Decision on 5th Year Seniors

[irishfan]

Too bad for Emeka. He was pretty huge for us this year. Actually got some pretty good PT as a backup. Happy he was finally able to breakthrough and play some his final year. Didn't he create a name on IE when he was a recruit? "Dakid" or something?

 

[rtrn2glory]

My guess is that hes a legacy player and we would have seen him on the field by now.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[TDHeysus]

Gary didn't surprise me, we desperately need him in our secondary. He did very well this year.

yea, dude stepped up and was making tackles near the line of scrimmage all year. glad to see G-squared back for another go.

 

[aaronb]

The team needs Gary Gray. They are extremely thin at CB. The depth chart reads: Starters: Gray, Blanton
Nickle: Lo Wood
All other CB are true freshman coming in. Gary Gray is much needed.

I was surprised he didn't enter the draft?

 

[Riddickulous]

I was surprised he didn't enter the draft?

He would've been drafted in the 6th or 7th round, if he was drafted at all.

 

[aaronb]

He would've been drafted in the 6th or 7th round, if he was drafted at all.

I thought he had an excellent year last year. He was a top 10 CB recruit when he came in. Closing in on 20 College starts. His combine measurable numbers would have likely been solid.

I'd say he'd be a 3rd-4th round pick. Especially considering guys like Mike Richardson and Vontez Duff were 6th rounders.

 

[irishdiehard]

man i cant say i completely agree with Ragone getting the initial nod over Dever our starting OT

 

[Ironman8]

man i cant say i completely agree with Ragone getting the initial nod over Dever our starting OT

Could be we just heard about Ragone first and Dever is also back. It could also point to BK's belief in the younger tackles (i.e. Lombard, Nichols) or the maneuverability of some of our D line recruits (Hounshell, Carrico, Springmann). I trust BK, so this is all just purely fan speculation, I am quite sure he has a solid plan in place.

 

[Praytorian]

Well I dont have a problem with the 5 years, that cuts down on this years schollies, but it opens it up for EE's next year.

Go Irish

 

[jonesman]

I am wondering what form of glue some of you are sniffing if you are questioning why Gary Gray should be coming back. The guy was our most solid CB last year. He is one of the best tackling CB's that ND has had in years.

What are you guys watching during these games??? I don't think I remember him getting beat bad all year. The one big TD pass we gave up during the Miami game was against Walls. If you want to see Gray playing big, go watch the goalline stands at Utah. The guy made some great plays.

Finally, for you folks sniffing glue about Gray coming back. WHO was going to replace him??????? Doooooh. That's right, we don't have another upper class CB on the roster. Thanks Charlie!!!! Love that defensive recruiting of our previous staff.

 

[choo choo]

Mek tweeted

@emeka91 All good things come to an end...but it's just another beginning for me on road to success

we love you man, best of luck to you in all your upcoming endevors...thanks for being irish

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I am wondering what form of glue some of you are sniffing if you are questioning why Gary Gray should be coming back. The guy was our most solid CB last year. He is one of the best tackling CB's that ND has had in years.

What are you guys watching during these games??? I don't think I remember him getting beat bad all year. The one big TD pass we gave up during the Miami game was against Walls. If you want to see Gray playing big, go watch the goalline stands at Utah. The guy made some great plays.

Finally, for you folks sniffing glue about Gray coming back. WHO was going to replace him??????? Doooooh. That's right, we don't have another upper class CB on the roster. Thanks Charlie!!!! Love that defensive recruiting of our previous staff.

Hey I completely agree with you, Gray was and is our best corner and we need him back. we have three corners currently on the roster. Anyway just to be an ahole, off the top of my head Gray got beat badly on a double move in the BC game. Just wanted to point out that he did get beat atleast once.

 

[BGIF]

Too bad for Emeka. He was pretty huge for us this year. Actually got some pretty good PT as a backup. Happy he was finally able to breakthrough and play some his final year. Didn't he create a name on IE when he was a recruit? "Dakid" or something?

It amazing how many people don't think recruits and their families read the boards.

