Mike McGlinchey Archives - Her Loyal Sons https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog A Notre Dame Football Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2017 19:06:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.3 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/HLS-Avatar-Option-2-150x150.png Mike McGlinchey Archives - Her Loyal Sons https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog 32 32 My Early Prediction For Next Year https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2017/01/09/my-early-prediction-for-next-year/ Mon, 09 Jan 2017 20:05:36 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=36915 I was happy to turn the page on the new year if nothing else than to turn the calendar on one of the worst years of Notre Dame football that I can remember. Starting on New Year’s Day of 2016 and throughout the season it was seemingly one bad moment after another. Now with the...

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]]> Notre Dame's James Onwualu tackles NC State's Matthew Dayes. (Grant Halverson / Getty Images)

Notre Dame’s James Onwualu tackles NC State’s Matthew Dayes. (Grant Halverson / Getty Images)

I was happy to turn the page on the new year if nothing else than to turn the calendar on one of the worst years of Notre Dame football that I can remember.

Starting on New Year’s Day of 2016 and throughout the season it was seemingly one bad moment after another. Now with the national title playing out tonight, our long Notre Dame nightmare can end.

Or can it?

Since the end of this season, there have numerous coaching changes. When the Irish tee it up on opening day next year, the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator will all be new. Additionally, Paul Longo will not be returning as the strength coach. That is four major components of a football program all in a tremendous state of flux as we head towards the 2017 spring practice season. How those changes are viewed will vary but given the direction of the program over the last twelve months’ change was certainly in order.

Backup QB Brandon Wimbush looking at 2017 like "Hell yeah."

Backup QB Brandon Wimbush looking at 2017 like “Hell yeah.” (Photo credit: SupermanTDJesus)

The Irish will also be breaking in a new signal-caller in the spring and the months to follow. Brandon Wimbush will come in with lofty credentials and tons of “potential” but the fact remains he has attempted five career passes. He should get a boost in the return of Josh Adams and Mike McGlinchey both of whom figure to help boost an Irish run game that was far too inconsistent in 2016.

LOWERED EXPECTATIONS

My early view is the Irish will have tepid expectations from the national media. The talking heads will likely focus on the “major changes” the Irish are undergoing and the “hot seat” Brian Kelly is on when discussing Notre Dame football.

The schedule is no peach either. Though the Irish open against a Temple program that is replacing their coach, they match up in week 2 vs. SEC mainstay Georgia.  September closes with back to back road trips to BC and Sparty, followed by a home date with Miami of Ohio. I think a 3-2 September is very likely. October features the bye week and home dates with USC and NC State after an Oct. 7 date with UNC. USC is always hard to figure; they have been so inconsistent lately but looked formidable with a freshman quarterback in the Rose Bowl.

ND USC LineI think the Irish likely head into November at 5-3.  I’m largely basing this on the fact that they squeak out a win over either USC or UNC. At this point, I’m not sure which one. Notre Dame’s luck was so bad last year; I think they will likely get a few breaks from the football gods this fall. November closes the season with trips to Stanford and Miami and home dates with Wake Forest and the always dangerous Naval Academy.

As it looks in early January, I’m going to go 7-5 and a trip to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. If that is the finish it will be very likely that this year’s off-season changes will give way to bigger ones next off-season.

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]]> Key Matchups Against Michigan State https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/16/michigan-state-vs-notre-dame-3-key-matchups/ Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:27:37 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35839 In one of the featured college football games this week, the #12 Michigan State Spartans will make the short trip to South Bend to take on the #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams see this game as an opportunity to add a notable, significant win to their postseason resume. For the Spartans, a win...

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]]> In one of the featured college football games this week, the #12 Michigan State Spartans will make the short trip to South Bend to take on the #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Both teams see this game as an opportunity to add a notable, significant win to their postseason resume. For the Spartans, a win essentially guarantees them a top-ten ranking in next week’s polls, especially with #2 Florida State vs. #10 Louisville and #3 Ohio State vs. #14 Oklahoma also on this week’s schedule.

For the Fighting Irish, they need to seize any opportunity they get against a top team in the country. After a heartbreaking loss to Texas in week one, the Irish cannot afford another loss this early in the season. The Spartans are coming off a bye week and had two full weeks to prepare for this game. Let’s see how the Irish stack up against Sparty as we dive into this week’s matchups.

Top: Richard Shiro / Associated Press Bottom: Mike Carter / USA Today

Top: Richard Shiro / Associated Press
Bottom: Mike Carter / USA Today

Torii Hunter Jr. vs. Darian Hicks

Senior captain Torii Hunter Jr. may not be the leading receiver for the Irish so far, but is still the number one receiver. Hunter did not play in Notre Dame’s game against Nevada due to a concussion he suffered in the third quarter against Texas. Hunter is very confident he will play against MSU, as he was basically a full participant in practice this week, going through one-on-ones, seven-on-sevens, and 11-on-11. Hunter acted as a leader, as he did not make this about himself. He said: “It was also a good time for the younger guys to make some plays and put some pressure on them, get them some experience and everything like that.”

