BK Spring Ball Opening Presser Notes

[Sherm Sticky]

I love you guys! But, I really find this funny! What do you want from a kid? He comes in to an experienced defensive line, the best ND has had since Holtz was coach, showed the maturity and conditioning to make the two deep immediately, behind a fifth year senior captain on one side and an All-American on the other. His coaches continually refer to him as having the maturity of a sophmore or a junior, (all season long). He had more tackles than any freshman player since ??? More than Lynch, Johnson, Tuitt, Lewis-Moore, etc., etc., as a freshman, and you either need to change him to nose guard or don't see where he has that much potential.

I will tell you all you need to know about Sheldon. He is between 6 and 6'1" he is twice as wide as me, which is saying something. His legs are like tree trunks. He doesn't look like he has long limbs because they are so big around. But this cat is quick and has a high motor. And he is more athletic at that size that almost anyone would give him credit for. I am telling you. He may be atypical, but he gots it! And he can bring it.

Bogs...Not sure why you are taking exception to my comment either. Personally I think Day is a stud. i just think he got worn down at the end of the season, which is typical for a freshman or a rookie in the NFL. Also, I don't like Day as a NT, I believe he is best fit for a 3-4 DE.

 

[NDdomer2]

Hopefully, Shembo moves into that "elite" status this year. I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility.

Day, Ishaq, and Schwenke would be the group that needs to see another jump in play. Does that jump put them into elite, probably not, but very good is my hope.

Vanderdoes is in his own category for me at the moment. Elite in high school across the country. Ability to step in and play day 1, but how good is he really going to be as a true frosh? If he plays as well as Day, I won't be upset in the slightest, but he also has the potential to move into the elite category immediately. Should be fun to watch that one play out over summer camp and the season.

I am going to group Jarron with Isaac Rochell. Both extremely large young men that are unproven. Jarron has been with the team a year and we know he has the size to compete and has received the praise from the coaching staff but nothing else regardless. Rochell is in the same boat, has the size, has the pedigree, seen nothing. These guys could move into the good to very good group by season's end or could be in the needs improvement. hard to say at this point.

Hounshell and Sprigman. Will they ever be elite? I am not so sure. And that isn't a knock on them. There are few dlinemen in college football as a whole that are "elite." I see these two falling in the same line as Sean Cwynar. Awesome teammate, superb effort, great quality depth.

Sean was a starter for us, these guys will be role players, how far we have come!

 

[koonja]

If anyone thinks Shembo is borderline elite, take a peak at the NC game. You can't find him. Nix was the only one that proved to be 'elite' against the best of the best. Tuitt had a bad game but he's kind of in the Manti situation where he's been so good over a period of time that one game doesn't really change how we feel about him. Tuitt and Nix are elite, no one else is close, IMO, unless you're looking at 'talent' and not productivity.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

If anyone thinks Shembo is borderline elite, take a peak at the NC game. You can't find him. Nix was the only one that proved to be 'elite' against the best of the best. Tuitt had a bad game but he's kind of in the Manti situation where he's been so good over a period of time that one game doesn't really change how we feel about him. Tuitt and Nix are elite, no one else is close, IMO, unless you're looking at 'talent' and not productivity.

Yup. If "elite" means "potential All-American" or "top 10 in the country", then on the D Line only Tuitt and Nix are elite.

There are other guys capable of some good plays, for sure, but let's not kid ourselves.

 

[aubeirish]

Regardless, the D-line depth chart for next year is phenomenal. Great blend of elite and pluggers. Lots of playing experience there too. Should be exciting to watch once more.

 

[PANDFAN]

If anyone thinks Shembo is borderline elite, take a peak at the NC game. You can't find him. Nix was the only one that proved to be 'elite' against the best of the best. Tuitt had a bad game but he's kind of in the Manti situation where he's been so good over a period of time that one game doesn't really change how we feel about him. Tuitt and Nix are elite, no one else is close, IMO, unless you're looking at 'talent' and not productivity.

100% agree

if anyone thinks we have elite players besides Tuitt/Nix need to watch a lot of other teams...these are the ONLY 2 on our team that would be definite starters on LSU, UF, BAMA ETC....i drink as much kool aid as anyone and i am a complete ND HOMER but i also watch other college football and know what we have....sure we have people with great potential/were elite HS players..but so do other teams...none of that matters as they haven't been elite in college!

