2018 Fall Camp Thread

[Irish YJ]

How come no ones talking about this? Huge if it's a muscle pull.

freebie

https://www.ndinsider.com/football/analysis-sizing-up-the-state-of-notre-dame-football-three/article_a8ea884e-ed03-5f35-83b0-a64992905c9e.html

The Notre Dame offensive line depth chart under new O-line coach Jeff Quinn is as difficult to diagram in a traditional two-deep graphic as it was under predecessor Harry Hiestand.

A case in point, the backup right tackle is not sophomore Aaron Banks or freshman John Dirksen, as will likely be listed, but rather junior Tommy Kraemer, who just happens to be the starting right guard. In a way, he also figures into the backup left tackle scenario.

So if No. 1 Liam Eichenberg suffered an injury during a game, right tackle Robert Hainsey would likely move to left tackle, Kraemer would slide to right tackle, and either sophomore Josh Lugg or junior Trevor Ruhland would elevate to No. 1 right guard.

Potential injuries at center and left guard also have similarly convoluted solutions.

Kelly and Quinn planned to explore and work on all of those contingencies next week, but a calf strain that sidelined Hainsey on Saturday moved up the timetable.

“We’re going to do an MRI, but we don’t think it’s anything but muscular,” Kelly said. “We want to be careful with him.”

Among those players just outside the core rotation of seven, Banks and true freshman offensive tackle Jarrett Patterson continue to surge.

 

[Luckylucci]

Practice video from yesterday shows Wimbush with a couple good throws. Holy crap, he’s back, lol

 

[Old Man Mike]

These OLine rotations seem completely normal to me. Early in Coach's tenure here the OLine was essentially seven players (starters plus one "first tackle in" and one "first interior lineman in.") If you have a guy like Kraemer with both inside and outside skills, then it's just "next best guy in" --- which is apparently Lugg or possibly Ruhland (especially if the center position was involved.) "Iron Fives-plus-two" aren't that odd. It's nice to have good eight/nine/tens, but those guys rarely play except mop-up time. (Even, I'll bet, at Alabama.... surely it's that way in the NFL.)

Now on the other hand, there are certain guys that you'd REALLY like NOT to be hobbled --- the big four (Mustipher, Bars, Kraemer, and Hainsey) are all in that category, but Mustipher (since he's unique among the big four as our center) and Hainsey might be the two most NOT wanted to be dinged. Hainsey I think gets this plaudit because I think that the staff believes him either to be our best OLineman currently or will be soon. So, yeh, I'll worry a little until I hear that Mr. Quick-Foot is back at full go. For a while Mr. Mauler will do fine at RT.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Practice video from yesterday shows Wimbush with a couple good throws. Holy crap, he’s back, lol

Already shared them above too. Agree that he needs to be more consistent this season, but if he can get more big gainers, and continue to move the chains with his legs, we'll put up tons of points. There's multiple ways to move the ball, and completion percentage isn't the end all be all.

And, frankly, I couldn't care less about how he looks throwing into a net.

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[TheSunIsRising]

What would you rather have happen? Consider the long haul of the season...

Scenario 1: We lose to Michigan 27-24. But the defense and BW look awesome. We fumble once on kick return and once from a young RB, but overall we should have won the game. BW goes 19/27, with 278 yards, 2 TDs, 0 picks, and 50 yards rushing.

Scenario 2: We win on a couple bone head plays by Michigan 24-17. It feels like they should have won, but we get the W. BW plays awful. 12/29, 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs.

Is this going to be a weekly poll for each game week of the season and playoffs??

Over the long haul of the season, I want to get in first with and answer of Scenario 2 for each of games 1-14. No more moral victories like 2005 USC

I will think a little bit more about which scenario I'd prefer for the 2019 Blue/Gold game though

 

[arrowryan]

Is this going to be a weekly poll for each game week of the season and playoffs??

Over the long haul of the season, I want to get in first with and answer of Scenario 2 for each of games 1-14. No more moral victories like 2005 USC

I will think a little bit more about which scenario I'd prefer for the 2019 Blue/Gold game though

I would rather win 3-0 and Wimbush go 0-20 with 5 interceptions than have scenario one happen. An ugly win is ALWAYS better than a pretty loss.

 

[Circa]

I get where you are going LAX but, we are talking about throws to a back, 5-10 yards away, with minimal pressure, and the kid has, on a consistent basis, thrown behind, over the head, and at the feet of these backs last year and it looks like nothing has changed on his accuracy.

