Will Fuller Archives - Her Loyal Sons https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog A Notre Dame Football Blog Fri, 16 Sep 2016 03:21:43 +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 Will Fuller Archives - Her Loyal Sons https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog 32 32 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.

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PODCASTS

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

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Battle Creek Enquirer

Blue & Gold Illustrated

Campus Pressbox

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Click on Detroit

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Inside the Irish

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IRISH IN THE NFL

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]]> #NDintheNFL: Will Fuller & Theo Riddick Shine https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/13/fuller-riddick-notre-dame-in-nfl/ Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:30:12 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35780 Will Fuller’s NFL rookie campaign began Sunday and he picked up right where his Notre Dame career left off. He showed why he was correctly assessed as a first round talent recording five receptions on 11 targets for a Houston Texans rookie debut record of 107 yards and one touchdown in the Texans’ 23-14 victory...

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]]> Credit: Associated Press

Credit: Associated Press

Will Fuller’s NFL rookie campaign began Sunday and he picked up right where his Notre Dame career left off. He showed why he was correctly assessed as a first round talent recording five receptions on 11 targets for a Houston Texans rookie debut record of 107 yards and one touchdown in the Texans’ 23-14 victory over the Bears.

Fuller’s speed was on full display, especially on his touchdown, which came on a screen pass that Irish fans are all too familiar with. He could have had an even more impressive NFL debut, however he dropped what would have been an 83 yard touchdown late in the first half. Unfortunately, drops continue to hinder the talented wide out and are also something Irish fans are all to familiar with. All in all, Fuller’s first NFL game was a success as he continues to utilize his elite speed to take the top off of defenses and be a consistent threat in the screen game. Fuller will look to build on his early NFL success this upcoming Sunday as the Texans take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

RIDDICK IS CLUTCH IN LIONS’ WIN

Theo Riddick helped buoy the Lions to a win against the Colts on Sunday in a career game. Riddick rushed for 45 yards on seven carries and one touchdown. Two carries came in clutch time to help set up the Lions game winning field goal. He continued to be a huge threat in the passing game out of the backfield, notching five receptions on five targets for 63 yards including one for another touchdown. He and former Nebraska Cornhusker Ameer Abdullah are becoming a deadly one-two punch at running back.

Versatility remains Riddick’s most admirable asset, as he is proving to be one of the best third down running backs in the NFL. He benefits from mismatches against linebackers in the passing game and is quickly becoming one of Matthew Stafford’s most reliable targets in the absence of recently retired Calvin Johnson. In his three years with the Lions, Riddick’s production has ascended year over year from a lonely four receptions in his rookie season, to 34 receptions in 2014, to 80 receptions last season. The 2016 season started out with a solid three year $12.75 million contract extension for the Notre Dame alum. On Sunday, he demonstrated that he was worth every penny.

Cheers and Go Irish!

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]]> Morning Roundup: Sept. 6, 2016 https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/09/06/morning-roundup-sept-6-2016/ Tue, 06 Sep 2016 09:00:16 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=35619 Here are the headlines about Notre Dame football from the past 24 hours. FROM OUR SITE Communication: Despite the bright lights, little is clear from Kelly PODCASTS Irish Sports Daily: Power Hour loaded ND Insider: Notre Dame coach Mike Denbrock reviews Texas loss One Foot Down: Texas post game show LAST GAME: Texas 50, Notre...

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]]> Here are the headlines about Notre Dame football from the past 24 hours.

FROM OUR SITE

PODCASTS

LAST GAME: Texas 50, Notre Dame 47

NEXT GAME: vs. Nevada (3:30 ET Saturday, NBC)

2016 TEAM

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

SCHEDULE

RECRUITING

IRISH IN THE NFL

MISC.

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]]> Who Should Start At QB? https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/07/08/who-should-start-at-qb/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/07/08/who-should-start-at-qb/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2016 10:00:51 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34775 Welcome to a series of posts we’re calling “Five Question Marks.” In his final entry, BJ Konkle answers a question on the minds of many Notre Dame fans: Which quarterback gives Notre Dame the best chance to win? I’ve saved the most debated question of all for last – Malik or DeShone, Zaire or Kizer,...

