Spring Practice 2023

[Irish#1]

People don’t realize how inexperienced we are at wr just because our numbers on scholarship are improved. Styles is by far our most experienced with just over 50 career receptions. Thomas has 25. Frichan Salerno is third with 20. You need styles to be good at wr this year.

I doubt the staff would entertain this if the WR's weren't looking good.

 

[arrowryan]

People don’t realize how inexperienced we are at wr just because our numbers on scholarship are improved. Styles is by far our most experienced with just over 50 career receptions. Thomas has 25. Frichan Salerno is third with 20. You need styles to be good at wr this year.

But experience =/= talent.

Lorenzo Styles had the worst season for a Notre Dame wide receiver that I can remember. Even on his best play of the season against OSU, it looked like he had concrete in his shoes.

I hope like hell that Styles turns it around and has a great season in 2023. It would make Notre Dame's offense very difficult to defend. But I wouldn't be surprised if Styles finishes 5th or 6th on the team in receptions. Stuckey has a handful of guys ready to breakout.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I doubt the staff would entertain this if the WR's weren't looking good.

Parker stated they aren't planning on having to rely on frosh wrs, but one or more could earn the reps.

But experience =/= talent.

Lorenzo Styles had the worst season for a Notre Dame wide receiver that I can remember. Even on his best play of the season against OSU, it looked like he had concrete in his shoes.

I hope like hell that Styles turns it around and has a great season in 2023. It would make Notre Dame's offense very difficult to defend. But I wouldn't be surprised if Styles finishes 5th or 6th on the team in receptions. Stuckey has a handful of guys ready to breakout.

His best play of the season was his TD vs UNC, where he smoked his defender. With that said, I agree that he definitely was tight last year and had some mental drop issues.

He had a bad year no doubt, but he still led our WRs in receptions. He will be needed at WR this year unless tyree is all that. I think he's too small with short arms to be a 50 down slot WR though (tyree that is). I'm also not sold on Colzie.

I think this is all about a backup plan for CB, and maybe a move next year. I don't think he full time leaves WR unless we have a disaster at corner.

 

[ndfanatic78]

Parker stated they aren't planning on having to rely on frosh wrs, but one or more could earn the reps.

His best play of the season was his TD vs UNC, where he smoked his defender. With that said, I agree that he definitely was tight last year and had some mental drop issues.

He had a bad year no doubt, but he still led our WRs in receptions. He will be needed at WR this year unless tyree is all that. I think he's too small with short arms to be a 50 down slot WR though (tyree that is). I'm also not sold on Colzie.

I think this is all about a backup plan for CB, and maybe a move next year. I don't think he full time leaves WR unless we have a disaster at corner.

He already stated he has moved to CB. He is no longer playing WR.

 

[arrowryan]

Parker stated they aren't planning on having to rely on frosh wrs, but one or more could earn the reps.

His best play of the season was his TD vs UNC, where he smoked his defender. With that said, I agree that he definitely was tight last year and had some mental drop issues.

He had a bad year no doubt, but he still led our WRs in receptions. He will be needed at WR this year unless tyree is all that. I think he's too small with short arms to be a 50 down slot WR though (tyree that is). I'm also not sold on Colzie.

I think this is all about a backup plan for CB, and maybe a move next year. I don't think he full time leaves WR unless we have a disaster at corner.

That isn't saying much. Thanks to Del and Tommy, that ND receiver room was probably the worst one of the 21st century.

After the North Carolina game, he didn't record more than 4 catches in a game. If my memory serves me right, some other receivers started to emerge around the Stanford game. I expect this same receivers to continue to build off the momentum they had in the back half of last season.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I don't think it's been posted anywhere, but the team will be holding a live draft tomorrow for the Blue Gold game.

 

[PutuporShutup]

He already stated he has moved to CB. He is no longer playing WR.

Who said that? He was making catches in the saturday scrimmage and played WR full time in the scrimmage.

 

[PutuporShutup]

That isn't saying much. Thanks to Del and Tommy, that ND receiver room was probably the worst one of the 21st century.

After the North Carolina game, he didn't record more than 4 catches in a game. If my memory serves me right, some other receivers started to emerge around the Stanford game. I expect this same receivers to continue to build off the momentum they had in the back half of last season.