Keep finding reasons to disagree and you will 100% of the time.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

https://twitter.com/BGI_CoachD/status/1028727056010539008?s=19

Over 24 hours later, and Driskell is still sticking his neck out for Brandon.

But, I thought this Tweet was interesting. I saw Brandon's completion percentage was somewhere around 50% for the day (from other reporters). Driskell makes it sound like he had a good day overall (at least in the short term completion percentage).

(Also, there was another Tweet where he said Brandon didn't have a bad practice, period.)

To me, this is a clear indicator that reporters are over analyzing the hell out of the situation (because, it's the biggest story line of the off season).

I saw Pete had a reply on Twitter about he has made a pact with himself to "not hyper analyze" Brandon.

Yet, he runs are story about "is it time reconsider Wimbush?"

I can't wait until September 1. Come success or failure, at least we'll be through this hyper analysis "what if" off season.

(also, as I've previously stated, I'm skeptical that reporters are over analyzing / over reporting, intentionally for clicks)


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[koonja]

I am friends with one of the ND analysts. Hes all in on ND beating Michigan. After this weeks practices, his prediction for what ND scores in that game has dropped exactly 10 pts.

Still had ND winning.

 

[Sea Turtle]

This is certainly good to read:

https://slapthesign.com/2018/08/12/...eceivers-will-physical-mismatches-season/amp/

 

[Dizzyphil]

Keep finding reasons to disagree and you will 100% of the time.

That's a great quote...................




for someone else

 

[Luckylucci]

It’s not based upon a few reps, it’s based upon practice reports that have the same report: Wimbush made some inexplicable throws but bounced back. Which is what he was last year. So if he’s not improving and by all accounts Book is a sharper, better passer and better mover of the offense than why not play him instead?

How do you know he’s not improving? What has completion percentage been? Do you have those numbers? You’ve literally seen, what, 30 minutes of practice clips from 11 practices. Ha. The media has seen 3 of 11 practices. Just think about that for a couple minutes and let it resonate.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

How do you know he’s not improving? What has completion percentage been? Do you have those numbers? You’ve literally seen, what, 30 minutes of practice clips from 11 practices. Ha. The media has seen 3 of 11 practices. Just think about that for a couple minutes and let it resonate.

Exactly. Wimbush will be much improved and ready to lead our Irish to win lots of games. He'll be ready. No doubt in my mind. Go Irish!

 

[snoopdog]

How do you know he’s not improving? What has completion percentage been? Do you have those numbers? You’ve literally seen, what, 30 minutes of practice clips from 11 practices. Ha. The media has seen 3 of 11 practices. Just think about that for a couple minutes and let it resonate.

Nobody knows anything at this point, even Long and bk.

The only thing that worries me is Driskell starts counting wr drops as part of BW's less than stellar completion % in the competitive parts of practice.

This type of justification for something not being right ( in this case BW's performance ) never ends up well.

 

[NDMIA]

Nobody knows anything at this point, even Long and bk.

The only thing that worries me is Driskell starts counting wr drops as part of BW's less than stellar completion % in the competitive parts of practice.

This type of justification for something not being right ( in this case BW's performance ) never ends up well.

Brandon Wimbush
2017 Record: 10-3
Points Per Game Rank: 25th/130 teams
QBR: 18th

I think it’s just better to root for Brandon Wimbush to have a great training camp and for Ian Book to give him some tough competition and to continue to gain confidence as a strong number 2. I don’t think the coaching staff is changing the starting QB when they won 10 games last year, were a top 25 offense, and have a guy who has some of the best legs at the QB position in the country. Remember that Wimbush barely played any football in 2016 & 2017 before being a first time starter in college this past year. I’m really excited to see what he can do this season in year 2

 

[Luckylucci]

I’m not sure I could be more excited to see Jafar at RB this fall. He looks great physically. Admittedly I’m really getting ahead of myself here, but he “looks” like a legit NFL RB. I hope he gets A LOT of work with Dexter out.

Also, it’s been mentioned before but hadn’t witnessed it myself but C’bo moves much better than I previously thought. Quick with good foot speed. When he gets some weight on him, he could be a good one. With how high I am on Jafar, Davis being in the mix, and some nice promise from C’bo, I really like the future of RB.

I probably wouldn’t add another to this class unless he’s an elite prospect or has elite speed.