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]]> Welcome to a series of posts we’re calling “Five Question Marks.” In his final entry, BJ Konkle answers a question on the minds of many Notre Dame fans: Which quarterback gives Notre Dame the best chance to win?

Getty Images

Getty Images

I’ve saved the most debated question of all for last – Malik or DeShone, Zaire or Kizer, lefty or righty?

The position is still very much up for grabs as we head into fall camp. Coach Brian Kelly has said that while either player is capable of taking the team to a championship, the offense first and foremost will need to establish an identity based around the quarterback position.

Kelly hits the nail on the head with this approach. Last year, Ohio State struggled to find an identity offensively due to its inability to choose a quarterback, and build the offense around that quarterback’s skill set. Moving forward into fall camp it will be crucial for the coaches to choose a quarterback early in the process and begin building the offense around the chosen quarterback’s specific talents. But…which guy should they pick?

It would appear that the majority of fans, pundits and analysts are in favor of giving DeShone Kizer the nod.

The common argument presented is that Kizer has the most experience after helping lead the team to a 10 win season last year. While I’m not sure that a “right or wrong” answer exists when it comes to picking between two Maxwell Award watch-list-worthy QBs, I believe there is a stronger argument to be made to start Malik Zaire.

Former Irish quarterback, Brady Quinn, laid out his reasoning for believing that Notre Dame should start Zaire. His argument is largely based around seniority. While I agree with Quinn’s choice, I disagree with his logic.

My argument revolves primarily around Coach Kelly’s identity initiative, and the general idea that the current offensive unit – and team as a whole – suits Zaire’s talents and style better than Kizer’s.

It is important to define where each quarterback’s talents and style differ before diving any deeper. Both players can make all of the throws. Both players have demonstrated an advanced understanding of the offense. Zaire, however, is unquestionably the more talented and feared runner. His ability to create outside the pocket and the sheer threat of his running ability puts the offense and team in a better position to succeed.

Again, piggybacking off of Kelly’s rationale to cultivate an identity, the Irish are better positioned to identify as a heavy and dynamic rushing team with Zaire as the signal caller of the offense. Three main premises support this argument: 1) young and unproven wide receivers, 2) young and unproven right side of the offensive line, 3) control the time of possession to protect the defense.

INEXPERIENCE AT WIDE RECEIVER

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass against Navy during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in South Bend, Ind. (AP / Jeff Haynes)

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass against Navy during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in South Bend, Ind. (AP / Jeff Haynes)

Last year DeShone Kizer had the luxury of a first round NFL draft pick wide receiver in Will Fuller. Any quarterback salivates over the incredible speed that Fuller possessed. This speed forced defenses to play a safety over the top of Fuller, thus allowing the run game to profit schematically. Kizer also had the advantage of throwing to two additional seasoned veterans in Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle.

This year the wide receiving corps returns only one real contributor from the prior season: Torii Hunter Jr. It has already been established that the cupboard is certainly not empty for wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock, but the 2016 team will likely not have the same ability to take the top off of a defense as consistently as they did last year with Fuller. Taking all of this into consideration, the young and inexperienced receivers will benefit from the strongest rushing attack possible, relieving them of any added pressures to contribute while also allowing them to flourish in vital play action calls.

I don’t believe that #NDFB would have a poor rushing attack with DeShone Kizer. Kizer showed an above average ability to run the ball last year, but I believe Zaire gives the Irish the most dynamic rushing attack possible. It is also important to note that unlike many fans, I do not buy into the common narrative that because Zaire is the more gifted runner, then by default Kizer must be the better passer. I reject this theory while recognizing that Zaire does not possess the 6-foot-4, 220 lbs. frame that Kizer and many great passers do. But we haven’t seen enough of Zaire through the air to determine who the better passer is. Again, taking into consideration the youth and inexperience of the current wide receiving core, I believe they would be put in the best position to succeed in an offense that identifies with a strong running quarterback giving the Irish the most dynamic rushing attack possible.

