I would still feel alot better with Kuntz back in there.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:22 am | #

Insert 95 for 91
Chooch | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:49 am | #

I Agree with Anonymous. Replace Kuntz with either 53 or 91 and rotate them back in along with 94 to provide rest. It is both impressive and sickening that 4 out those 7 are still FRESHMEN!!! Currently sophomores in a football sense, but crap man.... We will be young again next year, but hopefully a little more battle tested and confident. Playing with a large chip on their shoulders shouldn't hurt either.
The Dude | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:53 am | #

I'd also like to see 49 improve enough to get him in for 58, then bump 58 outside on obvious passing downs. Either way, though, 58 needs to be on the field.
Andy | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:59 am | #

For those who don't have the roster memorized (for shame!), here's a key.

22 - Harrison Smith
40 - Mo Crum
53 - Morrice Richardson
56 - Kerry Neal
58 - Brian Smith
91 - Emeka Nwankwo
95 - Ian Williams
Pat | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 11:02 am | #

Can we put Bryant Young into a #91 jersey just for this season?
Rome | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 11:27 am | #

Aren't 5 out of 7 Frosh? Emeka, Ian Williams, Neal, Smith, and H. Smith are currently preparing for their first ever finals, aren't they?
The Dude | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 12:03 pm | #

The inside linebackers aren't set in stone from what I have read. Also there will a ton of rotation at nose and d tackle. Kuntz will rotate in and probably start in place of Nwankwo. Also Ethan Johnson could see some PT (especially in situations like Ian Williams did last year)
Jake | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 12:09 pm | #

I think 53 and 22 would be a little light for regular starters in this D. 22 would be perfect against a team like Navy and teams with little power running potential or who rely on the pass. My guess is Kuntz and T. Smith play the majority of minutes at their respective positions. But I do so hope they get 22 on the field as much as possible.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 12:31 pm | #

i would like to see
dl:Kuntz, Williams, Richardson
lb's: Neal, Crum, B Smith, H smith
cb's:Mcneal, McCarthy, Bruton, Walls



That's a nice mix of speed and power i think
ND CornDog | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 12:53 pm | #

Well, they way we have been hearing Harrison Smith is playing, the coaches HAVE to find a way to get him on the field, and this works.

Secondly, Laws himself said that he really expects Emeka Nwankwo to suprise a lot of people this season with his tenacity on the line. Coming from Laws, that is a high complement.

Third, a lot of posters have seem to criticize Mo Richardson because he isn't big enough to play his spot. What they are forgetting is that this kid was talented enough as a pass rusher to be playing in pass rush situations as a true freshman. If he can rush the QB, who cares how big he is.

This set has one big factor. It is fantastic because it provides us a lot of speed. Kerry Neal, Crum, Brian and Harrison Smith, and Mo Richardson can all really move. This set allows us to get a lot of speed on the field and is perfect for when we are facing a One back, one TE formation where the opponent is as likely to pass or screen as run. Speed to the edges is maximized, and we have Neal, Smith, and Richardson (three best pass rushers on our team without a doubt) out on the field. The blitzing possibilities from here are HUGE for a guy like Tenuta. Also, Richardson is quick enough that he could drop back into pass coverage and either of the Smiths could rush in for him in a zone blitz. Its a very flexible package for us. If Kuntz comes in anywhere here, I personally think it would be for Emeka Nwankwo (Brown could do the job as well). Everyone seems to THINK that Richardson is just in there cause of missing bodies, but I am willing to think that maybe the coaches feel differently.

Lastly, in a team that is likely to pound the ball on us more (or in those situations) I think it'd be much more likely that we see a base line up of big boys on the line (Kuntz, Williams, and Emeka Nwankwo....all near 300 lbs.), Neal and Brian Smith on the outside, with one possibly with a hand down, and Crum and Toryan Smith on the inside.


And again, for everyone overly worried about size, remember that speed and tenacity are just as important. But for those situations where the coaches feel we need the size, we can STILL put out Nwankwo, Williams, and Kuntz, or possibly one of the new kids like Sean Cwynar of Ethan Johnson, both big kids. We CAN put out a DL that includes 3 solid, close to 300 lb. kids this year. So if that is really what you want....screw it, get excited.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:02 pm | #

Was this first & 10?

I would think that how the line reacts to TE motion would be a big revelation. For example, 22 as a 4-3 style OLB seens to make some sense, or at least, is not a big deviation from that position. (BTW, I'm having a hard time not projecting Harrison as the next Zibby, though, and that's not fair to Harrison. They're different types of players.) Does he flip on the motion? Or does Neal cover the TE?

I'm a little worried with the run-stopping with this group.
IndyTom | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:08 pm | #

BTW, does anyone have hints for how the to get the video to work right? I get like every third play, and it's very choppy. I assumed it was because of demand, but that can't be the problem now.
IndyTom | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:16 pm | #

Isn't Harrison Smith number 30 on the roster? Did he change numbers this spring?
irishharp | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:27 pm | #

Harrison Smith did change numbers. He's now #22.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:33 pm | #

It would be great if Harrison Smith could provide some outside LB play like Matt Grootegoed did at usc. I believe they are similar in size.
Joe K | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:46 pm | #

I like the fact that we have a lot of options on defense, and I trust the coaches to utilize our players to the best of their ability. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if we have to take a couple of timeouts on Defense because we have the wrong personnel on the field.

Just watched the whole-game cutdown of the B/G game on und.com and a couple of things I noticed:

1) Jimmy made some nice throws and would have had more completions, yardage, and another touchdown except for a couple of holding penalties and two or three bogus (two-hand touch) sacks.

2) The runningbacks made some great blocks in blitz pickup and pass protection against rushers coming off the corner.

