2021 Spring Practice

[longliveautrydenson]

Sounds like Griffith is making a charge at the starting safety spot. How do we feel about that?

He’s the caliber of athlete that we need back there. We’ve also seen multiple recent examples of players making a leap in their third or fourth year in the program (e.g. Bilal, Boykin, McKinley, etc.). With that in mind, I see this as a very positive development as we badly need Griffith to bridge the gap until the huge 2021 class can get up to speed.

 

[Luckylucci]

This is why him coming back was so important. Worst case scenario, someone is going to have to beat him out with their elevated play. Best case scenario, he has the highest ceiling of the S’s not named Hamilton.

 

[ND88]

I agree WR won't need to dominate for the team to be successful, but I do see this as a year we could see it take a big step forward. While we lose Book's wheels, we probably 1) have a better arm now, and 2) because we lack Book's wheels, may need to look deeper. The overall talent available at WR this year is pretty good if it can stay healthy. Assuming it does, I predict more than a moderate improvement.

Yea, everything you write is logical and certainly a possibility. I’m erring on the side of caution and hoping we have more that we just haven’t seen yet.

Lenzy, Keys, and Austin are too injury prone to inspire confidence. The hype just hasn’t manifested, but I admire your optimism. I certainly hope I’m just being overly negative.

Wilkins and Davis are unlikely to blow up the scene, but should provide some consistency and leadership (Davis moreso).

I think the hope for really exploding on the scene lies in Johnson, Watts, and Styles. My optimism lies in the hope that one or two surprises us from this bunch.

 

[Luckylucci]

I wouldn’t categorize Austin as injury prone. As a freshman, he played in the 4 game max. Was out due to off field issues as a Sophomore. And, was injured as a Junior. Nothing injury prone about him. The most recent injury only ‘came back’ because he chose to rehab without surgery in order to play before season was over.

 

[Luckylucci]

There is also this young man.

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/AABonNBC/status/1380199860108935171[/TWEET]

 

[tko]

Traits

 

[ND88]

I wouldn’t categorize Austin as injury prone. As a freshman, he played in the 4 game max. Was out due to off field issues as a Sophomore. And, was injured as a Junior. Nothing injury prone about him. The most recent injury only ‘came back’ because he chose to rehab without surgery in order to play before season was over.

You know what? You’re right. I overstated that point about Austin being injury prone. Thanks for clarifying. I think it’s more the anticipation that’s killing us in terms of getting him in the fold again.

 

[Luckylucci]

You know what? You’re right. I overstated that point about Austin being injury prone. Thanks for clarifying. I think it’s more the anticipation that’s killing us in terms of getting him in the fold again.

True. The anticipation has been killing me since they recruited him. He was the highest rated WR in the Kelly era, I believe, and we haven’t gotten the production we expected but it doesn’t seem to be because of a missed eval. So, we just have to hope it translates to next season. I gotta think he’s seeing millions of dollars up for grabs being the #1 in this offense and is taking it very seriously.

 

[Trait Expectations]

Austin, Davis, Johnson, Lenzy, Keys, Wilkins, Watts, Styles, Brunelle

That is at/near the top of the athletic potential spectrum across Kelly's tenure. It's reasonable to expect that to have a good conclusion.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yea, everything you write is logical and certainly a possibility. I’m erring on the side of caution and hoping we have more that we just haven’t seen yet.

Lenzy, Keys, and Austin are too injury prone to inspire confidence. The hype just hasn’t manifested, but I admire your optimism. I certainly hope I’m just being overly negative.

Wilkins and Davis are unlikely to blow up the scene, but should provide some consistency and leadership (Davis moreso).

I think the hope for really exploding on the scene lies in Johnson, Watts, and Styles. My optimism lies in the hope that one or two surprises us from this bunch.

I don't disagree with anything you said. One thing though that makes me lean toward more "explosion" is simply the profiles of all of the guys you mention above. Last year we relied heavier on possession type guys (Skow and McKinley). Neither had wheels or explosive traits. Don't get me wrong, they were good for us, but not dynamic. The guys this year from top to bottom all have a different profile. Even if some of the same names get hurt again, the guys behind them are still more dynamic than what we've started in years past.

 

[Irish YJ]

Sounds like Griffith is making a charge at the starting safety spot. How do we feel about that?

NDI has had him first in the SS stack for a while now. IMO, it's a good thing. Perhaps the scheme fit was needed for the jump, but it's probably that and simply another year. He's always had the tools. If he has made the jump, our Ss will be legit this year. And with all the buzz about Hart, starting to feel much better about the secondary in general. We all know Lewis will likely be special. My only real concern right now is when we're in nickel and Lewis goes to NB. Can Bracy make the jump too?