A POTENT RUSHING ATTACK HELPS O-LINE GAIN CONFIDENCE

Offensive lineHarry Hiestand and the offensive line have a difficult test this upcoming season in replacing first round draft pick, Ronnie Stanley, and second round draft pick (and likely NFL starter), Nick Martin.

Thankfully, Hiestand and the Irish have developed tremendous depth at the position and the likely replacements are extremely talented. However, having new full time starters at center, right guard and right tackle isn’t guaranteed to be a seamless transition. Similarly to the young and inexperienced receivers, over half of the offensive line will be largely inexperienced and benefit from the most formidable running game possible. Getting the big fellas up front into a rhythm running the ball will be crucial to the group’s success. Zaire gives the Irish the best rushing attack possible, while also providing the offense with the most elusive capability to avoid a pass rush. With three new full time starters on the offensive line, it is understood that there will be some breakdowns in pass protections. Zaire’s legs provide the best opportunity to break contain and create outside of the pocket, whereas Kizer is certainly not a sitting duck, but doesn’t deliver the running threat that Zaire does. Combining the loss of the vaunted home run threat in Fuller with the loss of key pass protectors in Stanley and Martin, the Irish offense is not positioned to have sustained success in long passing down situations regardless of who is behind center. Given the inexperience on the offensive line, it is important for the Irish to promote a rushing culture in order to put the offensive line in as many 2nd and short and 3rd and short situations as possible. Zaire is best fit to accomplish this task.

DEFENSE NEEDS TO STAY OFF THE FIELD

NDvsUVA_DefenseOver the last few years under defensive coordinator, Brian VanGorder, the defense has been… admittedly less than stellar. In order for #NDFB to be of playoff caliber this upcoming year, the defense must improve while also not be depended on too heavily. The offense can aid the defense by keeping them off the field and putting them in good field position. In order to do this the Irish must – you guessed it – develop the best rushing attack possible. By running the ball successfully, the Irish can maintain control over the time of possession, thus keeping the defense off the field.

In 2015 the Irish ranked 62nd in rushing defense. If this trend continues (c’mon BVG…), the best rush defense will be our rush offense – if you pick up what I’m putting down. It will also be important to eliminate turnovers and sudden/quick change scenarios for the defense. In his limited action, Zaire has not recorded a turnover. This isn’t to say that he will never turn the ball over, but he has not shown any signs of being reckless or careless with the football. This bodes well for the defense. Zaire provides the best opportunity to sustain long drives while also showing a unique ability to throw the deep ball if necessary. It’s not only in the best interest for the offense to start Zaire, but also in the best interest for the defense.

Laid out for you is an argument to start Malik Zaire at quarterback for the 2016 season. I’m convinced that both men will play this year, but I believe that the talent assembled among the entire team is best positioned to succeed with a gifted runner behind center. Cultivating an identity around running the football effectively provides the best opportunity for success. One final thought to add to the argument: with a very capable back up in Kizer, Kelly and his “play calling committee” would no longer need to keep Zaire on a “pitch count” threshold for the number of times to run him. They could unleash a full-fledged rushing attack with no need to worry about how many hits the quarterback may take, thus increasing the threat and effectiveness of Zaire’s running abilities. I’m confident in either quarterback, but I believe that the team is best suited to identify as a run first offense and Zaire is the quarterback that provides the most dynamic rushing attack possible.

Cheers and Go Irish!

Previous “5 Questions” Posts

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]]> https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/07/08/who-should-start-at-qb/feed/ 12 Nick Martin Will Likely Start For NFL’s Texans https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/06/20/nick-martin-start-texans/ Mon, 20 Jun 2016 17:48:09 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34609 Nick Martin will likely be starting for the Houston Texans by season’s end, a blogger covering the team predicted Monday. “He is as close to NFL ready that the draft class has to offer and he is already catching up to the curve with the demands of the position to help out in calling out...

