2024 Fall Camp Thread

[stlnd01]

Because if 20 reporters tweet and post about someone doing terrible, and they don't think they will make an impact, play, or start, that gets to the player and can impact how they continue their development. Meaning, they can get down on themselves, question being at ND, who knows.

On the flipside, someone could have looked awesome to the media eyes but maybe not as good to the coaches eyes. Media hypes that person up like they're going to be amazing, then they end up not starting.

Now imagine they drop a pass or miss a tackle in front of 80,000 people on national television when it actually matters. That would really crush their psyche...

I'm sure (some) players read their clippings, but again they have access to vastly more information than some reporter who watches the occasional chunk of practice. They know where they stand. And it's a big part of the job of the staff to keep them in the right head space about it.

College teams generally don't open their practices because they're under no obligation to and they generally don't need to compete for audience/build buzz in the same way that many pro teams do. That's fine. But Notre Dame Football would not be meaningfully harming itself by having more open practices. If anything, more open practice time may reduce the sort of media overreaction you're worried about.

 

[pumpdog20]

I'm not sure why, but I really have no concern about how the offense will be this year. Riley is going to have a monster year because he's going to have an OC that will put him in the right places to be to succeed. That same OC is going to hide the inexperience of the Oline for a while until they are up to speed.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I'm not sure why, but I really have no concern about how the offense will be this year. Riley is going to have a monster year because he's going to have an OC that will put him in the right places to be to succeed. That same OC is going to hide the inexperience of the Oline for a while until they are up to speed.

Agreed.
Combine that with a championship caliber defense and we’re going to roll teams this year!

 

[NDohio]

I'm not sure why, but I really have no concern about how the offense will be this year. Riley is going to have a monster year because he's going to have an OC that will put him in the right places to be to succeed. That same OC is going to hide the inexperience of the Oline for a while until they are up to speed.

Me too!!

But I say that every year...

 

[ND7983]

What time are interviews today?

They started at 11.

 

[Rocket89]

Now imagine they drop a pass or miss a tackle in front of 80,000 people on national television when it actually matters. That would really crush their psyche...

I'm sure (some) players read their clippings, but again they have access to vastly more information than some reporter who watches the occasional chunk of practice. They know where they stand. And it's a big part of the job of the staff to keep them in the right head space about it.

College teams generally don't open their practices because they're under no obligation to and they generally don't need to compete for audience/build buzz in the same way that many pro teams do. That's fine. But Notre Dame Football would not be meaningfully harming itself by having more open practices. If anything, more open practice time may reduce the sort of media overreaction you're worried about.

Exactly.

The reduction in open practices (which really started accelerating ~10 years ago under Kelly) has been awful. It's not like we're going to get a bunch of open practices when a season opens up against a MAC team and this is just because of the A&M game. This is Freeman continuing from the previous regime and making things tighter than ever.

College football seasons are so short. We have 2 months of practices from the spring/fall where almost no actual football is being covered anymore. It blows my mind that people think this is okay in the name of some advantage the program will gain from it. I also think they're directly harming the local beat media (but that's a different topic for another day).

From a fan perspective at least, it's terrible. We're left in the dark, the beat media have to be cryptic and tap dance around subjects too often, and we're getting less (and worse) content from a multi-million dollar football operation--when arguably we should be getting more and better content than ever before.

 

[Irish#1]

Now imagine they drop a pass or miss a tackle in front of 80,000 people on national television when it actually matters. That would really crush their psyche...

I'm sure (some) players read their clippings, but again they have access to vastly more information than some reporter who watches the occasional chunk of practice. They know where they stand. And it's a big part of the job of the staff to keep them in the right head space about it.

College teams generally don't open their practices because they're under no obligation to and they generally don't need to compete for audience/build buzz in the same way that many pro teams do. That's fine. But Notre Dame Football would not be meaningfully harming itself by having more open practices. If anything, more open practice time may reduce the sort of media overreaction you're worried about.

If A&M is going to go off of one open practice, they are in serious trouble.

Having said that, I'm fine with closed practices. All it does is make the job tougher for those that cover the team.

 

[CoachB]

Exactly.

The reduction in open practices (which really started accelerating ~10 years ago under Kelly) has been awful. It's not like we're going to get a bunch of open practices when a season opens up against a MAC team and this is just because of the A&M game. This is Freeman continuing from the previous regime and making things tighter than ever.

College football seasons are so short. We have 2 months of practices from the spring/fall where almost no actual football is being covered anymore. It blows my mind that people think this is okay in the name of some advantage the program will gain from it. I also think they're directly harming the local beat media (but that's a different topic for another day).

