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Offensive Line As Of Today

stu4don

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Dec 13, 2006
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Back to the OL discussion. From yesterday's last summer scrimmage before A&M prep -- Knapp seems to be the guy at LT. Shame about Tosh as we were all so excited when he signed with ND, but the guy has been given several chances to grab the job (well, kinda tough when you are behind two NFLers)... But I'm hearing Knapp (a true Freshman!) and Sam Pendleton (a red-shirt Freshman) started on the left side yesterday.

We just need to get by A&M and develop these guys. When Jagush gets back and if these young guys develop -- CJ is going to have a damn good Oline in from of him for the next three years!

But A&M will be helluva test for these young guys.

Thoughts?
 
Back to the OL discussion. From yesterday's last summer scrimmage before A&M prep -- Knapp seems to be the guy at LT. Shame about Tosh as we were all so excited when he signed with ND, but the guy has been given several chances to grab the job (well, kinda tough when you are behind two NFLers)... But I'm hearing Knapp (a true Freshman!) and Sam Pendleton (a red-shirt Freshman) started on the left side yesterday.

We just need to get by A&M and develop these guys. When Jagush gets back and if these young guys develop -- CJ is going to have a damn good Oline in from of him for the next three years!

But A&M will be helluva test for these young guys.

Thoughts?
Even without the injury to Jagusah it was going to be a tough test as both tackles would have minimal experience. I am always excited to see young players get thrown into the fire. Plenty of talent there just not experienced.
 
Even without the injury to Jagusah it was going to be a tough test as both tackles would have minimal experience. I am always excited to see young players get thrown into the fire. Plenty of talent there just not experienced.
Echo, pointing out that Jagusah would have been very inexperienced as well is worth noting; but there’s no denying that practicing in the system for a season and working on college level strength and conditioning are major pluses that Jagasuh would have brought to the position.
 
Echo, pointing out that Jagusah would have been very inexperienced as well is worth noting; but there’s no denying that practicing in the system for a season and working on college level strength and conditioning are major pluses that Jagasuh would have brought to the position.
Of course. It's why he was #1 on the depth chart. That said his actual real game experience was minimal though. Unlimited potential for sure but we just haven't seen enough yet and unfortunately with his injury we'll have to wait until 2025.
 
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Echo, pointing out that Jagusah would have been very inexperienced as well is worth noting; but there’s no denying that practicing in the system for a season and working on college level strength and conditioning are major pluses that Jagasuh would have brought to the position.
Also 6’7 330 and very athletic
 
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Freeman said the OL is NOT set yet. They’re working guys at different positions.
 
Freeman said the OL is NOT set yet. They’re working guys at different positions.
That's probably the only info/insight we got into the program this fall. Freeman is a master at spending 20 mins with the media once a week, and sharing almost zero actual information on the topic we're all there to get information on.

It's good in that the opposing team is getting nothing, but it sucks in that it makes fall camp less entertaining as fans which means prospects probably aren't all that engaged either.

I always envied the prime pete carroll era at USC in that his practices were open to the media around the clock all camera and media access. His practices became events that made national headlines and created videos that went viral online before videos used to officially go viral. It made USC cool.

If ND wants to self handicap their football program with a laundry list of archaic academic criteria and policies -- that just gimps their roster, that NOBODY in the industry cares about anymore -- they got to at least give themselves any and every advantage elsewhere in the program to make up ground.

In my opinion, being super transparent during fall camp and allowing any and all media access uncut and raw (kind of what Sanders is doing at Colorado on Youtube), with our celebrity-looking head coach, might not be the worst idea to expose the brand to a wider audience beyond just their aging fan base.
 
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Echo, pointing out that Jagusah would have been very inexperienced as well is worth noting; but there’s no denying that practicing in the system for a season and working on college level strength and conditioning are major pluses that Jagasuh would have brought to the position.
Charles Jagusah was the starting left tackle with zero close competition for a reason.
 
Charles Jagusah was the starting left tackle with zero close competition for a reason.
You've said this before. As far as " zero" close competition only those there every day would know that for certain. Anthonie Knapp may become the best left tackle in ND history. I doubt it but no one knows now do they ? I'm ready for them to line up and play.
 
