2015 Spring Practice Thread

[Luckylucci]

From BGI's perspective Devin Butler had the best day in the secondary. Was good in one on one coverage.

 

[irishff1014]

Some pretty good praise from Kelly on Bonner as well. Saying he has NFL type combine numbers. We seem to have a legit 3 deep at all 4 DL spots. That's exciting!

Been a while since we could say that.

 

[Grahambo]

Some pretty good praise from Kelly on Bonner as well. Saying he has NFL type combine numbers. We seem to have a legit 3 deep at all 4 DL spots. That's exciting!

Having a rotation is huge IMO.

 

[yankeeND]

Having a rotation is huge IMO.

Yeah this is where we could be special. Coach Gilmore has lots of talent to mold on his side and HH on the other. Kelly has gone out to build what he said he needed after the NC game. It took a couple of years, but I think his efforts are really gonna pay off!

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Notre Dame Football Spring Practice Report: March 29th <a href="http://t.co/6BH353p7QQ">http://t.co/6BH353p7QQ</a> <a href="http://t.co/1KA0YB5Kzd">pic.twitter.com/1KA0YB5Kzd</a></p>— One Foot Down (@OneFootDown) <a href="https://twitter.com/OneFootDown/status/582165393793531905">March 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Fbolt]

I feel that everything BK and the coaches say at this point needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Sure Tillery looks good, but then it could be BK attempting to motivate either him or others on the line. His comments have historically, at least during this time of year, been designed to motivate.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Tuitt was an elite DL but pretty raw in his pass rushing technique when he arrived on campus, which is why Lynch saw more time than him. Tuitt was no novice by any means, but Tillery is just so far along by any means, not just comparing to Tuitt. This was discussed long before Spring Practice started, how good Tillery was with his hands and getting around linemen. He's just putting it on display against some really good offensive linemen now.

Oh Sean, you're doing it again. Slow your roll man. This reminds me of last year when you foolishly said Stanley and Elmer would be just as good or probably better than Martin and Watt lol. Do you even follow other teams? I mean, calling a rising junior and a HS senior you've never seen take a live snap the most powerful tandem in football? Holy crap. I've seen the kid play and raved about him, but I'm not even close to going there.

Your reputation is well-deserved...

This is the money shot. The golden wisdom. If CB had asked the board how everyone thought Tillery compared to Tuitt, what answers would have come back?

I will attempt to answer that question.

I remember when Tuitt's high school film showed him running down running backs, with a head start on several occasions. I haven't seen that with Tillery.

Tillery has much more and better training to this point that Tuitt had.

Tuitt came in as the same specimen he was in high school, and clearly had issues with conditioning and training at ND whether due to sickness (mono), injury or whatnot. And yes I remember reports of his achievement in lifting awesome numbers with his weight training.

Tillery has sculpted his body from his junior year in high school to now, in a way I have never seen before. Not that he is perfect, but he is really transformed. There have been reports of his performing unbelievable feats of training and competition for a man his size.

Tillery seems to have a drive that is making a difference. The same matter of fact kind of attitude that caused many to doubt his sincerity about coming to ND, seems to infect him with his lack of "freshmanitus." He clearly isn't intimidated by the stage, or having a hard time fitting in from an emotional or maturity perspective.

Tillery may well be a genius, what ever that means. And he seems to have an incredible spiritual depth to match. There are too many stories about him having great mental horsepower to ignore; this may indicate a real difference in the situation, in my mind.

Tillery has had every source I have heard speak of him, mention that he can use his hands like a veteran, not a freshman. And everyone agrees that is the weakness of most freshmen defensive linemen. As it was with the holy triumvirate of Lynch, Tuitt, and Williams. Chocolate, too.

So, what can we say for sure?

The kid may be real good. He certainly has 99th percentile physical skills.

Let the kid be a freshman. Then let him be a sophomore. Don't ride him with expectations.

And sit back and enjoy if he does well.

But when Brian Kelly gives the press conference camera that funny little look out of the side and top of his head, and says in twenty-five years of coaching, he has never seen a player on this level, and that the story of spring ball so far has been Jerry Tillery, (with new coaches reportedly getting great performances from many of their players, and the victorious return of Grace,) one should be at least willing to invest a coin or two to buy one's way out of the cheap seats for a better view of the show!

