Off MVP Def MVP ROY & Surprise Player.

[SpanishElite]

Another thread to actually talk some football so here goes.
Who are your.... (AND WHY.. don't just put names)
Offensive MVP
Defensive MVP
Rookie of the Year (Freshman)
Surprise (Breakthrough) Player of the Year?


Offensive MVP: WR. Duval Kamara. I think with the 3 RBs splitting carries no one will put up the stats for the award. But I think Kamara really came into his own towards the end of last year. Obviously he has the psychical tools to be an elite WR in the country. I think with the improvement in the OL and running game it will free up Kamara in the red zone and we will really see his TDs increase so that he can be the OFF MVP.

Defensive MVP: LB Mo Crum. There is no doubt that with Laws gone he is the Defensive captain and the leader of this team. He has put up back to back 100 tackle seasons (with being injured a lot of last year) The guy is a flat out stud. Not only psychically but he really has seemed to really help out the young guys, not only LB but at every position. I think the defense is as good as Crum wants it to be.

Rookie of the Year (Freshman):
WR Micheal Flyod. From all the reports that he doing so well in workouts and 7v7 this summer I think hes the obvious choice. What he can do with Clausen, Kamara, Grimes, Yeatman and Ragone in the passing game is scary.

Surprise (Breakthrough) Player of the Year: LB Toryan Smith. I have always been a hue fan of Smith. I always thought he had the physical tools to be a monster on the inside stopping the run. Competition usually brings out the best in people and hopefully with some time to mature and the young guys coming in turns the light on for him.

[daytonirish]

Man you join the Goled Club and your first thread you give out homework. :bigsmile:

Off MVP: RB Robert Hughes. I think he wins the #1 spot this summer and becomes a 1,000 yard rusher for the Irish This Season. I see alot of "The BUS" in him and think he delivers this season.

Def MVP: S David Bruton. With the aggressive style the Irish appear to be taking this season. I see him having a monstor year. I think this style will play directly into his strengths.

Rookie of the Year: NG Brandon Newman. He doesn't need alot of stats to win this. But if he can come in and back-up Ian Williams enough to keep the staff from having to move players around to much on the DL. I will go with him.

Surprise Player.Harrison Smith. I know after the spring game folks may say he is not a surprise. But he will see alot of playing time for the first time this season. I see big things from him and it will screw with the offense of the other team when he moves up at OLB in different packages.

[IrishR#1]

Off. MVP: Robert Hughes. Hughes is the best offensive player we've got. Allen and Aldridge wouldn't be able to carry the load by themselves. Hughes is definitely the most valuable player on the offense.

Def. MVP: Maurice Crum. With the inexperience and weakness of the rest of the inside linebackers, Maurice Crum will have to be the anchor of the run defense. His leadership and experience are what make him so valuable.

ROY: Michael Floyd. Floyd will be the 4th receiver on the depth chart to start the year, and he could definitely be at the top by the end of the year. No wide receiver on the roster has the pure talent that Floyd has.

Surprise Player: Harrison Smith. Smith can play safety, inside linebacker, and outside linebacker depending on the scheme. His versatility will baffle the quarterbacks. He can also make the big play, as he showed in the B&G game.

Dayton-Hunter Smith graduated a while ago. He could have a breakout year with the Colts though:bigsmile:

[SpanishElite]

haha. Now were cookin! Actually talking some football. Yea sorry Daytona Hunter Smith isn't going to do much!

[NDisNCin2010]

Offensive MVP: Latina-if he gets that O-line fixed-watch out!
Defensive MVP: Bruton breaks out big time with an overall improved and attacking defense...NFL draft status soars
Rookie of the Year (Freshman): Ethan Johnson...lotta chatter about incoming freshman along the D line making/needing tomake big contribution this year...my hunch is that CW knows he has something special with this kid especially
Surprise (Breakthrough) Player of the Year? Gary Gray....was locking down every WR last Spring before his injury.

[CULion17]

Off MVP: Jimmy Clausen - A loaded box to try and stop Hughes is going to lead to a lot of one on one for Kamara, Floyd, and TE's down the seam. He will put up solid numbers, be a leader, and move the offense.

