Couple of things (spring)

TheTurningPoint

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Had the pleasure of going up to the coaches clinic and gathering some good stuff from practice and the team

1. I got to meet THE BEAUBENKEN so that was the headliner of my trip, so everything else was just icing on the cake.

2. Talked to some of the guys about the QB competition. The consensus was the Golson is the best qb in terms of talent and potential, and Rees is there mentally and scheme wise. Golson needs to do a few things to show the coaching staff he is ready to embrace the role of being the QB at Notre Dame. Off-season will be very important for Golson along with Hendrix.

A. From practice Rees did look good on Friday, can't even lie about that. Golson looked a decent, but he really showed his potential on Saturday. Hendrix had a good day on both days, nothing that will make you jump out of your seat but enough to give you comfort if he was the starter.

B. Kiel looks the part but is def a little lost out there. Kid throws a good ball and shows that "athletic" ability that Rees lacks, but not to the point of a Golson/Hendrix.

C. All 4 qbs can run this offense is the key. Last year it was more a prototypical spread. This year like it has been mentioned the depth at TE gives the offense a lot of flexibility as far as packages and formations.

3. The Oline looks 200% better. Talked a few Oline guys and they are saying the samething. The schemes fit their style of play and the concepts are easier. They are in great shape and were making very nice holes. Its not going to take much for Cwood, Theo, and GA3 to get loose and they are making the holes consistently. There is a sense of confidence around the Oline too. I think this will be the best Oline in a long long time.

4. RBs. I will be sitting very very relaxed come fall knowing that we have 2 capable RBs again this year, and if GA3 can get consistent we will have 3 guys that can make a play at any point. Cwood was getting the corner with easy on Friday, and you can def tell he has put in a lot of a time with his hands. Kid made a couple of excellent catches. Theo just looks comfortable and more importantly EXPLOSIVE in the formations and I feel he is going to finally have that year we all know he is capable of.

5. WR/TEs- Daniel Smith looked very good. Ran solid routes and made some fantastic catches over the two days of practice. Only knock on him is a few times he could have probably gotten to a ball but got lazy on the end of the route. Goody looked like a different player on Friday. Looked aggressive and def showed a leadership role. The most exciting thing for me personally was the staff finally realized what they have in Toma. I fully expect the packages and plays with him will be used for Davonte Neal and that will be very exciting, but Toma is more than holding his own and is def the most consistent WR out there other than Eifert. Toma finishes his routes and you could really see he knows how to use his size and speed to his advantage. Eifert was outstanding, and Koyack/Welch looked good the line. Koyack has a excellent set of hands.

6. Defense. Talked to a prominent starter for a very extended period of time, and he is very confident in the defense. The front 7 will be outstanding. Tuitt is just a specimen that is only going to get more unstoppable as he matures. Grace, Bennett, Ishaq were probably the 3 that stuck out the most in practice. Ishaq def looks comfortable and just is flowing a lot better. He is getting to the ball, and zones with ease. You can def tell he isn’t 100% comfortable, but he is at the point where he is doing more reacting than thinking, and when he does get lost he is just using his aggressiveness to get the ball. Grace looked like he is going to be more than capable of filling in for #5 when he leaves after this year. Bennett might be special in his last 2 years. Hips and vision are outstanding and he isn’t afraid to stick his head in there. Dline is just the Dline. Oline is improving by going against that Dline everyday and its showing. Farley looks the part of a safety, and did pretty well in what I saw. Eilar is getting his legs back and did some good things. Once he gets his legs and knowledge….skys the limit.

7. Cause for concern…Jalen Brown looks the part, but needs to hit the weight room seriously to get stronger and is quite a ways from being ready to play. Atkinson was probably the best cb out there other than Bennett in the 2 practices I saw. Lo did some good things as well, but just the shear being able to jump routes and be in position to make plays he wasn’t there but looked a lot better than expected.

8. Jarron Jones can easily pack on 30lbs and be an athlete. I don’t think he plays at all this year unless we have injuries. It was good to meet him and he is a great kid. Type of kid you want at ND. Def can tell he is hungry.

9. From those I spoke to…there is a confidence that this year will be good. They are def a team, and they care about each other. They are all in shape, and very motivated. I think that with a lot of the fanbase doubting them they will surprise some people this year.


Utopo absolutely destroyed that kid on the kickoff drill lol
 

GoldenDomer87

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Great analysis! Heard much of the same about the program. Although, I'm hearing Lo Wood is the number 2 corner and Atkinson and Brown have some catching up. That will be the position to watch. Saw pictures of Farley, doesn't look like a soccer player anymore.
 

Kak7304

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Excellent stuff as always TP. Having a good OL and talented stable of RBs will take a lot of pressure off our QBs this year. We won't need a QB to carry the team as they did during the Weis years.
 

Who'saWildManNow

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Thanks TP, great read.

Especially glad to hear good news on Ishaq. Hopefully with his short leave and renewed dedication to the university and team he will explode onto the scene this year.
 

Irishman77

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Thanks TP. Love it. Do u thank Day plays as much as tuitt did last year.
 

NDPhilly

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With Lynch transferring we are going to need some help with our pass rush. Shembo and Ishaq need to step up their game.
 

Emcee77

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Thanks for the report. I'm starting to think that Atkinson will end up winning the job at field corner, which I don't love, because I want him to practice behind Bennett at boundary corner and be ready in case Bennett gets hurt (God forbid). I would love it if somebody else steps up at field corner but we have to get our best four out there.
 

TheTurningPoint

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Im not sure about Day. It just kind of depends on how healthy Hounshell/Springmann get. We do have guys with great run stopping ability in Tuitt/Kap/Kona when bumped. Losing Lynch is going to hurt the pass rush.

