Powers Neal

[jiggafini19]

According to today's Chicago Sun Times, Rashon Powers Neal was the second string halfback on Saturday according to Weis, which is why he didn't see much of the field.

Schwapp looked like a freshmen to me on Saturday. RPN looked like the best player at his position in all of America against Pitt. I'm not sure what is going on with this, but I like RPN and Walker on the field together. Powers Neal has the tools to be the #1 fullback drafted in April. He needs to be on the field. Give Schwapp his reps, but key situations need to be RPN all the way.

Also, MSU had 14 plays total 383 yards. Time of possession was ND 35:49, MSU 24:11.

After seeing those numbers, any moral victory arguments are completely out the window as far as I'm concerned. Not only was this a loss, it was a bad one. Defense like this will not beat any of the next three opponents. MSU had the ball for 24 minutes and scored 38 points? Even with the pick they took back, that's 31 points by the offense.

That film session had to be pretty stomach churning for those guys. I think the defense will play with a sense of urgency on the road to make up for this performance. I can't see them doing much worse.

 

[KMac151993]

The D however only did give up what 13 points in the last 2+ Qts.

 

[jiggafini19]

MSU went very conservative on offense in the second half. They went up 38-17 and kind of coasted. I'm not sure why because they were scoring at will. Big plays will kill you. USC lives off of big plays. They go for the home run all the time. They hung 70 points on Arkansas? Yikes.

ND will need a VERY strong effort against UW on defense this weekend.

 

[Domer95]

According to today's Chicago Sun Times, Rashon Powers Neal was the second string halfback on Saturday according to Weis, which is why he didn't see much of the field.

Schwapp looked like a freshmen to me on Saturday. RPN looked like the best player at his position in all of America against Pitt. I'm not sure what is going on with this, but I like RPN and Walker on the field together. Powers Neal has the tools to be the #1 fullback drafted in April. He needs to be on the field. Give Schwapp his reps, but key situations need to be RPN all the way.

Also, MSU had 14 plays total 383 yards. Time of possession was ND 35:49, MSU 24:11.

After seeing those numbers, any moral victory arguments are completely out the window as far as I'm concerned. Not only was this a loss, it was a bad one. Defense like this will not beat any of the next three opponents. MSU had the ball for 24 minutes and scored 38 points? Even with the pick they took back, that's 31 points by the offense.

That film session had to be pretty stomach churning for those guys. I think the defense will play with a sense of urgency on the road to make up for this performance. I can't see them doing much worse.

One of the pre-game shows that had CW on, said that on Monday after the scUM game that CW had a meeting with a player who was in his doghouse for something. Neither the player, nor the reason was disclosed. But judging by RPN's playing time, or lack thereof, I'd bet it was him. Although CW does think very highly of Schwappy.

 

[jiggafini19]

One of the pre-game shows that had CW on, said that on Monday after the scUM game that CW had a meeting with a player who was in his doghouse for something. Neither the player, nor the reason was disclosed. But judging by RPN's playing time, or lack thereof, I'd bet it was him. Although CW does think very highly of Schwappy.

I wonder what the hell happened. He wasn't really on the field against UM either. So after scoring 3 TDs against Pitt, what went wrong?

If anyone digs anything up, get it posted. I'm very confused about this.

 

[Rip Rap]

He must be injured (?).

I was thinking at the end of that game that we lost, in part (and I think, primarily), because he didn't play. We were forced to use a freshman who fumbled twice, but we also seemed to lose the fullback as a passing option. We ran so many one-back sets leaving Walker the only one left to protect Quinn, and while he's a great juke'em halfback, he isn't much of a blocker.

Yes, there were way too many penalties, but the lack of RPN was also a major factor in our loss.

 

[Irish Legend]

RPN should be the starting fullback, period!
Bad call!

 

[Aerosmith777]

I wonder what the hell happened. He wasn't really on the field against UM either. So after scoring 3 TDs against Pitt, what went wrong?

If anyone digs anything up, get it posted. I'm very confused about this.

maybe it was something off-the-field. Could have shown up late for a meeting or skipped class or something.

 

[leppycole]

Was RPN in the "dog house" I heard the NBC talking head refer to charlie having a player meet him in the dog house Sat. morning - was it RPN?

 

[jiggafini19]

He didn't play much against Michigan either, so who knows.

I'm starting to think it is RPN. Who else can it be?

 

[nayers]

it needs to be Mike Richardson

 

[KMac151993]

Was it RPN's attitude after his break out game that got him in the dog house, just a guess but maybe the 3 TD's went to his head or he said something after scoring one of them? But those are just guesses, I don't think its an injury because he did play against MSU.

 

[jiggafini19]

Was it RPN's attitude after his break out game that got him in the dog house, just a guess but maybe the 3 TD's went to his head or he said something after scoring one of them? But those are just guesses, I don't think its an injury because he did play against MSU.

Maybe he called Chris Simms' limo driver to cart him around campus.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Found this on RPN. Shed a little light on the subject...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOTRE DAME

Powers-Neal hasn't lost fullback job

By Avani Patel
Tribune staff reporter

September 20, 2005


After carrying the ball 14 times for 60 yards in the first two games of the season and catching two passes for 27 yards, Notre Dame fullback Rashon Powers-Neal got neither a single carry nor a reception in Saturday's 44-41 loss to Michigan State.

In two crucial situations--first-and-goal at the 1-yard line and fourth-and-1 at the Michigan State 21--the ball went to freshman Asaph Schwapp, who fumbled the first time and was stopped for no gain the second.


But coach Charlie Weis insisted Schwapp has not replaced Powers-Neal as the starting fullback.

"We had him [Powers-Neal] dialed up to play more halfback than fullback in that game," Weis said. "But when they bunched it up like they did and started overloading up front and we spread them out to start throwing the ball, well, that means (running back) Darius Walker is on the field."



Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune

 

[KMac151993]

Not really.

 

[jiggafini19]

it needs to be Mike Richardson

He was a 2-star wide receiver recruit out of high school as it turns out. I wonder how long he's been playing corner....