Freshman Player

[BGIF]

BlueandGold.com // A Numbers Test

By Todd Burlage 7/10

He notes that one sign of the growing depth at ND is the declining number of freshman needed to provide immediate PT minutes.

In '05 11 of the 15 freshman played. Duncan and Turkovich who would have be relegated to the weight room in 15 years ago were both #2s on the OLine Depth Chart and each played in 5 games. Cierre Wood would be backing up Darius Walker in '05 now he'll be #4 or #5.

In '08 9 of the 23 incoming freshman saw the field.

Burlage sees only 4 or 5 freshman seeing the field in '09

Te'o, Motta, Cowart, and possibly Evans, and Turk.



Te'o is everbody's choice to see the field and many's choice to start - at whatever position Brian Smith doesn't play.

Motta needs to see the field if he's going to be a solution to the '10 Safety situation.

Cowart will see the field by need to stabilize the long snapper situation. I hope he's added some beef.

Evans could be good enough to play despite the depth on the receiving corps.

I don't see either kicker burning a year unless there's an injury.

Likewise I don't see Stockton being needed this year barring injury.

Considering Ragones untested knees, Eifert could be pressed into service or groomed as insurance. He's at TE playing weight but I would expect him to struggle with blocking like Rudolph did as a freshman.

Riddick or one of the backers might see the field on Special Teams because they made an impression rather than they're needed.

 

[jason_h537]

Te'o will definitely play. Motta could play on special teams. I expect Cowart to play. If brandon walker struggles i could see the freshman getting the shot.

Other than that i don't see anyone. Wood is in a crowded backfield. Shaq Evans looks the part but we have to wait and see because there are alot of guys lookin for PT at WR. I don't see Eifert pklaying either considering how well Berger apparently did in spring. Less freshman playing is a good thing. Not every guy we get will be a Michael Floyd.

 

[IrishInFl]

Cowart is the most obvious to see the field from day one. If he really is so good of a LS that he got a scholly to ND, he has to play. Maybe Walker will be better with a better LS.

 

[Bubba]

With Aldridge moving to FB, I'm not so sure the backfield is all that crowded. I know we can point to the O-line, but none of these guys have really shown they are great. Combine that with the Jonas Gray rumors earlier (admittedly they have quieted down) and he could easily be 3rd on the depth chart at the beginningof the season. I think he's talented enough to take the number 2 spot from Hughes. Who knows, improvements to the O-line and play calling may make everything I said irrelevant.

 

[jason_h537]

Allen, Hughes, Gray and Aldridge splitting time at TB and FB. Sounds pretty crwoded to me

 

[IrishAddiction]

Allen, Hughes, Gray and Aldridge splitting time at TB and FB. Sounds pretty crwoded to me

i dont really know if i like this style, just my opinion, but i would like to see one TB get into his grove and let him stay on it, with the others pushing behind for playing time, not sharing it. that being said, i think Gray will be the main this year.

 

[Bubba]

Guess I didn't realize that the 4 of them were going to rotate through the TB and FB spots. Not sure Allen or Gray would make a good FB. If that's the case, 4 players rotating through 2 spots doesn't sound crowded. Sounds like a starter and a back-up. Weren't we all just complaining that we only had 2 scolly QBs on the depth chart and that wasn't enough?

 

[jason_h537]

Guess I didn't realize that the 4 of them were going to rotate through the TB and FB spots. Not sure Allen or Gray would make a good FB. If that's the case, 4 players rotating through 2 spots doesn't sound crowded. Sounds like a starter and a back-up. Weren't we all just complaining that we only had 2 scolly QBs on the depth chart and that wasn't enough?

No we got Allen, Hughes, Aldridge, and Gray rotating at TB
along with Wood and Riddick giving us 6 scholarship TB

Then we have Aldridge and Paskorz at FB
we are thin at FB

 

[NDinL.A.]

Allen, Hughes, Gray and Aldridge splitting time at TB and FB. Sounds pretty crwoded to me

Aldridge is a FB. Take him out of the mix for TB.

That leaves Armando Allen and Robert Hughes, with Gray behind them and itching for PT. Now, RB is a position in which guys get banged up frequently. Just look at the Broncos the last 2-3 years. Say Allen gets hurt. Then you have Hughes as the power back, and a battle between Gray and Wood (or Riddick) for carries. It's not far-fetched at all to think Woods can see the field this year as a RB. And if he blows everyone away when he starts practicing? Then for sure he'd see the field.

