*Notre Dame* - On Vacation

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Thoros of Beer, Feb 3, 2016.

  1. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    The answer is elite QB play. That's our best shot at making a true run at a title. We are generally good enough everywhere else to compete if the best player on the field is our qb.

    A top 7 class that has Trevor Lawrence in it is more valuable than a top 5 class with JT Daniels that gets hurt and then transfers.
     
  2. CTownND

    CTownND Well-Known Member
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    What was the deal with McCord from St. Joe's Prep? Was he always an OSU commit?

    We seem due for some elite QB to come up from one of these midwest Catholic powers that's always wanted to go to ND. Other than that, I'm not sure how we win a heads-up battle with one of the ~5-8 top powers and/or passing offenses right now.
     
  3. a1ND

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    the elite QB helps no doubt, but if he doesn't have weapons on offense to throw to and guys to protect him, he's going to be in trouble. Sure it would have looked better to have Trevor throwing to McKinley and Sko but that group of WRs just isn't going to beat Bama or OSU
     
  4. Beeds07

    Beeds07 Bitch, it's Saturday
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    I mean the knock on Claypool going in wasn't couldn't get separation, and look at him now. QBs willing to make throws matter.
     
  5. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    I just don't view that as much of a systematic shortcoming of the program as in previous years we have had elite wr play.
     
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  6. a1ND

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    i agree that QB play matters a ton, especially in the playoffs but you need a complete team to win. I think if Buchner is the answer, we could be sitting pretty in 2023 if the breaks fall our way
     
  7. IrishLAX2

    IrishLAX2 So you’re telling me there’s a chance
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    I wish Farrell - or honestly any reporter - would push back on the assertion a bit that ND keeps running into buzzsaws. Kelly is accurate that we keep facing seemingly historically talented teams, but it continuing to happen is further evidence that you need to build an absolute wagon to win a Natty these days. 2012 Bama, 2018 Clemson, 2019 LSU, and 2020 Bama are not generational if that’s the new normal for what’s required to win a Natty.

    The question Id like people to ask when Kelly brings up this up is “can ND realistically build that wagon?”. Agreed completely that an elite QB is part of the equation, but do we also need the perfect ND style roster and a down year for the rest of the country to also happen concurrently for us to truly contend? The stars truly need to align.
     
  8. repoocs

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    I don't trust much of what CoachD says, because I know it's said through an agenda--fed filter. But if that is indeed the case, I like the move.

    Hell, I'm listening to Elston I'm on that staff. He has a strong track record, he is probably tight with the boss, and his position group can easily beat up any group save for Quinn's.
     
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  9. repoocs

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    This is true. But on another note, Bama, OSU and Clemson all have multiple guys at any given time who can separate. That's when you test even good defenses.

    And on the flip side, shut down defenses simply don't exist right now. None of the big 3 had one this year. But they all had enough athletes on the back end to mitigate disasters like we saw against Clemson and Bama.

    QB. WR. CB. Raise those positions a level or two and we have something.
     
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  10. IrishLAX2

    IrishLAX2 So you’re telling me there’s a chance
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    I really hope Texas and Oregon end up being really good. We don’t run across them as much on the recruiting trail, and it would be nice if talent balanced a bit more nationally.
     
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  11. Juke Coolengody

    Juke Coolengody One name. Two men?
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    I don't follow closely enough, but are we in the mix for any elite QB prospects in the 2022 class? From what I've heard on a couple of the most recent II podcasts, it seems like they're already playing the mental gymnastics of accentuating the positive on a number of 2nd tier prospects that we seem to be targeting. It's clear to everyone who follows the program that the only way we'll get over the top is to land a transcendent QB prospect here and there. Like, we're talking a Clausen type of prospect.
     
  12. repoocs

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    Unfortunately, I think you're hearing correctly. But they also say Buchner may be one of those. If so, 2023 is the year they need to swing for the fences. I guess, if you want a somewhat optimistic view. Those are tough to hold at QB as of late.

    Man, I would have loved to have seen Clausen and his WRs with our recent RBs, OL and defenses to support them.
     
