2024 Spring Practice Thread

[SDIrishFan]

Isn't it crazy that this year we finally started to line up all the pieces to a complete team, yet, of all the year, our OL is going to be the big concern? Of all the times to have a young, unproven OL, it has to be THIS year. Ugh.

 

[BoredIrish]

I'd love to see what Minchey could become with a year under Denbrock.

 

[Irish4life]

I know I am still on an island here but I don't get the hype over Leonard. I hope I am wrong. Minchey does seem like the odd man out.

When healthy Riley Leonard is an incredibly dynamic dual threat QB. He'll excel in Denbrock's offense. I don't really understand why you think Minchey is the odd man out and not Angeli if I'm being honest here.

 

[Irish4life]

This is special

 

[ulukinatme]

When healthy Riley Leonard is an incredibly dynamic dual threat QB. He'll excel in Denbrock's offense. I don't really understand why you think Minchey is the odd man out and not Angeli if I'm being honest here.

Not to speak for KMac, but Angeli showed great poise and decision making. He was very comfortable in the pocket and showed his maturity. In basically half a game he threw for 228 yards and put together three good scoring drives I think. While Minchey did have less weapons to work with, he threw for about 123, put together a couple scoring drives, and had two costly turnovers. One turnover in particular was pretty bad, he was pressured and threw the ball into coverage for an easy pick. Angeli didn't push the ball down the field like Carr and Minchey did, but there wasn't really a need to either. He was moving the ball being conservative.

Angeli isn't going to win any Heisman votes, but he's a very solid QB that is going to play well if Leonard goes down. I'd rather see Carr get the reps personally, but you need a steady backup QB like Angeli.

 

[bumpdaddy]

ND just posted the full recording of the B-G game to their YouTube channel for those who haven't seen it yet:

 

[ulukinatme]

ND just posted the full recording of the B-G game to their YouTube channel for those who haven't seen it yet:

Here was the pick I was referring to. Flanagan was completely covered, there was no chance he was getting this ball. Minchey is still a freshman, so he'll learn from this, but you can't throw it into coverage like this. About the 31:22 mark

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Isn't it crazy that this year we finally started to line up all the pieces to a complete team, yet, of all the year, our OL is going to be the big concern? Of all the times to have a young, unproven OL, it has to be THIS year. Ugh.

It wasn't too long ago (2021?) that I recall the OL not being very good, at least in the first half of the season.

I'll preface this by saying I'm pretty much an optimist by default. I think it's fair to say OL is the biggest question mark, but I don't know if I'd call the OL a "concern", at least not yet. I think it's too early to tell, and we have always recruited the position well. We're certainly filling some major holes with the departures at both tackle spots, but I'm hoping they'll find the right five guys to gel as a unit and get the job done.

Let's see how things go this summer with workouts, let the nee S&C coach mold these youngsters and see what we've go in August. I'm not losing sleep over the OL just yet.

 

[Irish du Nord]

That 2017 team was severely flawed but won a bunch of games because they kicked the shit out of people.

2020 as well, especially later in the season

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

OL isn’t a concern.
Just win week one with a mobile quarterback and they’ll have plenty of time to gel into something special.

 

[Irish4life]

Not to speak for KMac, but Angeli showed great poise and decision making. He was very comfortable in the pocket and showed his maturity. In basically half a game he threw for 228 yards and put together three good scoring drives I think. While Minchey did have less weapons to work with, he threw for about 123, put together a couple scoring drives, and had two costly turnovers. One turnover in particular was pretty bad, he was pressured and threw the ball into coverage for an easy pick. Angeli didn't push the ball down the field like Carr and Minchey did, but there wasn't really a need to either. He was moving the ball being conservative.

Angeli isn't going to win any Heisman votes, but he's a very solid QB that is going to play well if Leonard goes down. I'd rather see Carr get the reps personally, but you need a steady backup QB like Angeli.

All of these reasons + the actual game experience + having 3 years of eligibility left are why Angeli's far more likely to be the starting QB at a school like Pitt or Illinois than the backup at ND IMO.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Looking at the team, for me, it's the biggest question mark position group we have. It just seems, there are year's where we have 2 or 3 (or more, sadly) position groups that aren't championship caliber. That's not typically the OL. We usually field a solid unit there.

The Quinn years and Clausen years had great QB play, receiver play, TE play, OL play for the most part, but to be matched with an atrocious defense. More recently, in particular the Book year's and the past few years, it's felt like we've been a quality QB away from winning. The past few years, WR play has been horrible.

We may still be a deep playoff contending team, but the offense will struggle if we can't block anyone. I'm hoping they come of age quickly.

 

[stlnd01]

Looking at the team, for me, it's the biggest question mark position group we have. It just seems, there are year's where we have 2 or 3 (or more, sadly) position groups that aren't championship caliber. That's not typically the OL. We usually field a solid unit there.

The Quinn years and Clausen years had great QB play, receiver play, TE play, OL play for the most part, but to be matched with an atrocious defense. More recently, in particular the Book year's and the past few years, it's felt like we've been a quality QB away from winning. The past few years, WR play has been horrible.

We may still be a deep playoff contending team, but the offense will struggle if we can't block anyone. I'm hoping they come of age quickly.

There is a difference between a “question mark” and a “concern.”

Yes we have some questions on the OL. But we also have a lot of talented linemen with the potential to answer those questions. So it’s not (yet) a “concern. Compare with, say, the WR rooms of some recent years. Those were concerning!

 

[ulukinatme]

All of these reasons + the actual game experience + having 3 years of eligibility left are why Angeli's far more likely to be the starting QB at a school like Pitt or Illinois than the backup at ND IMO.

Maybe so, but as of right now Angeli looks to be the backup here. Like I said, I would prefer Carr be the one getting reps for the future simply because he IS the future, but I'm not upset if a solid QB with college experience like Angeli is sticking around. I could see either Angeli and/or Minchey bolting because they both have ability, Steve being the more polished one and Kenny having the higher ceiling.

 

[SDIrishFan]

There is a difference between a “question mark” and a “concern.”

Yes we have some questions on the OL. But we also have a lot of talented linemen with the potential to answer those questions. So it’s not (yet) a “concern. Compare with, say, the WR rooms of some recent years. Those were concerning!

Oh yeah, I completely agree. Lots of talent, just unproven. They may come together and be a strength, who knows. They just have to prove it.

 

[NDWarrior]

ND don't need no stinkin' Chris O'Leary! Notre Dame lands at No. 4 in On3’s safety unit rankings

 

[CanadalovesND]

ND don't need no stinkin' Chris O'Leary! Notre Dame lands at No. 4 in On3’s safety unit rankings

He coached all those guys, so it’s fair to say that maybe he’s the reason they are ranked #4

 

[NDWarrior]

He coached all those guys, so it’s fair to say that maybe he’s the reason they are ranked #4

Yes, agree 100%, just having some fun

 

[IAIrish]

I'll be tracking O'Leary's career. Awesome coach with an upward trajectory. Indiana guy. Does he stay in the league and spurning the college grind?

Would he return to become a DC after mickens leaves for a head coaching job after they win a natty in '28 with Gunner?

#Freetree

 

[BobbyMac]

I'll be tracking O'Leary's career. Awesome coach with an upward trajectory. Indiana guy. Does he stay in the league and spurning the college grind?

Would he return to become a DC after mickens leaves for a head coaching job after they win a natty in '28 with Gunner?

#Freetree

Attaboy!

 

[NDWarrior]

Go Irish! 🍀 Notre Dame Ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s Post-Spring Top 25