CB depth concerns 2011 and beyond!!!

jonesman

Tommy Rees is my man
Messages
1,159
Reaction score
182
I see that the boards are all lit up tonight because we are recruiting a new "athlete" from TX. Well, I hope damn well that he can play CB. I know we have a couple CB's committed, but I am really concerned we don't have one more at least. In 2012, we will be without a Blanton and Gray. That means that Lo Wood is the only CB we currently have on the roster who will have eligibility in 2012.

We MUST add another body at the DB positions. I have been sold on Brian Kelly and staff as recruiters, but he must be noticing this missing component.
 

jmurphy75

Well-known member
Messages
1,036
Reaction score
63
Wood
Badger
Motta
4 DB recruits for 2011 (so far), there is nothing we can do about the shortage. It's a void in past recruitment, we'll have enough they will just be young.
 

IrishMoore1

Well-known member
Messages
1,146
Reaction score
181
yeah I agree. we need more cb's. the depth we got is down right scary right now. The current guys committed will be sophs in 2012. hopefully they'll be ready to play by then
 

TerryTate

The Pain Train
Messages
5,437
Reaction score
443
4 committed DBs

Lo Wood

Badger - Safety

EJ Banks may get his eligibility back for next year.

I'm not worried.
 

dales5050

Banned
Messages
404
Reaction score
39
I see that the boards are all lit up tonight because we are recruiting a new "athlete" from TX. Well, I hope damn well that he can play CB. I know we have a couple CB's committed, but I am really concerned we don't have one more at least. In 2012, we will be without a Blanton and Gray. That means that Lo Wood is the only CB we currently have on the roster who will have eligibility in 2012.

We MUST add another body at the DB positions. I have been sold on Brian Kelly and staff as recruiters, but he must be noticing this missing component.


Looking at the glass half full....maybe this allows for ND to land a TOP TOP level CB in the 2012 class.

Don't get me wrong...I love all of our players but there is one or two players like Patrick Peterson/Eric Berry that can start from day 1 in every class.
 
Messages
787
Reaction score
25
I was worried too but I think that had more to do with how bad the ones we had were playing . It's amazing what a win over a ranked team will do but i feel good about where we are going now.
 
Last edited:

IrishinSyria

In truth lies victory
Messages
6,042
Reaction score
1,920
If we keep developing in the trenches, I could play DB for the Irish and we'd be ok. It would be nice to get a little bit more depth for sure, but the key to this team's future is going to be along the d line.
 

CanadianIrish

New member
Messages
617
Reaction score
26
This is a serious concern as far as I'm concerned. Sure we have four DBs coming in this class, but only one of them is a 4 star, the other three are 3 star. We need some serious skill in the defensive backfield - does nobody remember how USC humiliated us last year?
 

TerryTate

The Pain Train
Messages
5,437
Reaction score
443
What are we thin at?

Recruiting class:
2 OLBs
1 ILB
4 DBs
3 DEs
2 OL
2 WR
1 TE
1 RB
1 K

Looks solid.
 

Irish.Ca

New member
Messages
600
Reaction score
19
Look at the injuries we've had this year. Slot receivers tend to get banged up so you need a few "next man in" at that WR spot more than others. I still think Atkinson might still end up a DB with his brother, who knows. If you could have 4 Theo Riddicks on the field, wouldn't you? 'nuff said.

Go Irish!
 

NDMontana

All-American Reject
Messages
1,669
Reaction score
101
If we keep developing in the trenches, I could play DB for the Irish and we'd be ok. It would be nice to get a little bit more depth for sure, but the key to this team's future is going to be along the d line.

Yes, yes, yes. You look at the teams that have dominated in recent years--Florida, Ohio State, USC, Alabama, et. al.--and their corners are okay....but each of these had/have dominant defensive lines. When you can stop the run you can force your opponent to pass. If you can put pressure on the opposing quarterback you can force him to make bad decisions. And if a quarterback is making bad decisions or rushing throws your defensive backs are going to look like studs all day.

Football, for being such a tactical game, is also very simple: If your offensive line can block and your defensive line can stop the run and pressure the opposing quarterback your odds of winning are exceptionally favorable.
 

calidomer43

New member
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
Atkickson, Brown, Hardy, Mathias Farley (2011 class)
Lo Wood, Badger (mission)
Motta, Banks
Blanton, McCarthy, Slaughter


That is 10+ isnt too bad...plus they'll add another one in the class. Look at it this way, were not as thin as Michigan in that department!
 

calidomer43

New member
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
I still think Atkinson might still end up a DB with his brother, who knows.

