Spring Practice Thread 2012

[RuntheBall]

If Kiel is clearly the best QB we have next year I don't think BK starts Tommy "because its his senior year". I mean this isnt PeeWee football were everyone gets a trophy. If your the best at your position and give the team the best chance to win, your in. If not, tough.

 

[PerthDomer]

Given our depth issues at WR does anyone think Ferguson and/or Brown get PT at WR next year?

Also, my vote is for Golson at QB. I think he figures the fumble issues out.

 

[RuntheBall]

Given our depth issues at WR does anyone think Ferguson and/or Brown get PT at WR next year?

Also, my vote is for Golson at QB. I think he figures the fumble issues out.

I certainly see Neal getting a good amount of PT especially late, whether thats at DB or WR im not sure yet. I think Ferguson/ Brown could see some PT (especially if Neal is at DB), but thats pure speculation, I would like to see how well they can get off of the line versus solid cb's.

Edit: Thats one of the biggest problem for our WR's at this point IMO- getting of the line of scrimmage...

 

[PerthDomer]

I think we're loaded at the slot, where Neal would play. Ferguson and Brown seem to be the guys who could play outside.

 

[IrishLax]

Given our depth issues at WR does anyone think Ferguson and/or Brown get PT at WR next year?

Also, my vote is for Golson at QB. I think he figures the fumble issues out.

I think Neal will see a fair amount of PT. Remember that reverse to Toma in yesterday's scrimmage that went for a solid gain? Now imagine that with Davonte Neal.

I don't know what to expect from our WRs. If there are injuries, I think Brown might get some PT. But right now you have to think the vast majority of the PT is going to go to Goodman, DaVaris Daniels, TJ Jones and Daniel Smith (red zone). For Brown, I know there was both talk of him redshirting and also playing slot... but I think he ultimately ends up outside with how our class panned out.

 

[Irish Fam]

Something similar happened with Andrew Luck. He redshirted his freshman year and then passed up an entrenched senior starter as a RS frosh.

If Kiel is clearly the best QB we have next year I don't think BK starts Tommy "because its his senior year". I mean this isnt PeeWee football were everyone gets a trophy. If your the best at your position and give the team the best chance to win, your in. If not, tough.

I am not saying that if Kiel, or Golson, or Hendrix are clearly better than Rees they shouldn't start because Rees has started for two plus years. But I do believe that Coach Kelly puts a lot of emphasis on experience and feeling comfortable in the offense.

If Rees does start this entire year, it will mean one of two things. He has turned the corner and is having a lot of success. Or our backups are just not anywhere near as ready as we think/thought they are.

I don't mean to come across as the guy who thinks that everyone should get equal playing time. I don't care if some guys play every game for four years and others play scout team for four years. I guess I will just be very surprised if Rees starts all year and then Kiel takes the reigns next year leap frogging both Hendrix and Golson. Hendrix will have 2 and Golson will still have 3 years of eligibilty next year.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

No way he starts Rees for 2.5 years and then benches him his senior year...

Unless you are thinking that Rees will have a huge year. we will win a bcs bowl, he will have a 10-1 td to int ratio and then leave for the nfl... Then I can pick up what you're throwin down

I was thinking more like Rees is better then Golson and Hendrix, but still is mediocre.
I also said he'd be on a tight leash.

Kiel is better served sitting a year to absorb the offense instead of wasting a year of eligibility by being thrown to the wolves.

I hope I'm wrong and Golson lights up the world, but this is the vibe I'm getting.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

If Rees does start this entire year, it will mean one of two things. He has turned the corner and is having a lot of success. Or our backups are just not anywhere near as ready as we think/thought they are.

3 things.. the third being our coach is out of his g*d damn mind

 

[RuntheBall]

I am not saying that if Kiel, or Golson, or Hendrix are clearly better than Rees they shouldn't start because Rees has started for two plus years. But I do believe that Coach Kelly puts a lot of emphasis on experience and feeling comfortable in the offense.

If Rees does start this entire year, it will mean one of two things. He has turned the corner and is having a lot of success. Or our backups are just not anywhere near as ready as we think/thought they are.

I don't mean to come across as the guy who thinks that everyone should get equal playing time. I don't care if some guys play every game for four years and others play scout team for four years. I guess I will just be very surprised if Rees starts all year and then Kiel takes the reigns next year leap frogging both Hendrix and Golson. Hendrix will have 2 and Golson will still have 3 years of eligibilty next year.