Equanimeous St. Brown stepped it up with Hunter on the sideline, as the sophomore grabbed six balls for 85 yards. Even though St. Brown has better numbers than Hunter, MSU senior cornerback Darian Hicks will still focus on Hunter. DeShone Kizer and the offense will probably go after Hicks, who is prone to pass interference penalties for Michigan State. It’ll be fun to watch this matchup of seniors all night.

Mike McGlinchey & Offensive Line vs. Chris Frey

Senior tackle Mike McGlinchey and the offensive line will have figure out how to stop linebacker Chris Frey. Frey was all over the field for the Spartans in their only game this season, totaling nine tackles in the MSU victory. McGlinchey is excited about the matchup saying,  “It’s why I play college football. It’s a really great opportunity against a really great defensive front. They’re a hard-nosed, well-coached football team, and they’re going to do a fantastic job of competing and playing hard.”

The offensive line will have their hands full with a terrific linebacker trio that includes Frey, Andrew Dowell, and Byron Bullough, along with standout defensive tackle Malik McDowell.

Notre Dame’s Nick Coleman (24) breaks up a pass to Massachusetts’ Shaquille Harris (14) during the Notre Dame-Massachusetts NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Notre Dame’s Nick Coleman (24) breaks up a pass to Massachusetts’ Shaquille Harris (14) during the Notre Dame-Massachusetts game. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Young Irish Secondary vs. Young MSU Receiving Core

The Irish secondary got thinner last week as they lost sophomore cornerback Shaun Crawford, who went down with a torn Achilles. Cornerback Devin Butler remains suspended indefinitely. Safety Max Redfield was dismissed from the team. Sophomore Nick Coleman and freshmen Julian Love and Donte Vaughn will be thrown into the fire in this big game. With R.J. Shelton banged up but ready to go, sophomores Felton Davis III, Madre London, and freshman Donnie Corley will have their chances to make plays against the young Irish secondary. Corley was recently suspended for prioritizing the Yankees schedule over Notre Dames. The Irish secondary has allowed 439 passing yards in two games this season.

The Irish have more at stake in this game, as they can’t afford another loss this early in the season. The offensive line will be challenged up front, along with the young secondary. Brian Kelly will have to instill confidence in his young team, in what will probably be a playoff atmosphere at home on Saturday night.

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]]> Morning Roundup: Sept. 16, 2016 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/16/morning-roundup-sept-16-2016/ Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:45:28 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35843 The Morning Roundup is now available as an easy-to-digest e-mail. Sign up at the bottom of this post and be sure to check your spam filter for a confirmation message from newsletter at herloyalsons dot com. Once you’re signed up, you’ll get all the headlines from Notre Dame athletics delivered to your inbox before breakfast....

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]]> The Morning Roundup is now available as an easy-to-digest e-mail. Sign up at the bottom of this post and be sure to check your spam filter for a confirmation message from newsletter at herloyalsons dot com. Once you’re signed up, you’ll get all the headlines from Notre Dame athletics delivered to your inbox before breakfast.

FROM OUR SITE

PODCASTS

Blue & Gold Illustrated

Inside the Irish

Irish Illustrated

Irish Sports Daily

ND Insider

The Prime Time Podcast

SATURDAY’S GAME: vs. MICHIGAN STATE (7:30 ET, NBC)

Associated Press

Battle Creek Enquirer

Blue & Gold Illustrated

Campus Pressbox

Chicago Tribune

Click on Detroit

Cleveland Plain Dealer

18 Stripes

ESPN

Inside the Irish

Irish Sports Daily

Irish247

iSportsWeb

MLive

MSU Athletics

ND Insider

One Foot Down

Spartan Avenue

Spartan Tailgate

UHND

UND

Wood TV8

2016 TEAM

Blue & Gold Illustrated

CSN Chicago

18 Stripes

ESPN

Irish Illustrated

Irish Sports Daily

Irish247

ND Insider

One Foot Down

UHND

RECRUITING

Blue & Gold Illustrated

18 Stripes

Irish Illustrated

Irish Sports Daily

Irish247

ND Insider

IRISH IN THE NFL

18 Stripes

Slap the Sign

MISC.

Indianapolis Star

Irish Sports Daily

MLive

ND Insider

WSBT

 

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]]> Morning Roundup: Sept. 15, 2016 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/15/morning-roundup-sept-15-2016/ Thu, 15 Sep 2016 09:00:12 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35818 The Morning Roundup is now available in e-mail format! Get all the Notre Dame athletics headlines in your inbox every morning at 5 a.m. ET by entering your e-mail at the bottom of this page. Today’s top stories: Torii Hunter updates us on his concussion; Ara’s still salty about fans’ perceptions of the ’66 tie...

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]]> The Morning Roundup is now available in e-mail format! Get all the Notre Dame athletics headlines in your inbox every morning at 5 a.m. ET by entering your e-mail at the bottom of this page. Today’s top stories: Torii Hunter updates us on his concussion; Ara’s still salty about fans’ perceptions of the ’66 tie versus Michigan State; lots of recruits visiting this weekend; women’s hoops lands a big recruit.

FROM OUR SITE

PODCASTS

NEXT GAME: vs. MICHIGAN STATE (7:30 p.m. ET SATURDAY, NBC)

2016 TEAM

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

RECRUITING

SCHEDULE

LAST GAME: NOTRE DAME 39, NEVADA 10

BASKETBALL

MISC.

