Spring Practice Thread 2018

[dshans]

... FPI predicts South Bend to host the nation's third-best defense in 2018."

When the hell are these lazy-ass writers/analysts going to admit, though there are obviously close ties, that Notre is a separate entity, and not an integrated part of South Bend?

 

[IrishLion]

Yup. Top to bottom our defense is as talented and deep as it has been in a long long time. Now we just need reliable QB play, a couple of WRs to emerge, and the running backs to stay healthy. NBD.

It would also help if the safeties actually completed a few plays on the ball. That would be HUGE for making the defense the threat it should be.

They were a liability last year in quite a few third down situations, but not for lack of scheme or placement... they just couldn't make plays on the ball in the air, even if they were in good coverage. If they turn a few of the 50/50 balls that they lost last year into pass breakups or INT's in '18, the sky really is the limit.

 

[dublinirish]

coaches met with press today

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joseph says Alohi Gilman is athletic and can play sideline-to-sideline.</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/981896791984607232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joseph says Houston Griffith has done a great job at safety so far. Joseph is happy with his progression.</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/981896302094110720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joseph says for his group it isn't about the results right now. More about doing things correctly over and over again and results will come later with that.</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/981897149083537410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame DBs coach Terry Joseph talks about wanting to be the simplest coach in America: saying 10 things 10,000 times, not 10,000 things 10 times.</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/981897573790339072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joseph says everyone is still in the mix at safety and no one has done enough to "pull away."</p>— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGInews/status/981898550819917825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Terry Joseph, on his safeties: "I love 'em all, but the truth of the matter is the two best guys are going to run out there against Michigan on Sept. 1."</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/981899717130014720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joseph says he'd like the safety competition to go through the middle of fall camp before they name starters.</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/981899901767487489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Terry Joseph asked which safeties have grasped the big picture best through eight practices. Answer: Jalen Elliott and Aloha Gilman.</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/981900776946757634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Terry Joseph asked which safeties have grasped the big picture best through eight practices. Answer: Jalen Elliott and Aloha Gilman.</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/981900776946757634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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interesting and disappointing

 

[IrishLion]

interesting and disappointing

Why do you say that?

Elliott was one of the two best options last year, and Gilman was getting rave reviews despite not being eligible.

It seems we may be upgrading at one spot, and hoping for a veteran to make a 3rd-year leap at the other spot. There could be worse situations.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

interesting and disappointing

Who would you have preferred?

 

[Luckylucci]

Why do you say that?

Elliott was one of the two best options last year, and Gilman was getting rave reviews despite not being eligible.

It seems we may be upgrading at one spot, and hoping for a veteran to make a 3rd-year leap at the other spot. There could be worse situations.

Yea, not sure why that’s a disappointment. Elliot probably has the most game snaps of all the S’s currently on the roster.

 

[NDdomer2]

Yea, not sure why that’s a disappointment. Elliot probably has the most game snaps of all the S’s currently on the roster.

there were quite a few people around here complaining about Elliott extensively during the season tho.

 

[IrishLion]

Yea, not sure why that’s a disappointment. Elliot probably has the most game snaps of all the S’s currently on the roster.

Right. A disappointing development would be if no one were of note at this point, or if Elliott and Coleman were both still the dudes.

I'll take Gilman stepping up as a small victory, and Elliott being the other guy a case of "stuck in neutral" for now.

there were quite a few people around here complaining about Elliott extensively during the season tho.

Yeah, but the only possible "better" option to this point would be Gilman stepping up, which it seems he's doing.

The other hope is that Griffith and Allen click immediately, but that would be unreasonable to expect from Griffith so early, and Allen isn't on campus yet.

 

[kenthehobo]

Would've been encouraging to hear things are clicking for JGH

 

[PANDFAN]

Why do you say that?

Elliott was one of the two best options last year, and Gilman was getting rave reviews despite not being eligible.

It seems we may be upgrading at one spot, and hoping for a veteran to make a 3rd-year leap at the other spot. There could be worse situations.

Who would you have preferred?

