Position Battles (so far)

[Praytorian]

I would like to see Filer beating out Smith for one OLB spot and Flemming get the other. JR year is a great year for defensive players to come into their own. Also, I would like to see Posluszny (SP?) get the other MLB spot (but I'd be happiest with Filer over Smith).

 

[jason_h537]

TJ has been al over the field, we all new he was polished out of high school but i did not expect such an immediate impact. The staff appears to be really excited by what Riddick can do at WR as well

I would like to see Filer beating out Smith for one OLB spot and Flemming get the other. JR year is a great year for defensive players to come into their own. Also, I would like to see Posluszny (SP?) get the other MLB spot (but I'd be happiest with Filer over Smith).

If Filer beats anyone it will likely be Fleming. Smith and Te'o look like locks. As for Poz i have not heard much other than he will be in the 2 deep. AMac has been getting alot of high praise. Calabrese has been gettin reps as well. Where's Dan Fox?

 

[NDinL.A.]

If Filer beats anyone it will likely be Fleming. Smith and Te'o look like locks. As for Poz i have not heard much other than he will be in the 2 deep. AMac has been getting alot of high praise. Calabrese has been gettin reps as well. Where's Dan Fox?

Diaco actually talked about Fox and said he's a good player. A reporter had asked him about having 4 solid OLBs in Fleming, Neal, Filer, and Smith, and Diaco made sure he mentioned Fox in that group. So as a true freshman who who has 4 yrs of eligibility left, that's good to hear...

 

[Riddickulous]

Kelly talked about the wide receivers today, and mentioned Tai'ler Jones as having a solid camp and has 'stood out', and also mentioned Theo Riddick and Goodman as guys that have stood out. He singled out Shaq showing a lot of improvement, and even mentioned Deion Walker as 'coming on' (finally, we hear his name!).

Strangely enough, no Duval. I haven't heard BK mention him once all spring, but I could be mistaken. I've heard reporters say he looks great and has made plays in the short time they're at practice, but nothing from BK, although I could be wrong.

But he is concerned about the WR group as a whole and that they have a lot of work to do, even going so far as to say that he's not going to be able to sleep easy right now over that position.

Also talked about Crist being a super smart QB, but not having the fundamentals (esp. footwork) down to be a Kelly-spread QB (he's still used to Weis' fundamentals for a pro-style attack), and that he has to get that down.

He is very pleased with the 3 corner rotation of Walls, Blanton and Gray, saying all 3 are playing very well right now.

Harsh.

Could part of Dayne's footwork troubles be a sideaffect of the torn ACL?

 

[ryno 24]

Dayne will eventually be fine but kelly wants him to be great and he is pushing this is ot like the Charlie Weis era where no one got criticized He is trying to get people to step up and lead

 

[Riddickulous]

Kelly says Armando has made it clear that he is the top running back.

 

[fightinirish68]

I don't know how much of a spark 500 yds would be.

Based on his career average of 10.4 yds per catch, 500 yds would be 48 catches for the season about 4 per game. He's caught 72 passes in 36 career games for 2 passes per game. As a Freshman he averaged about 2.5 passes per game. As a So and Jr he dropped to 1.8 receptions per game.

Between Tate and the others not returning there's over 100 receptions up for grabs plus the additional receptions resulting from Kelly's Hurry Up Offense. His PT should more than double by default so if he maintains what ND fans largely consider his uninspired play he'll pass 500 yds easily.

Now if Kelly can help him find the freshman in him ...

yeah but with a new system which he could struggle with, and ankle injuries, i'd say for him to play an entire season is impressive ha

 

[BGIF]

Per Eric Hansen, SBT

4/19

The Kamara sitiuation is interesting. I'm not sure if I have heard Kelly mention him once, but he lines up with the first team consistently in practice. I know Duval is a very dedicated kid and is going to work hard to stay there. The first team during Saturday's scrimmage was Floyd, Kamara and Tai-ler Jones. I think you are going to see a deep rotation, and I think John Goodman will be in there. Shaq Evans, Riddick and Walker are in the mix, and everyone loves Roby Toma. But if you go, say, six, deep, there are going to be four guys fighing for those last two spots. I think Kamara is ahead of that fray for now.

 

[BGIF]

Per Eric Hansen, SBT

4/19

Armando has established himself as the No. 1 back. I think Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray are pushing to be in the mix, and Kelly loves incoming freshman Cam Roberson. So where does that put Robert? I would say short-yardage and goal line as more of a fullback. He has received reps at TB this spring -- and as much as Robert has always been a guy who has impressed me, he is not the prototypical fit for Kelly's offense.

 

[BGIF]

Eric Hansen, SBT

4/19

On new recruit impact players

On offense, I'll say Tai-ler Jones (and in special teams too). On defense, I'll go with DE Kona Schwenke from Hawaii

 

[BGIF]

Eric Hansen, SBT

4/19

I think safety was one of the really big concerns coming into spring, and it has produced the most surprises. All four of the top four -- Smith, Jamoris Slaughter, McCarthy and Zeke Motta -- have taken a big step up.

 

[jason_h537]

Zach Martin has been getting high praise from the Rivals staff during the viewing period. TFWIW

 

[Riddickulous]

Position Battles

Position Battles

Who wins the battle at each of these positions?

LT - It sounds like senior Matt Romine and sophomore Zach Martin are fighting for this spot. If the battle is very close, you have to go with Martin here, unless Romine has another year of eligibility? Martin gives you three years and could provide some solid experience on Dayne's blind side in the years to come.

