What does anybody think the chances are of Aldridge getting more touches than Walker this year

 

I believe he could make the impact that Adrian Peterson made as a freshmen

 

I think it might end up being a touch choice for coach Weis

he's gonna be redshirted.

he's gonna be redshirted.

 

Doubt it, could be a huge contributer.

I would like to see Travis Thomas get more touches

 

Travis Thomas + Darius Walker = James Aldridge

 

Thomas has the power, Walker has the speed and receiving abilities

 

 

I have seen video on Aldridge and he seems to be a very good receiver as well as a power back.. very nice speed too

 

 

I look for him to be a big contributor as well

well lets see, aldridge carries means less for walker and thomas. oh add the like 3 carries a game for schwapp.so i guess were really spreading it out running the ball.

Spreading it out is a good idea if you have the players to do it

 

Keep everyone fresh... more potential to break a huge run

 

 

Also, the opposing defense won't get as much of a feel for the running back they are playing against if they have to deal with a few different guys

thats true, like the way your thinking...hmm maybe he wont be red-shirted. all i know is, if there not gonna redshirt him than give him his carries.

Aldrege has....everything.....I'd say two years normally he would explode third year on the scene.

 

However, that being said. There is not a single iota that is not remarkable in this young man, ability, effort character, ND team and on and on. He has a work ethic bar none.

 

If he doesn't get so excited that he fumbles the ball or some mistake, I can see him put in right away and play quite often 2006.

 

But then you sure do go back to the Offensive line making a seam. Without that even Reggie Bush sucks.

 

Get in sync with that O line and after 5-7 yards let him do his stuff. There were mutiple times Coach Weis in 2005 had to clamp down on the East to West dodging and just go forward.

all we can do before hes played in b&g is hope but i think you guys are right this kid can play

this guy will not red shirt, coach is going to have a running team as well as passing, but mostly running til he can get another reciever like jeff to balance , brady will have a good year but not as good as last year, run run pass run run

Other than his skill do we have anything substantial corraborating the fact that he won't be red shirted? What he has going for him is the fact that he is getting to campus early, that makes it more likely. IMO this kid may be great, but he isn't the once in a life time kind of talent that would supplant two veterans. Plus, don't forget Hoskins was highly regarded for a period.

 

If I were coach I'd wouldn't do anything but weight train / condition with Aldridge this Spring. Make him bigger, faster, stronger, meaner. Then, next fall allow him to mix in gradually to the offensive system, but maintain his eligibility. Next spring allow him to replace Thomas. Use a two headed monster of DW and Aldridge the fall of 07. Remember, we'll be breaking in a new QB, and personally I'd like DW's experience in the backfield, and I'd like a really fresh 20 year old who's already been on campus for 2 falls, but hasn't taken a hit in a game yet.

Ill tell you two reasons why he wont redshirt

 

1. WE do not redshirt kids, they just do not play then can apply for a 5th year

 

2. Look at the rb depth chart, Walker, Thomas then what? Hoskins has problems and hasnt shown anything yet even though he was a big time recruit, and may not be at ND come spring(just a hunch) after that we got a converted corner. My point, there is no depth in the backfield. Thomas showed some flashes last year and played well when he got in, and would probably be the first choice to fill in for walker, however, I really think aldridge like most great college backs will have a chance to move into second on the depth chart and see alot of playing time early, he will surely be atleast 3rd on the depth chart, and its not rare for charlie to get the third guy alot of carries. Coming in early is only going to help those chances, this kids is the crown jewel of this class in my opinon, he has all the ability to be a big time back, and even for what he did in helping recuriting should tell you other kids respect his ability and he has become the real leader of this class. High school kids wouldnt be following him to ND if he wasnt a real talent who could really shine. I think you will see alot of aldridge this year, and he has a good shot at being the reliable back who can spel walker, over thomas

in response to post below-

 

"this guy will not red shirt, coach is going to have a running team as well as passing, but mostly running til he can get another reciever like jeff to balance , brady will have a good year but not as good as last year, run run pass run run"

 

have you ever heard of this guy-rhema mcknight

 

he will balance with shark-

30 runs per game- 30 pass per game

 

aldridge will help weis execute a balanced attack-

in conclusion....he will have limited reps until he is proven

Hey Domerdude welcome.

Point #1 you're arguing semantics. If a kid doesn't play his freshman year he is for all intents and purposes being red shirted. Whether the University will call it that or not, whatever. Generally, the University doesn't do it because they couldn't. Nobody who had a degree, and was NFL ready, would come back because of the lack of coaching quality. IE - if you were a senior, and you were going to be drafted, you take the money, because you know the coaching staff was not going to make you significantly better over the coarse of the year. that's different now.

 

#2 Aldridge may or may not play. It might make sense for next year's recruiting purposes to let him play, and for Charlie to get the rep of allowing younger guys playing early. I'm not coach, I don't know what he's thinking. However, if I were a coach, I don't put pressure on Aldridge. As it is, running backs have a limited shelf life, both per season and per career. And for me, I think it makes more sense to save him until we really need him ('07, '08). I let Aldridge sit next year, until we need him (both Walker and Thomas go down, or one goes down and the other has nagging injuries), hopefully we can get through the season without needing him.

"IMO this kid may be great, but he isn't the once in a life time kind of talent that would supplant two veterans."

 

 

I wouldn't call a junior running back a veteran in any way... Yeah they would have a little more experience than Aldridge, but at this level nobody is a veteran... They could be beaten out carries just like anybody else could