Spring Surprises

[Bubba]

Not sure if anyone has already linked this. From blueandgold.com...

BlueandGold.com // Top 5 Spring Surprises

I hope they are right about Williams and Lewis-Moore. That's the position I'm worried the most about at this point. We'll have to stop the run to win some of those games that will make or break a BCS run.

 

[irishmarine]

good find and great article. glad to see so many people with a glass half full approach this offseason

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

KLM is going to be a baller for sure...definite difference maker.

 

[notredomer23]

KLM is going to be a baller for sure...definite difference maker.

Lets hope for a second coming of justin tuck...except he stays his 4 years

 

[Irishlew]

Lets hope for a second coming of justin tuck...except he stays his 4 years

he'll be on campus next year.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I like what I saw from Poz and Filer. Our LBs are going to be solid for years to come.

 

[ndfi78]

2. Paul Duncan
Putting a fifth-year senior on this list might seem unusual, but from Day 1 of spring drills, both Weis and first-year offensive line coach Frank Verducci praised the determination and vigor of the offensive left tackle who sat out last season after undergoing hip surgery.

Duncan confessed halfway through spring his deep regrets for not putting out as much as he could have, both physically and emotionally, in the past. According to the coaches, and from the couple of “Irish Eyes” drills we saw (particularly on April 15), he played with a rage heretofore unseen throughout the past month.

Mike Turkovich made appreciable strides from left guard to left tackle last season in his senior year, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Duncan can take it a notch higher, especially with one extra year of physical maturity. That would be extremely crucial to the offensive line’s success.

The bolded part made me excited in the pants. Hopefully that rage rubs off on the rest of the O-line

 

[Junkhead]

Rage is good. The OL needs some fire, anger, whatever. Take it personal, Jeff Faine style!

 

[ARALOU]

Rage is good. The OL needs some fire, anger, whatever. Take it personal, Jeff Faine style!

Yep! They did play with some rage in the bowl game. Hawaii thought they would push em around and that did not happen. Hopefully they can do that this season. Get nasty! Not dirty but nasty.

 

[tankjeep]

Yep! They did play with some rage in the bowl game. Hawaii thought they would push em around and that did not happen. Hopefully they can do that this season. Get nasty! Not dirty but nasty.

how 'bout freaky naughty?

 

[IrishInFl]

I have high hopes for KLM. Watching video of him during practice, it seems that he always has full effort, doesn't take plays off. Hopefully this translates to a real game.

 

[jason_h537]

Seems like Kerry Neal got lost in the shuffle. He is out of the Linebacking corps, and is being forgotten in the D-line. Hopefully he can finally meet his potential this season.

 

[Junkhead]

Seems like Kerry Neal got lost in the shuffle. He is out of the Linebacking corps, and is being forgotten in the D-line. Hopefully he can finally meet his potential this season.

He was also injured and didn't play in the BG game, if I remember correctly. I wouldn't count him out at all. I'll be shocked if John Ryan beats out Neal.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Yep! They did play with some rage in the bowl game. Hawaii thought they would push em around and that did not happen. Hopefully they can do that this season. Get nasty! Not dirty but nasty.

Honestly though, I wouldn't mind some dirty once in a while. Like when the QB gets hit late, the offender should be planted about three feet deep from a can of whup ass to the ear hole. So what if you take a 15 yard penalty? At least you send the message that you ain't gonna f with our QB like that.

 

[IrishInFl]

I still think that Hafis Williams is the biggest surprise. We need someone to step up at DT next to Ian. Man this off-season is too long! High school jamborees don't start for like a month, so I have no football!

 

[jason_h537]

Yeah Hafis has got the size so hopegully he can be a solid run stuffer up the middle. This will let our young talented linebackers just roam and make plays. I expect a big year from Brian Smith

 

[Stalking_Eagle]

Honestly though, I wouldn't mind some dirty once in a while. Like when the QB gets hit late, the offender should be planted about three feet deep from a can of whup ass to the ear hole. So what if you take a 15 yard penalty? At least you send the message that you ain't gonna f with our QB like that.

I'm thinking more like that scene in the move Un-Nessary Roughness where the ball is snapped and the team totally just attacks the other with karate kicks etc....I find that hilarious every time.