  13. soulfly

    soulfly Well-Known Member
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    Fuck you. Washington.
     
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  14. CTownND

    CTownND Well-Known Member
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    What about the QB from Kentucky in the 2022 class? Are we in on him?
     
  15. Beeds07

    Beeds07 Bitch, it's Saturday
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    Feels like they’re waiting on him before they do anything. He’s basically the kid type of kid they should be going after.
     
  16. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
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    :roll:
     
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  17. NDfanPSUgrad

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    this reminds me of when I was 18
     
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  18. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
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    you mean the diahrea that he seemed to have had?
     
  19. a1ND

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    agreed - it feels like Wimsatt is either going to commit soon or ND is going to offer Allar and move on from both Wimsatt and Angeli
     
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  20. a1ND

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    and for the record, I'd be perfectly happy with Wimsatt because his ceiling is so high. One of him or Buchner has got to hit
     
  21. a1ND

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    Loy's article on Wesolak

    Notre Dame's 2022 class is off to a great start. The Fighting Irish have already secured six commits and have the No. 6-ranked class nationally according to the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.

    However, if it's up to head coach Brian Kelly, the class will receive a strong boost in the near future with some big-time additions. For that to happen, Kelly is taking a hands-on approach and he's looking to be a difference-maker with some top targets.

    On Thursday, Kelly spent nearly 30 minutes on a Zoom call with Boonville (Mo.) high school three-star defensive end DJ Wesolak, one of the most-coveted targets on Notre Dame's board.

    "I got on Zoom with coach Kelly," said the 6-6, 230-pounder. "We talked for probably 20-25 minutes. We had talked in the past before, but it was more of a brief conversation. He had congratulated me on the offer and everything. He wanted to sit down with me today though.

    "It was basically him just trying to get me to come to Notre Dame," continued Wesolak. "He really wants me to come there with Tyson [Ford] and Nolan [Ziegler] because he knows we're really close. He was basically telling me what Notre Dame has to offer for me and what they can bring more than other schools. He said hopefully I can get up there and look around."

    Wesolak, who is ranked as the No. 21 weak-side defensive end nationally and the No. 11 prospect in Missouri this cycle, enjoyed his conversation with Kelly. He learned a lot about the leader of the Fighting Irish and it seemed to put Notre Dame in a better position.

    "Talking to him over Zoom, he was telling me that he has two kids that play football. For him, he plays through us. He can't watch his kids play a lot, so anything that I do, he wants to coach me like I'm his kid," said Wesolak. "He wants me to be great on and off the field. He's obviously big on relationships. He isn't really a coach that tries to separate himself from players. He tries to interact with them as much as possible. He's not trying to make himself feel like he's anything more than them. He's a humble coach."

    While they had a few laughs and Kelly clearly opened up, Wesolak said the majority of this call was about business, as the head man wanted to make sure his priority target knew exactly what attending Notre Dame could do for his future.

    "Most of it at the beginning was about business and the facts of what Notre Dame obviously brings through the alumni they have and the people they know," said Wesolak. "If you're going to school there, you know you're going to have the right people around you and they don't want negative people on or off the field. They have kids that can do it in the classroom and on the field. That's what he preaches about his culture. He wants to bring the same kids that are going to compete and have the same mindset.

    69COMMENTS
    "He's a great coach," added Wesolak. "He really wants to win. He knows he's successful. He feels like he's one of the best to do it, but he's humble. He's genuine about it. He doesn't take this for granted and he loves his job."

    As a junior, Wesolak totaled 59 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

    it's quite clear ND is making him a priority and it feels like it's just a matter of him visiting. If you haven't watched his film yet, he is a MONSTER. I think he's going to be a top 100 recruit this cycle when it's all said and done
     
  22. 40wwttamgib

    40wwttamgib Fah Q, Ohio
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    good looking offer list
     
  23. a1ND

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    sounds like ND is trying to push for a commitment from Niuafe soon as well

    Notre Dame's 2022 class is off to a great start. The Fighting Irish have already secured six commits and have the No. 6-ranked class nationally according to the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.


