On Thursday’s podcast, we were asked the following: Entering year three, what are the appropriate expectations for Mike Mickens?
@Eric Hansen said: “Appropriate would be better recruiting and better development of the younger cornerbacks. We’re seeing the recruiting part of it. The haul at cornerbacks, there were some good cornerbacks in this class. I’m really eager to see Jaden Mickey and what he can do. Morrison and Bellamy are also in the class. He has a Top 50 prospect in Justyn Rhett from Bishop Gorman, so he’s off to a good start there. He has lots of good cornerbacks who are strongly considering Notre Dame. Check off box one is trendinging in the right direction.
“This is a big spring for Mike Mickens. He’s always had a reputation of being able to develop young cornerbacks. Keep in mind, he inherited a mess. There was not a lot of talent there for him to work with. The expectations in year three should be higher. I wouldn’t downgrade what he’s done to this point. I just think this is an important spring in terms of development of that position.”
My thoughts:
Specifically, he needs to have four or five cornerbacks who are ready to play in the 2022 season. It can’t just be Cam Hart, Clarence Lewis and TaRiq Bracy again. And Nos. 4 and 5 need to be pushing Lewis and Bracy for playing time, assuming Bracy does indeed return next season.
Those three need to keep improving too. Cam Hart had a pretty good season. Clarence Lewis had a bad end to the season. I don’t think he’s overall season was as bad as people think. The way it ended scars that a bit. We’ll see if he can get his confidence back and be a better player. He is a better player than he’s shown at times during his career.
Guys like Philip Riley, Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker, maybe Jaden Mickey or one of those freshman cornerbacks can be ready to play. Those guys need to be real contributors at the cornerback position. That’s the most important thing for Mike Mickens in this third year.
What do you think are fair expectations for Mike Mickens in 2022?
@Eric Hansen said: “Appropriate would be better recruiting and better development of the younger cornerbacks. We’re seeing the recruiting part of it. The haul at cornerbacks, there were some good cornerbacks in this class. I’m really eager to see Jaden Mickey and what he can do. Morrison and Bellamy are also in the class. He has a Top 50 prospect in Justyn Rhett from Bishop Gorman, so he’s off to a good start there. He has lots of good cornerbacks who are strongly considering Notre Dame. Check off box one is trendinging in the right direction.
“This is a big spring for Mike Mickens. He’s always had a reputation of being able to develop young cornerbacks. Keep in mind, he inherited a mess. There was not a lot of talent there for him to work with. The expectations in year three should be higher. I wouldn’t downgrade what he’s done to this point. I just think this is an important spring in terms of development of that position.”
My thoughts:
Specifically, he needs to have four or five cornerbacks who are ready to play in the 2022 season. It can’t just be Cam Hart, Clarence Lewis and TaRiq Bracy again. And Nos. 4 and 5 need to be pushing Lewis and Bracy for playing time, assuming Bracy does indeed return next season.
Those three need to keep improving too. Cam Hart had a pretty good season. Clarence Lewis had a bad end to the season. I don’t think he’s overall season was as bad as people think. The way it ended scars that a bit. We’ll see if he can get his confidence back and be a better player. He is a better player than he’s shown at times during his career.
Guys like Philip Riley, Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker, maybe Jaden Mickey or one of those freshman cornerbacks can be ready to play. Those guys need to be real contributors at the cornerback position. That’s the most important thing for Mike Mickens in this third year.
What do you think are fair expectations for Mike Mickens in 2022?
