ND Recruiting Is Terrible This Year

[IrishInOntario]

As can be expected going 4-8...

Sadly, this class may finish in the top 10 when all is said and done, but it will fail to do what was neccessary, which is build on the defensive foundation it recruited last year, with a 2nd straight class of high quality proapects at positions of need. This clads will again feature talented OL and Receivers and tight ends, and their DB group will be solid, but they missed on a couple studs (as per usual) that would put the group over the top. A year after landing 3 quality DE's, there isn't a pass rusher in the class after Beal and Jeter bailed, they couldn't land a single other top tier edge rusher and their last hope (as of now) to fill the position, Josh Paschal, just spurned ND in favour of Kentucky. You can't make that up folks...

You want to build a defensive line to compete? You follow up Kareem, Hayes, Okwara, Ogundegi with Beal, Jeter, Paschal, MacColister, Ewell, Hinish. Lots of quality bodies with different skill sets, at various points in their development.

Of the top 6 defensive recruits ND had committed or who were considered a "lock" for ND, only 1 it appears, will sign. Beal and Jeter were the two beat DL prospects and both bailed. Werner was the best LB prospect and he flipped to Ohio State. And now Josh Paschal and Thomas Graham appear to be heading in other directions.

Tough spot to be in guys. Had a chance to really build to foundations of a talented defense with a second quality group in a row (at positons of need)... This defensive class is completely "meh", especially compared to what it could have been.

2017 legitimately could have been a well rounded, top 5 class.

 

[Pennick44]

As can be expected going 4-8...

Sadly, this class may finish in the top 10 when all is said and done, but it will fail to do what was neccessary, which is build on the defensive foundation it recruited last year, with a 2nd straight class of high quality proapects at positions of need. This clads will again feature talented OL and Receivers and tight ends, and their DB group will be solid, but they missed on a couple studs (as per usual) that would put the group over the top. A year after landing 3 quality DE's, there isn't a pass rusher in the class after Beal and Jeter bailed, they couldn't land a single other top tier edge rusher and their last hope (as of now) to fill the position, Josh Paschal, just spurned ND in favour of Kentucky. You can't make that up folks...

You want to build a defensive line to compete? You follow up Kareem, Hayes, Okwara, Ogundegi with Beal, Jeter, Paschal, MacColister, Ewell, Hinish. Lots of quality bodies with different skill sets, at various points in their development.

Of the top 6 defensive recruits ND had committed or who were considered a "lock" for ND, only 1 it appears, will sign. Beal and Jeter were the two beat DL prospects and both bailed. Werner was the best LB prospect and he flipped to Ohio State. And now Josh Paschal and Thomas Graham appear to be heading in other directions.

Tough spot to be in guys. Had a chance to really build to foundations of a talented defense with a second quality group in a row (at positons of need)... This defensive class is completely "meh", especially compared to what it could have been.

2017 legitimately could have been a well rounded, top 5 class.

Lots of time before signing day. New coaches may have contacts that present staff do not.

 

[MTIrish98]

Terrible is a strong word for it, but I agree there are big problems with the misses on defense. Adding tons of offensive talent to make up for it is like putting lipstick on a pig to cover up for the smell.

Hopefully a strong DC hire will help, but its probably a little late to make a meaningful difference on D.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Lots of time before signing day. New coaches may have contacts that present staff do not.

There may be some new prospects that pop up, but how often do top end prospects come onto ND's board late in the process, regardless of the situation?

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

Defensive prospects don't know who their coordinator is going to be or maybe head coach is down the road. It has to be a tough sell.

 

[Java65]

I'm not sure it's terrible but like most of the recruiting classes it has holes and lacks elite talent. It seems that we get 1 good DL class then go 2 years where we lack numbers and talent which is why 1 or 2 injuries and you have major problems.

As with everything else the last 7 years we keep seeing the same mistakes and they never get addressed.

 

[REMND]

We nedd some more bodies on defense.

DL is Ewell, MacCollister and Hinish. Needed Paschal. I know of no others we are after.

LB is White and Adams. Need Simmons. I like the fact he played RB and is injury free. Werner is good but it is tough overcoming hip and shoulder injuries.

CB is Adebo and Hicks. One of Johnson or Graham would be important.

Safety is Robinson only. Fortunately he is an early entry.

I want one LB (Simmon), CB, DL and Safety. Any likelies? Graham announces Friday. I have always wondered why we did not pursue Jerron Cage.

 

[AdvanSix]

Last year's haul will likely look better on paper than on field once all is said and done. Hayes's history of injuries leads me to reasonably believe he won't make it very long without going unscathed,

 

[NyyorkerND]

As can be expected going 4-8...

Sadly, this class may finish in the top 10 when all is said and done, but it will fail to do what was neccessary, which is build on the defensive foundation it recruited last year, with a 2nd straight class of high quality proapects at positions of need. This clads will again feature talented OL and Receivers and tight ends, and their DB group will be solid, but they missed on a couple studs (as per usual) that would put the group over the top. A year after landing 3 quality DE's, there isn't a pass rusher in the class after Beal and Jeter bailed, they couldn't land a single other top tier edge rusher and their last hope (as of now) to fill the position, Josh Paschal, just spurned ND in favour of Kentucky. You can't make that up folks...

