Offensive Line Thread

[Trait Expectations]

I'm not advocating for it. Just thinking: What if HH flips Baker's light switch to the on position and he wants his best 5 on the field? I'm sure we'd all agree if we had to play one of Alt, Fish, Baker at OG, it would be Big Blake.

HH is just as likely to flip the switch on any of the guard options. Carmody, Correll, Lugg, Spindler, Kristofic, Caleb J, Coogan. If the odds are he either flips the switch on one promising tackle or does it for one of the 7 OL in contention for guard play, I'll put my money the latter.

Baker would have to be the biggest surprise of spring/summer to force Blake/Alt out of a tackle position.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

I see Fisher-Kristofic-Patterson-Spindler-Alt

Flip Alt and Fisher and I’m game. Alt was outstanding this year and still has room to add plenty of good weight. As awesome as Fisher is, Alt would legitimately end up a 6’8 335 lb LT with ++ athleticism. If they both develop the way they project, we could be looking at two top 10 picks in the same draft, maybe top 8. While there is a long way to go before that happens, it is not out of the question, which in itself is pretty amazing.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Follow up question for the Jeff Quinn apologists: how is he doing on the open market these days? We can all agree great guy and did above average as a recruiter at ND. But same question I asked over the past 3 years was who would want him as their Oline coach if he was on the market?

 

[ab2cmiller]

I thought it was reported shortly after BK left for LSU that Quinn was not likely to stay at ND or go to LSU because of some ongoing health issues

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Follow up question for the Jeff Quinn apologists: how is he doing on the open market these days? We can all agree great guy and did above average as a recruiter at ND. But same question I asked over the past 3 years was who would want him as their Oline coach if he was on the market?

Snake Oil Salesman

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

I thought it was reported shortly after BK left for LSU that Quinn was not likely to stay at ND or go to LSU because of some ongoing health issues

Haven't heard of any health issues, but best wishes to him if that is the case. Don't wish that on anyone. Schools who had Oline openings off the top of my head and didn't hire Jeff Quinn:

USC
Ohio State
now UCLA
now Georgia
Bama
Kentucky
Miami
Duke
Florida
Va Tech
Virginia

 

[Rizzophil]

I think Jeff Quinn went to LSU to be an analyst

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

How many OL does Harry get to take in his first class? Who will they be?

I'm guessing 3 but I guess there will be some flex for a 4th after we some transfers.

Jagusah, Freeling, Okunlola....(I wish T.J Shanahan but I'll guess Siereveld if he doesn't have the buckeye seed planted.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

How many OL does Harry get to take in his first class? Who will they be?

I'm guessing 3 but I guess there will be some flex for a 4th after we some transfers.

Jagusah, Freeling, Okunlola....(I wish T.J Shanahan but I'll guess Siereveld if he doesn't have the buckeye seed planted.

It depends on what Correll and Baker do after spring. If they both leave, there's gonna be potential for an epic Oline class coming.

 

[chisea03]

Where Notre Dame Was & Is: Offensive line, returning four starters and a familiar coach

How do you define a returning starter along an offensive line? If the metric is any career starts, then Notre Dame returns eight starters in 2022, but that may be generous.

irish.nbcsports.com

 

[BabyIrish]

Quote on Heistand from Pyne today:

“Coach Hiestand, just like coach Stuckey, I mean I could name every new coach that came in here that coach Freeman hired, and every single coach that has come here has really made an instrumental role into our progress as an offense. I was in here with coach Hiestand yesterday for an hour and a half going through just simple inside outside zone for an hour and a half just with the line. He's someone that really cares. He watched every single game last year, had a note for every single game last year, so he's a guy that we're gonna really rely on. I think the run game is gonna step up this year."

 

[dublinirish]

Prince Kollie's HS coach posted this and it looks like :
LT Alt
LG Kristofic
C Correll
RG Lugg
RT Fisher

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I was obviously wrong about Fisher and Alt swapping back. I thought there'd be no way they'd stay in this configuration but I guess each of them is settling in and showing ownership of their side.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I was obviously wrong about Fisher and Alt swapping back. I thought there'd be no way they'd stay in this configuration but I guess each of them is settling in and showing ownership of their side.

It's also like, day 2 or something.

