Marcus Freeman & Al Golden killing it on the defensive side of the ball

[chaseball]

4th ranked defense in the country (according to the latest F+ update), after a good performance vs a Louisville offense that F+ really respected (even without Christian Gray, Mickey, and Traore). Impressive. I haven't seen a unit (offense or defense) ranked this highly at Notre Dame in a really long time.

KVA & Bowen have already developed into stars too. PFF graded Bowen as one of the best LBs in the country in week 5.

NDs offense tumbled to #25 though (15 spots below their off-season projection of 10th).

 

[john0gaunt]

Love Love Love this defense.

 

[chaseball]

Love Love Love this defense.

I included Marcus Freeman in the title. I have a feeling that he'll be able to turnout good to great defenses no matter who is the DC under his leadership.

 

[john0gaunt]

I included Marcus Freeman in the title. I have a feeling that he'll be able to turnout good to great defenses no matter who is the DC under his leadership.

Agreed. And the young kids on the defensive side of the ball are phenomenal.

 

[chaseball]

Agreed. And the young kids on the defensive side of the ball are phenomenal.

Player development on that side of the ball is crazy.

Leonard Moore, KVA, and Bowen are all super green players going to be here for at least another 2-3 seasons and all produced bigly vs a good offense.

Leonard Moore is a true freshman, and was a composite 3 star ranked in the 400s too.

 

[john0gaunt]

Player development on that side of the ball is crazy.

Leonard Moore, KVA, and Bowen are all super green players going to be here for at least another 2-3 seasons and all produced bigly vs a good offense.

Moore seems to have 8 gears. Adon physically looks like he should be in the league already. Clark is gonna be another great one.
edit: And then there's Young.

 

[mbd11]

They're doing a great job with recruiting and player development.

The run defense was better Saturday. Maybe playing Bowen, KVA and Ausberry more had something to do with that.

Cross had his best game yet, too. He was coming off an injury, so maybe that explains his slow start.

 

[IrishMike409]

I hate that Traore is hurt. That beast was getting better and better every week.

Pumped to see him back and ready for 25. Botelho too!

 

[THUNDERSTRUCK111]

I hate that Traore is hurt. That beast was getting better and better every week.

Pumped to see him back and ready for 25. Botelho too!

I’m very hopeful that’s what happens but…..

We have seen this story all too often

. 1 or 2 transfer in hopes of being the number one guy. Even though we seen time and time again your 1 play from being number 3 on the depth chart to number one.

 

[savvyandsassier]

I hate that Traore is hurt. That beast was getting better and better every week.

Pumped to see him back and ready for 25. Botelho too!

So is he out for the year, Traore?

 

[NDblitz]

Player development on that side of the ball is crazy.

Leonard Moore, KVA, and Bowen are all super green players going to be here for at least another 2-3 seasons and all produced bigly vs a good offense.

Leonard Moore is a true freshman, and was a composite 3 star ranked in the 400s too.

So was Sauce Gardner. Sometimes it's about potential and fit not just stars.

 

[Get Nasty]

I’m very hopeful that’s what happens but…..

We have seen this story all too often

. 1 or 2 transfer in hopes of being the number one guy. Even though we seen time and time again your 1 play from being number 3 on the depth chart to number one.

2 plays away

 

[Get Nasty]

I hate that Traore is hurt. That beast was getting better and better every week.

Pumped to see him back and ready for 25. Botelho too!

The problem ( i hope it happens) is if both come back next year you have 3 Vypers that can be good/great. Botelho, traore, burnham. Burnham was playing out of position to start the year to create the best 2 deep. He was getting swallowed up by tackles on run plays at him. But at least he had the ability to run some things down and get a little pressure. Oben hasn't bee able to do anything, and junior is very limited.

We need Burnham at vyper and young at SDE starting moving forward in 24

2025, if botelho and traore are both back and healthy there are your two ends, i don't know what you do with burnham or junior. Young should start at SDE.

