A Glance at 2007

[Fighting_Irish9]

For right now, my thoughts on the LSU game aren't good unless we can get Russell to have one of his really bad games some how...so I thought I would take a look at 2007, many complain about the lack of Veteran talent on the team next year and we do lose a lot of the core, but we very well could have a "decently" experienced squad next year, maybe even better off than the 2003 squad


Quarterback
rSo Evan Sharpley
-rFr Demitrius Jones
-rFr Zach Frazer
----Fr Jimmy Clausen

I see Sharpley starting the season with a good shot of Jones taking the job from him if the O-line is shakey,,,,(must admit a bias that I'm rooting for Jones, love QBs that can move) Don't see Clausen making to big of an impact but may get some playing time (series here and there) if Jones wins out the starting job. Don't be shocked if Clausen doesn't play next year. Weis is not a fan of Freshman playing QB

Running Back
Sr Darius Walker
-rSr Travis Thomas
-So James Aldridge
-Fr Armando Allen
-So Munir Prince

Walker is going to be the main man again, Like Grant in the past, Walker can run catch and BLOCK...until the others learn this, the D is going to know whats coming when they are in. Seems the Thomas experiment to LB has failed and he will be returning to Running back next year. This should give ND a great one two punch and give Aldridge another year to develope before having too much pressure on him. Expect to see both Alderidge and Prince, but not tons of them Aldridge will need to learn the blocking schemes but should see a decent amount of time as he will be leaned on in 08

FullBacks
Jr Asaph Schwapp
-rSr Ashley McConnell
-rFr Luke Schmidt

A Healthy Schwapp and this positions should be solid...Not sure if McConnell will be back but I haven't heard otherwise yet, and him backing up Schwapp will make this position pretty solid.

Wide Recievers
rSo DJ Hord
Jr David Grimes
-rFr Richard Jackson
-So George West
-rSr Chase Anastasio
-rJr Darren Bragg
-rFr Rob Parris
-rFr Barry Gallup
-----Fr Duval Kamara
-----Fr Greg Little

Hord IMO will step up to be the #1 guy next year, I expect Jackson to start to push the starters for some playing time also. Would be surprised to see any True Freshman get any major minutes at this position next year, also don't ignore Anastasio, he was good enough to beat out a lot of these players this year for time in Weis's eyes, no reason if he returns that he couldn't do it again.

Tight Ends
rSr John Carlson
-So Konrad Ruelend
-Fr Mike Ragone
-rFr Will Yeatman

Crossing my fingers Carlson comes back, but it looks like he will. I think Ruelend really could use another year before being counted on. If Carlson returns...he could be one of the best TE in CFB next year. Don't count out YEatman yet either, the guy is a freak physically, if Weis can transform that to a freak on the Football field could be fun to watch.

Offensive Line
rSr John Sullivan - Center
Jr Paul Duncan - Guard
So Matt Carufel - Guard
So Sam Young - Tackle
Jr Mike Turkovich - Tackle
-So Dan Wenger
-So Eric Olsen
-So Chris Stewart
-So Bartley Webb
-Fr Andrew Nuss
-Fr Emenka Nwankwo

As usual the 0-line positions will be up in the air all summer and is one of the tougher ones to nail down, but I wouldn't mind a starting group like this at all. I think Sullivan coming back would be Key...if we lose him we lose our Anchor and he is replaced with an inexperienced Dan Wenger at Center. The O-line will be young and will make some mistakes but like in 03, they will be a talented group that should play together for the next 2-3 years.

Defensive Ends
So Kellen Wade
So Morrice Richardson
-rJr Justin Brown
-So John Ryan
-Fr Justin Trattou
-rSr Casey Cullen
-Fr Kerry Neal

This position concerns me, a lot of question marks and the answers could go either way, if we some how land Wilson, I could see him making an impact at this position.