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]]> Houston Texans center Nick Martin (66) snaps the ball to quarterback Chuckie Keeton (6) during rookie mini camp at The Methodist Training Center on Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Texans center Nick Martin (66) snaps the ball to quarterback Chuckie Keeton (6) during rookie mini camp at The Methodist Training Center on Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Nick Martin will likely be starting for the Houston Texans by season’s end, a blogger covering the team predicted Monday.

“He is as close to NFL ready that the draft class has to offer and he is already catching up to the curve with the demands of the position to help out in calling out pass protections,” wrote Patrick Starr of the State of the Texans blog. “The Texans need consistency and a long term answer at center. Martin could be just the player needed.”

Martin was a model of consistency during his tenure at Notre Dame, starting 26 consecutive games – and 36 overall – during his three years playing at both the center and left guard positions. The Texans’ second round pick is competing against Tony Bergstrom for the starting position vacated by Ben Jones, who is now with the Tennessee Titans. Bergstrom is entering his fourth year in the league, having played 25 games with the Oakland Raiders but started just four times.

Martin has so far impressed his boss, former Penn State Coach Bill O’Brien.

“So far it looks like a rookie who is mature beyond his years,” O’Brien told the Houston Chronicle. “He understands the work ethic. I’m sure his older brother has helped him with that a little bit, but he has come in here and done some good things.”

Nick Martin’s older brother is former Irish guard/center Zack Martin, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys.

Starr said former Irish wide receiver Will Fuller, the Texans’ first round pick, will be “a key rotational piece at the wide receiver position.” The blogger has been impressed with Fuller’s route running and noted his ability to catch passes has improved even since his college days. Fuller may also log time on special teams, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The  Texans are now finished with their offseason program. The AFC South representatives open training camp July 29 at the Houston Methodist Training Center, across from where they play on Sundays.

 

 

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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.

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]]> Texans Draft Will Fuller #21 Overall https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/04/28/texans-draft-will-fuller-in-round-1/ Fri, 29 Apr 2016 02:32:24 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=34180 How many times this season did Will Fuller amaze you? How many times did he save the season? Sixth-most touchdowns (13) in the nation last year, fourteenth-most receiving yards (1,145) and fifteenth-most yards per catch (20.5) and the best 40-time among the nation’s wide receivers at the NFL Combine. Will Fuller, good luck, thank you,...

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]]> How many times this season did Will Fuller amaze you? How many times did he save the season?

Sixth-most touchdowns (13) in the nation last year, fourteenth-most receiving yards (1,145) and fifteenth-most yards per catch (20.5) and the best 40-time among the nation’s wide receivers at the NFL Combine.

Will Fuller, good luck, thank you, and go get paid.

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]]> The Case For Corey Holmes https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/03/10/the-case-for-corey-holmes/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/03/10/the-case-for-corey-holmes/#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:18:51 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=33403 Corey Holmes is the forgotten receiver on the Notre Dame depth chart. In this post, I’m going to make the case for why the redshirt sophomore should play – and hypothesize about what may be keeping him from the field. Holmes was a four-star prospect from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), who was considered both “highly...

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]]> Corey Holmes is the forgotten receiver on the Notre Dame depth chart. In this post, I’m going to make the case for why the redshirt sophomore should play – and hypothesize about what may be keeping him from the field.

Holmes was a four-star prospect from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), who was considered both “highly overlooked” and “underrated” by professional talent evaluators coming out of high school. Holmes’ best attributes were his length, his speed and his route running ability. The then-senior was most often compared to T.J. Jones, a former Notre Dame captain who now plays on Sundays for the Detroit Lions.

Here are Holmes senior season highlights:

In the highlights, you see a receiver who is fast, who can get open and who does a fairly decent job of blocking downfield on running plays.

Holmes did enough to impress Notre Dame’s coaches in his freshman year, seeing the field for a few plays versus Rice & Michigan in 2014. But he’s sat since; the only opportunity for us to see him play has been during the 2015 Blue-Gold game.