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]]> Morning Roundup: Sept. 4, 2016 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/04/morning-roundup-sept-4-2016/ Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:00:20 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35566 Here are the headlines from the last 24 hours in the world of Notre Dame football. FROM OUR SITE Notre Dame at Texas: Predictions from deep in the heart of Texas PODCASTS Irish247: Notre Dame-Texas preview Irish247: 1-on-1 with Jeff Howe of Horns247 NEXT GAME: at Texas (7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC) Austin American Statesman:...

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]]> Here are the headlines from the last 24 hours in the world of Notre Dame football.

FROM OUR SITE

PODCASTS

NEXT GAME: at Texas (7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC)

OFFENSE

RECRUITING

SCHEDULE

IRISH IN THE NFL

MISC.

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]]> Offensive Line: Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/08/29/offensive-line-know-thyself-know-thy-enemy/ Mon, 29 Aug 2016 07:00:28 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35443 They used to make things in South Bend. Men, alchemists, melted and manipulated the earth’s elements. They were gods. They labored under furnaces as big as freight trains to bend, cut, melt, and twist great sheets of steel into the new machines that drove the American Century. Today, the inheritors of that tradition live up...

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]]> They used to make things in South Bend. Men, alchemists, melted and manipulated the earth’s elements. They were gods. They labored under furnaces as big as freight trains to bend, cut, melt, and twist great sheets of steel into the new machines that drove the American Century. Today, the inheritors of that tradition live up the road and toil under the tutelage of Coach Harry Hiestand. For he makes linemen.

In this installment of our critically-acclaimed (in Finland) series, Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy, we take a look at that most-important of position groups, the offensive line. The Irish will face some of the nation’s best O-lines in 2016, with Stanford and USC the best of bunch.

For The Irish: LT Mike McGlinchey (Sr.), 6’7″, 310 lbs.

Offensive lineIf you need to know why Harry Hiestand might just be the most important coach at Notre Dame, you need look no further than the talent he has recruited and developed, year after year. Despite an aura of “inexperience” about the group, the nation’s ranking services are high, very high, on Hiestand’s charges. In McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame has the best left-side in college football. Across the front, though, there is talent and depth in spades.

McGlinchey is athletic enough to play tight end, which explains his ability to transition so effectively from right tackle, his natural position, to left tackle this season. After redshirting his freshman year, McGlinchey played in all 13 games his sophomore and junior season and comes into 2016 with 14 starts under his belt. He is also on the Outland Trophy watch list. O-linemen are graded on blocking. They get a “plus” when they complete their blocking assignment and a “minus” when they don’t. McGlinchey is Notre Dame’s highest-graded lineman. For what it’s worth, ProFootballFocus has Notre Dame as their number one unit in the country for 2016, on the heels of a 2015 season in which they graded out +61.6 in run blocking and +18.6 in pass blocking.

For The Enemy: RT Zach Banner, USC (Sr.) 6’9″, 345 lbs.

BannerMy favorite stat about Zach Banner is not that he lost forty pounds since he started playing college football but that he is, at his lightest, twice as heavy as Adoree Jackson.

Banner’s a monster among monsters. Like WWE greats of old, when it was called the WWF, he is surprisingly agile for his size, with the ability to crash and pull with the best of them. With 27 starts under his belt, Banner has the experience and the physical attributes to back up his preseason accolades. He was a five-star recruit out of high school and the only knock against him is the potential he has to pack on the pounds. NFL talent runs in his blood as well. His father, Lincoln Kennedy, played eleven seasons in the bigs.

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]]> Analyzing the Fall Camp Depth Chart https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/08/11/3-fall-camp-buzzwords/ Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:00:05 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35116 Fall camp produces the perfect mix for any college football junkie – immeasurable aspirations coupled with unlimited potential. The 2016 Fighting Irish are no exception. Many positional battles follow #NDFB into fall camp and understandably so with the solid depth at all positions. Let’s do a quick rundown of what to expect. Depth, baby! Everything...

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]]> Fall camp produces the perfect mix for any college football junkie – immeasurable aspirations coupled with unlimited potential. The 2016 Fighting Irish are no exception. Many positional battles follow #NDFB into fall camp and understandably so with the solid depth at all positions. Let’s do a quick rundown of what to expect.

Depth, baby! Everything this fall will revolve around the exceptional depth that has slowly been built year over year. The coaching staff has recruited exceptionally well over the past few years (the 2017 class aka #IRISHEL17E and the 2018 class aka #IrishBouND18 are stacking up quite nicely as well) especially addressing specific positional needs.

adamsThe depth is far and above where it has been in years past. The offense returns multiple assets at every position. Proven running backs Tarean Folston and Josh Adams will lead the ground game along with Dexter Williams guaranteed to be fighting for carries.

The offensive line depth is nothing short of incredible considering it lost two future NFL starters from last year in Ronnie Stanley and Nick Martin. Junior guard Quenton Nelson has been named a Sports Illustrated preseason All-American and senior tackle Mike McGlinchey is garnering elite status as the 64th best player in the nation – according to ESPN. These two woolly mammoths will anchor the left side of the offensive line, and the right side anticipates a battle between junior Alex Bars and seniors Hunter Bivin and Colin McGovern.