 

[Dale]

Alt - Kristofic - Correll - Lugg - Fisher

Baker - Spindler - Carmody - Murphy - Johnson

 

[ab2cmiller]

Had to look up who Murphy was. Quinn Murphy Preferred Walk-On.

 

[Riddickulous]

Carmody vs. Zeke for 2023 center?

 

[Irish du Nord]

Alt - Kristofic - Correll - Lugg - Fisher

Baker - Spindler - Carmody - Murphy - Johnson

Is Pat Coogan injured?

 

[GoIrish41]

I expect Spindler will take Lugg’s spot when in dust settles. Lugg had a pretty disappointing season last year.

 

[stpeteirish]

Is Pat Coogan injured?

Yeah, O'Malley listed him among the injured in today's write up. No indication of severity

 

[Riddickulous]

Yeah, O'Malley listed him among the injured in today's write up. No indication of severity

Out for spring with a meniscus injury.

 

[AlaskanIrish]

I expect Spindler will take Lugg’s spot when in dust settles. Lugg had a pretty disappointing season last year.

FWIW, Driskell (I know) highlighted Lugg as a stand-out in practice. He attributed it to Lugg getting his knee "cleaned up."

 

[Crazy Balki]

FWIW, Driskell (I know) highlighted Lugg as a stand-out in practice. He attributed it to Lugg getting his knee "cleaned up."

The knee isn't what I'm worried about.

His back has been the issue that's persisted for much of his time at ND.

 

[ulukinatme]

I was obviously wrong about Fisher and Alt swapping back. I thought there'd be no way they'd stay in this configuration but I guess each of them is settling in and showing ownership of their side.

Same, I mentioned it in the other thread, but I really thought they'd end up switching at some point. Fish started out at LT, and he was the highest graded OL player in the bowl, and highest graded offensive player period after Styles. I figured they'd eventually move their best guy back to the weak side, but I trust Harry and it may be that Alt just works better over there or is more comfortable.

 

[IrishLax]

Same, I mentioned it in the other thread, but I really thought they'd end up switching at some point. Fish started out at LT, and he was the highest graded OL player in the bowl, and highest graded offensive player period after Styles. I figured they'd eventually move their best guy back to the weak side, but I trust Harry and it may be that Alt just works better over there or is more comfortable.

I dunno how true this is any more in 2022, but I feel like back in the day if you looked at body types you would say Alt is a traditional LT and Fisher is a traditional RT. I always felt like they put the longer guys at LT with emphasis on pass blocking and RT was often your bulkier tackle.

I also wonder how much Alt getting near a full season of reps at LT makes them want to go for consistency.

 

[Dale]

Two recent consistencies of spring practice have been Lugg looks better with X health/fitness change and SR WR (Wilkins this year) looked better than ever.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Exactly where I'd have guessed the first team --- I'm VERY high on a healthy Lugg at RG (Power Mauler position next to Fisher) --- with the additional speculation of Carmody seriously competing for Center if Correll's strength isn't quite up to it. In some ways of looking at this, it is a starting OLine with 3 and a half and a half returning starters. That line should be able to play bullyboy rungame on the right side, and pass protect if Correll can keep the pocket from being driven back.

I just read another post which said that Patterson was coming back --- I didn't realize that was even possible. Guess THAT makes things even simpler.

 

[INLaw]

I am happy to keep hearing kristofic has left guard locked down. If he takes a step forward from last year that is really gonna help solidify the middle.

 

[stpeteirish]

I am happy to keep hearing kristofic has left guard locked down. If he takes a step forward from last year that is really gonna help solidify the middle.

Not sure its really "locked down" Reports from yesterday indicate OL was pretty much beaten up by the DL and it wasn't the tackles who had the problems. And our best DT, Ademilola, is out. Maybe the problem is just center with Patterson out but it sounds like our guards aren't set in stone either.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I dunno how true this is any more in 2022, but I feel like back in the day if you looked at body types you would say Alt is a traditional LT and Fisher is a traditional RT. I always felt like they put the longer guys at LT with emphasis on pass blocking and RT was often your bulkier tackle.

I also wonder how much Alt getting near a full season of reps at LT makes them want to go for consistency.

Maybe Fisher is only marginally better on the left side than Alt, but vastly superior on the right?
Or maybe Alt is just the better player?