 

[Golson5]

The problem ( i hope it happens) is if both come back next year you have 3 Vypers that can be good/great. Botelho, traore, burnham. Burnham was playing out of position to start the year to create the best 2 deep. He was getting swallowed up by tackles on run plays at him. But at least he had the ability to run some things down and get a little pressure. Oben hasn't bee able to do anything, and junior is very limited.

We need Burnham at vyper and young at SDE starting moving forward in 24

2025, if botelho and traore are both back and healthy there are your two ends, i don't know what you do with burnham or junior. Young should start at SDE.

You're forgetting about Loghan Thomas

Burnham is a big end next year

Traore Botelho Thomas Junior at Vyper

Young Burnham and we'll see at Big End

 

[banmate6]

It's obviously contextual.

MF knows what he is doing on defense. Al Golden does to the nth degree.

ND D > sum of the parts.

Not the case in my book for the O.

 

[Get Nasty]

You're forgetting about Loghan Thomas

Burnham is a big end next year

Traore Botelho Thomas Junior at Vyper

Young Burnham and we'll see at Big End

I just don't think loghan will be ready next year to challenge any of the vypers I mention except in maybe special packages on 3rd and long.

I do think there's a chance burnham is at big end as you mention, i just think that's a mistake and it's not a fit for him. But he may be the 2nd best we have next year if we don't have a transfer or someone like vernon develops (yes he's inside right now, but i'd rather see him stay fit and play SDE) or Burgess is ready early. When he gained weight in college to slide inside, it wasn't good. I'm sure they hope he adds good weight, but there's a reason he's not even sniffing the field despite poor depth and opportunities right now at the DL.

 

[NDblitz]

I hate that Traore is hurt. That beast was getting better and better every week.

Pumped to see him back and ready for 25. Botelho too!

He might be back this year. Guy was walking around with ice on his knee. It could be just a bad bump or slight sprain. ND only plays 3 games the next 5 weeks.

 

[Get Nasty]

He might be back this year. Guy was walking around with ice on his knee. It could be just a bad bump or slight sprain. ND only plays 3 games the next 5 weeks.

Craig was walking around with ice as well, and he's done for season. You can walk around with basic knee tears.

Billy looked worse, and was in a boot immediately. He may come back next week.

My point, he most likely didn't blow out his knee like botelho, and has a basic tear that needs fixed and will have him out for the season like craig.

 

[Get Nasty]

You're forgetting about Loghan Thomas

Burnham is a big end next year

Traore Botelho Thomas Junior at Vyper

Young Burnham and we'll see at Big End

I'm changing my stance on vyper here. Unless Botelho and or Traore are back for the spring, you can't rely on them to be themselves by the fall. That just doesn't happen. Look at Eli, Evans, etc. They are still shells of there former self a year or more post injury.

You want them both back in hope that maybe one can be back good. But in spring, i would be getting burnham and thomas ready to go at vyper.

Golson, i think you have to put burnham at vyper in the spring a lot because traore and botelho most likely won't be there in the spring.

If you go into 2025 with Junior and Thomas as your vypers, that's not good.

 

[Golson5]

He's

I just don't think loghan will be ready next year to challenge any of the vypers I mention except in maybe special packages on 3rd and long.

I do think there's a chance burnham is at big end as you mention, i just think that's a mistake and it's not a fit for him. But he may be the 2nd best we have next year if we don't have a transfer or someone like vernon develops (yes he's inside right now, but i'd rather see him stay fit and play SDE) or Burgess is ready early. When he gained weight in college to slide inside, it wasn't good. I'm sure they hope he adds good weight, but there's a reason he's not even sniffing the field despite poor depth and opportunities right now at the DL.

Almost ready this year. He's played a little and looked pretty good actually

Thomas is playing right now

 

[HDK]

He might be back this year. Guy was walking around with ice on his knee. It could be just a bad bump or slight sprain. ND only plays 3 games the next 5 weeks.

Not a bump because it was non contact. I'm guessing he's already had surgery and will be out for the year.

