2021 Spring Practice

[NDdomer2]

Transition years are fun - it's a whole new level of anticipation for the season

 

[irishandy]

What position concerns people the most so far? I think ND will eventually settle in at the o-line. I want to see Fisher and Spindler play, but give them the starting job if they truly win the competition, we have enough depth at position. I am concerned most with WR. The names mentioned above have been injury prone. Can ND really count on Austin to be their #1 WR if not who? Is JJ having trouble in the classroom? How is Watts coming along? I think Lenzy can be used as a WR2 or slot. What can Colzie or Thomas bring when they com in June? Too many questions at the WR position.

ND will be fine at defense, I think they are going to be a surprise team on defense this year. We all hated losing Lea, but ND may have a better upgrade in Freeman.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

What position concerns people the most so far? I think ND will eventually settle in at the o-line. I want to see Fisher and Spindler play, but give them the starting job if they truly win the competition, we have enough depth at position. I am concerned most with WR. The names mentioned above have been injury prone. Can ND really count on Austin to be their #1 WR if not who? Is JJ having trouble in the classroom? How is Watts coming along? I think Lenzy can be used as a WR2 or slot. What can Colzie or Thomas bring when they com in June? Too many questions at the WR position.

ND will be fine at defense, I think they are going to be a surprise team on defense this year. We all hated losing Lea, but ND may have a better upgrade in Freeman.

Biggest concerns are Safety and Corner. We need a lot to go right for those positions to be able to compete at a national championship level, including:

1. Houston Griffith and/or DJ Brown elevating their game in a major way.

2. Some combination of Clarence Lewis, Tariq Bracy, and Cam Hart turning into consistent, quality starters.

3. Kyle Hamilton staying healthy.

4. Finding someone to competently play Nickel.

I have doubts about the first two coming to pass and God help us if KH misses extended time. I’m irrationally optimistic about JoJo Johnson saving the day at Nickel, although I know that’s probably not going to happen.

Conversely, I’m not all that worried about WR. Two guys are going to emerge between Austin, Lenzy, Keys, Johnson, Davis, Watts, Wilkins, and Styles. We won’t need much more than that because we’re going to get elite production from the TE position and I expect Kyren and Tyree to make a major impact in the passing game.

 

[Trait Expectations]

Biggest concerns are Safety and Corner. We need a lot to go right for those positions to be able to compete at a national championship level, including:

1. Houston Griffith and/or DJ Brown elevating their game in a major way.

2. Some combination of Clarence Lewis, Tariq Bracy, and Cam Hart turning into consistent, quality starters.

3. Kyle Hamilton staying healthy.

4. Finding someone to competently play Nickel.

I have doubts about the first two coming to pass and God help us if KH misses extended time. I’m irrationally optimistic about JoJo Johnson saving the day at Nickel, although I know that’s probably not going to happen.

Conversely, I’m not all that worried about WR. Two guys are going to emerge between Austin, Lenzy, Keys, Johnson, Davis, Watts, Wilkins, and Styles. We won’t need much more than that because we’re going to get elite production from the TE position and I expect Kyren and Tyree to make a major impact in the passing game.

WR and OL are the biggest concerns.

Our OL is getting abused in the clips and we haven't seen that in a long time. If our OL can't hold up for deep shots and we can't open holes for the RBs, we're going to have a rough offensive year. Which leads to the other big concern: can we find real playmakers at the WR position? We must have it. We need to have burners and we need to have guys who can win their 50/50 balls.

If I'm listing the most concerning positions: OL, WR, CB, S, QB

CB comes third because our front 7 can make the secondary look a lot better. I really think our front 7 is going to be playing championship-level football.

A QB has to be generational to make the OL look better. You need a sold - great OL to make the WRs look better.

Again, I'm not concerned until we're halfway through fall. If it still looks like the spring clips, then we're in trouble. Plenty of time for guys to settle into a position.

We really need Austin to be healthy and play his way into a 2nd-3rd rd draft selection.