 

[Luckylucci]

Also, seems unanimous that Austin is on the verge of being a special WR. I’m thinking he has a similar trajectory to Fuller where he’s balling his sophomore year with a decision to make after his 3rd.

 

[Luckylucci]

Of note, they were working on DL stunts with Tillery and Kareem lined up at DT. Love the idea of getting Tillery, Kareem, Hayes and Okwara on the field in the Nickel package. That’ll be a fun group to watch.

 

[Luckylucci]

Last note here. Apparently Franklin flashed quite yesterday. Very quick off the ball.

It really seems like the recruiting is finally building depth across the defense. Maybe not guys that will be contributors right now, like Franklin, but guys that seemingly will when there time comes. The succession of talent is impressive. Also, the versatility of guys. The ability to have guys like JGH bulk up to play Buck. Where folks are extremely excited about his future there.

 

[NDMIA]

Excellent couple of posts. I agree that ND is really recruiting some nice depth on their roster. At DT for example, they have

RS SR Jonathan Bonner
SR Jerry Tillery
RS JR Micah Dew-Treadway
SO Kurt Hinish
SO Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
RS FR Darnell Ewell
FR Jayson Ademilola
FR Ja’Mion Franklin

Now obviously NT & DT are different spots and require different skill sets (not enormous differences), but it’s really impressive that ND has such depth that their 5th DT is probably a 4th year player (Micah Dew-Treadway) who knows the system and has his college body ready and could help out if needed. It allows guys like Jayson Ademilola & Ja’Mion Franklin to provide competition at those positions without forcing them to learn the playbook at an accelerated pace or pressure them into playing before they are ready. The extra depth really allows for everyone to have to earn their playing time. There have been many seasons at ND where there would be a huge drop off between the starters and the bench players let alone the 5th DT. Now ND could probably go 6 deep at DT with some strong talent at every depth level.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Nobody knows anything at this point, even Long and bk.

The only thing that worries me is Driskell starts counting wr drops as part of BW's less than stellar completion % in the competitive parts of practice.

This type of justification for something not being right ( in this case BW's performance ) never ends up well.

Okay:

- Kelly has been at this coaching thing for decades. Has coached several QB's in that time.
- Kelly is actually conducting practice, in the film room, talking with his players.

I imagine he and Long have a bit more understanding of Brandon's progressions than we, site goers who base our opinions off of snippets of a select few practices that are viewed through the eyes of someone else.

I very rarely see things eye to eye with Driskell, and I think he's been a bit over the top with the Brandon reaction by fans, but we're gauging Brandon's performance. I don't see how omitting drops by the receivers is in anyway disingenuous to Brandon's performance evaluation. That is a critique on the receivers, as they have to make the catch when they can. Brandon can't catch the ball for them.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I trust the coaching staff to put the best group of players on the field. I trust that Wimbush is putting in the effort to be better and I trust that Kelly will manage the QB situation as well as possible.

Based on practice reports and what we have in our stable, how do you think the RB carries shake out? I'm removing QB from the equation even though I know a healthy, high functioning BW will take 15% of them.

Armstrong - 40%
Tony Jones Jr - 30%
Davis - 15%
Jahmir S. - 5%
CBO - 5%
other - 5%

I'm sure Kelly will want to give the freshman a handful of carries to see them live. I haven't heard enough praise about Jahmir/CBO to assume they are surging (which is to be expected).

Kelly made a statement after Saturday's practice about some players on the #2 offense probably shouldn't be on the #2 offense (aka - they are playing themselves into a #1 spot). I think Armstrong might be one of those players.

Anyone else care to give me their guestimated RB breakdown? Remember, we still have 19 days. Gotta pass the time somehow.

 

[Irish#1]

No shock, but I think a lot of you need to step back from the ledge.

Wimbush had a bad beginning of practice, but by all accounts turned it around and had a good finish.

We only get insight on a small fraction of practices, and the concerns will remain until Wimbush shows us he can get this done when the lights come on.

To quote a future HOF Quarterback and full-time douchebag, "R-E-L-A-X"

But, but, but.................

 

[Irish#1]

These OLine rotations seem completely normal to me. Early in Coach's tenure here the OLine was essentially seven players (starters plus one "first tackle in" and one "first interior lineman in.") If you have a guy like Kraemer with both inside and outside skills, then it's just "next best guy in" --- which is apparently Lugg or possibly Ruhland (especially if the center position was involved.) "Iron Fives-plus-two" aren't that odd. It's nice to have good eight/nine/tens, but those guys rarely play except mop-up time. (Even, I'll bet, at Alabama.... surely it's that way in the NFL.)