Yea, not sure why that’s a disappointment. Elliot probably has the most game snaps of all the S’s currently on the roster.

the reason why i said interesting and disappointing is that while he may very well may have had a ton of snaps, imo has never shown anything in terms of him bringing something to the table. He has been a body out there and his tackling is subpar. great if he is upping his game, I was just hoping that jordan would have forced the coaches to use him...but they are seeing stuff day to day and i have to go w/ potential and last year's performance...guess just a little gun shy

 

[Luckylucci]

Right. A disappointing development would be if no one were of note at this point, or if Elliott and Coleman were both still the dudes.

I'll take Gilman stepping up as a small victory, and Elliott being the other guy a case of "stuck in neutral" for now.



Yeah, but the only possible "better" option to this point would be Gilman stepping up, which it seems he's doing.

The other hope is that Griffith and Allen click immediately, but that would be unreasonable to expect from Griffith so early, and Allen isn't on campus yet.

Exactly, it is by far the most reasonable expectation.

 

[dublinirish]

Joseph saying things wont be settled until mid way through Fall camp is nice to hear though. Means door is wide open for Allen.

 

[Luckylucci]

Would've been encouraging to hear things are clicking for JGH

My takeaway from that question and answer wasn’t that the others stink. It’s that the most veteran guys we have, are playing as such. This is good news.

It’s pretty easy to discern that the reason they aren’t naming starters is because there is a lot of competition. Also good news.

 

[IrishLion]

the reason why i said interesting and disappointing is that while he may very well may have had a ton of snaps, imo has never shown anything in terms of him bringing something to the table. He has been a body out there and his tackling is subpar. great if he is upping his game, I was just hoping that jordan would have forced the coaches to use him...but they are seeing stuff day to day and i have to go w/ potential and last year's performance...guess just a little gun shy

I forgot about JGH... I get what you're saying now.

Most of the experts seem to think he eventually slots in as the starter for '18, so who knows. Spring is often when the upperclassmen get their shine while the young guys get their playbook and fundamental stuff down. Maybe the young dudes will make their moves once Fall Camp starts.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Saw a tweet earlier:

Lyght stated that Pride and Crawford have been the two most consistent CBs through spring.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Todd Lyght on early enrollee Houston Griffith: "We think he can be a guy that can compete for a starting job at free safety."</p>— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikevorel/status/981901203289370624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[snoopdog]

there were quite a few people around here complaining about Elliott extensively during the season tho.

Yes. Tackling issues.

 

[Irish#1]

From the Indy Star. Talks about Joseph his techniques and the safeties.


SOUTH BEND – Sometimes Jalen Elliott makes a play while holding a towel in one hand. Nick Coleman does it when the ball is wet. Alohi Gilman clutches a tennis ball with a number written on it, and before catching the football, calls out the number without shifting his eyes.

It’s a lesson in focus taught by Notre Dame’s new safeties coach, Terry Joseph.

Last season, Notre Dame safeties didn’t record a single interception for the first time since Ara Parseghian’s first season in 1964. Joseph, who was hired by coach Brian Kelly this offseason after defensive coordinator and safeties coach Mike Elko left for Texas A&M, has vowed to change that.

“First of all, to have zero, that’s tough luck,” Joseph said Thursday after practice. “That’s almost impossible to happen. But at the same time, pre-snap, you have to get yourself in position, understand what’s about to happen, because being a half a step late, you’re going to be out of position.”

The position group also finished the season with just five pass breakups, zero forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries.

“At the end of the day, you have to put them in situations in practice where they’re not in great position (so that they’re thinking), ‘Now what am I gonna do to get myself in great position?’” Joseph said. “So I think one of the things I talk to them about is, sometimes you’ll be in prime position, sometimes you won’t be and you have to use tools to make the play.”

Joseph said the place to start is by simply getting the ball on the ground by breaking up a pass — don’t try to force the interception. Then once players have mastered that, they can evolve and make bigger plays.

“One of the biggest things I’ve tried to stress to them is catching the ball has to be second nature,” Joseph said. “We’ve worked on drills where they’re catching not just with their hands. There’s a towel in one hand, there’s a tennis ball in one hand. Now it makes you focus more on catching the ball.

“To try to get them with those distractions, to where mentally, I’ve caught it with just a towel, I’ve caught it with a tennis ball, so now, when I do have two hands available with no obstacles, I can be a better catcher. And I think that’s more about repetition.”