 

[dublinirish]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1384504216740319236?s=20[/TWEET]

Jay Brunelle back off the back of a milk carton. Think it's the first time he's been spotted in spring ball

 

[dublinirish]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1384512063352025089?s=20[/TWEET]

 

[dublinirish]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1384515161235546114?s=20[/TWEET]

 

[IrishLax]

Biggest concerns are Safety and Corner. We need a lot to go right for those positions to be able to compete at a national championship level, including:

1. Houston Griffith and/or DJ Brown elevating their game in a major way.

2. Some combination of Clarence Lewis, Tariq Bracy, and Cam Hart turning into consistent, quality starters.

3. Kyle Hamilton staying healthy.

4. Finding someone to competently play Nickel.

I have doubts about the first two coming to pass and God help us if KH misses extended time. I’m irrationally optimistic about JoJo Johnson saving the day at Nickel, although I know that’s probably not going to happen.

Conversely, I’m not all that worried about WR. Two guys are going to emerge between Austin, Lenzy, Keys, Johnson, Davis, Watts, Wilkins, and Styles. We won’t need much more than that because we’re going to get elite production from the TE position and I expect Kyren and Tyree to make a major impact in the passing game.

I really do think we're kinda hosed at corner and on the OL this year. Just too much inexperience and replacing too many talented players. McCloud was underrated for us last year.

 

[dublinirish]

I really do think we're kinda hosed at corner and on the OL this year. Just too much inexperience and replacing too many talented players. McCloud was underrated for us last year.

still time to pick up another McCloud i guess, he didnt announce his transfer until post-spring ball last year

 

[Luckylucci]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1384509045638303746[/TWEET]

 

[Luckylucci]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1384511154307796992[/TWEET]

 

[Luckylucci]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/1384513117275758592[/TWEET]

 

[longliveautrydenson]

I really do think we're kinda hosed at corner and on the OL this year. Just too much inexperience and replacing too many talented players. McCloud was underrated for us last year.

I’m not ready to panic about OL yet. There are a lot of factors weighing in our favor:

1. Four guys have played competently in limited or extended action: Patterson, Lugg, Gibbons, and Correll.

2. Patterson’s positional flexibility allows us to put the 5 best players on the field.

3. Fisher and Spindler were borderline 5 star guys (probably would’ve been had they signed with Bama or OSU) and from every indication they’re as good or better than advertised.

4. The OL is getting reps against the best DL they’ll face during the regular season. I’d take our 2nd string over most of our opponents.

The practice clips make things look more dire than they are. The OL is getting moved around constantly and having to go up against a veteran, deep DL. If we start to settle in on the below lineup come fall, I’m going to feel pretty good about where stand:

LT - Fisher
LG - Patterson
C - Correll
RG - Gibbons/Spindler
RT - Lugg

 

[Luckylucci]

He also gave a glowing review of Botelho. Like I said in his thread, I drank all the Botelho kool-aid. Sorry not sorry.

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/mattfreemanISD/status/1384538324304531458[/TWEET]

 

[Luckylucci]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/mattfreemanISD/status/1384538476251648003[/TWEET]

 

[Luckylucci]

Watch: Marcus Freeman on His Recruiting Philosophy and Defensive Scheme (247sports.com)

 

[Luckylucci]

Instant Analysis: Marcus Freeman on Personnel and Recruiting (247sports.com)

 

[benneboy]

Biggest concern is the OL by a large margin when comparing to last year. Corners were serviceable last year but weren't exactly all world. I could see them playing at the same level or a slight uptick from what we saw in 2020. The Oline was the strength of the team. It's going to be a drop-off. The question is how much.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I’m not ready to panic about OL yet. There are a lot of factors weighing in our favor:

1. Four guys have played competently in limited or extended action: Patterson, Lugg, Gibbons, and Correll.

2. Patterson’s positional flexibility allows us to put the 5 best players on the field.

3. Fisher and Spindler were borderline 5 star guys (probably would’ve been had they signed with Bama or OSU) and from every indication they’re as good or better than advertised.

4. The OL is getting reps against the best DL they’ll face during the regular season. I’d take our 2nd string over most of our opponents.

The practice clips make things look more dire than they are. The OL is getting moved around constantly and having to go up against a veteran, deep DL. If we start to settle in on the below lineup come fall, I’m going to feel pretty good about where stand:

LT - Fisher
LG - Patterson
C - Correll
RG - Gibbons/Spindler
RT - Lugg

It would be disappointing if Baker and Kristofic both get jumped by true freshman.