COREY HOLMES CATCHES

Corey_Holmes_G

Corey Holmes catch 1 (reverse)

In his best catch of the afternoon, Holmes (bottom of the screen) appears to stumble off the line. Travis Allen (#25), a walk-on DB, tries to check him and misses. Holmes finds a seam between the linebacker (Te’von Coney) and the deep safety (Nick Watkins). Everett Golson’s pass is high, but Holmes snags it without a problem. On his high school highlight reel, Holmes is listed as having a 39 inch vertical. That’s more than 5 inches higher that Will Fuller’s result at the NFL Combine recently.

Corey Holmes catch 2 Corey Holmes catch 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two different catches here. On the left, Holmes (top of the screen) runs a slight comeback route and then leaps over an unprepared defender (Allen again) to make the first down grab. It’s a nice catch in traffic. On the right, it’s pretty straightfoward. Watkins is giving Holmes (bottom of the screen) a cushion, so Holmes runs six yards and stops. Malik Zaire’s pass is waiting for him. Holmes absorbs the hit without bobbling the ball.

COREY HOLMES GETS OPEN

Corey Holmes overthrown

Holmes (very top of the screen) beats his man – cornerback Jesse Bongiovi, who gives him a slight shove – and gets past deep safety Matthias Farley. It’s hard to say if Farley would had let him get over the top if Zaire’s pass wasn’t looking like a wounded duck. But Holmes was open if Zaire could have stepped into the pass instead of throwing off his back foot.

Corey Holmes gets open

On a designed pass play, Zaire ends up feeling the pocket collapsing and scampers for a first down. Holmes – at the bottom of your screen – beats Devin Butler with a nice outside fake to inside pivot. My only criticism is that Holmes doesn’t get himself downfield enough to assist with blocking after Zaire continues to run – although Torii Hunter Jr. (#16 – middle of screen) appears to do the same.

Corey Holmes out of bounds

Holmes can first be seen in the back of the end zone. He follows DeShone Kizer, who is on a rollout, and manages to get himself open a bit – despite some light holding by Nick Watkins. Unfortunately, Kizer throws the pass out of bounds. Holmes’ athletic attempt isn’t enough.

Corey_Holmes_K

Holmes (lined up at the top of your screen), gets inside position against Nick Watkins. The throw is low; it’s difficult to tell from the broadcast if Holmes had an opportunity to get his hands under or if the ball skipped right when it got near him. Regardless, it’s an incomplete pass on what could have been six.

AREAS OF CONCERN

True freshman Equanimeous St. Brown passed Holmes on the depth chart last year. As Will Fuller’s backups, neither were expected to see a lot of playing time. Brown managed 15 snaps; Holmes never got one. When St. Brown was hurt during the Wake Forest game, Holmes was listed as Fuller’s backup for the Boston College, Stanford and Ohio State games.

While Holmes was considered a diamond in the rough coming out of high school, St. Brown was even more highly regarded.

Holmes was rated most favorably by ESPN, which had him the 94th player overall in the 2014 class. He was #200 on Scout’s list and #224 on Rivals. St. Brown, meanwhile, was ranked #63 in ESPN’s 2015 class, #144 at Rivals and #207 at Scout.

St. Brown may be higher on the depth chart because he’s about four inches taller than Holmes and – if high school statistics can be believed – runs as fast as Holmes. (St. Brown was listed as running a 4.44 40-yard dash, while Holmes allegedly ran a 4.0 40.)

But it may be other attributes. Holmes’ biggest issues, it appears, is his physicality and his situational awareness. Chris Brown is a similar height and weight to Holmes, and he was an excellent downfield blocker. It can be done by a “lanky” receiver type. These clips would give any coach pause.

Corey Holmes pushed around

Holmes (bottom of your screen) does a poor job of keeping Butler (#12) out of the play. Butler pretty easily pushes Holmes aside. Although the play was, for all intents and purposes, over before Holmes lost his block, the wide receiver would not have known that. Losing contain on your primary responsibility is problematic.

