'23 MO CB Christian Gray (Notre Dame Signee)

Irish#1

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Gray will be fine this year, but I'm interested to see how he performs under a new position coach.
 
Rocketman84

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Crazy Balki said:
I'm not the biggest Gray fan, but when Gray lost, he was generally getting beat by guys like Malachi Toney, Makai Lemon, Mario Craver. Oh, so you mean some of the top receivers in the country? If Graham is doing that to Gray, that probably indicates that ND has something special in Mylan.
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☝️☝️
 
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MeanGreenBeans

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I'll never stop believing in Christian Gray. His talent has never been a problem, but his mental state/focus/effort have been. To be fair, some of that might have been related to injury. A new position coach and new role on the team (nickleback) could do wonders for him.
 
FightingIrishLover7

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MeanGreenBeans said:
I'll never stop believing in Christian Gray. His talent has never been a problem, but his mental state/focus/effort have been. To be fair, some of that might have been related to injury. A new position coach and new role on the team (nickleback) could do wonders for him.
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This
I'm being downvoted into oblivion for making fun of Gray smoothbrainers

I may be his biggest supporter on here. Love everything about that kid
 
GoldenTate(r)Tots

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There's a lot on here that are better at the X's and O's side of things and I recall reading somewhere (not sure if here or someplace else) that it's likely he'll get used more in a nickel role vs boundary/field which might be a better fit for his talents. If someone recently commented on this, sorry I missed it but curious what the thoughts are with that? Would love to see him get into a better spot because while he's had some struggles at times, he also has brought some of my favorite memories recently with my son being old enough to begin his ND football obsession with me.
 
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allenm5333

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GoldenTate(r)Tots said:
There's a lot on here that are better at the X's and O's side of things and I recall reading somewhere (not sure if here or someplace else) that it's likely he'll get used more in a nickel role vs boundary/field which might be a better fit for his talents. If someone recently commented on this, sorry I missed it but curious what the thoughts are with that? Would love to see him get into a better spot because while he's had some struggles at times, he also has brought some of my favorite memories recently with my son being old enough to begin his ND football obsession with me.
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He is getting reps at field and nickel. Some have argued he actually may be better suited for boundary but we have had DUDES there. He struggles when he cannot press and plays off coverage. He does tend to panic and get grabby when beat. I like how Greg at hit and hustle said his misses are "load", meaning not often but critical and big. I honestly don't know if Nickel is great for him. But it could help him get more safety help behind
 
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MeanGreenBeans said:
I'll never stop believing in Christian Gray. His talent has never been a problem, but his mental state/focus/effort have been. To be fair, some of that might have been related to injury. A new position coach and new role on the team (nickleback) could do wonders for him.
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Gray has been asked to do a lot and has been fine. An adjusted role will have him looking great. He will be a good nickelback when he is used there.
 
NDFAN420

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Crazy Balki said:
I'm not the biggest Gray fan, but when Gray lost, he was generally getting beat by guys like Malachi Toney, Makai Lemon, Mario Craver. Oh, so you mean some of the top receivers in the country? If Graham is doing that to Gray, that probably indicates that ND has something special in Mylan.
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I know that a lot of people think that, but he gets beat by every team's #1 receiver or #1 option on a specific play consistently, not just by a few guys. He plays with very poor technique, too poor for an NFL CB and he's too small/brittle to be a FS. They play him too far off the WR in order to hide his deficiencies, but that also leads to a lot chain moving catches in front of him. His saving grace for the ND team and what's led to his most vocal defenders has been the INTs. However, most of those were very bad decisions by the QB rather than really good plays by Gray.

He's a guy. A body at CB. Not good, not bad, just a guy.
 
NDFAN420

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allenm5333 said:
He is getting reps at field and nickel. Some have argued he actually may be better suited for boundary but we have had DUDES there. He struggles when he cannot press and plays off coverage. He does tend to panic and get grabby when beat. I like how Greg at hit and hustle said his misses are "load", meaning not often but critical and big. I honestly don't know if Nickel is great for him. But it could help him get more safety help behind
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I don't think that he has the body type, nor the technique to play nickel. That's Moore vs. Lemon. Gray cannot do that against P5 WRs.
 
