Look for Rochell on Saturday

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Louis Nix got hurt at exactly the best time for us. I mean if you have to miss a couple of games I want him to miss the two option teams and be fired up ready to go against BYU and Stanford.

 

We don't need those little Navy dudes chopping at Chocolates' knees. Enter Rochell. What a wonderful surprise when he reported to camp at about 280. Born and raised in the south, Isaac knows all about option football. He played very well against Air Force and now will probably see a lot of time against Navy. This bodes well for us down the stretch and into next year when I think Rochell is a starter. If Tuitt comes back I think we should play a lot more 4 man fronts.

 

Anyway, this team has a little bit of depth. I mean we lost Springmann and Hounshell and yet we have a quality defensive lineman like this to turn to!!!

I think next year's defense is going to surprise us all. Kendall Moore and Councel are seeing the field. Defensive backs out the gazoo!!!

 

Can't wait to be 7 and 2 come Saturday and move up the pecking order.:whoo:

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,570]

Louis Nix got hurt at exactly the best time for us. I mean if you have to miss a couple of games I want him to miss the two option teams and be fired up ready to go against BYU and Stanford.

 

We don't need those little Navy dudes chopping at Chocolates' knees. Enter Rochell. What a wonderful surprise when he reported to camp at about 280. Born and raised in the south, Isaac knows all about option football. He played very well against Air Force and now will probably see a lot of time against Navy. This bodes well for us down the stretch and into next year when I think Rochell is a starter. If Tuitt comes back I think we should play a lot more 4 man fronts.

 

Anyway, this team has a little bit of depth. I mean we lost Springmann and Hounshell and yet we have a quality defensive lineman like this to turn to!!!

I think next year's defense is going to surprise us all. Kendall Moore and Councel are seeing the field. Defensive backs out the gazoo!!!

 

Can't wait to be 7 and 2 come Saturday and move up the pecking order.:whoo:

 

Love the post. Think Isaac is going to do great this weekend! AND, found a new favorite word..

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Kelly was high in his praise for Rochell after the Air Force game. We keep getting that young freshman talent on the field. Cole Luke is another example and he played pretty good. He will seriously benefit from the off season and be the starter at corner next year opposite Russell.

 

Okwara, though not a freshman is another young player that they will have to find a spot for next year. Sure wish we had redshirted this kid, he looks the part of a dominating defender. Will never forget when I watched him in person break a SOONER in half.

 

All this bodes well for next year's defense. You have to throw Redfield in there. He and Shumate will be an incredibly athletic, fast and hard hitting duo next year. Jaylon Smith will be a super star and will add about 5 pounds. He doesn't put on weight easily but so what. It's that speed and instincts that make him great.

 

We may not have Nix next year. We may not have Tuitt, but we will have a good defense. Longo will do his best to build up Rochell, Jarron Jones, Matuska and even Ishaq. Matuska is about 280 right now and has good quickness.

 

Basically we have had a lot of set backs on the defense with the loss of Lynch, Vanderdoes, and the injuries to Hounshell and Springmann, but Kelly takes it in stride. He has recruited so well that the over all trend is up. We keep getting deeper and better. The perceived drop off on the defensive line next year will be far less than anticipated. The depth will improve dramatically with this next recruiting class. Already four bigs and another coming.

[roarcity269 0]

I absolutely love our freshman class. I get so pumped hearing their names on the call: Fuller, Smith, Rochelle, Luke, Robinson, Elmer, Folston. Just think 4 out of those 7 names weren't even considered in our top 10 recruits for 2013.

 

IrishMob13 is really showing up as a class so far.

[OklahomaIrish 0]

I like to go on Irish Illustrated to their offensive and defensive master lists for recruiting. Last year we hit a home run on offense. I mean we answered every single position with a stellar recruit. This year is almost the same with the exception of running back. We are about to become an offensive juggernaut with players stacked 3 deep.

 

Next year all three of our quarterbacks will have some serious wheels on them. Golson, Zaire and kizer. The receivers just keep coming in as we add Brent, Holmes, Weishar and probably one more. Each year we bring in stellar receivers and lots of quantity. Next year Tori Hunter will amaze you. Fuller adds 10 pounds and is a big play about to happen.

 

The offensive line will be second to nobody, not even Alabama. Last year we had 5 super bigs and this year we are sitting on 4 more and may take one more. I hope it is Mama from California.

 

Its all about depth and player development.

 

I don't see as much depth on defense. We keep losing people like Lynch and Vanderdoes, but over all, it is getting deeper. Next year, the way the freshman and sophomore classes go together will pretty much cover everything. Not seeing that 5 star defensive lineman, but you will see Longo make some of these lanky 3 star guys into legitimate contributors.

[VCDomer 75]

My wish for the 2014-2015 season will be that Tuitt and Nix will be there.

[Shamrocker 0]

Going forward, we have the depth and talent of a top tier SEC school, no knowledgeable fan can deny that. That's what seperated us from BAMA last year, but that problem has been solved by Kelly.