Tight end, once a surging position of depth, took a hit in the academic ineligibility ruling against Alize Jones. As reported, Jones will miss the entire 2016 season. The return of transferring/not transferring Tyler Luatua provides the group with a huge (255 lbs. pun intended) veteran h-back, and his decision to not transfer now proves to be vital to the position group. Nic Weishar and Durham Smythe are both capable and consistent targets from a three point stance and split wide – this groups presence and overall utility within the red zone should not be understated.

Credit: Matt Cashore

Credit: Matt Cashore

The wide receiver cupboard is full – yet unproven. The only shoe-in to start is senior Torii Hunter Jr. Behind him will be an intriguing battle between Equanimeous St. Brown, Corey Holmes, Miles Boykin, C.J. Sanders, and potentially true freshman/early enrollee Kevin Stepherson. Finishing on the offensive side of the ball, who could forget the quarterback situation, in which the Irish arguably have the most collective talent at the position in the entire nation (including Brandon Wimbush)? *Insert your own opinions about the QB situation* and find my own here.

The defensive line (also unfortunately known as the Irish’s Achilles heel in recent years) is loaded with talent and (FINALLY) depth. Isaac Rochell, Jarron Jones and Daniel Cage are battle tested veterans while Andrew Trumbetti, Jay Hayes, Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bonner, Micah Dew-Treadway and Elijah Taylor all look to make significant impacts and potentially break out. Also, look for the word “sub packages” to be thrown around as highly talented true freshman defensive ends Daelin Hayes and Khalid Kareem could be utilized as pass rushers in such schemes.

Nyles Morgan (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

Nyles Morgan (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

Nyles Morgan is an automatic upgrade at the Mike linebacker position, and while replacing the “once in a century” freakish athleticism of Jaylon Smith is no small task, the linebacker corps is well stocked with young talent. Te’von Coney saw limited action last year and is reported to be fully recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the Fiesta Bowl. His classmates and other blue chip linebacker recruits, Asmar Bilal (2015 defensive scout team player of the year) and Josh Barajas redshirted last year. This young talent will push upperclassmen, Greer Martini and James Onwaulu for reps.

The secondary returns Jekyll and Hyde aka Max Redfield along with sixth year Cal transfer Avery Sebastian and fan favorite Drue Tranquil – all at safety. Garnering spring ball notoriety was true freshman and early enrollee Devin Studstill, who was my “most likely to make an immediate impact” of the 2016 recruiting class.

Rounding out the secondary at cornerback is senior multi year starter Cole Luke along with juniors Nick Watkins and Devin Butler. They are surrounded by younger talent in sophomore Nick Coleman and Shaun Crawford, who was slated to be the team’s starting nickel back last year until suffering a torn ACL in fall camp. Crawford drew incredibly high praise during the 2015 fall camp before his injury, and his return provides a massive athletic boost to the secondary.

Credit: UHND.com

Credit: UHND.com

Over the past few years the Notre Dame special teams have often been regarded as the “not-so-special teams.” Last year, however, the group made great strides and improvements. Returning “The Big Three” key specialists in kicker Justin Yoon, punter Tyler Newsome, and long snapper Scott Daly should pay dividends for the special teams in 2016. DeShone Kizer has been relieved of his holding duties and he will be replaced by Montgomery VanGorder. The Irish also have the luxury of Sanders’ electric and ever-elusive return skills. As a true freshman, Sanders returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown last season. The special teams should continue to build off of last year’s success.

With the well-rounded depth in place, #NDFB is primed for an entertaining fall. Don’t forget that it is your civic duty as a Domer to recite one Hail Mary each day of camp for the shake of keeping this vital depth healthy!

Cheers and Go Irish!

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]]> Notre Dame’s Most Talented Opponents https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/28/notre-dames-talented-opponents/ Tue, 28 Jun 2016 09:30:52 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34678 Pro Football Focus unveiled its 101 best college players Monday, offering an early glimpse at some of the players that will likely give the Irish fits come this fall. Before we look at Irish opponents, let’s look at the two Notre Dame players that made the list: Offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson. Here’s...

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]]> Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Joe Schmidt (38) during the second half at Stanford Stadium. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Joe Schmidt (38) during the second half at Stanford Stadium. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Pro Football Focus unveiled its 101 best college players Monday, offering an early glimpse at some of the players that will likely give the Irish fits come this fall.

Before we look at Irish opponents, let’s look at the two Notre Dame players that made the list: Offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson.

Here’s what PFF’s Steve Palazzolo said about McGlinchey, who he ranked #36 overall.

McGlinchey has made great strides since arriving at Notre Dame as a high-upside freshman. Last year was his first as a starter and he responded with the nation’s highest grade for a right tackle at +23.2. He’s expected to move to the left side to replace top-ten pick Ronnie Stanley, bringing his strong run blocking that ranked ninth among all tackles in the country in 2015.

Nelson came in at #94, with Palazzolo saying:

Nelson wasn’t out of place in his first college action. He was excellent in the running game, as he was strong at the point of attack and impressive as a puller. Nelson finished with a positive grade in pass protection as well, and his debut bodes well for the future of Notre Dame’s offensive line.