Te'o and Cowart of course as everyone has said. Motta will see some time I believe as well, b/c he tore it up this spring, Tenuta LOVES him, and he'll need to get some experience if he's going to be moved to safety in 2010. Any injuries, and he could step in. A lot of the other guys, I just have to see good they are when they start to practice. I'm not good at predicting what I've never seen at this level. It'll all answer itself before the season...

 

[BGIF]

Fresh faces: Notre Dame - College Football Nation - ESPN

Brian Bennett's look at possible Freshman Impact Players:

Manti Te'o, LB: ... USA Today's defensive POY, The Sporting News 2008 HS Athlete of the year, the inaugural winner of the HS Butkus Award and the No. 2 overall player on the ESPNU150. Simply put, the 6-2, 225 is a can't-miss prospect and the crown jewel of this recruiting class. He could be the kind of dominating, athletic LBthat the Irish have lacked. And given ND's defensive lapses, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if he works his way into a starting role immediately.

Nevada isn't USC but the Pistol requires Disciplined Defender's making correct reads instinctively. I don't know that he has the time to pick it up or ND has a scout team QB or RBs that can do justice to NV's speed. Rememeber most freshman complain that the hardest part of Div 1 FB is adjusting to the speed of the game.

• Cierre Wood, RB: One of the top prep RBs in the nation last year, Wood rushed for 1,632 y/20TD as a senior following a 2,600-yard junior campaign. He has good size at 6-0, 192, and scouts love his vision and balance. ND's problems in the running game have been well documented. If Armando Allen, James Aldridge or others don't step forward, perhaps Wood will get a shot.

I see him getting on the field early returning kicks. Julius Jones didn't play at TB until mid-season and he said he needed the time to adjust to the speed, blocking assignments, and audibles ("good lord what do I do now?")

• Shaquelle Evans, WR: Ranked by ESPN's Scouts Inc. as the nation's 4th-best WR last year, the CA native chose the Irish over USC. Caught 51 passes for 810 y/11TD as a senior and has speed (6-1, 203), size and explosiveness. Because receivers have a relatively easier adjustment to make to the college game than other positions, Evans has a better chance to get on the field quickly than some of the other highly-touted Irish recruits, like OLs Chris Watt and Zach Martin and DT Tyler Stockton. But Evans will have to crack what looks like NS's most loaded position group, which already boasts stars Golden Tate and Michael Floyd.

ND needs a #3 WR but there are bunch of upperclassmen that are going to make him work for it. I think he has a shot at a 6 man rotation and/or a 5 Wide.

 

[notredomer23]

jason h, Aldridge is strictly a fullback now, he will be our starting fullback. I like that because now we can actually give the fullback the ball.

 

[Riddickulous]

Te'o, Motta, and Cowart are all seeing the field for sure.

Expect Motta, with his speed, to be on the field a LOT during the Michigan game, to counter the speed of their spread offense.

 

[BGIF]

Te'o, Motta, and Cowart are all seeing the field for sure.

Expect Motta, with his speed, to be on the field a LOT during the Michigan game, to counter the speed of their spread offense.

Who are you sitting down so Motta plays?

 

[Riddickulous]

Who are you sitting down so Motta plays?

Toryan Smith.

 

[BGIF]

Toryan Smith.

I don't care for 2 freshman LBs (Te'o and Motta) on the field in the first two games. I'd rather see someone more familiar with Div 1 speed of the game, and someone who's been watching tape for a while and familiar with Nevada and Michigan's offense like Filer, Fleming or Sergio.

 

[jason_h537]

Motta will play special teams unless the staff feels secure with him in there. I have a feeling that he will be this years Steve Filer. Love Motta and i think this guy will be a stud but i just don't see much playing time over the people ahead of him yet

 

[BGIF]

Motta will play special teams unless the staff feels secure with him in there. I have a feeling that he will be this years Steve Filer. Love Motta and i think this guy will be a stud but i just don't see much playing time over the people ahead of him yet

Not in the first two games anyway.


"I have a feeling that he will be this years Steve Filer"

And what will Filer be this year?

Will he make Scott Smith sit?

 

[jason_h537]

Not in the first two games anyway.


"I have a feeling that he will be this years Steve Filer"

And what will Filer be this year?

Will he make Scott Smith sit?

Hopefully Filer will be the beast the coaching staff believes he can be this year.

 

[Riddickulous]

True dat.