Spring Practice Thread 2012

[ChiRish]

Don't disagree with a word as usual. But Tate is a beast. Kelly likes Niklas vs Williams? I like Nichols vs Lynch. Massive impact, could be two future AA, write it down.

100% agree. Good to know that the bookends on both lines are coming into play quite nicely.

 

[jonesman]

I have one thought after watching several of the practices this year. If you are a QB playing against this D-Line, you better get rid of the ball fast. Tuitt, Lynch, KLM and Shembo are not going to be stopped.

I know we have been frustrated watching Dennard Robinson run wild the last couple years. I absolutely do not see that this year. Our guys are big and fast!!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I have one thought after watching several of the practices this year. If you are a QB playing against this D-Line, you better get rid of the ball fast. Tuitt, Lynch, KLM and Shembo are not going to be stopped.

I know we have been frustrated watching Dennard Robinson run wild the last couple years. I absolutely do not see that this year. Our guys are big and fast!!

The truth!

 

[ThePiombino]

All I'm gonna say about Goodman having a resurgence is this:

A) Do we remember when there was a lot of talk about Deion Walker finally "showing up" during spring practice last year?

B) I hope to got it's true. We need some senior leadership on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

All I'm gonna say about Goodman having a resurgence is this:

A) Do we remember when there was a lot of talk about Deion Walker finally "showing up" during spring practice last year?

B) I hope to got it's true. We need some senior leadership on the offensive side of the ball.

Yeah, I don't see it. Watching all of these practice videos, he does not catch the ball cleanly in traffic. If he is our #1 receiver we have issues at that position. Seeing Toma running the ball out of the backfield just doesn't seem like a good move either. But what do I know. Really.

There has to be a large degree of truth to what you see in those videos. And I've seen Tommy throw a lot in them. Get ready....

 

[BurningRiver]

With all the secondary question marks this year, let's hope the front seven can get some quick pressure.

I have all the faith in the world that Lynch, Tuitt, Nix, KLM, Shembo, and even Ishaq can emerge and wreak havoc on offensive lines, a la last year's Giants. I'm hoping Diaco is drawing up some packages similar to the unparalleled badass that was the "NASCAR" packages the Giants used last year. Watching 4 pure pass rushers run around offensive lines on 3rd and long is the thing I'm looking forward to most this year.

Man, is this what fans of SEC teams feel like every offseason?

 

[STLDomer]

After seeing these videos I firmly believe we are good at every position except our second corner there I have seen no evidence for Wood, McDaniel, Brown or Atkinson to start

Whoever does start expect to see them get alotta help from Slaughter and Motta over the top

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Seriously, we probably shouldn't even play a game this year. Send everyone home and save all of you weekend warriors the embarrassment of watching this obviously inferior football team.

Saying this in my very, very best Ron Simmons voice...

DAMN!!

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

HCTI I understand where you're coming from.. all the negativity is kind of unfortunate, but with Notre Dame hovering around mediocrity for the better part of the last 20 years, I think there's a little room for some criticism, questioning and realistic viewpoints.. I think it'd be just as bad to anoint all of our players at every position as All Americans and not question anything.. but I do see both sides

 

[koonja]

HCTI I understand where you're coming from.. all the negativity is kind of unfortunate, but with Notre Dame hovering around mediocrity for the better part of the last 20 years, I think there's a little room for some criticism, questioning and realistic viewpoints.. I think it'd be just as bad to anoint all of our players at every position as All Americans and not question anything.. but I do see both sides

HCTI is impossible. Hence, he still defends Tommy Rees.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

HCTI is impossible. Hence, he still defends Tommy Rees.

lol I know.. when I was a greenhorn I got into a few arguments with him about Rees and he made a lot of compelling arguments, I just respectfully disagreed lol.. but really I do understand his point of the negativity gets old, but some of it, if not a majority of it, is warranted

 

[Bogtrotter07]

DE Tuitt KLM Day
DE Lynch KLM Hounshell
DT Nix Shwenke/Springmann

Still dont see why even though he looked great we have Day at DE to learn DT eventually an not the other way around

This is how I see it working out w/ KLM PT equaling Lynch and Tuitts
I honestly have no faith in Stockton

Agreed.

I wondered the same thing about Day. But watching film, he is so quick. He can really bring it from the end, and he can manage contain. Remember when all the reporters were so hung up about the size of players on Diaco's defense at different positions? Kelly's answer was that a player may violate that size template if they have special skills in that overcome their not fitting the prototype? I think the coaching staff feel he is one of those special skills guys.

