Who are the Top10 players who, if they take a "step forward" during camps this summer/fall, will have the biggest positive impact on the 2015 season?
Imo
1.) Malik Zaire (QB)
The obvious top choice. He's the key player on offense and he's almost the least experienced. We don't need him to cary the load ala Golson in 2014 but we need consistency, decision making, and passing improvement to make the offense really hum. If he's able to organize the offense, make the right decisions, and be consistent/efficient enough as a passer to really keep defenses honest....plus bringing what he does to our run game....our offense could be lethal. We don't needs Zaire to be "Great" if he's just "Good and Efficient" our offense will be one of the hardest to stop in CFB. But if Zaire is limited/1-Dimensional or mistake prone, it could turn the entire season south.
2.) Max Redfield (FS)
His improvement would effect the defense more than anyone elses, imo. He seed to "step forward" mentally, consistenly being able to diagnose the offense, be in the right spot himself, AND be able to help organizing the rest of the defense. He could make that mental leap, it could transform the look and production of our defense.
3.) Jarron Jones (NT)
He may be our most talented DL, but hasn't played to his potential consistenly. When he's playing his best he can demand a double team on every play and still really limit the opponets interior run game. If he does that more consistently, the lack of elite pass rushers will be minimized and the defense will be much more consistent. (First things first though, we need him to come back 100% from his foot injury)
4.) Andrew Trumbetti (DE)
He's probably the player with the best tools to be a true DE for us in 2015. Okwara is "Solid" in my opinion, but if Trumetti is able to force the coaches to play him instead it will mean he's "Fully Arrived" and would be a major step up for our DL. He's our best shot at a "Playmaker on the Edge" for our DL in 2015
5.) Jarrett Grace (ILB)
Grace is the more physically talented version of Joe Schmidt. If he's able to get completely back to where he was in the middle of 2013, he's an NFL ILB. It's been talked about that he knows the defense about as well as Schmidt does. If, IF those two traits could be combined into 1 player (and Grace would be that player) it would take the entire Front 7 up a level. As far as limiting opponents run games, this would be right there with Jones impact.
6.) Jaylon Smith (OLB/ILB)
Yes, he's already very good. But he can be "Best Player in CFB" level if he improves on his technique, physicality, and consistency. He's at the point where he could/should be used in a variety of places on our defense to attack offenses, but he needs to show that he can consistently understand exactly what to do and use physicality/power and technique to beat larger opponents instead of just using elite athleticism to try to avoid them. If he does that he could cover up deficiencies in a lot of other areas (both DE and S)
7.) KeiVarie Russel (CB)
Russell has the ability to be a 1st Round CB, and is at his best in 'Man-on-Man' coverage, which is what he'll be asked to do this year. However, while he's flashed 1st Round potential (Rutgers game in 2013) he hasn't shown it consistently. If he's able to consistently be one of the best coners in football, it will simplify the back end of the defense a lot.....which is something that ND really needs.
8.) Nick Martin (C)
Talked about as one of the best (if not #1) Centers in all of CFB for 2015, but he hasn't really played that way since 2013. The hand injury that forced a position change to OG really handicapped him in 2014. With a young QB, Martin will need to step and call most of the protections so Zaire has less on his plate (big impact right there). Additionally, he needs to keep the pocket clean for a young QB, so we can have a passing offense....because if Zaire is hurried often he'll run too much and make mistakes. He also needs to take it a step beyond "Smart/Reliable" though, and show the physical/nasty demeanor that's talked about with him. We'll need a lot of inside push this season and it will start with Martin.
9.) Mike McGlinchey (OT)
No one is talking about it, but while our OL should be very good in 2015, it's going to have a very new player guarding the QB's blindside. With the QB being a new starter himself, McGlinchey probably has the most important job on the OL. He's shown the physical ability and mentality to excell.....but he needs to keep showing that. If he can consistently play they way he did against LSU, he could end up as good or better than Zach Martin and Ronnie Stanley......but ND can't afford any inconsistency from him at all. That's a large expectation to put on him right away.
