from BK's presser happening now.

I meant, where is this situation coming from. ie: I thought he was a lock for the two deep. Hell, he started a bunch of games last year. Looked good too.

 

[IrishLax]

Where is this coming from? I can't imagine Nyles not being in the two deep in at least one of the LB spots. Ridiculous.

Why not? It's not an indictment of Morgan... consider who is ahead of him at MIKE.

It's not a well kept secret that Coney has been unreal for a true frosh. He's allegedly scary good and will start at WILL for the remainder of his time at ND after Jaylon leaves.

So when you consider that Morgan is not a SAM and Coney's future is at WILL + he's a beast, I'm confused where exactly you'd put him? The only way I envisioned him making the 2-deep was if they listed Schmidt/Grace as co-starters.

 

[ryno 24]

I am a little surprised. I did not think Grace was doing that well.

 

[koonja]

I am a little surprised. I did not think Grace was doing that well.

I was never a fan, even pre-injury. If you ran straight at him he was great. Anything outside the tackles and it was like he had dolphins tied to his feet.

 

[woolybug25]

Why not? It's not an indictment of Morgan... consider who is ahead of him at MIKE.

It's not a well kept secret that Coney has been unreal for a true frosh. He's allegedly scary good and will start at WILL for the remainder of his time at ND after Jaylon leaves.

So when you consider that Morgan is not a SAM and Coney's future is at WILL + he's a beast, I'm confused where exactly you'd put him? The only way I envisioned him making the 2-deep was if they listed Schmidt/Grace as co-starters.

I'm sorry, but I don't think Grace is a great football player. I just don't see it. When he's not hurt, he isn't this great athlete roaming around making plays. Nyles is a freaking true sophomore and only has 5 less total career tackles.

I know people are going to want to kill me for it, but it's my opinion. Grace doesn't seem like nearly the athlete that Nyles is and frankly has got outperformed by Nyles as well. It doesn't seem to even make sense from an "experience" perspective. Grace hasn't played in a game since '13 and Nyles was our starting Mike at the end of the season. Playing pretty damn well at that! Just doesn't make sense to me at all.

 

[Irish2155]

Where is this coming from? I can't imagine Nyles not being in the two deep in at least one of the LB spots. Ridiculous.

I can. If he wasn't lost in coverage last year then he was lost in the run game. I know he was highly rated coming out but damn, he wasn't good last year.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm sorry, but I don't think Grace is a great football player. I just don't see it. When he's not hurt, he isn't this great athlete roaming around making plays. Nyles is a freaking true sophomore and only has 5 less total career tackles.

I know people are going to want to kill me for it, but it's my opinion. Grace doesn't seem like nearly the athlete that Nyles is and frankly has got outperformed by Nyles as well. It doesn't seem to even make sense from an "experience" perspective. Grace hasn't played in a game since '13 and Nyles was our starting Mike at the end of the season. Playing pretty damn well at that! Just doesn't make sense to me at all.

Nyles was the starting Mike due to injuries. Grace has the trust of the coaches and Nyles just wasn't ready mentally to play last year. He'll be good by the time he leaves, but it doesn't surprise me at all that he's behind two 5th year seniors who have been praised for their work ethic and knowledge of the playbook.

 

[Luckylucci]

I'm sorry, but I don't think Grace is a great football player. I just don't see it. When he's not hurt, he isn't this great athlete roaming around making plays. Nyles is a freaking true sophomore and only has 5 less total career tackles.

I know people are going to want to kill me for it, but it's my opinion. Grace doesn't seem like nearly the athlete that Nyles is and frankly has got outperformed by Nyles as well. It doesn't seem to even make sense from an "experience" perspective. Grace hasn't played in a game since '13 and Nyles was our starting Mike at the end of the season. Playing pretty damn well at that! Just doesn't make sense to me at all.

I'm a little surprised by this as well and not sure if it even holds true. However, he made some plays but he was also down right terrible at times. Blowing assignments that led to huge plays.

I will say that I think he needs to get more game reps than Grace so if its a blowout and we need somebody in for Schmidt I hope its Morgan. If its a close game and we need a sub to keep Schmidt fresh, I leave that up to the coaches.

 

[koonja]

I'm surprised how high people are on Grace. I think those people are in for a disappointment.

 

[PANDFAN]

I was never a fan, even pre-injury. If you ran straight at him he was great. Anything outside the tackles and it was like he had dolphins tied to his feet.

idk what the f#ck that means, but it made me laugh

I'm sorry, but I don't think Grace is a great football player. I just don't see it. When he's not hurt, he isn't this great athlete roaming around making plays. Nyles is a freaking true sophomore and only has 5 less total career tackles.