I agree Kelly puts an emphasis on experience, but he also puts an emphasis on knowing the playbook. I feel that (knowing the playbook), and not experience is what has Kiel behind Rees right now. From what I've seen/heard Kiel throws the ball really beautifully, and I think (though we haven't really seen it yet) has pretty good wheels (though not like Golson), but he certainly doesn't know the playbook yet (not that he should hes been here for only 3 or so months).
I think/hope once Kiel gets the playbook under control he is the guy. IMO it isnt (game)experience that has Kiel behind, but more knowing the playbook. Two similar things, but not exactly the same IMO.

SO what Im saying is if Rees starts the whole year I think it means the same things you said; but that doesn't mean they will all have the same problems in 2013 (Golson could learn the offense and become more accurate, Kiel could learn the playbook and get some reps in practice). If that happens I dont think Rees will start in 2013. I think it is very reasonable to think that Kiel doesnt have the playbook knowledge/ practice reps to start this year, but then gets both of those problems sorted out and starts in 2013.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Three predictions

Three predictions

I finally caught up on tape of practices. What I noticed blew me away.

1) Tate Nichols isn't the best right tackle; Lombard is. Nick Martin is one hell of a guard as is Mike Golic. This is important for a couple reasons. In the rodeo drill, (back in my day we called it the "nut cracker"), Day had his way with Nichols. I mean really, nobody can stop that kid. And he does not ever run around the block, like Lynch regularly did. I think day is just as fast and much stronger, a lot shorter possessing none of the bad attitude.

First prediction: Day is going to have as good a freshman season as Lynch did. Don't tell anybody. This is a closely guarded secret among the coaching staff. As an upper classman he is going to have a much superior career to AL. If AL makes it at USF, (home town school) you will be able to watch it. Day is on the rise, AL has plateaued. I will eat my hat if I am wrong on this.

2) Martin, Martin, Golic, Lombard, and Nichols are beasts. Watt is an absolute, mf'in beast. He and Cave are going to be the most physical consecutive players in college football, and the linebackers like Grace, Rasaba, Utupo, and Moore are all werefukinwolves. William, Councell and Spond, with Shembo will give us an outside like we have not had in a longtime.

Prediction D'eux: Our offensive and defensive lines will be much improved over last year and begin to rival the best in ND history; Dominant units. The linebacker corps, the weakest unit on the team last year's improvement will be even greater. They will be animals and deep too. Almost every linebacker on the roster will be able to play, come fall.

3) Kelly confirmed a past conversation. The reason that no one has stepped forward to take over the reins at quarterback is because of the way the coaches have set this spring up. Up to just now it has all been about re-education. Each quarterback has had to work through the process from the ground up. Only now (as of Saturday) did Kelly say that any quarterback had the ability to assert himself. By the way, Kelly is showing one of the traits of truly great men: an almost maniacal, selfless drive to fix a problem the right way, no matter what the cost.

Ménage à trois: I mean third prediction. ND will have three quarterbacks ready to play this fall. There will be a possibility of playing the best fit, next man in will be covered, and ND will be able to red shirt one, meaning that ND will have two stunning quarterback prospects of the future.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I finally caught up on tape of practices. What I noticed blew me away.

1) Tate Nichols isn't the best right tackle; Lombard is. Nick Martin is one hell of a guard as is Mike Golic. This is important for a couple reasons. In the rodeo drill, (back in my day we called it the "nut cracker"), Day had his way with Nichols. I mean really, nobody can stop that kid. And he does not ever run around the block, like Lynch regularly did. I think day is just as fast and much stronger, a lot shorter possessing none of the bad attitude.

First prediction: Day is going to have as good a freshman season as Lynch did. Don't tell anybody. This is a closely guarded secret among the coaching staff. As an upper classman he is going to have a much superior career to AL. If AL makes it at USF, (home town school) you will be able to watch it. Day is on the rise, AL has plateaued. I will eat my hat if I am wrong on this.

2) Martin, Martin, Golic, Lombard, and Nichols are beasts. Watt is an absolute, mfin beast. He and Cave are going to be the most physical consecutive players in college football, and the linebackers like Grace, Rasaba, Utupo, and Moore are all werefukinwolves. William, Councell and Spond, with Shembo will give us an outside like we have not had in a longtime.

Prediction D'eux: Our offensive and defensive lines will be much improved over last year and begin to rival the best in ND history; Dominant units. The linebacker corps, the weakest unit on the team last year's improvement will be even greater. They will be animals and deep too. Almost every linebacker on the roster will be able to play, come fall.

3) Kelly confirmed a past conversation. The reason that no one has stepped forward to take over the reins at quarterback is because of the way the coaches have set this spring up. Up to just now it has all been about re-education. Each quarterback has had to work through the process from the ground up. Only now (as of Saturday) did Kelly say that any quarterback had the ability to assert himself. By the way, Kelly is showing one of the traits of truly great men: an almost maniacal, selfless drive to fix a problem the right way, no matter what the cost.