 

[clashmore_mike]

you can't spell elite without Shembo

 

[EuropeanDomer]

If anyone thinks Shembo is borderline elite, take a peak at the NC game. You can't find him. Nix was the only one that proved to be 'elite' against the best of the best. Tuitt had a bad game but he's kind of in the Manti situation where he's been so good over a period of time that one game doesn't really change how we feel about him. Tuitt and Nix are elite, no one else is close, IMO, unless you're looking at 'talent' and not productivity.

Tuitt has to prove a lot.. he played like a beast against some teams but when he was against Taylor Lewan, Lane Johnson or the Alabama OL he struggled at times IMO.

Shembo made a great stride last season, he is now a much better version of Darius Fleming. Nix is the best NT in the country and it's not even close.

 

[GoIrish41]

Tuitt has to prove a lot.. he played like a beast against some teams but when he was against Taylor Lewan, Lane Johnson or the Alabama OL he struggled at times IMO.

Shembo made a great stride last season, he is now a much better version of Darius Fleming. Nix is the best NT in the country and it's not even close.

I think Tuitt and Shembo played much better in the first half of the season than in the second half. Nix played well all season and really came on at the end of the year. It seemed like a forgone conclusion halfway through the season that Tuitt was going to shatter the freshman sack record, and he never got there. Shembo was great when he was good but disappeared in some games, too. I think all three of these guys are great players, but I wouldn't call any of them "elite".

 

[NOLAIrish]

100% agree

if anyone thinks we have elite players besides Tuitt/Nix need to watch a lot of other teams...these are the ONLY 2 on our team that would be definite starters on LSU, UF, BAMA ETC....i drink as much kool aid as anyone and i am a complete ND HOMER but i also watch other college football and know what we have....sure we have people with great potential/were elite HS players..but so do other teams...none of that matters as they haven't been elite in college!

I agree with you that those are the only two who are elite (although we're using a more restrictive definition than others in this thread), but that's overstating the case a bit. Bennett absolutely would've started for LSU last year and for Bama. KeiVarae would've started at LSU, too, but over the same guy, so I'm not sure you'd count that. Prince and Spond are both superior to LSU's OLBs from last season; it's hard to call them definite starters simply because of the 3-4/4-3 issue. Prince would've started over Hubbard at Bama. I'd also put KLM over Stinson, but that doesn't meet the "definite starter" criterion

 

[Bogtrotter07]

100% agree

if anyone thinks we have elite players besides Tuitt/Nix need to watch a lot of other teams...these are the ONLY 2 on our team that would be definite starters on LSU, UF, BAMA ETC....i drink as much kool aid as anyone and i am a complete ND HOMER but i also watch other college football and know what we have....sure we have people with great potential/were elite HS players..but so do other teams...none of that matters as they haven't been elite in college!

Day had a consistent day against Bama, based upon his early playtime. He had four tackles which aint bad.

I think that it is more hyperbole toward the negative (than my hyperbole is to the positive) to say that we would only have two players that could stard at the " LSU, UF, BAMA ETC...." That ETC opened it up. My point is that I wouldn't give up our first eight for anybody. I stand by that.

And remember the word "potential"; that is what I used, so instead of worrying about drinking or homerism, reading should be at the top of the list, LOL!

Bogs...Not sure why you are taking exception to my comment either. Personally I think Day is a stud. i just think he got worn down at the end of the season, which is typical for a freshman or a rookie in the NFL. Also, I don't like Day as a NT, I believe he is best fit for a 3-4 DE.

I just wanted to take a minute to apologize to you Sherm! I hardly ever disagree with you. In fact, I disagree with myself more often! Seriously, I tried to explain to Tad earlier, sometimes I try to take a post and expound on it, and it is intended to be off in another direction, not right or wrong, good or bad. Not criticism at all. Just a starting point. I will try to get into the habit of starting my posts off with I agree, and then going on. I don't want to say I disagree, this site doesn't need more confrontation.

 

[neoroks32]

With GAIII getting up to 217 he's reminding me more and more of Darren McFadden, an upright speed runner, with underrated between the tackles ability, now all we gotta do is is put GAIII in the same position Arkansas put McFadden in those years he was there, then we'd be talkin, Atkinson and Carlisle = McFadden and Felix Jones?......hmmmmm we'll see

 

[koonja]

With GAIII getting up to 217 he's reminding me more and more of Darren McFadden, an upright speed runner, with underrated between the tackles ability, now all we gotta do is is put GAIII in the same position Arkansas put McFadden in those years he was there, then we'd be talkin, Atkinson and Carlisle = McFadden and Felix Jones?......hmmmmm we'll see

How is he underrated between the tackles? IMO he's pretty awful at making cuts.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

With GAIII getting up to 217 he's reminding me more and more of Darren McFadden, an upright speed runner, with underrated between the tackles ability, now all we gotta do is is put GAIII in the same position Arkansas put McFadden in those years he was there, then we'd be talkin, Atkinson and Carlisle = McFadden and Felix Jones?......hmmmmm we'll see

McFadden in size with knowshon moreno hands.