Oh I agree. I just can't imagine you completely move styles to CB this year, almost half or your WR receptions from last year.

 

[ndfanatic78]

Who said that? He was making catches in the saturday scrimmage and played WR full time in the scrimmage.

He said that in his interview. The interview was yesterday and is on the previous page in this thread.

 

[PutuporShutup]

He said that in his interview. The interview was yesterday and is on the previous page in this thread.

I took that as he did one full practice at DB not a full transition completely. He talked about playing WR or DB, wherever the team needs him.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

People don’t realize how inexperienced we are at wr just because our numbers on scholarship are improved. Styles is by far our most experienced with just over 50 career receptions. Thomas has 25. Frichan Salerno is third with 20. You need styles to be good at wr this year.

Who doesn't realize this? Stop telling us what we need. You seem to have a far better handle on things than the current coaching staff. You should submit your resume. I think I saw a posting on Indeed.com.

 

[Irishokie]

It’s been known that you’re talking to Driskell himself lol

 

[PutuporShutup]

Who doesn't realize this? Stop telling us what we need. You seem to have a far better handle on things than the current coaching staff. You should submit your resume. I think I saw a posting on Indeed.com.

You, i know you, that guy you. "Submit a resume cause you think you're smarter than the coaches"... how original

I got news for you Watler Cronkite - it was coaches that got us into the WR mess last year and why we don't even have 100 receptions from the WRs and TEs combined on our roster. AHHHHH, mind blown

We don't have a WR that's shown any in game reliability yet, but people on here keep bringing up our good numbers. I agree the numbers are better than last year, and we have some darn good talent, but it's all unproven. So lets take our leading WR and make him full time DB? Doubt that happens, but there's no reason he can't help out on both sides if capable. Maybe the coaches know our frosh wrs are studs, we'll see.

 

[dublinirish]

 

[Irish4life]

Is that good?

 

[PutuporShutup]

Is that good?

Lol, I think he's saying when the ball is thrown the guy is next to him then he puts the burners on. Yes, not worded great.

 

[irish4ever]

If Styles is doing this because he thinks its his best shot at the NFL, maybe he takes a redshirt this year. Let him practice and get four games of experience, but otherwise concentrate on getting him to a starting level for the next two years when Cam Hart is gone.

Why? If he was a strong CB in High School and he's aggressive to get after it, let him play it!

 

[Luckylucci]

 

[greyhammer90]

Is that good?

Please lord.

 

[IrishLax]

If Jayden Thomas and Tobias Merriweather step up then you’ll have two solid options at WR. Tyree, Colzie, or a frosh can be icing on the cake but you need at least two guys that are consistent playmakers. Last year we had zero + Mayer.

It’s not the end of the world right now, but 1-2 injuries to key guys and ND is totally cooked.

 

[arrowryan]

If Jayden Thomas and Tobias Merriweather step up then you’ll have two solid options at WR. Tyree, Colzie, or a frosh can be icing on the cake but you need at least two guys that are consistent playmakers. Last year we had zero + Mayer.

It’s not the end of the world right now, but 1-2 injuries to key guys and ND is totally cooked.

I mean, that same statement applies to almost every team in just about every sport out there.

 

[NDPhilly]

Freeman wouldn’t push for this unless he felt like Styles was going to be just another guy with the current WR group. Pretty surprising nonetheless. Gives them flexibility in case we have injuries.

 

[Luckylucci]

Freeman wouldn’t push for this unless he felt like Styles was going to be just another guy with the current WR group. Pretty surprising nonetheless. Gives them flexibility in case we have injuries.

I think this has to do with his football future. I think it's becoming increasingly apparent that Lorenzo has no future as an NFL WR. However, with that size and athleticism he very well could be an NFL DB. Have to have that hard conversation at some point.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I mean, that same statement applies to almost every team in just about every sport out there.

OSU lost the best WR in the country first game vs us and still had the best passing offense in college and made the CFP, and probably should have been in the championship game.

 

[arrowryan]

OSU lost the best WR in the country first game vs us and still had the best passing offense in college and made the CFP, and probably should have been in the championship game.

You think JSN is better than Marvin Harrison Jr? They also still had an elite college QB.