Joseph, who spent last season as the defensive backs coach at North Carolina, inherits a young group of safeties that is desperate for a playmaker. He has a lot of talent to work with.

It starts with veterans Jalen Elliott and Nick Coleman, who combined for 87 tackles in 2017. Alohi Gilman sat out last year after transferring from the Naval Academy, but Kelly said he likely would have started had he been eligible. Jordan Genmark-Heath was inconsistent and still learning the defense in his rookie year, but forced his way into the rotation in the Citrus Bowl. Devin Studstill played in nine games his freshman year, lost his job to Elliott last year, but is in the mix. Coaches are excited about early enrollee Houston Griffith, who was recently moved from cornerback to safety. Derrik Allen and Paul Moala will have an opportunity to compete once they arrive on campus this summer.

Midway through spring practices, Joseph said Gilman and Elliott have the firmest grasp of the big picture. But the goal coming out of spring isn’t to have two starters ready to go. Yes, he wants to know which guys can be in the rotation, but Joseph prefers continued competition.

“I have an open door policy,” Joseph said. “At the end of the day, I love them all. But truth of the matter is the two best guys are going to run out there against Michigan on Sept. 1. I don’t care what grade they’re in, I don’t care what jersey number or how long they’ve been here. At the end of the day, the two best guys are gonna run out there.

“I’ve been very truthful with the guys about that. I really see this deal going on until the middle of training camp and I think that keeps the guys involved every day.”

Notre Dame’s defense returns 10 starters and should only keep improving after last season with protégé Clark Lea taking over for Elko. Kelly’s goal for the safeties is to take ownership of the football when it’s loose, and affect the game. He said he can already see a difference this spring and predicts they will be a more effective group in 2018.

“I can see that the safety position is going to be more productive for us,” Kelly said. “Even the kids who played last year are playing better at the position. Now you add some competition with Alohi, Jordan Genmark-Heath. I think that has changed the look back there a little bit in terms of that competition.”

Joseph, who also previously coached at Texas A&M, Nebraska and Tennessee, said it’s been easy adjusting to the new staff and players. He said they’ve been coachable, open-minded and receptive to his philosophy.

“There’s gonna be times where they make mistakes, but we’re gonna coach them out of those mistakes,” Joseph said. “I don’t want them out there over-thinking. I don’t want them scared to play. I want to keep it simple and allow them to play fast, get themselves in position to make plays, because at the end of the day, we gotta be able to tackle, be able to cover, and get our defense lined up. If we can do those three things, we give ourselves a chance to have success.”

Joseph continued to explain why it’s important to keep things simple in his coaching.

“Sometimes when guys overthink, they start playing slow,” he said. “And at the safety position against all of these spread offenses, that’s the last thing you want them to do. Because now you lead to a lot of big problems: A lot of missed tackles because you’re not being as aggressive, and you’re not closing in on balls because you’re worried about the double move. If you believe in your technique and your eye control, you’re gonna put yourself in position to make the play.

“I never talk to them about missing a tackle or dropping the ball. Every tackle we’re gonna make, every ball were gonna catch. We have to have that mindset to make the play.”

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

We should expect some content soon, right? Like in 45-90 mins? Practice should be over in 45 mins

 

[ResLife Hero]

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[snoopdog]

Who is wearing number 83 and where is Claypool

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Did I miss something? Where are they flying to? Did I sleep through the summer and wake up in season?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">✈️✈️✈️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://t.co/NTRTV0UD97">pic.twitter.com/NTRTV0UD97</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/983045587405852672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[connor_in]

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[IrishLion]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a> offensive coordinator Chip Long said it appears Liam Eichenberg will be the starting left tackle for the Irish in 2018.</p>— Eric Hansen (@EHansenNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/EHansenNDI/status/984436437071384576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLion]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Bars played left guard on Thursday. Tommy Kraemer at right guard with Robert Hainsey at RT.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/984435893099548672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLion]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chip Long said QB/RB/WR Avery Davis has been explosive during spring ball and feels the buy-in with a potential move is there. Notes that scoring a bunch of touchdowns in practice has helped.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/984434898537676800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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