10.) Durham Smythe (TE)
Zaire has good passing tools, but he's not the pin-point passer that Golson was. Plus, he's a new starter. The best friends of QB's with limited accuracy and/or limited experience is a TE who can bail you out, in multiple ways. ND always relies on TEs and we NEED Smythe to be that TE for Zaire in 2015. If Smythe can have a similar 2015 season to Koyack's 2014 season, he'll be the difference between keeping 10+ drives alive and punting, imo. That's a lot of points we could lose if he doesn't assume a true #1 TE role this year.
HM) Nyles Morgan (OLB/ILB)
There are lots of "Solid" options at LB for Notre Dame right now, with guys like Onwualu and Schmidt both having good experience and Farley playing nearly a "Coverage LB" position. But none of those players have elite physical tools. Morgan does, and he flashed them on the CFB field in 2014....however, as a True Frosh, he was totally lost mentally and completely out of place more as well as slow to react more often than not. If he can make the jump to "mentally able to handle his own job" and force his way to more PT over Schmidt/Onwaulu/Farley, it would mean that the ND defense takes a major step forward from both a talent and understanding standpoint. This is the best shot for a major impact "luxury add" on defense, imo.
HM) Corey Robinson (WR)
Robinson is a 6'5" possession receiver with great range and good hands. He can have a very similar impact on a QB like Zaire as a good #1 TE. He has shown he can catch anything, but he just didn't do that for much of the 2014 season. We need him to improve his strength and consistency (which are related) so that he can provide that security blanket for Zaire.
HM) CJ Prosise (APB)
If Morgan is the "Luxury Add" on defense, Prosise is on offense. ND has an RB that can really play and WR's that can really play. But Prosise is an elite athlete who has shown he can make BIG, EXPLOSIVE plays from both positions (78 yard catch v. Navy, 63 yard catch v. Rice, 60 yards catch v. ASU, 50 yard rush v. LSU). If Prosise can increase his consistency at both positions, so he can be on the field enough to make those types of plays often.......he could take the ND offense from very good to elite
Obviously any player clearly making the "next step" is big for the team, but given their positions and abilities these would be the players I'd be most excited to hear about improving over the next 2 months
How would others rank their Top10?
Imo
1.) Malik Zaire (QB)
The obvious top choice. He's the key player on offense and he's almost the least experienced. We don't need him to cary the load ala Golson in 2014 but we need consistency, decision making, and passing improvement to make the offense really hum. If he's able to organize the offense, make the right decisions, and be consistent/efficient enough as a passer to really keep defenses honest....plus bringing what he does to our run game....our offense could be lethal. We don't needs Zaire to be "Great" if he's just "Good and Efficient" our offense will be one of the hardest to stop in CFB. But if Zaire is limited/1-Dimensional or mistake prone, it could turn the entire season south.
2.) Max Redfield (FS)
His improvement would effect the defense more than anyone elses, imo. He seed to "step forward" mentally, consistenly being able to diagnose the offense, be in the right spot himself, AND be able to help organizing the rest of the defense. He could make that mental leap, it could transform the look and production of our defense.
3.) Jarron Jones (NT)
He may be our most talented DL, but hasn't played to his potential consistenly. When he's playing his best he can demand a double team on every play and still really limit the opponets interior run game. If he does that more consistently, the lack of elite pass rushers will be minimized and the defense will be much more consistent. (First things first though, we need him to come back 100% from his foot injury)
4.) Andrew Trumbetti (DE)
He's probably the player with the best tools to be a true DE for us in 2015. Okwara is "Solid" in my opinion, but if Trumetti is able to force the coaches to play him instead it will mean he's "Fully Arrived" and would be a major step up for our DL. He's our best shot at a "Playmaker on the Edge" for our DL in 2015
5.) Jarrett Grace (ILB)
Grace is the more physically talented version of Joe Schmidt. If he's able to get completely back to where he was in the middle of 2013, he's an NFL ILB. It's been talked about that he knows the defense about as well as Schmidt does. If, IF those two traits could be combined into 1 player (and Grace would be that player) it would take the entire Front 7 up a level. As far as limiting opponents run games, this would be right there with Jones impact.