That's what im thinking!
 

TexasNDFan

New member
Messages
186
Reaction score
7
Very nice films, but I a bit concerned why there is not one big time BCS school on his offer list. I think he is a good athlete, who can obviously jump, but I also remember another TX athlete like this named McGuffy who never made it at UM. We don't need another Smurf at the slot.


I don't think that the fact that none of the big school have not made offers should matter. As far as the teams that have offered the one that sticks out to me is Standford, we all know the kind of guys that Harbaugh likes to recruit and God knows we'd love to have a few of his players at ND. I know most of his films are of him on offense, but I think this kid has safety written all over him.
 

aubeirish

Well-known member
Messages
3,601
Reaction score
149
The thing is I don't think the staff doesn't really like any of the DBs left. They rather have a good athlete and move him to defense if needed. That kid can play ball. We never have enough of kids like that.
 

CanadianIrish

New member
Messages
617
Reaction score
26
What are we thin at?

Recruiting class:
2 OLBs
1 ILB
4 DBs
3 DEs
2 OL
2 WR
1 TE
1 RB
1 K

Looks solid.

What is this, a 'pay no attention to that man behind the curtain' moment?

How about current scholarship players who will be on the roster next year:

4 QB
3 RB
9 WR (assuming Floyd returns)
4 TE (assuming Rudy returns)
10 OL (assuming no fifth years)
9 DL
12 LBs
5 DBs (not including Badger)

I'm not going to pretend that's not a problem, and having some posters stamp their feet and insist it isn't doesn't change reality. We're going to have three star true freshman playing in the two deep next year in the defensive backfield unless things change immediately.
 
Last edited:

Big23Head

Well-known member
Messages
3,635
Reaction score
318
Gary Gray is also eligilble to come back. That is a decent secondary rotation.
 

Freeman Ara

New member
Messages
881
Reaction score
37
Gary has already been accepted for a 5th year according to him, and Harrison Smith will likely be back.
 

Old Man Mike

Fast as Lightning!
Messages
8,965
Reaction score
6,453
Well, I'm stiill with Terry on this one. A). Kelly's view of the slot receiver is not that it is just another "WR" position. He thinks that it is very special to the offense and the vast majority of receivers aren't matched to it [i.e. you can't just shift one of the others over there and be fully functional]. I'll bet that Kelly believes that he currently only has ONE true slot receiver on his roster [Theo] and is pleasantly surprised that Robby can fill in as well as he did, but you'll notice that he gave up on the concept almost entirely vs Utah and stuck Eifert in there going jumbo all across the field. [Kamara, Floyd etc].

He must be in doubt as to whether Bennett can do this, and doesn't see TJ in that spot, nor Collingsworth nor Dan Smith. [even though he likes all of them as players]. I believe that he has high hopes for Atkinson there, but maybe Daniels is more of a wideout [Terry et al can help my guesstimations more on this]. If the above is even in the ballpark, Kelly, at this stage of his talent assessment, might see a major need at slot.

B). also on Terry's list, note the "2" OTs. We only had two OTs in this year's class as well. Even if Carrico signs and moves to offense, that makes only five for two whole recruiting years. That means that we are "junior/senior" heavy at O-line---that's great for those years but catastrophic for the next two. This is why I've been boringly campaigning for another O-lineman even before Prestwood de-committed. If you don't have the destroyers, your thrillers ain't going anywhere, as Reggie Bush might say on his commercial.
 

calidomer43

New member
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
If Gary Gray and Harrison Smith come back, were look solid next year and that gives us another recruiting year to get even stronger...BK understands this and that's why were not getting 50 DB's this year!
 

CanadianIrish

New member
Messages
617
Reaction score
26
Well, I'm stiill with Terry on this one. A). Kelly's view of the slot receiver is not that it is just another "WR" position. He thinks that it is very special to the offense and the vast majority of receivers aren't matched to it [i.e. you can't just shift one of the others over there and be fully functional]. I'll bet that Kelly believes that he currently only has ONE true slot receiver on his roster [Theo] and is pleasantly surprised that Robby can fill in as well as he did, but you'll notice that he gave up on the concept almost entirely vs Utah and stuck Eifert in there going jumbo all across the field. [Kamara, Floyd etc].

