2016 ND Linebacker report.

[Bodizephax]

Tevon Coney will miss the spring and should be ready for fall practice because of a separated shoulder and maybe some labrum damage which will require surgery. Coach Kelly said that he could rehab from a separated shoulder sooner but without the surgery he could easily get reinjured.
When will all these injuries stop?

Also Coach Kelly compared Asmar Bilal's athletic ability to Jaylon Smith. He said you may see Asmar out on the football field and have flashbacks that you are seeing Jaylon Smith. He will be a sophomore this season.

With Barajas, Morgan, Bilal, Coney, Martini, Onwualu. Daelon Hayes, Jones and hopefully either Kelly or McCoulough (sp) Notre Dame will be loaded with athletic highly ranked and sought after linebackers.

*** 2016 should be a great year for the Irish. Hopefully BVG gets his defense running like Alabama's.

*** Only Losers use excuses. Winners come up with answers. And I believe the Irish will get a perfect score in 16 !!

 

[michigaNDer#1]

Hopefully BVG gets his defense running like Alabama's.

Hopefully

 

[kellys heroes 35]

Hopefully

ND has PLENTY of good to very good athletes on board on the defensive side of the ball - combe thru the last two recruiting cycles and you will see plenty of highly rated kids on defense .

Some players won't flourish w-o actual playing time so that they can adjust to the speed of the game I see that as the case with a lot of these kids . My only concern is the defensive line , I would not be shocked and am actually hoping the coaches give Hayes a long hard look at DE , He is 6'3" 255 lb --- a perfect size for DE . ND needs to generate a consistent pass rush for all the obvious reasons not the least of which will be to protect a young secondary as they find their way back there .

Kelly is a masterful offensive coach with a keen eye for talent on that side of the ball , ND will continue to score points . We MUST continue to improve our defense especially in opening the games . Van Gorder has been snake bit with tons of injuries the last two years hopefully we catch a break and play relatively injury free next season so that we can truly see whether VG is or isn't the right guy for the job .

Just a guess on my part but I have a feeling Hayes has already been penciled in to the DE rotation next yr w Trumbetti and Rochell @ DE if that is the case I see at least two of the incoming DE's red shirting. In 2017 it will be critical for ND to land 2 prime time DT's

 

[tkirish]

Defense wins championships. Kelly needs to focus on getting his defense fixed. Whether it's players, coaches or both, something needs to be done. Without a great defense you cannot win a championship.

 

[ndnd]

Defense wins championships. Kelly needs to focus on getting his defense fixed. Whether it's players, coaches or both, something needs to be done. Without a great defense you cannot win a championship.

Couldn't agree more ND is in need of some serious work on defense . Alabama is great because of their defense . This is where the emphasis should be on Kelly's part and I don't think BVG is the answer

 

[BGI User 1596]

Couldn't agree more ND is in need of some serious work on defense . Alabama is great because of their defense . This is where the emphasis should be on Kelly's part and I don't think BVG is the answer

IF BVG is not part of the solution than he is part of the problem and should have been removed already.

 

[Telx1]

Ara, share your concern about Elston, but solely on the basis of the apparent lack of player development. Not sure if this is an Elston issue or BVG scheme issue, but believe it is the later.

 

[Izo]

Speaking about good defense , there are teams that do not have the high profile defensive star players but yet play good defense . Boston College for one . I just wonder about our defensive scheme .

 

[shooter1977]

That freedom to make plays is much different now than it was when the junior first stepped onto the field for Auburn two years ago under then-defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. “It’s a big difference,” McKinzy said. “The verbiage, the play calls are probably like a sentence long. It’s totally a big difference from that defense my freshman year and this defense. You can play faster.”

 

[Weisnheimer]

ND has PLENTY of good to very good athletes on board on the defensive side of the ball - combe thru the last two recruiting cycles and you will see plenty of highly rated kids on defense .

Some players won't flourish w-o actual playing time so that they can adjust to the speed of the game I see that as the case with a lot of these kids . My only concern is the defensive line , I would not be shocked and am actually hoping the coaches give Hayes a long hard look at DE , He is 6'3" 255 lb --- a perfect size for DE . ND needs to generate a consistent pass rush for all the obvious reasons not the least of which will be to protect a young secondary as they find their way back there .

Kelly is a masterful offensive coach with a keen eye for talent on that side of the ball , ND will continue to score points . We MUST continue to improve our defense especially in opening the games . Van Gorder has been snake bit with tons of injuries the last two years hopefully we catch a break and play relatively injury free next season so that we can truly see whether VG is or isn't the right guy for the job .

Just a guess on my part but I have a feeling Hayes has already been penciled in to the DE rotation next yr w Trumbetti and Rochell @ DE if that is the case I see at least two of the incoming DE's red shirting. In 2017 it will be critical for ND to land 2 prime time DT's

I said this the day he committed. He has NFL LB size right now and is very fast. He's only 17-18 yrs. old. He will only get bigger. Give him reps at DE. His film at those combines showed him grabbing the receiver's jersey almost every play. If he plays LB he better improve that or he will be called every time in coverage. But hey, maybe that's a sign that he will play nasty to get an edge.

I wanted to see Coney step in but now another injury... He seemed mostly lost out there this year, kinda like Morgan when he stepped in for Schmidt his freshman year, and I really didn't see nasty. He's big but I want insanity. Just a smidge below Berfict. This year should show what Morgan has or has not learned from Elston, and then take a look at Elston. I think Martini is solid and tough. He can get better with a good coach, as well. I really liked what I saw of Jameer Jones in that UA game. Had an interception and was in on tackles and around the ball most plays.

The Dline coach has been getting a pass and I'm not sure why. ND's line was porous at best this year. Trumbetti is very good. I hope they give him the majority of PT this year.

I like what I saw of Todd Lyght as coach. He was w/out Kei Russell, Tranquil, and Redfield for that Fiesta fiasco. I wasn't by any stretch blown away by the play of Studstill in that Georgia HS game. He made a couple plays, but hopefully will get coached up by one of the best to play the position for ND.