Now here are the top 11 individuals who’ll play against the Irish, as determined by PFF:

  1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford (#1 overall)
  2. JuJu Smith-Shuster, WR, USC (#21 overall)
  3. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State (#23 overall)
  4. Zach Banner, OT, USC (#45 overall)
  5. Adoree Jackson, CB/WR, USC (#47 overall)
  6. Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech (#62 overall)
  7. Jaylen Samuels, RB, N.C. State (#68 overall)
  8. Wyatt Teller, G, Virginia Tech (#75 overall)
  9. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami (#87 overall)
  10. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford (#98 overall)
  11. Ed Davis, LB, Michigan State (#100 overall)

Here are some other Irish headlines:

  • Golson Signs With CFL Team – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson to their practice squad. The Cats are 1-0 on the season, with former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli going 27-for-37 with 318 yards and 3 TDs against the Toronto Argonauts. Masoli is playing in place of Zach Collaros, who played for Brian Kelly at Cincinnati. Collaros torn his ACL last September and is still recovering. Here’s video of Golson talking about his first day with the team.
  • Jersey Football Field Named After Theo Riddick – Immaculata High School, the Somerville, N.J. alma mater of former Irish RB Theo Riddick, named their playing field after the Detroit Lions’ backfield specialist. Riddick ran for 4,042 yards and scored 52 touchdowns in high school career. He graduated from the school in 2009.
  • Pat Connaughton Chucks It DEEEP – The former Irish basketball standout, now playing for the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers, threw a football a long, long way with what seems to be minimal effort. He says it went 80 yards on the fly, but it’s super hard to tell. I see at least 60 easy.
  • Breaking down the cost of bringing Navy-Notre Dame to Jax – The city of Jacksonville is expected to invest $350,000 into operating EverBank Field during the Midshipman’s Nov. 5 matchup with the Irish. The city is also installing 3,500 seats to replace those lost during recent renovations.

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]]> Notre Dame Football’s Most Promising “Rookies” https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/06/top-rookies/ Mon, 06 Jun 2016 10:00:07 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34501 The Irish Illustrated staff collectively ranked the top Irish “rookies” based on who they felt would have the best Notre Dame careers. My top 10 list differed from theirs, so let’s take a closer look: 1. Brandon Wimbush (II Staff: #2) If you consider the question, you’ll notice it’s a little tricky. “Who among the...

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]]> The Irish Illustrated staff collectively ranked the top Irish “rookies” based on who they felt would have the best Notre Dame careers. My top 10 list differed from theirs, so let’s take a closer look:

1. Brandon Wimbush (II Staff: #2)

Credit: UND.com

Credit: UND.com

If you consider the question, you’ll notice it’s a little tricky.

“Who among the three dozen will have the best careers at Notre Dame?”

Brandon Wimbush is a quarterback with all the tools: strong arm, fleet of foot and accurate. I’m not certain that he’s going to demonstrate that talent at Notre Dame, however.

Here’s what the quarterback depth chart could look like in 2017 (in alphabetical order):

IAN BOOK – Redshirt freshman; 4 years eligibility remaining
AVERY DAVIS – True freshman; 4 years eligibility remaining
DESHONE KIZER – Redshirt junior; 2 years eligibility remaining
BRANDON WIMBUSH – Redshirt sophomore; 3 years eligibility remaining
MALIK ZAIRE – 5th year; 1 year eligibility remaining

I put Wimbush at No. 1 because I’m betting he gets two years as a starter. Here’s my guess: Kizer beats Zaire for the starting job this year and does well enough to declare for the NFL Draft. Zaire graduates and transfers to another school for a one-year shot at making an impression on NFL teams. Wimbush starts 2017 and beats out Davis, Book and true freshman Phil Jurkovec to be chief signal caller in 2018 as well. Is this an optimistic view of Notre Dame football that does not include quarterbacks getting injured or struggling? You bet it is.

2. Tommy Kraemer (II Staff: #3)

Tommy KraemerTommy Kraemer is a five-star offensive lineman who enters Notre Dame with more hype than Ronnie Stanley, who just got picked sixth overall in the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 310 pound right tackle is praised for his “outstanding wide base, combined with a low pad level while showing balance every step of the way.” He’s also impressed scouts for his ability to “sustain and finish his blocks” and his “comfortability” with playing either the right or left side.

I picked Kraemer because the decks have been cleared for him to make an immediate impact. Stanley and Nick Martin are in the NFL. Steve Elmer has left football to join the business world. Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson probably have the left side locked down, but the middle and right is still an open competition. I see Kraemer pushing Alex Bars, Sam Mustipher and Hunter Bivin and Tristen Hoge and making the two-deep at some point in the 2016 season. It’s a guarantee if there’s injury to one of the six “incumbents” mentioned.

3. Shaun Crawford (II Staff: #1)

Credit: UND.com

Credit: UND.com

I really like Shaun Crawford. I like his hustle. I like his doggedness to play as hard as he could during the spring game although he was supposed to be taking it easy. He always seems to be where the ball is going to be – and half the time it seems like he’s sticking his hand out before the ball can even get to the receiver. After tearing his ACL his freshman season, Crawford dedicated himself to studying film and learning the playbook. I like that he didn’t lose focus.