Now on the other hand, there are certain guys that you'd REALLY like NOT to be hobbled --- the big four (Mustipher, Bars, Kraemer, and Hainsey) are all in that category, but Mustipher (since he's unique among the big four as our center) and Hainsey might be the two most NOT wanted to be dinged. Hainsey I think gets this plaudit because I think that the staff believes him either to be our best OLineman currently or will be soon. So, yeh, I'll worry a little until I hear that Mr. Quick-Foot is back at full go. For a while Mr. Mauler will do fine at RT.

Just a different philosophy with this coach, right? When Howard Mudd coached the O-line for the Colts, he shuffled the line when an injury dictated a sub had to come in. I will say this always drove me crazy and I don't like that philosophy, especially when you flip a guy from one side of center to the other. Now everything is the opposite and you have to think more before you react. Plant foot is different, first step is different, angles are the opposite, etc. Try brushing your teeth with your opposite hand. You can do it, but it's not as easy. Not only that, but you're asking 2 or 3 guys to do this at the same time.

 

[Irish#1]

Okay:

- Kelly has been at this coaching thing for decades. Has coached several QB's in that time.
- Kelly is actually conducting practice, in the film room, talking with his players.

I imagine he and Long have a bit more understanding of Brandon's progressions than we, site goers who base our opinions off of snippets of a select few practices that are viewed through the eyes of someone else.

That is absolute BS!

 

[Irish#1]

From the IndyStar

How competition between WR Miles Boykin, CB Julian Love will benefit Notre Dame
Laken Litman, Indianapolis Star Published 4:46 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2018 | Updated 5:13 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2018

SOUTH BEND — Miles Boykin and Julian Love ask their friends to grade their ceramics projects after the 3-hour class every Friday. They want to know who made the better sculpture, pot or plate.

So far, the winner has been split 50-50, which makes sense because they’re used to beating each other about half the time. Whether it’s an art class or going one-on-one every day in football practice, Boykin and Love are constantly challenging each other to be better at something.

“We compete at everything,” Boykin said.

Love, a preseason All-American at cornerback, was second in the nation in passes broken up last year (20) and led Notre Dame in interceptions (three, two returned for touchdowns). He hasn’t followed that performance with a more impressive spring, however. Notre Dame’s two 6-4, 227-pound wide receivers Boykin and Chase Claypool are to blame for that, he half-jokes. But mostly Boykin because he and Love are often matched up during drills.

Boykin’s story is well-known. He’s got the intimidation factor down with his speed, size, physicality and athleticism, but was hidden on the depth chart last year behind current Green Bay Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown. Heading into the Citrus Bowl, Boykin had only made nine catches for 151 yards when injuries provided him the opportunity to step in. He took advantage and caught the game-winning touchdown pass to become the bowl’s MVP. He’s only gotten faster and stronger since and is expected to be Brandon Wimbush’s No. 1 weapon this fall.

“I knew what he had (before the bowl game) and I wanted him to show it,” Love said. “Except I don’t want him to show it against me. He’s making these great plays and I get so frustrated, but we’re making each other better.”

Boykin and Love’s practice battles, whether they are in a goal-to-go drill or 11-on-11, are noticeable. The wins are about equal with both players estimating a 50-50 split. This, of course, will only benefit the Fighting Irish in the long run.

“Every time I beat him, he beats me and every time he beats me, I beat him,” Boykin said. “It goes back and forth and when I get to a game, corners like J-Love are hard to find. Every time I go up against J-Love it makes me a better receiver. But I’m always mad when he beats me.”

Back in the spring, the contests favored Boykin. Love admittedly was trying to do too much. Coming off a statistically impressive sophomore season, he wanted to keep making interceptions. Brian Kelly had to drive it into his head that picking off quarterbacks wasn’t the only way great defensive backs are measured. Love is a technician, he’s smart. Once he remembered those facets, competition picked up.

“When an offensive player and defensive player are competing at that level and are both going to get some wins out of it, I sleep pretty good with that,” Kelly said. “It’s when they’re lopsided one way or the other where I get some concern. I would say the mindset changed for Julian in terms of how (he’s) going to play this position, ‘I don’t need to look for interceptions, they’ll come my way if I execute the right way.’”

