2016 Spring Practice Thread

[IrishLax]

Wiltfong and Mike Frank were talking yesterday at practice and they both agreed that if Kizer wins the job, he has the talent to leave after this season.

Yes, which I think is why he should ultimately win the job (as much as I like Malik) because he's built like an NFL QB, can see the whole field, and has an adequate arm to make all the throws. His biggest issues are accuracy and a slow release... and that's nit picking.

I think our best-case scenario is start Kizer, Kizer goes to the NFL, Wimbush takes over next year. I think if you start Malik he plays two more years, Kizer transfers. The worst case scenario with starting Kizer would be that he stays another 2-3 years at an NFL caliber level and Wimbush transfers... but at least then you have an NFL caliber QB for multiple seasons, so you can't really complain.

 

[arrowryan]

I think this is the first time that I am actually in favor of and hoping BK goes with a 2 QB system. Kizer and Zaire are just too good to keep one of them on the bench.

I would give the ball to Kizer until the offense reaches the opponent's 30 yard line and then I put in Zaire for Kizer. Let Zaire run a good mix of passing plays and the read option and I'd bet the offense score touchdowns on 75% of their trips to the red zone.

I would have Zaire getting the red zone snaps instead of Kizer because I think the read option is the only thing that Zaire is clearly better at than Kizer.

 

[Irish YJ]

As much as I dislike a 2 QB system, I think we'll see plenty of both.

 

[kmoose]

Irish try different roles for Aliz'e Jones, Drue Tranquill

 

[irishff1014]

Yes, which I think is why he should ultimately win the job (as much as I like Malik) because he's built like an NFL QB, can see the whole field, and has an adequate arm to make all the throws. His biggest issues are accuracy and a slow release... and that's nit picking.

I think our best-case scenario is start Kizer, Kizer goes to the NFL, Wimbush takes over next year. I think if you start Malik he plays two more years, Kizer transfers. The worst case scenario with starting Kizer would be that he stays another 2-3 years at an NFL caliber level and Wimbush transfers... but at least then you have an NFL caliber QB for multiple seasons, so you can't really complain.

We are very good at that this position that's for sure.

 

[BobbyMac]

Yes, which I think is why he should ultimately win the job (as much as I like Malik) because he's built like an NFL QB, can see the whole field, and has an adequate arm to make all the throws. His biggest issues are accuracy and a slow release... and that's nit picking.

I think our best-case scenario is start Kizer, Kizer goes to the NFL, Wimbush takes over next year. I think if you start Malik he plays two more years, Kizer transfers. The worst case scenario with starting Kizer would be that he stays another 2-3 years at an NFL caliber level and Wimbush transfers... but at least then you have an NFL caliber QB for multiple seasons, so you can't really complain.

When I was with the team in Scottsdale I'd have bet the farm Malik would've started in '16. You could see how the other players & staff interacted with him. Malik & Sheldon held court like mob bosses. It's been my experience that the alpha males play, even when they aren't physically the best.

All that said, if you are going on what the team releases regarding practice and the feedback from the talking heads, Kizer is the clear cut leader in my opinion. I don't know who's going to win the position but I'd guess this is the last year at ND for either Kizer or Malik... or maybe even both depending on how this scenario plays out. That thought has not been passed on to me by anyone, it's just a gut feeling.

 

[stlnd01]

I don't know who's going to win the position but I'd guess this is the last year at ND for either Kizer or Malik... or maybe even both depending on how this scenario plays out. That thought has not been passed on to me by anyone, it's just a gut feeling.

It is hard to see how Kizer, Zaire and Wimbush are all on the roster in 2017. But the unforseen always happens in one way or another. For the time being, I'll enjoy our embarrassment of riches at QB and hope all three are man enough to put the team first this coming season.

The idea of Zaire as red zone QB is an intriguing one. He's at least Kizer's equal in the run game, probably better, and Kizer struggled throwing close to/in to the end zone last year. Haven't seen enough of Zaire to know if he can make those throws better, but it's quite possible.

 

[calvegas04]

ST Drill

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Special Teams... On a new level.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGold?src=hash">#BlueGold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7Days?src=hash">#7Days</a> ☘ <a href="https://t.co/GB7jAv2ifg">pic.twitter.com/GB7jAv2ifg</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/718864374631411713">April 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BeauBenken]

ST Drill

<iframe title="Twitter Tweet" data-tweet-id="718864374631411713" style="position: static; visibility: visible; display: block; width: 500px; height: 439.65px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; max-width: 100%; min-width: 220px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="twitter-widget-0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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I like that drill. Going to use that.