Here’s what concerns me about Shaun Crawford. He’s 5-foot-9, which is small in a position where getting vertical is essential. And he’s a largely unknown commodity, having never played a down of real college football. I’m almost 5-foot-9 myself, so I always root for the little guys. Crawford will be no exception. But for the Irish Illustrated staff to say he’ll have the best career out of three dozen (plus) guys? I think that’s a tad too optimistic.

4. Corey Holmes (II Staff: Unranked)

Credit: UND.com

Credit: UND.com

If the Irish Illustrated guys are too high on Crawford, then they are definitely too low on Corey Holmes. Now removed from the shadow of Will Fuller and Chris Brown, Holmes is poised to have a break out year. I’ve written extensively on why I believe Holmes should start this year, and that was before we learned he clocked a 4.41 second 40-yard dash and jumped 41 inches vertically (which is 7 inches higher than Will Fuller at the NFL Combine).

I’m expecting Holmes to be the Irish’s No. 1 or No. 2 receiver for the next two years. The beat writers are higher on Torii Hunter Jr. – and many still like the attributes of Equanimeous St. Brown. But Holmes has remained healthy, unlike Hunter and St. Brown, and he’s my fourth pick for a great Notre Dame career.

5. Donte Vaughn (II Staff: #10)

Donte VaughnI love Donte Vaughn because he is so freakin’ tall for a cornerback. Six-foot-three?! He’s as tall as Richard Sherman, with beautiful long limbs that can frustrate wide receivers trying to get a jump off the line. Forget about the end zone corner fade. Unless he stumbles or is slow to make a redirect, Vaughn is going to have a good chance in any jump ball situation.

Even if Vaughn doesn’t develop the loose hips or backpedal needed to excel at cornerback, he could easily find a home at either safety or outside linebacker. I’d love to see him develop as a guy who can just neutralize a team’s best receiver, however.

6. Daelin Hayes (II Staff: #4)

Credit: Tim Sullivan / Detroit Free Press

Credit: Tim Sullivan / Detroit Free Press

I honestly considered putting freshman defensive end Daelin Hayes at the top of this list. I also strongly considered leaving him off the list entirely.

Hayes’ high school career can be summed up in one phrase: brief flashes of brilliance. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound power pass rusher attended four high schools and saw limited action because of two shoulder injuries, a custody battle and some transfer rules. When he did play, people were impressed with his “innate quickness,” “low center of gravity,” and mental toughness.

Hayes wore a no-contact jersey throughout Notre Dame’s spring practice, as he was still recovering from shoulder surgery. Writers were impressed with what little they saw of Hayes during drills. Notre Dame desperately needs a pass rush to complement whatever Isaac Rochell can produce from the other end. Look for a healthy Hayes to push junior Andrew Trumbetti for playing time.

7. Devin Studstill (II Staff: #8)

Scout.com photo

Scout.com photo

Max Redfield once quipped that learning Mandarin Chinese was easier than understanding the full complexities of Brian VanGorder’s defense. To my knowledge, Devin Studstill doesn’t know a lick of the world’s most popular language. But the 6-foot, 190 pound product ingested enough of the Notre Dame scheme to take first team reps away from Redfield this spring.

Although VanGorder denied promoting Studstill to put a fire under Redfield, I still think the safety position is the senior’s to lose. Redfield was nursing a minor ankle injury this spring, which hopefully won’t extend into the summer.

Besides Studstill’s ability to interpret the scheme and translate it to others, he’s been praised for his excellent ball location skills. There’s a lot of bodies in the defensive backfield. But, so far, Studstill is standing shoulders above the rest.

8. Chase Claypool (II Staff: #7)

Chase ClaypoolChase Claypool is a guy with tremendous upside who hasn’t had the opportunity to prove himself against the best competition. He runs a respectable 4.6 second 40-yard-dash for a man that is 6-foot-5, 215 pounds. It’ll be interesting to see where he shakes out. He could be a tight end or a wide receiver. Or, if neither pans out, he may make a respectable linebacker. Claypool has been able to rely on his physical gifts in a weaker Canadian high school league, so he’s got room to improve – especially when it comes to route running. But because of his versatility, his size and his hands, he makes my list.

9. Jay Hayes (II Staff: Unranked)

Credit: UND.com

Credit: UND.com

We’ve come a very long way from Jay Hayes tweeting in frustration over his perceived lack of advancement on the defensive line. With Grant Blankenship’s future very much in doubt, Hayes has one less competitor at the weak-side defensive end position. Hayes provides more power than speed, which will likely force him to split reps – at least initially – with the quicker Andrew Trumbetti. Daelin Hayes could compete for playing time here or slide into Rochell’s spot for the 2017 season.

Hayes is one of the bigger, more jovial presences on the team. Surely moving from defensive tackle to defensive end has been tough on him. But he’s got three more seasons of eligibility left to prove himself as a presence to be reckoned with on the line.

10. Troy Pride Jr. (II Staff: #5)

Photo: 247sports.com

Photo: 247sports.com

I put Troy Pride Jr. at the #10 position mostly for his achievements not on the football field, but in track and field. Pride took home 4 South Carolina Class AAA track titles last month, including the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash events. His fourth medal was in the 4-by-100 relay event.

Pride Jr. was listed at 160 pounds when he committed in December, but seems to have added about 15 pounds since then. He’s average height for a cornerback at 6 feet, but I’m worried it’ll take him a little while to adjust to his newer, beefier frame. It’s going to be a necessity, though, if he wants to win those physical matchups at the line.

