Will Manti Start???

[Golden_Domer88]

Just watched College football live and they stated that Manti is named a starting LB. Great news and he must be an absolute animal.

They also said that former ND QB D. Jones was named starting LB for Cinncinati. They made the comparison of ND's and Cinnci's LB and it is as follows:

Average Height and Weight on LBs:

ND- 6' 2" 244lbs
Cinnci- 6' 2" 227

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Let's got MANTI!

 

[Junkhead]

Who is he replacing? Hopefully not Brian Smith.

 

[Golden_Domer88]

I didnt hear anything about who he replaced. But I thought Brian Smith was the MLB. Im guessing that Manti is at the Will spot?

 

[The Polish Irishman]

That would leave Fleming at the Sam

 

[TDHeysus]

Who is he replacing? Hopefully not Brian Smith.

But Weis did not offer any other real clues about the linebacker rotation. Brian Smith remains the swing guy who will allow the Irish to juggle between Te’o and Toryan Smith.

“If he’s in with Toryan, he’s not a Mike. If he’s in with Manti, he is a Mike,” Weis said. “Brian Smith is the guy who gives us the flexibility to move people around because he’s the guy who’s easily the most flexible and most interchangeable of all of the linebackers.”

Te’o is listed on the depth chart at Will, but he could also play multiple positions.

“We put him at the Will position, that’s the position that he’s been practicing the most,” said Weis. “That doesn’t mean we’d be pigeonholed where he couldn’t play somewhere else, but that’s where he’s got the most playing time this camp.”

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Today's practice is open for the media for 45 minutes...there will be reports of who is running on 1st team defense.

 

[TDHeysus]

That would leave Fleming at the Sam

You are correct sir:

from Weis:
“Darius is the starting Sam linebacker,” he said. “I think you’ll see both Scott and Steven both play Sam linebacker as well, but Darius is the starter.”

 

[nd1988]

That would leave Fleming at the Sam

weis considers fleming the top pass rusher......

 

[IrishAddiction]

Our LBs are gonna knock some heads this year. Huge boys that can move, thats what i like to see. Manti is massive for a freshman, think i heard he weighed in at 244 when he got on campus. Fleming and B.Smith are both in the 240s also i think.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Manti was running with the 2nd team during the media portion of the practice today. Filer was a DE with the 2nd team as well.

 

[kmoose]

Just watched College football live and they stated that Manti is named a starting LB. Great news and he must be an absolute animal.

They also said that former ND QB D. Jones was named starting LB for Cinncinati. They made the comparison of ND's and Cinnci's LB and it is as follows:

Average Height and Weight on LBs:

ND- 6' 2" 244lbs
Cinnci- 6' 2" 227

I saw the same thing. They didn't SAY that Manti was named the starter, it was a a caption at the bottom of a shot from practice. I haven't seen anything official yet, so I would hold off on getting too excited yet. I find it hard to believe that a true Freshman, and one with a dinged up hamstring at that, has performed well enough to bust into the starting lineup already. Even if he has............I would see that more as a sign that there is not much upperclass talent at that position.

 

[Riddickulous]

None of the various websites, forums, and newspapers that actually cover Notre Dame have said anything about Manti Te'o being named the starter. I refuse to believe it.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

this isn't official and he isn't starting against nevada. and we fans should not be furious when Fleming, Toryan, and Brian start at LB on the first drive against nevada.

he's a freshman. he did not enroll early. he's been playing football for 2 weeks. we know he's going to play. let the staff ease him into it mentally.

 

[Riddickulous]

Quite so.

I have a feeling Toryan won't be starting by season's end.

 

[TDHeysus]

Even if he has............I would see that more as a sign that there is not much upperclass talent at that position.

possibly...but with Manti, he looks like a special talent. Physically, he is ready, not all freshman are, but he is ready to dominate. As I said previously, both Manti Te'o and Vontaze Burfict were 'penciled' in as starters by all the USC-types (alums and co-workers) that I deal with on a daily basis. if they were going to start at USC in their LB corps, then I would expect them to start at ND and ASU (respectively). The LB position at ND is shaping up nicely, dont forgot about Carlo Calabrese in the wings as well..


Before LOI day in February, the biggest stink that all my USC ppl were making was how they were going to dominate the LB's recruits. I kept hearing about USC's 'big 3' they were recruiting, and how at least 2 of them were going to start for USC next year(this year). as it turns out, USC will be without the services of all 3 (Burfict, Te'o, and Telfort)

 

[military_irish]

we fans should not be furious when Fleming, Toryan, and Brian start at LB on the first drive against nevada.

.

i would not be mad at all if i see that group out there, they are more than capable, but if Teo is out there that just means he has earned it. especially if Tenuta and Brown think he is good enough to be out there