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allenm5333

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NDFAN420 said:
I don't think that he has the body type, nor the technique to play nickel. That's Moore vs. Lemon. Gray cannot do that against P5 WRs.
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If we play a dude at slot, Moore is gonna be the guy. I think repping Gray at slot right now is got. The transfer and Golden may take over Field
 
Crazy Balki

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NDFAN420 said:
I know that a lot of people think that, but he gets beat by every team's #1 receiver or #1 option on a specific play consistently, not just by a few guys. He plays with very poor technique, too poor for an NFL CB and he's too small/brittle to be a FS. They play him too far off the WR in order to hide his deficiencies, but that also leads to a lot chain moving catches in front of him. His saving grace for the ND team and what's led to his most vocal defenders has been the INTs. However, most of those were very bad decisions by the QB rather than really good plays by Gray.

He's a guy. A body at CB. Not good, not bad, just a guy.
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Yeah no. Sorry, but the numbers don't back that up at all.

Gray allowed 48.3% completion percentage when throwing his way last year. He finished 3rd in passes defended per game in 2025.

Those are not the numbers of just "a guy" at corner. Gray has his shortcomings that he has to work on, but we have to keep in mind, Gray is going to be given the best look of every team, because nobody is going to even tempt fate with Leonard Moore on the other end.

Doesn't mean his job is safe, because Golden is clearly impressing and I like what I saw from McKinney at Colorado, but the notion that Gray was just getting toasted by everybody's #1 is just patently false.
 
T-Boone

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Crazy Balki said:
Yeah no. Sorry, but the numbers don't back that up at all.

Gray allowed 48.3% completion percentage when throwing his way last year. He finished 3rd in passes defended per game in 2025.

Those are not the numbers of just "a guy" at corner. Gray has his shortcomings that he has to work on, but we have to keep in mind, Gray is going to be given the best look of every team, because nobody is going to even tempt fate with Leonard Moore on the other end.

Doesn't mean his job is safe, because Golden is clearly impressing and I like what I saw from McKinney at Colorado, but the notion that Gray was just getting toasted by everybody's #1 is just patently false.
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We should see if we can get Moore to play in a jersey number against Miami. Is that legal?
 
NDFAN420

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Crazy Balki said:
Yeah no. Sorry, but the numbers don't back that up at all.

Gray allowed 48.3% completion percentage when throwing his way last year. He finished 3rd in passes defended per game in 2025.

Those are not the numbers of just "a guy" at corner. Gray has his shortcomings that he has to work on, but we have to keep in mind, Gray is going to be given the best look of every team, because nobody is going to even tempt fate with Leonard Moore on the other end.

Doesn't mean his job is safe, because Golden is clearly impressing and I like what I saw from McKinney at Colorado, but the notion that Gray was just getting toasted by everybody's #1 is just patently false.
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Imagine you played cornerback at a decent enough level to start in college. Now imagine arguing with people who didn't about a guy who is just okay at CB. This where we're at. I'm not sure what else to tell you. Just don't watch on 3rd down when Gray gives up an easy 1st on every catchable ball thrown in his vicinity while he's nowhere near the receiver and you'll be fine.
 
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MeanGreenBeans

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NDFAN420 said:
Imagine you played cornerback at a decent enough level to start in college. Now imagine arguing with people who didn't about a guy who is just okay at CB. This where we're at. I'm not sure what else to tell you. Just don't watch on 3rd down when Gray gives up an easy 1st on every catchable ball thrown in his vicinity while he's nowhere near the receiver and you'll be fine.
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Your support for your position is "I played ball and you didn't" and then some hyperbole from what I can tell. Balki cited, you know, actual stats. Let's revisit your post when Gray gets drafted.
 
Irish#1

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NDFAN420 said:
Imagine you played cornerback at a decent enough level to start in college. Now imagine arguing with people who didn't about a guy who is just okay at CB. This where we're at. I'm not sure what else to tell you. Just don't watch on 3rd down when Gray gives up an easy 1st on every catchable ball thrown in his vicinity while he's nowhere near the receiver and you'll be fine.
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Better yet. Just tune in during the fourth quarter to see Gray come up with a pick to secure the win.
 
IrishColts17

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NDFAN420 said:
Imagine you played cornerback at a decent enough level to start in college. Now imagine arguing with people who didn't about a guy who is just okay at CB. This where we're at. I'm not sure what else to tell you. Just don't watch on 3rd down when Gray gives up an easy 1st on every catchable ball thrown in his vicinity while he's nowhere near the receiver and you'll be fine.
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Every time I see this line of thinking I'm reminded that NBA players voted Tyrese Haliburton the most overrated player in the NBA, after which he led his team to Game 7 of the Finals, got injured, and watched his team have their worst season in history without him.

One's ability to play has very little to do with one's ability to evaluate talent.
 
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