This is a guy who seems to be getting a lot of praise from the coaches and has been working with the first team as the first man to come in. IMO Lombard seems to maybe be the weakest link of our starting 5, wondering if there's any chance Elmer ends up beating him out? I think I read somewhere they only want Elmer at tackle, but I'm not sure.

 

Anyways you get caught up in what Bryant, Redfield, Robinson, Luke or Smith is doing then you forget about the o-line haul we just pulled in. I'm not sure but it could be debated as maybe the best o-line class we've ever pulled in, when it's all said and done. The season hasn't started yet but there's a good possibility we have 3 or 4 guys from this class starting next year. If it weren't for Watt and Martin we might be hearing of Montelus and Bivin in the same spot as Elmer.

 

Since I've been an ND fan I've never seen a freshman class with so many guys biding for playing time. I think it has more to do with how good the class was than having weak upperclassmen. Regardless if Spond retired he might have been beaten out by Jaylon, and Spond was productive on a real good defense. I believe Lombard might be the weak link, and if Elmer ends up the better option I say play him.

 

The only things you here about Elmer tend to be very positive. Freshman are starting to succeed at any position on the big stage these days (good example is Alabama). Even with the players we pulled in, Elmer might end up being the best in the class. Like I said Jury's still out but I think this guys gonna quietly play his way onto the field pretty often this season, what do you guys think?

He may be a three year captain. Love Elmer. He committed before the start of his junior year and has always repped ND proudly even though he grew up in a UM town. He could be an all time great.

 

Hopefully jerry Tillery follows this blueprint.

He's going to be a stud no doubt. Great kid and character also. If Stanley's injury persists, he may start at right tackle. That's doubtful though. I expect him to play some nice minutes this year. Stanley and Elmer are the future at offensive tackle though.

Elmer will play alot this year. That's awesome given the talent on this roster.

I always wondered why everyone else in the country can recruit impact freshman and ours always take a year or two to develop. But I think that is over, Kelly said he can hold his own with Tuitt and thats all I needed to hear. He gonna be a stud, maybe on the Jake Long level

The OL has had has some nice battles thus year so far. Stanley, Martin, Hegarty, Hanratty, Elmer and Lombard have been battling for position.

 

It has resulted in what should be a very capable line and depth this year. It should even show dividends for the next year as well when we lose Watt and Zack.

Does anyone think that Sam Young would've started on this team as a Freshman?

Does anyone think that Sam Young would've started on this team as a Freshman?

 

Nope. As in, I think he would have a tough time unseating Stanley.

 

This O-line class is exceptional, but I do think Elmer is exceptional beyond that -- in terms of being physically ready to compete now. Given how lacking the O-line numbers were even last season, seeing Frosh in the two deep is not surprising. The last two classes prior (2011,2012) included Stanley, Harrell, Hegarty, Martin, and Carrico. You could argue that the individual 2013 and 2014 classes trump those two classes combined. So, nowhere to go but up in terms of depth.

 

That said, if any of the kids in Tillery's class (2015) start showing up on the two-deep, that would be something.

Does anyone think that Sam Young would've started on this team as a Freshman?

 

That's a great question. I don't know.

 

I do know that he would have received much better coaching if he had this staff. My frustration with Sam was that he seemed better as a Freshman than any other year.

 

He may have played as a FR, like Elmer, but wouldn't have started.

Does anyone think that Sam Young would've started on this team as a Freshman?

 

Nope, only spot he would have a chance would be RT and I like Stanley and Elmer more than I did Young

More than any other position, it seems that starting early has a detrimental effect on O lineman. Personally, I think there are two reasons for this:

 

1. Learning the whole play book, all the blocking assignments, and how to react to any one of a hundred different D stunts takes a lot of time; and oftentimes is better accomplished on the sideline. Rarely do you see situational O linemen because it is so hard getting them on and off the field in time to run the next play. As big as they are, they're probably pretty winded for the next play too. So those guys have to know all the plays in the play book, and the blocking scheme that goes with each plus the nuances of that scheme given the initial D alignment together with any looks they give before the snap and how they react after the snap. That is a whole lot to learn, and making a mistake or hesitating can really make those guys look bad, which can then affect their self confidence and development.

2. The beating their bodies take. Think about all that weight, all those competing forces, all those bodies falling around your knees and ankles. Hell, just the bruising alone would be enough to put some of us in the hospital on a weekly basis. Sure, practices are still tough, but not like the full go for 60 minutes against a unforgiving nemesis that happens every Saturday. Having a year off from that abuse is probably a good thing at this point in the career of an offensive lineman.

That's a great question. I don't know.

 

I do know that he would have received much better coaching if he had this staff. My frustration with Sam was that he seemed better as a Freshman than any other year.

 

He may have played as a FR, like Elmer, but wouldn't have started.

 

My thoughts exactly. Sam underachieved due to coaching not talent.

My wife went to the same HS as Steve so I had a chance to go watch him in a game last year. He's a big kid, that is for sure. What impressed me the most was not his blocking or his sack (for a safety, if I remember) while playing D-Line. What impressed me was what he did before the game. I watched him walk up to a couple kids at the end of the bench and throw his arms around them as he stood there talking to him for a while before kick-off. I was impressed because you could tell these were kids who may not ever get any significant playing time at the HS level. they didn't appear to be too big or althletic, but the senior ND recruit was at the end of the bench talking with these guys. Although just a snapshot, I thought that showed great leadership. I'm a big fan.