'21 NJ SDE Aaron Armitage

irishandy

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I bet Onye pops after he visits; he seems to be ND's #1 target at DE.
 

BobbyMac

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I bet Onye pops after he visits; he seems to be ND's #1 target at DE.

This is probably a done deal, maybe even a silent until the visit.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more CB action on him w/ 247. Loy's it.

But other ND predictions:

Matt Freeman - ISD
Smith and Driskell - SI
Holland and Patti (Rutgers) - Rivals

The question now is, will they let Armitage commit if they can't find a DE/OLB like Keshaun Bennett? I hope they do and I hope they land Bennett too.
 

Luckylucci

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This is probably a done deal, maybe even a silent until the visit.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more CB action on him w/ 247. Loy's it.

But other ND predictions:

Matt Freeman - ISD
Smith and Driskell - SI
Holland and Patti (Rutgers) - Rivals

The question now is, will they let Armitage commit if they can't find a DE/OLB like Keshaun Bennett? I hope they do and I hope they land Bennett too.

You'd go to 5 on the DL for this class? If they get commit from Onye, I hope they only take 'speed' edge rushers thereafter. Bennett being on that list.
 

BobbyMac

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You'd go to 5 on the DL for this class? If they get commit from Onye, I hope they only take 'speed' edge rushers thereafter. Bennett being on that list.

I'm not passing on Armitage. Sounds like they probably will but I don't see a roster problem in '22 when these guys could start to contribute. I know there's other needs but I don't see anyone who is getting left out who is an Armitage level ND/RKG.

The other thing is it appears that there is a shift away from the Drop DE who is in the passing lanes like young Daelin & young Okwara were. That's why they renamed it. They are going after long, thicker guys that we all had pegged as SDE's in the past.

Anyways, I'm letting an ND kid of this level get away.
 

Luckylucci

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I'm not passing on Armitage. Sounds like they probably will but I don't see a roster problem in '22 when these guys could start to contribute. I know there's other needs but I don't see anyone who is getting left out who is an Armitage level ND/RKG.

The other thing is it appears that there is a shift away from the Drop DE who is in the passing lanes like young Daelin & young Okwara were. That's why they renamed it. They are going after long, thicker guys that we all had pegged as SDE's in the past.

Anyways, I'm letting an ND kid of this level get away.

I'm not sure that's the case. They are still actively recruiting the position, unless you think Elston is lying to the prospects. Elston has told Abiara he's being recruited for Vyper. Same goes for Bennett who they are still recruiting. They've always said the number was 250 for a guy like Julian. I think they are just looking for guys that can play that position earlier than Julian. It's just like Rover to Buck, recruit guys that are ROLB to SDE's.

Everything I've read or heard says it was more due to the aesthetics of the name. Drop gives the illusion that the player spends a lot of time dropping into coverage which is not the case. Daelin and Julian's primary responsibility has always been that of a ROLB. The position is no different, really. Do they drop 5% more, than other similar players in different schemes? Maybe, but it's not a significant part of the position. In reality, I'm surprised Elko ever called it that. It's always been a misnomer.

On Armitage, I'd be perfectly ok with them taking him. But that would rule out another DE, IMO. I think they could go up to 4 but I'd be shocked if they made it 5 on the DL.
 

fightingirish26

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I'm not sure that's the case. They are still actively recruiting the position, unless you think Elston is lying to the prospects. Elston has told Abiara he's being recruited for Vyper. Same goes for Bennett who they are still recruiting. They've always said the number was 250 for a guy like Julian. I think they are just looking for guys that can play that position earlier than Julian. It's just like Rover to Buck, recruit guys that are ROLB to SDE's.

Everything I've read or heard says it was more due to the aesthetics of the name. Drop gives the illusion that the player spends a lot of time dropping into coverage which is not the case. Daelin and Julian's primary responsibility has always been that of a ROLB. The position is no different, really. Do they drop 5% more, than other similar players in different schemes? Maybe, but it's not a significant part of the position. In reality, I'm surprised Elko ever called it that. It's always been a misnomer.