 

[dublinirish]

McFadden played RB like he had never been coached and always always held the ball in his right hand no matter where he was running..not sure hes the role model we would want GA3 to aspire to!!

 

[Emcee77]

McFadden in size with knowshon moreno hands.

I don't know enough about Moreno to know if this is good or bad. GAIII is still considered a poor receiver, right?

 

[Ironman8]

And remember the word "potential"; that is what I used, so instead of worrying about drinking or homerism, reading should be at the top of the list, LOL!

To be fair, you did not use the word "potential" in your OP. You stated players, added names, used a comma, and stated "eight elite". No use of the word "potential".

No need to insinuate other people don't read your posts when you yourself must have misread or mis-remembered the working of your original post. I read. It was at the top of my list.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

If anyone thinks Shembo is borderline elite, take a peak at the NC game. You can't find him. Nix was the only one that proved to be 'elite' against the best of the best. Tuitt had a bad game but he's kind of in the Manti situation where he's been so good over a period of time that one game doesn't really change how we feel about him. Tuitt and Nix are elite, no one else is close, IMO, unless you're looking at 'talent' and not productivity.

Reps.

I think it's important to take a step back and put down the koolaid for a second. And I agree that you can't be elite if you don't have production. Potential does not equal elite.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

I don't know enough about Moreno to know if this is good or bad. GAIII is still considered a poor receiver, right?

not great.

 

[neoroks32]

McFadden played RB like he had never been coached and always always held the ball in his right hand no matter where he was running..not sure hes the role model we would want GA3 to aspire to!!

Regardless if he "played like he's never been coached" he was a Heisman finalist, and was the main reason Arkansas beat LSU twice that year, an LSU team that went on to win the national championship

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

not great.

I'm pretty sure I remember Kelly saying that GA3 improved a lot at receiving, but ya... Still probably not too great.

 

[IrishLax]

If you do a zone blockign scheme like Shannahan with the Redskins runs a one-cut guy like GAIII can excel/rip off a lot of big runs on stretch plays. The problem with upright runners is the amount of contact they take trying to bang up inside... can lead to injuries and fumbles. Very few people are as freakish as an Adrian Peterson where they can consistently absorb the contact running upright.

 

[dshans]

... like Shannahan ...

Pardon my picky-*** "grammar" interruption, but this one's personal. Our last names are the same, and it's Shanahan! NO DOUBLE "n!!!"

 

[Emcee77]

Pardon my picky-*** "grammar" interruption, but this one's personal. Our last names are the same, and it's Shanahan! NO DOUBLE "n!!!"

dshans, you're the mann.

 

[neoroks32]

If you do a zone blockign scheme like Shannahan with the Redskins runs a one-cut guy like GAIII can excel/rip off a lot of big runs on stretch plays. The problem with upright runners is the amount of contact they take trying to bang up inside... can lead to injuries and fumbles. Very few people are as freakish as an Adrian Peterson where they can consistently absorb the contact running upright.

Exactly what I was saying, if we put Atkinson's running style didn't mesh with our offense last year, we were a power running team, Theo was effective because of his toughness and wood was effective because of his shake n bake abililty, GAIII isn't either of those types of runners, so we need to make an adjustment to our play calling or scheme to make him more productive, the zone blocking scheme will be perfect for him, cus Atkinson's big plays were on returns and counter type plays where he can make his one move then accelerate

 

[irishog77]

Pardon my picky-*** "grammar" interruption, but this one's personal. Our last names are the same, and it's Shanahan! NO DOUBLE "n!!!"

Do you have a horse mouth, a perpetual sun tan, and teeth that look like Chicklets as well, dshans?

 

[koonja]

#3 is Greg Bryant? Didn't know he was on campus already. And who's #9 on offense?

 

[irishff1014]

I though Amir was #3????

 

[IrishSpartan]

#3 is Greg Bryant? Didn't know he was on campus already. And who's #9 on offense?

3 is amir and 9 is mike H

 

[koonja]

I though Amir was #3????

You're probably right. I have no idea and couldn't think of who it was.