'22 MI OLB Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame Signee)

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,120
Reaction score
27,376
I just worry that this is the same strategy that cost us early in the season not having veteran experience and leadership which I think definitely has been an issue the past two seasons.

This isn’t our strategy. Coogan, Spindler, Burnham want to leave.

I don’t know why it’s continued to be framed like we are letting guys go. Burnham can 100% come back if he wants. The straight up no BS view is they all got pissy about losing reps and chose to transfer. Is what it is.
 

rtrn2glory

Well-known member
Messages
16,180
Reaction score
6,471
Did Coogan really choose to leave? Without knowing the whole conversation I really think he would have come back if it was communicated that he was wanted back.
 

IrishTusker

Well-known member
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
1,771
I just worry that this is the same strategy that cost us early in the season not having veteran experience and leadership which I think definitely has been an issue the past two seasons. I was expecting a much bigger jump out of Bryce Young this past season and I didn't see anywhere close to it. I'm hesitant to bank too heavily on him or the guys behind him being productive at the level we need them to be.

With that said I don't know the whole story so if he was making demands financially or playing time wise that were unreasonable then I understand the move and just a little disappointed.
So what should the coaches have done? Guaranteed a starting spot/specific number of reps? If the coaches tell a player that he will compete for a spot, and that isn't good enough for the player, what are the coaches supposed to do?
 

stpeteirish

House Skeptic
Messages
4,323
Reaction score
1,819
This isn’t our strategy. Coogan, Spindler, Burnham want to leave.

I don’t know why it’s continued to be framed like we are letting guys go. Burnham can 100% come back if he wants. The straight up no BS view is they all got pissy about losing reps and chose to transfer. Is what it is.
Yeah, Occum’s Razor, the most obvious explanation is often the right one.
 

rtrn2glory

Well-known member
Messages
16,180
Reaction score
6,471
So what should the coaches have done? Guaranteed a starting spot/specific number of reps? If the coaches tell a player that he will compete for a spot, and that isn't good enough for the player, what are the coaches supposed to do?
I take it you didn't read the last paragraph of my message
 

IrishInOntario

Well-known member
Messages
643
Reaction score
1,089
I think he could be a 15-20 snap guy
As do I! I would be disappointed if he's not given his pedigree and skill set. That said, I would expect almost, if not all of those reps to be in a sub package, passing rushing role. As a freshman, I suspect ND would do everything in their power to avoid having him play on run downs. He's going too be young and light. That doesn't usually equate to a quality run defender.

In fact, my concern for Thomas, Dunham and Ewetade is the same this year. I suspect that any / all of them could contribute to the pass rush if given a chance, but all of them would likely struggle as run defenders if asked to fill snaps vacated by Burnham. Those "every down" snaps will likely have to be filled in the Transfer Portal, by bringing in one of those 6'4-6-5, 260lb combo end types.
 

Old Man Mike

Fast as Lightning!
Messages
8,983
Reaction score
6,477
How many people other than Coogan himself can look themselves in the mirror and say that they knew why he left? BUT, here's a guy with a possible NFL career who is seeing another guy (Craig) favored over him for starting snaps, and an end to a career coming up. How "simple" does it have to get? Same with Spindler.
 

LifelongFan

Well-known member
Messages
1,606
Reaction score
1,919
Bryce Young needs to step up now. The team obviously has great faith in him. If he plays like he did in 2025, he will lose his snaps again.
 

NDMatt91

Well-known member
Messages
3,533
Reaction score
3,453
Bryce Young needs to step up now. The team obviously has great faith in him. If he plays like he did in 2025, he will lose his snaps again.
That's why they need to get another DE from the portal. Outside of Traore and Young, they're thin at DE in terms of experience.
 

IrishTusker

Well-known member
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
1,771
I take it you didn't read the last paragraph of my message
I read it, but you also said this was a "strategy"- I don't know about that. It's just being honest with players. Maybe the coaches should put more weight on seniority, although I'm not sure that worked out great on defense at the start of the season.

If a coach guaranteed Burnham a starting spot, how do we know another player doesn't transfer? I just don't see what the coaches are supposed to do. If they are guaranteeing certain players starting spots and not others, it's a little different.
 

SeekNDestroy

Well-known member
Messages
3,340
Reaction score
4,526
Burgess ended up basically a fringe 5 star at the end of last cycle. Considering he’s already physically ahead of most freshmen, he should contribute, a lot. If not something is wrong. Him and Young should be fine as SDE’s. Mullins can also fit there, who looked solid in a limited roll.

Logan Thomas was a heralded recruit, has played a lot and has flashed. He needs to develop physically but the talent is there. Then you have Zinter, Hulak, Dunham that id expect to contribute as pass rushers. You also can use Sneed + Faraimo as talented blitzers as well.

If Burgess and Loghan can’t be strong contributors, then something is wrong with our DL development. The talent is there. Then you have enough potential otherwise to mix and match looks.
Zinter is in the portal.
 

