irishwavend

We have a few things playing against us that has slowed the pace for early, recruiting but think that we will ultimately be fine. We have had two stellar classes that are young, CW hasn't been on the road as much b/c of new rules, we went 3-9, and we really haven't had kids camp, yet, because it isn't summer, yet. When you put those all together, we don't see the dramatic pace that we once had; but in the past, most of our early commits came in June/July. When I say the past, I mean classes before the last two. We will be fine.

We'll be fine. There is still a lot of time to go. We have been spoiled, but there is plenty of talent to get and develop. When you look at it, we are much deeper on the OL than we have been in years. We have a lot of young guys who will be playing over the next 3-4 years together. We might have a difficult time attracting a lot of OL talent this year due to that fact, but we will get what we need.

Some years you just need to find some true backups. This is probably the year. Ty had 1 good year and then two years of recruiting true backups...see Evan Sharpley, et al.

Hahahaha...you guys are funny.

Mark my words... There is NO WAY, NO WAY Jimmy leaves in 09. This isn't basketball.

Haha...I agree, but a little late to the party. haha...j/k

I agree.

Yeah, I totally forgot about TRob and Cwynar. I kind of already count them as part of the team, but I definitely see both of them getting PT. When I look at the backers, I do see Toryan Smith's position up for grabs, but think that Brian Smith and Kerry Neal might be able to solidify the outside positions with a year under their belt. It depends on our philosophy regarding rotating guys and how specialized we will be on blitzes. I don't think Crum ever comes out. Fleming could probably fill the same role as Neal and Smith. Either way, I can't wait to see our depth pay off. Especially, against SDSU.

I noticed he slows down, but is he really taunting the players? No need to over exert yourself when you get as many carries as I'm sure he gets. It's like when Walker used to run out of bounds. He was our only real back. He has to conserve his energy. That's how I interpreted what Wood was doing. It's not like he is doing what Jeff Samardzjida used to do by turning around and waving at guys to come get him.

The DL guys. Doubtful on any DBs or LBs, since we are stronger at those positions, unless Filer knocks off T. Smith. Doubtful anyone on the OL. Floyd, Robinson, or Goodman. Doubtful anyone at RB unless Jonas knocks someone off. Maybe Dayne, but doubtful. Rudolph definitely, or Fauria. I am not counting special teams, but some of them could show up there. Looking at the starters, though, we are much more solid this year than last year.

I said the same about Golden Tate who plays against worse competition than Cierre. Golden has certainly proven me wrong, so I have learned my lesson, twice. I said the same about Michael Oher who was AWFUL in high school, but ranked highly by recruiting pundits and is ranked as one of the Top OL in the draft for next year. I have learned to trust those guys more than I would like. I think would, being only a junior in this film, will only get bigger and wiser.

The thing that stuck out to me was his speed, but also how he saw cut back lanes that alot of people won't typically see. Look at the crackbacks his teammates make. I really liked that. I really liked the play where the QB screwed up the pitch, almost had it picked off, Wood grabs it and goes the other direction.

A film that shows Wood's attributes a little better, in my opinion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpwBHI2RTrU

He can't be any worse than Pat Dillingham.

I disagree with him playing as a freshman. We will have depth by then. Plenty of other mormon kids do it. I'm sure it is fine if Weis is recruiting him.

I usually agree with your Rock, but once the kid is in the system for two years, he knows the offense. Plus, it wouldn't be two and two. It would be sit out a year and learn the system. Maybe play your sophomore year. Take two years off, but stay in shape and keep getting bigger while becoming a better person. Then, come back and have 3 years of eligibility left. 3 years of being bigger and more mature and knowledgeable. How is that a bad thing? You don't need continuity to the degree you are saying. He can catch up in the offseason and be right back where he left off. Additionally, if it was the case that you need continuity, then Kunty and Yeatman wouldn't stand a chance of playing next season. As it is, they will go into fall camp and catch right back up. It's like riding a bike once you get past your first or second year. That, in my opinion, is how going on a two year mission can be debated. Again, back to Sir John...Architecture is the same way with its one year program. One year, two years... It's the same difference. It's like going to school 10 hours away from home or 24 hours away from home. At some point it becomes the same, because you have to fly no matter what.

Eligibility is eligibility. The fact that he takes time off can only make him better.

The thing that differentiates Davie and Weis is that you could see Davies teams continally decline despite the talent he had. Weis, however, took no talent and did well with it. Last year was an anomoly that won't ever happen under Weis again. I would put my my life, my firstborn's life, and my fiance's life on it. Also, a good point is that Weis' success in the NFL is a huge selling point that I guarantee he uses against Pete. What did Pete do in the NFL? I bet CW uses that against him. To say we aren't in the upper eschelon of football is pretty bold. Would you Alabama isn't? Maybe they are down, but Alabama is upper eschelon the same way ND is. Secondly, football is all about money and playing on national tv day in and day out. If you go by that, we are still one of the best. Nobody travels like us or drives local economies like us, so we will still keep getting bowls we meritoriously don't deserve to be in, but financially deserve to be in. We will, therefore, keep getting outplayed because we have such loyal fan support and keep getting put in bowls with teams that are better than us. Also, Petey hasn't shown that he can live without Norm, yet. He has one real national title, a loss to TX, and LSU won the title the other year. Considering all the talent Pete has, shouldn't he have a dynasty the way New England does? It seems he and Mack Brown are wasting a lot of talent to only have 1 national title each, but have Top 5 recruiting classes year in and year out. To discount ND's prestige is showing a limited respect for college football as a whole. It is the same as disrespecting Indiana in basketball. What has Indiana really done lately? Nothing... But, I still wouldn't say they aren't prestigious...just give them the right coach. When Pete leaves and SC falls apart, which will happen...it may not be for another decade, but SC will take a downturn the same hard and fast way Miami, FSU, and Alabama did, dont get mad when we start making the same accusations and misinformed assumptions about your program. We won't, because I think ND's class is above that, but just remember: What goes around comes around. You won't always be good, but what people will remember is how you acted when you were good...

