2024 Spring Practice Thread

[PutuporShutup]

I'm excited to see if Talich can play alongside Watts. Talich looks fast/rangy and X can play aggressive. If Talich can learn the position well enough, they could be a helluva safety duo. Plus, I really hope Minich and Adon can push for reps.

I still don't think he will be physically ready to handle what ND requires the safety to do. I think he'll be depth and have an even bigger ST role

 

[Terry Jillery]

How’s the OL going to be? My biggest concern vs TAMU.

I’m encouraged by UM. They didn’t out recruit anyone. We can follow that model hopefully. Spend the money retaining. Stay as an older’ish team. I think that is key. OL has to grow up before late Aug. I have a lot of faith in the coordinators. We are stacked at coaching so long as they’re still hungry.

I think we have a good argument as 2nd best tandem to Ohio State at DC/OC.

 

[Valpodoc85]

I curious to watch for injuries or lack there of. With a new s&c program will we play faster. Also who hits the portal? Finally I'm interested to see who the new leaders. Do we have the kind of leadership to win when it counts

 

[stlnd01]

How’s the OL going to be? My biggest concern vs TAMU.

I’m encouraged by UM. They didn’t out recruit anyone. We can follow that model hopefully. Spend the money retaining. Stay as an older’ish team. I think that is key. OL has to grow up before late Aug. I have a lot of faith in the coordinators. We are stacked at coaching so long as they’re still hungry.

I think we have a good argument as 2nd best tandem to Ohio State at DC/OC.

I will never be encouraged by Michigan's success. Because fuck them. Also we were doing what they've done before they did it. They just did it a little more effectively (and against a softer schedule, and with cheating).

But, yes, you are correct. There are several ways to win a National Championship in this day and age, but The Way for Notre Dame is through line play and complementary football and multi-year development of experienced dudes who can inflict their will on opponents over 60 minutes. We're almost there.

 

[Irish4life]

How’s the OL going to be? My biggest concern vs TAMU.

I’m encouraged by UM. They didn’t out recruit anyone. We can follow that model hopefully. Spend the money retaining. Stay as an older’ish team. I think that is key. OL has to grow up before late Aug. I have a lot of faith in the coordinators. We are stacked at coaching so long as they’re still hungry.

I think we have a good argument as 2nd best tandem to Ohio State at DC/OC.

Generally agree but Michigan also had a first round draft pick QB, explosive athletes at receiver, and several underclassmen starters/major contributors too. Had 18 combine invitees, which broke the all time record.

 

[Irish4life]

I will never be encouraged by Michigan's success. Because fuck them. Also we were doing what they've done before they did it. They just did it a little more effectively (and against a softer schedule, and with cheating).

But, yes, you are correct. There are several ways to win a National Championship in this day and age, but The Way for Notre Dame is through line play and complementary football and multi-year development of experienced dudes who can inflict their will on opponents over 60 minutes. We're almost there.

Feel like the bigger question is whether or not we can build a team as good as Michigan in 2023 (and really these past 3 seasons), rather than trying to copy them. I think the answer is a definitive yes.

 

[stlnd01]

Generally agree but Michigan also had a first round draft pick QB, explosive athletes at receiver, and several underclassmen starters/major contributors too. Had 18 combine invitees, which broke the all time record.

We could have had their first-round draft pick QB and chose someone else instead who plays lacrosse now. None of their WRs were elite recruits (or better recruits than ours anyway). Etc. etc.
We made some tactical errors, and they did a great job developing talent over the last few years. But no reason that has to tilt in their favor going forward.

 

[a mike]

We can follow that model hopefully.

Also we were doing what they've done before they did it. They just did it a little more effectively (and against a softer s

rather than trying to copy them. I think the answer is a definitive yes.

We made some tactical errors, and they did a great job developing talent over the last few years.

I think you guys are significantly downplaying the fact Michigan has had a really really really good HC on this past little run of theirs who has been demonstrably successful wherever he's been at

I don't think anyone expects Mich to have the same success going forward without Harbaugh

Not quite sure what was going on with him during 2017 - 2020 but he otherwise turned them around really quickly initially and then obviously finished very strong the last three years there

I agree ND has good coordinators--although one could argue Mich combo was still stronger over past few yrs--but no shade to Freeman that he's not even in same stratosphere as Harbaugh which granted wouldn't be unexpected given where each is respectively in their current career archs

I just don't think its quite that simplistic because theres still a huge gap at HC

 

[zelezo vlk]

ND and other programs would gladly copy the blueprint but they have cowardly refused to public the Conor Stallions’ manifesto