Defensive Tackles
rSrTrevor Laws
rSo Darrell Hand
-Jr Patrick Kuntz
-rSr Dwight Stephenson Jr
-rFr Paddy Mullen
-Fr Ian Williams

If Laws comes back, I don't think this position will be in as much trouble as people talk about for next year. I think Hand will compliment Laws Pretty well and we will be OK up the middle....No Laws though and this position becomes a concern quick

Linebackers
rJr Maurice Crum Jr - Apache
rSr Joe Brockington - SLB
So Toryan Smith - MLB
-rJr Anthony Vernaglia
-rSr Mitchell Thomas
-Jr Steve Quinn
-Jr Scott Smith
-rSo Kevin Washington
-rSr Nick Borsetti
-----Fr Steve Paskorz
-----Fr Aaron Nagel

I think one of the reasons we see Thomas moving back to RB is a confidence in Toryan Smith to take over the middle of the field moving Crum back to the outside. This could be a pretty solid Unit and I haven't given up on Vernaglia stepping up and making an impact

Cornerbacks
rSr Ambrose Wooden
rJr Tarreil Lambert
-So Darrin Walls
-rJr Leo Ferrine
-Fr Gary Gray
-So Raeshon McNeil
-So Leonard Gordon

Despite the rumblings of many fans, If Wooden returns, I think this is going to be a darn solid group. Lambert will likely become more consistant, and Walls will be learning the system and should make a solid Nickel back..CB is a very solid group and Weis's faith in it shows as the lack of effort in recruiting this area (only going after Gray)

Free Safety
Jr David Bruton
-So Sergio Brown
-Jr Kyle McCarthy

Strong Safety
rSr Tommy Zbikowski
-Jr Ray Herring
-So Sergio Brown
-So Jaashad Gaines

Despite the Zbikowski Backlash from some fans, I think him returning could really help this team...However I don't think its likely, seems he is NFL bound so the battle will be between Brown and Herring, both are talented but there will likely be a drop off at this position.

Punter
rSr Geoffry Price

Kicker
rSr Carl Gioia
So Ryan Burkhardt

A 5th Year for Price would really really help this team out so lets hope he gets/takes it. Not sure Gioia comes back but if he doesn't I think Burkardt should be coming along by the begining of Next year and see him winning the starting job, (even if Gioia comes back)

Anyway thats just a quick glance...Not 100% on all the classes as some Freshman may have or have not redshirted....I think I got them right but may have missed a few here and there

 

[IrishGirl10]

So - Zibby got his 5th year?

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

So - Zibby got his 5th year?

No, but until I hear otherwise I listed guys that COULD get a 5th year...rumor has it MANY will be returning.

One bad thing though is that Sullivan likely doesn't have much of a shot improving his draft status by returning so I will be pleasently surprised if he comes back..

I'd say its 95% that Zibby doesn't come back

 

[IrishGirl10]

No, but until I hear otherwise I listed guys that COULD get a 5th year...rumor has it MANY will be returning.

One bad thing though is that Sullivan likely doesn't have much of a shot improving his draft status by returning so I will be pleasently surprised if he comes back..

I'd say its 95% that Zibby doesn't come back

Oh. Okay. I heard Carlson got his 5th year, I just didn't know if Zibby did or not.

 

[johnchampion]

Agree on Ambrose Wooden. He lost his job to Lambert because of injury more than anything else.
Each guy can improve from this year to next. They'd smooth the road to 2008 a lot nicer for McNeil and Walls.
Sullivan and Young are the only sure bets on the O line.

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

9-1 Georgia Tech - They will come into South Bend with a Nasty Blitzing Defense that will fly all over the ball, they should have a very solid Running game and in many ways their passing game may be improved without Ball

9-8 @ Penn State - Remeber Michigan this year, In Many Ways that will be Penn State next year, They were a Young team that will be returning many players in what I consider a very big transition year (So to Jr) This game will be big

9-15 @ Michigan - If Henne, Hart, and Manningham among others return, Michigan will be an early favorite for the National Championship and we will be a Young team on the road.

9-22 Michigan State- New coach..Who knows...they have talent...doubt they turn it around that quick though

9-29 @ Purdue - This team is getting better and will be a solid top 25 team next year...we should win but would prefer we were playing this one at home

10-6 @ UCLA - I really don't know what this teams returns, but they almost beat us this year and Did beat USC...if they return a lot, this game could be a problem

10-13 Boston College - remember these guys???? Well they lost their coach...so that should help. We will be more talented...but will we win?

10-20 Southern California - This was to be their down year (10-2 Pac 10 Champs) they are only going to be tougher next year

11-3 Navy I will be happy for these men when they finally beat us, but as usual, I hope it isn't this year

11-10 Air Force - What happened to this program, they used to be a top flight Mid Major...hope they turn it back around and give us a game

11-17 Duke - Well its at home so we won't have a problem getting the game on TV...

