Very excited about ND's wide receiver group in 2017. It'seems evident that ND is going to run the ball behind their offensive line and with their three impressive backs, but when they do throw it, I'm really excited the passing threats ND brings to the table this year.
Let me first say that I don'the believe KJ Stepherson is going to play this year as of right now. Kelly is staying quiet on the issue, whether it be academic or disciplinary in nature, but the only reason a player with his talent would still be running with the 3rd and 4th units half way through spring is if he was in either the University's or Brian Kelly's doghouse. The kid is electric. Right now he's in trouble. Fingers crossed that he's eligible to play right now and that Kelly is simply sending a strong message to him this spring... Unfortunately, I think it'should likely a little more serious than that.
Without KJ, however, I still love the unit in general. EQ is going to take another step forward this year and be a 1000 yard receiver with a chance at double digit touchdowns. He'll likely earn the opportunity to go pro after this year should that interest him. He must continue to work his ass off in the weight room between the end of spring until August, and I'd love to see him add another 5-7lbs of muscle to his long frame between now and then. As he gets stronger he'll be impossible to defend on contested balls in the air.
Oppositems EQ you're going to have another 6'4-6'5 threat in eitherror Chase Claypool or Miles Boykin, both of whom are getting a ton of reps this spring and have both taken turns dominating in practice. Boykin, in particular, has had the start to his best year yet. Miles lost some weight and worked hard with Matt Balis and appears healed from the broken finger that added to his drop issues last year. Undoubtedly, concentration will always be key for Boykin, but his confidence is building and he continues to get better. Claypool is just a nightmare to defend. There is so much he still needs to learn, and he probably hasn't even hit 60% of his upside as a football player, but there isn't physically more impressive, more competitive or eager to learn player, relative to position, on the entire team. I think he'll split reps this year and make some big plays, but by 2018, he's going to be a force. You just can't defend a kid that runs 4.55 at 6'5, 225lbs and plays fiery and competitive. Chip Long loves Chase and is going to develop him properly.
The Chris Finke / CJ Sanders battle is interesting to me. As the offense moves more in the direction of 2 TE's in the base group, I expect to see a true slot receiver on the field this year maybe on maybe only 35-40% of ND's snaps, meaning the reps are going to be hard to come by. Scarcity creates value and those two kids are warring it out to see who plays. While Sanders is undoubtedly the twitchier, more explosive athlete, it'seems easy to see why Finke is holdingoing him off at this point. Coaches love kids they can trust. Finke is that poor man's Wes Welker or Julian Edelman, in that anytime he is on the field, he may be the least impressive athlete of the 11, but he's just clutch. You can trust him to be where he needs to be, catch everything thrown his way and battle for every inch. There is room for a kid like that on every offense and don'the be shocked if he is security blanket for Brandon Wimbush in key situations this year, especially when it comes to moving the sticks on third down. If Sanders beats Finke out, it's because he matches Chris' work ethic, and production. If that happens, look out. CJ is a touchdown waiting to happen, he simply needs to develop the consistency to make that happen.
Aliz'e Jones, if healthy and eligible, is going to be a living, breathing, nightmare. As his position coach and the guy running the offense, Chip Long must feel like he won the lottery coming to an offense with a kid like Jones manning themail TE spot. Whether he's lined up attached to the formation, as an H-Back, in the slot or inverted with a wide receiver and playing in the boundary or to the field, Chip Long is going to get Aliz'e some crazy matchup advantages. Do you cover a 6'4.5, 250lb tight end that can really run with a safety? Do you switch off and cover him with a 5'11, 190lb corner when he's split out wide. As an H-back, you're basically forced to cover him with a cover down SAM backer, and how many teams in the country have the Jaylon Smith type of athlete at that position it would take to cover him?... Expect to hear Aliz'e's name a lot this year, complimented by Durham Smythe and two uber talented freshman TE's.
