Lookng forward to camp

With Camp starting soon there will be a million (and one) questions, speculations and conversations  surrounding players, positions and everything else.  Here are a few things that will be worth paying attention to.

Ronnie Stanley

Offensive Line.  Most of the starting line is pretty well predicted; Stanley, Martin, Elmer, McGlinchey, and Nelson (possibly Bars) there is a ton of talent and potential waiting to solidify themselves as a #2  or even work in a regular rotation; Bivin, Mustipher and Montelus just to name a few.

Joe Schmidt

Linebackers.  Jaylon Smith will start and play often, at possibly more than one linebacker position, let's face it smith can player where, when and how he wants and will do well.  At middle line backer there is depth and I mean a lot; walk-on to hero Schmidt, freshman All-American Morgan, Grace the player who was supposed to replace Manti Te'o  and Five-Star freshman Barajas.

Receivers.  Fuller may be seen as the number one by many, there is a full stable of players looking for their share of catches.  It will be interesting to see how the ball will be distributed to; Fuller, Brown, Robinson, Carlisle, Hunter, Homes, and Brent.

Corey Robinson

Injuries.  Hopefully there will be no injuries during camp however the more immediate questions surround those players who have recovered injuries from last season (and longer); Schmidt, Jones, Grace, Tranquill

Prosise.  After Zaire the most interesting player is C.J. Prosise and how he will work as the #2 running back.

C.J. Prosise

Answer to Question #12

On January 16th UND.com posted an article "20 Questions for Notre Dame Football for 2015".  This is question 12.

12. Sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith was the most decorated Irish player in 2014 as a second-team Associated Press All-American, and he’s arguably the most talented all-around athlete on the roster. Originally an outside linebacker, Smith was moved inside in 2014 after the graduation loss of Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese combined with the Jarrett Grace injury issues. Wherever he plays in 2015, can Smith become the dominant defensive player on the field every Saturday?

Answer; Yes.

It's really that simple of an answer.  I believe that Smith would be best at an outside linebacker position but he could easily have the position of "football player" next to his name in the program.  He has a great nose for the ball, he always seems to end up around at the end of the play.  The truly scary thing about Jaylon is that he still has two more years of eligibility although we will most likely only see him in South Bend for one more.

Question #11

On January 16th UND.com posted an article "20 Questions for Notre Dame Football for 2015".  This is question 11.

Defensive Coordinator
Brian VanGorder

11. First-year Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s scheme got off to a solid start, but injuries, attrition and youth caught up to the Irish late in the year. Notre Dame’s final scoring defense figure of 29.2 points ranked abnormally low. Can the Notre Dame defense, with a full year working under VanGorder, put things together on a more consistent basis this fall? 

Answer;  The answer lies more in the health of the players a bit more in time under VanGorder's scheme.  It would stand to reason that the additional time under Coach VanGorders tutelage would yield a better result but when players are injured and lineups are changed out of the control of the coaching staff the effectiveness of the defense would suffer. 

Jarron Jones and Isaac Rochell

Add the fact that the defense's only loss due to graduation was Cody Riggs and the addition of incoming freshman the depth of the defense will improve.  The Irish defense also had a number of underclassmen contributing on the defensive side of the ball last season including several freshman.  Players like; Grant Blankenship, Daniel Cage, Jay Hayes, Andrew Trumbetti, Kolin Hill, Greer Martini, Nyles Morgan, Nick Watkins and Drue Tranquill all played as freshman last season on the defensive side of the ball.

Back to the question; consistency should be better, overall the defense will be better.

Good Bye Golson

Well we were on answers to Question #11 in our series 20 Questions for Notre Dame Football in 2015 however the announcement from Everett Golson has preempted that article.



Everett Golson

I can't say it is a total shock that Golson has decided to take his 5th year of eligibility elsewhere, however once we got past the Blue Gold Game I thought the chanced of him leaving went down substantially.   Golson must have seen or heard something throughout spring practice and or the scrimmage to make him think that he was not the solid number one signal caller in South Bend.