Overall feeling solid about DBs and the DL. LB is the only area I'm perplexed about. Seeing Kiser as the top of the stack now for Rover.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think he's still at CB, which is where NDI has him slotted.
Here's what they have (it changes weekly).

Free Safety
14	Kyle Hamilton	6-4	219	Jr.
12	DJ Brown	6-0	194	Sr.
	Khari Gee	6-3	185	Fr.
Strong Safety
3	Houston Griffith	6-0	204	Sr.
16	KJ Wallace	5-10	189	Jr.
23	Litchfield Ajavon	6-0	198	Jr.
20	Justin Walters	6-1	178	Fr.
Boundary Cornerback
5	Cam Hart	6-3	207	Jr.
11	Ramon Henderson	6-1	180	So.
25	Philip Riley	6-0	198	Fr.
15	Ryan Barnes	6-2	182	Fr.
Field Cornerback
26	Clarence Lewis	6-0	192	So.
28	TaRiq Bracy	5-10	180	Sr.
21	Caleb Offord	6-1	184	So.
	Chance Tucker	6-0	165	Fr.
	JoJo Johnson	5-10	175	Fr.
Nickelback
26	Clarence Lewis	6-0	192	So.
16	KJ Wallace	5-10	189	Jr.

Been hearing hype about Spindler since day 1. I'm starting to believe too. I'm getting a Q vibe.

Good to see KJ Wallace getting reps at the nickel. I've been waiting two years for him to take that spot.

 

[Irish YJ]

Good to see KJ Wallace getting reps at the nickel. I've been waiting two years for him to take that spot.

I agree. I think I'd like to see Jo Jo get a shot later after if puts on some good weight.

I'm more comfortable with a nickel line up of Lewis/Hart at CBs and Wallace at NB, than Bracy/Hart at CBs and Lewis at NB. Maybe Bracy will step up though.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I agree. I think I'd like to see Jo Jo get a shot later after if puts on some good weight.

I'm more comfortable with a nickel line up of Lewis/Hart at CBs and Wallace at NB, than Bracy/Hart at CBs and Lewis at NB. Maybe Bracy will step up though.

The video ND posted of Mickens on youtube has some nice Bracy clips. I've always been a fan of Bracy, even though he had a rough 2020. If he puts it together, I'd feel really good about our corner situation.

Here's the Mickens video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBj-Yy9qIXQ

 

[Irish YJ]

The video ND posted of Mickens on youtube has some nice Bracy clips. I've always been a fan of Bracy, even though he had a rough 2020. If he puts it together, I'd feel really good about our corner situation.

Here's the Mickens video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBj-Yy9qIXQ

Yep, if Bracy can put it together, I agree. 2020 was rough though.

Both Bracy and Griffith have great tools but haven't been able to put it all together. I'd love to see both turn it on. If so, our DB situation could be very very good.

The comments about scheme change (simplified, and letting athletes be athletes) has me pretty pumped.

 

[Dale]

NDI has had him first in the SS stack for a while now. IMO, it's a good thing. Perhaps the scheme fit was needed for the jump, but it's probably that and simply another year. He's always had the tools. If he has made the jump, our Ss will be legit this year. And with all the buzz about Hart, starting to feel much better about the secondary in general. We all know Lewis will likely be special. My only real concern right now is when we're in nickel and Lewis goes to NB. Can Bracy make the jump too?

Overall feeling solid about DBs and the DL. LB is the only area I'm perplexed about. Seeing Kiser as the top of the stack now for Rover.

Wouldn’t rule out Moala to start at Rover. I thought him having a media session was a interesting tell.

 

[Irish YJ]

Wouldn’t rule out Moala to start at Rover. I thought him having a media session was a interesting tell.

Honestly all 3 LB positions could go a few ways IMO. Not a lot would surprise me. I think we'll see a lot of rotation regardless, and potentially some guys starting perhaps purely on an opponent by opponent basis.

If I'm just being a homer, I'm cheering for Bauer and Kiser.

 

[Trait Expectations]

Honestly all 3 LB positions could go a few ways IMO. Not a lot would surprise me. I think we'll see a lot of rotation regardless, and potentially some guys starting perhaps purely on an opponent by opponent basis.

If I'm just being a homer, I'm cheering for Bauer and Kiser.