You want to build a defensive line to compete? You follow up Kareem, Hayes, Okwara, Ogundegi with Beal, Jeter, Paschal, MacColister, Ewell, Hinish. Lots of quality bodies with different skill sets, at various points in their development.

Of the top 6 defensive recruits ND had committed or who were considered a "lock" for ND, only 1 it appears, will sign. Beal and Jeter were the two beat DL prospects and both bailed. Werner was the best LB prospect and he flipped to Ohio State. And now Josh Paschal and Thomas Graham appear to be heading in other directions.

Tough spot to be in guys. Had a chance to really build to foundations of a talented defense with a second quality group in a row (at positons of need)... This defensive class is completely "meh", especially compared to what it could have been.

2017 legitimately could have been a well rounded, top 5 class.

IIO generally speaking as you know we don't land elite talent on the d line every year. It seems like we get 1 linebacker every 4 or 5 years that's elite or 1 D prospect that's elite. Im more concerned with filling the class rather that who or what positions we get. That all being said we won't know how this class will fill out or develop.

 

[Pennick44]

There may be some new prospects that pop up, but how often do top end prospects come onto ND's board late in the process, regardless of the situation?

So you are saying there is a chance? I will settle for very good football players at this point.

 

[Pennick44]

There may be some new prospects that pop up, but how often do top end prospects come onto ND's board late in the process, regardless of the situation?

What do you know or think of Elko?

 

[IrishInOntario]

I like Elko. I think he does things in a fundamentally sound manner and his defensive philosophy starts up front, which any good defense does. He also gets the best out of inferior talent in many cases.

With that said, I don't think he's a "homerun" or a visionary of any sorts. I think he's a quality DC, who runs a learnable, responsible, system and he would make a quality difference. I also don't have any clue how good of a recruiter he'd be because he's never recruited top prospects at a big school.

 

[MTIrish98]

I like Elko. I think he does things in a fundamentally sound manner and his defensive philosophy starts up front, which any good defense does. He also gets the best out of inferior talent in many cases.

With that said, I don't think he's a "homerun" or a visionary of any sorts. I think he's a quality DC, who runs a learnable, responsible, system and he would make a quality difference. I also don't have any clue how good of a recruiter he'd be because he's never recruited top prospects at a big school.

I don't think we can get a homerun when the head coach is on the hot seat, so I'll take this as a very good hire if you are saying nice things about him!

...assuming he gets hired that is.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I don't think we can get a homerun when the head coach is on the hot seat, so I'll take this as a very good hire if you are saying nice things about him!

...assuming he gets hired that is.

The cool thing about Elko is that he personally coaches safeties. I Like the idea of Lyght being retained and being responsible for only the corners, while being directly overseen by Elko. I think Lyght's corners improved enough and he's a quality enough recruiter, to keep him around under Elko's tutelage.

 

[Irish Duck]

As can be expected going 4-8...

Sadly, this class may finish in the top 10 when all is said and done, but it will fail to do what was neccessary, which is build on the defensive foundation it recruited last year, with a 2nd straight class of high quality proapects at positions of need. This clads will again feature talented OL and Receivers and tight ends, and their DB group will be solid, but they missed on a couple studs (as per usual) that would put the group over the top. A year after landing 3 quality DE's, there isn't a pass rusher in the class after Beal and Jeter bailed, they couldn't land a single other top tier edge rusher and their last hope (as of now) to fill the position, Josh Paschal, just spurned ND in favour of Kentucky. You can't make that up folks...

You want to build a defensive line to compete? You follow up Kareem, Hayes, Okwara, Ogundegi with Beal, Jeter, Paschal, MacColister, Ewell, Hinish. Lots of quality bodies with different skill sets, at various points in their development.

Of the top 6 defensive recruits ND had committed or who were considered a "lock" for ND, only 1 it appears, will sign. Beal and Jeter were the two beat DL prospects and both bailed. Werner was the best LB prospect and he flipped to Ohio State. And now Josh Paschal and Thomas Graham appear to be heading in other directions.

Tough spot to be in guys. Had a chance to really build to foundations of a talented defense with a second quality group in a row (at positons of need)... This defensive class is completely "meh", especially compared to what it could have been.

2017 legitimately could have been a well rounded, top 5 class.

Terrible? I can think of 100+ teams that would love to have this recruiting class. Certainly not optimal (at least not yet) but certainly not terrible. IIO, the sane posters on this board expect better from you than this.

 

[MTIrish98]

The cool thing about Elko is that he personally coaches safeties. I Like the idea of Lyght being retained and being responsible for only the corners, while being directly overseen by Elko. I think Lyght's corners improved enough and he's a quality enough recruiter, to keep him around under Elko's tutelage.

I think Lyght deserves more time too. I don't know much about secondary play, but BVG's scheme seemed to really put a lot of pressure on the back end of the defense. I suspect scheme was the cause of most of the disappointments in coverage the past few years.

 

[REMND]

Last year's haul will likely look better on paper than on field once all is said and done. Hayes's history of injuries leads me to reasonably believe he won't make it very long without going unscathed,

That is one of the reasons I wanted Paschal as a possible WDE. I think DHayes, Okwara, Kareem, Pride, Elliott, Vaughn, Studstill and Love all play this season.