A&M appears to be having the same problems as us.

-Outside of the QB hinting, the OL update is the biggest and funniest shit I've seen from them.

---Fatheree is nowhere to be found in the starting lineup and may not be running second team at RT. He still "isn't the same" since his mysterious injury like 18 months ago. I think this guy is being pushed through the program to get his degree and move on and they'd rather not have him publicly leave as another OL bust.

---The presumptive starting RT is the former KU guard that transferred in after being processed by Leipold. This is really ****ing hilarious.

---They "need" Bisontis and Nabou to be badasses at both G positions because of problems at RT and C. This OL is going to be one of the worst OLs in P4 and they're going to get QBs killed. Defenses will not have to play off the ball with concern toward anyone getting behind them or any TBs beating them to the edge.





Last season, Bisontis lined up at right guard for 62 snaps, all of which came in the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State. In 2024, he is slated to line up mostly at left guard.

“He seems extremely comfortable at guard,” Zuhn said at SEC Media Days. “He’s experienced. I don’t know if that’s just from this past season, having that experience. He seems like a great fit there and can’t wait for him to be next to me.”

The move is one part of bolstering an Aggie offensive line that has struggled over the past two years under former offensive line coach Steve Addazio. The Aggies finished the season ranked 94th in the country in pass-blocking grade with a 59.0, according to PFF. In total, the Aggies allowed the quarterback to get hit 35 times, which was third-worst in the country. Beyond that, the Aggies have gone through three starting quarterbacks in each of the last two seasons due to injury. Every player projected to start for A&M on the offensive line this season, save for Kansas transfer Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, is returning from last season.
 
That's probably the only info/insight we got into the program this fall. Freeman is a master at spending 20 mins with the media once a week, and sharing almost zero actual information on the topic we're all there to get information on.

It's good in that the opposing team is getting nothing, but it sucks in that it makes fall camp less entertaining as fans which means prospects probably aren't all that engaged either.

I always envied the prime pete carroll era at USC in that his practices were open to the media around the clock all camera and media access. His practices became events that made national headlines and created videos that went viral online before videos used to officially go viral. It made USC cool.

If ND wants to self handicap their football program with a laundry list of archaic academic criteria and policies -- that just gimps their roster, that NOBODY in the industry cares about anymore -- they got to at least give themselves any and every advantage elsewhere in the program to make up ground.

In my opinion, being super transparent during fall camp and allowing any and all media access uncut and raw (kind of what Sanders is doing at Colorado on Youtube), with our celebrity-looking head coach, might not be the worst idea to expose the brand to a wider audience beyond just their aging fan base.
Just STFU. The forum is tired of your incessant negativity of Notre Dame. You are a complete douche.
 
You've said this before. As far as " zero" close competition only those there every day would know that for certain. Anthonie Knapp may become the best left tackle in ND history. I doubt it but no one knows now do they ? I'm ready for them to line up and play.
This.

The "OL is the problem" narrative going around this camp is silly to me. The OL has been one of the best recruited positions on the team. This is the position group that can suffer 3rd-year exits, transfers, injuries, etc.

The OL isn't expected to be a strength now that CJ is out, but based purely on NDs track record at this position for the last 10-15 years, I think they will get at least average results from their offensive line and find at least a solid 5 that can hold its own.

I'm more worried about lack of any standout players at any of the offensive skill positions beyond Love and Greathouse. Those guys arent even established yet, but based on their track record, might have some upside/potential. Outside of those two guys none of the other players at RB, WR, or QB have a career arch that suggests any kind of impact-player upside.

And in the current college game of passing heavy quick strike playmaking on offense, you need difference makers at those positions more than almost anything else.
 
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This.

The "OL is the problem" narrative going around this camp is silly to me. The OL has been one of the best recruited positions on the team. This is the position group that can suffer 3rd-year exits, transfers, injuries, etc.

The OL isn't expected to be a strength now that CJ is out, but based purely on NDs track record at this position for the last 10-15 years, I think they will have at least an above average starting 5 along the offensive line this season.

I'm more worried about lack of any standout players at any of the offensive skill positions beyond Love and Greathouse. Outside of those two guys none of the other players at RB, WR, or QB have a career arch that suggests any kind of impact-player level upside.

