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ab2cmiller

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Howard Cross III Defensive Line Notre Dame | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 83.2 Rank: #12 Forty: 4.96 Howard Cross III from St. Joseph Regional High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After high school, Cross...
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In 2021 as a junior Cross III played in 12 games and contributed on 330 snaps. He recorded 12 tackles, 6 assists while making 12 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 13 total pressures, which included 10 QB hurries, no QB hits, and 3 sacks on the year.

In 2022 as a senior Cross III logged playing time in 11 games and logged a total of 430 snaps for the Fighting Irish. He also added 15 tackles, 13 assists, and 13 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 19 total pressures, which included 13 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and 3 sacks on the season.

In 2023 as a fifth year senior Cross III logged playing time in 12 games and logged a total of 582 snaps for the Fighting Irish. He also added 42 tackles, 14 assists, and 32 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 36 total pressures, which included 28 QB hurries, 5 QB hits, and 3 sacks on the season.
 
Luckylucci

Luckylucci

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Elston didn’t coach him in 2022. The fact that Cross was less productive, on a per snap basis, in 2022 than 2021 is not the feather in Washington’s cap you think it is.
 
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ab2cmiller

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Luckylucci said:
Elston didn’t coach him in 2022. The fact that Cross was less productive, on a per snap basis, in 2022 than 2021 is not the feather in Washington’s cap you think it is.
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2021 to 2022

30% increase in snaps
69% increase in tackles

But all this huge improvement, especially in this past year can all be dismissed as Cross was on this trajectory anyhow. LOL

I think Elston is a very good coach, but you can’t even admit something as basic as Washington just maybe had a hand in Cross’s improvement diminishes your overall argument because it comes off as crazy.
 
Luckylucci

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I’ll end with this. Yes, there is more to DL play than sacks and TFL’s but those are extremely important. So important that I think most would agree a pass rusher is one of the most important players on a football team.

The best pass rusher in 2023 was JJB with 5 sacks. That’s the lowest figure since 2017. The top two pass rushers had 9 sacks combined. Also, the lowest figure since 2017. That is not progress or development of pass rushers.
 
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I'm a big fan of Al Washington. I think he's done a good job especially last year. I don't think the DL players outside of the older guys are nearly as talented as beat guys and some board guys have made them out to be. If you look at the interior, Lacey, Ademilola, Cross, Hinish, and Onye all weighed less than 290. We had to go to the portal in 22 just to get a 300lb guy in the interior. Vyper is a group of converted LBs and we've gone to the portal twice for a big end now. Everyone is worried about Rubio because we lack beef on the interior.

Mills- Converted big end
Cross- 6'1 277
Onye- Converted DE/ Project
Hinish- 6'1 270
Mukam- Converted Canadian Hockey Player DE
Houstan- 285lbs
Sevillano- Short Stocky
Burnham- Converted LB
Botelho- Converted LB
Jr- Converted LB
Kia- Undersized/converted LB returning from a mission.
Eight guys are either new to football, new to DL, or new to their position.

I think Washington has upgraded the DE position with May, Burgess, Traore, Young, (*Vernon).
My criticism of him is I do want to see him do better with interior recruiting. I do like Houstan, Mukam, Dixon and Reiff but am ehhh on Sevillano. I also want to see him develop Ford. I still want ND to add one more guy to the DL via the portal this year. What's interesting to me is ND has 4 DL commits in '25 and look to be going for 2 more. We are already at 20 guys right now pending Rubio, and only the starters are out of eligibility. So I think Washington or Freeman are also seeing that the DL needs an upgrade in talent so it'll be interesting who's still here post spring.
 
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stlnd01

stlnd01

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I just woke up but I can't even tell what we're arguing about here.

Year-in, year-out, since 2017, DL has been one of if not the best position group on the team, every season. Can nit pick about particular recruiting classes or development of individual players, but we've had consistent, high-quality depth at DL, for years now.

Elston deserves credit for that. So does Washington. They are both very good coaches. (but yeah BC should be aiming a lot hire than Al Washington for their next head coach).
 
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Pete

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Saw that he’s now talking to the Commanders about their OC job.
 
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CoachB

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Lucky, I think this is the first time ever that I don't agree with you. I thought Elston was great and I am pleasantly suprised by Washington. Seems like you either have a special affinity for Elston, or don't like Washington for some reason. Because the facts bear out that they both have done a pretty darn good job. Once again, love you as a poster, just don't agree this time.
 
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Pete

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Raiders have hired ex Bears OC Luke Getsy after Kliff left them at the alter.
 
stlnd01

stlnd01

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notredomer23 said:
And barely 12 hours later, sounds like it’s all but a done deal for Bill O’Brien. Great for BC.
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Wild. But yeah a very good hire for them.

What does this mean for Ohio State, then? It feels like Day was compelled (perhaps forced) to hire a Very Experienced OC. Now he's back at square one.
 
Lberry

Lberry

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Id actuality call Tommy if I were OSU. His style fits their personel and he doesn't have to be an awesome recruiter. They have a leading NIL and recruit itself.
 
BoredIrish

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FU BK said:
Hopefully wherever he goes he convinces them to trade for the Bears #1 pick so he can have his turd QB with him
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If the Bears like Maye, they could probably extract a good return trading down one spot. Caleb is from the DC area and would be an extremely popular pick there. Hopefully they overpay to land him.
 
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a mike

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stlnd01 said:
What does this mean for Ohio State, then? It feels like Day was compelled (perhaps forced) to hire a Very Experienced OC. Now he's back at square one.
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Don't worry

They still have Alford there for his 9th season as recruiting simp...err...i mean "assistant head coach and running game coordinator"

And also Hartline serving as Day's cup boy and "co-offensive coordinator"

Plenty of preexisting internal x's and o's expertise still on staff that Day and the OSU administration clearly respect
 
T-Boone

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Lberry said:
Id actuality call Tommy if I were OSU. His style fits their personel and he doesn't have to be an awesome recruiter. They have a leading NIL and recruit itself.
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If by Tommy you mean Tommy Herman then yeah do it.
 
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