I'm starting to think:

LT - Patterson -- Baker
LG - Lugg -- Spindler
C - Correll -- Gibbons
RG - Gibbons--Kristofic
RT - Fisher--Baker[/QUOTE]

 

[rtrn2glory]

O line will be fine, we've recruited well there for years. I continue to be extremely concerned about our secondary. we have recruited very average there the past 5-10 years and the lack of depth/impact players outside of KH has shown up continuously in the big games.

 

[317Irish]

Biggest concern- no Jordan Johnson highlights...

 

[longliveautrydenson]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/petesampson_/status/1384550491544244225?s=21[/TWEET]

This is basically the lineup you would come up with if you went exclusively by recruiting rankings. The only exception being Lugg, Carroll, and Carmody were ranked slightly higher than Kristofic. Patterson will obviously slot in somewhere, but this lineup would represent Kelly/Quinn seeking to maximize potential and continuity over the long term (all these guys have at least 3 years of eligibility remaining).

 

[Wild Bill]

O line will be fine, we've recruited well there for years. I continue to be extremely concerned about our secondary. we have recruited very average there the past 5-10 years and the lack of depth/impact players outside of KH has shown up continuously in the big games.

Simple solution - get to the QB all the time.

Definitely agree, there are some concerns in the secondary but having an all american and a good defensive line will help them out. I really don't know what to make of the oline. We have some big time recruits but four new starters and losing their best run blocker, Tremble, is concerning. Helps having Kyren in the back field for pass pro. Maybe Mayer can be as dominant as Tremble in the game. Even if we're slightly better than average, how is the offense going to perform given they are so used to having an extremely good, if not dominant, oline?

 

[Luckylucci]

Very glad they are finally playing Fisher and Baker together. If Blake is that far along then I think the best 5 includes those two at OT and Patterson at G.

 

[Luckylucci]

Everything Notre Dame DC Marcus Freeman said on Tuesday (247sports.com)

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Very glad they are finally playing Fisher and Baker together. If Blake is that far along then I think the best 5 includes those two at OT and Patterson at G.

There's been clips of them together before, very early in fact. Maybe running two's at that time, but together.

 

[Luckylucci]

I must have missed that, where did you see this?

 

[Dale]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/petesampson_/status/1384550491544244225?s=21[/TWEET]

This is basically the lineup you would come up with if you went exclusively by recruiting rankings. The only exception being Lugg, Carroll, and Carmody were ranked slightly higher than Kristofic. Patterson will obviously slot in somewhere, but this lineup would represent Kelly/Quinn seeking to maximize potential and continuity over the long term (all these guys have at least 3 years of eligibility remaining).

I think this only tells half a story though. Where was Lugg? Was he with the Twos? Was he sidelined with a minor injury? If Lugg was sidelined, it’s not necessarily a huge sign. If Lugg is running with Carmody, Gibbons etc then you can draw a bit of interest

 

[rtrn2glory]

Simple solution - get to the QB all the time.

Definitely agree, there are some concerns in the secondary but having an all american and a good defensive line will help them out. I really don't know what to make of the oline. We have some big time recruits but four new starters and losing their best run blocker, Tremble, is concerning. Helps having Kyren in the back field for pass pro. Maybe Mayer can be as dominant as Tremble in the game. Even if we're slightly better than average, how is the offense going to perform given they are so used to having an extremely good, if not dominant, oline?

I think that makes the possible addition of the RPO game all the more important. We need to put the defense in some more conflict to slow down the downhill flow of the linebackers and possibly allow us to open up some more holes in the passing game downfield for some home run balls.

 

[Trait Expectations]

I think that makes the possible addition of the RPO game all the more important. We need to put the defense in some more conflict to slow down the downhill flow of the linebackers and possibly allow us to open up some more holes in the passing game downfield for some home run balls.

This plus the screen game and quick slants, fake quick slants w/deep shots, tunnel screens with Lenzy/Keys/Tyree/Styles and anyone else who is fast and plenty of misdirection and eye candy w/backfield movement. I really hope we use that consistently.