And in the current college game, you need difference makers at those positions more than almost anything else.
Yawn
 
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"any kind of impact-player level upside..."

Riley Leonard would have been a first round pick and playing in the NFL if it wasn't for Cross. He will have impact.

So will our whole new group of experienced WRs.
 
"any kind of impact-player level upside..."

Riley Leonard would have been a first round pick and playing in the NFL if it wasn't for Cross. He will have impact.

So will our whole new group of experienced WRs.
Nothing about Riley Leonard suggests he's a standout talent. His college track record is vs ACC competition. That is like a borderline G5 conference in terms of quality in 2024 so you can't put a lot of value on the numbers he produced.

Riley Leonard was a 4-star transfer according to the 247 transfer portal player rankings ranked with a group of transfer portal QBs tied from 7th-10th.


In Riley Leonard, I see another Book/Pyne/Coan/Hartman "bleh" fest that keeps the position warm until ND can develop an internal option with far more upside.

Losing out on guys like Dante Moore (from 2 classes ago, and now potentially Deuce Knight in this class) makes that goal far more untenable though. ND has all of their hopes at QB riding on CJ Carr's development because of their inability to convert on their top targets at the position on the recruiting trail.
 
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"any kind of impact-player level upside..."

Riley Leonard would have been a first round pick and playing in the NFL if it wasn't for Cross. He will have impact.

So will our whole new group of experienced WRs.
Agree on the WR’s.
 
Nothing about Riley Leonard suggests he's a standout talent. His college track record is vs ACC competition. That is like a borderline G5 conference in terms of quality in 2024 so you can't put a lot of value on the numbers he produced.

Riley Leonard was a 4-star transfer according to the 247 transfer portal player rankings ranked with a group of transfer portal QBs tied from 7th-10th.


In Riley Leonard, I see another Book/Pyne/Coan/Hartman "bleh" fest that keeps the position warm until ND can develop an internal option with far more upside.

Losing out on guys like Dante Moore (from 2 classes ago, and now potentially Deuce Knight in this class) makes that goal far more untenable though. ND has all of their hopes at QB riding on CJ Carr's development because of their inability to convert on the recruiting trail.
I haven't followed Moore but I assume he must be doing well since you reference him as one of those guys that eludes ND.
 
Nothing about Riley Leonard suggests he's a standout talent. His college track record is vs ACC competition. That is like a borderline G5 conference in terms of quality in 2024 so you can't put a lot of value on the numbers he produced.

Riley Leonard was a 4-star transfer according to the 247 transfer portal player rankings ranked with a group of transfer portal QBs tied from 7th-10th.


In Riley Leonard, I see another Book/Pyne/Coan/Hartman "bleh" fest that keeps the position warm until ND can develop an internal option with far more upside.

Losing out on guys like Dante Moore (from 2 classes ago, and now potentially Deuce Knight in this class) makes that goal far more untenable though. ND has all of their hopes at QB riding on CJ Carr's development because of their inability to convert on their top targets at the position on the recruiting trail.
Leonard has 1st round talent
 
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How is he doing better than Leonard? Let's hear this one
He's working his way up the depth chart on one of the best offenses in the country. He was evaluated higher in the 247 2024 transfer portal player rankings. He's younger with more eligibility and upside. He's only a couple years removed from being a consensus top 10 prospect in the game.

If I'm ND i'd much rather have Dante Moore than Riley Leonard on my 85 man roster for 2024 and beyond.
 
Leonard has 1st round talent
What does that mean? What credibility does it have? Who is saying it? Who is reporting it?

Some hack writer somewhere calls someone a "first round talent" every season who ends up becoming an undrafted FA. Point being, it doesn't mean anything.

The best objective measure we have of where Leonard ranks as a talent is the 247 transfer portal player rankings where Leonard is ranked somewhere in the back half of the top 10 at QB as a .9200 4 star.

Is it possible that Leonard is an underrated gem and develops into a first round talent at ND this season? Yes it is possible. But the chances of that happening, based on the evidence up to this point, is very remote.
 
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He's working his way up the depth chart on one of the best offenses in the country. He was evaluated higher in the 247 2024 transfer portal player rankings. He's younger with more eligibility and upside. He's only a couple years removed from being a consensus top 10 prospect in the game.