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[Irish4life]

I think you guys are significantly downplaying the fact Michigan has had a really really really good HC on this past little run of theirs who has been demonstrably successful wherever he's been at

I don't think anyone expects Mich to have the same success going forward without Harbaugh

Not quite sure what was going on with him during 2017 - 2020 but he otherwise turned them around really quickly initially and then obviously finished very strong the last three years there

I agree ND has good coordinators--although one could argue Mich combo was still stronger over past few yrs--but no shade to Freeman that he's not even in same stratosphere as Harbaugh which granted wouldn't be unexpected given where each is respectively in their current career archs

I just don't think its quite that simplistic because theres still a huge gap at HC

I dunno, Michigan's OC coached their team for half the season and went 6-0, including victories @ PSU and vs OSU. Obviously, Harbaugh was of course a huge part of building Michigan's program up to that point, but I think the underrated part of that is the recruiting/player development side. And program culture. Also Michigan has a lot of returning players from that team too, barring a max exodus to the portal this Spring. They should figure to be good if not very good for the next couple years at least.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Winning a natty with the type of roster that Michigan had is the outlier and not the norm.

Comforting that it’s possible. But I’d rather upgrade at the skill positions a bit more. WRs killed us last year.

 

[Irish4life]

Winning a natty with the type of roster that Michigan had is the outlier and not the norm.

Comforting that it’s possible. But I’d rather upgrade at the skill positions a bit more. WRs killed us last year.

Michigan had the best roster in CFB. Straight up. It sucks, I've had to cope and seethe too, but it's the truth. But this ain't the right place to be talking about those dorks. Excited for Spring Ball, excited for Denbrock, Go Irish!

 

[PutuporShutup]

I think you guys are significantly downplaying the fact Michigan has had a really really really good HC on this past little run of theirs who has been demonstrably successful wherever he's been at

I don't think anyone expects Mich to have the same success going forward without Harbaugh

Not quite sure what was going on with him during 2017 - 2020 but he otherwise turned them around really quickly initially and then obviously finished very strong the last three years there

I agree ND has good coordinators--although one could argue Mich combo was still stronger over past few yrs--but no shade to Freeman that he's not even in same stratosphere as Harbaugh which granted wouldn't be unexpected given where each is respectively in their current career archs

I just don't think its quite that simplistic because theres still a huge gap at HC

You mean 2017-2020 before he started cheating?

 

[a mike]

You mean 2017-2020 before he started cheating?

Let me know when you need your cope-oids Rx filled

 

[a mike]

Michigan's OC coached their team for half the season and went 6-0, including victories @ PSU and vs OSU.

Hence my comment that their coordinators may have been stronger than our current ones over this past run of theirs. And at a minimum, Moore is an uber elite oline coach

I think the underrated part of that is the recruiting/player development side.

Pretty sure HC is responsible for this

And program culture.

Quite certain the HC is responsible for this

I know its natural to look over and see Michigan do what they did and think its a snap your fingers type thing also for ND but I just think the main catalyst of the whole thing was Harbaugh. Not something overly inherent to Michigan its self. I also think Harbaugh could've easily done the same were he at ND

I just think its kinda silly to discount/diminsh the Harbaugh Factor in the armethtic of building a championship level program

Freeman shows promise and seems a pretty quick study but he still has a long ways to go to get on Harbaugh's current level

 

[stlnd01]

Hence my comment that their coordinators may have been stronger than our current ones over this past run of theirs. And at a minimum, Moore is an uber elite oline coach


Pretty sure HC is responsible for this


Quite certain the HC is responsible for this

I know its natural to look over and see Michigan do what they did and think its a snap your fingers type thing also for ND but I just think the main catalyst of the whole thing was Harbaugh. Not something overly inherent to Michigan its self. I also think Harbaugh could've easily done the same were he at ND

I just think its kinda silly to discount/diminsh the Harbaugh Factor in the armethtic of building a championship level program

Freeman shows promise and seems a pretty quick study but he still has a long ways to go to get on Harbaugh's current level

Harbaugh is a very good football coach. He had Stanford as a fixture in the top 10. He's a weirdo but of course he's a good coach. I don't think anyone's denying that, or saying that Freeman is his equal as we sit here right now.

I think the point some of us are trying to make is that the way he built his best Michigan teams (and Stanford before it) is somewhat different than the dominant model for elite college football teams in recent years. He focuses on line play and manball, his QBs are good but not elite talented, he has more fifth-years than five-star three-and-outs, etc. It's not "inherent to Michigan," it is just how Harbaugh chooses to approach building a college football program.