Def MVP: Brian Smith- He was all over the place as a freshman. I think he takes a big step forward. Combine that with Tenuta tutelage, and keeping his junkyard dog attitude, and he will make QB's know where he is before and especially AFTER every play.

ROY: Floyd- I'm one of those considered crazy for saying he could start year one but apparently people are hearing that is a strong possibility. Grimes is better in the slot, and you don't go after as many WR's as the staff did if you are comfortable w/ your current depth chart. You heard it here first:
TD in Game 1 vs. SDSU!!!!!!!!

Surprise Player: Sergio Brown- I know McCarthy is starting but when he gets his PT I think we will see something similiar to what the Gaytors had with Reggie Nelson.

[SpanishElite]

CUlion... if Brown is ANYTHING like Reggie Nelson we will be very very happy. I saw him play in highschool, college and pros. That guy is on another planet.

[irish_bobcat]

Offensive MVP-Jimmy Clausen. Weis grooms his offense around the quarterback. This year we are going to see a different Jimmy. He is going to take control of the offense. With an improved offensive line and playmakers on offense, we should definitely see a lot of improvement from him.
Defensive MVP-Mo Crum-Leader of the defense this season. He is going to lead the team in tackles. Plus he is the leader of the defense.
Freshman of the Year-Michael Floyd. I can see this guy making an immediate impact on the offensive side of the ball.
Surprise Player-The Offensive Line. We will see a more nasty offensive line this year. They need to perform great in order for this team to be great.

[NotreDameNate]

I'm with CULion and Irish Bobcat on the offensive mvp.

Offensive MVP: Clausen, and I think this needs to happen for us to have a good to great season.

Defensive MVP: Bruton, everybody has already stated it.

Freshman of the Year: Brandon Newman, we need excellent defensive line play this year from him and others.

Surprise Player: Golden Tate, you guys remember those catches from last year? If our WR's (Kamara, Grimes, and Floyd) are pretty imposing this guy could slip thru the cracks and with his speed... sheeeesh, he could have that big play potential that we've been lacking.

[IrishinTN]

Offensive MVP - Hughes, additionally because his running will take pressure off of Claussen allowing him to shine, also.
Defensive MVP - Crum. 5th year and great leader on this team. Need his ability to help plug the middle.
FOY - Floyd. The kid is just a stud.
Surprise POY - Harrison Smith. Big plays on special teams as well as coming in as extra DB or Linebacker in passing situations.

[mcnallyk]

Offensive MVP: James Aldridge - This is his shot and he needs to make the most of it.

Defensive MVP: Kerry Neal, sack specialist

Freshman of the Year: Ethan Johnson, a QB nightmare with Neal and Johnson bearing down

Surprise Player: Will Yeatman, San Diego boy is the next great TE from ND.

[ALBUQUERQUEIRISHFAN]

Offensive MVP: Clausen - He'll breakout crazy this year.

Defensive MVP: Walls - He'll breakout crazy this year.

Freshman of the Year: Floyd, hands down!

Surprise Player: Michael Floyd. Even with his lofty expectations, he will be even better than that and explode onto the college football scene!

[Sureal]

Offensive POY: Clausen, it's his time to shine. The kid is healthy and as in '05 our split ends are underated. This will be a season that will propel him into the Heisman discussion for next year.

Defensive POY: Burton. Talk about disrespect. I understand that the team didn't play well as a whole last year but to say he's not a top 10 safety in the country (Athlon) is ignorant at best. The whole team will play with a chip on its shoulder and the tone setters will be the defense. Time to knock some heads brotha and show them what you got Burton...

ROY: Michael Floyd. I just have the feeling that he is going to ignite this team with big plays. I really hate to speculate on freshman because of the higher level of play that they'll experience. You never know how they are going to react. Yet and still I will put my money on Michael Floyd to do some things on the field.

Surprise: Harrison Smith. This guy is going to bring some sick speed on the field that ND hasn't seen on that side of the ball in a while. I keep hearing good stuff about him and it is going to be interesting to see how he produces on the field.

