General team info

[Me2SouthBend]

From ITI. This one is for OMM.

Restocking: The offensive line | Inside the Irish

 

[BleedBlueGold]

From ITI. This one is for OMM.

Restocking: The offensive line | Inside the Irish

Good read. It's unreal the amount of injuries, transfers, etc we've had within the OL. We should be extremely thankful that 1) We made it through all of last season w/o injury and 2) The staff restocked the shelves with amazing size and talent this past cycle.

I'm looking forward to the future of the bigs. For sake of discussion, I can envision Stanley taking over the RT spot forcing Lombard inside. Sandwiching Hegarty between Lombard and Watt would be beneficial to Hegarty's development.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Hmmmmmm... yeh. Oline 2013 "ain't the most relaxin' part of the team". We won't be "bad". Our guys are too solid and Coach Harry's too good for that. The issue is: can we run against the better D's?

The article points out my philosophy of course: you always pick up a quality Olineman if there's any sort of doubt about numbers. Coach Kelly has made Chicken Soup out of --- well --- less than ideal ingredients for three years now, but we've always been hanging by a thread. If we don't play frosh next season, we'll be hanging by a thread then too.

This is why, against all the rational futures-oriented thinking, I'd like to see Steve Elmer SERIOUSLY in contention immediately, and Hunter Biven also by mid-season. This would give us pretty elite power for Watt, two Martins, Lombard, Stanley, Biven, Elmer, and Hegarty if recovered. That's eight. You can relax a little with eight. Add Harrell and Hanratty, and you have ten.

If Hegarty is never fully powered-back-up in 2013, by the two-thirds-mark Biven might take over.

ZMart/ Watt/ Biven/ NMart/ Lombard could be a good crew of maulers, with Stanley or Elmer capable of taking time at Lombard's tackle and he moving to NMart's guard. I'm fully irrational about Biven. I think [OK, feel] that he is the real special one. Elmer's close. If we can afford to redshirt him, OK, Kelly knows best. It would probably mean that Matt is back.

We need to slide past this season with a little good luck for a change. Even with ZMart and Watt leaving after it, if we then return three good starters on the rightside plus Whomever of Stanley, NMart, Hegarty, Elmer didn't start there but got some time, we should be very good [with the other three younguns coming into sophomore years] two-deep, ...... finally.

2014: Lombard + Elmer + Biven + two of Stanley/ NMart/ Hegarty/ to be starters, and McGlincey, Montelus, McGovern, Harrell as a ready-to-rock two-deep is the day I'm waiting for. THEN maybe we'll be able to consistently run against exceptionally stout teams. And I can get back to relatively relaxing Saturdays instead of incessant nailbiters.

 

[scUM Hater]

RIP Matt James.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Onto the Backers

Restocking: Linebackers | Inside the Irish

 

[Old Man Mike]

I actually think that we know less about what is going to happen here than almost any position group. Think about this: we have a linebacking corps which performed at extremely high levels in every game but the NC [and that, in my opinion, was because Diaco made them too predictable, not because they were somehow suddenly mediocre]. So, in my opinion, we had as good a linebacking crew as anyone AND not only are three out of the four returning, but all three of their back-ups return as well. Now REALLY: how bad can we be??

The big deal confusing the issue is: will Diaco stand pat on the three anchor positions and just work to get the "Te'o-replacement" done, or will he juggle things around to get the famous "Best Athletes on the Field?"

Let's think about the latter. Who would be "The Best Athletes?" Let's try "The Best Eight" first. We have six starters and first back-ups coming back. Surely they're in contention. We have Jarrett Grace, The Werewolf. We have an All-World rookie coming in. We have a simmering monster [Okwara] hanging around. We have two more impressive rookies. And we have a guy who I relate as very underrated in Rabasa. [Notice I've left Moore off --- just seems like "Filer" to me].

I submit that we cannot even clearly designate an eight-man group, let alone then place them into positions. Yet that is what Diaco must do, and quickly. Diaco got taken to school by Doctor Satan, and it's mainly by too-predictable linebacker play that this happened. He MUST install more "disguise and surprise" there, and that means a lot of work on subtleties and change. This, to me, mitigates against Jaylon, Doug, and Michael, I believe.

What really is Diaco going to do? All kinds of unpredictabilities exist here. Conservative thinking would just leave the returning studs "at home", put Grace into the MIKE, and back him up with someone like Okwara or Rabasa. Or "save-a-spot" for Jaylon by moving one guy [Councell?] [Ishaq? if he is still blundering about?] and going with that. Or there are the many movable chairs scenarios.

Bottomline for me here is: even though this is difficult to predict, we are going to be a gang of ax-murderers at the linebacking corps. We will replace Te'o [remember that Carlofox together had as many tackles --- the great individual is NOT irreplaceable] and we will terrorize opponents not named Dr. Satan nor having a full month to prepare for us.