By including Crawford, Vaughn, Studstill and Pride in my “top rookies” list, I’m almost assuredly wrong about someone in defensive backfield. But, hey, let’s hope they all work out!

TIDBITS

Irish Illustrated put freshman wide receiver Kevin “K.J.” Stepherson at #6 on their list and freshman offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg at #9.

So who is on your list? Here are the candidates to consider, per Irish Illustrated:

  • Redshirt sophomores Brandon Wimbush, Justin Brent, Jay Hayes and Corey Holmes
  • 10 redshirt-freshmen from 2015: Josh Barajas, Asmar Bilal, Miles Boykin, Shaun Crawford, Micah Dew-Treadway, Tristen Hoge, Trevor Ruhland, Elijah Taylor, Brandon Tiassum, and Ashton White.
  • The 23 players in the class of 2016.

Leave your rankings in the comments below.

The post Notre Dame Football’s Most Promising “Rookies” appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

]]> Debate This: Jaylon Smith Was Right To Play In Fiesta Bowl https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/05/04/34268/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/05/04/34268/#comments Wed, 04 May 2016 09:00:33 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34268 Debate This is a recurring series on HerLoyalSons in which two writers take opposing sides on a hot topic. Today and tomorrow, we will debate whether or not Jaylon Smith should have played in the Fiesta Bowl. Yesterday, IrishJimmy led us through the “he should have skipped it” argument. Today, andrewwinn takes the other side....

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The post Debate This: Jaylon Smith Was Right To Play In Fiesta Bowl appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

]]> Debate This is a recurring series on HerLoyalSons in which two writers take opposing sides on a hot topic. Today and tomorrow, we will debate whether or not Jaylon Smith should have played in the Fiesta Bowl. Yesterday, IrishJimmy led us through the “he should have skipped it” argument. Today, andrewwinn takes the other side.

Jaylon Smith was right to play in the Fiesta Bowl because it’s what he wanted to do, because devastating injuries can happen at any time and because playing tentative or afraid won’t make him a great football player.

Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith (9) celebrates a sack during the Notre Dame-Texas NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith (9) celebrates a sack during the Notre Dame-Texas NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

JAYLON SMITH WANTED TO PLAY

Smith, the former Irish linebacker, said he had zero regrets about playing in the Fiesta Bowl, during which he suffered a torn ACL and LCL.

“Even if I had a chance to go back, I would play in the bowl game again. You’re playing in the Fiesta Bowl, first time in my life, against a great team in Ohio State. I would never want to let my teammates down, and no regrets.”

The junior continued to assert that he was not troubled by the decision, even days prior to the draft. Smith told the Chicago Tribune:

“It’s just understanding that everyone is dealt their own hand and just dealing with that. I don’t want people to be sad for me or mad, because I’m not sad for myself. I look at it as an opportunity for growth.”

Smith doesn’t even blame Taylor Decker, the Ohio State offensive lineman who shoved him before the injury. Decker, the Lions’ first round draft pick, told the Detroit Free Press:

“Football is a physical, violent game. I just wanted to reach out to him and wish him all the best. And he told me right back, he’s like, ‘No hard feelings at all.’ So I think that was really mature of him.”

Coming into the Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame and Ohio State had 19 individuals on their roster that would go on to be drafted by NFL teams. Imagine if Ohio State’s five first round draft picks and Notre Dame’s two first rounders refused to play to protect their draft stock. The fans would lose out, but their teammates would too. There’s no worry about who wins the matchup between wide receiver Will Fuller or cornerback Eli Apple – both would be sitting. Ditto for offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive end Joey Bosa. (Because of Bosa’s ejection, this isn’t a perfect example.)

Setting aside the question of whether players should be paid, they are being compensated. There’s an exchange that takes place: The school offers a full scholarship and the player offers his time and talent when healthy. Jaylon Smith was healthy and in a position to help his team win a game. He took that commitment to the team seriously, and he played when asked. Coaches aren’t offering scholarships to guys who want to play until their team is out of championship contention. They expect their players to give full effort until the end. Frankly, it would undermine the entire system if players decided to unilaterally pick and choose which games to participate in to protect their draft status. It would be less about team and more about the individual. Jaylon Smith isn’t wired that way. He cares about his teammates. The game had meaning to him because it was an opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his teammates on one of the biggest stages against an elite team and to find a way to win.

SMITH’S PAYOUTS ARE RICH ENOUGH

The injury may have cost him up to $21.4 million, and this 20-year-old said he still would have played. So let’s talk about the money.

Smith purchased a loss-of-value insurance policy for $50,000 that paid out up to $5 million if he suffered an injury and fell out of the first round. It’s the sort of policy that’s a wise investment for any highly valued player and, in Smith’s case, a necessary one. The policy will pay out $900,000 – which is tax free, so the true value is closer to $1.7 million.

It’s complete speculation that an uninjured Smith would have gone first overall, especially considering the Rams and Eagles traded up to get a quarterback. The Chicago Bears took the first linebacker with the 9th overall pick.

Let’s compare former Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd’s new contract with Jaylon Smith’s.

