BK Spring Ball Opening Presser Notes

[peoriairish]

I'm with you, GITF. Although, I'm still reluctant to call Day very good (at this stage anyway-- I think he'll be very good for sure...one day). And to be picky, I'm not sure I'd call Springman a good depth player yet either. Thinking of him as a b-ball sub, he's a guy you could put in and hopefully steal some minutes-- he won't kill you, but he also won't really make any plays out on the court.

I think Jones, Day, and Vanderdoes are all keys to how good the D and D-Line can truly be.

Day is already very good. There are many times I can remember him turning plays back inside and making solid upfield plays last year. IMO, he was athletically a better player than KLM, but Kappy had more experience and leadership. Sheldon is a stud my man.

 

[koonja]

Day wasn't better than Lynch as a freshman.

 

[greyhammer90]

Day wasn't better than Lynch as a freshman.

Cool Beans.

 

[GoIrish41]

I suppose this person didn't watch any games last year. Wood is most likely #3 and set for the slot/nickel position. Not that he can't overtake KR but not happening because he is healthy.

I think he'd have a better chance of overcoming B. Jackson -- and I seriously doubt that is going to happen. Wood is a pretty good 3, but I don't see him starting on either side.

 

[Luckylucci]

Day wasn't better than Lynch as a freshman.

Individually not many will ever be. He's a special talent. He outshined Tuitt by a lot. With that said day played at a high level for a freshman. Something to consider is that anybody that played as many snaps as he did last year had to be doing quite a bit of good because they were part of one the best D's in the country. And I agree that day is a better talent than kappy he just needs the experience. Lastly I bet that if u were to ask the staff behind close doors they would all say thy expect this Dline to be better

 

[Luckylucci]

No chance that wood overtakes Jackson. Jackson is getting attention from NFL scouts as we speak for a reason. A lot of what Kelly says in these press conferences is coach speak. Most likely Wood will be spelling KR

 

[GoIrish41]

No chance that wood overtakes Jackson. Jackson is getting attention from NFL scouts as we speak for a reason. A lot of what Kelly says in these press conferences is coach speak. Most likely Wood will be spelling KR

KR will be getting NFL attention next year at this time too. I personally think he is better than Jackson, but like I said, Wood isn't going to unseat either of them.

 

[tadman95]

I think Day hurt his knee celebrating (don't remember which game) because he was more dynamic before that. He wasn't as much a factor after.

I thought he was average after that. If true, I think he'll be bigger surprise this year.

 

[Luckylucci]

While I think that KR may be more physically gifted he still has a lot of technique work. Will that get better? Of course but it takes time. Tough to look at both and say KR played better football

 

[koonja]

Individually not many will ever be. He's a special talent. He outshined Tuitt by a lot. With that said day played at a high level for a freshman. Something to consider is that anybody that played as many snaps as he did last year had to be doing quite a bit of good because they were part of one the best D's in the country. And I agree that day is a better talent than kappy he just needs the experience. Lastly I bet that if u were to ask the staff behind close doors they would all say thy expect this Dline to be better

I know, I was saying that cause bogtrotter said otherwise.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Day wasn't better than Lynch as a freshman.

Individually not many will ever be. He's a special talent. He outshined Tuitt by a lot.

Let's not oversell Lynch. He was a monstrous pass-rusher, but he was also undisciplined and couldn't two-gap to save his life, which made him a serious liability in the run game. When KLM went down late in 2011, our opponents had lots of success by running right at Lynch.

With that said day played at a high level for a freshman. Something to consider is that anybody that played as many snaps as he did last year had to be doing quite a bit of good because they were part of one the best D's in the country. And I agree that day is a better talent than kappy he just needs the experience. Lastly I bet that if u were to ask the staff behind close doors they would all say thy expect this Dline to be better

This needs to be emphasized. The DL Lynch played on was good, but not nearly as good as 2012's, which was arguably the best in the nation. And Day managed to be a major contributor on that DL, without any glaring holes in his game. Given his superior "intangibles" as well, I wouldn't trade Day for Lynch.

Though I was a little disappointed to hear Kelly mention that Day weighs "only" 286 in today's press conference. That's almost identical to his reported weight when he first stepped on campus over a year ago. Perhaps the concerns about his frame had some merit.

 

[STLDomer]

While the Lynch subject is on tap:

In USFs spring roster, Lynch is listed at 6'6 244, down 18 pounds from the fall roster.

Thought that was interesting, he's probably fast as ****.

 

[Ironman8]

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/961/1379890.pdf

 

[greyhammer90]

While the Lynch subject is on tap:

In USFs spring roster, Lynch is listed at 6'6 244, down 18 pounds from the fall roster.

Thought that was interesting, he's probably fast as ****.

Are they trying him at linebacker?! He's freaking tiny for a DE!

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

Let's not oversell Lynch. He was a monstrous pass-rusher, but he was also undisciplined and couldn't two-gap to save his life, which made him a serious liability in the run game. When KLM went down late in 2011, our opponents had lots of success by running right at Lynch.

Lynch rarely played base. Came in mostly on pass situations.

Yes he didn't like two gapping but talented freshmen pass rushers usually don't. He was also very undersized as a freshman. That could have easily changed.

He could have been taught to two gap. With his length, power, and speed? Saying you would rather have Day sounds very risk averse. Sorry. I would have taken the risk on lynch. Difference of opinion but I will take Kellys ability to coach pure talent any day.

 

[Luckylucci]

Wow that is very small. Councell ways more than him at OLB. Either that's way off or he's in trouble.

 

[STLDomer]

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/961/1379890.pdf

I find it interesting that Stanley and Elmer are the only tackles (besides Lombard who could move inside) north of 310, more than both Martins

EDIT: just released that there aren't really many tackles on the spring roster but still

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Lynch rarely played base. Came in mostly on pass situations.