Who knows? Maybe Diaco can even fix that.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Good post OMM. Like you said, I'm not worried about the regular season. I am worried about a rematch against Bama and giving them another month to prepare. Surely Diaco will change it up this year. The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same things, but expecting a different result. He must change the pre-snap looks of this defense and not be so predictable. Pretty sure every team on our schedule will be watching tape of the NC game. My hope is that Diaco, like he did after we got smoked by Navy, will make the proper adjustments.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I actually think that we know less about what is going to happen here than almost any position group. Think about this: we have a linebacking corps which performed at extremely high levels in every game but the NC [and that, in my opinion, was because Diaco made them too predictable, not because they were somehow suddenly mediocre]. So, in my opinion, we had as good a linebacking crew as anyone AND not only are three out of the four returning, but all three of their back-ups return as well. Now REALLY: how bad can we be??

The big deal confusing the issue is: will Diaco stand pat on the three anchor positions and just work to get the "Te'o-replacement" done, or will he juggle things around to get the famous "Best Athletes on the Field?"

Let's think about the latter. Who would be "The Best Athletes?" Let's try "The Best Eight" first. We have six starters and first back-ups coming back. Surely they're in contention. We have Jarrett Grace, The Werewolf. We have an All-World rookie coming in. We have a simmering monster [Okwara] hanging around. We have two more impressive rookies. And we have a guy who I relate as very underrated in Rabasa. [Notice I've left Moore off --- just seems like "Filer" to me].

I submit that we cannot even clearly designate an eight-man group, let alone then place them into positions. Yet that is what Diaco must do, and quickly. Diaco got taken to school by Doctor Satan, and it's mainly by too-predictable linebacker play that this happened. He MUST install more "disguise and surprise" there, and that means a lot of work on subtleties and change. This, to me, mitigates against Jaylon, Doug, and Michael, I believe.

What really is Diaco going to do? All kinds of unpredictabilities exist here. Conservative thinking would just leave the returning studs "at home", put Grace into the MIKE, and back him up with someone like Okwara or Rabasa. Or "save-a-spot" for Jaylon by moving one guy [Councell?] [Ishaq? if he is still blundering about?] and going with that. Or there are the many movable chairs scenarios.

Bottomline for me here is: even though this is difficult to predict, we are going to be a gang of ax-murderers at the linebacking corps. We will replace Te'o [remember that Carlofox together had as many tackles --- the great individual is NOT irreplaceable] and we will terrorize opponents not named Dr. Satan nor having a full month to prepare for us.

Who knows? Maybe Diaco can even fix that.

Diaco got schooled by the, arguably, the greatest CFB coach of all time. We wont be facing any nick sabans in the regular season, so I'm not too worried about Diaco getting "figured out". I agree with you and hope Diaco doesnt retreat into a conservative shell; I hope he uses the offseason and regular season games to get creative and grow. He's only like 40 years old, he's certainly got his best years ahead of him.

I think part of his problem against Alabama was leaving our young secondary, which was confused as hell as it was, alone. I think we are going to see significant schematic growth next season with the power that we have in our front 7. Diaco seems like an unrelenting competitor and I am certain he took Sabans beatdown personally. He, along with his vaunted defense, were humiliated. I imagine him putting in 14 hour days and collecting rabbits feet while offering homage to the football gods for a rematch against Saban.

 

[irishtrain]

Hmmmmmm... yeh. Oline 2013 "ain't the most relaxin' part of the team". We won't be "bad". Our guys are too solid and Coach Harry's too good for that. The issue is: can we run against the better D's?

The article points out my philosophy of course: you always pick up a quality Olineman if there's any sort of doubt about numbers. Coach Kelly has made Chicken Soup out of --- well --- less than ideal ingredients for three years now, but we've always been hanging by a thread. If we don't play frosh next season, we'll be hanging by a thread then too.

This is why, against all the rational futures-oriented thinking, I'd like to see Steve Elmer SERIOUSLY in contention immediately, and Hunter Biven also by mid-season. This would give us pretty elite power for Watt, two Martins, Lombard, Stanley, Biven, Elmer, and Hegarty if recovered. That's eight. You can relax a little with eight. Add Harrell and Hanratty, and you have ten.

If Hegarty is never fully powered-back-up in 2013, by the two-thirds-mark Biven might take over.

ZMart/ Watt/ Biven/ NMart/ Lombard could be a good crew of maulers, with Stanley or Elmer capable of taking time at Lombard's tackle and he moving to NMart's guard. I'm fully irrational about Biven. I think [OK, feel] that he is the real special one. Elmer's close. If we can afford to redshirt him, OK, Kelly knows best. It would probably mean that Matt is back.