Ménage à trois: I mean third prediction. ND will have three quarterbacks ready to play this fall. There will be a possibility of playing the best fit, next man in will be covered, and ND will be able to red shirt one, meaning that ND will have two stunning quarterback prospects of the future.

Nice write up Bog.. I agree with most of it, especially the LB pack being deep and nasty. I have to say though, you sound a little bitter about Aaron. I highly doubt he has plateaued. If he matures and becomes more receptive to coaching there is no ceiling for that kind of talent.

But, Sheldon looks incredible for his first set of spring practices. ND is deep and talented in the trenches.

 

[PerthDomer]

Hopefully Green and Isaac see the size of the holes our RBs are running through and decide to sign on. Also, hopefully we stuff UM's rbs again and dissuade Isaacs from signing up to take a pounding from our D Line in the years to come... Just need the corners to turn around and defend wounded ducks...

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Nice write up Bog.. I agree with most of it, especially the LB pack being deep and nasty. I have to say though, you sound a little bitter about Aaron. I highly doubt he has plateaued. If he matures and becomes more receptive to coaching there is no ceiling for that kind of talent.

But, Sheldon looks incredible for his first set of spring practices. ND is deep and talented in the trenches.

Wild man, trust me I sound bitter all the time. All you are hearing is that I dropped the special respect that I have for anyone involved with the ND program. I have been getting pretty fed up with this guys antics. I have seen tape of him being mean to others, really mean.

Every time I heard anything, he was being a whiney bitch complaining about something else. He impressed me as a know it all, and a baby when he wasn't the center of attention. Actually I have been pretty relieved at this past weeks activites. Can you imagine how subversive this is for the morale of a team and the coaches authority, when they have other work to do?

I am telling you, I ran into Sheldon, (literally) at the USC rally. He isn't as tall as they say. But he is faster and stronger than anyone would believe. Look at his legs. HE IS BUILT LIKE A GRANITE MOUNTAIN. And he is fast, in all his movements. I mean like I bet he is the fastest guy on the team in the first three yards. He can get leverage and he has the strength and other tools to capitalize on it. Mark my words, and I have already forgot about the other guy!

 

[Irish4Life09]

Nice write up Bog.. I agree with most of it, especially the LB pack being deep and nasty. I have to say though, you sound a little bitter about Aaron. I highly doubt he has plateaued. If he matures and becomes more receptive to coaching there is no ceiling for that kind of talent.

But, Sheldon looks incredible for his first set of spring practices. ND is deep and talented in the trenches.

I agree with you as well Bog, even more so after reading this new article.I absolutely believe it, and I am glad this is no longer a part of the Irish.I hope you're right about the QB,and that is the reason they havn't separated yet...gives me a lot more hope.
@whosawildmannnow after reading this writeup I fully believe our defense will be 'addition with subtraction'...yes he has talent,but it looks like he clearly affected the school in the wrong way. Notre Dame football: Semi-normalcy returns for Irish on the morning after - southbendtribune.com

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Wild man, trust me I sound bitter all the time. All you are hearing is that I dropped the special respect that I have for anyone involved with the ND program. I have been getting pretty fed up with this guys antics. I have seen tape of him being mean to others, really mean.

Every time I heard anything, he was being a whiney bitch complaining about something else. He impressed me as a know it all, and a baby when he wasn't the center of attention. Actually I have been pretty relieved at this past weeks activites. Can you imagine how subversive this is for the morale of a team and the coaches authority, when they have other work to do?

I am telling you, I ran into Sheldon, (literally) at the USC rally. He isn't as tall as they say. But he is faster and stronger than anyone would believe. Look at his legs. HE IS BUILT LIKE A GRANITE MOUNTAIN. And he is fast, in all his movements. I mean like I bet he is the fastest guy on the team in the first three yards. He can get leverage and he has the strength and other tools to capitalize on it. Mark my words, and I have already forgot about the other guy!

Don't get me wrong bog, I absolutely agree that relieving the team of negativity will create even more cohesion.

I still think Aaron will end up being great but I am ultimately happy he his gone, especially if he was spreading any type of negativity, but mostly for the fact that he just plain didn't want to be here.

I believe what you say about Sheldon and we're fortunate to have him. He really looks outstanding so far.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I agree with you as well Bog, even more so after reading this new article.I absolutely believe it, and I am glad this is no longer a part of the Irish.I hope you're right about the QB,and that is the reason they havn't separated yet...gives me a lot more hope.
@whosawildmannnow after reading this writeup I fully believe our defense will be 'addition with subtraction'...yes he has talent,but it looks like he clearly affected the school in the wrong way. Notre Dame football: Semi-normalcy returns for Irish on the morning after - southbendtribune.com

Agreed, the depth is new to us and exciting to have.