Watch Tyler Stocton's practice tape. I think he has senior fever! Maybe we will see him explode after all.

One thing I really like about the staff, from Gray last year, to Goody, Smith, and Stocton this year, the coaching staff seems to go out of their way to provide opportunities to kids, second and third chances.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Seriously, we probably shouldn't even play a game this year. Send everyone home and save all of you weekend warriors the embarrassment of watching this obviously inferior football team.

Saying this in my very, very best Ron Simmons voice...

DAMN!!

Hall of famer Ron Simmons!

 

[BGIF]

Hall of famer Ron Simmons!

Thanks Sherm. HCTI wrote Ron Simmons but I read:

Seriously, we probably shouldn't even play a game this year. Send everyone home and save all of you weekend warriors the embarrassment of watching this obviously inferior football team.

Saying this in my very, very best Richard Simmons voice...

It evoked a vision (nightmare) of HCTI and Richard in head bands, sweating to the oldies.

 

[NDdomer2]

Practice Report: Day Eight update | Inside the Irish

 

[greyhammer90]

Aaron Lynch's athleticism is just disgusting.

 

[PANDFAN]

•5:46 — Want to see Bruce Heggie (#51) on rollerskates? Thank Kapron Lewis-Moore (#89

I had to LOL in real life

 

[Patulski]

FLDomerAgreed, and this scares me cause he seems to be whipping our DBs in practice...no bueno for our DBs

That's how I feel about it. Goodman is the canary in the mine for our DB's. If he is killling it in practice, then we have serious problems in the secondary.

Just my opinion, though.

+3....I'm with you guys. I'll go further and say that Collingsworth and Motta don't give me much confidence either. Might be one of the weakest secondaries in years. Thankfully, our front 7 is going to produce pressure against most of the teams on our schedule.

 

[koonja]

DE Tuitt KLM Day
DE Lynch KLM Hounshell
DT Nix Shwenke/Springmann

Still dont see why even though he looked great we have Day at DE to learn DT eventually an not the other way around

This is how I see it working out w/ KLM PT equaling Lynch and Tuitts
I honestly have no faith in Stockton

Why? Just cause he looks like Ian Wiliams? Lol.

 

[Grahambo]

I agree that the secondary will be the weakest part of the team however, I also think Goodman could have possibly turned a corner in his development. BK saw something in him to offer a 5th year early in the process. Some guys take longer then others. It will definitely be interesting to see. I don't see it as a knock on the secondary (yet) as much as it is the improvement of Goodman.

Kiel and Golson have cannons for an arm.

 

[koonja]

I agree that the secondary will be the weakest part of the team however, I also think Goodman could have possibly turned a corner in his development. BK saw something in him to offer a 5th year early in the process. Some guys take longer then others. It will definitely be interesting to see. I don't see it as a knock on the secondary (yet) as much as it is the improvement of Goodman.

Kiel and Golson have cannons for an arm.

That could be more of an indictment on the fact that we're ridiculously thin (experience wise) at WR and we only got 16 commits in the last class. Hopefully you're right though.

 

[Grahambo]

That could be more of an indictment on the fact that we're ridiculously thin (experience wise) at WR and we only got 16 commits in the last class. Hopefully you're right though.

You could very well be right with that. Nobody really knows. My point is though, I'm not ready to write off the secondary yet and giving a little credit to Goodman.

That would be my way to early to tell in April opinion.

 

[alohagoirish]

Goodman Goodman Goodman----i am so tired of the here comes goodman chatter.

I hate to bring this to anyone's attention but there is an obvious reason why we are seeing & hearing so much about goodman and why he seems to be catching all these passes on the video snippets. And its NOT because of his dynamic play, its because we have almost zero in WRs---we have as many QBs as we do WRs and they have to throw to someone!

Toma has fallen into the slot RB abyss--so at WR we have Daniels & Jones--a rookie and a kid coming off a very so so year---daniel smith who is an enigma---and lets not forget LUKE MASSA---

When your competition is so weak---3 other WRs & Massa--- what else do you expect??

Chicken or EGG with Goodman--a 5th year that has turned some imaginary corner or a total lack of playmakers at WR---i'm afraid the major factor this spring is the latter.

 

[PANDFAN]

Goodman Goodman Goodman----i am so tired of the here comes goodman chatter.

I hate to bring this to anyone's attention but there is an obvious reason why we are seeing & hearing so much about goodman and why he seems to be catching all these passes on the video snippets. And its NOT because of his dynamic play, its because we have almost zero in WRs---we have as many QBs as we do WRs and they have to throw to someone!

