Bennett Jackson moved to DB

[NewEnglandGuy]

Badger should be back in 2012 as well.

Along with hopefully two other safties and a couple of corners. Depending on the Riddick and Collinsworth situations we may grab 3 WRs in 2012 as well.

This was just the players available in 2011...

 

[Irishtat]

I liked him on Special Teams. Kid was the fastest kid in NJ as a senior. I think he'll be solid.

Agree. Special Teams POY. Solid tackler with speed.

 

[ThePiombino]

This is definitely a kid who needs to see the field as much as possible and if this is how it has to be in 2011, so be it!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

The one thing that worries me about Jackson is will he be able to flip his hips change directions and run? Whatching him last year he seemed to be stiff in the hips and a straight line runner. Ofcourse the staff knows better than me. We will see.

 

[irishff1014]

The one thing that worries me about Jackson is will he be able to flip his hips change directions and run? Whatching him last year he seemed to be stiff in the hips and a straight line runner. Ofcourse the staff knows better than me. We will see.

The only thing about this though the coaches wouldn't let this happen if they knew he wouldn't be able to adjust. I think his speed will help him greatly.

 

[jonesman]

This is great news. I was actually thinking about this exact move all weekend as people were preparing to be Lemmings Jumping off the cliff with Otchochka de-committing.

Look at the fact that Bennett has shown great physical skills on special teams. Further, he has good speed and size for a CB. It will be nice because we can use this season to get him some nickel playing time and then he can really go for it in 2012.

There is one other move I have thought about all weekend. That is moving Collinsworth to Safety. The kid has nice size and hits a ton. He appears to have that aggressiveness needed at safety.

The final possible position tweak I could see in the secondary is Slaughter moving from safety to CB. In watching him this past year, he appears slightly undersized at Safety. He hits hard, but looks a bit small coming up on run support. I would like to see him at CB.

Any way it goes, I am impressed with the player movement by Kelly and boyz.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I really like this move with his speed, size, and he is not afraid to hit someone.

 

[Irish in StPete]

OK out----BJ in

OK out----BJ in

Bennett can be a great CB, and with the new pass rushing defense there will be more footballs thrown up in the air by QBs running for their lives. ND may lead the world in Pick 6s with fast guys like Bennett roaming around. He is a great runner in the open field.

There probably be some more position changes coming. Maybe Danny Spond who was a QB in HS and is 6-4/235. If the LB position gets jammed up with potential stars they might try to put the ball into his hands someway. He was a Tebow type QB, very tough runner. Lots of talent on this ND squad.

 

[BGIF]

... The final possible position tweak I could see in the secondary is Slaughter moving from safety to CB. In watching him this past year, he appears slightly undersized at Safety. He hits hard, but looks a bit small coming up on run support. I would like to see him at CB.

Any way it goes, I am impressed with the player movement by Kelly and boyz.

At 6-0 195 Slaughter is a "light" safety but almost the same size as UCLA's Rahiim Moore 6-1 195 not bad size for a Free Safety. Will see what another season of Longo plus Spring Ball due to him.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Cool news to wake up to. I'm glad he has already played the position in high school. Also, he has shown he will hit someone on special teams.

 

[Irish.Ca]

You've got to find a way to get your athletes on the field, and he needs to be on the field. Jackson flys around with all out effort and you have to love that.

Addition by subtraction here? Bennett, we hardly knew you.

Go Irish!

 

[Veer option]

I was looking forward to what he could do as a WR. Though I guess this move helps solidify the position for the defense.

 

[rikkitikki08]

I like this move, jackson has speed but his acceleration is whats really important. Having him in the secondary is going to produce only good things in my opinion

 

[MyBrothersSchool]

Yeah I don't think it necessarily is, it's just interesting timing of the information coming out. Wonder what position BK has in mind for Collinsworth in the future.

Put him in the booth and pull Tom Hammonds scholarship.

 

[RyCo1983]

Put him in the booth and pull Tom Hammonds scholarship.

yes please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hell let him and his dad take over the ND games...