Corey Holmes block Corey Holmes missed block

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s two different plays here. On the left, Holmes (bottom of your screen) makes a late block on the defender – who has sniffed out the play and gotten a good break on Amir Carlisle. The pass is too high – perhaps Carlisle should have walked more toward the sideline so that Holmes’ block could have been more effective. Then he’d have to beat just one defender before the end zone.

On the right, Holmes – playing the slot (top of your screen) – makes contact with his defender but doesn’t keep engaged with him. Meanwhile, a second defender has run right past him to grab Carlisle for a two yard loss. Zaire’s pass is low, causing Carlisle to almost kneel down to get the pass. But Holmes’ block leaves much to be desired.

CONCLUSION

With St. Brown completely healed from a late-season shoulder separation, I’d expect he’ll see the majority of the first team reps at the X (Fuller’s old position) initially. I’d imagine Holmes will see reps with the second team with freshman Kevin Stepherson and others nipping at Holmes’ heels. I’m obviously not privy to practices, so I don’t know why Holmes isn’t seeing the field. But I know this is his make-or-break year. If he can’t find the field this year – whether through talent or through opportunity due to injury of another player – I expect the situation to only worsen for him in 2017.

I’m hopeful Holmes will have a break out junior season, just as Will Fuller emerged on the scene during his sophomore season in a very unexpected (but fantastic!) way.

The post The Case For Corey Holmes appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

]]> https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/03/10/the-case-for-corey-holmes/feed/ 2 Don’t “Trade” Malik Zaire https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/03/04/dont-trade-malik-zaire/ https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/03/04/dont-trade-malik-zaire/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2016 21:11:24 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=33376 If you were the general manager of Notre Dame, would you trade Malik Zaire for Florida Gators’ linebacker Jarrad Davis and wide receivers Joshua Hammond and Dre Massey? David Kenyon, a Bleacher Report columnist, suggested this in “Ten College Football Trades We Wish Could Happen This Spring.” Kenyon acknowledges there’s no such thing as trading...

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]]> If you were the general manager of Notre Dame, would you trade Malik Zaire for Florida Gators’ linebacker Jarrad Davis and wide receivers Joshua Hammond and Dre Massey?

David Kenyon, a Bleacher Report columnist, suggested this in “Ten College Football Trades We Wish Could Happen This Spring.” Kenyon acknowledges there’s no such thing as trading college football players (although Kyler Murray & Trevor Knight did a switcheroo that looked like one.)

Kenyon’s caveat was that his trades were “subjective” but “made as fairly as possible.”

I can’t argue with the subjective part, but this is a terrible hypothetical deal for Notre Dame.

THE IRISH PERSPECTIVE

Malik Zaire (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Malik Zaire (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Malik Zaire is a talented quarterback who is returning from a season-ending ankle injury. Under Zaire’s brief leadership, the Irish offense was more productive than it was under DeShone Kizer (when comparing equal playing time). Zaire hasn’t fumbled the ball or thrown an interception. He’s also a charismatic fellow who may well become a team leader. A recent poll of Blue & Gold Illustrated readers picked Zaire as the second most-likely captain this coming year.

I don’t know who Coach Brian Kelly will tap to start the season at quarterback. Even if it’s Kizer, it’ll be nice to have Zaire if Kizer struggles or is injured. Even if Kelly decided not to redshirt sophomore Brandon Wimbush, his options for backup would be Wimbush (who has attempted five passes in his college career) and true freshman Ian Book, a three-star prospect.

Jarrad Davis is an outstanding weak-side linebacker who registered 98 tackles, 4 hurries, 11 hits & knockdowns, and 3 sacks last year. The Irish lost talented junior WILL (weak-side LB) Jaylon Smith to the NFL. Smith had 113 tackles, five pass breakups and six QB hurries last year.

Smith’s backup was Te’Von Coney, who saw limited action before replacing the injured Smith in the Fiesta Bowl. Coney then injured his shoulder in the same game and was replaced by the now-departed Jarrett Grace. Coney will likely battle redshirt freshmen Josh Barajas and/or Asmar Bilal for the WILL position, with Coney the favorite if he’s healthy.