First-team practice reps aren’t the first time Boykin and Love have helped each other out. Boykin was a four-star prospect from Providence Catholic High School outside Chicago with little interest in Notre Dame back in 2014. Love was a younger, smaller, three-star prospect from Nazareth Catholic, a 30-minute drive from Boykin’s school, and all he wanted to do was go to Notre Dame. The friends played 7-on-7 together.

After Boykin received his offer, he told Love about it casually like it was no big deal.

“He asked when I was going to commit and I was like, ‘Bro, I’m not going there. There’s no chance in the world I’m going there,’” said Boykin, who was also considering Michigan State. “That was his favorite school. Eventually I committed and I told him I was going to tell coaches about him. I kept dropping his name, dropping his name.”

The Chicago area recruiter at the time was former Notre Dame associate head coach and current Cincinnati offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. After Boykin committed in the summer of 2014, Denbrock showed up at Nazareth.

“The rest is history,” said Love, who committed on Notre Dame’s junior day in March 2015.

“I told (Julian) they were going to offer him at junior day and he ended up committing on the spot,” Boykin said. “I knew he was going to commit before they even offered him.”

The thing about Boykin, according to the Irish coaching staff, Boykin himself, and Love, is that if he’s in Citrus Bowl mode, there’s not much anyone can do to stop him. For example, on the first day of camp in Culver, Wimbush launched a pass to the senior wideout, who jumped over Love to make the kind of contested catch Irish receivers didn’t make last season — and one Boykin now has the reputation for making.

“Miles obviously is what we hoped he would become and that is a big play receiver,” Kelly said. “A guy that has great radius, is physical, and a guy that we can count on have trust in.”

A few practices later though, Love’s coverage forced Boykin to miss on a perfectly thrown ball from Wimbush down the right sideline. Boykin was stewing after the play and claims that Love didn’t win, “I lost it.”

Regardless, it’s those plays that are preparing them for the season ahead. Love is learning the best ways to go up, around or behind big, athletic receivers, while Boykin is getting consistent work against a top corner who challenges every route and doesn’t allow anything on the backside.

“I mean Brandon can just be calm in the pocket and throw it up,” Love said. “Miles has a 40-inch vertical and he’s 6-4. That’s hard to stop. That’s probably the most challenging — just going up with them and really forcing me to get into their bodies.”

One thing this competition doesn’t breed — or at least not yet — is trash talking. They can’t say the same for ceramics class, but Boykin and Love are known as Notre Dame’s only WR-DB combo that doesn’t razz the other. The reason isn’t necessarily because they haven’t thought about it.

“I think when we get on the field, we just wear each other out so much,” Boykin said. “At that point it’s just, I’m too tired to talk to you.”

Follow IndyStar Notre Dame Insider Laken Litman on Twitter and Instagram: @lakenlitman.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Great article! Thanks for sharing! Go Irish!

 

[BobbyMac]

Miles Boykin and Julian Love ask their friends to grade their ceramics projects after the 3-hour class every Friday. They want to know who made the better sculpture, pot or plate.

Too many jokes, so little time.

 

[snoopdog]

Okay:

- Kelly has been at this coaching thing for decades. Has coached several QB's in that time.
- Kelly is actually conducting practice, in the film room, talking with his players.

I imagine he and Long have a bit more understanding of Brandon's progressions than we, site goers who base our opinions off of snippets of a select few practices that are viewed through the eyes of someone else.

I very rarely see things eye to eye with Driskell, and I think he's been a bit over the top with the Brandon reaction by fans, but we're gauging Brandon's performance. I don't see how omitting drops by the receivers is in anyway disingenuous to Brandon's performance evaluation. That is a critique on the receivers, as they have to make the catch when they can. Brandon can't catch the ball for them.

The point I was making was, there is no way BK or Long know how well BW will mentally stand up against the Michigan D. They are as good a unit as BW will face (equal to 17 Georgia) and everyone is waiting on pins and needles to see how mentally strong BW is. Will he be the guy who performed well at MSU or fell completely apart at Miami.

And to sort of add to my point, if BK and Long knew/know how prepared BW is, they never would have started him against LSU.

I really hope my first point, as well as this one doesn't come across too douche.....but I believe we will all know how well BW will perform at the same time.

 

[stlnd01]

Of note, they were working on DL stunts with Tillery and Kareem lined up at DT. Love the idea of getting Tillery, Kareem, Hayes and Okwara on the field in the Nickel package. That’ll be a fun group to watch.

Oh, yes. Please. That is a havoc-wreaking defensive front on passing downs.