He must be in doubt as to whether Bennett can do this, and doesn't see TJ in that spot, nor Collingsworth nor Dan Smith. [even though he likes all of them as players]. I believe that he has high hopes for Atkinson there, but maybe Daniels is more of a wideout [Terry et al can help my guesstimations more on this]. If the above is even in the ballpark, Kelly, at this stage of his talent assessment, might see a major need at slot.

B). also on Terry's list, note the "2" OTs. We only had two OTs in this year's class as well. Even if Carrico signs and moves to offense, that makes only five for two whole recruiting years. That means that we are "junior/senior" heavy at O-line---that's great for those years but catastrophic for the next two. This is why I've been boringly campaigning for another O-lineman even before Prestwood de-committed. If you don't have the destroyers, your thrillers ain't going anywhere, as Reggie Bush might say on his commercial.

We have eight or nine scholarship WRs coming back next year, plus a couple of incoming freshmen already and we are still battling for a few more. We need 12+ WRs on the roster?

We're short OLs and DBs but are recruiting more QBs and WRs. Remember how everyone was excited about CW's recruiting at first then a couple years later lamented how few trench warriors we had?
 

jonesman

Tommy Rees is my man
Messages
1,159
Reaction score
182
I see all you guys talking about numbers. BUT, in 2012 we will have ONE upper class CB. That will be Lo Wood. I know that EJ Banks is out there, but nobody knows what will happen with him.

As for every other guy on the roster, they are all Safeties. Badger will be returning from his mission, but he is definitely NOT a CB. He is not even close to athletic enough.

There are really only TWO CB's recruited so far this year. Atkinson and Brown. Neither is what I would call a shutdown CB. They are good players, but ND should be chasing atleast one lockdown CB.

For those knuckleheads saying we just need a solid D-line and anyone can play CB, you are flipping losing your mind. Do you guys remember how Floyd abused the UM CB's last year??!!! Do you remember back to Saturday?? How nice was it to have a Gary Gray locked on a guy at the goal line.

I see that Doran Grant who is the number one CB on Rivals has an offer from ND, but do not see any real update if we are recruiting him.
 

aubeirish

Well-known member
Messages
3,601
Reaction score
149
The numbers aren't good right now, but I think what Kelly is trying to do is to install a consistency in his recruiting. We have 4 DBs in this class so far, which is pretty good. Gary Gray and Harrison Smith are coming back, which means that ideally only one freshman is going to be on the 2 deep. He will recruit some more next year. and the year after. CW was a good recruiter, but fail to have consistency with every position and that is why we are in the situation we are now. Besides, there might be 5 or 6 spots left in this class.
 

simets99

Member
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
The numbers aren't good right now, but I think what Kelly is trying to do is to install a consistency in his recruiting. We have 4 DBs in this class so far, which is pretty good. Gary Gray and Harrison Smith are coming back, which means that ideally only one freshman is going to be on the 2 deep. He will recruit some more next year. and the year after. CW was a good recruiter, but fail to have consistency with every position and that is why we are in the situation we are now. Besides, there might be 5 or 6 spots left in this class.

My biggest concern at CB is not next year but 2012. Hopefully Lo Wood can step up and take one starting spot but that means we need at least one kid from this class to be ready to start as a sophmore and 2 others to fill out the two deep. That leaves very little room for error or injuries. Unfortunatley the last two recruiting cycles where we only have one CB left has put us in a bad position. Safety is not much better so its not like we can move people around either.
 

calidomer43

New member
Messages
62
Reaction score
0
Do you really believe that BK hasn't hit up Grant hard? Chances are he isn't interested...
 

Old Man Mike

Fast as Lightning!
Messages
8,965
Reaction score
6,453
Agree that all this is a crap shoot, but that we're very good next year, with that year to develop Wood, Motta/Slaughter, and the incoming frosh, as well as to recruit upscale. We might get past this tough recruiting hole in the D-backfield---so we don't know how we'll be the year after. Kelly can only do what the recruiting landscape allows him to do. Unless you're a southern powerhouse, you can't go on the market and buy who you want. There is one thing that I think that I know: most of our D-back concerns will be solved by Prince Shembo, Kona Schwenke, Stephon Tuitt [fingers crossed], et al. Our current backfield would be up for all-American if we were rattling the opposing QBs.
 
Top