P.S.
I do like this move...BJ can hit, we know that. They can coach up the secondary skills he developed in HS. He'll give us a little of that depth that we desperately need at the position. Kelly and Company will load up in the secondary next year.

 

[ACamp1900]

Doesn't suprise me at all... I thought about this before... he and Austin Collinsworth are sure to get practice time in the secondary this sring...

 

[eNDzone]

Good move with Jackson .Got to get this kid on the field

 

[Irish Fam]

I am excited to hear Kelly's presser on Wednesday. The impending snowstorm should give me a good reason to take a NSD holiday.

hahahah i am right there with ya

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Do you guys think 2 or 3 of the 4 incoming committs sit a year now that we have 4 DB's? Hardy being the most likely to see PT and potentially Atkinson?

 

[kmoose]

Do you guys think 2 or 3 of the 4 incoming committs sit a year now that we have 4 DB's? Hardy being the most likely to see PT and potentially Atkinson?

I would hope that ALL of them sit a year.... or two. We need to get away from this hoping that the incoming freshman class is going to plug holes in our team. I want 99.99999999% of incoming freshmen at ND to have NO SHOT at playing in their freshman year. This would mean that we have solid starters at every position on the field.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I would hope that ALL of them sit a year.... or two. We need to get away from this hoping that the incoming freshman class is going to plug holes in our team. I want 99.99999999% of incoming freshmen at ND to have NO SHOT at playing in their freshman year. This would mean that we have solid starters at every position on the field.

Ho did you come to the conclusion that I was "hoping" any of them are going to plug holes? All I asked was realistically how many sit. The problem is that we have only 4 DB's so if one gets hurt then what are you gonna do, unless like someone suggested, Slaughter plays some DB.

 

[RyCo1983]

I would hope that ALL of them sit a year.... or two. We need to get away from this hoping that the incoming freshman class is going to plug holes in our team. I want 99.99999999% of incoming freshmen at ND to have NO SHOT at playing in their freshman year. This would mean that we have solid starters at every position on the field.

Yep, this is how I feel, I'd love for the team to get to a point like that...where most freshman won't play much. It'll take 3 or 4 more years of recruiting like we are and we could be there.

 

[kmoose]

Ho did you come to the conclusion that I was "hoping" any of them are going to plug holes?

I wasn't referring to you, specifically. It was just a general observation.

 

[irishff1014]

I would think that at least one would get some time so that they have a 5th guy with some playing time under his belt in case of an injury.

 

[GoIrish41]

I would hope that ALL of them sit a year.... or two. We need to get away from this hoping that the incoming freshman class is going to plug holes in our team. I want 99.99999999% of incoming freshmen at ND to have NO SHOT at playing in their freshman year. This would mean that we have solid starters at every position on the field.

Agreed, but we ain't there yet. hopefully as few as possible sit and we can begin to build some depth there. The same concept should follow to all positions.

 

[BGIF]

I agree on the timing. Back in the olden days (pre Kelly) these things didn't come out until Spring Ball. I don't recall 5th Years being acknowledged by a coach until quite some time after Signing Day.

Talking about the Bennett move to DB, Kelly just mentioned that there's been a "twitter ban" put in place for the players. As we discussed yesterday that piece of info wasn't supposed to get so early. Kelly mentioned in response to a question that there will be some other position moves but you won't be reading it on twitter (at least player's twitter).

 

[irishff1014]

Huh i wonder what kinda moves could be instore maybe Collinsworth going to DB as well.

 

[BGIF]

I agree on the timing. Back in the olden days (pre Kelly) these things didn't come out until Spring Ball. I don't recall 5th Years being acknowledged by a coach until quite some time after Signing Day.

Kelly just responded to a question on 5th Years that "they are not yet resolved". Followup question on Romine still under consideration for 5th year drew response of "He is not. And that's all I have to say on that subject. I've arlready gotten in trouble once (for speaking too soon.)

It's a faculty committee decision on who's academically a go for 5th year not the Head Coach's. Another big difference between ND and the football factories.

 

[IceManxMVPx]

Way to be a team player Bennett.

His speed alone is going to help the defense immensely.