11-24 @ Stanford a new coach AGAIN...whats going on over there? but if by some miracle we are a one loss team going into this stretch...these last 3 games aren't going to help us in any BCS polls

 

[Buttascotchyo]

I thought Schwapp got a medical redshirt?

 

[johnchampion]

Is McConnell returning for a fifth year something that has a high or low probability of occuring?

 

[RipDirty]

Why would Charlie have a problem starting a freshman. There's no way in hell Evan Sharpley is starting next year. Not when the Irish should be legit NC contenders in 08. Next season is about getting Clausen or Jones ready for 08.

 

[Denny]

Why would Charlie have a problem starting a freshman. There's no way in hell Evan Sharpley is starting next year. Not when the Irish should be legit NC contenders in 08. Next season is about getting Clausen or Jones ready for 08.

We really don't know who the better qb is, but i agree, if it comes down to the average but mistake free veteran qb vs. the very talented but young (mistakes) qb I'd be willing to take a few picks or wrong reads here and there for the sake of gettng the young kid more snaps for development.

 

[SDIrishFan]

I agree, I say hand it over to the future and let them see what they can do. yeah they (Clausen/Jones) will make mistakes, but that comes with the territory. The more I think about a dual threat quarterback, the more i like it. It would definately be nice to have that once extra option in the Charlie Weis offense.

 

[IrishDon103]

You people do realize that Sharpley was about as highly rated as Fraser and Jones out of high school..right?

 

[BGIF]

You people do realize that Sharpley was about as highly rated as Fraser and Jones out of high school..right?

Don, you're trying to inject common sense in a popularity contest. Don't confuse them with bringing up the guy that was and currently is taking ALL the snaps as #2 QB. None of the new guys beat Sharpley out last summer nor made a move this fall. It's Sharpley's job until somebody beats him on the field.

They may all beat him out in time but right now all any of them has to show is a high school clipping scrapbook. Oh yeah and honorable mention on the scout team running the other teams offense. It a nice training ground for adjusting to the speed of Div 1 football but it's not getting time in the ND offense.

 

[johnnd05]

9-1 Georgia Tech - They will come into South Bend with a Nasty Blitzing Defense that will fly all over the ball, they should have a very solid Running game and in many ways their passing game may be improved without Ball

9-8 @ Penn State - Remeber Michigan this year, In Many Ways that will be Penn State next year, They were a Young team that will be returning many players in what I consider a very big transition year (So to Jr) This game will be big

9-15 @ Michigan - If Henne, Hart, and Manningham among others return, Michigan will be an early favorite for the National Championship and we will be a Young team on the road.

9-22 Michigan State- New coach..Who knows...they have talent...doubt they turn it around that quick though

9-29 @ Purdue - This team is getting better and will be a solid top 25 team next year...we should win but would prefer we were playing this one at home

10-6 @ UCLA - I really don't know what this teams returns, but they almost beat us this year and Did beat USC...if they return a lot, this game could be a problem

10-13 Boston College - remember these guys???? Well they lost their coach...so that should help. We will be more talented...but will we win?

10-20 Southern California - This was to be their down year (10-2 Pac 10 Champs) they are only going to be tougher next year

11-3 Navy I will be happy for these men when they finally beat us, but as usual, I hope it isn't this year

11-10 Air Force - What happened to this program, they used to be a top flight Mid Major...hope they turn it back around and give us a game

11-17 Duke - Well its at home so we won't have a problem getting the game on TV...

11-24 @ Stanford a new coach AGAIN...whats going on over there? but if by some miracle we are a one loss team going into this stretch...these last 3 games aren't going to help us in any BCS polls

My goodness ... White & Co. need to learn how to schedule. Those first nine games are BRUTAL. I mean, I'll be impressed if we start better than 0-3, then 4-5. Following that up with a bunch of cupcakes doesn't help the perception of us, either.

 

[d9cornel]

Sharpley has ZERO chance of starting next year, wait I take that back. IF, Demetrius Jones transfers and Zach Frasier fails out of school and Clausen goes straight to the pros, then and only then will Sharpley have a shot at beating out Gary Godsey for the starting Job.

 

[sonomairishfan]

Don, you're trying to inject common sense in a popularity contest. Don't confuse them with bringing up the guy that was and currently is taking ALL the snaps as #2 QB. None of the new guys beat Sharpley out last summer nor made a move this fall. It's Sharpley's job until somebody beats him on the field.

