I know all of u are probably sick of the media saying we need more athletic guys but out defense is so slow if we dont get speed we arent going to be able to stop any offense. We also need a solid running back who has the break out speed and doesnt get injured like armando does i just think we need to recruit more athleticism for next year.
I agree that there is a massive difference between the athleticism of a player like Manti and Brian Smith. However, only a few teams have stacked rosters of players like Manti.
This is just my opinion but I think ND plays too conservative on the defensive side of the ball. Both in player selection and scheme.
Take for example Filer. That kid is just as athletic as any OLB in the nation IMO. Yet he hardly ever plays. The reason for this, IMO, is because the intelligence level of the ND team is much higher than other programs.
If you are a coach and you create a game plan, that is your vision. When you have a meeting with your position or unit, you want to make sure that position or unit is on the same page as you. That is the safest way for a coach to play it.
At ND, pretty much the entire team is smart or above average. So some players are able to understand the playbook and thus provide a level a comfort for the coaches. What this leads to, once again IMO, is a group of players who know what they should do but are at times unable to physically perform the task.
If you compare this to a team that has players with below average intelligence, the coach is forced to adjust their game plan and get the best athletes on the field. Essentially...see the ball and go get it. On a team like this, Filer would start over Brian Smith.
So what the coaches need to do is more watching and less listening. They need to simply play the best athletes and build a game plan around them. Including their mistakes. In the end, the production of being able to do things would outweigh being out of position because you were not strong or fast enough.
