I think there is a prevailing view about manti-- thats yes he is and will be a great player-- but he is still just a freshman-- that with only fall practice he will at best have to work his way into a lineup with alot of pretty good linebackers, many with experience.------that seems like a sound analysis but i very much disagree--IMO Manti will start against nevada!

 

When charlie was asked about where manti fits -- it was very telling---he said that Manti can play any of the three linebacker positions-- so when he gets on campus they will evaluate which of the three is the weakest and let him compete for that spot

 

charlie ,of course , will not redshirt this man that may be on a mission-- so he will play-- he can play all spots-- the question is when will he play?

 

here is a quick review in case any of you have forgotten why manti is the best defensive recruit ND may have ever reeled in

 

USA today national defensive player of the year-- parade all american-- Butkus award winner-- 5 star player everywhere-- no 1 linebacker everywhere-- ESPN no 2 player in the country-- scout no 6 player-- rivals no 10----

 

some of the remarks from ESPN's recruit evaluation--plays with great power and strength--plays fast with great intensity--strong technique--explosive tackler--great burst and closing quickness--excels attacking off the perimeter-displays great range and effort playing sideline to sideline--excellent pass rusher and a nightmare on the blitz-

 

yes fall practice is short-- but manti is a freak of a LB-- and of all the positions on the field LB is perhaps the easiest to play as a freshman as compared to Oline- DB--QB even WR

 

IMO charlie , corwin and mr tenuta are salivating at the prospect of adding Manti's incredible skills to THIS YEARS DEFENSE-- and i think it will be from DAY 1--- we have a really good looking defense as it is now-- but with this player we will be a NIGHTMARE on D for many teams!!

I love Manti, but I think ideally he would be a super-sub. My ideal starters would be would be Flemming-Brian Smith-Filer, with Teo filling in for any of the three as he has the size and speed to play anywhere in the linebacking unit.

Hawaii, not to rain on your thoughts but this young man is still a freshman and i think that it will be about the third game before he can fit into the lineup, sure he will see some playing time , but i would think that it will take some time before he is 'READY' for first team position , Just remember the kid is playing against a lot higher caliber of players , i hope that he can compete effectively with the big boys . I just hope that he dosen;t get dishearted at this level, i do wish him the best i just hope that we don't expect too much too soon . go irish

Hawaii, not to rain on your thoughts but this young man is still a freshman and i think that it will be about the third game before he can fit into the lineup, sure he will see some playing time , but i would think that it will take some time before he is 'READY' for first team position , Just remember the kid is playing against a lot higher caliber of players , i hope that he can compete effectively with the big boys . I just hope that he dosen;t get dishearted at this level, i do wish him the best i just hope that we don't expect too much too soon . go irish

 

yeah, tell all that micheal floyd!!

 

guys, elite talent can start as true freshmen. it's not very hard to envision manti starting from day one...

you arent raining on my parade rick, i fully understand that what you say is actually generous-- expecting to see him alot game 3-- most think even later in the year---and i do get the reasoning entirely.

 

i guess thats why i'm going on record with my alternative view-- understanding i may be a minority of one-lol-

 

i look at charlie when he talks about manti and i can tell how soon he wants him to play-- plus i know what kind of player we have stumbled onto---and i am very confident that most are underestimating the impact he will make immediately.

 

Ill go farther-- it will happen like this

 

1st---Manti will show up on campus in june-- the first manti sightings will be

 

something like this--- wow did you see how big he is-- he looks like he's over 230--- yea and he seems alot taller then i expected--he looks like a beast such a thick muscular body on a freshman

 

2nd--- the speculation that manti will play very early will start as soon as we see him on campus-------then will come the reports from the first week of practice

 

the number one topic of conversation will be te'o--- te'o this te'o that-----then will come the coaches preliminary comments

 

3rd- by now around august 20th there will be alot of specualtion that teo could start along with flemming and Bsmith

 

4th-- lastly will come charlies comments before the final depth charts and by then it will look very likely manti is READY TO GO NOW!

 

5th-- so IMO not only will manti start against nevada-- but by kickoff there wont be anyone who will be surprised by it!

 

 

Just my very strong feeling --- when i get these feelings-- i find i'm very often right-- TOO BAD WE HAVE TO WAIT SO LOG TO FIND OUT--- but perhaps the anticipation is fun in its own way!------ aloha

Hawaii,

The kid was a great pickup but he wouldn't be the 1st top player to struggle at the realization that he can't just dominate. I hope he is that good that he starts from day one (like Floyd) but Charlie needs to start making these guys work their way into the lineup instead of planning for him to start.