<iframe style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; display: none; width: 0px; height: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none;" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="rufous-sandbox" frameborder="0"></iframe>

 

[koonja]

Looking at our expected depth chart:

WR 1: 4-star (Hunter)
WR 2: 4-star (ESB)
Slot: 4-star (Sanders/Holmes)
TE: 3/4-star (depends on who's starting)
QB: 4-star (Doesn't matter)
RB: 4-star (Folston)
LT: 4-star (McGlichey)
LG: 5-star (Nelson)
Center: 4-star (Mustipher)
RG: 4-star (Hoge/Bivin)
RT: 4-star (Bars)

SD: 4-star (Rochell)
DT: 4/5-star (Tillery)
DT: 4/5-star (Jarron Jones)
WDE: 4-star (Trumbetti)
Mike: 4-star (Morgan)
Sam: 3/4-star (Onowala)
Will: 4-star (Bilal or Coney)
CB1: 4-star (Luke)
CB2: 4-star (Watkins)
SS: 3/4-star (Tranquill)
FS: 4/5-star (Redfield)


Pretty awesome- Drue/TE/Onowala are scheduled to be our only starting 3 star players.

 

[Luckylucci]

Yea, talent isn't or shouldn't be an issue. However, here was plenty of talent on D last year and it couldn't hold up late in the season.

One notable from both 247 and Rivals Saturday viewing was that Bilal is athletic but completely lost at times. Sounds like he's really having troubles grasping the defense.

 

[fightingirish26]

Yea, talent isn't or shouldn't be an issue. However, here was plenty of talent on D last year and it couldn't hold up late in the season.

One notable from both 247 and Rivals Saturday viewing was that Bilal is athletic but completely lost at times. Sounds like he's really having troubles grasping the defense.

get him on ST

 

[koonja]

Yea, talent isn't or shouldn't be an issue. However, here was plenty of talent on D last year and it couldn't hold up late in the season.

One notable from both 247 and Rivals Saturday viewing was that Bilal is athletic but completely lost at times. Sounds like he's really having troubles grasping the defense.

Who would have thought...

 

[koonja]

Yea, talent isn't or shouldn't be an issue. However, here was plenty of talent on D last year and it couldn't hold up late in the season.

One notable from both 247 and Rivals Saturday viewing was that Bilal is athletic but completely lost at times. Sounds like he's really having troubles grasping the defense.

I attribute a lot of that to Tranquill's injury, Redfield's Redfieldness, and virtually playing without a Mike LB.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="no" dir="ltr">Spring stock report:*Defense <a href="https://t.co/Q5zY56SxT0">https://t.co/Q5zY56SxT0</a></p>— Keith Arnold (@KeithArnold) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithArnold/status/719596305069133825">April 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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and

Spring stock report: Offense – Inside the Irish

 

[koonja]

Can someone explain the DL and depth? ISD confused me by talking for about 5 minutes on their podcast about how Jay Hayes is pushing to unseat Trumbetti. But I thought Trumbetti was a WDE, and Rochelle was a SDE, and Hayes was the primary backup for the SDE being that he's huge.

WKE: Trumbetti/Hayes
3T: Tillery/Cage?
NT: Jarron Jones/???
SDE: Rochelle/Kareem?

Where does Blankership, Daelin Hayes, Drew-Treadway, Elijah Taylor all fit in?

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> Special Teams Improving on a Daly Basis. <a href="https://t.co/gZgiO2gh5c">https://t.co/gZgiO2gh5c</a> <a href="https://t.co/5S0A6wEPW9">pic.twitter.com/5S0A6wEPW9</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/719881801183862792">April 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Domina Nostra]

Can someone explain the DL and depth? ISD confused me by talking for about 5 minutes on their podcast about how Jay Hayes is pushing to unseat Trumbetti. But I thought Trumbetti was a WDE, and Rochelle was a SDE, and Hayes was the primary backup for the SDE being that he's huge.

WKE: Trumbetti/Hayes
3T: Tillery/Cage?
NT: Jarron Jones/???
SDE: Rochelle/Kareem?

Where does Blankership, Daelin Hayes, Drew-Treadway, Elijah Taylor all fit in?

it's been a little confusing. They are reporting conflicting things and they are moving people around a little. As far as I can tell, here is how the spring is playing out. I think they would love for Bonner and/or Hayes to stay at End, which would mean someone emerging as a back-up for Tillery:

NT (1 tech)
1) Jarron Jones '16
2) Daniel Cage '17

Peter Mokwuah '18

DT (3 tech)
1) Jerry Tillery '18
2) Micah Dew-Treadway '19/Jonathan Bonner '17 (also getting SDE reps)
3) Elijah Taylor '19

Brandon Tiassum, So. '19

SDE
1) Isaac Rochell
2 a,b,c) Grant Blankenship '17/Khalid Kareem '19/Jonathan Bonner '17 (but also getting DT reps)

WDE
1) Andrew Trumbetti '17
2) Jay Hayes '18 (also getting SDE reps?)

Rush End
1) Dealin Hayes '19 (rush end)

 

[koonja]

it's been a little confusing. They are reporting conflicting things and they are moving people around a little. As far as I can tell, here is how the spring is playing out:

NT (1 tech)
1) Jarron Jones, RSS. '16
2) Daniel Cage, Jr. '17

Peter Mokwuah, Jr. '18

DT (3 tech)
1) Jerry Tillery, So. '18
2) Micah Dew-Treadway, So. '19
Elijah Taylor, So. '19

Brandon Tiassum, So. '19

SDE
1) Isaac Rochell
2 a,b,c) Grant Blankenship/Khalid Kareem/Jonathan Bonner (also getting DT reps)

WDE
1) Andrew Trumbetti
2) Jay Hayes (also getting SDE reps?)