They may all beat him out in time but right now all any of them has to show is a high school clipping scrapbook. Oh yeah and honorable mention on the scout team running the other teams offense. It a nice training ground for adjusting to the speed of Div 1 football but it's not getting time in the ND offense.

very good points. CW will play whoever knows the system the best.

 

[sonomairishfan]

Agree on Ambrose Wooden. He lost his job to Lambert because of injury more than anything else.
Each guy can improve from this year to next. They'd smooth the road to 2008 a lot nicer for McNeil and Walls.
Sullivan and Young are the only sure bets on the O line.

totally disagree. wooden lost his job. i think they use the injury to save the poor kid some pride. he tries hard and hustles but he isn't a good corner. he doesn't start anymore because he can't cover peps

 

[aRMITAGE]

Lambert played very well for us. Manningham's double moveverysad is the only true blemish on his season.

 

[edoglao]

A Glance at 2007

Manningham was truly a man amongst boys that afternoon. But better days are ahead. Walls, McNeil, Gray....

 

[jiggafini19]

Offensive Line
rSr John Sullivan - Center
Jr Paul Duncan - Guard
So Matt Carufel - Guard
So Sam Young - Tackle
Jr Mike Turkovich - Tackle
-So Dan Wenger
-So Eric Olsen
-So Chris Stewart
-So Bartley Webb
-Fr Andrew Nuss
-Fr Emenka Nwankwo

I'd much rather see Young and Duncan at tackle with Turk and Olsen at guard. Turk had about 2:30 minutes of PT more than Olsen. Turkovich strikes me as a poor man's Bob Morton...utility O lineman but not as good.

Sam Young may have recorded more true freshman minutes than any ND player in history.

Wooden ceased getting minutes when he returned from injury. Big difference from losing your job. If he had stayed healthy and Lambert ended up taking his spot, he'd have lost his job. I'd rather see Wooden get minutes than Leo Ferrine. And if Wooden can't cover "peeps", I'm wondering what your thoughts on Darrin Walls are considering he disappeared after the Purdue debacle against Selvyn Lymon. Raeshon McNeil wasn't heard much from either.

 

[jiggafini19]

Final playing time minutes:

Quarterback: Brady Quinn 299:36 (2), Evan Sharpley 19:42.


Running Back: Darius Walker 259:16 (4), Junior Jabbie 22:30 (45), James Aldridge 18:59, Munir Prince 15:42, John Lyons 1:52.


Fullback: Ashley McConnell 83:51 (58), Asaph Schwapp 23:21 (5), Matt Augustyn 3:55.


Receivers: Jeff Samardzija 337:06 (77), Rhema McKnight 278:31 (4), David Grimes 168:58 (44), Chase Anastasio 81:52 (50), George West 49:34, (65), Richard Jackson 36:10 (69), Robby Parris 13:36 (3), Nick Possley 6:30 (13), Craig Cardillo 2:22 (1).

Tight Ends: John Carlson 287:50 (98), Marcus Freeman 205:30 (157), Will Yeatman 26:39 (18), Konrad Reuland 16:45 (2).


Offensive Line: Bobby Morton 328:20 (62), Dan Santucci 325:09 (67), John Sullivan 302:01 (3), Ryan Harris 299:05 (2), Sam Young 269:47 (6) Paul Duncan 81:37 (61), Brian Mattes 67:44 (65), Mike Turkovich 22:01, Eric Olsen 19:43, Dan Chervanick 6:53, Matt Carufel 2:41.


Defensive Line: Derek Landri 295:13 (51), Victor Abiamiri 290:42 (50), Trevor Laws 288:32 (51), Chris Frome 223:19 (28), Casey Cullen 110:30 (221), Ronald Talley 58:01 (31), Travis Leitko 91:12 (120), Pat Kuntz 64:46 (67), John Ryan 35:47 (6), Justin Brown 22:37 (5), Morrice Richardson 20:52 (19), Dwight Stephenson Jr. 8:41, Derrell Hand 1:07, Neil Kennedy 0:30.


Linebackers: Maurice Crum Jr. 322:09 (96), Travis Thomas 299:46 (108), Joe Brockington 240:03 (115), Mitchell Thomas 119:08 (138), Steve Quinn 68:30 (137), Nick Borseti 37:53 (73), Anthony Vernaglia 26:19 (9), Toryan Smith 23:25 (3), Kyle Charters 0:30, Tim Kenney 0:30 (1).