I hope he's better than Jason Ching.

my guess is he starts game three, you don't recruit the top defensive player in the country to sit the bench, I think you give him the Lavar Arrington treatment and put him on the field at multiple positions and tell him to attack, kind of like the middle linbacker from the movie "The replacements- to quote the coach, "I need you to get me the ball"

The need to learn a new system in itself limits the effectiveness of a new player. Even when a guy signs with another team in the pros, there is an adjustment period when he may not start, and, if he does, it means there is much less than an ideal situation there.

One thing people need to remember when talking about starting/not starting Manti is that if he decides to go on a two year mission after his freshman year, he never has to come back to ND and play again, he could go to the NFL, if he so chooses. His class would be through their Jr year in college and he would be eligible to put his name in the draft. Now obviously, I doubt this would ever happen, but the possibility is there.

 

In sure CW will start him if he is one of the three best LB's on the team, otherwise he will probably be #4. We need to get him on the field as soon as he's ready, thats for sure........

after signing day i cant remember which ND coach said this :"Teo reminds me of Andy Katezenmoyer, in that he is the most ready to play and ready to make an impact as a freshmen recruit he has seen since Katezenmoyer" This coach has watched way more film then anyone one of us so lets hope he is right, because Katz was Big Ten freshmen of the year!

Brian Smith moving from the Mike to the Will says a lot IMO. Yes, Toryan did play well in Brian's place when he went down with the knee, but everyone and their brother knows Toryan is a one dimensional player; run stuffer that can't handle pass drops. You don't move your best linebacker over in favor of a one dimensional player. You move him if you think you've got a guy that can handle the most important LB position as well as or better than him. Enter Manti Te'o.

 

As the staff has stated, they're going to evaluate where he's needed most and plug him in there.

 

Will has Brian Smith, and IIRC Poz is his backup and has looked pretty serviceable in doing so.

 

Sam doesn't have one established face, but a strong cast to chose from. Fleming, Zeke, Filer, Scott Smith... lots of options to choose from here.

 

That leaves Mike. If needed, B. Smith could move there with injuries, but for now we're talking Toryan (who should come off the field in passing situations), McDonald (who hasn't stayed healthy since he's gotten here), and Calabrese (similar kind of recruit to McDonald as far as caliber/billing).

 

Of the three, Mike looks to be the weakest, assuming the staff wants Brian at his original position on the outside. I'm guessing before long, it'll be Brian, Te'o, and Sam by committee when its all said and done.

And FYI, that was Tenuta who made the connection to Katzenmoyer.

I love Manti, but I think ideally he would be a super-sub. My ideal starters would be would be Flemming-Brian Smith-Filer, with Teo filling in for any of the three as he has the size and speed to play anywhere in the linebacking unit.

 

Filer & Flemming play the same position. I'm sure Filer can play WLB too, but he was lining up over the TE in the B&G game, same as what Fleming will do. Poz looked pretty good in scrimmage as well.

 

IMO Scott Smith coming back helps the overall LB corps just b/c he can play all 3 positions. He might not be as talented as the other guys, but he has a lot of experience. He can start if needed or be a reserve at all 3 positions.

 

I think Toryan starts vs. Nevada, but he wont play as much as a normal starter. Running/Goal line situations will def be Smith or if we're blitzing b/c he can bull rush guards.

If Manti's starting, I'm uneasy about the so-called "depth" we have.

 

I'm all for him getting reps in a regular rotation, but if he's starting from Day 1, I think that speaks moreso to how little talent we have in the linebacking corps than it does of Manti's talent.

 

Just my two cents.

If Manti's starting, I'm uneasy about the so-called "depth" we have.

 

I'm all for him getting reps in a regular rotation, but if he's starting from Day 1, I think that speaks moreso to how little talent we have in the linebacking corps than it does of Manti's talent.

 

Just my two cents.

 

look, dude, frosh start (or play a lot) @ tx, fla, alabama, et al every year. is anyone questioning their depth?? i mean, this kid was the NUMBER ONE defensive recruit in the country. and we've already seen this movie with a kid named floyd, no? hardly anyone on this thread mentions that our (arguably) number one offensive threat last year was a true frosh!!

 

this is not a sign of depth problems or any other sign of weakness defensively if manti starts, it only means this kid is a phenomenal player. that's all. let's celebrate the possibility, people, not wring our hands over it...