2022 Spring Practice

irishog77

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Might need to look at the portal. An undersized Cross, injury history Lacey and RS Frosh Rubio is not enough.
While it’s certainly bad news about AK getting hurt, the staff has known they have limited size along the front for a while now. Not sure how much they’re craving 300lbers or 300+lbers or how integral they are to the plan? If so, I think they should have been recruiting and looking to the portal already for some more beef.
 

irishog77

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Rubio was supposed to provide depth at DT though so now you have to give those snaps to someone too. IMO this depth chart is an injury away from a disaster if Mills has moved out to SDE:

Jayson A - Rubio - Onye
Cross/Lacey - Rubio - Hinish

Expect a ton of 3 DL.
That could be a worry.
 

fightingirish26

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I think Prister or O'Malley said Rubio is probably still another year away. Of course he could still have a huge spring and/or fall but I think the staff was hoping he could have another year in the lab. Might not be an option anymore.
 

Crazy Balki

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I think Prister or O'Malley said Rubio is probably still another year away. Of course he could still have a huge spring and/or fall but I think the staff was hoping he could have another year in the lab. Might not be an option anymore.
Rubio shouldn't be a year away guy.

He was a high ranked recruit and a guy with the size to be an early contributor.

We shouldn't be expecting until his junior year to provide backup reps. You have a 6'6 near 300 pounder with a high ceiling. Use him.
 

ThePiombino

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Rubio shouldn't be a year away guy.

He was a high ranked recruit and a guy with the size to be an early contributor.

We shouldn't be expecting until his junior year to provide backup reps. You have a 6'6 near 300 pounder with a high ceiling. Use him.
If we're being honest, with ourselves, 295 consensus isn't THAT highly ranked. Tho I do think he should have been ranked higher.

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T-Boone

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If Rubio is a year away that is a big disappointment and they should have been looking at the portal.
 

Dale

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It’d say calling a DT a year away when he’s a RS Freshman isn’t too shocking. Most guys spend Year 1 remaking their physique. Also given that Elston’s MO was developmental prospects.
 

Crazy Balki

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If we're being honest, with ourselves, 295 consensus isn't THAT highly ranked. Tho I do think he should have been ranked higher.

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Rubio was 117th in 247 Composite. Granted, it's not elite, elite, but it's certainly among the upper echelon of players in his class.
 

Veritate Duce Progredi

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Some times rankings are off, some times guys just take more time, it's just a bummer but maybe he'll reach a point of hyper growth this summer.
 

Veritate Duce Progredi

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Just went back and watched his junior highlights. If the game can slow down for Buchner and Tommy can call plays that accentuate his ability to read the defense, Buchner can drop some deep ball dimes. He just has to be in sync with his receivers speed/timing.

Dude was a stud as a junior. I get it was against weak competition but there wasn't a ton of separation on those throws and he was pinpoint.

 

Irish4life

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Just went back and watched his junior highlights. If the game can slow down for Buchner and Tommy can call plays that accentuate his ability to read the defense, Buchner can drop some deep ball dimes. He just has to be in sync with his receivers speed/timing.

Dude was a stud as a junior. I get it was against weak competition but there wasn't a ton of separation on those throws and he was pinpoint.


Buchner is very clearly the most physically gifted player in the QB room. And honestly, I don't think he's as far behind as some think, and honestly I don't think he's behind at all. It's pretty incredible to me that he was able to get extensive and meaningful PT as a true Frosh, and I thought he played about as well as can be expected.
 

Dale

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Looks like he didn’t get his own thread but a few things on Coach Mason. It is not surprising since given his roles at UC, but I noticed when the 2024 offers went out, a lot of D guys, specifically LBs were tagging or mentioning Coach Mason. This aligns with some quotes about helping out on D recruiting. Hart said on ITG that he’s helping out with CBs and Nickels which again isn’t surprising given he helped with Snipers at UC. Also mentioned the energy he brings to practice/meetings kind of sets the tone for the day. Just some interesting tidbits on what is certainly more than “just” a ST coordinator.
 

Dale

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Golden on Botelho:

“Really like his progress and I'm going to keep working with him to try to get him to slow down a little bit and (then) let him speed his game up because he's playing with a little more poise."

Kollie himself on area for growth and HS to college:

“Mentally, definitely. Just learning the playbook and being able to play and react according to the offense.”

“Here you got to know what the LB is doing, what the D-End is doing, what the safeties are doing."

Fingers crossed on it “clicking” for both.
 

Some Irish Bloke

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did they ever officially announce Laurinaitis' official role?

I believe he's an analyst. The und.com football site doesn't list him, or any defensive analysts for that matter, but it was widely assumed that that would be his role when it was announced in January.

 

Irish#1

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A brief update from Matt Freeman on today's practice.

Alt is at LT and Fisher was at RT. He notes that's obviously open to change but that's where they came out today.

Also, Avery Davis is impressing in his recovery.
I always though Fish would swap with Alt, but maybe not. Maybe HH has them there since that's where they finished last year and he hasn't seen enough to make final determination? Either way it's a win.
 

Luckylucci

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ulukinatme

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I always though Fish would swap with Alt, but maybe not. Maybe HH has them there since that's where they finished last year and he hasn't seen enough to make final determination? Either way it's a win.
That's what I thought. I figured they'd keep Alt at LT for the bowl since that's where he was most comfortable and Fish was a beast (He was the 2nd highest graded offensive player after Styles in the bowl). Figured after the bowl they'd switch Alt and Fisher. You'd think you'd want your best tackle on the blind side, but I trust Harry. There must be other reasons he's keeping them where they are.
 

stpeteirish

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Reading the Golden transcript its easy to see his head coaching experience. That is, telling the media nice things without telling anybody anything.
 

irishog77

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Reading the Golden transcript its easy to see his head coaching experience. That is, telling the media nice things without telling anybody anything.
Good call!

I thought I was reading a Burnt Ends transcript. I shouldn't have wasted the time to read it!
 

Sherm Sticky

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That's what I thought. I figured they'd keep Alt at LT for the bowl since that's where he was most comfortable and Fish was a beast (He was the 2nd highest graded offensive player after Styles in the bowl). Figured after the bowl they'd switch Alt and Fisher. You'd think you'd want your best tackle on the blind side, but I trust Harry. There must be other reasons he's keeping them where they are.
Or they could be splitting time at each tackle spot. Like half the practices Alt at LT and Fish dog at RT and the other half of practices vice versa.
 

Luckylucci

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Reading the Golden transcript its easy to see his head coaching experience. That is, telling the media nice things without telling anybody anything.
I got a little bit of the same vibe but I also thought there was some good stuff in there.

Mainly, there is a lot of cross training going on throughout the entire defense. DB's, LB's, and DL. Because then that brings up a some questions that I look forward to hearing/seeing more of.
 

irishog77

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I got a little bit of the same vibe but I also thought there was some good stuff in there.

Mainly, there is a lot of cross training going on throughout the entire defense. DB's, LB's, and DL. Because then that brings up a some questions that I look forward to hearing/seeing more of.
True. My main takeaway from it was that it could be a lot more interesting interview towards the end of spring/after spring practice. As stated in his hiring presser, it still very much seems like a lot of the foundation of MF's defense will be there, but there will be some changes. I'm curious to see what those will be. I was encouraged by him mentioning cross training/flexibility. This seemed to me like they need to, and would, figure out a way to get guys like Botelho on the field as well as moving some of the LB's/Rovers around.
 
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