How was that? Fair enough without falling victim to my own ebullience?

We landed him. Now let him grow. It should all be good.

 

[Irish2155]

I feel that everything BK and the coaches say at this point needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Sure Tillery looks good, but then it could be BK attempting to motivate either him or others on the line. His comments have historically, at least during this time of year, been designed to motivate.

Yeah, I agree...just BK trying to get the most out of his players. With the exception I think of Tillery, as noted..he's a monster. Come his Junior or Senior year BK will probably be on his ass to turn around and bring him back up...just like he did Big Lou.

 

[Fbolt]

True-and it's more than just BK talking about Tillery. Hope that this is the real deal ala Tuitt and Day.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I don't generally disagree that Kelly's comments are generally made for effect and he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve... but I also can't think of another freshman described in similar terms. I mean, he is willing to compliment the frosh generally but the Tillery comments look like more than that.

 

[Irish Insanity]

The comments Kelly made about Brent are the type he uses to motivate. The comments he made about Tillery, those seem more like legit praise.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I would speculate that our Coach is doing both at the same time: praising a rookie to give him justifiable high-motivation, and praising him to give a certain other guy {JJones} similar motivation. [carrot one way; stick another]

 

[Crazy Balki]

This is the money shot. The golden wisdom. If CB had asked the board how everyone thought Tillery compared to Tuitt, what answers would have come back?

I will attempt to answer that question.

I remember when Tuitt's high school film showed him running down running backs, with a head start on several occasions. I haven't seen that with Tillery.

Tillery has much more and better training to this point that Tuitt had.

Tuitt came in as the same specimen he was in high school, and clearly had issues with conditioning and training at ND whether due to sickness (mono), injury or whatnot. And yes I remember reports of his achievement in lifting awesome numbers with his weight training.

Tillery has sculpted his body from his junior year in high school to now, in a way I have never seen before. Not that he is perfect, but he is really transformed. There have been reports of his performing unbelievable feats of training and competition for a man his size.

Tillery seems to have a drive that is making a difference. The same matter of fact kind of attitude that caused many to doubt his sincerity about coming to ND, seems to infect him with his lack of "freshmanitus." He clearly isn't intimidated by the stage, or having a hard time fitting in from an emotional or maturity perspective.

Tillery may well be a genius, what ever that means. And he seems to have an incredible spiritual depth to match. There are too many stories about him having great mental horsepower to ignore; this may indicate a real difference in the situation, in my mind.

Tillery has had every source I have heard speak of him, mention that he can use his hands like a veteran, not a freshman. And everyone agrees that is the weakness of most freshmen defensive linemen. As it was with the holy triumvirate of Lynch, Tuitt, and Williams. Chocolate, too.

So, what can we say for sure?

The kid may be real good. He certainly has 99th percentile physical skills.

Let the kid be a freshman. Then let him be a sophomore. Don't ride him with expectations.

And sit back and enjoy if he does well.

But when Brian Kelly gives the press conference camera that funny little look out of the side and top of his head, and says in twenty-five years of coaching, he has never seen a player on this level, and that the story of spring ball so far has been Jerry Tillery, (with new coaches reportedly getting great performances from many of their players, and the victorious return of Grace,) one should be at least willing to invest a coin or two to buy one's way out of the cheap seats for a better view of the show!

How was that? Fair enough without falling victim to my own ebullience?

We landed him. Now let him grow. It should all be good.

This, this, this x100. Only thing is that the film argument is a tad unfair, since Tuitt had all his film on defense, whereas Tillery's was almost entirely on offense. If you told me in August that Tillery would be a better Tuitt coming in, I'd nod politely and have you institutionalized. But Tillery has put in the work, both physically and technically to get better, A LOT better. I'm only overly optimistic about him because everyone else seems to be, so why am I suddenly needing to slow my roll?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

This, this, this x100. Only thing is that the film argument is a tad unfair, since Tuitt had all his film on defense, whereas Tillery's was almost entirely on offense. If you told me in August that Tillery would be a better Tuitt coming in, I'd nod politely and have you institutionalized. But Tillery has put in the work, both physically and technically to get better, A LOT better. I'm only overly optimistic about him because everyone else seems to be, so why am I suddenly needing to slow my roll?