But it is also, generally-speaking, the approach that Notre Dame has pursued since at least 2017, with a bit less success. If Michigan can win that way, so can we, we just need to get a little better at it.

 

[ThePiombino]

In Loys tidbit, he essentially said the RB room wouldn't miss Estime. It's going to be elite.

I find this very hard to believe. Estime brought something I'm not entirely sure this room possessed. Not saying it cant be elite, but I'd be shocked if Estime isn't missed to some degree.

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[PutuporShutup]

Let me know when you need your cope-oids Rx filled

Truth hurts. It's not even up for debate if Michigan cheated during 2021-2023. There's a gabizilion facts showing it. Only issue is proving who knew what. Michigan sure hopes ($$$$$) the fall guys keep quiet

 

[Irish#1]

Check the thread to see if there is anything new and here we are.

Take this to the Michigan thread you slaps!

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I find this very hard to believe. Estime brought something I'm not entirely sure this room possessed. Not saying it cant be elite, but I'd be shocked if Estime isn't missed to some degree.

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On paper, Love and Price are looked at with higher athletic ceilings. Audric was just different cause he had that "it" factor about him, similar to Kyren.

 

[ThePiombino]

On paper, Love and Price are looked at with higher athletic ceilings. Audric was just different cause he had that "it" factor about him, similar to Kyren.

I'm referring to his physical presence. I get that the others have more athletic ability, but you can't teach size and he that in spades.

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[arrowryan]

I'm referring to his physical presence. I get that the others have more athletic ability, but you can't teach size and he that in spades.

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Estime was great and he was certainly jacked. But I find it weird that, for how big he was, he wasn’t the short yardage back.

I think the elite athleticism and versatility that Price/Love brings trumps Estime’s physicality. Payne and Young can be the short yardage backs

 

[TheProspector]

Estime was great and he was certainly jacked. But I find it weird that, for how big he was, he wasn’t the short yardage back.

I think the elite athleticism and versatility that Price/Love brings trumps Estime’s physicality. Payne and Young can be the short yardage backs

I think size meaning you’re a good short yardage back is one of those old football myths.

The best short yardage back since I’ve been watching ND football is Kyren. He was quick and had great vision so he found the right hole and got up field in short yardage instead of dancing in the backfield.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Estime was great and he was certainly jacked. But I find it weird that, for how big he was, he wasn’t the short yardage back.

I think the elite athleticism and versatility that Price/Love brings trumps Estime’s physicality. Payne and Young can be the short yardage backs

Love/Price would have to combine for like 1500 yds and 20 tds to have a better season combined than estime had. That's a tall order.

The only way I see our RB room having a better season than the 2023 RB room is if our pace of play offensively is up and there's more opportunities, especially in the passing game to RBs. But with improved WR play, we may not run it as much.

My biggest concern with Love/Price is vision, estime had pretty darn good vision.

 

[lcaps20]

Love/Price would have to combine for like 1500 yds and 20 tds to have a better season combined than estime had. That's a tall order.

The only way I see our RB room having a better season than the 2023 RB room is if our pace of play offensively is up and there's more opportunities, especially in the passing game to RBs. But with improved WR play, we may not run it as much.

My biggest concern with Love/Price is vision, estime had pretty darn good vision.

I think the addition of a healthy Leonard will help the running backs. Combine that with the motion that Denbrock uses and there is going to be a lot of eye candy for opposing defenses to process before the ball is even snapped.

 

[Huntr]

My main concern for this upcoming season and what I want to follow this spring is the OL.

If they don't get a transfer tackle this next window, I think ND could be screwed by the lack of experience there. Like, missing the playoffs screwed.

 

[Giddyup]

Jagusah and Baker looked good against OSU.

 

[SoIll]

The O-Line is the biggest concern and lack of production of the Vyper position.

Sounds like staff is pretty confident.
Jagusah must be a stud.
Billy has hit his stride

 

[lcaps20]

My main concern for this upcoming season and what I want to follow this spring is the OL.

If they don't get a transfer tackle this next window, I think ND could be screwed by the lack of experience there. Like, missing the playoffs screwed.

I think there's almost a 0 chance that they get a tackle that is a for sure upgrade over what they already have.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I think the addition of a healthy Leonard will help the running backs. Combine that with the motion that Denbrock uses and there is going to be a lot of eye candy for opposing defenses to process before the ball is even snapped.

Jayden Daniels led LSU in rushes/yds/tds. I think leonard will help RBs YPC, but i also expect him to be utilized in the run game and take carries away from the rb position.