He was indeed Dakid. He and I swapped a number of PMs over this Facebook page. When he was a hs senior at least one poster here had a hissy fit over graphics of m.j. plants on his facebook page. The poster was strident that he was not ND material and vocal that a scholarship offer be withdrawn. The poster was advised that it was ND Admissions and the coaching staff that made the decisions about character and who was offered an ND scholarship not an anonymous poster on an internet board. The poster was further advised to take his "proof" of lack of character to the Admissions and the coaching staff and to be sure to put his real name on his message. This was not the forum to address his attacks. Emeka was advised that some school officials and employers look at facebook pages and it can influence their decisions, rightfully or wrongfully. He explained that he wasn't a user but just a HS kid who was trying to look "cool" on his page. I suggested hie remove the graphics and contact his recruiter and explain before the recruiter/school contacted him about the allegations. He did. And soon he'll be getting an ND degree. He was a good kid and I suspect an even better young man.

Around the same time, may have been a year earlier or later, there was another prospect that had a facebook page loaded with nude or sem-inude women. There as a buzz here about his character as well, "denigrating women". Again there was a complaining poster here on IE. The prospect's father contacted me via PM in a couple of hours of the complaining post advising that it was a mean spirited person who had put up a page using his son's name to harm his son. The father didn't know the identity of the bogus poster at the time. He suspected it could be another HS student with a grudge or a fan of the instate school trying to get ND to The father had an attorney file a cease and desist with facebook and the bogus page was removed. The father also discussed his son's academic and the high value they placed on an ND education. They didn't want to see it jeoparized over a smear campaign and hoped we wouldn't give juice to the smear campaign by repeating the slur. The kid didn't end up at ND but that was due to a athletics, needs, and filled slots not the bogus facebook page.

 

[irish1958]

Gary Gray was excellent last year. I saw four games in person and all the rest on TV. In the four games I attended, he was aggressive but controlled and made a lot of plays. In the Stanford game, his coverage was excellent and Luck didn't go is way very often.
On TV you can't watch the play away from the ball which is why I like to go to the games in person.
We need this player. If the front 7 can get pressure on the QB, the DBs will get a ton of plays next season.

 

[jonesman]

ND in Ct,
You are very correct about the BC game for Gary. He did get beat bad on that double move.

I will say that his tackling has been awesome all year.

 

[jakerbluegold]

That's something that we saw all year from our DBs, consitent tackling. I think it's probably the single biggest improvement other than the overall strength and conditioning.

I can remember early in the season thinking, where the heck did these guys come from?

Martin's doing a hell of a job.

 

[Irish To The Core]

I think the fella who was surprised about Gray coming back must have been confused about who Gary Gray is. He is probably embarrassed now that he has had a chance to actually figure it out. I cannot believe that even a casual observer of Notre Dame football could think that Gary Gray could be denied a fifth year by any sane head coach. He had an extremely productive season working with Walls and Blanton and the team will be depending on true freshmen in the two deeps even with him returning. Truly a no-brainer. I am crossing my fingers in hopes that he and Blanton stay healthy next season, allowing the young kids time to learn the college game before they have to be thrown into the fire.

 

[Old Man Mike]

AMEN!!

 

[rtrn2glory]

I personally never thought/worried about Gray going pro this year. Talent wise he definitely has the skills to do so, but I can see greatly benefitting from another year of weightroom/game experience. The film on him would have been great, but I think his speed measurables at the combine could have set him back should he decide to go pro. Also, you have to keep in mind, with the expected trouble with the CBA in the NFL if you're not a sure fire 1st round pick this year you should have no intention to leave early, a decision I hope doesn't bite Rudy in the behind.

Just for fun, how much do you think Aaron Rodgers would like a guy like Rudy to throw to in couple weeks?? Trying to think of teams that need TE's and they were first to come to mind.

 

[amgarvey]

I personally never thought/worried about Gray going pro this year. Talent wise he definitely has the skills to do so, but I can see greatly benefitting from another year of weightroom/game experience. The film on him would have been great, but I think his speed measurables at the combine could have set him back should he decide to go pro. Also, you have to keep in mind, with the expected trouble with the CBA in the NFL if you're not a sure fire 1st round pick this year you should have no intention to leave early, a decision I hope doesn't bite Rudy in the behind.

Just for fun, how much do you think Aaron Rodgers would like a guy like Rudy to throw to in couple weeks?? Trying to think of teams that need TE's and they were first to come to mind.

I'm not sure the packers would qualify. Jermichael Finley is one of the top young TEs in the game. A few I think would be interested based on need (unless I've forgotten something as well): Titans, Panthers, Rams, Broncos and Cardinals. Of course a few of these teams have some more pressing matters. Who knows really?