3) O-line looked solid at times, D-line looked solid at others.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 1:52 pm | #

Erik:
I don't think you get it. there's no room for optimism here.
what went wrong? why are we doomed to go 2-10 next season? etc. etc.
c'mon dude.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 2:10 pm | #

Anon, 2-10 next season? NO WAY...YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND. Our Irish will not be in a BCS Bowl, but they will be in a bowl game. I believe they will be 7-5 to 9-3, and that my friend will be a great turnaround from 3-9 given our still very young team.
Ted Eberle | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 3:37 pm | #

I agree w/ those that see Kuntz in there somewhere.

This is beyond my knowledge level but I've heard people say Neal is better w/out his hand on the ground? If you can explain to me how that makes much of a difference I'll be eternally grateful.

In this screen shot, for instance, compare Neal's hand down to Smith standing up. I'm not doubting it, I just don't know enough to explain why you would do it (or the difference).
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 4:06 pm | #

Hi Ted!

I thought I'd introduce myself since we've obviously never met before.
Sarcasm | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 5:09 pm | #

Sarcasm:

Thank you much.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 5:29 pm | #

also,
not being sarcastic this time,
all things being equal,
having your hand down means more power out of the gate and/or a quicker jump on the o-lineman.
the negative is less flexibility/mobility to drop back in pass coverage or to prevent being hooked inside by the lineman.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 5:44 pm | #

I agree with what Brad said re: Richardson. If I had to pick one player who will have a break-out year, it would be him. I don't care what his stats say, when he's on the field he plays well. Hopefully he has added the size to play on running downs this year.
ndfootball4everandever | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:01 pm | #

Anon is right. Having you hand down allows you to focus more of your weight forward, and get a faster start. Think about it this way, if it didn't help you get off the line faster, why would sprinters in the Olympics do it? He can fire off the line better this way, and also he has a lower center of gravity so that he can get underneath any lineman who happens to be in front of him. If you weight is up higher, then its easy for an Olineman to move you around.

If you've heard people say he is better with his hand up, it likely means one of two things. Either a) they think he's better as a stand up linebacker, playing in a more traditional way, or they mean that b) when his hand is up, he is a more effective pass rusher, likely because the defensive alignment conceals the fact that he will be rushing, so its more of a blitz.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 04.23.08 - 10:03 pm | #

I honestly believe and quote me on this: "If we are as good as people are projecting, I dont think that 10 -1 is too far a stretch." Has everyone looked at the weak schedule?

DATE OPPONENT Projected
6-Sep San Diego State W
13-Sep Michigan W
20-Sep @ Michigan State W
27-Sep Purdue W
4-Oct Stanford W
11-Oct @ North Carolina W
25-Oct @ Washington W
1-Nov Pittsburgh W
8-Nov @ Boston College W
15-Nov @ Navy W
22-Nov Syracuse W
29-Nov @ USC ?
Diese987 | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 2:41 am | #

Diese -

I've seen other people saying this too. I don't think you are giving NC, MSU, and even Pitt enough credit. NC has been recruiting really well, and stole Greg Little from us a couple years ago. They're up and coming and scare me ths year. MSU, in my opinion, has a far better coach now and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. Pitt I know less about and until the season starts or I read up on them i'm not ready to call it a W. They got a new coach when we did and if he's building anything at all, it could come to fruition this year.

Michigan has no quarterback last I heard and I hope they struggle (a couple 3-9 seasons, please) for a couple years in transition because I hate them more than anyone, but they still have athletes and scare me.

Then there's Willingham who manages to pull a game he shouldn't win out of his *** on occasion and I'm a little worried, until I see what kind of team we have, he'll do it to us this year with me in the stands. (I've been to one game a year the last 3 years and they're all wins, I hope to make it 4 this year.)

All that and, well, look how good we were last year, I'm just not ready to call any game a given until these guys prove it on the field. My wounds are still healing.
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 10:43 am | #

I agree with you on your Ty comments, its just my green blood running hot, lol.

Ty has pulled more than 1 rabbit out of his ass, and this year will be no different, lets hope its against SC and not us though.

But Pitt and UNC are a different story...

Dave Wanndstadt (sp?), while I like the guy and can understand that he is building a reputable program, this is the man that sunk the dolphin franchise into darkness. forever.

Butch Davis was also laughed out of the NFL and just based on talent alone we should win. Should being the key word.

Go Irish!
Diesel987 | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 11:56 am | #

...after f---ing up the Bears first. But Wannie does have talent, and talent can rise to the occassion occasionally.
10-1 would be miraculous at this point. 8-3 or 9-2 would be far more realistic especially since this team needs to learn how to learn.

I'm couting on 8-3, hoping for 9-2, dreaming for 10-1 and praying for 12-0.
yago | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 12:55 pm | #

By the way...Pete Carroll and Lou Holtz were laughed out of the NFL...
yago | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 12:56 pm | #

Well played on the Carroll and Holtz comment...
Diesel987 | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 3:04 pm | #

This defense is very much like 1988, great players,about to find themselves. Expectations should be high, or else CW was the wrong choice, and we are out of major discussions
joe sophy | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 3:21 pm | #

Last spring I suggested patience in
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 9:53 pm | #

I am excited to have the Drunk Driving Will Yeatman back on offense. Not sure he will be able to make it to line of scrimmage without crashing into a teammate though. Gotta love Irish DUI's!
Aaron | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 8:10 am | #

Can't see the buzz concerning Kuntz. Not big enough to stop run, but then after all this time, tired of big name D recruits who are not the consistent play makers by senior yrs. The names of Minor and TZ come to mind.Like everybody else, hope H. Smith, B.Smith and Neal are more "Browner", and less "Dansby". Schedule is more forgiving, and plenty of chances to make ESPN squirm.
joe sophy | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 9:16 am | #