He started at LDE for several games in 2011 after KLM went down.

Yes he didn't like two gapping but talented freshmen pass rushers usually don't. He was also very undersized as a freshman. That could have easily changed.

He always struck me as a prototypical 4-3 WDE, which I feared would make him a poor system fit. And he might have changed, or he might have continued to be a locker room cancer. I don't understand the urge to lionize this kid after the fact when he had some very obvious negatives.

He could have been taught to two gap. With his length, power, and speed? Saying you would rather have Day sounds very risk averse. Sorry. I would have taken the risk on lynch. Difference of opinion but I will take Kellys ability to coach pure talent any day.

He was a poor system fit with a bad attitude. We can play "coulda, woulda, shoulda" all day long, but no one knows what would have happened. Lynch allegedly wanted back in last season, but the staff turned him down. That's pretty powerful evidence that you're wrong.

And I'll stand by my assertion vis-a-vis Day. I think he had a better freshman campaign than Lynch. He was a major contributor on a much better DL, and he didn't have any glaring holes in his game. There's more to playing DL than simply pass-rushing.

 

[Kak7304]

Add Vanderdoes to this list...really liking the line next year.

I somehow keep forgetting we actually got this kid. Things are looking pretty damn good.

 

[Irish YJ]

Wow that is very small. Councell ways more than him at OLB. Either that's way off or he's in trouble.

South Florida's two starting DEs were 234 and 248. number 2s on the depth chart 234 and 250. Lynch will be fine relevant to the team and league he is playing in/on.

 

[greyhammer90]

South Florida's two starting DEs were 234 and 248. number 2s on the depth chart 234 and 250. Lynch will be fine relevant to the team and league he is playing in/on.

God d*** it we lost to that team.


It still burns...

 

[irishff1014]

I think Wood has a lot of ground to make up to compete with Russell and Jackson. Russell was a hell of a tackler. And with having a whole off season to work getting that much better. A very good problem to have.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think Day hurt his knee celebrating (don't remember which game) because he was more dynamic before that. He wasn't as much a factor after.

I thought he was average after that. If true, I think he'll be bigger surprise this year.

Agree. I think he hit the freshman wall.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

God d*** it we lost to that team.

It still burns...

And since then, we competed for a national title, while they fired Skip and are in serious danger of being left without a seat when the realignment music stops.

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

He started at LDE for several games in 2011 after KLM went down.



He always struck me as a prototypical 4-3 WDE, which I feared would make him a poor system fit. And he might have changed, or he might have continued to be a locker room cancer. I don't understand the urge to lionize this kid after the fact when he had some very obvious negatives.



He was a poor system fit with a bad attitude. We can play "coulda, woulda, shoulda" all day long, but no one knows what would have happened. Lynch allegedly wanted back in last season, but the staff turned him down. That's pretty powerful evidence that you're wrong.

And I'll stand by my assertion vis-a-vis Day. I think he had a better freshman campaign than Lynch. He was a major contributor on a much better DL, and he didn't have any glaring holes in his game. There's more to playing DL than simply pass-rushing.

I agree 'in retrospect'. Because yea he quit, but If Lynch would have stuck around I think kelly could have gotten to him. Yes he appears to be suited for 4-3 end, but the transition has been done b4 and he was bigger than KLM coming in. (JJ watt has been successful in his transition although he normally one gaps)

I like day better as NT and I think he moves there when Nix leaves. His build seems like a better fit there(if he puts on Nix weight which apparently he hasn't )

That's pretty powerful evidence that you're wrong

Forgot to address this. Its bad policy to let kids back in who've left. Undermines coaches credibility. Don't think it says anything about how good he could have been.

 

[Irish YJ]

And since then, we competed for a national title, while they fired Skip and are in serious danger of being left without a seat when the realignment music stops.

Still burns me a bit but only like a very light sunburn. He had amazing raw talent and would have been elite in passing downs. I'm not saying we are better off without him, but I think it forced us to improve other aspects of the team, and gave other kids experience. If the rumors of his attitude are true, then we are in fact better off without him.

At the end of the day, if he had stayed, I believe he would have picked up weight and strength, and easily a top 15 player on draft day after this season. As it stands now, he's regressed with his size, and likely strength after sitting out a year (which he could have used to do the opposite). He's now looking at either A) entering the draft as an undersized DE after this year, or B) playing for 2 years for a team in limbo, and likely won't get the coaching and s/c support he would have enjoyed at ND. Not to mention the things that are more important than football.

Sucks for us, sucks for him, and we all no his mother was not happy. It's to bad, really like his mom's love for ND.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I like day better as NT and I think he moves there when Nix leaves. His build seems like a better fit there(if he puts on Nix weight which apparently he hasn't )

Agreed wholeheartedly. If Day could put on another 20-30 lbs and do a passable Nix impression, the future of our DL would be even brighter. But his apparent inability to put on weight (or the maybe staff's hesitance to bulk him up?) probably means that ain't gonna happen.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I think he could easily put on some weight if Louis would let him eat the Honey Buns he wanted.

 

[Irish YJ]

Agreed wholeheartedly. If Day could put on another 20-30 lbs and do a passable Nix impression, the future of our DL would be even brighter. But his apparent inability to put on weight (or the maybe staff's hesitance to bulk him up?) probably means that ain't gonna happen.

20-30 for him could still come easy by start of the 2014 season. Very well could be the staff's choice in part. Anyone know about his injury history, or hopefully lack thereof?

 

[NDdomer2]

can anyone else see Cole Luke moving in front of Lo by midyear once he learns the system?