Running Back Depth Next Year

[mokpra37]

Assuming Prosise stays, the ND running back depth is going to be fantastic.

Folston
Prosise
Adams
Williams
The 2 Freshmen

With the O-line continuing to be a force, I can see the top three guys each having over 700 all-purpose yards.

Defenses ND will face:

Texas - graduate NT and one starting CB after 2015 season - I think they will be better than this year defensively but not great by any means.

Nevada - six of their front seven with graduate after 2015 season - This could be a game where multiple backs have over 200 all purpose yards.

MSU - Front seven has 3 redshirt seniors, at least two of them could go pro early - Regardless of who stays, this will be one of the toughest D-lines ND faces all year. This game is at ND.

Duke - 2 seniors in front seven and none in secondary for 2015 - One of the more experienced defenses ND will face.

Syracuse - One redshirt senior on entire defense for 2015 - Another very experienced defense ND will face.

NC State - 1 RS Senior in front seven and two in secondary for 2015. All three could be back. - Yet another very experienced defense ND will face.

Stanford - two seniors, two redshirt seniors in front seven. Two seniors in secondary for 2015. ND should run all over them, and this time the defense better hold (considering Stanford will graduate four offensive linemen, a starting wr and the starting qb, they damn well better).

Miami - Three seniors in the secondary and one in front seven for 2015. Sounds like a recipe for a game with more passes than runs.

Navy - Two senior linemen and a senior corner - Again a game where multiple backs could have over 200 all purpose yards.

Army - One senior lineman and one senior corner for 2015. - A bad team in 2015, multiple backs over 200 again for ND.

Virginia Tech - 1 senior and 4 redshirt seniors on front seven in 2015. New coach and tough place to play.

USC - three redshirt senior linemen in 2015. Cravens going pro. - New DC and lots of young talent.

Schedule advantages

@ Texas - First game for both.
Nevada - Shouldn't matter
MSU - Open date before ND, while ND plays Nevada.
Duke - Duke is @NW the week before. ND is home to MSU.
@Syracuse - Syracuse is @ UCONN the week before. ND is home to Duke.
@NC State - Schedule not set.
Stanford - Stanford has Washington State at home the week before. ND is @ NC State.
Miami - Schedule not set. ND has open date the week before.
Navy (in Jacksonville) - Schedule not set.
Army (in San Antonio) - Air Force at home the week before. ND has Navy
Virginia Tech - Schedule not set.
@USC - @UCLA the week before. ND has Virgina Tech at home.

As of now, only MSU has the saturday off the week before the ND game. Other potentials are NCState, Navy, Miami and V Tech.

 

[IrishMike409]

Fantastic write up. Thank you for sharing. Get past msu early, and I really like how the schedule sets up....

 

[hoopsstar12]

Virginia Tech game is in South Bend.

 

[TXNDFan88]

And if Folston and CJ go pro..... Maybe not as much depth.

 

[Pennick4]

And if Folston and CJ go pro..... Maybe not as much depth.

No chance Folston goes pro and doubt CJ does as well.

 

[Original_Irish]

I think Folston stays. CJ is a question mark. Regardless, all are good enough to be great threats with next years offensive line.

 

[Fifthhorseman25]

I think (hope) CJ stays. He could be used at RB or split out as a WR. He could be moved around and give DC fits.

 

[TXNDFan88]

No chance Folston goes pro and doubt CJ does as well.

Very weak year for RBs in the draft and if he comes back he might be third string and sharing carries. I would love to see him come back, get his degree, and have a great year but I don't think it is a done deal.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Assuming Prosise stays, the ND running back depth is going to be fantastic.

Folston
Prosise
Adams
Williams
The 2 Freshmen

With the O-line continuing to be a force, I can see the top three guys each having over 700 all-purpose yards.

Defenses ND will face:

Texas - graduate NT and one starting CB after 2015 season - I think they will be better than this year defensively but not great by any means.

Nevada - six of their front seven with graduate after 2015 season - This could be a game where multiple backs have over 200 all purpose yards.

MSU - Front seven has 3 redshirt seniors, at least two of them could go pro early - Regardless of who stays, this will be one of the toughest D-lines ND faces all year. This game is at ND.

Duke - 2 seniors in front seven and none in secondary for 2015 - One of the more experienced defenses ND will face.

Syracuse - One redshirt senior on entire defense for 2015 - Another very experienced defense ND will face.

NC State - 1 RS Senior in front seven and two in secondary for 2015. All three could be back. - Yet another very experienced defense ND will face.

Stanford - two seniors, two redshirt seniors in front seven. Two seniors in secondary for 2015. ND should run all over them, and this time the defense better hold (considering Stanford will graduate four offensive linemen, a starting wr and the starting qb, they damn well better).

Miami - Three seniors in the secondary and one in front seven for 2015. Sounds like a recipe for a game with more passes than runs.

Navy - Two senior linemen and a senior corner - Again a game where multiple backs could have over 200 all purpose yards.

Army - One senior lineman and one senior corner for 2015. - A bad team in 2015, multiple backs over 200 again for ND.

Virginia Tech - 1 senior and 4 redshirt seniors on front seven in 2015. New coach and tough place to play.

USC - three redshirt senior linemen in 2015. Cravens going pro. - New DC and lots of young talent.

