Where's the beef? Looking for, but not finding, nose tackle

[Guest bluester2000]

Let me first preface this by saying I am more pleased with this year's linebacker recruiting.

 

I'm not sure what everyone's take is about our current situation at nose-tackle. At this point Stewart is the 300+ pounder on the defensive side of the ball, and it's still a question mark if he can handle the difficult switch.

 

What's plan B if Stewart doesn't make the transition well or gets injured? What recruits are on the radar to fill this position in the future? The team needs at least 2, maybe 3, of these kinds of guys and at this point we barely have 1. Cwynar sounds more like a defensive end or maybe a DT in pass rushing situations than a pure Ted Washington space eating nose tackle.

[miragesmack]

I read somewhere that CW said if Stewart at NT doesn't work, he'll just move him back. I know if they get Brandon Newman, thats where CB says he wants to play him.

[Guest NDisNCin2010]

Ian Williams will be here this Summer

[Guest bluester2000]

Is Williams a for sure 3-4 NT type? I know he committed before we officially switched coordinators. If Williams can fill this role (which I suspect he can), and Newman commits I'll be in a much better place.

[Guest gallup21]

Ian is 290 lb right now. He may gain more, and i believe he can be the NT we need

[Guest ND2k9]

Does anyone else seem to think of Jason Kates and Gerald Mccoy when we talk NT? dang the two that got away. Thanks Minter.

[blarney_stank]

While I wish we had McCoy for the NT spot, I was never a big fan of Kates. It was always a mystery to me why people were so high on him. It probably goes to the fact that we needed DL depth so badly that any warm body with size was worth considering. For me, it was his apparent work ethic or lack thereof that turned me off.

[tchris555]

While I wish we had McCoy for the NT spot, I was never a big fan of Kates. It was always a mystery to me why people were so high on him. It probably goes to the fact that we needed DL depth so badly that any warm body with size was worth considering. For me, it was his apparent work ethic or lack thereof that turned me off.

 

 

agreed

[IrishCalves]

Does anyone else seem to think of Jason Kates and Gerald Mccoy when we talk NT? dang the two that got away.

 

I don't know if anyone else will remember hearing what I did, but I thought Tom Lemming mentioned that McCoy opted for OU because of some family issue. Does that sound right to anyone else?

[blarney_stank]

Does anyone else seem to think of Jason Kates and Gerald Mccoy when we talk NT? dang the two that got away.

 

I don't know if anyone else will remember hearing what I did, but I thought Tom Lemming mentioned that McCoy opted for OU because of some family issue. Does that sound right to anyone else?

 

That sounds familiar to me Calves. If I recall correctly he just had or was expecting a child and OU had promised certain facilities and "support" to aid with that situation.

 

BTW, welcome to the board. I should have done it earlier. I have really enjoyed your insight and posts the last few days. You also picked a great avatar to start off with.

[NDFan3]

Is Williams a for sure 3-4 NT type? I know he committed before we officially switched coordinators. If Williams can fill this role (which I suspect he can), and Newman commits I'll be in a much better place.

Sleep well blue, we're heading in the right direction. Newman is by no means a lock, but we're in great position with him right now. Hopefully we'll get him and one more NT in this class, but I'm not exactly sure on who the other would be. Lets all keep our fingers crossed for a haul Newman and Omar Hunter....we'd be set.

 

Also, from everything I've read, Ian is an excellent NT for our defense. He's a big body, and he's got tremendous strength. He should defnitely see early PT this year...like from game one hopefully. Also, there's conflicting reports on how Stewart is doing at NT. Most say he still looks a bit out of place, but because of his size and athleticism, he should be a good fit, once he gets all his technique down.

[IrishCalves]

Thanks blarney. I actually switched from yours to avoid "cramping your style."

 

With regard to Gerald McCoy, I can't really blame a coaching staff for not being able to land him on account of location and such unique circumstances. If it was, "I decided on OU because it felt like I lost touch with the Notre Dame staff," then we all get to gripe in unison. But a look at the numbers still warrants discontent.

 

Since Minter came in late 2004 - early 2005, he has seen 10 defensive lineman leave either through graduation or transfer (Budinsack, Pauly, Beidatsch, Tuck, Landri, Leitko, Frome, Abiamiri, Brandon Nicolas and Ronald Talley), and only recruited 6 in their place (Kuntz, Hand, Mo Richardson, Ryan, Wade, and Ian Williams). They've moved anywhere from 2 (Paddy Mullen, Chris Stewart) to 4 (Andrew Nuss, Emeka Nwankwo) offensive recruits to defense because of this gap. And since we switched over to the 3-4, we lost Ryan and Richardson to OLB, putting our gap from then to now at anywhere from 2-4 lineman. And even that is assuming Stewart's position change sticks. Its enough to make your head spin.

 

That said, it is a little unfair to look at Gerald McCoy and other specific recruits and say, "He should have been Irish." But from a bottom line perspective, he simply didn't cut it on the D-line, and we shouldn't be in the hole we find ourselves in.

[MikejND]

I don't know if this was talked about, but what about Andrew Nuss? He said he enjoyed playing Defense.

[irishdread]

Nuss and Nwanko will be starting out on the D-Line. That will be a very big plus with Ian Williams also coming in.

[MikejND]

I meant at Nose Tackle.

[blarney_stank]

Thanks blarney. I actually switched from yours to avoid "cramping your style."

 

Hey Calves, feel free to call me Stank. It is a longstanding nickname and I actually prefer it. You weren't cramping my style at all, but thanks for changing. It probably makes it easier on both of us as we watch and read the boards.

[Guest NDLawJAG]

I saw Nuss play last year... his team played a 3-4 and he was the NT. I think he will need a little more development before he is ready to play NT at ND.

[IrishCalves]

Did Corwin say he'd get his first look @ NT? I assumed, especially since he's about the same weight as Cwynar, that he'd get first crack @ DE.

[D Fence]

Also, I thought Nuss would start on the DL but Nwankwo would start on the OL?

[GoIrish24]

I remember reading that Nwankwo will play defense.