    However, if it's up to head coach Brian Kelly, the class will receive a strong boost in the near future with some big-time additions. For that to happen, Kelly is taking a hands-on approach and he's looking to be a difference-maker with some top targets.

    On Thursday, Kelly jumped on a Zoom call with Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany four-star linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka, one of the top players on Notre Dame’s board in the class of 2022.

    "It was my first time virtually speaking with coach Kelly," said Tuihalamaka. "He was just letting me know that I'm a top priority for the class of 2022. He was letting me know that I can set a high standard for the Irish 2022 class if I make a decision soon and end up there. He was letting me know that well beyond football, he'll always take care of me, both with the school aspect and with the afterlife."

    Tuihalamaka has offers from all over the country. He was once committed to USC, but also holds offers from Stanford, Oregon, Florida, LSU, Penn State and others. He’s a big-time talent and coaches from all over the country are recruiting him. However, to hear directly from Kelly, it carried some weight.

    "It means a lot, especially since he's a national coach, who is known for winning many games and taking teams to the national championship,” said the 6-2, 238-pounder.

    "He has a funny sense of humor," continued Tuihalamaka. "We were talking about some schools besides Notre Dame. He mentioned Stanford and said that if I ever had to drive up to Stanford, it would be five hours. He said if I have to fly to Notre Dame, it would be about the same, so there's no difference having to go to a close school near home or flying to a school that is the same distance. He did make a point there and I started laughing."

    7COMMENTS
    In the end, Kelly made a great impression on the No. 63 overall player in America and No. 3 inside linebacker. If left Tuihalamaka feeling really good about all things Notre Dame.

    "Most definitely," said Tuihalamaka, when I asked if they seemed to vibe well. "He definitely has a personality and vibe that's different than any other head coach. He has a personality of a father figure. It was definitely a vibe of someone I could see myself being coached by. I definitely love coach Kelly."
     
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  24. repoocs

    repoocs Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
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    This is the thing. Kelly's not a robot. He has some charisma and relatability, and he's a polished speaker. If he and the staff make the effort to get him in personal contact with recruits, it's going to help. But it has to happen when it still makes an impact on a kid's decision. It can't just be waiting to wrap up kids they already have.

    These two you just shared would be tremendous adds to what may turn out to be a great front 7 haul. It's good to see BK and the staff putting in the time and energy.
     
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  25. a1ND

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    100% agree with all of this and it's nice to see some broken things finally being fixed.
     
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  26. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    Hey BK called kids that weren’t a QB or TE

    progress!!
     
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  27. a1ND

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    RB recruiting update - BK actually putting in the work here too

    Notre Dame doesn’t have any running back commits in the class of 2022 quite yet, but there are a few talented backs vying for that top spot on the board. The Fighting Irish have put themselves in great shape with a couple of impressive talents, but needs to close the deal in a big way to land one of them.

    Here’s the latest.

    On Thursday, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly jumped on a Zoom call with Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers four-star running back Dallan Hayden. The 5-11, 195-pounder is a major priority for the Notre Dame coaching staff and running backs coach Lance Taylor in particular. From what we’ve gathered, Notre Dame and Ohio State are going back and forth as the top school for Tennessee’s Mr. Football, but nobody can count out the Volunteers quite yet.

    As a junior, Hayden rushed for 2,010 yards and 24 scores. He’s the No. 231 overall player in America per 247Sports and the No. 254 overall talent this cycle per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

    On Friday, Brian Kelly will jump on a phone call with Reading (Pa.) Governor Mifflin four-star running back Nicholas Singleton. The 6-0, 210-pounder is another major priority for the Fighting Irish coaching staff. Taylor and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees are pushing really hard here and would love to see him end up Irish. Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame likely make up the Top 3 here, but nothing is set regarding a group of finalists or even a commitment timeline. The No. 88 overall back per 247Sports, Singleton rushed for 1,303 yards and 24 scores as a junior.

    The 247Sports Composite Rankings list Singleton as the No. 111 overall player in America, No. 7 running back nationally and No. 3 prospect in Pennsylvania from the 2022 class.

