Scott Pagano Down To Two

[IrishInOntario]

Cancelled his visits to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Pagano will choose between Oregon and Notre Dame. He would make a tremendous impact on either team's DL given their current situations.

Pagano, Tillery, Cage and Bonner would actually be a solid rotation inside and would allow Darnell Ewell, Kurt Hinish ans Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa a year to develop.

 

[Telx1]

Yea, in some ways an incredibly important target for us. Oregon has always been the main competition, and the lean in my opinion, with ND and Oklahoma slightly behind. All reports of his visit to ND were really positive, but wish we were his last visit instead of his first, now several weeks ago. Still, good to get this down to a two team race.

 

[NDIRISH53]

No USC?

 

[REMND]

Cancelled his visits to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Pagano will choose between Oregon and Notre Dame. He would make a tremendous impact on either team's DL given their current situations.

Pagano, Tillery, Cage and Bonner would actually be a solid rotation inside and would allow Darnell Ewell, Kurt Hinish ans Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa a year to develop.

Who would play what? Tillery and Bonner 3T? Pagano and Cage NG?

If nothing else, I think this news might create some urgency for MDT.

When I heard about Pagano's interest after his visit, I was thinking of Tillery at 3T, Cage at NG, and Pagano at both. Bonner and MDT on occassion to keep them fresh.

 

[stu4don]

We need "Ws" to right the ship and Pagano would really help... A big time get if it happens.

 

[ZORO50]

With Taylor injured- the need is greater.
I think Pagano is the diffference in 1-2 wins
Probably 2.
If Cage or Tillery got injured. Forget it.
What is the process?
Wait and see or are the coaches recruiting him like an incoming freshman.

I really hope he wants to be on TV every week nationally. All the analysts know every ND player. No one on the east coast stays up to watch Pac12 ball.

You would think this a perfect situation.

 

[IrishInOntario]

With Taylor injured- the need is greater.
I think Pagano is the diffference in 1-2 wins
Probably 2.
If Cage or Tillery got injured. Forget it.
What is the process?
Wait and see or are the coaches recruiting him like an incoming freshman.

I really hope he wants to be on TV every week nationally. All the analysts know every ND player. No one on the east coast stays up to watch Pac12 ball.

You would think this a perfect situation.

The only real advantage in going to Oregon is proximity to home, but if the kid chose Clemson in the first place when he could have stayed on the West Coast and if his dream is to play in the NFL, he isn't likely going to get a chance to play based close to home.

The kid wants an MBA and although Mendoza specializes in undergrad business, he's still going to get a great degree at ND. Furthermore, Irish fans may think our middle-of-the-pack defense was terrible in 2016, but Oregon had legitimately one of the worst defenses in college football last year. He'd certainly play for them, but they're at best going to be this year what ND was last year. ND on the other hand, could be a respectable, top 30 defense with the addition of Pagano, the return of Nick Watkins and a healthy Shaun Crawford, as well as the development of former freshman Julian Love, Donte Vaughn, Devin Studstill, Jalen Elliott, Daelin Hayes, Julian Okwara, etc, etc... JMO, but ND is the better option right now, but clearly it's not my decision.

 

[Izo]

If Pagano realizes he can get the Irish back on track to be near a top 10 program , I think that might make a difference in his decision.

 

[deadirishpoet]

We need "Ws" to right the ship and Pagano would really help... A big time get if it happens.

The defensive front is looking better

 

[Telx1]

IIO, I've read repeatedly that this is not a grad degree decision, but strictly business and personal. The business side would seemingly come down to playing a lot on a respectable defense with exposure and coaching that will enhance his pro draft prospects. The personal comes down to wanting to be closer to home, Hawaii. We obviously lose out on proximity to home, and just as obviously win on the business consideration. Not sure TV exposure or quality of team or defense per se really matters in terms of draft prospects, as the pros will find you and assess you independent of these. I do think scheme and coaching influence performance which forms the scouts initial assessment, and of course, playing time is critical. Since playing time will be readily available with either team, Would be interested in your take on this narrow comparison (scheme and coaching) between what the two programs have to offer Pegano.

 

[baron100]

No USC?

Don't think they have a scholarship available for him. From I what I read he wants to be on board in May and the best sc could offer was a blue shirt which would mean he has to start in August/sept. He seemed to be extremely interested but it's not going to work. As another poster said, he would like to be close to home and this is a business decision.

 

[MTIrish98]

Back in the day Oregon churned out some quality NFL DL's (Ngata, etc.), but who knows what their new defense will look like.