Toma has fallen into the slot RB abyss--so at WR we have Daniels & Jones--a rookie and a kid coming off a very so so year---daniel smith who is an enigma---and lets not forget LUKE MASSA---

When your competition is so weak---3 other WRs & Massa--- what else do you expect??

Chicken or EGG with Goodman--a 5th year that has turned some imaginary corner or a total lack of playmakers at WR---i'm afraid the major factor this spring is the latter.

man!! i was just reading getting ready to disagree but there wasn't that moment! but then the homer side keeps saying...this will be the year!

 

[Irishman77]

This is why I constantly scream why aren't we running a 4-3 defense! You cannot run a 3-4 to it's potential with our personnel. Why in the world anyone would sit one of KLM,Lynch Nix or Tuitt any down is absurd! Simplify and attack! We have got to have all 4 of the above with hands in the dirt biting ball bags every down!!! Then we may survive with our DB situation.

 

[Buster Bluth]

This is why I constantly scream why aren't we running a 4-3 defense! You cannot run a 3-4 to it's potential with our personnel. Why in the world anyone would sit one of KLM,Lynch Nix or Tuitt any down is absurd! Simplify and attack! We have got to have all 4 of the above with hands in the dirt biting ball bags every down!!! Then we may survive with our DB situation.

I disagree strongly.

The 3-4 puts more LB's on the field, so more guys could drop into coverage to help short routes. Also it's not like you're losing a pass rush with Shembo on the field instead of Lewis-Moore. Shembo will reek havoc off the edge from the CAT this season.

The DL rotation will have a crippling effect on opposing offensive lines. Wave after wave of fresh bodies. Lynch/Nix/Tuitt and Williams/Shembo, Lewis-Moore/Hounshell/Schwenke, etc etc. You gain depth in the 3-4 that you wouldn't have in a 4-3. Not in terms of bodies, but in terms of keeping guys fresh.

So the "why in the world would anyone want to sit ____" is because he is getting a breath in before his third-down pass rush and will be 90% "charge" and his OL will be 60-70% "charge." It's a biiiiiig win for this defense, one that will need a consistent pass rush.

 

[jonesman]

Everyone needs to CALM down. Remember that this is spring practice. Coaches are tweaking, experimenting, scheming and generally bland with info. So, don't go freaking on anything.

There are some things that we all know. They are the following:
- Our D-Line will be SEC caliber this year. There is no BS or denying that. Tuitt, Kap, Lynch, Big Lou, Kona, Day, Stockton, Housell. When do you remember ND ever having that many big bodies up front??
- Our LB's are pretty darn solid. We have an AA in Teo. Fox and Calabrese are experienced and will play well. We have some dynamic guys on the outside with Shembo, Ishaq, Counsell and maybe even Grace getting time there.
- Our RB's are really good and deep. We might not have a Bettis, but we have speed and athletic players. Riddick, Wood, GAIII and Amir will be a great rotation.
- Our OL will be really good. We have the entire left side and center back. We are replacing the right side with what will be an NFL player in Lombard and a freaking mountain in Tate Nichols.
- Our TE's are big, talented and plentiful. We will likely go into the fall with 4 guys that could play TE on most teams in the country. In fact, Eiffert could start on most NFL teams.
- Our safties are thin but good. We have solid guys in Motta, Slaughter and Collinsworth. These three are a really good rotation. They will make few mental mistakes, which is important back there.
- Kicking is in good hands. Nobody has said anything about our kicking or punting, but we are solid. Turk found his leg late last year and we can expect him to do well this year. Brindza is a solid KO guy. Taush will do fine at FG's. Those are three import special team areas we can sleep comfortably on.


So, all the above are good things we know. That's alot of areas that can make a coach comfortable. Do we have problem areas, YES. Do the teams we play this year have problem areas?? YES THEY DO!!

Our areas of concern are WR, QB and CB. They will likely be debated and up for competition until mid-fall practice. So, let's see it play out. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Kanye West]

Slaughter will be a potential AA canidate this year and Jackson will suprise many people. Speed and athletism kills. Slaughter also had a child recently, and I believe he will work his hardest to make sure he gets a high draft grade. Watch out.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I doubt Slaughter is near all-America status.

He's more at what would be an all-conference level, in my opinion.

 

[woolybug25]

Our secondary is going to be below average at best. Anybody that thinks differently is kidding themselves.