Some tidbits from all the "stuff" I've read: -I'm impressed with the depth and experience at OL. -I'm also impressed with the depth at DB, especially with the addition of Cody Riggs, the transfer of Farley to CB, and the acknowledgement that there must be a major adjustment in the DB focus following a terrible season statistically in 2013. -Coach has emphasized improvement in special teams. Thank goodness! The staff went to other NFL and college programs to seek ways to improve. He wouldn't say whom they visited. -The RB picture may come into tighter focus with the transfer of Mahone to slot receiver and the designation of Carlisle as RB/slot receiver.
Everything Sid said! I think, at this point, the big question marks are inside LB, DT and Special teams. Calabrese and Fox, in spite of all the critics, gave us 93 and 95 tackles last year. Grace may not be ready to start the season; he is healing very slowly. So we will likely have two unknown quantities there backing up unknown quantities up front. Special teams were so bad last year that if we can just get them to play average it will be a huge improvement. One thing is for sure. I can see the Irish averaging at least 35 points per game this year.
I'll second what's already been said with a few other observations. 1. Jarrett Grace, the reports that I read were not very encouraging and while nobody has said it or implied it, but I have to wonder if he'll be ready to play at the start of the season and maybe ever. 2. I like it that Kelly has told Zaire that if he wins the job he'll be the starter vs Rice, not that I expect him to beat out Golson but Golson needs to be pushed and not handed the job. 3. Leadership was lacking on last years team, this years team needs to develope some leaders. If Nikklas had been back I would have thought he'd be a leader, but he's not. One of the OL needs to step up and be a leader, you'd think that by seniority that would be Christian Lombard but I don't think so, the other guys are all pretty young, Zach Martin didn't assume a big leadership last year even though he was a great player but maybe his little brother will step up. Always good to have leadership from your Center. Jaylon Smith is another guy, but so far he doesn't seem to have the personality and he'll only be a Soph. Golson of course should be a leader, again not sure about his personality. Sid always say's that it's key and it will be key again this year. I read that was why Kelly took the guys to that camp, he was hoping leadership would emerge..it was a gamble and it didn't pay off. 4. Offense should be fun to watch, but we will be thin at RB with only McDaniel, Folston and Bryant at RB. You can go really easily from saying how do we get all those guys carries to who is going to start since they are all hurting. I guess Carlisle and Mahone could move back but that wouldn't be a good thing. 5. Players I'll really be interested to see....mostly WR's. Tori Hunter Jr is a fabulous athlete with the type of speed we rarely see, Corey Robinson isn't a blazer but great hands and knows how to position his body to out fight the DB, and William Fuller who has a lot of speed as well and showed us he could get deep and make the catch last year. Greg Bryant, was the most highly touted RB we've had in a while but was injured all last year, I'll be interested to see him on the field. Nicky Barratti, had an excellent freshman year and I thought he would have started last year and been one of those safety's you didn't want to hit you...shoulder ended that but now we'll see. 6. Van Gorder...be very interested in seeing how he puts his stamp on the defense. Diaco was all about not giving up the score, he didn't care about the yards, the classic Diaco game was OU in 2012...they seemingly moved at will between the 20's on us and they had a lot of yardage....just couldn't score. That bend don't break always makes fans wish we had an attacking defense that reminds you of the '85 Bears, what will Van Gorder do.
All excellent observations, Terry. George, point well made on ILBs and Calabrese/ Fox combined total tackles last year.
The problems with "bend don't break" are that you almost always have a long field when you get the ball and you usually lose the time of possession. Unless you get a lot of turnovers, you can easily get in trouble.
I agree with you George, but it's an accepted theory of defense. I have to admit that I like the '85 Bears approach myself and I think most fans like it as well. But I think most defenses just don't have the talent to be agressive all over the field, get burned deep too easily. As much as I despised those old Miami teams of Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson, those teams were awesome defenses. They always had so much talent on defense they could challenge you between the 20's, they could leave their corners on islands, they could bring their safety (Ed Reed) down in the box to make it essentially an 8 man front and not worry about you throwing it over their head. That's the kind of defense I like.
Another thing that sometimes we forget, Everett Golson isn't a young QB. He's a Sr. This will be his 4th year in the program, granted he didn't play last fall, but he's not coming back from an injury and spent the whole fall out on the West Coast working with one of the top if not the top QB gurus in the country. I expect him to play like the Sr. that he is, not a 2nd year QB.
ND <t>I agree with most of the comments above especially on the ILB and DT position stuff. If I remember, VanGorder will be coaching the ILB postion, hopefully that will help. <br/> <br/> I have to say this right off the bat though, I watched some of the tape from today's practice and just seeing Golson on the practice field again made me feel really good.</t>
There's more than 100.000 residents here now and it's the fastest growing city in the country. My scene must have been cut by the editors.
I saw an article on the Villages a couple of years ago, it was pretty funny. The Pharmacies in the area are the top national sellers of Viagra and the local cops complain their biggest problem is complaints about seniors doing it in the bushes. :roll:
I did see two old golfers standing at an ATM machine outside the pro shop. I figured you were just off camera. 8)
Back to ND Spring Football!! I saw a report that we have a new "Preferred Walk On" an OL from So. Cal. He had previously accepted a Preferred Walk On from CAL but apparently was offered by ND and decided to come here. I haven't seen anything offical so it could be just an internet rumor. Ryan Kilander, Rancho Santa Margarita (Ca.) offensive guard Kilander was considered by to be the best offensive lineman for Rancho Santa Margarita this season. He was named to second team All-County this past season. The 6'1, 295 pound lineman has been able to play both on the offensive and defensive lines as a guard, tackle, or nose guard.
ND <t>The Kilander kid sounds interesting for sure.<br/> <br/> Early word on Golson is his accuracy and velocity on the ball are very much improved plus he is showing some real leadership qualities. I'm really looking for an outstanding season from him.<br/> <br/> They say Bryant is really looking good too and a freshman I think that is going to have a great career at ND, Brent, is really impressing everyone.</t>
re: Ryan Kilander With an Irish name like that, I'm surprised that he considered Cal at all. He was a good player at one of the Catholic school powerhouses here (Santa Margarita HS) so he is used to playing against the best. His size is the limiting factor. The videos I've seen tell me that his future is at nose guard. He's a tough kid and quick to react on defense and he has a chance to start at that position some day. On offense, he will never beat out the much taller players along the offense line. Notre Dame simply has better players there. If he's put on offense, he will be just a practice player. His best chance is in the middle of the DL...