Rush End
1) Dealin Hayes (rush end)

Thanks. Would like to see someone push Tillery, as I get the vibe from listening to the ISD/BGI podcasts, that he's been OK and seems to be almost going through the motions. I didn't think he was as good as people thought last year, and I wonder how he'll be without Sheldon yelling at him all of the time. I'd like to see someone legitimately take his starting job to get him going, not sure Treadway is ready for that or not.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Off topic, but is the spring game normally online after it's played? I don't get NBC Sports.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Thanks. Would like to see someone push Tillery, as I get the vibe from listening to the ISD/BGI podcasts, that he's been OK and seems to be almost going through the motions. I didn't think he was as good as people thought last year, and I wonder how he'll be without Sheldon yelling at him all of the time. I'd like to see someone legitimately take his starting job to get him going, not sure Treadway is ready for that or not.

I think he's as talented as people thought, but a lot of kids end up at ND because they see life beyond football. A giant from Louisiana who LSU was recruiting for both lines that ends up in South Bend is not your typical football player.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Learning how to be a professional from my coaches is a beautiful experience.</p>— Spencer Perry (@Black_Jesus1k) <a href="https://twitter.com/Black_Jesus1k/status/719909635260592128">April 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[Domina Nostra]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Learning how to be a professional from my coaches is a beautiful experience.</p>— Spencer Perry (@Black_Jesus1k) <a href="https://twitter.com/Black_Jesus1k/status/719909635260592128">April 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lesson 1: get a new twitter tag.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Lesson 1: get a new twitter tag.

Not a fan of the show?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[PANDFAN]

Lesson 1: get a new twitter tag.

Black Jesus (TV Series 2014– ) - IMDb

The hi-jinks of a street-smart savior living in modern-day Compton, on a mission to spread love and kindness throughout the crime-ridden L.A. neighborhood with his small group of followers.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">*New Podcast* We review Saturday's open practice and what we saw .. Free 🔊: <a href="https://t.co/48iiNhbfZL">https://t.co/48iiNhbfZL</a> <a href="https://t.co/WvCKh0mMb8">pic.twitter.com/WvCKh0mMb8</a></p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/719940783667720192">April 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Irish#1]

Yea, talent isn't or shouldn't be an issue. However, here was plenty of talent on D last year and it couldn't hold up late in the season.

One notable from both 247 and Rivals Saturday viewing was that Bilal is athletic but completely lost at times. Sounds like he's really having troubles grasping the defense.

Morgan 2.0?

 

[kmoose]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">*New Podcast* We review Saturday's open practice and what we saw .. Free 🔊: <a href="https://t.co/48iiNhbfZL">https://t.co/48iiNhbfZL</a> <a href="https://t.co/WvCKh0mMb8">pic.twitter.com/WvCKh0mMb8</a></p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/719940783667720192">April 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lots of info in that podcast. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[IrishLion]

Yes, which I think is why he should ultimately win the job (as much as I like Malik) because he's built like an NFL QB, can see the whole field, and has an adequate arm to make all the throws. His biggest issues are accuracy and a slow release... and that's nit picking.

I think our best-case scenario is start Kizer, Kizer goes to the NFL, Wimbush takes over next year. I think if you start Malik he plays two more years, Kizer transfers. The worst case scenario with starting Kizer would be that he stays another 2-3 years at an NFL caliber level and Wimbush transfers... but at least then you have an NFL caliber QB for multiple seasons, so you can't really complain.

I was just thinking about this while responding to a post in the NFL Draft thread.

Next year's QB class in the draft looks weaker than this year's, which (to me) is not good in the first place.

Looking at next year, you've got Deshaun Watson as a sure-fire #1, worth every penny. After that, you've got a bunch of guys that could play themselves into being legit draft prospects... but they are also guys that could still go into the draft as "taking a chance on a developmental guy because we've got no other options in this draft if we aren't the first overall pick."

After Watson, who do you have? Josh Dobbs? Baker Mayfield? Chad Kelly (LOL)? Gunner Kiel if he gets his act together? These are all guys that could play into being legit first round QB's. But they could also be guys that teams end up having to reach for because of a lack of quality options.

Hell, if you look at the current rankings, even with projected early entries, PATRICK TOWLES, A GUY WHO GOT RAN OUT OF KENTUCKY, could be a top-5 QB in the draft just because he's big and has a strong arm.

Which leads me to LAX's comments above.... if Kizer starts, and improves even marginally from last season, he could play himself into being the #2 QB behind Watson. And that's crazy to think about, but not because it's a stretch. He's got the size and the arm strength, and he's got the brains and the confidence. It's just crazy to think that he went from ND's struggling 3rd string QB, to a guy that could realistically be a first-rounder, and in only two years.

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3-star Chicagoland DE watching Notre Dame practice this morning .. $ <a href="https://t.co/JlNDbM59hK">https://t.co/JlNDbM59hK</a></p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/720241464417062912">April 13, 2016</a></blockquote>
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