 

[NDPhilly]

We definitely underappreciated Day coming out. Somehow we forgot that he had LSU and UF offers.

 

[Patulski]

huh? I didn't get that anywhere from that article. "Very good but raw" doesn't equal HS sophmore.

And Hendrix just sounds like he understands he's got learning to do, but he's doing it.

But like I've said, I want it to be either Kiel or Rees. For me, that's the way forward for ND football.

I feel sorry for Hendrix. He is the one who is being limited the most by so little of the offense being run this spring. He has game experience and has run the offense, but nowhere near the amount of the offense Rees has run. Had Kelly used more of the playbook this spring, Hendrix would have benefited from the reps of running the entire offense. Instead, he's running a small package of the offense, like he did last fall, and not getting the opportunity to grow.

 

[NDdomer2]

Hendrix is still making rookie mistakes with the limited offense. I don't think that is what is hindering him.

 

[Downinthebend]

Why do we even use under center? We've had fumbling issues from it before, and Golson is having fumbling issues with it. Pretty much everything done from undercenter can be done from pistol, and its the same type of QB-center exchange just a little different timing.

You can do read option from it, and still have all undercenter running. But I bow to the greater wisdom of the coaching staff.

The only real advantage (That I can see) from under center is that the QB is able to look at the defense the whole time. But it requires different QB mechanics from shotgun/pistol and clearly isn't safer.

 

[Rizzophil]

I think at least two, maybe three quarterbacks will play this year.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Why do we even use under center? We've had fumbling issues from it before, and Golson is having fumbling issues with it. Pretty much everything done from undercenter can be done from pistol, and its the same type of QB-center exchange just a little different timing.

You can do read option from it, and still have all undercenter running. But I bow to the greater wisdom of the coaching staff.

The only real advantage (That I can see) from under center is that the QB is able to look at the defense the whole time. But it requires different QB mechanics from shotgun/pistol and clearly isn't safer.

3rd and half a yard to go to ice the game. Would you rather attack it under center or from 5 yards off the ball?

 

[Downinthebend]

I'd rather attack it from whichever one we use more.

 

[Patulski]

Hendrix is still making rookie mistakes with the limited offense. I don't think that is what is hindering him.

What makes you say this?

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

3rd and half a yard to go to ice the game. Would you rather attack it under center or from 5 yards off the ball?

with no power back, the formation we use most might be the best.. dude has a decent point.. but I'm with you HCTI, IF we had a power back

 

[Downinthebend]

My personal (as a fan) formation to attack short yardage would be a 5 wide formation with a tight end and a hb out wide, if they leave you the outside run a bubble or a flat, if they leave you the box motion a hb in and run read option or inside dive or something. But BK > me.

 

[irishog77]

Couple of thoughts on the QB situation after reading these posts from today:

If Rees is indeed the starter come game 1, I don't think it means he's really stepped up his game, nor does it mean Golson and Hendrix didn't improve. If Rees is the starter against Navy, it could simply mean he's still the best option. It doesn't have to be a situation of absolutes regarding him, Golson, and Hendrix as others have suggested (not overtly, but that's kind of inferred by reading the posts).

If Rees is indeed the starter come game 1, I could see it being a situation similar to Crist last year (although we didn't actually know this at the time, we discovered it once game action began) where, yes, Rees is the starter, but if he does or doesn't do A, B, C, etc., he gets yanked in a heartbeat and we may never hear from him again.

I don't think there's a big need to be nervous that a QB hasn't solidified his spot as the clear starter on April 15th. There's still about 4 1/2 months to go before the season begins. Let's let it play out.

Even if Rees is the starter, I think it's safe to assume another guy will squarely be in the mix. We know how limited and inefficient at times the offense was last year with him back there...so I'm certain Kelly and the staff are aware of this as well. I'd say their is a > 99.99% chance they won't try and run the same stuff with him back there again. Again, it's April 15th, there's still a lot of time until the season starts.

Spring practice is NOT fall practice. It's not about weekly game plans and preparation. It's about working on and improving fundamentals, getting everybody meaningful reps, and instituting new (or reinforcing old) philosophies and/or schemes. Individual players can show they have stepped up (or, consequently, demonstrate that they are still lacking in some areas), but it's virtually impossible to say what the team as a whole will look like and perform as come fall. And to sound like a broken record again-- it's April 15th, the way the team or an individual looks like in edited (for ND-own/sponsored viewing, no less) film for "public" viewing doesn't really mean jack sh!t right now.

 

[DillonHall]

I'm convinced that Rees gives us the best chance to win in 2012. However, if he starts this season, 2013 will NOT be special.

 

[NDPhilly]

Still think Golson eventually overtakes Rees.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

From Inside the Irish

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