If I'm ND i'd much rather have Dante Moore than Riley Leonard on my 85 man roster for 2024 and beyond.
Riley Leonard had over 3600 yards and 33 TDs as a sophomore

Dante Moore will be a backup this year as a Sophomore

Riley Leonard is the starting QB on the number 7 team in the country. Dante Moore will be a backup

Riley Leonard is the better player right now and it's not close
 
What does that mean? What credibility does it have? Who is saying it? Who is reporting it?

Some hack writer somewhere calls someone a "first round talent" every season who ends up becoming an undrafted FA. Point being, it doesn't mean anything.

The best objective measure we have of where Leonard ranks as a talent is the 247 transfer portal player rankings where Leonard is ranked somewhere in the back half of the top 10 as a .9200 4 star.

Is it possible that Leonard is an underrated gem and develops into a first round talent at ND this season? Yes it is possible. But the chances of that happening, based on the evidence up to this point, is very remote.
Mel Kiper has said it and other ESPN analysts

No it's not remote. He already had a 33 TD season as a sophomore and Kiper had him 20th on his big board as a Junior before his injury.

Not remote at all
 
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What does that mean? What credibility does it have? Who is saying it? Who is reporting it?

Some hack writer somewhere calls someone a "first round talent" every season who ends up becoming an undrafted FA. Point being, it doesn't mean anything.

The best objective measure we have of where Leonard ranks as a talent is the 247 transfer portal player rankings where Leonard is ranked somewhere in the back half of the top 10 as a .9200 4 star.

Is it possible that Leonard is an underrated gem and develops into a first round talent at ND this season? Yes it is possible. But the chances of that happening, based on the evidence up to this point, is very remote.
Where is the evidence to back up your assertion Dante is doing better? Was it his 119 ranking of college QBs last year?
 
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He's working his way up the depth chart on one of the best offenses in the country. He was evaluated higher in the 247 2024 transfer portal player rankings. He's younger with more eligibility and upside. He's only a couple years removed from being a consensus top 10 prospect in the game.

If I'm ND i'd much rather have Dante Moore than Riley Leonard on my 85 man roster for 2024 and beyond.
Moore is vastly overrated. ND dodged a bullet there.
 
Well, he's doing a hell of a lot better than Riley Leonard, as he's only sophmore with multiple years of eligibility still, and was ranked higher than Leonard in that same 247 transfer portal player rankings that i referenced in my previous post: https://247sports.com/season/2024-football/transferportaltop/?positionkey=57
5star Dante Moore didn’t even give competition to 3 star recruit Dillon Gabriel who was being replaced at Oklahoma.

5star Malachi Nelson just lost the QB battle to former a 2 star, 110th ranked QB Maddux Madsen at Boise State.

Also, how’s 5star Ty Thompson doing at Tulane? Still battling for the job?

Sometimes rankings get it right, sometimes they do not.
 
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Riley Leonard had over 3600 yards and 33 TDs as a sophomore

Dante Moore will be a backup this year as a Sophomore

Riley Leonard is the starting QB on the number 7 team in the country. Dante Moore will be a backup

Riley Leonard is the better player right now and it's not close
You just killed Chase.
 
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Dante Moore hasn't really done anything.

At this point, you're here to simply troll.
Have an unpopular take about the ND football program and you are a troll now lol. We'll discuss ANYTHING except for the elephant in the room. 🤣😂😅

Moore is vastly overrated. ND dodged a bullet there.
It's way too soon to say.

Obviously Dante Moore is way less of a sure thing at this point in his development than he was just a couple of years ago when he was being rated as a composite top 10 overall prospect in the game. But it's just way too soon to disregard the prospect profile and the potential. With the right set of circumstances, he can ascend really quickly.
 
5star Dante Moore didn’t even give competition to 3 star recruit Dillon Gabriel who was being replaced at Oklahoma.

5star Malachi Nelson just lost the QB battle to former a 2 star, 110th ranked QB Maddux Madsen at Boise State.

Also, how’s 5star Ty Thompson doing at Tulane? Still battling for the job?

Sometimes rankings get it right, sometimes they do not.
If only my argument was that the prospect rankings are right every time.
 
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