On Armitage, I'd be perfectly ok with them taking him. But that would rule out another DE, IMO. I think they could go up to 4 but I'd be shocked if they made it 5 on the DL.

Abiara is more of a DT than a drop/vyper imo.
 

fightingirish26

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I thought Abiara is going to eventually be SDE, have not heard DT.


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Think his body will take him there, like MTA. Don't see Vyper at all tho.

edit: could take him there. Kareem like as well. Point was he's probably not a Vyper
 
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Luckylucci

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Abiara is more of a DT than a drop/vyper imo.

I disagree with the opinion part of it. And it seems like the staff does as well, as he's being recruited as a Vyper. Note, that's coming from him via Elston's comments. Not my opinion.
 

fightingirish26

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I disagree with the opinion part of it. And it seems like the staff does as well, as he's being recruited as a Vyper. Note, that's coming from him via Elston's comments. Not my opinion.

People are always recruited for the sexier position. Kind of how we used to recruit like 5 CATS every class.
 

Luckylucci

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Think his body will take him there, like MTA. Don't see Vyper at all tho.

edit: could take him there. Kareem like as well. Point was he's probably not a Vyper

Well, MTA was 270 when finishing HS. Abiara is a good sized kid but he's listed at 240-248 right now. Doubt he leaves HS anywhere close to 270.

Kareem isn't a DT so unsure the relevancy there to being a DT. Which, probably goes back to what I posted above in that it seems more realistic that they are grooming Vypers to SDE's than abandoning the position altogether.
 

Luckylucci

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People are always recruited for the sexier position. Kind of how we used to recruit like 5 CATS every class.

That's just not true. They aren't recruiting every DL to Vyper. Unsure what to else to say on that. They aren't recruiting Armitage to Vyper.

I think people just don't understand how big NFL ROLB's can get. Houston ran a 3-4 with Clowney as a ROLB and he was 266 out of college. Khalil Mack weighs 269 lbs.
 

Sherm Sticky

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Well, MTA was 270 when finishing HS. Abiara is a good sized kid but he's listed at 240-248 right now. Doubt he leaves HS anywhere close to 270.

Kareem isn't a DT so unsure the relevancy there to being a DT. Which, probably goes back to what I posted above in that it seems more realistic that they are grooming Vypers to SDE's than abandoning the position altogether.


^This


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fightingirish26

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Well, MTA was 270 when finishing HS. Abiara is a good sized kid but he's listed at 240-248 right now. Doubt he leaves HS anywhere close to 270.

Kareem isn't a DT so unsure the relevancy there to being a DT. Which, probably goes back to what I posted above in that it seems more realistic that they are grooming Vypers to SDE's than abandoning the position altogether.

There is no relevance to being a DT with Kareem. The relevance there is that he could also be a SDE. I simply see no way he is ever going to be a Vyper. I get it, you disagree.
 

fightingirish26

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That's just not true. They aren't recruiting every DL to Vyper. Unsure what to else to say on that. They aren't recruiting Armitage to Vyper.

I think people just don't understand how big NFL ROLB's can get. Houston ran a 3-4 with Clowney as a ROLB and he was 266 out of college. Khalil Mack weighs 269 lbs.

Abiara still has 14 months of HS. And idc how much NFL DLs weigh, this is college ball lol
 

Luckylucci

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Daelin Hayes was the best Drop on the roster through 3 weeks (small sample size) and he was at 260-265.

Let me just say that I think Abiara probably grows into a SDE but I highly doubt DT. And I don't think we should chalk up his talks with Elston as pure hype when there is a lot of information out there that says we may just want/need more size at the position.
 

Luckylucci

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Abiara still has 14 months of HS. And idc how much NFL DLs weigh, this is college ball lol

So, when Clowney was in college, he weighed 274 lbs and Houston drafted him as the #1 player overall, to play a ROLB role. Seems relevant.
 