Malik Zaire

This had made things a bit easier in regards to naming a starting quarterback for the Irish however the new concern is who will serve as a competent back up under center.  Before even if Golson started the season he had Zaire motivating him to keep his game up and if he faulted most people felt good about Malik stepping in.  If the Blue Gold taught us anything redshirt freshman quarterback DeShone Kizer will serve as a good placeholder but that is it and  even though walk-on Montgomery VanGorder looked fair I do not want to bank on him to lead us to any victories this season if needed.  Incoming freshman Brandon Wimbush may have to show his skills at least in practice sooner than later to make Irish coaches and fans alike sleep better at night.

In the end Malik Zaire will get what he wanted; a real chance to show that he can lead this team.

Question #10

On January 16th UND.com posted an article "20 Questions for Notre Dame Football for 2015".  This is question 10.

10. Notre Dame played cleanly early in 2014, then suffered from all kinds of turnover woes late in the year. The Irish only won the turnover battle four times all year (they were plus-eight in that category after the first three games) and not once from the Sept. 13 Purdue game until a turnover-free effort in the Music City Bowl against LSU. Can the Irish return to their mistake-free form in 2015?

Answer;

With Everett Golson having numerous fumbles and 14 interceptions in 2014 he will be the key to this answer.  Golson's interceptions increased as the season went on; September 2, October 4 and December 8.  It is kind of interesting if not ironic that the word "return" is used in the question as the previous seasons quarterback Tommy Rees was given the nickname "Tommy Turnover".

If Notre Dame cannot improve on their turnover issues (image if it actually go worse) any hopes of a successful season will not be likely. 

Notre Dame Draft Wrap Up

It looked like the Irish might get blanked in the 2015 NFL Draft but Ben Koyack ensured that would not happen.  Although Koyack may have the only Irish drafted several former Notre Dame made NFL connections after the draft.

Ben Koyack was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 12th pick in the 7th round (229th overall) making him the 486th Notre Dame player ever drafted.  Koyack becomes the 6th straight Notre Dame starting tight end and 28th overall to be drafted into the NFL.  His selection extends the Irish's streak of 78 straight years (longest ever) with at least one player with a NFL draft pick (including supplemental draft)

Cody Riggs signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.

Kyle Brindza signs as a free agent  with the Detroit Lions.

DaVaris Daniels joins the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.

Cam McDaniel has been offered minicamp opportunities be several teams.

Former Notre Dame Quarterback  Andrew Hendrix has signed  as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders.

Notre Dame has 19 of 22 starters returning in 2015 and just 1 of the 3 seniors got drafted.

 

The NFL Draft Preview; Irish Style

There is a lot of talk around this year's NFL draft, just not much that includes Notre Dame.  There are not many Irish players leaving South Bend to begin with and those that are may find themselves on and NFL roster (or practice squad) via free agency. 

DaVaris Daniels

Each year ESPN has a pretty comprehensive list of colleges and their prospects.  This year's list for the Irish is unique to say the least: Danny Spond, who hasn't played in two years and because of medical issues won't be playing in the future.  DaVaris Daniels, who was suspended last season and chose not to return.  Cody Riggs, arguably one of the best Irish players in this draft was a fifth year transfer only at Notre Dame for one year.

Cam McDaniel

There will be no Irish players selected in the first round to be sure however don't expect Notre Dame to be blanked during this year's draft.  DaVaris Daniels should make a decent NFL receiver and expect him to go somewhere after the 4h round. After Daniels Cody Riggs might be the Irish's best bet to be drafted.  I wouldn't be overly surprised to hear Ben Koyack's name called by a team looking for a tight end with good hands.  Christian Lombard and Kyle Brindza will likely sign free agent contracts as soon as the draft is over.  Cam McDaniel and Austin Collinsworth will be invited to camps, with Cam possibly making a team.