 

[NDblitz]

Not a bump because it was non contact. I'm guessing he's already had surgery and will be out for the year.

You've never had a knee scope? Could be 4 weeks. And how do you know he had surgery?

 

[HDK]

You've never had a knee scope? Could be 4 weeks. And how do you know he had surgery?

Just a guess just like you are guessing he'll be backin a few weeks. I've seen enough of these seemingly minor injuries turn into season-ending ones. Who can forget Drue Tranquill tearing an ACL just by jumping up and down in the end zone after a big play?

 

[NDblitz]

Just a guess just like you are guessing he'll be backin a few weeks. I've seen enough of these seemingly minor injuries turn into season-ending ones. Who can forget Drue Tranquill tearing an ACL just by jumping up and down in the end zone after a big play?

I'm not guessing about anything. I said have you ever had a knee scope? Often times that is a 4 week injury. I've seen NFL guys come back after 2 weeks. YOU assumed surgery and that it meant end of the year. Yet nobody has said he has had surgery.

 

[HDK]

I'm not guessing about anything. I said have you ever had a knee scope? Often times that is a 4 week injury. I've seen NFL guys come back after 2 weeks. YOU assumed surgery and that it meant end of the year. Yet nobody has said he has had surgery.

Sorry, I wasn't aware I was giving sworn testimony. But no, your honor, I've never had a scope and I realize athletes can come back from them quickly. I'm just saying I've also seen seemingly minor injuries turn out to be major. We'll find out soon enough when Freeman gets around to giving the injury report, which, I guess, won't be until next week because of the bye.

 

[IrishMike409]

So is he out for the year, Traore?

I'm not sure. Has anyone heard?

 

[HDK]

I'm not sure. Has anyone heard?

Someone said earlier that Freeman wasn't going to give his usual injury report this week because of the bye. But, ironically, after an exchange I had with NDblitz just above, I was watching the replay of the game and just a few minutes ago saw the update on his injury. They showed the play where he got hurt. No contact. He just planted and went down and held his knee. The sideline reporter, in announcing he was out for the rest of the game, described him as being "clearly emotional" on the bench. If that is indeed the case, that sounds like season-ending injury to me.

 

[IrishMike409]

Someone said earlier that Freeman wasn't going to give his usual injury report this week because of the bye. But, ironically, after an exchange I had with NDblitz just above, I was watching the replay of the game and just a few minutes ago saw the update on his injury. They showed the play where he got hurt. No contact. He just planted and went down and held his knee. The sideline reporter, in announcing he was out for the rest of the game, described him as being "clearly emotional" on the bench. If that is indeed the case, that sounds like season-ending injury to me.

Man that's a bummer. He was playing awesome.

I'm friends w a former ND scholarship D-Tackle. He once described football as "cruel bitch", when dealing with injuries.

 

[Get Nasty]

Man that's a bummer. He was playing awesome.

I'm friends w a former ND scholarship D-Tackle. He once described football as "cruel bitch", when dealing with injuries.

how long former? I think times have changed regarding athlete injuries. Coaches really can't be involved much if at all around an injury, where as when I played they made the medical rules at times. You were pushed so hard to get back on the field ASAP, even when not feeling right. That happens so far less today.

With that said, injuries are probably even easier to get as athletes continue getting bigger and faster at all positions.

 

[IrishMike409]

how long former? I think times have changed regarding athlete injuries. Coaches really can't be involved much if at all around an injury, where as when I played they made the medical rules at times. You were pushed so hard to get back on the field ASAP, even when not feeling right. That happens so far less today.

With that said, injuries are probably even easier to get as athletes continue getting bigger and faster at all positions.

Not long. Played "in this era" if that makes sense.

 

[Fightingirish595]

I still have worries they can get moved around in the middle. Mills and cross are good but a bit undersized. Specifically cross.

 

[Get Nasty]

I still have worries they can get moved around in the middle. Mills and cross are good but a bit undersized. Specifically cross.

Cross issue is that he’s not 100% and out of shape due to injury