That's too bad about Hardy, not sure how he would have fit into this years plans but still hate to see any kid miss a year due to injury. The good news is that Tate Nichiols who was at one time being reported with a knee injury (ACL, MCL, some CL) had a dislocated knee cap and is progressing fine and should be back by mid Sept!
As JOCo well knows, it is so frustrating as an ND fan in Southern California to watch Mater Dei and Servite send player after player to USC. Every year during our losing streaks, we seem to be getting our ass handed to us by some big, white kid from Orange County who attended Catholic school his entire life... right up until he enrolled at USC. Anytime we can snag them, it's a good thing. Also, the guys across the top line of the hut drill are 'The Curia' at Servite. They are elected by their team members and oversee discipline, conduct, execution etc of the players. The coaching staff oversees the team, but when the team fails or an individual makes a mistake, it is the Curia who has to answer to the staff. Likewise, the players have to answer to the Curia when they blow assignments. They don't make a lot of mistakes and they play a whole lot of defense at Servite.
ND <t>Getting closer. 15 days till first game now. I'm trying to take all the news out of practice with a grain of salt. too many years we heard about how much better they players looked, how much bigger stronger etc, etc, etc. I'm maintaining my "just show me" attitude. too many years of disappointment. It's time show something on the field then maybe next season I'll believe the pre-season talk again. <br/> <br/> go Irish!</t>
BTW- Troy Niklas is not the first Servite player at Notre Dame. Others were: Steve Beuerlein and Kurt Vollers...
I'm still yet to be convinced of Diaco but I am open to it... however, that being said: This impresses and speaks to me. You've heard JOCO and I say it countless times. Are we putting our kids in a position to win.. the play, the assignment.. the game... Charlie only understood this on one side of the ball. Ty never knew it.. Davie never knew it.. Lou breaths this.. I hope these guys really think this.. and act on it.
The defense was better last year because they could tackle. A hallmark of Weis defenses was poor tackling.
No question. IMO, we've not been a good tackling team since the Holtz era, until the final stretch of 2010. I hope we can continue to grow in that vital part of the game.
I know from my good source that they practice tackling a lot and on a daily basis. It was like night and day last year from previous years. I have a real good feeling about this year, Sid. This team is experienced and deep. And very athletic. If we can get by Michigan and Michigan State intact I think we could run the table.
This is the best I have felt about a defense pre-season in quite awhile....but in the back of my mind I keep thinking...Charlie Brown kicking the football.
Former Irish transfers... Today's LA Times has UCLA counting heavily on four transfers that Neuheisel brought in. Two of them are familiar to ND fans: 6'8" TE Joseph Fauria and WR Shaquelle Evans are both starters and they're the feature targets of the Bruin's offense.
I'm sorry, I still have the mental image of us getting carved up and run over by Navy to get too excited. I think it wasn't just tackling with Weis, it was an overall lack of concern about defense in general that was his undoing. Still, as Sid pointed out, we've had no real stout tackling defense since the Holtz era. Hell, Bob Davie was a defense first guy and our tackling was piss poor under him as well. I want to believe, but I'm going to have to see it first. We did get better. We did show signs of improvement.. but we're not Wake Forest god dammit..
Sobering point, Corey. I have vague recollections of too many time to count over the past decade+ when an opposing RB or WR was running for open space through a "wall" of attempted arm tackles.