I know people are going to want to kill me for it, but it's my opinion. Grace doesn't seem like nearly the athlete that Nyles is and frankly has got outperformed by Nyles as well. It doesn't seem to even make sense from an "experience" perspective. Grace hasn't played in a game since '13 and Nyles was our starting Mike at the end of the season. Playing pretty damn well at that! Just doesn't make sense to me at all.

count me in.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">C.J. Prosise is “back in full gear” for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a>, Kelly says.</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/637036056152526848">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Durham Smythe is back on the practice field as well.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637036150167871488">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Josh and Dexter were able to get valuable work. We feel going into Texas, Josh can even hold up in protections." Kelly on freshman RB's</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637036860360011776">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zaire is getting really close to not thinking on the field. Kizer showing it as well, states Kelly.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637037321024630785">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly said C.J. Sanders, Equanimeous St. Brown and Aliz'e Jones are definitely staying up with the 1's. Miles Boykin is close as well</p>— Bryan Driskell (@BGI_CoachD78) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_CoachD78/status/637037433738104832">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[koonja]

I'm happy for Mathias and I've been hard on him in the past. I like how he played against the run and as a blitzer last year. If BVG is smart enough to keep him in the flats and not in deep coverage he can be a big asset to this team.

 

[IrishLax]

I'm sorry, but I don't think Grace is a great football player. I just don't see it. When he's not hurt, he isn't this great athlete roaming around making plays. Nyles is a freaking true sophomore and only has 5 less total career tackles.

I know people are going to want to kill me for it, but it's my opinion. Grace doesn't seem like nearly the athlete that Nyles is and frankly has got outperformed by Nyles as well. It doesn't seem to even make sense from an "experience" perspective. Grace hasn't played in a game since '13 and Nyles was our starting Mike at the end of the season. Playing pretty damn well at that! Just doesn't make sense to me at all.

Worthless accolades like "freshman all-american" aside, I don't understand the bolded. Morgan was very bad at times last year. Couldn't get himself in position, much less direct the defense. And he was very slow reacting to plays. Before Martini got hurt, they actually benched Morgan for Martini a couple times and Martini outplayed him as a MIKE. Martini doesn't have the athletic traits of Morgan, but he was just so much further ahead mentally.

And that's what you have here. You have two MIKEs capable of doing everything a MIKE needs to do in this defense, and then you have Morgan who by all reports still has learning to do. I expect Morgan to get PT, but in "base" situations you can't expect him to play over the other two.

It seems the crux of our (and the coaches) disagreement is how well Morgan played last year. I saw flashes of brilliance, but tons of shortcomings and mistakes.

 

[woolybug25]

I can. If he wasn't lost in coverage last year then he was lost in the run game. I know he was highly rated coming out but damn, he wasn't good last year.

Nyles was the starting Mike due to injuries. Grace has the trust of the coaches and Nyles just wasn't ready mentally to play last year. He'll be good by the time he leaves, but it doesn't surprise me at all that he's behind two 5th year seniors who have been praised for their work ethic and knowledge of the playbook.

I feel like I am in the twilight zone. Of course he played a little up and down at first... he was a true freshman thrown into a starting middle linebacker role mid season.

But he was playing very well by the end of the season. Hell, I thought he could have taken Schmidt's job. He had double digit tackles in the last three regular season games and played well in the bowl game as well. Recording 4 tackles and 1/2 a sack. I am just seeing a totally different player than you guys are, I guess.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defensively, Nick Coleman and Jerry Tillery will definitely play this season, Kelly said.</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/637037637887504384">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon Wimbush will also stay with the "varsity" squad but if Kelly feels he needs more work will let him throw 7-on-7 at times</p>— Bryan Driskell (@BGI_CoachD78) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_CoachD78/status/637037662940102656">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon Wimbush will stay up with the main team, away from the scout team, despite likely being No. 3 QB behind Zaire and Kizer.</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/637037756770852864">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"There have been some dips you see with a freshman, but not big dips." Kelly on Jerry Tillery.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637037850844905472">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"It was not a great day for safeties" - BK jokes they were playing with 9 players and two orange cones.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637038151622610944">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[zelezo vlk]

I feel like I am in the twilight zone. Of course he played a little up and down at first... he was a true freshman thrown into a starting middle linebacker role mid season.

But he was playing very well by the end of the season. Hell, I thought he could have taken Schmidt's job. He had double digit tackles in the last three regular season games and played well in the bowl game as well. Recording 4 tackles and 1/2 a sack. I am just seeing a totally different player than you guys are, I guess.

I thought he showed flashes but those flashes never solidified. We saw last year what happens what happens to BVG's defense when somebody cannot effectively communicate out there. Grace and Schmidt can both do that, which is why they get the nod in the 2 deep. Morgan will definitely be expected to do that next year.