PutuporShutup

Banned
Messages
4,824
Reaction score
1,909
It’s a loss for sure but I think if Bryce Young turns it around people are gonna look back and realize making a big deal about pressures against a god awful Pitt OL and a bad, backup BC OL wasn’t a Herculean feat tbh. Was high effort down the stretch for sure
Agree 100%.

Where I was wrong with Pitt is I thought their oline would hold up better. Their oline became terrible to end the season. Even East Carolina whipped it.

Burnham made plays and was Sargent sound but he didn’t show any explosiveness or significant power that came relatively be easily replaced.

ND should be able to whip a bunch of early opponents next year and really develop their depth.
 

BeatSC

Well-known member
Messages
4,443
Reaction score
1,375
Entering the portal means he’s exploring his options. Might be a bit too optimistic, but he could always pull his name back out and opt to return…🤷🏼‍♂️
Has that ever happened? I think it’s a bad look for him and with his teammates to decide to stay. If he was right with the guys you’d think he could be talked out of it. I would think with his level of effort he could be seen as a potential captain. If they can make Hinnish a captain they sure could make him one.
Can we get someone potentially better than him in the portal? The lineman that left us last year went to successful teams (to some extent). Going to a loser like MSU seems like a miserable move.
 

PutuporShutup

Banned
Messages
4,824
Reaction score
1,909
As do I! I would be disappointed if he's not given his pedigree and skill set. That said, I would expect almost, if not all of those reps to be in a sub package, passing rushing role. As a freshman, I suspect ND would do everything in their power to avoid having him play on run downs. He's going too be young and light. That doesn't usually equate to a quality run defender.

In fact, my concern for Thomas, Dunham and Ewetade is the same this year. I suspect that any / all of them could contribute to the pass rush if given a chance, but all of them would likely struggle as run defenders if asked to fill snaps vacated by Burnham. Those "every down" snaps will likely have to be filled in the Transfer Portal, by bringing in one of those 6'4-6-5, 260lb combo end types.
Dunham is the only one I see of the 3 that has a solid chance to eventually earn some first down reps next year. He seems to be the most physically developed/powerful of the 3. Again, our schedule next year plus a January arrival make it possible. Ewetade the most athletic. If Thomas doesn’t add about 20lbs and strength, he’s going to get passed quickly.
 

laughingirish92

Active member
Messages
347
Reaction score
234
Did Coogan really choose to leave? Without knowing the whole conversation I really think he would have come back if it was communicated that he was wanted back.
from what i heard on some podcast he wanted to basically be assured that the center job was going to be his this season and coaches couldn't tell him that with Craig coming back from injury but that is just what i heard anyways
 

Dale

Well-known member
Messages
16,120
Reaction score
27,376
Pretty sure Coogan and Spindler both started talking to other schools during the season when they were on the bench and then after the run as starters wanted to be promised starting spots and once that wasn’t guaranteed, they already had landing spots. Burnham I imagine was the same playbook.
 

IAIrish

The Dude Abides
Messages
1,663
Reaction score
2,073
How many people other than Coogan himself can look themselves in the mirror and say that they knew why he left? BUT, here's a guy with a possible NFL career who is seeing another guy (Craig) favored over him for starting snaps, and an end to a career coming up. How "simple" does it have to get? Same with Spindler.
For me, the question is if Coogan would have been a clear upgrade and difference over Craig/Lambert vs Miami or A&M? I don't think so...
 

jprue24

Well-known member
Messages
2,895
Reaction score
3,245
For me, the question is if Coogan would have been a clear upgrade and difference over Craig/Lambert vs Miami or A&M? I don't think so...
I haven't looked into this, but I remember Lambert on the ground a lot this season. He was also making his first start in a hostile road environment. I'm not saying Coogan would have been better, but I'm confident he would have been able to mentally handle any situation from that night. So, I think, maybe? that is a clear edge on Lambert? I'm kinda just throwing shit on the wall, I could be way off and unfairly underestimating Guerby's mental toughness. I just know the line had it's worst night.
 

mrmcgrail

Well-known member
Messages
804
Reaction score
1,175
I haven't looked into this, but I remember Lambert on the ground a lot this season. He was also making his first start in a hostile road environment. I'm not saying Coogan would have been better, but I'm confident he would have been able to mentally handle any situation from that night. So, I think, maybe? that is a clear edge on Lambert? I'm kinda just throwing shit on the wall, I could be way off and unfairly underestimating Guerby's mental toughness. I just know the line had it's worst night.
The only reason guerby was starting was jags got hurt in the off-season. Coogan wanted a guaranteed starting spot and they said he'd have to compete with Craig. Spindler was the same with schrauth and they decided to get into the portal.
 

jprue24

Well-known member
Messages
2,895
Reaction score
3,245
The only reason guerby was starting was jags got hurt in the off-season. Coogan wanted a guaranteed starting spot and they said he'd have to compete with Craig. Spindler was the same with schrauth and they decided to get into the portal.
I was responding to a hypothetical specifically about coogan/lambert/craig.
 
Top