From a fan perspective at least, it's terrible. We're left in the dark, the beat media have to be cryptic and tap dance around subjects too often, and we're getting less (and worse) content from a multi-million dollar football operation--when arguably we should be getting more and better content than ever before.

Umm...the staff's job is to win games, not to make the media happy. As a coach in a competitive environment, you have to do every little thing in your power to gain an advantage. It boggles my mind that some think that fans are somehow entitled to open practices. Their job is to win games, not give media content to break down. The media can do that other ways. Trust me, there are A LOT of advantages that could be gained by having film. From formations, to personnel groupings, to shades, to the weight on the hands of the linemen depending on the play, to anything. As a coach, I scour film looking for ANY advantage. Why put things out on tape for Elko and Co. to break down. With a new system, that is just negligent and dumb, IMO.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Maybe freeman didn’t want reporters to see one leg hop wr drills anymore?

 

[Rocket89]

Umm...the staff's job is to win games, not to make the media happy. As a coach in a competitive environment, you have to do every little thing in your power to gain an advantage. It boggles my mind that some think that fans are somehow entitled to open practices. Their job is to win games, not give media content to break down. The media can do that other ways. Trust me, there are A LOT of advantages that could be gained by having film. From formations, to personnel groupings, to shades, to the weight on the hands of the linemen depending on the play, to anything. As a coach, I scour film looking for ANY advantage. Why put things out on tape for Elko and Co. to break down. With a new system, that is just negligent and dumb, IMO.

Entitled? I’m simply stating that as a fan having 95% of practices closed to all media makes following and being interested in the team a lot less enjoyable.

They can make more practices open without it being that big of a deal.

To act like it has to be closed off (year round!) so we can beat perennially 5-loss Texas A&M just doesn’t seem like a real confident Notre Dame type of thing to me. Even if you agree it’s needed to be like “hell yeah coach hide everything” and be happy about that is weird as a fan.

 

[stlnd01]

Umm...the staff's job is to win games, not to make the media happy. As a coach in a competitive environment, you have to do every little thing in your power to gain an advantage. It boggles my mind that some think that fans are somehow entitled to open practices. Their job is to win games, not give media content to break down. The media can do that other ways. Trust me, there are A LOT of advantages that could be gained by having film. From formations, to personnel groupings, to shades, to the weight on the hands of the linemen depending on the play, to anything. As a coach, I scour film looking for ANY advantage. Why put things out on tape for Elko and Co. to break down. With a new system, that is just negligent and dumb, IMO.

Bill Belichick was, um, notorious for doing every little thing to gain an advantage. But his Patriots held open practices for like two weeks every preseason. Thousands of people would go watch. It was fine.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Bill Belichick was, um, notorious for doing every little thing to gain an advantage. But his Patriots held open practices for like two weeks every preseason. Thousands of people would go watch. It was fine.

You cant really compare a franchise that won 6 super bowls to a school that hasn't won anything in over 30 years.

 

[Pennick44]

Pretty sure the program will survive.

 

[Irish4life]

Locked on Irish fall camp preview with Prister.


TLDW; says it's the best all around team he's seen at ND since 1993, and that 2 CFP wins should be the expectation for this team.

 

[GoldenBoy3]

I may be over simplifying this but this year compared to last we have a real OC, some say he's one of the best in the country. We have a far better WR corp, two stud backs and an ELITE defense. Of our three loses last year, two were games that we were not ready for and that falls on Freeman, and the OSU loss we shot ourselves in the foot. This schedule has very few land mines so they just need to be prepared and handle business. While I would like to have this A&M game be later in the season to allow the OL to gel but I am sooooooo confident and excited headed into this season.

 

[bumpdaddy]

Entitled? I’m simply stating that as a fan having 95% of practices closed to all media makes following and being interested in the team a lot less enjoyable.

They can make more practices open without it being that big of a deal.

To act like it has to be closed off (year round!) so we can beat perennially 5-loss Texas A&M just doesn’t seem like a real confident Notre Dame type of thing to me. Even if you agree it’s needed to be like “hell yeah coach hide everything” and be happy about that is weird as a fan.

I think you're overreacting. I believe Wednesday is the only full practice open to the media. I don't think that will be the only time media will be given access. They will likely get to see parts of other practices as they did in the spring. And there will be enough stories out of camp to keep most fans interested.

Limited media access during fall camp is common, and I think most fans understand why.

 

[Irishcop]

Wrong thread, but Big Ten Classics just replayed the 2017 Michigan-Michigan State game. I love Michigan tears!!!!!!!! They warm my soul!

