Blue and Gold at a glance

No major injuries, check. Positive plays, check. Negative plays, check. No starting positions overwhelmingly decided, check.  Overall, a successful finish to the spring practice season.  Obviously, if one aspect during the scrimmage yields positive results, there must be an equally negative result on the other end, right?  For the most part, that is correct, but we can come away with some overall positives for individual players.  It was a beautiful sunny day for football in South Bend, helping give on campus recruits a perfect picture of how gorgeous Notre Dame truly is, which turned into one class of 2013 commitment.

The first half had a better feel of game play and pace, as the clock stopped as it would during a regular contest, whereas the second half was running time.  Making the quarterbacks live definitely helped the coaches evaluate them in as realistic game situations as possible.

At quarterback, the first half showcased Rees, Hendrix and Golson.  Nobody expected any of the quarterbacks to play themselves into a starting job during this game and that held true as the afternoon progressed.  I would say the incumbent Tommy Rees may have played his way out of the starting position with his play on Saturday afternoon. 

In the “they played as well and impressively as they were and are supposed to category - Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood and Tyler Eifert.  Of course, much of that was due in part to a unit that also fits into the same category - the offensive line.”  On the defensive side of the ball, Louis Nix III was impressive at the nose tackle position, making plays while being double teamed.

 Golson continues to look like a great, physically talented football player with the word potential attached to him, but also continues to struggle with learning and managing the game at the college level.

Ishaq Williams showcased his off-season development, looking as if he is ready to make an impact this season on defense for the Irish, both against the run and the pass.

Sheldon Day showed that he can play with the big boys right off the bat.  As much as I like redshirting young talent and not burning a year of eligibility unless you need to (and I am not sure the Irish need to with Day), I think he could be a valuable contributor to the Notre Dame defense in 2012 as a true freshman.

Cam McDaniel, who converted from running back to defensive back, looked really good for a kid playing in a new position. He seemed to have a nose for the ball and gets after it.  He does need to learn more technique but there is some diamond in the rough type potential there.  Of course, if Brian Kelly didn’t burn a year of his eligibility on a small handful of plays last year, the Irish could develop his talent for further down the line.

George Atkinson looked like he is on his way to being a decent backup for Wood at running back.  We knew he had speed and quickness based on his returns last year, and it showed in the backfield on Saturday.  He does have work to do to be sure, especially with holding onto the ball.

For a kid who should be getting ready for his senior ball, Gunner Kiel showed that he could take the field and not get himself killed or totally embarrassed.

Oh yeah, the commitment.  Another massive offensive lineman joined a stacked class; 6’5” 298 lb. John Montelus made is verbal commitment during the weekend.