    In addition, I’m told Brian Kelly will get on a call with Littleton (Colo.) Valor Christian five-star running back Gavin Sawchuk next week. That’ll be an important call, as national perception is that Oklahoma is the team to beat for the 5-11, 175-pounder, who is ranked as the No. 23 overall player in the country per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Taylor and Rees have been working hard on that one, but Kelly could be a potential difference-maker if that call goes well. As a junior, Sawchuk rushed for 1,239 yards and 17 scores.

    In a perfect world for Notre Dame, one of these three backs jumps on board in the near future. The Fighting Irish would immediately take a commitment from any of the “big three” at the running back position.

    any of those 3 guys paired with either of the TX RBs (Jadarian Price or Zach Evans) and it would be an incredible haul
     
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  28. AbeFroman

    AbeFroman You touch me, I yell RAT!

    I'm no scout but it seems odd they haven't offered Allar with all the offers he has rolling in.
     
  29. a1ND

    a1ND Bold & Spicy
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    I think they are giving Wimsatt a chance to commit first before they move on
     
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  30. repoocs

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    I'd like to see him calling a couple QBs more, too.
     
  31. Robdog_5

    Robdog_5 Well-Known Member

    Sampsons article pushed BK into having to recruit. And now anytime BK calls someone were all gonna know because somehow that is gonna get leaked to media
     
  32. a1ND

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    all of this
     
  33. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    good Sampson had his fact right and ran with it

    the whole ND athletic department probably reads The Athletic- this shit was embarrassing and kelly needed to change

    it should’ve happened after the SBT article last year
     
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  34. a1ND

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    slow day so Pete' mailbag

    SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Spring practice remains more than a month away. The NFL Draft is beyond that horizon. And a return to recruiting normalcy has no real timeline after the NCAA extended the dead period through the end of May.

    Naturally, there’s still plenty to talk about. You’ve got questions on spring ball storylines, staff adjustments and anonymous opponents who turned into superstars. Notre Dame football might be in the doldrums of winter workouts, but the mailbag is close to midseason form. Let’s get to the questions.

    I hope you’re keeping warm and safe during the South Bend winter. As such, tell us your ideal Spring GameDay — what are you able to consume (food and beverage), what’s the weather, what would you take as a “positive outlook” for a team and what would be a letdown?

    Colin K.

    Ah, the promise of spring practice. Not sure I’ve looked forward to a spring schedule more than this one, considering both the pandemic and the single-digit temperatures around South Bend. Although I don’t think the media will see a ton of spring ball other than the spring game itself, there’s enough intrigue about the 2021 team that I do believe we would learn a ton about the Irish in those short looks. Fingers crossed that the media will get to see a couple of practices in the stadium in addition to the Blue-Gold Game.

    Look for practice to get started during the final week of March.

    As for the ideal spring game, it’s all about hope, right? Considering Kyle Hamilton will be limited after a minor ankle procedure this spring, a strong performance by quarterback Jack Coan would be ideal, particularly if he’s able to connect with some combination of Kevin Austin, Jordan Johnson and Braden Lenzy. The biggest potential wild card for Notre Dame’s offense is the downfield passing game, and if that’s something the Irish can show in April, I’d bet it’s something they can show in September. Other spring game things that would make me optimistic about Notre Dame’s season: a freshman/redshirt freshman defensive back pulls a Clarence Lewis at corner or safety; Jordan Botelho looks like option 1A at the rush end spot; Tosh Baker proves “one of the best five” and forces an offensive line reevaluation; Tyler Buchner looks like a capable No. 2 quarterback.

    If all that happens, whatever beverage you’re enjoying after the Blue-Gold Game should go down smoothly. I’ll have a couple of New England IPAs waiting for me that night.

    Nostalgia question: Which player have you watched live that most surprised you later in their careers by becoming a superstar? A personal example is Colin Kaepernick. I watched a very mediocre Notre Dame team throttle Nevada, 35-0, on the opening weekend in 2009 in South Bend as a fifth grader and can’t remember one thing about Nevada that game except that Michael Floyd destroyed that secondary. I was shocked when I realized the same quarterback later led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

    Colin R.