But lets think about this...

Aaron Lynch didnt win ND a single game last year. Lynch had 1 game changing play, and that play he was unblocked for the sack. Not saying he isnt a good player bc he left, bc Lynch is a good player. But in terms of production....ND is more than capable of having 1 guy or a few guys step up their production.
 

STLDomer

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Isn't McDaniel starting to pass Brown? Correct me if I'm wrong but it was Collinsworth and Brown at Nickel/Dime and now it's Collinsworth McDaniel
 

TheTurningPoint

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Packages are rough right now. Theres no bodies at cb so they are pluggin them in. Right its Bennett Jackson, and 4 other guys. I mean that in the nicest/honest way possible.


Oh I forgot to mention. Ben Councell. Damn good.
 

BeauBenken

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Yea, I was thinking Josh would get the start at field corner, but that worries me because he sure did get beat a couple times.

Saturday was VERY fun practice to watch. Lots of hitting and intensity.
 

DSully1995

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Very exciting about the Oline, to hear them doing well against what we know is a good Dline is reassuring.
 

STLDomer

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I'm confused about the O-line before it was "wow Lombard and Nichols is gonna be awesome" and now it's Lombard and Golic/Martin?
 

TheTurningPoint

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STL--Its spring ball dude lol. Its not Michigan week and we dont know who the starting right side of the line is. i think its a damn good thing we have 3 guys fighting for 2 spots. Means there is going to be a quality backup.

I think Tate is better in run blocking and struggles in the pass game...but what do I know ;)
 

CADomer

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Im not sure about Day. It just kind of depends on how healthy Hounshell/Springmann get. We do have guys with great run stopping ability in Tuitt/Kap/Kona when bumped. Losing Lynch is going to hurt the pass rush.

But lets think about this...

Aaron Lynch didnt win ND a single game last year. Lynch had 1 game changing play, and that play he was unblocked for the sack. Not saying he isnt a good player bc he left, bc Lynch is a good player. But in terms of production....ND is more than capable of having 1 guy or a few guys step up their production.

Saying Lynch didn't win ND a single game is like saying Te'o didn't win a single game. While that may be true, there is no way you can minimize the impact he could have this year. He would've made guys like Tuitt and KLM better because other teams would have had to probably double team Lynch at times.
 

BobD

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Saying Lynch didn't win ND a single game is like saying Te'o didn't win a single game. While that may be true, there is no way you can minimize the impact he could have this year. He would've made guys like Tuitt and KLM better because other teams would have had to probably double team Lynch at times.

Talking about what could have been is very unproductive.
 

Emcee77

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Isn't McDaniel starting to pass Brown? Correct me if I'm wrong but it was Collinsworth and Brown at Nickel/Dime and now it's Collinsworth McDaniel

Yeah, I read this too, I think on 247, that McDaniel is getting into the Nickel/Dime packages.
 

TheTurningPoint

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You answered your own question....

I wont talk about Mr. Lynch bc he isnt part of ND. The team has moved on, and I am 110% bc I know there leaders arent worried about it.

I was present for a convo with a player that committed to ND, and then decided to go to a different school. He said he wasnt mature enough to understand what ND was and offered. As of Saturday, he regreted not coming to ND. I have a feeling in a few years Mr. Lynch will too when that times comes. But thats all I will say on that.
 

STLDomer

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STL--Its spring ball dude lol. Its not Michigan week and we dont know who the starting right side of the line is. i think its a damn good thing we have 3 guys fighting for 2 spots. Means there is going to be a quality backup.

I think Tate is better in run blocking and struggles in the pass game...but what do I know ;)

Yeah I know but my point was on 247 and SB Tribune they were taking about Golic/Martin and Lombard starting and the part I was confused was there was 0 mention of Nichols like he was injured or something and not even a reason like u gave why he could not start
 

Irish2015

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You answered your own question....

I wont talk about Mr. Lynch bc he isnt part of ND. The team has moved on, and I am 110% bc I know there leaders arent worried about it.

I was present for a convo with a player that committed to ND, and then decided to go to a different school. He said he wasnt mature enough to understand what ND was and offered. As of Saturday, he regreted not coming to ND. I have a feeling in a few years Mr. Lynch will too when that times comes. But thats all I will say on that.

Did you get the sense that that player was interested into transferring into ND?
 

CADomer

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Talking about what could have been is very unproductive.

For players and coaches I get your point, but for me it doesn't matter. If you asked everybody on here last week who is the most important player on defense besides Te'o most would have said Lynch. Now that he is gone we get comments saying he didn't win ND any games last year.
 

Emcee77

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You answered your own question....

I wont talk about Mr. Lynch bc he isnt part of ND. The team has moved on, and I am 110% bc I know there leaders arent worried about it.

I was present for a convo with a player that committed to ND, and then decided to go to a different school. He said he wasnt mature enough to understand what ND was and offered. As of Saturday, he regreted not coming to ND. I have a feeling in a few years Mr. Lynch will too when that times comes. But thats all I will say on that.

Hmm, Perkins, maybe? Why would a non-ND player be at our spring game, unless he lives in SB?
 

TheTurningPoint

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For players and coaches I get your point, but for me it doesn't matter. If you asked everybody on here last week who is the most important player on defense besides Te'o most would have said Lynch. Now that he is gone we get comments saying he didn't win ND any games last year.


Ha. everyone? not from this guy. Important for sure. And if its ok with the players and coaches then why would you have a problem with it. Trust me my man, the players are 110% ok with it. Isn't that all that matters? They win/lose games, not you.
 
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