Cornerbacks: Terrail Lambert 354:38 (200), Michael Richardson 319:11 (71), Ambrose Wooden 94:07 (22), Leo Ferrine 66:22 (54), Darrin Walls 61:07 (24), Raeshon McNeil 34:38 (44).

Safeties: Tom Zbikowski 330:32 (140), Chinedum Ndukwe 323:06 (106), Ray Herring 130:36 (169), Kyle McCarthy 83:27 (158), David Bruton 77:29 (106), Sergio Brown 49:26 (97), Jashaad Gaines 13:00 (26).

Specialists: J.J. Jansen 56:30 (113), Carl Gioia 34:00 (68), Geoff Price 24:00 (48), Ryan Burkhart 22:30 (45, Bobby Renkes 12:00 (24), Nate Whitaker 0:30 (1).

 

[sonomairishfan]

I'd much rather see Young and Duncan at tackle with Turk and Olsen at guard. Turk had about 2:30 minutes of PT more than Olsen. Turkovich strikes me as a poor man's Bob Morton...utility O lineman but not as good.

Sam Young may have recorded more true freshman minutes than any ND player in history.

Wooden ceased getting minutes when he returned from injury. Big difference from losing your job. If he had stayed healthy and Lambert ended up taking his spot, he'd have lost his job. I'd rather see Wooden get minutes than Leo Ferrine. And if Wooden can't cover "peeps", I'm wondering what your thoughts on Darrin Walls are considering he disappeared after the Purdue debacle against Selvyn Lymon. Raeshon McNeil wasn't heard much from either.

how is not getting minutes different from losing his job? once he went down the productivity from that spot improved. therefore once ambrose was healthy again, he lost his minutes. i guess, that i should say he lost his place in the starting unit. because he did get out on the field in certain packages.

as far as the other kids-
ferrine #15- i would rather see ambrose out there just for experience factor. ambrose has a nose for the ball sometimes (especially loose fumbles) i would rather see him out there in zone coverages because the poor kid gets picked on in man to man.

walls #2- i think that he will turn out to be a good cover corner. remember he was a frosh this year. if we get a defensive coordinater/ backs coach that will teach fundamentals, the sky is the limit. i feel that next year he will solidify a starting position.

mcneil #8-i feel the same way about him as i do walls.

once the two freshman are juniors watch out. remember lyte and company?? it's been awhile since we had people in the d-backfield that were impact players.

is ambrose coming back? i think that he can if he wants correct??

 

[jiggafini19]

Was he healthy again? Fully recovered? Physically as well as mentally....

He was the starter for the first two games and Michigan, then gets hurt against Michigan, then he's relegated to the bench. All he did to lose his spot was get hurt. All Lambert did to keep it was play pretty well. Had Wooden remained healthy, maybe Lambert takes his reps and maybe he doesn't. We'll never really know now.

I don't consider Wooden to have lost his spot to Lambert. He lost it due to injury.

Ferrine is just bad. Lambert made the jump and improved. Ferrine comes into the game, the opposing OC and QB notice him.

 

[Stalking_Eagle]

To support our DBs a little bit, did you notice how much pressure we got on the QB by our DL and LB. Our blitzing wasn't the best this year and our DL was horrible against the pass. DB's can only cover WR for so long until they finally get open on their own and the QB-WR play sandlot football. Pressure the QB and the DBs will look better. WE are getting speed, everyone please stay patient.

 

[jiggafini19]

You people do realize that Sharpley was about as highly rated as Fraser and Jones out of high school..right?

I'm not so sure that is the case.

Sharpley had offers from whom coming out of high school? Indiana, Iowa and Purdue.
That year two other QBs were offered by ND: Mark Sanchez and Rob Schoencroft.

Jones had offers that included Louisville, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Frazer had offers that included Louisville, Gerogia Tech and Penn State.

Now I agree that Sharpley will most likely win the job and start vs. Ga Tech, but this talk about him being highly recruited might be exaggerated.

He also threw as many passes in 2006 as Jeff Samardzija did and was the number two most likely because Wolke transferred. I can't help but feel a tad nervous that this guy hasn't had any significant playing time at a very important position, will be without a WR that has also seen limited action, behind an O Line that will lose three starters and was shaky all year long with Quinn.

 

[jiggafini19]

Interesting note....

During the last two seasons, the offense has been without a starting fullback for the entire schedule.

RPN got his DUI the week before the SC game and never returned. The player who wound up replacing him, Schwapp, missed most of this season with an injury.