 

[Rocket89]

I think you're overreacting. I believe Wednesday is the only full practice open to the media. I don't think that will be the only time media will be given access. They will likely get to see parts of other practices as they did in the spring. And there will be enough stories out of camp to keep most fans interested.

Limited media access during fall camp is common, and I think most fans understand why.

Access has been abysmal throughout most of the Freeman era. I don't think it's overreacting to point that out.

Now, calling 2024 the best all-around team he's seen in 30 years like Prister did above *before seeing any fall camp* now that is overreacting and maybe a symptom of the problem I'm describing.

 

[PutuporShutup]

ND meets with media today to preview fall camp.
Wednesday is the only full open practice of the fall.

Did ND meet with the Media yesterday? I don't see anything on that.

 

[Hautian Domer]

I may be over simplifying this but this year compared to last we have a real OC, some say he's one of the best in the country. We have a far better WR corp, two stud backs and an ELITE defense. Of our three loses last year, two were games that we were not ready for and that falls on Freeman, and the OSU loss we shot ourselves in the foot. This schedule has very few land mines so they just need to be prepared and handle business. While I would like to have this A&M game be later in the season to allow the OL to gel but I am sooooooo confident and excited headed into this season.

You nailed it. The team is as stacked as it’s ever been. The one thing that leaves me cause for concern, and it’s a big one, is the offensive line. Some of our toughest opponents’ best and most impactful players (A&M, Louisville, FSU) are defensive linemen too. This season goes the way the offensive line goes.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I trust our all-world OC to scheme around any weaknesses the o-line might have.

Truthfully, I expect the line to be a strength, like it is every year.

 

[CoachB]

I trust our all-world OC to scheme around any weaknesses the o-line might have.

Truthfully, I expect the line to be a strength, like it is every year.

If the line is a strength, we should have a great season.

A position that doesn't seem to be brought up much that I am slightly concerned about is LB. We are very inexperienced there. I worry about some run fits, etc. especially early in the year. I know we coach LBs very well, but when JD wasn't playing last year we were shaky.

 

[OKCDomer23]

I trust our all-world OC to scheme around any weaknesses the o-line might have.

Truthfully, I expect the line to be a strength, like it is every year.

The battle at RT is huge between Wagner and Baker. Would love to see Wagner getting the starting nod and become a stud. I realize he's a little light, but he's athletic and has high upside. Color me concerned about this position, especially if Baker starts. Hope Baker comes through whenever he plays for sure. Agree oline is huge for this year. Always is but especially this year.

 

[PutuporShutup]

If the line is a strength, we should have a great season.

A position that doesn't seem to be brought up much that I am slightly concerned about is LB. We are very inexperienced there. I worry about some run fits, etc. especially early in the year. I know we coach LBs very well, but when JD wasn't playing last year we were shaky.

If you see ND in a lot of 3 LB formations then yes the staff is concerned on run fits. ND was 75%+ nickel last year and made the front 6 have much more complex/exact run fit responsibilities. It's partially where you didn't see ND pin their ears back and rush the passer on first down much. it would have exposed the run defense while in nickel.

I believe with our Dline talent and experience especially up the middle you'll see ND in a lot of nickel still. What ND lacks in experience at LB, they hopefully will make up in blitzing ability to get home.

 

[IrishLion]

If you see ND in a lot of 3 LB formations then yes the staff is concerned on run fits. ND was 75%+ nickel last year and made the front 6 have much more complex/exact run fit responsibilities. It's partially where you didn't see ND pin their ears back and rush the passer on first down much. it would have exposed the run defense while in nickel.

I believe with our Dline talent and experience especially up the middle you'll see ND in a lot of nickel still. What ND lacks in experience at LB, they hopefully will make up in blitzing ability to get home.

༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ Jaylen Sneed take my energy ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

 

[PutuporShutup]

༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ Jaylen Sneed take my energy ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

Also, despite DJ Brown being in the right place at the right time ALL the time, he could not make a play. That has to change.

See Louisville 2 TD runs, clemson long TD run, Henderson long run (Watts whiffed first) but brown was to slow to catch him despite angle, then Ohio state missed pick.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Also, despite DJ Brown being in the right place at the right time ALL the time, he could not make a play. That has to change.

See Louisville 2 TD runs, clemson long TD run, Henderson long run (Watts whiffed first) but brown was to slow to catch him despite angle, then Ohio state missed pick.

Well you are in luck cause he is no longer on the team.

 

[lcaps20]

Well you are in luck cause he is no longer on the team.

First time I've seen him bring it up too

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I agree Gary Gray has to go

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I agree Gary Gray has to go

Agreed. This also feels like a make or break season for Derek Landri