We need to slide past this season with a little good luck for a change. Even with ZMart and Watt leaving after it, if we then return three good starters on the rightside plus Whomever of Stanley, NMart, Hegarty, Elmer didn't start there but got some time, we should be very good [with the other three younguns coming into sophomore years] two-deep, ...... finally.

2014: Lombard + Elmer + Biven + two of Stanley/ NMart/ Hegarty/ to be starters, and McGlincey, Montelus, McGovern, Harrell as a ready-to-rock two-deep is the day I'm waiting for. THEN maybe we'll be able to consistently run against exceptionally stout teams. And I can get back to relatively relaxing Saturdays instead of incessant nailbiters.

When I plugged into this thread I was hoping for o/line info. Thanks and keep info coming on how the new kids are doing. I think its going to be the deisel that runs this train. I understand many of them wont play as babes but updates on how they are doing and their true sizes is very interesting. This group is the best haul the irish have made in many years. Montelus/Mcglinchy/Bivin/Elmer really have my interest peaked. What is the status of Nichols.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

From ITI

The true depth chart won’t likely be revealed until the summer, when Bryant and Folston begin working out with the team. But if you’re looking for either of the freshman to make a run at the starting job, it’d be out of character for this coaching staff, as only KeiVarae Russell — at a position of major need — has arrived in South Bend and stepped into the starting lineup.

Restocking: Running Backs | Inside the Irish

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

If Bryant ends up being our starter, that most likely would be a great thing. Means he's too good to keep off the field, or I suppose it could mean Mahone, amir, etc aren't ready...
Hoping for the previous.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

@leefitting: Spring cfb @collegegameday bus tour to hit: Bama, LSU, A&M, Lville, OSU, Mich, MSU & ND. Starts 4/10

 

[Old Man Mike]

Comment about only Keivaree is not true: TJJones. Kelly will start people who he believes will win the game. Kelly has no arbitrary rules in his head restricting him on this matter. The best guys to win the game now is his rule.

 

[ulukinatme]

Yeah, I wouldn't say Kelly has a problem with starting a true freshman. He's done it in the past. While there was an injury involved mid season, Rees got the start as a freshman over older QBs that had arguably more physical tools and he was able to end the decade long losing streak to SC. Kelly seems to favor consistency, competency of the playbook, and execution over raw skill. Given that track record I would expect to see George get the first shot at starting RB with Cam or Amir spelling him. Theres always the possibility that Bryant and/or Folsten are quick studies and get reps early though, and I'd expect to see at least one of them getting into Special Teams the first year.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

My two biggest areas of focus for this season:

- Punt return
- Disguising the defense better

I feel as if everything else will fall into place. Replacing Eifert, Te'o, Kap, Motta, Wood, Theo, etc will be interesting. But I honestly do not feel this team will be handicapped by the attrition. We should be out of re-build mode and into full re-load mode by now. But there are some areas where this team (and coaches) have had some major issues. Punt return being at the top. And after the championship game, we should all be a little leery that opposing teams won't try and attack our defense like Alabama did.

I almost added red zone efficiency to the list, but I think with Golson being a year older, that'll just come naturally.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Yeah, I wouldn't say Kelly has a problem with starting a true freshman. He's done it in the past. While there was an injury involved mid season, Rees got the start as a freshman over older QBs that had arguably more physical tools and he was able to end the decade long losing streak to SC. Kelly seems to favor consistency, competency of the playbook, and execution over raw skill. Given that track record I would expect to see George get the first shot at starting RB with Cam or Amir spelling him. Theres always the possibility that Bryant and/or Folsten are quick studies and get reps early though, and I'd expect to see at least one of them getting into Special Teams the first year.

100% agree on this.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I agree with the bolded part too, but that is exactly why I believe that Coach DOESN'T view GAIII as the obvious man for the job. Coach does not like ball mismanagement which GAIII is the most guilty of, and he doesn't like mediocre passing-game skills, nor mediocre blocking.

Kelly will give GAIII "first crack" at the job, because he is loyal to veterans and always gives them "first crack". But if the deficiencies aren't cleared up, then Kelly will resolutely turn elsewhere.

 

[NDFAN22]

Should we consider hiring a new special teams coach considering how god awful our punt returns have been last couple of years? I mean honestly just about every team in America has had a better PR average than ND recently. We could have Devin Hester in his prime and it would not change a thing with how bad our blocking has been.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

The thing is Kelly would rather be dead last than turn the ball over. I hope that he starts from absolute square 1 this offseason. We have some sick playmakers to put back there.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

It's been mentioned before that there wasn't enough depth to put the right guys on the PR unit. I hope recruiting over the last two classes has changed that and things will be ok this year. I agree though, something has to be done.

 

[NDFAN22]

The thing is Kelly would rather be dead last than turn the ball over. I hope that he starts from absolute square 1 this offseason. We have some sick playmakers to put back there.