I think Liufau looks like the most guaranteed bet for a starting spot. After that, I'd put money on Bauer and Kiser. White if he returns from injury would be tough to beat.

Maybe Pryor or Bertrand will surge

 

[Dale]

I think you can confidently say Marist and Drew White are your starters. What the snap count share is the question. If anything, Marist seems to be distancing himself from Simon as time passes while Bauer seems to be gaining on White, especially depending on down/distance. So if those are 60/40 or 70/30 type splits is what we’ll have to see.

 

[Irish YJ]

I think Liufau looks like the most guaranteed bet for a starting spot. After that, I'd put money on Bauer and Kiser. White if he returns from injury would be tough to beat.

Maybe Pryor or Bertrand will surge

Agreed on Liufau.

At MIKE, I think Bauer and White bring different things, and either could start depending on opponent's scheme. But yes, assumes White gets back to form.

Rover seems like it could be any of the 3 (Kiser/Moala/Pyor).

 

[Luckylucci]

Bauer looks great physically and he seems to bring a skill set that Freeman likes from his ILB’s. Agree on Liufau, he’s going to have a big year.

Prister article on Cam Hart’s ascension

https://247sports.com/college/notre...sing-Sign-for-Notre-Dame-Secondary-164093223/

 

[Irish YJ]

Bauer looks great physically and he seems to bring a skill set that Freeman likes from his ILB’s. Agree on Liufau, he’s going to have a big year.

Prister article on Cam Hart’s ascension

https://247sports.com/college/notre...sing-Sign-for-Notre-Dame-Secondary-164093223/

care to expand on what Freeman likes about Bauer's traits?

 

[Luckylucci]

care to expand on what Freeman likes about Bauer's traits?

I used the word seems on purpose. I don’t know what Freeman likes about Bauer. But I do know that Freeman at Cincy tended to use bigger/physical ILB’s as gap fillers in his 3 down scheme. If it’s less about diagnose and chase and more about gap responsibility in place of a DT (which is what a lot of 3-3-5 is about) then I think Bauer could have a leg up on the competition. Those Mug LB’s that we’ve read about, Bauer is 6’2 3/4 230 seems to fit that well.

 

[Luckylucci]

With that said, there is an expectation that we still run a fair amount of 4 down due to the abundance of quality DT’s in the roster.

 

[Irish YJ]

With that said, there is an expectation that we still run a fair amount of 4 down due to the abundance of quality DT’s in the roster.

Thanks LL. That's what I was thinking (it had to do with 3-3-5). I kinda foresee a heavy rotation of the two (White/Bauer) or perhaps different starters vs different opponents.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Ifd7H48Hzs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ifd7H48Hzs

 

[Irish YJ]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Ifd7H48Hzs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ifd7H48Hzs

 

[Dale]

Agreed on Liufau.

At MIKE, I think Bauer and White bring different things, and either could start depending on opponent's scheme. But yes, assumes White gets back to form.

Rover seems like it could be any of the 3 (Kiser/Moala/Pyor).

Opponent wise, I’m weirdly excited to see what we throw out versus USC and UNC. It’s towards the second half and we get a bye and then the two “Air Raid” offenses back to back. Freeman will have a chance to cook something up for the pass happy offenses.

 

[stpeteirish]

There's an interview with Polian up today that I found worth watching. He's happy that most of his "core" special teamers are back. Looking for a few additions mentioned Bertrand, Brunelle and Estime as guys he wants to use. Interesting that he would mention Estime who isn't even there yet. He likes his "big body" and thinks he could be on all 4 units (i'm thinking that's punt and kickoff, both ways.)

At the end he goes into a lenghty defense of using guys who actually catch the ball as the punt return man. Sure to make some heads explode on various message boards. Said Tyree, Styles, and Keys will get a look to see if they can handle things.

 

[Irish YJ]

Opponent wise, I’m weirdly excited to see what we throw out versus USC and UNC. It’s towards the second half and we get a bye and then the two “Air Raid” offenses back to back. Freeman will have a chance to cook something up for the pass happy offenses.

I'm pretty excited too. If I'm honest though, I still don't know what to expect of the new scheme. I read an article on Freeman's scheme (I think Luckylucci posted it), but need to go back an reread it lol. I'm wondering if we'll transition slow or fast. Seems like were moving to at least some elements pretty fast looking at position changes on the DL, and with some of the talk from players (about being simplified).

The unknown is always exciting. I know our D has been good, but seemed at least our secondary took a step back last year. Even before that, at least to me, our D seemed pretty conservative to me. Hoping for some fun and some aggression.