Floyd will receive $15,782,861, all guaranteed. He’ll pay an estimated $2.2 million in taxes in 2017 and, assuming a 3 percent fee, his agent will take home about $473,480. That leaves Floyd with about $13 million before 2018 taxes are due.

Smith will receive $6,494,970 plus the $900,000 insurance payout, for a total of $7.4 million. He’ll pay an estimated $877,534 in 2017 taxes and send $87,708 to his agent. That leaves Smith with about $5.5 million before 2018 taxes are due.

Is there a big difference between $5.5 million and $13 million? With prudent investing, both could take care of you for a lifetime.

If Smith never plays another down of football in his life, that $5.5 million and (presumably forthcoming) college degree from Notre Dame could ensure financial stability until his death. (The average American male with a bachelor’s degree can expect to make $2.1 million during his lifetime.)

If he does play, Smith has the opportunity to make tens of millions more in a second contract. This injury didn’t take away his ability to provide for himself and his family; it limited his ability to buy a yacht and a private jet simultaneously.

Notre Dame’s Jerry Tillery (99), left, and Jaylon Smith (9) bring down Clemson’s Deshaun Watson(4). SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Notre Dame’s Jerry Tillery (99), left, and Jaylon Smith (9) bring down Clemson’s Deshaun Watson(4). SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

DEVASTATING INJURIES CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME

Bart Hubbach, a NY Post columnist, recently criticized Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly for not forcing Smith to sit.

“Sometimes kids need to be protected from themselves. Kelly and other head coaches need to be the adults in the room,” tweeted Hubbach.

That would be an impossible line to draw. If Notre Dame had lost two or three games early in its season – removing all legitimate hope for a national title – should Kelly sit Smith to protect him from himself? In those “way too early” mock drafts, Smith was a top 25 pick or even top 10 pick before the 2015 season even kicked off. Certainly, that’s higher than he went after the injury. Should he have sat the entire season? Of course not.

Season-ending or career-altering injuries can come at any time. Mike McGlinchey finishes a block on Joe Schmidt during summer practice before the 2015 season, and Schmidt takes out Jarron Jones’ knee. Jones was lost for the season

In the first game of the 2015 season, running back Tarean Folston made a series of nifty moves. Fourteen yards later, he was down…with a torn ACL. In the second game, quarterback Malik Zaire runs a draw play. His ankle is trapped underneath a defender, who is tackling him. Zaire suffers a fractured ankle and is lost for the season. In the third game, Drue Tranquill breaks up a pass in the end zone and celebrates by doing a butt-bump with Schmidt. Tranquill lands on the knee awkwardly and tears an ACL. He’s lost for the season.

Like Jones, Folston and Zaire, Smith was just unlucky. Freak season-ending injuries were a too-common part of Notre Dame’s 2015 season.

AFRAID AIN’T A GOOD LOOK

In a recent interview on SportsBeat 960, Draft Countdown’s Scott Wright said there would “most likely” be negative repercussions for any college player who skipped a bowl game for fear of injury.

“No question. NFL people want to see guys compete and get out there on the field, even though you can make a very good argument that it’s in their best interests to sit it out. Teams would not like that. But ultimately – at the end of the day – what it comes down to are: Hhow talented are you? If you’re a Jaylon Smith-level talent and you skip that bowl game, maybe it would have dropped him a few spots. But I still think he would have gone in the top 10 overall. I think it’s something that players are going to start asking themselves more and more as the years pass. I guarantee you the NFL people would not like it at all and they would have a lot of harsh words for them.”

Smith was asked about being afraid that he would never recover from his injury. “I don’t have time to be afraid,” he told the NFL Network. “I don’t have any time to be afraid. For me, it’s just about putting the work in, controlling what you can control.”

Jaylon Smith leaps over Cardinal Ritter's Jalen Chandler during the fourth quarter of play in the Class 2A IHSAA football championship game Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Jaylon Smith leaps over Cardinal Ritter’s Jalen Chandler during the fourth quarter of play in the Class 2A IHSAA football championship game Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Playing scared is also contrary to Smith’s style of play.

Ty Hunt, the coach at Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis, recalled a moment when his team played Smith’s in the Indiana Class 2A state championship.

‘‘They had a third-and-five, and they gave him the ball to the outside,’’ Hunt said. ‘‘I have a DB who’s going to an NAIA school. He’s 6-1 and came off a block and went to get him, and Jaylon hurdled him like he wasn’t there. It was pretty impressive.’’

Chicago Sun-Times’ Mark Potash picked up the story from there.

“Smith actually was penalized for hurdling on that play. But it’s that kind of aggressiveness that Notre Dame wants, no matter where Smith plays. Coaches tried to recruit Smith as a running back — he rushed for 1,625 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior — but the kid rather would hit than be hit and insisted on playing defense.”

In a February 2013 scouting report, FoxSports.com Director of Scouting Scott Kennedy raved about Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette:

”When you speak about players like this, you use a lot of superlatives, because he is one of the top five players in the country in a nation of a million football players. If you are trying to pick him apart, where is his weakness? He can play safety for God’s sake. He’s great in coverage. He’s got flexible hips. He’s got long arms. He’s aggressive. He’s not afraid to go up and smack people. He’s so instinctive that he plays all over the field, so he has a very good feel for the game on what the offense and defense is trying to do. On top of that, he’s a great kid.”

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