[JMR8]

O: Jimmy C- improved strength, health, and a solid year under his belt. shuold have a lot better O-line and more experienced recievers and RB's.

D: Mo Crum- 5th year guy, put on a little needed weight, has better help around him now and has a year under his belt of the 3-4...not to mention tenuta helpin him out now.

Freshy: Floyd or any of the contributing D-Lineman- Floyd is just a beast and WILL rack up some solid numbers for a true fresh even with other good recievers around him and any D lineman that can come in and make plays while spawning a starter will be HUGE for the D-line.

Surprise: Gray- put his weight on he needed to compete with the bigger guys and i think will be a nightmare defender that a lot of people will look past in the begining of the year. As the 4th CB behind walls, lambert and mcneal i wouldn't doubt if he ends up with atleast 2 picks by years end.

sorry i couldnt quite make up my mind to one guy on D, but i think it's true.

[SpanishElite]

JMR I love that pic of Gary Gray. I remember when I first saw his haircut. That was great.

[potownhero]

In interest of stirring the pot a bit, I'm going to stray from the normal picks:

O - It is my belief that JA will pleasantly deliver what we all have expected from him.
D - By the end of the season Steven Filer will be showing off his strength and athletic ability.
Rookie - Hafis will be loved.
*footnote - Ever since I saw video on H.Smith, I've been looking forward to seeing him at this level.

[IL IRISH82]

O-MVP I am going to say Kumara for alot of the same reason all of you have already listed.

D-MVP I am going with Bruton I think with has much experience as our secondary has he will be able to do lots of headhunting back there

Rookie I am going with Walker. I know everyone is high on Floyd, but if I remember right Walker is rated higher coming in. I just like to pick against the popular picks on somethings.

for a Surprise pick I don't know where to go. I would like to go with someone like John Ryan to step up and become aggressive, but I just don't see it from last year. I hope AA will also surprise us with some nice runs this year

[IrishGrizz]

Off MVP: Jimmy Clausen- just see him becoming the leader/field general for a much improved offense

Def MVP: Mo Crum- running things in the middle, with D Bruton a close 2nd and Ian Williams up front my #3

ROTY: Michael Floyd- I see him as one of the few true freshmen seeing serious PT

Surprize POY: Harrison Smith- with the way they use him situationally

[piyachi]

Offensive MVP - Clausen. This is the year that our stable of 'backs shuffle out the pecking order, so too much division for one to end up with the stats to justify MVP. If our line can give the now healthy Clausen time, he will make Kumara/Floyd/Tate/Grimes look like the 4 horses (to go with the horsemen).

Defensive MVP - Bruton. He won't be the number one leader on the D (Crum), just like JC. But I think he will have a great stat line by the end of the year. He can fly, and if Tenuta can make our front 7 get some pressure he should get +5 picks this year.

Rookie of the Year: I'll cheat and say Floyd on offense and Johnson on D. If I had to really choose I'd say Johnson, solely because our DE unit is thin and inexperienced enough for him to make waves even earlier that Michael. If Morrice Richardson can't make the transition to a pass-rush DE smoothly then Ethan is going to be knocking on that door.

Suprise?: Our O line. Frankly everyone is tempering their enthusiasm after the humiliation of last year, and this is a unit with pride and some budding intensity. Olsen and Wenger aren't about to take shit from anyone - even their teammates. I think we get a 1000 yard rusher out of Hughes or Aldridge, and I think JC throws for over 1500... and that all of a sudden maybe Latina isn't such a terrible coach and perhaps Mendoza does know a thing or two.

[sonomairishfan]

mvp offense- kamara. kid is going to blow people up this year in the red zone.

mvp defense- mo crum jr. experience and leadership.

ROY floyd. will make serious noise and get wide open due to attention given to kamara.

surprise- the play of special teams. they'll contain on kicks and punts unlike last year.

[HereComeTheIrish]

Offensive- Jimmy Clausen

Defensive- Harrison Smith

ROY- Brandon Newman

Surprise- Gary Gray