 

[dohster]

crossing my finger and toes... DL is not going to be able to stop anyone...we need him.
everyone is singing praises about the changes... but honestly I don't think those players have what it takes.. hopefully O will be able to outscore everyone..

 

[IrishInOntario]

Has decided to visit Oklahoma raise weekend afterall, despite initially cancelling.

 

[Telx1]

Has decided to visit Oklahoma raise weekend afterall, despite initially cancelling.

Yes, a negative development for sure. Seems like Oklahoma and Cooks in particular really recruits hard against ND and Kelly with more than their/his share of success, with Cooks' approach being surprisingly negative and anti ND.

 

[REMND]

Has decided to visit Oklahoma raise weekend afterall, despite initially cancelling.

He also moved up his Oregon visit from the 21st to the 7th of April.

 

[BGI-CANADA]

He also moved up his Oregon visit from the 21st to the 7th of April.

Looks like his visit to OU has already taken place........

http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.c...d-after-scott-pagano-visit-clemson-notre-dame

 

[hoopsstar12]

Cooks' accomplishments as a coach are questionable. His secondaries underperformed. Oklahoma has no academic standards.

 

[Pennick44]

Cooks' accomplishments as a coach are questionable. His secondaries underperformed. Oklahoma has no academic standards.

Do they have academics? I know they buy cases of playdoh.

 

[NDIRISH53]

Now reports he's staying at Clemson...

 

[IRISHJD98]

Now reports he's staying at Clemson...

From what I've seen, the report was that Pagano said staying at Clemson was still an option, but he's still visiting Oregon.

http://forums.theclemsoninsider.com/showthread.php?t=77288

 

[Ara64]

It won't be ND. I don't think he wants to ride the toughest bull at the fair. I guess you might as well have some fun and play a little football while preparing for the NFL.

http://www.ndinsider.com/football/n...cle_d12716e0-1e45-11e7-87f6-9f4a33bc8a86.html

 

[stu4don]

lost 'em... we're out...

http://www.uhnd.com/football/shamrock-series/scott-pagano-eliminates-notre-dame-irish-36241/

 

[BGI User 1596]

lost 'em... we're out...

http://www.uhnd.com/football/shamrock-series/scott-pagano-eliminates-notre-dame-irish-36241/

Was he a drama major at Clemson?

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

Coming off a 4 and 8 season with a terrible defense it is no surprise. There is no guarantee he would be part of a good defense here. The defense is a huge question mark going into the season.

 

[stu4don]

We will have a better record than both Oregon and Oklahoma. Mark. My. Words.

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

We will have a better record than both Oregon and Oklahoma. Mark. My. Words.

What leads you to believe this? After all the staff changes, a 4 and 8 season, lack of depth and proven defensive talent, no matter how talented, we are unproven at QB. There are more question marks than answers at this point.

 

[stu4don]

One of the best o-lines in the country. (We lost the heart and soul the year before -- three NFL players.)
One of the best RBs (and RBcorps) in the country.
Solid (and now proven) WRs. (We lost everybody the year before -- very inexperienced last yr.)
Wimbush is better than an unproven Golson in 2012 or an unproven Kizer in 2014 (our two best years)
I'm a believer in Elko -- he has a COLLEGE defensive philosophy that has proven to work.
Overall LBs best in a long time (maybe not 2012 or 2014 but overall an athletic group.)
D-line finally has some experience and numbers. (But i agree THE question mark.)
Same with corner and safeties (night and day from last year -- and as good as 2014, better.)
We finally have a proven special teams coach. (Night and day from the last few years!)
An experienced and proven kicker, punter and an exciting new kickoff specialist.

The defense is the question. Do we have a Jaylon or a Tuitt, Manti or a Day, no, but I fully expect some of our young talent to step up and I like our numbers. I do think our offense will be better than 2012/2014.

And, I know people don't like to hear this but Kelly is a proven winner. This is a big year for him. He has to get us to 10 wins again. Or it might be his swan song.

I believe he will (and that is with a bear of a schedule!) JMO.

 

[Irishjohn68]

We will have a better record than both Oregon and Oklahoma. Mark. My. Words.

Better than Oklahoma?

 

[Pennick44]

What leads you to believe this? After all the staff changes, a 4 and 8 season, lack of depth and proven defensive talent, no matter how talented, we are unproven at QB. There are more question marks than answers at this point.

As with just about every program in the spring.