 

[rtrn2glory]

That's the thinking I'm using...i don't see one of those teams using a high 1st rounder to draft a TE, but the pack could...anymore you need two solid te's to be successful and I think Rudy is better than finely. don't remember seeing him make too much of an impact last weekend.

Panthers and rams are good points though but it would have to be in the 2nd round.

 

[irish1958]

Finley was hurt and missed most of the season (knee).

 

[aaronb]

I personally never thought/worried about Gray going pro this year. Talent wise he definitely has the skills to do so, but I can see greatly benefitting from another year of weightroom/game experience. The film on him would have been great, but I think his speed measurables at the combine could have set him back should he decide to go pro. Also, you have to keep in mind, with the expected trouble with the CBA in the NFL if you're not a sure fire 1st round pick this year you should have no intention to leave early, a decision I hope doesn't bite Rudy in the behind.

Just for fun, how much do you think Aaron Rodgers would like a guy like Rudy to throw to in couple weeks?? Trying to think of teams that need TE's and they were first to come to mind.

No shame in going into the NFL as a 2nd or 3rd round Pick.

Some guys never get the chance to make an NFL roster. So if you are reasonably sure you will be taken in the first 3-4 rounds. You need to think about doing it.

Especially if your dream is to play in the NFL.

 

[rtrn2glory]

does not make sense to leave a solid college program to be a 2nd or 3rd round pick...difference of millions of dollars. if what your saying is true than it shouldn't matter what round you're drafted in, but I think it does. Floyd is the perfect example of this...3rd round grade and he decided to return and i'm sure he has dreams of playing in the nfl as well.

 

[aaronb]

does not make sense to leave a solid college program to be a 2nd or 3rd round pick...difference of millions of dollars. if what your saying is true than it shouldn't matter what round you're drafted in, but I think it does. Floyd is the perfect example of this...3rd round grade and he decided to return and i'm sure he has dreams of playing in the nfl as well.

If you are guaranteed to get drafted and get a shot, you take it.

Far too many guys hurt their stock and slip. Jake Locker at the top of the draft. Brady Quinn hurt his stock coming back.

There are lots of guys who never got a 2nd NFL chance.

 

[phork]

Brady Quinn didn't hurt anything.. It was a matter of circumstance that once he got by a certain number the teams just didn't need QBs. Aside from the fact that he isn't actually a NFL caliber QB.

 

[irishpat183]

That's the thinking I'm using...i don't see one of those teams using a high 1st rounder to draft a TE, but the pack could...anymore you need two solid te's to be successful and I think Rudy is better than finely. don't remember seeing him make too much of an impact last weekend.

Panthers and rams are good points though but it would have to be in the 2nd round.

Rudy is better than Finley?? Listen, I know we're all ND fans here, but isn't that a little ridiculous? Finley is a stud. Rudy hasn't played a down in the NFL. hmmmmmm

If you're the Packers, I doubt TE is high on your list considering the lack of depth at RB and WR. Not to mention they could use some O-line help.....

 

[irishpat183]

If you are guaranteed to get drafted and get a shot, you take it.

Far too many guys hurt their stock and slip. Jake Locker at the top of the draft. Brady Quinn hurt his stock coming back.

There are lots of guys who never got a 2nd NFL chance.

And for every Locker, there is a Bohmar. Far more guys leave way too early and you never hear from them again. And Quinn was still a first rounder. Nothing to be ashamed of.

You're right about a 2nd chance in the NFL, but you also may have a 2nd chance to become a 1st rounder if you comeback and sharpen your skill set.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Rudy isIf you're the Packers, I doubt TE is high on your list considering the lack of depth at RB and WR. Not to mention they could use some O-line help.....

Lack of WR depth? Packers have Driver, Jennings, Jordy Nelson (who is an underrated stud) and James Jones. They go 4 deep! I do agree they need depth at RB and OL.

 

[irishpat183]

Lack of WR depth? Packers have Driver, Jennings, Jordy Nelson (who is an underrated stud) and James Jones. They go 4 deep! I do agree they need depth at RB and OL.

Driver is getting old.....And Nelson and Jones are good, but not blowing anybody away. I'm sure they'd love to add another playmaker at WR before another TE.