THE GATORS’ PERSPECTIVE

Jarrad Davis / Kim Klement - USA TODAY Sports

Jarrad Davis / Kim Klement – USA TODAY Sports

Davis would undoubtedly start if he was Irish. But his absence would hurt the Gators tremendously. Davis’ backup at Florida is senior Daniel McMillian.

In a GatorBait.net article, writer Thomas Goldkamp writes:

Beyond those two [Davis and senior Alex Anzalone], the depth really drops off quickly. Both McMillian and Rolin have some experience now as fourth-year players, but neither has been productive at all on the field. Injuries have kept Rolin from getting up to speed, while McMillian frequently finds himself in the wrong position to make a play.

For the Gators to be good at linebacker in 2016, Anzalone must stay healthy and some of the younger players like Jackson, Reese and the other freshmen coming in this summer need to be able to play some snaps.

Joshua Hammond is a freshman wide receiver who plays the X (split end) position, where the Irish also lost a player to the NFL Draft – Will Fuller. But the Irish have the gifted Equanimeous St. Brown, senior Corey Holmes and freshman Kevin Stepherson at that position. Javon McKinley, who could also play there, was rated higher than Hammond in 247Sports’ composite rankings. Chase Claypool, another Irish signee, was rated one slot lower than Hammond.

Dre Massey plays a mixture of slot, running back and kick returner. He was Scout’s 22nd best junior college player in 2015; Notre Dame, to my knowledge, has never recruited a junior college player. Massey is expected to challenge for a starting role in the Y (slot) position at Florida; the Irish have Torii Hunter Jr. and the speedy C.J. Sanders there already.

CONCLUSION

Joshua Hammond

Joshua Hammond

Thankfully, David Kenyon is not the general manager of the Notre Dame football team and there are no trades. Because this would be a lopsided one in favor of the Gators.

Zaire’s departure would leave the Irish in a tenuous position if Kizer struggled or was injured. With Kizer running the ball nearly 120 times last year, his chance of being banged up is pretty good. Add in the fact that only one QB has played a full season under Kelly (Tommy Rees in 2011), and you could see why the Irish would be reticent to deal Zaire.

What they give up – stability at the most important offensive position – would not be worth what they got back – a stud linebacker and two wide receivers with great potential (but not much else). The move would hurt the Gators at linebacker, although their wide receiver corps would function fine without Hammond or Massey. The Irish have plenty of depth at wide receiver. What they need is an explosive edge rusher or a shut down corner.

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]]> https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/03/04/dont-trade-malik-zaire/feed/ 8 Notre Dame At NFL Combine: Early Results https://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2016/02/27/notre-dame-players-at-nfl-combine/ Sat, 27 Feb 2016 11:00:46 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/?p=33314 With the NFL Combine half over, here are some of the emerging story lines regarding former Notre Dame players: JAYLON SMITH’S INJURY EXAMINED Linebacker Jaylon Smith gave contradictory – or confusing – answers to reporters’ questions about possible nerve damage in his left knee. Smith tore his ACL and LCL during the Irish’s Jan. 1...

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]]> With the NFL Combine half over, here are some of the emerging story lines regarding former Notre Dame players:

JAYLON SMITH’S INJURY EXAMINED

Courtesy of NY Jets / Twitter

Courtesy of NY Jets / Twitter

Linebacker Jaylon Smith gave contradictory – or confusing – answers to reporters’ questions about possible nerve damage in his left knee. Smith tore his ACL and LCL during the Irish’s Jan. 1 loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

NFL team physicians were allowed to examine Smith today to evaluate the extent of his injury. Doctors will need to determine what nerve damage, if any, has been suffered – and if Smith will be able to recover from it.

In the media scrum, Smith initially said there was no nerve damage. In later questioning about an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) brace he’s wearing, the junior linebacker said: “It’s helping the nerve heal.” He maintained throughout that the nerve was not “stretched” during the accident.