Sherm Sticky

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Daelin Hayes was the best Drop on the roster through 3 weeks (small sample size) and he was at 260-265.

Let me just say that I think Abiara probably grows into a SDE but I highly doubt DT. And I don't think we should chalk up his talks with Elston as pure hype when there is a lot of information out there that says we may just want/need more size at the position.


You remember the play Hayes made his freshman year against Michigan State was a thing of beauty. He dropped 40 yards down the field covering the receiver, had a Pass breakup and if he had better hands would have had the pick.


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fightingirish26

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So, when Clowney was in college, he weighed 274 lbs and Houston drafted him as the #1 player overall, to play a ROLB role. Seems relevant.

We don't recruit athletes in the same stratosphere as Jadeveon Clowney, Jaylon aside. I don't see how using one of the biggest freaks on planet earth to project Abiara (a very good athlete but come on) is reasonable.
 

BobbyMac

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You remember the play Hayes made his freshman year against Michigan State was a thing of beauty. He dropped 40 yards down the field covering the receiver, had a Pass breakup and if he had better hands would have had the pick.


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Daelin was a unique case of skilled 6-3/230 OLB HS prospect growing into a DE at a school that drops it's WDE into coverage. Match made in heaven. It's rare when that prospect meets that situation/scheme.
 

Luckylucci

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We don't recruit athletes in the same stratosphere as Jadeveon Clowney, Jaylon aside. I don't see how using one of the biggest freaks on planet earth to project Abiara (a very good athlete but come on) is reasonable.

Well, it's to illustrate the projected size of various position groups at the next level, not production. He's just one example people with have a lot of familiarity with.

Za'Darius Smith is a ROLB at 272, for GB. Terrell Suggs 265.

Our Vyper position is essentially a ROLB. The eventual weights of these guys is lot larger than what I think you are giving credence too. If Abiara ends up at 265-275, it doesn't automatically make him a SDE because of weight. It'll be how he carries that weight. Is it more realistic to think he can play ROLB at 260-270 or he's going to add 50-60+lbs to be a DT. I'll go with the former.

Heck, the staff is doing it right now with Foskey. He showed up at 250+ and is staying at Vyper.
 

Luckylucci

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Daelin was a unique case of skilled 6-3/230 OLB HS prospect growing into a DE at a school that drops it's WDE into coverage. Match made in heaven. It's rare when that prospect meets that situation/scheme.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading, when Elko came over from Wake Forest, that his 'Drop' DE didn't actually drop into coverage anymore than what BVG dropped DL in zone blitzes.
 

Luckylucci

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Eliminated ND. Or maybe the other way around but doesn’t sound like this will go much further.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/SaylorBlairFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaylorBlairFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeCoyle12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeCoyle12</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gbowman26?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gbowman26</a> <br>More than blessed for these opportunities. I would like to thank the coaches who gave me the opportunity to play at their school! <br>I look foward to pursing my furture career in the game I love! <a href="https://t.co/YpsR1gtv65">pic.twitter.com/YpsR1gtv65</a></p>— Aaron Armitage (@armitage_aaron) <a href="https://twitter.com/armitage_aaron/status/1250924886614253570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

arrowryan

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I think Notre Dame eliminated him. I think we can pretty much count on Onye and some sort of speed rusher.
 

Luckylucci

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From what I’ve read I don’t think they eliminated him as much as probably made him aware of their position and let’s things take their natural course. He’s been in very recent contact with a lot of the staff. I would assume it was letting him know that we are taking Onye and then pausing on that position for now with a focus on speed rushers, if that’s a thing. He chose not to wait. Which is fine. However, we may get the scorned lover treatment and he goes to Stanford for 4 or 5 years. I won’t enjoy that.
 

KizerWilhelm

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Lots of tree CBs.

Think I could get used to them picking up our scraps then the other way around.
 

fightingirish26

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USC CBs coming in..

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