aj7822

I thought this was the case for Sam Mustipher, not Montellus...

I believe the biggest issues with DaVaris and Ishaq were that neither one continued to take classes to stay in good academic standing per NCAA eligibility requirements while they were suspended. KeiVarae had continued his education and I think has a much better shot of getting the waiver from the NCAA. Does he want to take the risk, is the question, though.

As good as Schwarber is at the plate, I think the Cubs would be smart to look at trading him for a great, defensive CF and young SP. He has no real position and will be a liability for the Cubs in the OF, especially since Soler is just average in the OF. I think they will give both a chance, but won't keep both if they don't improve, defensively. Trade one and put Heyward in RF, Soler/Schwarber in LF, and the trade in CF.

Everything I hear has OU in front, with ND and Michigan vying for 2nd. The biggest plus here with Kelly's recruitment is he has been to every school on his top list...except for ND. Get him on campus around all the other talent and "wow" mom with the atmosphere and academics/support that is available. I have a weird gut feeling about this one, that he is blown away and we are pleasantly surprised...

It's probably nothing, but he lights up when he speaks about Coach Denson and ND. All the others his body language is the same, hunched over, stoic, and monotone. When he speaks about ND, he smiles and shifts around a bit.

If Fowler wants 4 years at $15 mil a year, I say offer Heyward an extra 5 and sign him for 8. Heyward is 4 years younger and historically, a better hitter than Fowler.

I think the Rose Bowl will take OSU no matter who wins the Big Ten. If Temple wins the AAC, they will not pit them in a ND rematch, so I could see us playing Iowa, Baylor, or FSU...My hope would be Baylor...

It's the all too common playing not to lose, instead of playing to win...he wasn't going to let his overtly aggressive play calling be the reason they beat ND, even though Hogan carved the secondary up all game when given time.

The interesting thing will be if Navy wins out and there is carnage in the rest of CFB. I'm talking Michigan winning the Big 10, Florida losing to FSU and beating Bama in the SEC, and a 2 loss Big 12 champ. With it being guaranteed to have at least a 2 loss Pac 12 champ, would Navy possibly get in the playoff with a 12-1 record and AAC champ? You could see Clemson, ND, and Navy in the playoff...

Temple has been tied or losing at halftime in 5 of 8 games this year...

Utah is last year's TA&M, beat an an above average Michigan team and dismantle an overrated Oregon and people think you are phenomenal. Play teams with athletes on both sides of the ball and they are done...Michigan's wins over BYU and NW don't look all that great now, while Oregon is terrible.

Per 247...

Every team they have played is ranked lower than 50th in offensive efficiency, with 4 being in the bottom 30...ECU is currently ranked 48th... ND has played 3 of the top 20 (Navy, USC, Clemson) Ga Tech is 39th Then Texas at 61, UVA at 68, and Umass at 76 ND is currently ranked 9th...

I don't think you can understate the meaning of the weather change. It was in the upper 90s earlier this week in LA with it being mid 80s the last few. A 40-50 degree change is tough to adjust to that quickly...

Not if he has outstanding parking tickets...schools take these things seriously. I had many buddies across the country that got letters before graduation saying they wouldn't get to walk or get their degree unless paid in full. I think this is what makes ND special, the athletes are treated as close to regular students, as possible. How can someone who doesn't hold themselves accountable for errors they commit hold others accountable?

I think the issue with Russell is the scheme and shaking off some rust, still. The DBs haven't been in an aggressive press man scheme for TX and VA, they were mainly in soft cover 2 zone schemes. With TX, they had no QB, but against VA, I think the D still played a vanilla base defensive scheme. I would rather we see the D play aggressive press man coverage on the outside, ala MSU, and force the QB to make consistent good, long throws. I think the DBs would thrive in a scheme to allow them to be aggressive rather than sitting back and letting them dink and dunk where the guys want to be aggressive, but if they are, leave someone out to dry.

Kelly has stated that both Texas and Virginia stuck to the middle of the field to try to take away the slots/TEs and have help vs. the run. This is why we haven't seen much to the middle of the field and most have been to the outside. Teams are forcing inexperienced QBs to beat them on longer throws to the outside. However, if the run game continues to flourish and opposing defenses cheat guys off the slot to help get pressure or sell out vs. the run, it will open up the middle of the passing attack. I, too, agree with previous posters that Zaire started to key into Fuller in the VA game and missed 4-5 wide open receivers if he had been a little more patient. CJ was open in the flat quite a few times and CRob was open on drag routes underneath, but Zaire tried forcing the ball to Fuller rather than progressing through his reads to these guys. The one that jumps out is the 3rd down pass to Fuller on the first drive that was tipped by the defender at the goal line. If you go back and watch the replay, Robinson and Prosise were both open to Malik's right, pictured below. The nearest defender to take on either Robinson or Prosise was a S at the goal line.

Agreed, Hawaii. Why do we have Amir "Stutter, Step, Stop" Carlisle as our KR when CJ Sanders looks so electric with the ball in his hands. I'd kick those high lob kicks to Amir all day and let him try running...CJ, not so much...

Per Kelly, they haven't decided on who will call plays. To be determined in the next week with Sanford potentially being the guy...

That's an awfully high threshold. They better hold teams to under 125. I hope they allow closer to 100 yds rushing...I hope they hold teams to under 250 passing.

It's a big visit weekend for ND and Johnson. Tenn has gained some strong momentum and per Wiltfong it's neck and neck to where a commitment to either program wouldn't be a surprise.

Have to make sure his coursework was legitimate and that he has the requisite credits to participate in fall sports. I believe that is one of the major holdups for Ishaq, that his credits and GPA may not allow him to return to athletic competition.

Lots of smoke that Isaiah Pryor is on the verge of a commitment to OSU within the next week.

Alot can be said of what Joe Schmidt meant to this D after he went down (Greanted the Offenses in those first 7 games were mediocre-bad). I think the team, coaches included, relied too heavily on Joe's knowledge of BVG's scheme and, after he went down, there was no one to get the right calls/audibles etc. in with the knowledge that Joe had/displayed. I think this is why you saw confusion and guys out of place. If Joe could see what the Offense was doing and get guys lined up in the right place 90% of the time, then the group could become too reliant and not try to dissect the formations, checks, shifts as much on their own. I think Joe going down forced guys to become more self reliant and learn quicker (as evidence by how well they played for the most part vs LSU). I am not sold on BVG's system, yet, either. However, ND will have 23 guys back on D that logged significant minutes in the past 2 years and that coupled in with a greater understanding of BVG's scheme in year 2 should show many signs of improvement. If BVG cannot produce a top 25 D with this talent and upperclassmen heavy D, then he won't be able to cut it here.

Steve Wiltfong just crystal ball'd HJ to ND now (had been all PSU up to this point)...gotta love ND's chances now