    Kaepernick is definitely high on my list, too. He was an anonymous quarterback that day who looked totally overmatched against a defense that ended up folding later that season. I didn’t expect to have his name pop back into my head after that game.

    During 20 years covering Notre Dame football, there have been a lot of players who fit this mold in some way. Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis as a freshman and sophomore. Who would have projected McLeod Bethel-Thompson III onto an NFL roster for parts of six years as a reserve quarterback after Notre Dame’s upset of UCLA in 2007? Or Michigan State running back Le’Veon Bell being a three-time All-Pro? Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald was good against Notre Dame, but Steve Elmer handled him. Now Donald is an all-time great. Duke quarterback Daniel Jones winning at Notre Dame in 2016 felt like an anomaly. Stanford corner Richard Sherman got torched repeatedly by Golden Tate in college.

    But clearly there’s one best answer here.

    It’s the Michigan quarterback who went 23 of 36 for 267 and no touchdowns in a 36-20 loss at Notre Dame in 1998 when the Wolverines were defending national champions. He turned into the greatest quarterback in football history.

    Who from BK’s previous Notre Dame teams would you most like to see play on the 2021 Irish?

    Grant W.

    The answer is always 2015. I wanted to see that team face the 2018 team, the 2020 team and this next team. No matter how long Brian Kelly stays at Notre Dame, I have a hard time imagining the program having more raw talent on one roster than it did that season. Mix that roster with last year’s coaching staff? Look out.

    What should we be reading into the changes with Elston and Polian essentially switching roles?

    Kevin B.

    Not a lot. There’s a change in role, a change in title and probably a change in W-2 forms. But I was surprised Notre Dame flipped Mike Elston and Brian Polian, moving Elston from associate head coach to recruiting coordinator and moving Polian from recruiting coordinator to associate head coach. Polian’s role running special teams, which requires a deeper dive into the roster of backups and reserves, gave him the best understanding of what Notre Dame had coming down the pike, which meant a good understanding of what was needed in recruiting. Does that mean a regular position coach can’t handle that big-picture thinking? Of course not. Tony Alford did early in Kelly’s tenure. Chuck Martin did. Elston has done it before.

    I’m more interested in the changes or adjustments Elston wants to make in recruiting than how Polian may alter the role of associate head coach. Are there paths for Notre Dame to move up in recruiting? Can the Irish be a “developmental program” as Elston described while also developing more four- and five-star prospects? Polian’s tenure as recruiting coordinator felt as stable as Notre Dame has been in that department for a while: not much drama, good program fits, smartly coming out the other side of the pandemic. But there’s no getting around the talent gap that exists between Notre Dame and Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State when it comes to the College Football Playoff. Attempting to close that in recruiting will be a fascinating story in the coming cycles. And it’s worth noting Elston recruits his position about as well as anybody on this staff.

    I’m a big believer in the benefits of strength and conditioning programs. Which players on the Irish roster do you think stand to benefit the most from a full offseason of Built by Balis, especially in light of last year’s disrupted spring/offseason?

    Lamine H.

    Interesting question. The more years Balis puts in the bank at Notre Dame, the less we talk about his impact on the program. And that’s a big miss. When you ask former Notre Dame coaches for an audit of what’s working best within the program, they mention Balis first. Every time.

    As for the players who could benefit most from a real offseason after getting their springs and summers disrupted a year ago, I’d start with the younger players with the most to gain (or lose) in the weight room. Tosh Baker, Xavier Watts, Alexander Ehrensberger, Quinn Carroll, Andrew Kristofic, Devin Aupiu and Will Schweitzer all come to mind for different reasons. In the cases of Watts, Aupiu and Schweitzer, it’s a matter of adding strength and perhaps size. Watts, who did early enrollment, never really got a chance to make a move. For those mid-year freshman defensive ends, it’s getting turned loose in a college weight room to address their lean frames. For the offensive linemen, it’s a matter of adding power. There’s only so much that resistance bands and makeshift gyms can give you when you’re trying to maintain an athletic 300-pound frame. How the depth chart shakes out with Baker, Carroll and Kristofic ranks among the more interesting spring storylines that’s not getting much play.

    Guesses on SWAT leaders?