6.) Jaylon Smith (OLB/ILB)
Yes, he's already very good. But he can be "Best Player in CFB" level if he improves on his technique, physicality, and consistency. He's at the point where he could/should be used in a variety of places on our defense to attack offenses, but he needs to show that he can consistently understand exactly what to do and use physicality/power and technique to beat larger opponents instead of just using elite athleticism to try to avoid them. If he does that he could cover up deficiencies in a lot of other areas (both DE and S)
7.) KeiVarie Russel (CB)
Russell has the ability to be a 1st Round CB, and is at his best in 'Man-on-Man' coverage, which is what he'll be asked to do this year. However, while he's flashed 1st Round potential (Rutgers game in 2013) he hasn't shown it consistently. If he's able to consistently be one of the best coners in football, it will simplify the back end of the defense a lot.....which is something that ND really needs.
8.) Nick Martin (C)
Talked about as one of the best (if not #1) Centers in all of CFB for 2015, but he hasn't really played that way since 2013. The hand injury that forced a position change to OG really handicapped him in 2014. With a young QB, Martin will need to step and call most of the protections so Zaire has less on his plate (big impact right there). Additionally, he needs to keep the pocket clean for a young QB, so we can have a passing offense....because if Zaire is hurried often he'll run too much and make mistakes. He also needs to take it a step beyond "Smart/Reliable" though, and show the physical/nasty demeanor that's talked about with him. We'll need a lot of inside push this season and it will start with Martin.
9.) Mike McGlinchey (OT)
No one is talking about it, but while our OL should be very good in 2015, it's going to have a very new player guarding the QB's blindside. With the QB being a new starter himself, McGlinchey probably has the most important job on the OL. He's shown the physical ability and mentality to excell.....but he needs to keep showing that. If he can consistently play they way he did against LSU, he could end up as good or better than Zach Martin and Ronnie Stanley......but ND can't afford any inconsistency from him at all. That's a large expectation to put on him right away.
10.) Durham Smythe (TE)
Zaire has good passing tools, but he's not the pin-point passer that Golson was. Plus, he's a new starter. The best friends of QB's with limited accuracy and/or limited experience is a TE who can bail you out, in multiple ways. ND always relies on TEs and we NEED Smythe to be that TE for Zaire in 2015. If Smythe can have a similar 2015 season to Koyack's 2014 season, he'll be the difference between keeping 10+ drives alive and punting, imo. That's a lot of points we could lose if he doesn't assume a true #1 TE role this year.
HM) Nyles Morgan (OLB/ILB)
There are lots of "Solid" options at LB for Notre Dame right now, with guys like Onwualu and Schmidt both having good experience and Farley playing nearly a "Coverage LB" position. But none of those players have elite physical tools. Morgan does, and he flashed them on the CFB field in 2014....however, as a True Frosh, he was totally lost mentally and completely out of place more as well as slow to react more often than not. If he can make the jump to "mentally able to handle his own job" and force his way to more PT over Schmidt/Onwaulu/Farley, it would mean that the ND defense takes a major step forward from both a talent and understanding standpoint. This is the best shot for a major impact "luxury add" on defense, imo.
HM) Corey Robinson (WR)
Robinson is a 6'5" possession receiver with great range and good hands. He can have a very similar impact on a QB like Zaire as a good #1 TE. He has shown he can catch anything, but he just didn't do that for much of the 2014 season. We need him to improve his strength and consistency (which are related) so that he can provide that security blanket for Zaire.
HM) CJ Prosise (APB)
If Morgan is the "Luxury Add" on defense, Prosise is on offense. ND has an RB that can really play and WR's that can really play. But Prosise is an elite athlete who has shown he can make BIG, EXPLOSIVE plays from both positions (78 yard catch v. Navy, 63 yard catch v. Rice, 60 yards catch v. ASU, 50 yard rush v. LSU). If Prosise can increase his consistency at both positions, so he can be on the field enough to make those types of plays often.......he could take the ND offense from very good to elite
Obviously any player clearly making the "next step" is big for the team, but given their positions and abilities these would be the players I'd be most excited to hear about improving over the next 2 months
How would others rank their Top10?