A FoxSports.com source – who was not named – told the publication that two doctors who evaluated Smith today had diverging opinions. The second doctor, the report said, pegged Smith’s chance at a full recovery at only 10 percent.

Smith was unsure of his own recovery timeline. Ian Rapoport, a NFL Network reporter, said teams – which he did not name – believe the linebacker will miss the entirety of the 2016 season.

Before today, the Fort Wayne, Ind. native was considered a certain Top 15 pick – with at least one mock draft having him as high as #7. If these evaluations cause Smith to tumble out of the first round, he will likely be able to collect on a $5 million loss of value insurance policy he purchased last year.

You can watch Smith walk, seven weeks removed from surgery, in this video shot today.

C.J. PROSISE BLAZES

Running back C.J. Prosise ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds today, which made him the eighth-fastest back at the Combine among 22 participants. The 4.48 second mark tied Prosise with former Irish running back George Atkinson III, who participated in the 2014 Combine.

Prosise’s overall performance was quite similar to Michael Floyd’s output in 2012.

  • Prosise: 6 foot tall, 220 pounds, 4.48 40-yard dash, 35.5 inch vertical leap, 121 inch broad jump
  • Floyd: 6 foot 3 inches, 220 pounds, 4.47 40-yard dash, 36.5 inch vertical leap, 122 inch broad jump.

Having seen this comparison, Floyd tweeted:

Prosise is projected to be a second, third or fourth round selection during the NFL Draft, which will be held April 28-30 in Chicago.

RONNIE STANLEY BATTLING TO BE FIRST TACKLE PICKED

Ronnie Stanley and Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil are widely considered to be the best tackles in the upcoming draft. Many weak teams are looking for a left tackle to protect their quarterback’s blind side and today was an opportunity for teams to evaluate Stanley and Tunsil side-by-side.

While Tunsil opted to skip most timed events, Stanley ran a respectable 5.20 second 40-yard dash (16th out of 47 offensive linemen), took 4.90 seconds to complete the 20-yard shuttle and 8.03 seconds to finish the three-cone drill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tSe2XGaR7E&feature=youtu.be

Tunsil did his best to impress as well, demonstrating absurd athleticism and causing scouts to gush about him more than any other player who participated in drills Friday.

The Rebels top lineman only had one hiccup today. His former teammate, Robert Nkemdiche, said Tunsil was in his hotel room when a drunken Nkemdiche fell 15 feet out a window before the Sugar Bowl. Nkemdiche was cited for marijuana possession, but did not connect Tunsil to the drugs.

Here’s a fun drill that allowed Stanley to play “mad dog” to Tunsil’s mirror:

ALSO APPEARING TODAY

  • Center Nick Martin ran a 5.22 second 40-yard dash, did 28 reps on the bench press, jumped 97 inches in the broad jump, took 4.72 seconds to complete the 20-yard shuttle and 7.57 seconds to finish the 3-cone drill. His performance is similar to that of former Irish offensive lineman Eric Olsen, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 draft.
  • Defensive end Romeo Okwara was measured today – and his results are remarkably similar to former Irish tight end Troy Niklas’ measurables during the 2013 NFL Combine.
    • Romeo Okwara: Height: 6-5; Weight: 265 lbs.; Arm length: 34 1/8″; Hands: 10 1/8
    • Troy Niklas: Height: 6-6; Weight: 270 lbs.; Arm length: 34 1/8″; Hands: 10″
  • Will Fuller logged 10 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. Chris Brown skipped the event.
  • Sheldon Day’s measurables: 6 feet tall, 286 pounds, Arm length: 32 7/8″; Hands: 9 3/8″

THIS WEEKEND

The NFL Network will air the Combine from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

SATURDAY

  • On-field: Chris Brown, Will Fuller
  • Bench press: Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara & Jaylon Smith
  • Measurements, interviews and medical exams: KeiVarae Russell, Elijah Shumate

SUNDAY

  • On-field: Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara
  • Bench press: KeiVarae Russell, Elijah Shumate

MONDAY

  • On-field: Elijah Shumate

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