 

[koonja]

Anyone watching the captain interviews on periscope? So much trash talking, what a great app. Clemson fan just dropped a grenade about seeing what a real stadium is like, lol.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly: “The guy we’re excited about is Daniel Cage.” Said weight is down, will back up Tillery.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/637038032844128256">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly said Elijah Shumate is going to be the starting SS as of today, Avery Sebastian is the backup. Could change.</p>— Bryan Driskell (@BGI_CoachD78) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_CoachD78/status/637038190226993153">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Redfield and Shumate starting safeties. Sebastian and Tranquill have been getting reps in the two-deep</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637038414668414976">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly said Joe Schmidt is gradually getting back to last year’s level of performance. Jarrett Grace is back at his 2013 form, per Kelly.</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/637038501385641984">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Joe is probably a half-step away from where he was last yr. He has definitely made good progress the last couple practices."BK on Schmidt.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637038584655147008">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[Irish2155]

I feel like I am in the twilight zone. Of course he played a little up and down at first... he was a true freshman thrown into a starting middle linebacker role mid season.

But he was playing very well by the end of the season. Hell, I thought he could have taken Schmidt's job. He had double digit tackles in the last three regular season games and played well in the bowl game as well. Recording 4 tackles and 1/2 a sack. I am just seeing a totally different player than you guys are, I guess.

Granted, it might have been a perfect storm of bad things defensively but he was caught in the middle (literally). And looked to be on roller skates every play.

Those tackles you mention, more than likely 5 - 15 yards off the line of scrimmage.

 

[koonja]

If Nyles doesn't have the defense down, so be it. Just upsetting as a fan because he makes our LBS legitimate freak shows when you consider what him and Jaylon can do, paired with Onowala who has SS type speed.

 

[woolybug25]

Worthless accolades like "freshman all-american" aside, I don't understand the bolded. Morgan was very bad at times last year. Couldn't get himself in position, much less direct the defense. And he was very slow reacting to plays. Before Martini got hurt, they actually benched Morgan for Martini a couple times and Martini outplayed him as a MIKE. Martini doesn't have the athletic traits of Morgan, but he was just so much further ahead mentally.

And that's what you have here. You have two MIKEs capable of doing everything a MIKE needs to do in this defense, and then you have Morgan who by all reports still has learning to do. I expect Morgan to get PT, but in "base" situations you can't expect him to play over the other two.

It seems the crux of our (and the coaches) disagreement is how well Morgan played last year. I saw flashes of brilliance, but tons of shortcomings and mistakes.

But it wasn't "flashes" by the end of the season. He wasn't making the mistakes he was making Navy & ASU because he settled in, and settling in for a FRESHMAN Nyles Morgan is double digit tackles (In fact, two more double digit tackle games than Grace has had, despite Grace being a 5th year senior) and athletic play.

Seems like it just keeps a potential game-changer on the bench and for what?

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly repeats that Notre Dame won’t have an 8-to-10 sack guy. Pass rush will be collective. Day will play DE at times.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/637039665690886144">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly says Sheldon Day, Jaylon Smith will have chance to rush passer for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> off the edge.</p>— Tim Prister (@timprister) <a href="https://twitter.com/timprister/status/637039688268816384">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly very positive about Miles Boykin's speed. Says he is NOT at a tight end, even though they were recruiting him with one eye on the move</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637039904833323008">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kelly thinks Texas will go to a new offense. Only has film from Spring Game to work off of.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637040459806822400">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[woolybug25]

Those tackles you mention, more than likely 5 - 15 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Nyles has more TFL (3.5) in his freshman year than Grace has in his entire career (1).

 

[koonja]

Nyles has more TFL (3.5) in his freshman year than Grace has in his entire career (1).

Schuab, is that you.

 

[koonja]

They should at least bring Nyles in as a blitzer. He's twice as disruptive as Grace/Schmidt.

 

[kmoose]

But it wasn't "flashes" by the end of the season. He wasn't making the mistakes he was making Navy & ASU because he settled in, and settling in for a FRESHMAN Nyles Morgan is double digit tackles (In fact, two more double digit tackle games than Grace has had, despite Grace being a 5th year senior) and athletic play.

Seems like it just keeps a potential game-changer on the bench and for what?

Who was the tailback that had tendinitis in his knee, and no one knew it until after the season, but everyone bitched all season long because he wasn't getting carries? Was it Bryant, maybe? Sometimes you just have to believe in the staff, and that they are not keeping one of their best 11 on the bench simply to piss the fans off.

 

[Irish2155]

Nyles has more TFL (3.5) in his freshman year than Grace has in his entire career (1).

Grace? I'm not saying he is that good either. I mean, who really knows at this point...just happy to see him healthy (for now). Mike is scary if we lose Schmidt again.

That is 3.5 tackles, great...the others, more than likely, happened well 5 - 15 yards pass the line of scrimmage.