Do you guys think that Shembo could be moved inside? He's a downhill torpedo like Manti but may be faster. We have some young OLB's who seem ready to see the field. I think it would be a good fit.

Do you guys think that Shembo could be moved inside? He's a downhill torpedo like Manti but may be faster. We have some young OLB's who seem ready to see the field. I think it would be a good fit.

 

I do not see that happening for his 4th year.

 

My guess is that Calabrese and Fox come back, so it's Grace's turn. He'll be a red shirt Soph next year so that would be right on time in terms of his growth and development.

Jarrett Grace, is ready, willing and able #59

I do not see that happening for his 4th year.

 

My guess is that Calabrese and Fox come back, so it's Grace's turn. He'll be a red shirt Soph next year so that would be right on time in terms of his growth and development.

 

I guess you're right, 4th year is a little late for a position switch, but I wonder how do you get jaylon on the field with the depth we have at OLB?

I think Carlo and Fox will be the starting middle backers. Grace and Moore will push to get on the field.

I guess you're right, 4th year is a little late for a position switch, but I wonder how do you get jaylon on the field with the depth we have at OLB?

 

Special teams. Getting extensive special teams burn didn't hurt in player development for guys like Bennett Jackson or Austin Collinsworth - Jaylon should do fine filling in on coverage and blocking units with his skill set.

 

No way I mess with success with Shembo at this point - it's time we trust in our staff's ability to recruit talent across the board and allow heir apparents to take the step up. I like Grace a lot - and if it isn't him, there's still Kendall Moore, there's still the possibility that BOTH Fox and Calabrese start, and a couple incoming freshman who might be able to contribute by year's end too (Anzalone and Deeb).

 

Besides, Shembo moonlighted at ILB when Kelly first got here - he tried the idea on for size because of his emphasize on guys being a certain size at certain positions. Didn't really work out, so they moved him back to OLB. I don't see them revisiting this notion.

I guess you're right, 4th year is a little late for a position switch, but I wonder how do you get jaylon on the field with the depth we have at OLB?

 

1) There should never be an attempt to "get player 'x' on the field through DCE...(Depth Chart Engineering)

2) The only way Jaylon should see game action is if he EARNS it in practice.

 

The problem of having enough playing time is for second tier programs. Notre Dame is no longer scraping by and hoping to attract star players, we are getting them to come in and they WANT to compete. That's how we keep the 5-star players coming in - give them an atmosphere where they know WINNING a starting role automatically puts them in the discussion for the draft at their position and KEEPING that position means they are among the elite in the nation!

I've heard really positive things about Jarrett Grace...basically that's he's a monster.

Ya, I dont think I have ever seen a coaching staff rave about a backup as much as ND raves about Grace.

 

He will be the x-factor next year for the defense. How well can he replace one of the best LBs in ND history will be interesting, but I am placing my bets on Jarrett Grace to fill that role. I think the defense will be very solid regardless of how he does, that is really the only position on the defense where we may see a noticeable drop-off.

I'm willing to oversee some growing pains to let Grace have at it...

I'm willing to oversee some growing pains to let Grace have at it...

 

And there will be growing pains, for sure.

 

It will be interesting to watch next year as one could argue that we will be more talented on defense next season but will most likely take a step-back overall, cuz this year's D was historical in many ways...

if Nix and Tuitt can stay healthy and you rotate in Hounshell, Day, J. Jones, and Springman or (a recruit if we snag a late commit). Then this DL is going to be very successful again and it's going to be a lot easier for a LB like Grace to make plays because of his instincts and football IQ. Okwara and Ishaq will mix in at DE in passing situations.

 

And it's crazy to think that we'll have a deeper secondary. we get both corners back plus Lo Wood (who would've started this season) and Collinsworth (who would've started nickel). Losing Motta is going to hurt, but Farley did a great job replacing Slaughter and there's an outside chance that Slaughter could get 6th yr of eligibility. But add the DB haul we're going to get with this recruiting class to the frosh/sophs that we already have and we're a lot deeper than we were coming into 2012.

 

There's def a lot of talent coming back on defense. It's exciting to think about when they're playing at such a high level right now.

As good as Manti is, as far as on the actual playing field, taking leadership etc. out of the equation, he's probably third or fourth most important defensive player this season.

 

I know that sounds odd. Manti is an incredible player. However, if you can get someone to do 75% of what Manti did, the defense will still be really, really good. However, having guys like Nix, Tuitt, Shembo manning the D-Line and creating havoc next year would go much farther than having another Manti.

 

As much as I would love to Manti back, I'd rather have Nix, Tuitt, Shembo and Grace, then Manti, Springman, Kona and Ishaq.

Calabrese and Fox will both be starting in the middle. They both compliment eachother perfectly as Carlo is great in run support and fox is pretty good in pass coverage.

As good as Manti is, as far as on the actual playing field, taking leadership etc. out of the equation, he's probably third or fourth most important defensive player this season.

 

I know that sounds odd. Manti is an incredible player. However, if you can get someone to do 75% of what Manti did, the defense will still be really, really good. However, having guys like Nix, Tuitt, Shembo manning the D-Line and creating havoc next year would go much farther than having another Manti.

 

As much as I would love to Manti back, I'd rather have Nix, Tuitt, Shembo and Grace, then Manti, Springman, Kona and Ishaq.

 

Yeah but I think we underestimate what Manti brings to that D. A MLB really is the QB of the defense. Manti's intangibles, just like a QB's, are hugely important and a big part of this D's sucess this season...