People are very quick to talk about all that Walker IS NOT and prod at his limitations, yet no one seems to mention the fullback situation the last two years.

 

[BGIF]

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by IrishDon103
You people do realize that Sharpley was about as highly rated as Fraser and Jones out of high school..right?

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I'm not so sure that is the case.

I'm not so sure that is the case.

...

Rivals rated Jones and Frazer 4 Stars, Sharpley 3 stars.
Scout rated Sharpley and Frazer 4 Stars, Jones 3 Stars.

Rivals
Jones was the #2 Dual QB (Tebow was the only 5 Star).
Frazer was the #9 ProStyle QB (Mustain and Stafford only 5 Stars)
Sharpley was the #12 ProStyle QB (Sanchez was the only 5 Star)

Scout
Frazer was the #9 QB (Mustain, Stafford, and Tebow were 5 Stars)
Sharpley was the #18 QB (Sanchez, Perrilloux, Crompton, and Olson were 5 Stars)
Jones was the #34 QB (Mustain, Stafford, and Tebow were 5 Stars).

Frazer and Sharpley at #9 and #12 are a push (rankingwise) and it's hard to compare different style QBs particularly when you plug them into a different offense than what they ran in HS. Div 1 ball, especially CW's offense, is a hell of a lot more cerebral than HS ball. Carlyle Holliday lamented that aspect. Hard to adjust when just about everybody on the other side is big and fast.

Interesting to note that Sharpley was ranked 3 slots (Rivals) higher than a kid some of you may have heard of, he committed to Texas, Colt McCoy. Scout ranked McCoy #14, 4 slots higher than Sharpley.

Rivals also had ratings that show some separation. But I suspect these ratings are influenced by who is simply the better athlete, not necessarily the better QB.

Jones 6.0
Fraser 5.8
Sharpley 5.6

Rivals Rating:

• 6.1 Franchise Player; considered one of the elite prospects in the country, generally among the nation's top 25 players overall; deemed to have excellent pro potential; high-major prospect
  
• 6.0-5.8 All-American Candidate; high-major prospect; considered one of the nation's top 200 prospects; deemed to have pro potential and ability to make an impact on college team
  
• 5.7-5.5 All-Region Selection; considered among the region's top prospects and among the top 500 or so prospects in the country; high-to-mid-major prospect; deemed to have pro potential and ability to make an impact on college team
  

Kids develop physically and mentally at different rates. Some peak early (Powlus?). Some blossom late (Huarte).

Great comment Jiggs about Shark and Sharpley having similar career attempts.

Gonna be an interesting Spring!

 

[johnchampion]

If the staff has no idea who will emerge as the starter, no way do we armchair dudes know.
I fail to see that an inexperienced offensive line will necessitate a "mobile" QB. Assuming they perform well after another spring and round of conditioning, who is to say the front five will struggle?

 

[BGIF]

Interesting note.... People are very quick to talk about all that Walker IS NOT and prod at his limitations, yet no one seems to mention the fullback situation the last two years.

I posted stats for the great ND runners in a thread on Aldridge during the season. Despite not being a home run threat he's a Top 5 All-Time Rusher with a year to go. A principal negative noted by an individual pointed out that the premier RBs average 5.0 ypc while Walker is under 5.

I noted he doesn't get to run behind the great OLs like Aaron Taylor, Ruddy, and Norman. In the days when ND OL's focus was on "surging out" not "falling back" in pass protection mode. I noted he doesn't have a Bus, A.J., Conjar, or Marc Edwards (the last great ND fullback) in the backfield to share the carries and keep the defense honest but I don't think I noted that Walker gained a lot of those yards on his own.

ND ran about 320 minutes of Offense in '06. Walker played almost 260 minutes at RB. Schwapp, McConnell, and Augustyn played about 100. Even allowing a couple of minutes for Walker to line up with Aldridge or Prince still means Walker lined up alone 50% of the time.

Denson, Pinkett, Heavens, Ferguson, Gipp, Watters, and The Four Horseman didn't have to run alone. Walker is called on to do it frequently.

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

I posted stats for the great ND runners in a thread on Aldridge during the season. Despite not being a home run threat he's a Top 5 All-Time Rusher with a year to go. A principal negative noted by an individual pointed out that the premier RBs average 5.0 ypc while Walker is under 5.

so 5.0 is premier while 4.9 is average ??????????

Seriously????

And can the 5.0 Block and catch?