Schedule advantages

@ Texas - First game for both.
Nevada - Shouldn't matter
MSU - Open date before ND, while ND plays Nevada.
Duke - Duke is @NW the week before. ND is home to MSU.
@Syracuse - Syracuse is @ UCONN the week before. ND is home to Duke.
@NC State - Schedule not set.
Stanford - Stanford has Washington State at home the week before. ND is @ NC State.
Miami - Schedule not set. ND has open date the week before.
Navy (in Jacksonville) - Schedule not set.
Army (in San Antonio) - Air Force at home the week before. ND has Navy
Virginia Tech - Schedule not set.
@USC - @UCLA the week before. ND has Virgina Tech at home.

As of now, only MSU has the saturday off the week before the ND game. Other potentials are NCState, Navy, Miami and V Tech.

I don't know why, but it seem coach Kelly doesn't mix in different RB's in the same game

 

[NDCap]

I would love to be a fly on the wall when BK has conversations with these guys and playing time. How does he handle the MZ and Kizer situation?? This one is more difficult then the RB "problem" . I have the answer for BK at the RB position. Use 2 RBs in the backfield at the same time . Also play a 2- TE set .. If the best players are CJ, Adams and Folston then a spread 3 offense with IF Fuller returns with St. Brown opposite they have 2 deep threats on the field at all times play the multiple TE's together at times. From left to right :


Fuller Bars Nelson Hoge Elmer McG St Brown
CJ Kizer MZ Latua/ Jones/ Smythe'Weisher
Adams
At time remove st. Brown and go double TE WITH Fuller at wideout on an island with a CB. Lethal.
Fuller, CJ, Adams , Kizer MZ, JOnes and St. Brown would be the best offense in the country.
The schedule has 12-0 wriitin all over it with a decent Defense.

 

[BGI User 348]

They can ALL compete---QB & RB's! Just WIN Baby!!!

BEAT urbie!!!

 

[Pennick4]

Very weak year for RBs in the draft and if he comes back he might be third string and sharing carries. I would love to see him come back, get his degree, and have a great year but I don't think it is a done deal.

Who are you talking about? CJ ?

 

[TXNDFan88]

Folston

 

[Pennick4]

Folston

Where do you think he would get drafted after coming off major knee surgery?

 

[D_Master]

If Folston would get drafted it would be probably 6th rd or so at best. would be surprised if he was at all.

 

[TXNDFan88]

FA or very late, he needs to stay.

 

[IrishMike409]

What about play TF, Adams, Williams at RB. Move CJ back to the slot. Can imagine having CJ-Adams-Fuller-Jones all on the field at the same time? All 4 are major major mid-matches for any D. Good luck trying to stop that......

 

[Pennick4]

Who are you talking about? CJ ?

Very weak year for RBs in the draft and if he comes back he might be third string and sharing carries. I would love to see him come back, get his degree, and have a great year but I don't think it is a done deal.

If healthy Folston is number 1 or 2 back.

 

[Fifthhorseman25]

I would love to be a fly on the wall when BK has conversations with these guys and playing time. How does he handle the MZ and Kizer situation?? This one is more difficult then the RB "problem" . I have the answer for BK at the RB position. Use 2 RBs in the backfield at the same time . Also play a 2- TE set .. If the best players are CJ, Adams and Folston then a spread 3 offense with IF Fuller returns with St. Brown opposite they have 2 deep threats on the field at all times play the multiple TE's together at times. From left to right :


Fuller Bars Nelson Hoge Elmer McG St Brown
CJ Kizer MZ Latua/ Jones/ Smythe'Weisher
Adams
At time remove st. Brown and go double TE WITH Fuller at wideout on an island with a CB. Lethal.
Fuller, CJ, Adams , Kizer MZ, JOnes and St. Brown would be the best offense in the country.
The schedule has 12-0 wriitin all over it with a decent Defense.

NDC...I have been thinking the same thing with 2 RB's in the backfield. Motion, fakes, option, read option etc...it would make the offense even more potent.

 

[greengael]

I don't know why, but it seem coach Kelly doesn't mix in different RB's in the same game

Sorry DIP but that really was only the case this year,. I think if you go back through Kelly's tenure he stuck with one back generally only when the other was injured. Could be wrong and if you insist I will go back and review but that's the way I remember it. Update!!! I went to the UND site and checked under archive/single season cumulative statistics and found a pretty good mix of attempts and yards gained. I don't know if you were referring specifically within particular games or for the Season, that would take considerably more research on my part. Let me know![smile]

 

[Weisnheimer]

I think BK is going to have his toughest coaching year yet, next year. I think there are going to be more battles for starting spots than we've seen in a very long time due to the talent and depth. And if ND loses to Mi. St. in game 3? The vultures will be circling on this board. Of course if they win, the vultures will be circling waiting for that loss to come anyway. <~~~BK

I also think Torean stays and depending on his recovery, may not get the nod to start. NFL won't put him on the radar until they see what he can do. This was to be the year for him to showcase his talent and a leg injury will scare off his suitors.

 

[mokpra37]

Virginia Tech game is in South Bend.

Thanks. I fixed that in one place and not in the other in the original write-up.

 

[Runforit]

Someone may leave to go pro and that might even be a good thing with so many guys wanting the ball. Kelly should be frank and straight forward with all the guys so they can make the best decision for themselves.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Depth can be a blessing and a curse.

Personally when offered the chance I would rather see more depth and battles for plays than less.

Will wait until fall camp until I weight in on this though. Just far to many 'what if' statements between now and then.

Good write up though