While ND is likely going to run a ton this year to help Wimbush out and to take advantage of a quality offensive line and stable of backs, when ND throws the ball, they are not going to be short (both literally and figuratively) on players that can make you pay.
Let me first say that I don'the believe KJ Stepherson is going to play this year as of right now. Kelly is staying quiet on the issue, whether it be academic or disciplinary in nature, but the only reason a player with his talent would still be running with the 3rd and 4th units half way through spring is if he was in either the University's or Brian Kelly's doghouse. The kid is electric. Right now he's in trouble. Fingers crossed that he's eligible to play right now and that Kelly is simply sending a strong message to him this spring... Unfortunately, I think it'should likely a little more serious than that.
Without KJ, however, I still love the unit in general. EQ is going to take another step forward this year and be a 1000 yard receiver with a chance at double digit touchdowns. He'll likely earn the opportunity to go pro after this year should that interest him. He must continue to work his ass off in the weight room between the end of spring until August, and I'd love to see him add another 5-7lbs of muscle to his long frame between now and then. As he gets stronger he'll be impossible to defend on contested balls in the air.
Oppositems EQ you're going to have another 6'4-6'5 threat in eitherror Chase Claypool or Miles Boykin, both of whom are getting a ton of reps this spring and have both taken turns dominating in practice. Boykin, in particular, has had the start to his best year yet. Miles lost some weight and worked hard with Matt Balis and appears healed from the broken finger that added to his drop issues last year. Undoubtedly, concentration will always be key for Boykin, but his confidence is building and he continues to get better. Claypool is just a nightmare to defend. There is so much he still needs to learn, and he probably hasn't even hit 60% of his upside as a football player, but there isn't physically more impressive, more competitive or eager to learn player, relative to position, on the entire team. I think he'll split reps this year and make some big plays, but by 2018, he's going to be a force. You just can't defend a kid that runs 4.55 at 6'5, 225lbs and plays fiery and competitive. Chip Long loves Chase and is going to develop him properly.
The Chris Finke / CJ Sanders battle is interesting to me. As the offense moves more in the direction of 2 TE's in the base group, I expect to see a true slot receiver on the field this year maybe on maybe only 35-40% of ND's snaps, meaning the reps are going to be hard to come by. Scarcity creates value and those two kids are warring it out to see who plays. While Sanders is undoubtedly the twitchier, more explosive athlete, it'seems easy to see why Finke is holdingoing him off at this point. Coaches love kids they can trust. Finke is that poor man's Wes Welker or Julian Edelman, in that anytime he is on the field, he may be the least impressive athlete of the 11, but he's just clutch. You can trust him to be where he needs to be, catch everything thrown his way and battle for every inch. There is room for a kid like that on every offense and don'the be shocked if he is security blanket for Brandon Wimbush in key situations this year, especially when it comes to moving the sticks on third down. If Sanders beats Finke out, it's because he matches Chris' work ethic, and production. If that happens, look out. CJ is a touchdown waiting to happen, he simply needs to develop the consistency to make that happen.
Aliz'e Jones, if healthy and eligible, is going to be a living, breathing, nightmare. As his position coach and the guy running the offense, Chip Long must feel like he won the lottery coming to an offense with a kid like Jones manning themail TE spot. Whether he's lined up attached to the formation, as an H-Back, in the slot or inverted with a wide receiver and playing in the boundary or to the field, Chip Long is going to get Aliz'e some crazy matchup advantages. Do you cover a 6'4.5, 250lb tight end that can really run with a safety? Do you switch off and cover him with a 5'11, 190lb corner when he's split out wide. As an H-back, you're basically forced to cover him with a cover down SAM backer, and how many teams in the country have the Jaylon Smith type of athlete at that position it would take to cover him?... Expect to hear Aliz'e's name a lot this year, complimented by Durham Smythe and two uber talented freshman TE's.
While ND is likely going to run a ton this year to help Wimbush out and to take advantage of a quality offensive line and stable of backs, when ND throws the ball, they are not going to be short (both literally and figuratively) on players that can make you pay.