 

[IrishLion]

You, i know you, that guy you. "Submit a resume cause you think you're smarter than the coaches"... how original

I got news for you Watler Cronkite - it was coaches that got us into the WR mess last year and why we don't even have 100 receptions from the WRs and TEs combined on our roster. AHHHHH, mind blown

We don't have a WR that's shown any in game reliability yet, but people on here keep bringing up our good numbers. I agree the numbers are better than last year, and we have some darn good talent, but it's all unproven. So lets take our leading WR and make him full time DB? Doubt that happens, but there's no reason he can't help out on both sides if capable. Maybe the coaches know our frosh wrs are studs, we'll see.

The four guys that share responsibility for the position's low-point are all gone, so I'm not going to hang the history over Freeman, Parker and Chansi's heads when they decide to make what appears to be a pretty significant move with the group. They deserve the chance to succeed or fail with the group of players on their own terms at this point.

As for the second bolded, I'd argue this is a "what have you done for me lately?" situation with our "leading" WR in Styles... he WAS the leading WR going into last season, but Thomas and Colzie were more reliable and effective later in the season than Styles. His designation as WR1 disappeared quickly, regardless of his career catch numbers.

 

[Luckylucci]

After overanalyzing brief clips and reading far too much into player/coach media appearances, I'm optimistic about Tyree at Slot. I also think Merriweather has always been the unicorn. He's the best shot we have at a 1st rd WR since Fuller and that will start to show itself this year.

A foursome of Thomas, Merriweather, Tyree, and Colzie can be very good. Mix in the heavy personnel like Evans and Staes (stud). Plus, the RB's. And I think you are getting to a place with some serious firepower on offense.

If I also overanalyzed 30 second clips of Rico Flores every Spring for the last 10 years, I would never think he's a freshman. Therefore, If Rico is your 7th or 8th option in the passing game. That feels like a good place to be in the Spring. By Fall camp one of these Freshman will not be a freshman anymore.

I should add, like all things, a lot of this is predicated on guys getting better. They should get better on their own this offseason and they should get better during Fall Camp. The WR room has bottomed and the 52 week low was missed if you're trying to buy now.

 

[Irish du Nord]

After overanalyzing brief clips and reading far too much into player/coach media appearances, I'm optimistic about Tyree at Slot. I also think Merriweather has always been the unicorn. He's the best shot we have at a 1st rd WR since Fuller and that will start to show itself this year.

A foursome of Thomas, Merriweather, Tyree, and Colzie can be very good. Mix in the heavy personnel like Evans and Staes (stud). Plus, the RB's. And I think you are getting to a place with some serious firepower on offense.

If I also overanalyzed 30 second clips of Rico Flores every Spring for the last 10 years, I would never think he's a freshman. Therefore, If Rico is your 7th or 8th option in the passing game. That feels like a good place to be in the Spring. By Fall camp one of these Freshman will not be a freshman anymore.

I should add, like all things, a lot of this is predicated on guys getting better. They should get better on their own this offseason and they should get better during Fall Camp. The WR room has bottomed and the 52 week low was missed if you're trying to buy now.

Agree with all of the above except Claypool would’ve been a first rounder had the receiver class not been so deep in 2020. N’Keal Harry was drafted 32nd the year before.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

You, i know you, that guy you. "Submit a resume cause you think you're smarter than the coaches"... how original

I got news for you Watler Cronkite - it was coaches that got us into the WR mess last year and why we don't even have 100 receptions from the WRs and TEs combined on our roster. AHHHHH, mind blown

We don't have a WR that's shown any in game reliability yet, but people on here keep bringing up our good numbers. I agree the numbers are better than last year, and we have some darn good talent, but it's all unproven. So lets take our leading WR and make him full time DB? Doubt that happens, but there's no reason he can't help out on both sides if capable. Maybe the coaches know our frosh wrs are studs, we'll see.

 

[Luckylucci]

Some may call this coach speak but I think Stuck is genuinely excited for this group. Effusive praise for the depth chart as a whole.

Chansi Stuckey Notebook | 4.19

Notre Dame receiver coach Chansi Stuckey spoke following Wednesday's practice as the Irish prepare for Saturday's spring game.

irishsportsdaily.com

- On Merriweather.

The expectation is for him to be a great receiver and be one of the guys that goes down in history