Carlo Calabrese

[mick2]

I dont know if he already has a thread, if not this needs to be the official thread, because this guy is quickly becoming my favorite player on the team.

and this video is why:
YouTube - #44 Cal - ND ILB Carlo Calabrese Rips Head Off Stanford FB 2010

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Once again, How did the officials say that was a first down even after reviewing it??

Carlo is a becoming a stud, but he still a little slow.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Carlo is a solid MLB, he does not need to be a sideline to sideline guy because of Manti. He is improving every week.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Dude that Video just got me Jacked UP! I want to go put my head thru the wall....damn this kids attitude is what we need on the D!! Way to go Carlo....

 

[Riddickulous]

The good news is that CC will be in the middle for the next four years.

 

[timm3117]

Carlo is a becoming a stud, but he still a little slow.

Speed has very little to do with the MLB position. Its about reading plays and filling holes. The kid is becoming a stud and hes fast enough to be a very good MLB.

 

[Riddickulous]

Speed has very little to do with the MLB position. Its about reading plays and filling holes. The kid is becoming a stud and hes fast enough to be a very good MLB.

Plus he has another three years of starting experience left to work on his current negatives.

 

[nd1]

the kid is good and will be great soon enough. did u see how he bent the fb backwards. he's going to be special player for nd.

 

[BearGB]

Watching the video, boy did EJ get smacked around. Now, I really, really like him as a guy, but with all of his strength, he seems to get off the ball too slow way too often. Plus, he sometimes doesn't seem to have that killer fire that Ian is showing right now. If you watch, Kapron is facing a similar stack block on the other side and is able to split it, while Ethan just gets hammered.

Maybe he needs to bulk up a little bit, I don't know but he is certainly weak against the run right now. On the other hand, if you watch the play where Stanford went unbalanced (with only the LG on the left side) near the goal line, Hafis himself basically stopped the play. To me, he could be an excellent 3-4 DE to put alongside Ian right now - especially on short yardage situations. Sure he does not have the athleticism Ethan or KLM have, but look at Bama's DE Marcell Dareus - he's playing at 305.

Just a thought. Also, as good as Manti and Carlo are playing, I think that Ian is making our ILBs look even better, while EJ and KLM right now are making our OLBs look worse.

 

[IrishLax]

I take it we're redshirting Louis Nix?

 

[DillonHall]

Just a thought. Also, as good as Manti and Carlo are playing, I think that Ian is making our ILBs look even better, while EJ and KLM right now are making our OLBs look worse.

I think this is a very valid thought. The ends need to better, period.

 

[Riddickulous]

I take it we're redshirting Louis Nix?

Yes. He was coming on late in fall camp according to Kelly. If he maintains a good work ethic, we may see Louis starting at NT in 2011.

 

[fitz_bu47]

I love Carlo, his attitude and how he plays w/ a nastiness!! Love how he got up and told Marecic (spelling???) about it, we need a little more of a swagger. That spot/review was total b.s.....

 

[JughedJones]

I take it we're redshirting Louis Nix?

He sure is a favorite of everyone's on the team.

 

[irishfan]

We need Nix to step it up and be the starter for next year. I like Cwynar but I feel like we get torn apart when he's in the game compared to Ian. Cwynar still has 2 years left, but I feel like he is really only suited as a #2 NT. Could be proven wrong though.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Re: Carlo Calabreese. What I found most interesting was that Kelly said that he was a much better GAME player than he was showing in practice [so, something good came out of Andrew McDonald getting dinged]. Kelly seemed to like what Carlo was doing a great deal, and that makes sense as you, as a coach, would never make a statement like that unless you were smiling about your player. So, Kelly seems to agree with us that Carlo is very good. [now if we could get the OLBs going]. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As a side note on Ethan Johnson: you could tell from his spring practice interviews that he didn't really like the switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4 as far as his role was concerned. The most telling remark was that he was still planning on making some plays himself [rather than just occupying blockers]. He was a good soldier on the commentary but not very convincing to me. Hope he finds the speed and ferocity he needs to split the blocks or shed them from now on out. Note that Kelly has recently talked about getting Hafis Williams in more. [I can't wait for the current frosh to get bigger { Schwenke/ Utupo} and the next-year-newbys to arrive.]

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Speed has very little to do with the MLB position. Its about reading plays and filling holes. The kid is becoming a stud and hes fast enough to be a very good MLB.

This pretty much sums up my thought about this defensive system, if I am understanding what I am watching. I haven't heard any of the coaches detail the general responsibilities, but from what I have seen, the Sam and Will (Manti and Carlo) are essentially mirror images. If play is on your side, you fill, and backside will flow parallel to the ball. Carlo is absolutely not slow, as a matter of fact I think his speed and over-eagerness has caused him to over pursue plays where Manti had filled nicely and forced the back right into where Carlo should have been (had he not over pursued). Also, on parallel pursuit, Carlo has gotten caught up on seal blocks probably because of poor chase angles. Otherwise, I think that tandem of Teo and Carlo are lights out.

As far as pass coverage, it seems that once they recognize pass and drop into zones, they are still too focused on QB and don't have their eyes open big enough to recognize someone entering their zone. They also could communicate a little better when someone comes into their zone underneath, then continues into the other zone.

Of course my observation is based on what I know of a D that looks similar to one I am very familiar with, and may have absolutely nothing to do with what is really going on. But at least my fingers just got some good typing practice.

 

[BearGB]

We need Nix to step it up and be the starter for next year. I like Cwynar but I feel like we get torn apart when he's in the game compared to Ian. Cwynar still has 2 years left, but I feel like he is really only suited as a #2 NT. Could be proven wrong though.

I completely agree. I actually would love to see Sean get some time at DE, but that does not seem to be the plan at the moment.

 

[Irish To The Core]

Carlo came in with a reputation as a run stuffer and he has lived up to his reputation. But all along we were led to believe that he was out of his element in coverage. I cannot say that Carlo's coverage skills are a problem. He is actually very good in a zone and careful in man coverage. He doesn't stick to his man like glue or jump patterns the way a corner might, but he usually reads the play quickly and arrives at the intended receiver full of ill-intent. He plays the pass quite a bit like Butkis did: keep the guy in your radar and close when the qb makes it clear he is passing to him. Carlo does not miss to many tackles and guys running routes over the middle definitely know he is coming.

 

[TinyT]

We need Nix to step it up and be the starter for next year. I like Cwynar but I feel like we get torn apart when he's in the game compared to Ian. Cwynar still has 2 years left, but I feel like he is really only suited as a #2 NT. Could be proven wrong though.

I think Cwynar was recruited as a DE and at 6-4, 280lbs he would seem to be suited for that role. Perhaps he plays at the nose right now because of the fight he puts up a la Pat Kuntz. When Newman and Nix are ready to play at the nose I bet we will see Cwynar shift to end.

 

[BearGB]

I think Cwynar was recruited as a DE and at 6-4, 280lbs he would seem to be suited for that role. Perhaps he plays at the nose right now because of the fight he puts up a la Pat Kuntz. When Newman and Nix are ready to play at the nose I bet we will see Cwynar shift to end.

Kelly said in a press conference earlier that Sean is a NT, and he said it pretty firmly. Now, Sean has already played some DE this year, in special packages, so I am with you in hoping he moves.

 

[IrishBlood81]

Carlo is my hero!! I mean hes just amazing..totally an old school Notre Damer! ..Guess its cause hes got the same jersey as the dude on the back of The Shirt this year!!


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