    Eric D.

    For reference, Notre Dame had 11 SWAT captains last year — Ian Book, Robert Hainsey, Brock Wright, Liam Eichenberg, Kurt Hinish, Daelin Hayes, Ade Ogundeji, Drew White, Shaun Crawford, Tommy Kraemer and Mick Assaf — and they led nine different teams. For the sake of conversation, let’s assume Notre Dame goes with nine SWAT teams again, but with one player leading each squad. My guesses would be: Jack Coan, Kyren Williams, Jarrett Patterson, Josh Lugg, Avery Davis, Kurt Hinish, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Drew White and Kyle Hamilton. Maybe Notre Dame doesn’t go with Coan considering he’s a graduate transfer, but the quarterback can’t help but lead. How many of those players wind up being captains? Probably a better question for summer.

    I have a bit of an “inside baseball” question. Did Brian Kelly’s comments post-Alabama on the negativity of “local” reporters make your job harder? Does it make it harder to be objective, or at a minimum, appear objective?

    It’s no secret many fans/alums are the most critical (i.e. demanding). And, as you know better than most, that criticism can extend to the team’s beat reporters, particularly when they are viewed as being too soft on Kelly and his staff. So to me, if a sizable part of the audience for Notre Dame football reporting thinks coverage slants “too positive”, it cannot help if Kelly then publicly chastises those reporters for not being positive enough. I know we’re talking about college football and not global politics, but when you launch the Joe Wilkins for Heisman campaign during summer camp I want to know it’s authentic.

    Anthony B.

    I didn’t read too much into Kelly’s commentary in the aftermath of the Alabama game. That was a strange press conference in some ways, but a coach being frustrated after a season-ending defeat is not unique. I’ve sat through that press conference before. You’re getting raw Brian Kelly. As much as it might make for great video, the interesting part to me is that authenticity from the head coach. And no, those kinds of press conferences don’t make my job or easier or harder. They just sort of are, if that makes sense.

    But I’d be lying if I didn’t think about the positive/negative perceptions around the fan base occasionally. How can you not when part of your job includes interacting with fans, directly or indirectly? Considering Notre Dame’s stated goal is to win a national championship, shouldn’t that focus carry most stories? But isn’t making the College Football Playoff an accomplishment in itself? Shouldn’t that be a focus? What about the fact Notre Dame football is more stable now than it’s been in the past quarter century? Doesn’t that matter? What about Notre Dame attempting to build a championship roster with recruiting hurdles? That’s important, right?

    Notre Dame football is a complicated thing. That’s why it’s such a fascinating program to cover and always will be. My baseline approach is to write about what’s interesting and hope I’ve read the room correctly both in terms of picking out the right stories and executing them. Maybe that strays too positive for some people. Maybe that’s too negative for others. But mostly, I want readers to have some faith that I will call it like I see it, that if I’m talking up Joe Wilkins for the Heisman there’s a good reason. To that end, I’m not trying to be positive or negative. I’m just reporting and writing. For the most part, I think people get that. But obviously, not everyone does.

    What is your assessment of Jeff Quinn in recruiting and development now after a few years on the job?

    Ryan L.

    Quinn answered a lot of questions last season, both in terms of developing an offensive line and putting together a strong recruiting class. Yes, Notre Dame should recruit well along the offensive line at nearly all times under all offensive line coaches. If there’s a program wired to attract smart, powerful Midwestern kids willing to be developed over four (or five) years, it’s Notre Dame. With that reputation at Quinn’s back, he was able to land the top line targets on the board in Blake Fisher and Rocco Spindler. Further down the chart, Joe Alt and Caleb Johnson look like the kind of five-year prospects that can click as true offensive tackles over the long haul. As much Notre Dame’s recruiting reputation helps Quinn, he still has to close the deal on prospects like Spindler, Alt and Johnson, beating out Michigan, Iowa and Auburn, respectively. And Quinn did. Full credit for that.

    Obviously, this year’s challenge is an entirely new puzzle. Rarely do you see elite offensive lines that return one starter, with that one starter likely shifting positions. Should Notre Dame have a very good offensive line this fall? Yes. Will it still take a step back from 2020? Most likely. Not to skip over this season, but it will be interesting to see how this line looks a year from now when it could return four starters.