C - Dan Wenger or Braxston Cave. Wenger has played center but Cave has more potential (ESPNU #1 C in 2008 class) and has more time to develop. I'll go with Cave here.

WR - Michael Floyd is far and away the #1 guy, but in the Kelly set there are usually two more spots open. Any one of our talented receivers could claim these spots. It appears as if Tai-ler Jones seems to have gained a bit of a lead to nab one of these spots. We could see a rotation of guys, but I think Tai-ler Jones and Duval Kamara will see the field the most with Floyd.

MLB #2 - Who plays opposite Te'o? Any number of guys are in the battle for this spot. Anthony MacDonald, Carlo Calabrese, and Steve Filer are all in contention. In my opinion, I think we see a rotation of guys (especially considering they're gonna be on the field quite often with our no huddle offense), but MacDonald sees the most time. Filer will get his starting job in 2011 in the wake of Brian Smith's graduation at OLB.

CB - Darrin Walls, Gary Gray, and Robert Blanton. Two spots, three guys. Again, they're gonna rotate quite often, but Walls and Gray, in my opinion, will see the most time.

KR - Who returns kicks? Kelly has shown before that he does not fear putting in key players at kick returner if they have the ability to do it well (Mardy Gilyard). So who do we see? Theo Riddick? Shaq Evans? Others? I do believe it will be Riddick and Evans, both having speed and Theo, in particular, having the elusiveness and tackle breaking ability to break one.

PR - Riddick. I really don't see anybody else sniffing this spot. Kelly is in love with Riddick's gamebreaking ability and what better spot to break something open than punt returner?

 

[IrishLax]

What about OLB? Brian Smith and Neal? I think Filer has a better chance of pushing Neal than playing MLB.

 

[Riddickulous]

What about OLB? Brian Smith and Neal? I think Filer has a better chance of pushing Neal than playing MLB.

Darius Fleming.

 

[IrishLax]

Ah I knew I was forgetting someone. Seems to me like you have to try to get Filer on the field. Has all of the physical tools to be a great linebacker and really impressed me as much as anyone in the spring game.

Plus he can jump out of pools

 

[Riddickulous]

Ah I knew I was forgetting someone. Seems to me like you have to try to get Filer on the field. Has all of the physical tools to be a great linebacker and really impressed me as much as anyone in the spring game.

Plus he can jump out of pools

12 tackles in the spring game. Filer is definitely seeing the field.

 

[jason_h537]

Your about 3 months late homie


http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/notre-dame-football/52652-position-battles-so-far.html

 

[Riddickulous]

Your about 3 months late homie


http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/notre-dame-football/52652-position-battles-so-far.html

Ah. Tough to remember those kinds of things. Merge them or something.

 

[BGIF]

Merged.

 

[southernill]

Wasnt Chris Watt taking some reps at center as spring practice finished up? Im interested to see how that turns out with Cave, Wenger, Watt and Golic all battling for some reps.

 

[IrishLax]

So I was talking with a friend from Spain about the intricacies of football. In the process of explaining how athletes who might be good in one system might suck in another I was talking about defensive linemen and I realized I have no idea what the difference is between players who fit as OLBs versus MLBs in a 3-4 system.

Can someone explain what makes Brian Smith a better OLB than MLB? Or what exactly you look for in each position?

 

[TerryTate]

Wiki:

Generally, both outside linebackers can rush the passer and play the run. Outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense tend to be larger in comparison to linebackers in a base 4-3 defense. They are also often players who would play DE in a 4-3 defense as situational pass rushing specialists but who otherwise may not fit the expected role of a DE being somewhat smaller in size. Outside linebackers should be able to drop into pass coverage, rush the passer or read and react. When it comes to the inside linebackers, one is generally a run stuffing player who is better able to handle offensive linemen and stop running backs when the offense features a running play, while the other is often a smaller, faster player who excels in pass coverage. However, the smaller or cover LB should also be able to scrape and plug running lanes decently.

 

[jason_h537]

Wasnt Chris Watt taking some reps at center as spring practice finished up? Im interested to see how that turns out with Cave, Wenger, Watt and Golic all battling for some reps.

Watt was taking reps at center but he was alos impressing in general. His performance helped fuel the TRob to tackle talk. Watt looks like he will be a good one

 

[jason_h537]

Can someone explain what makes Brian Smith a better OLB than MLB? Or what exactly you look for in each position?

Mr Tate pretty much covered it. SBrian Smith has great speed and athleticism but he often got swallowed up and taken out of plays whne he was in the middel. Te'o on the other hand is a mauler. AMac is a big boy who lack in coverage but won't be pushed around

 

[Riddickulous]

Calabrese looked good in coverage in the spring game. Perhaps we'll see him often on third down.

 

[jason_h537]

Calabrese looked good in coverage in the spring game. Perhaps we'll see him often on third down.

Calabrese did not look good to me in coverage. He does not look like a LB who can play every down.

 

[GreatGolson]

#2 TJ Jones looks good, kelly has been talking a lot about him lately, he actually said "this kids a starter" kinda surprised, ND coaches dont normally do that

 

[Riddickulous]

Calabrese did not look good to me in coverage. He does not look like a LB who can play every down.

I thought he had some nice coverage on a few plays, specifically on that play Dayne forced the throw and he picked it off.

#2 TJ Jones looks good, kelly has been talking a lot about him lately, he actually said "this kids a starter" kinda surprised, ND coaches dont normally do that

TJ seeing the field is a given. His route running is godly, great hands, and he's pretty good in the open field.

 

[TerryTate]

Calabrese Looking To Step Up

ISD Freebie on Carlo