I think the thing here, though, Calves, is the prestige of an offer in a kid's hands, today. In that context, I think there is a middle ground between your two definitions. It depends on the way a program is sold. Ty didn't sell, so I assume an offer from us wasn't that prestigious. Davie could recruit, but you could argue that the lack of success was a chink in our armor. Today, I think our offer is as prestigious as it has ever been and on the way up.

Hughes is much nimbler than LenDale. White was straight ahead, Hughes has quite a set of twinkle toes.

I think limiting the discussion to performance on the field, currently, and academic prestige isn't the best measure. You have to account for tradition, history, women, campus life, coaching staff, ability to get to the next level, alumni network, fan base, "incentives" (we won't discuss those), degree choices, party atmosphere. What makes a school's offer prestigious isn't limited to two factors. Look at the recruiting classes we have been getting and what the players cite as important factors in their decisions. They cite history, academics, Weis & Staff, potential, fan base. Just the same, Shawn Cody cited women, sunny socal, Petey, and USC's reputation as a traditional power. ND's offer weren't prestigious when Ty was here, but their offer has nearly the same prestige, now, that it had under Lou. The current players see the program not as it was under Davie or Ty, but under what it once was and see the ability to bring it back to that. They ASSOCIATE themselves with THAT, not the crappiness of late. Last year was a growing pain, purely and simply. If it becomes a trend, however, ND's prestige will disappear, again. Right now, though, we are only missing W's to be back to the old days. Brady & Co had nearly gotten us back. Now, add consistency with the old guard gone and you will think you were watching the rocket, bettis, and watters all over again.

...and realize how much we could have used one of them a couple of years ago? Don't forget Jonas. Go check him out on the other thread. Damn! We have a stable.

I think Cierre can be the exact same kind of back.

DAMN! That's all I have to say. Besides Hughes, he is my new favorite. Neither of the films on the two newbies impress me like Jonas'. This kid is ready to play, NOW! Holy crap, look at his form, how he uses his blockers, and his speed. He doesn't have rocket speed, but he has plenty for a guy that size. This has me excited. He could supplant Aldridge if James can't figure out where his game went. Jonas is complete already.

well, both of those examples you gave were not the best, IMO. alstott was a FB. yes, i know he was a featured back at purdue but he was FB. and laws is a DT and tuck was a traditional DE. better example would've been AA and hughes on our very own ND squad! and from the film i've seen, riddick breaks far more tackles than wood does. and quite frankly, riddick is one of the most built RB's i've seen. he seems to never go down after the first hit. again, this is not to knock wood, as i've only seen like 1:30 minutes of film on him. and riddick is WAY more "built" than AA. now, clearly wood is ranked a 5-star for a reason. i was just saying judging by the two, admittedly short, films i've seen on them, riddick jumps out at me more. just making conversation, folks. no need to get angry or anything. as i said previously, i'm thrilled to have them both part of the ND "family." I'm with you a lot of the times, but I'll respectively take the other side. I didn't see a guy that is "built", I really don't. Toned? Definitely. But he's only 185 pounds, and looks it to me. Now, Jonas Gray, thats a guy that is built. Riddick is simply toned, and while he may look the part when he flexes his biceps, he has a lot more muscle to add in his core if he's only 185-190. Until Riddick puts on some more weight, I don't see his broken tackles translating to the next level. And honestly, I don't remember many broken tackles like you do - maybe we were honestly watching different film? Only time will tell on that one, but with his size/speed, I don't think breaking tackles will be his game. Save that for Huuuuuuuuuughes. One thing that I will say with Cierre's game is I see a guy that still runs like he did as a sophomore. He gained 15 pounds as a junior, but ran like a guy that had to bounce around a lot to gain yardage. Once he realizes that he has the girth to bowl guys over, look out. And even at that, I saw him lower his shoulder from time to time. All in all, Cierre excites me more, in his current form and what he could be too. Until I see complete film from both these guys, I'm not going to worry about it too much. Bottom line here is both are clearly gifted enough to warrant their scholarships to Notre Dame, and both are backs that we should be excited about. ok, well, it looks like the film from blue & gold is now under their premium lock, so i can't go back and look at it again but i did find this comment in another thread about riddick that makes me think i not crazy in my comments. from DD veteran irish chris: " Two things I saw in those highlights. 1. True break-away, homerun threat speed (ala AA) 2. The ability to break the first contact (unlike AA, so far) The second observation doesn't surprise me because, well, just look at calves avitar. The kid's built!!" ok, so at least one other guy agrees with me! Regarding the comparisons, Alstott lined up as a single back a lot for Tampa Bay. Regarding Trevor Laws, I forget, what position did he play ALL last season? I don't like the comparison between Hughes and Armando, because Hughes is nimble and deceptively has the ability to make good cuts. I am wary to compare Aldridge/Allen to Wood/Riddick, because I feel the disparity isn't THAT large, but I guess it would work as a lesser analogy. Wood doesn't run over guys like Aldridge used to, but I think he has that ability. Riddick doesn't seem as light as Allen, but has similarities. I guess, that is a good comparison. Anyway, we won't know until they get her, I guess. They have a full 'nother year to go. Oh, I wasn't represented the 909... I was suggesting Caliber might be from there. If I was representin, it woulda been the 818, but now, it's the 404.