    Is Brian Kelly a better recruiting coach, developmental coach, or X’s and O’s coach?

    Logan T.

    I’d rank development No. 1. Winning 43 games in four years backs that up. The potential to produce 11 first-round picks in 11 years backs that up. The fact Notre Dame could have double-digit NFL Draft picks for the first time in 27 years backs that up.

    What’s something we will see this year that will expose an underappreciated element of the Ian Book era? Maybe we didn’t realize how nice it is to have a quarterback who almost never turned the ball over? Maybe we took an experienced and ridiculously talented offensive line for granted? Maybe we underrated Book’s mobility? Interested in your thoughts on how this year will affect our perception of the last few.

    Will H.

    The 32-game win streak over unranked opponents pops into my head first. It’s not like Notre Dame hasn’t had close wins over inferior teams the past four years, but the Irish have figured out how to knock off those teams no matter how well they’ve played. So much of that comes down to experience, whether that’s for the quarterback or the offensive line. Now Notre Dame doesn’t have much at either spot.

    No, I won’t be picking Notre Dame to lose to an unranked opponent until the Irish actually lose one of those games, but this streak will end eventually. You know how Brian Kelly talks about how “winning is hard” and fans sort of roll their eyes? This season feels like Kelly’s words might hit home a little more considering the Irish will be retooling on both sides of the ball while trying to make an honest push to the College Football Playoff.

    For the sake of comparison, Alabama has won 98 consecutive games against unranked opponents, an NCAA record.

    It’s going to be fascinating to see how Notre Dame fans change their perceptions of Ian Book the further he gets from the program. My hunch is his reputation will grow over time, maybe starting this fall.
     
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  35. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
    Donor

    Now let’s get Pete to write that Kelly shouldn’t elect to take the ball first every game.
     
  36. a1ND

    a1ND Bold & Spicy
    Donor

    Loy on Allar's non-offer:

    Notre Dame is high on Angeli and Wimsatt. They aren’t ready to offer Allar yet. Have some concerns about game tape and aren’t as sold as we are yet. Highlights look great but they aren’t everything. They are still evaluating. Penn State definitely a top contender here but Notre Dame is still close to offering. Just haven’t offered yet.
     
  37. IHHH

    IHHH Well-Known Member
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    I am up here in canada just relaxing watching tv and listening to some music, feeling pretty good. Then this thing comes in on sports center with highlights from the year mostly hockey....but sure enough they had to ruin my buzz by showing mcleod getting tea bagged by najee Harris in slow motion
     
  38. Yanks711

    Yanks711 TMB's Hoosier
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    Hes a baller. He's from about 30 minutes away from me so caught him on the news a few times, his talent jumps.
     
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  39. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
    TMB OG
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    my worry is Wimsatt gets an offer from either Bama or Clemson when one misses out of Simpson, he takes that offer

    Penn State or Michigan gets Allar now, and ND is kind of forced into Angelina
     
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  40. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

  41. NilesIrish

    NilesIrish Not a master fisher but I know bait when I see it
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    So, infection party for the team right?
     
  42. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
    Donor
    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

  43. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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  44. Going to be able to put the pressure on and get one of Hayden and Singleton who they are in the top 2-3 for
     
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  45. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    ND taking two again? Must mean they expect Kyren to go pro
     
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  46. I mean I think it would be crazy for Kyren to not go pro, he can do it all and RBs have such a short life span in the league even if he doesn't go high might as well make what he can when he can
     
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  47. 40wwttamgib

    40wwttamgib Fah Q, Ohio
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    he accelerates very quickly.

    take all of em
     
  48. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    OSU missed for one RB’ already Hayden is going to tough to get away from them
     
  49. Well that is the hump they got to get over, as much as I love watching ND be the 4 seed and getting destroyed in every playoff game. Hopefully Lance Taylor can help close the gap
     
  50. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    Kyren will be in the NFL for a decade if he can catch the ball. When you block like that you are going to have a spot on a roster for a long time.
     
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