You need to slow your roll because you are responsible for your reputation of high speed revolution. I don't think you said anything necessarily out of line about Tillery. But some people are going to read all you say with an extra twist, for a bit. And a few are going to think it high humor to remind everyone of your most fervent optimism, until the new favorite target comes along ("primo" traction among the no imagination crowd). It would just be best if you get other people to say those things by asking questions, for awhile.

 

[Crazy Balki]

You need to slow your roll because you are responsible for your reputation of high speed revolution. I don't think you said anything necessarily out of line about Tillery. But some people are going to read all you say with an extra twist, for a bit. And a few are going to think it high humor to remind everyone of your most fervent optimism, until the new favorite target comes along ("primo" traction among the no imagination crowd). It would just be best if you get other people to say those things by asking questions, for awhile.

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

 

[GoIrish41]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

I think bogs was just offering a little well meaning advice. Absolutely you can post as you like but he was suggesting a way for you to take less crap when you do. Take it or leave it I guess. But take it from a guy who has consistently defended you, bogs' advice was pretty sound. Pretty sure it was not meant in a negative way at all if that is how you took it ... And your response suggests that you did.

 

[EddytoNow]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

You're right. You can say what you please. And Tillery has put in the work conditioning himself. But Bogs is one of the wise old owls on this site, and you'd be wise to listen to him. Tillery may end up being the best defensive lineman Notre Dame has seen in a long time, but he hasn't played a down of college football yet. After he's played a season or two and shown the dominance in real games over the course of a couple seasons, you will have plenty of company singing his praises. I'll even join the chorus, but until we see him dominate USC, Clemson, Florida State, Miami and the like I won't be joining the choir.

 

[Booslum31]

I recognize that this is how we police ourselves, but we sure do pile on at times...especially in the off-season when the pace is a bit slow.

 

[Grahambo]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

Could you sound anymore like a whiney little shit?

I'm in favor of bans for bullshit like this and stupid ass comparisons.

 

[RyCo1983]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

Da-fug you just say to Bogs?

 

[EvilleIrish]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

There's a big difference between being high on an early enrollee and comparing him to a recent all american.

 

[Irish2155]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

Fuck it then... Why would you care what Bogs, or anyone else on the world wide web, says?

Whiney little bitch...LOL

 

[zelezo vlk]

I read it as just him forgetting the italics.

 

[Irish YJ]

 

[JD Irish]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

You are the worst poster on this site. Please stop.

 

[GoldenDomer]

You are the worst poster on this site. Please stop.

Lol.

 

[EvilleIrish]

You are the worst poster on this site. Please stop.

Amen.

 

[NDWorld247]

Fuck that! I'll say what I damn well please. If I think he's Do-it Tuitt 2.0, then so be it. I'm in the right in this situation, because everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid, that makes my praise justifiable. Can't play that double-standard card. If others can be optimistic about Tillery, so can I. Them's the breaks.

I don't have any problem with the comparisons to Tuitt (as a freshman). I mean, if we are to believe what BK says about him being the most impressive player he's seen in 25 years (or whatever he said), wouldn't that mean Tillery > Tuitt as a freshman? I think we need to see him play in a game before going that far, but it's not crazy.

Where you lose me, and 99.9999% of ND/CFB fans, is when you proclaim Rochell and Tillery to "probably be the most powerful tandem on defense in the country". That's just ridiculous and deserves criticism.

I like you as a poster though. Sure you say some ridiculous shit but you're entertaining and obviously passionate about ND football. I hate when the cyber bullies come out of the woodwork and pile on you. It's embarrassing but I guess now that Koon is gone they need someone to rag on from momma's basement. I don't sign on/post much anymore but if I did I'd come to your defense more often. However, statements about Rochell/Tillery are indefensible. But, keep being you. I'll take your sunshine and rainbows over some of the other crap that gets posted on here daily.

 

[ND4LIFE]

You are the worst poster on this site. Please stop.

And you should stop insulting him and quit reading his posts then!

 

[GoIrish41]

And you should stop insulting him and quit reading his posts then!

This