Tight End - John Carlson??
Jack | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 12:35 am | #

Yup. Dumb typo.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 8:15 am | #

As much as I would love to see Justin Hoskins get on the field, does anyone see a way in which he will gain significant PT when most of the carries will likely be divided up between Darius, Travis, and likely Aldridge will get some thrown his way too? I don't know what they'll do but I really hope we get a chance to see this kid out on the field this year.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 8:33 am | #

Unless, Hoskins really kicks tail this Spring I wouldn't be too surprised to see him move to CB in the Fall. He played CB in H.S. The fact that he only had one carry last year(?) in a blow out against Navy tells me where he is in the mind of the coaches. He could have seen time against Purdue or BYU and didn't. Having his speed on the slot receiver in the nickel or dime package would be helpful.
SeanH | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 8:57 am | #

I thought McConnell got moved to LB last year. Has he been moved back? Or am I making things up in my head again?
Robb | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 12:14 pm | #

He was playing at fullback all last season. He and Schwapp are the only two fullbacks on scholarship this spring so I can't imagine they would move him to linebacker.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 12:47 pm | #

Is Rashon Powers-Neal permanently gone from the Notre Dame roster?
Chris | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 1:24 pm | #

nice breakdown, as always guys. good work.
pink | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 2:14 pm | #

Chris: RPN was a 5th year last year.
SeanH | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 2:37 pm | #

Does anybody know if Travis Leitko will be back?
J.J. | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 3:45 pm | #

He's out for the entire academic year. If he does come back to Notre Dame and the football team, it won't be until the fall.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 3:47 pm | #

Didn't Notre Dame get a really good FB this year? Could he not be splitting time with Schwapp? Or is this simply the spring roster?
Matt | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 9:37 pm | #

Earlier this evening, around 5:45, I saw Kirk Herbstreet (I think, Lee Corso's other half) pick the Irish #1 in the country. He was asked if he had to pick today who would his top 5 be? #4 tOSU; #3 Texas; #2 USC and #1 Notre Dame. I can't remember #5. Even though it's only March, it's nice to hear something I haven't heard in recent years. ND is #1.
Dan 96 | Email | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 9:53 pm | #

smells like a championship year
Tommy O | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 2:00 am | #

I believe #5 was Auburn. Herby definitely made it a point to stress the fact that, since this was only March, right now he was picking the Irish as his #1 team. Smart man leaving himself an out like that. This way, his car only gets keyed instead of the usual smashed window tire slashing treatment by pissed off tOSU fans.
tc | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 7:45 am | #

Will Yeatman has taken the scholarship vacated by Joey Hiben, so he will be eligible to play this year, and will still play lacrosse as long as he keeps his grades up. Also, interesting to note, Junior Jabbie is no longer with the team apparently.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 8:06 am | #

Thanks, Pat. Seven hours after I posted my comment, I realized that I was thinking of Nate Schiccatano, not McConnell.
Robb | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 10:44 am | #

Nate Schiccatano will apparently not be coming back this year.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 11:08 am | #

Okay, I feel like an idiot asking this, but can someone explain to me the how the whole "Will/Mike/Apache" thing works?

And yes, I know that it is the Weakside LB, the Middle LB, and I get the Apache based off that wonderful post you guys did a year ago. Most places I've seen it defined, the "Strong side" is the side of the OL that the TE lines up in in a one TE set. All fine and dandy if someone is running the I with a WR on each side--let's say that's the case. Do the LB's (and the DE's, for that matter, since we're naming them W and S also) wait until the offense sets their formation to figure out which side to line up on? If the strong/weak side is based on where the TE is, then how else would you do it? What happens if there are two TE's--does the Sam LB just take the wide side of the field?
(also a question--since we've got no "Sam" listed, I'm assuming the "Apache" takes that position?)
I get all the terminology, but the actual mechanics elude me.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 8:26 pm | #

If there's more than one TE, the strong side in the side with the WR. If they go 1 back with 2 te and 2 wr tape study and tendencies define the strong vs. weak side.
Dan 96 | Email | Homepage | 03.22.06 - 10:29 pm | #

Nate, you're pretty close in your understanding. Like Dan said, study and tendencies will heavily dictate which side is strong side, and wide-side of the field plus field position in itself will typically dictate the rest.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 8:09 am | #

Oh, also whether or not the QB is right-handed or left-handed, since this tends to change where they are most comfortable and successful throwing.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 8:10 am | #

Thanks, Brad and Dan. It makes sense to me to use a W and S LB, DE, whatever if you've got two athletes with different skill sets--the one with better range, etc, should be on the wide side, or covering the TE so on the strong side, what have you, so you make him the Sam LB. And I see where you can determine that for the most part through film study of a given team, etc. It just didn't seem to make sense for it to be a pre-snap read every play.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 6:30 pm | #