[stdntDrvr 12]

Going forward, we have the depth and talent of a top tier SEC school, no knowledgeable fan can deny that. That's what seperated us from BAMA last year, but that problem has been solved by Kelly.

 

Not being a negative nancy, but after looking at our depth chart at linebacker do you still stand by that statement?

[NDhoosier 1,336]

My wish for the 2014-2015 season will be that Tuitt and Nix will be there.

 

No way Nix comes back, he has not reason to. He will have his degree, and he will be a high draft pick. The only thing that would bring him back is if he thinks Tuitt comes back and wants to make a National Championship run with Golson back at the helm. That is a pretty big risk to put off going to the NFL and supporting his family that really needs it from what I remember Nix saying about it.

[VCDomer 75]

No way Nix comes back, he has not reason to. He will have his degree, and he will be a high draft pick. The only thing that would bring him back is if he thinks Tuitt comes back and wants to make a National Championship run with Golson back at the helm. That is a pretty big risk to put off going to the NFL and supporting his family that really needs it from what I remember Nix saying about it.

 

I wasn't aware that Nix would have his degree by the end of this year. That being said, my wishfull thinking was him wanting to come back with Tuitt and EG and make another run at it.

[gipper2nd 0]

I don't think we can call Vanderdoss..."vanderdon't" anymore. He had 12 tackles in the game a week & a half ago.

[VCDomer 75]

I don't think we can call Vanderdoss..."vanderdon't" anymore. He had 12 tackles in the game a week & a half ago.

 

I vote for Vanderdouche!

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Let's say we don't have Nix or Tuitt. That doesn't mean we will take a nosedive on defense. Factor in a bunch of big plays by Jaylon Smith. Factor in two dynamic, fast, big hitting safeties in Shumate and Redfield. Factor in all the time Longo has with Rochell, Jarron Jones, Springmann, Hounshell and Matusak. Factor in a seasoned Okwara will absolutely demand a starting spot some where. Factor in Stellar corners in Russell, Luke and Butler. Factor in the return of Grace and the emergence of Kendall Moore. Maybe we don't have Nix and Tuitt. Maybe we do have Tuitt. But we will be a good defense, no doubt.

[NDhoosier 1,336]

Defense will still be good, but the DL will definitely see a drop in production and DL is always important.

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Defense will still be good, but the DL will definitely see a drop in production and DL is always important.

 

Drop in production?? Left to right Okwara (cat), Tuitt (DE) Springmann (nose), Day (DE) Jaylon (dog)....... You sure that is a drop in production??

Rochell and Jones will be greatly improved and get more reps.

[jarious 0]

Drop in production?? Left to right Okwara (cat), Tuitt (DE) Springmann (nose), Day (DE) Jaylon (dog)....... You sure that is a drop in production??

Rochell and Jones will be greatly improved and get more reps.

 

Yeah, pretty sure you are looking at a drop in production here, in the sense that an all-american candidate is better than someone who has yet to make any substantive impact.

 

Nix >>> Springmann

 

Now, if you are saying Rochell and Jones make up that difference at NT, then I admire your optimism. Plus, I like how you threw Jaylon in there to pretty up the crowd.

 

A Schwenke redshirt, at any point in his career, would be looking good right now.

[OklahomaIrish 0]

Yeah, pretty sure you are looking at a drop in production here, in the sense that an all-american candidate is better than someone who has yet to make any substantive impact.

 

Nix >>> Springmann

 

Now, if you are saying Rochell and Jones make up that difference at NT, then I admire your optimism. Plus, I like how you threw Jaylon in there to pretty up the crowd.

 

A Schwenke redshirt, at any point in his career, would be looking good right now.

 

Well, Jaylon is part of the front 5. Springmann looked pretty good last year for a freshman. I remember a swim move he made and either got the sack or a tackle for loss. He's also 6' 6'' and will contribute a few passes knocked down. Okwara is bigger and stronger than Shembo. Actually, the biggest flaw to my assessment would be that Tuitt may not come back. The defense may start out a little slow next year like it did this year, but we have a lot of talent, especially when you consider the defensive backs. Shumate and Redfield are going to make some big plays. They are just bigger and faster than what we are accustomed.

[irishguy773 0]

I wasn't aware that Nix would have his degree by the end of this year. That being said, my wishfull thinking was him wanting to come back with Tuitt and EG and make another run at it.

 

It's his senior year, so if he doesn't have his degree by then, ND wouldn't allow him back for a 5th year.

[NDhoosier 1,336]

I think Springmann will be solid if he comes back healthy, but he is still not Nix and the potential is there for Tuitt to leave ND as well. If Nix and Tuitt both leave, there will definitely be a drop in production unless someone like Okwara or Rochell step up and become an All-American talent.

 

I personally think Okwara as the talent to become special, but he may need some more weight to see time at DE on a consistent basis. Right now, he plays DT on obvious passing downs and that is it really.