I agree that yes BK doesnt want to turn the ball over but neither does any team in the country. It is just amazing how bad the special teams are and have been the past years. I mean I think zibby was the last one to take a PR back for a score vs USC. There has to be a core of 10 players than can at least distract the other team from being within a yard of the returner.

 

[BGIF]

It's been mentioned before that there wasn't enough depth to put the right guys on the PR unit. ...

ND was 115th.

1. BC
2. KSU
3. Northwestern
4. Nevada
5. Missouri
6. Duke

I didn't realize BC through Duke ALL had better depth than ND. I'm aware of the injuries/academic casualties ND had. If we lost another 30 people we still had more depth/talent than Navy and a bunch of other schools that finished with the 114 AHEAD of ND.

BC didn't have a running game last year BUT they still could return punts. They even excelled at it.

ND neither pressured the kicker nor returned punts well.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

ND was 115th.

1. BC
2. KSU
3. Northwestern
4. Nevada
5. Missouri
6. Duke

I didn't realize BC through Duke ALL had better depth than ND. I'm aware of the injuries/academic casualties ND had. If we lost another 30 people we still had more depth/talent than Navy and a bunch of other schools that finished with the 114 AHEAD of ND.

BC didn't have a running game last year BUT they still could return punts. They even excelled at it.

ND neither pressured the kicker nor returned punts well.

Oh I agree that the reasoning doesn't make sense. That's just what I recall the staff saying (I wish I could locate the exact quote). It had something to do with the guys capable of excelling on ST were needed in the actual offense and defense. Therefore, exhausting them on ST was probably a bad idea. I'm not saying I buy that excuse. But it's what I recall a person (maybe BK) saying.

All I know is that something needs to get fixed this season. I'm sick of ND being terrible at ST lately.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

From Keith

http://irish.nbcsports.com/2013/02/28/restocking-wide-receivers/

 

[Walter White]

After looking at that article and our WR depth, I wonder if circumstances may force TJ Jones to play slot. We are incredibly inexperienced there. If some of our outside guys improve enough, Kelly may want to place Jones ahead of Neal at slot.

I know we would ideally have someone like Carlisle or another RB play both, but we don't have a proven Theo this year.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

After looking at that article and our WR depth, I wonder if circumstances may force TJ Jones to play slot. We are incredibly inexperienced there. If some of our outside guys improve enough, Kelly may want to place Jones ahead of Neal at slot.

I know we would ideally have someone like Carlisle or another RB play both, but we don't have a proven Theo this year.

Ideally, this inexperienced guys will gain experience getting tons of off season reps.

I know it's not the same as a game, but it's something.

 

[Old Man Mike]

"Slot" on this offense seems to be coming less important as TE-double gets involved and Coach insists on an RB who is often out of the backfield on routes. Our "thin-ness" there may be more our inability to see Kelly's evolving changes in attack strategy than any reality. And, TJJones is on the field regardless of anything else Kelly's attempting to do. Davaris is the freak stud, but TJ's our man this coming year.


note: TJ + DD + Niklas + Koyack or Welch = no traditional slot. That's a big receivers line-up, and Coach likes big.

 

[ryno 24]

OMM I agree thats big and that will be our run package, but their will always be a place for a traditional slot in this offense. Kelly will want a Neal taking that quick out or the over the middle pass. This is particularly important when we want to speed up our offense. If we ever want to run triple option, which could become part of the offense, the slot will be needed as well. Kelly wants to be able to look like both Alabama and a Texas A&M. It is becoming a hybrid position , but there will always be a place for the slot.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Ryno: my post was not to say that we won't use the traditional array of receivers; it was to point out that Coach is playing a non-traditional array more and more. If there are less snaps where the traditional array is on the field, then the concern over depth at the position being subbed for becomes less of an issue.

This is a lot like our DLine 3-4 base but with lots of 4-3 looks. Just as that eases the problem of us having only one Big Lou, Kelly's romance with the heavy receiver lineup relaxes the need for too many Davonte Neal's. And, it's my opinion that we have a number of guys who could step in there anyway [Onwualu, McDaniel, Carlisle probably, Ferguson, Brown, GAIII --- probably would do him some good to learn route-running and catching]. None of those guys might be ideal slots [although who knows about the first three], but if you have one real good one with several backup options at a position which disappears on about half the plays, I'd say you were in good personnel shape.

If slot is our biggest problem, then we're national champs.

 

[ryno 24]

I agree. Though we have yet to see a great slot that he can't take off the field. Golden Tate would have been a perfect slot in his offense, and so will Davonte Neal. Though we are a pound it football team and I love this, Kelly's big plays should come from the slot. This is what happened with Marty Gilyard at Cincinnati.