2/24 - Ranks ND's final class similar to ESPN (#14), much more than Rivals and Scout (low-mid 20s).

 

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/16369/top-25-classes-notre-dame-fighting-irish

It's nice to hear one of these recruiting sites give Woods some love. The other sites seemed to lay off on him after he committed to us. I can't wait to see what these kids can do.

Does any one know if Calabrese can actually run a 4.6? When i was watching his film he looked a little slow to me.

For one, 40 times are overrated when you're measuring a LB's speed. How many times do you see LBs running 40 yards down field, and it in the end being a good thing for your defense?

 

For another, a LOT of these #'s are fibbed, one way or another. Even the combines do it.

 

As for Calabrese, I'd be surprised if he ran that well straight line. Either way though, the cornerstone of his game is picking through garbage and stopping the run, which has a lot more to do with technique, recognition, strength and leverage than straight line speed.

So true Calves.

A players read and react ability, especially at LB, is so much more crucial than his straight ahead 40 time.

It's nice to have the speed of course, but you can easily lose half a second or more if you start moving left on a play fake when the play is going the other direction.

Speed and over aggression (over pursuit) can be your worst enemy if you don't read plays well.

Just ask rey maualuga his first couple years at sc.

Dude took himself out of so many plays because he was too aggressive for his own good.

Same thing with everson griffin.

So true Calves.

A players read and react ability, especially at LB, is so much more crucial than his straight ahead 40 time.

It's nice to have the speed of course, but you can easily lose half a second or more if you start moving left on a play fake when the play is going the other direction.

Speed and over aggression (over pursuit) can be your worst enemy if you don't read plays well.

Just ask rey maualuga his first couple years at sc.

Dude took himself out of so many plays because he was too aggressive for his own good.

Same thing with everson griffin.

 

Uh??? Speed kills ... the linebacker can perform pass coverage, he can keep a back from turning the corner, he can rush the QB faster, he just plain disrupt a play.

 

Isn't that why everyone says the SEC is so tough?

Speed does kill. I think what they were getting at is you can still be a great player without blazing speed. However to be a truly elite player you have all of those previously mentioned intangibles, along with great speed.

 

I can't think of a single productive NFL LB who was sporting a 4.9 40.

For one, 40 times are overrated when you're measuring a LB's speed. How many times do you see LBs running 40 yards down field, and it in the end being a good thing for your defense?

For another, a LOT of these #'s are fibbed, one way or another. Even the combines do it.

 

As for Calabrese, I'd be surprised if he ran that well straight line. Either way though, the cornerstone of his game is picking through garbage and stopping the run, which has a lot more to do with technique, recognition, strength and leverage than straight line speed.

 

how bout a Pick 6?

For one, 40 times are overrated when you're measuring a LB's speed. How many times do you see LBs running 40 yards down field, and it in the end being a good thing for your defense?

 

For another, a LOT of these #'s are fibbed, one way or another. Even the combines do it.

 

As for Calabrese, I'd be surprised if he ran that well straight line. Either way though, the cornerstone of his game is picking through garbage and stopping the run, which has a lot more to do with technique, recognition, strength and leverage than straight line speed.

 

Calves is so right... 40 times are overrated. A perfect example would be Rey Maualuga, on the field he seems to be as fast as anyone, yet runs a 4.8 forty at the combine. It's more than speed on the football field, that's why it's important that our LB's get the system down, especially for a guy like Steven Filer.

There's speed in athleticism, and there's speed in reading and reacting to a play. Ray Lewis is hardly the fastest LB in the game when it comes to a footrace, but he's not wasting etra steps or time dissecting the play. He doesn't waste any time with indecision when he can tell where the play is going before the ball is ever snapped. Where other guys are wasting steps and time figuring ou the play, he isn't. Read & react time is at an all time minimum when it comes to Ray.

 

Speed does kill - but there's more than one way to accomplish it; knowing where you're going, or relying on God given wheels.

There's speed in athleticism, and there's speed in reading and reacting to a play. Ray Lewis is hardly the fastest LB in the game when it comes to a footrace, but he's not wasting etra steps or time dissecting the play. He doesn't waste any time with indecision when he can tell where the play is going before the ball is ever snapped. Where other guys are wasting steps and time figuring ou the play, he isn't. Read & react time is at an all time minimum when it comes to Ray.

 

Speed does kill - but there's more than one way to accomplish it; knowing where you're going, or relying on God given wheels.

 

 

Zibby was a good example of this. Good speed, unfortunately it was used to compensate for being out of position frequently. He really didn't have good football instincts, at least at the safety position, yet he had great closing speed.

Zibby was a good example of this. Good speed, unfortunately it was used to compensate for being out of position frequently. He really didn't have good football instincts, at least at the safety position, yet he had great closing speed.

 

Zibby should have been a LB IMO.

There's speed in athleticism, and there's speed in reading and reacting to a play. Ray Lewis is hardly the fastest LB in the game when it comes to a footrace, but he's not wasting etra steps or time dissecting the play. He doesn't waste any time with indecision when he can tell where the play is going before the ball is ever snapped. Where other guys are wasting steps and time figuring ou the play, he isn't. Read & react time is at an all time minimum when it comes to Ray.

 

Speed does kill - but there's more than one way to accomplish it; knowing where you're going, or relying on God given wheels.

 

agree 100%. i was a LB in HS & college and i had a blazing 4.8 40 time (now this was the mid-80s keep in mind! haha! we were all slower then) but i had the second fastest shuttle time out of both of my football squads, finishing second to a RB each time. im not bragging but i broke the school record for tackles my senior year of HS. lateral quickness is wayyyy more important to a LB than 40-times, IMO.

 

and i know this is anecdotal evidence, which i normally hate but i think it is germane here. many guys we can all think of from both CFB and the NFL who aren't fast but very effective LB's...

 

and this is the last time i will reference my "glory days..." i hope!

Uh??? Speed kills ... the linebacker can perform pass coverage, he can keep a back from turning the corner, he can rush the QB faster, he just plain disrupt a play.

 

Isn't that why everyone says the SEC is so tough?

 

Sure he can perform all of these things, but if he's out of position from the start, what good is he?

Did you happen to play for the same coach in HS and college?

 

agree 100%. i was a LB in HS & college and i had a blazing 4.8 40 time (now this was the mid-80s keep in mind! haha! we were all slower then) but i had the second fastest shuttle time out of both of my football squads, finishing second to a RB each time. im not bragging but i broke the school record for tackles my senior year of HS. lateral quickness is wayyyy more important to a LB than 40-times, IMO.

 

and i know this is anecdotal evidence, which i normally hate but i think it is germane here. many guys we can all think of from both CFB and the NFL who aren't fast but very effective LB's...

 

and this is the last time i will reference my "glory days..." i hope!