General team info

[Bogtrotter07]

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.

You remember correctly, that BK said that a problem with the punt return team was depth. But he wasn't talking about the returner. he was talking about the guys that block and destroy (and hopefully open holes) in front of the returner.

To complete the reference Kelly made a couple of cryptic remarks about walkons filling special teams roles ahead of freshman who could do nothing.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

You remember correctly, that BK said that a problem with the punt return team was depth. But he wasn't talking about the returner. he was talking about the guys that block and destroy (and hopefully open holes) in front of the returner.

To complete the reference Kelly made a couple of cryptic remarks about walkons filling special teams roles ahead of freshman who could do nothing.

Kelly has also been on record saying that the punt return game isn't one of the things that "keep him up at night."... That kinda ticked me off. Came across as conceding defeat/disinterest with the returns... Our punt returns are embarrassingly bad. Something has to be done. If that requires starters on ST so be it.

 

[Old Man Mike]

If Coach doesn't want the Special Teams Coach to fairly regularly rush the punter, opposing teams will feel no urgency in getting the kick off, and there will be almost no returnable "bad" punts.

It is not the blocking. You cannot block the punt defense wave in the open field if the punts are kicked with "leisure" and relatively high. Punt returns occur when the punter makes a mistake and the punt gets there too soon. Then all you have had to do was delay the gunners.

Being a punt blocking threat is what makes punters nervous to get the kick off too quickly and, therefore, occasionally a low rocket. Beamer did not become a great punt-returning coach until he became a great kick-blocking coach. Kelly appears to want the ball so badly that risking kick interference is not thinkable [at least at this time].

We will not become a great punt return team, or even average, until we "release the hounds" occasionally on punt blocks.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If Coach doesn't want the Special Teams Coach to fairly regularly rush the punter, opposing teams will feel no urgency in getting the kick off, and there will be almost no returnable "bad" punts.

It is not the blocking. You cannot block the punt defense wave in the open field if the punts are kicked with "leisure" and relatively high. Punt returns occur when the punter makes a mistake and the punt gets there too soon. Then all you have had to do was delay the gunners.

Being a punt blocking threat is what makes punters nervous to get the kick off too quickly and, therefore, occasionally a low rocket. Beamer did not become a great punt-returning coach until he became a great kick-blocking coach. Kelly appears to want the ball so badly that risking kick interference is not thinkable [at least at this time].

We will not become a great punt return team, or even average, until we "release the hounds" occasionally on punt blocks.

Exactly, perfect!

 

[Me2SouthBend]

The next installment. Big Uglies on D.

Restocking: Defensive Line | Inside the Irish

 

[Patulski]

Here's the biggest problem we have in terms of personnel imo. We have as many safeties on the roster as we do wide receivers.


Receivers (9)
Daniels
Smith
Jones
Massa
Ferguson
Onwualu
Robinson
Fuller
Hunter

Safeties (9)
Farley
Collinsworth
Baratti
Turner
Badger
Hardy
Shumate
Prosise
Redfield

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Spring Solutions: 2013 edition <a href="http://t.co/iNmP7WF5wT" title="http://wp.me/p14QUi-Jfw">wp.me/p14QUi-Jfw</a></p>— Keith Arnold (@KeithArnoldNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithArnoldNBC/status/311303103930576897">March 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[stlnd01]

Here's the biggest problem we have in terms of personnel imo. We have as many safeties on the roster as we do wide receivers.


Receivers (9)
Daniels
Smith
Jones
Massa
Ferguson
Onwualu
Robinson
Fuller
Hunter

Safeties (9)
Farley
Collinsworth
Baratti
Turner
Badger
Hardy
Shumate
Prosise
Redfield

I'd argue our system, with its flexed-out TEs and its slot/RB hybrid, doesn't require lots of bodies at WR. Only three WRs caught more than 7 passes last year; two of them are returning. Also, you forgot Neal and Brown. So, 11.

We are a little heavy at safety - especially since I believe all those guys have at least two seasons of eligibility remaining. But if that's our biggest personnel problem, well, I can imagine worse ones. Safeties work well on special teams and are relatively easy to convert to other positions. I worry a lot more about the shortage of proven RBs and backup o-linemen.

 

[Patulski]

I'd argue that we don't have a system yet. I think Kelly used Eifert in any way he could because he was the only experienced, elite receiver he had. I don't see Koyack or Nichols in Eifert's league as a receiver. So, I don't think we'll be flexing TE's as much. I think Kelly wants to spread the field with speed, but hasn't had the personnel. Relying on jump balls to TE's is (hopefully) not going to be our biggest passing offense weapon in the future.

I think this will be a transition year and hope that with (a) another year under Golson's belt and (b) the development of our young receivers that we'll start to see a more explosive passing offense.

Sorry about leaving out Brown and Neal.

I'd argue our system, with its flexed-out TEs and its slot/RB hybrid, doesn't require lots of bodies at WR. Only three WRs caught more than 7 passes last year; two of them are returning. Also, you forgot Neal and Brown. So, 11.

We are a little heavy at safety - especially since I believe all those guys have at least two seasons of eligibility remaining. But if that's our biggest personnel problem, well, I can imagine worse ones. Safeties work well on special teams and are relatively easy to convert to other positions. I worry a lot more about the shortage of proven RBs and backup o-linemen.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

keith,

just reviewing your articles. i think you could do big things at Bleacher Report. LOL!

looking forward to your next look forward.

 

[ulukinatme]

Safeties work well on special teams and are relatively easy to convert to other positions. I worry a lot more about the shortage of proven RBs and backup o-linemen.

I agree with the point about safeties and backup O-linemen, but hopefully the recent additions for the O-line will help straighten that out. As far as RBs though, I think it's a position of strength. Yeah, we're not returning with a lot of carries in that group, but I think theres so much talent there now that theres little to worry about. Kelly has said that GAIII can be an every down back, he just happened to have 2 good guys in front of him last year. We've seen that Cam can carry the ball when the O-line is clicking. Amir is in the mix, although we haven't seen what he can do yet. Folston and Bryant have a lot of talent, I'm sure one of them will at least see Special Teams reps this year. Not all that worried about RB, and I'm kinda excited to see who that depth chart shakes out.

 

[NDPhilly]

“@gregauman: USF spring roster shows DE Aaron Lynch, transfer from Notre Dame who is eligible this fall, at 6-6, 244 pounds, down 18 from fall roster.”

Lost 30lb since leaving ND

 

[Walter White]

“@gregauman: USF spring roster shows DE Aaron Lynch, transfer from Notre Dame who is eligible this fall, at 6-6, 244 pounds, down 18 from fall roster.”

Lost 30lb since leaving ND

That's really skinny. Unless he is going to try and play linebacker. He is going to need to be around 260 to seriously interest the NFL.

Best of luck to him though.

 

[FLDomer]

“@gregauman: USF spring roster shows DE Aaron Lynch, transfer from Notre Dame who is eligible this fall, at 6-6, 244 pounds, down 18 from fall roster.”

Lost 30lb since leaving ND

New wife must be a terrible cook!

 

[peoriairish]

I didn't want to make a whole new thread for this, but I found it s fun little fact.

Trent Dilfer just started following Devin on Twitter because his daughter just committed to play volleyball at ND. Another announcer now with ND connections.

 

[clashmore_mike]

BK just tweeted his spotify playlist.

NDFootball BK by Fighting Irish Athletics on Spotify

 

[JughedJones]

BK just tweeted his spotify playlist.

NDFootball BK by Fighting Irish Athletics on Spotify

That makes me cringe.

 

[Old Man Mike]

... but.... Grateful Dead isn't violent enough for football.

 

[Patulski]

Kelly on Troy Niklas: "He will not be played the way we played Tyler Eifert," Kelly said of Niklas' future role at tight end. "He'll be more of an in-line guy. We feel like he's got a lot of skills - he can run and he's athletic (and) he's long. We won't utilize him in the manner we used Tyler Eifert, but he's got a unique skill set."

 

[Irish YJ]

Kelly on Troy Niklas: "He will not be played the way we played Tyler Eifert," Kelly said of Niklas' future role at tight end. "He'll be more of an in-line guy. We feel like he's got a lot of skills - he can run and he's athletic (and) he's long. We won't utilize him in the manner we used Tyler Eifert, but he's got a unique skill set."

me not like.
thought he had good hands and speed?

 

[dshans]

... but.... Grateful Dead isn't violent enough for football.

Maybe not as violent as you'd like, but there's cowboys, wimmmens, drinkin', tokin', cardplay, gunplay, theft, horses and a cold-hearted murder ...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-cCZFUj8IlM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Then there's:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2TBbj5_zA-8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[JughedJones]

^^^


I love this guy.


(Don't forget Jack Straw)

 

[clashmore_mike]

"@BGI_JasonSapp: #NotreDame Director of Personnel Tim McDonnell leaves for NFL job http://t.co/atSbxTQnGt #ND #Irish"


Will the attrition ever end?

 

[Green Mountains]

me not like.
thought he had good hands and speed?

What Kelly said was part of the comparison between Niklas and Eifert (and I'm paraphrasing) ...."Think of Eifert as Hernandez and Niklas as Gronkowski."

He said Troy has a unique skill set, but it's different than Tyler's.

In that context....I think Mark Bavaro.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Haven't seen this posted anywhere.

Spring solutions: Linebackers | Inside the Irish

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Ticket prices for 2013

• $70 for Temple and BYU
• $80 for Michigan State and Navy
• $95 for Oklahoma and USC

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Grumble, grumble.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

Ticket prices for 2013

• $70 for Temple and BYU
• $80 for Michigan State and Navy
• $95 for Oklahoma and USC

this is face value? i didnt know they changed the prices for face for different games.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Anyone know the price of the game at Cowboy Stadium? Planning on taking the family but d*mn, didn't plan on spending $400. Worried that game will be even more expensive. Might just be me and the wife going since the kids probably won't care that much, though my daughter might since we took her to the game in San Antonio in 09.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

this is face value? i didnt know they changed the prices for face for different games.

Just started last year or the year before.