Buttload of Questions

[marv81s]

Thought this was pretty good blog from http://subwaydomer.blogspot.com/2008/03/buttloads.html


Yep. Buttloads of questions for this spring. It is a lot like last year, but at least we are sure about the starting quarterback for the San Diego State game.


I was going to go through each position and put a few of those questions out and try to analyze them. I thought I could do it as a countdown to the start of Spring practice... but things changed.

As you can see this is my first post this month! Work, home projects (the endless kind), and slow news has put a damper on things, but I promise to start putting together something on a regular basis for all of you SD readers.

But, I digress... here is a list of some of the questions that either will be, or should be addressed this spring. It's long and dreary at times, but so was last season. I will only offer the questions today, and perhaps provide some commentary on those questions before the end of Spring.

Please keep in mind that these questions relate directly to this spring and will not include a lot about the incoming freshman. That's for this summer.

Here we go...

Can Chris Stewart find a home somewhere on the offensive line?
Can the offensive line really improve its physicality?
Does the line have to cross train again?
Can Romine prove that he is the best left tackle and move Young to the right side?
Can Sam Young show the world why he was a 5 star coming out of high school?
What can ND do to improve what was its weakest link from 2007?
Will the Irish really have the 5 best lineman playing as a unit?
Is Clausen 100%?
Did Jimmy get in the weight room enough this odd season?
Can Clausen become emotionally stoic, or will he look like a freshman again?
Will Jimmy progress in his knowledge of the system and use his check-offs?
Will Sharpley do enough this spring to cement himself into the #2 spot?
Are there too many horses at running back?
Will ND lean more on a 1 back set or a 2 back set?
Is Schwaap the right man for the job?
Will Luke Schmidt FINALLY step up?
Is Nagel getting moved to FB?
Can Hughes develop into the workhorse?
Will Hughes be used at FB at times?
Will Aldridge improve on his lateral step?
Will Allen take the next step towards being the burner?
Of all the running backs, who is going to pass block better now that Jabbie is gone?
Which running back is going to carry the load?
How in the hell does ND practice with one Tight End on scholarship?
Who will be on the depth chart underneath Ragone for the Spring?
There are 8 wide receivers going into spring ball. Who besides Kamara is really worthy to start?
Will Grimes lock down the slot spot?
Can West stand out like last spring?
How much can Tate improve while he is playing baseball?
Is this the last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord?
How can Parris shape himself into the rotation opposite Kamara?
Will a kicker please stand up?
Will Weis let the special teams go full speed in the spring?
Who will step up to the PR spot formerly occupied by Tommy Z?
Any hitters?
Will Maust solidify himself?
Who takes over for Jansen as a long snapper?
Will anything be decided on special teams this spring?
Can Mo Richardson and Kallen Wade start to climb the depth chart?
How much will the loss of Kuntz this spring affect the defensive line?
Nwankwo has been labeled as a sleeper by a few insiders. Will he wake up?
Will Ian Williams eat someone? No. Will he continue to ride the momentum he created for himself last year?
Calling Justin Brown. Can you be a difference maker?
Will the John Ryan experiment finally be over at OLB and will he be back as a DE?
Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1,2 punch that they will just be known as... Neal Smith.
Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an inside backer alongside Crum?
Can Toryan Smith become THE man?
If not T. Smith, how about Scott Smith?
Will Kevin Washington make any move?
How much of Tenuta's influence will we see right away this spring?
Can Lambert and Walls retain their jobs as the starters?
I've heard that Gary Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start?
Where does McNeil fit in?
How badass will Bruton get after another year?
How many safeties are after the spot opposite Bruton?
Who will step up to the table and set themselves up for the fall: Harrison Smith, Sergio Brown, Kyle McCarthy or even Ray Herring?
Who in the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold Game?
How is the Tenuta/Brown relationship going to develop?
How is the Weis/Haywood relationship going to develop?
Is Latina getting the job done?
Who is ready for some motherfucking spring football?!

[daytonirish]

Great find Marv. Alot of good questins, do you want us to try and answer them ?

[IrishGrizz]

Great find Marv. Alot of good questins, do you want us to try and answer them ?

Yeah, I want to here and see the answers RIGHT NOW. Oh, well. Guess I'll wait like all the rest of us for the answers to reveal themselves. :meditate:

Great write-up!

[marv81s]

Great find Marv. Alot of good questins, do you want us to try and answer them ?

go for it, always interesting to see what everyone thinks

i'll print mine up and take a gander at them and think about them when i get some time too

[daytonirish]

#1 Can Chris Stewart find a home. Yes I think he starts at RG.
#2 OL improve physicallity. Yes, I think some of the problems with the Ol was the way practice was run. If Charlie is true to his word and lets the individual coaches run there positions I think latina will make sure this years line is very physical.
#3Does line cross train agian. No I think we have ample depth to put these guys at one spot and let them fight it out for the starting job.
#4Will Romine start at LT and let Young move back to RT . I think that it could happen and that is what I'm hopeing for.
#5 Will Sam Young step up. I'm not as down on him as others, but I think Sam will step it up and become the leader of this unit.
#6What can ND do to improve it's weakest link. Have more live practices and more full contact drills.
#7Will the 5 best OL be playing as a unit. Unless there is an injury then it better be yes or the whole staff needs to be fired and replaced. That goes for every position.
#8 Is Clausen 100%. Yes unless he suffers an injury.
#9 Did Jimmy hit the weight room enough this off season. The whole team had better been in there working their asses off. Which I do think happened.
#10 Will Clausen improve. I think we saw that happening as each game went on. And I don't see why he wouldn't keep improveing. I answered both 10 and 11 at the same time the way I see it.
#12 Question on Sharpley. Who else is going to take that away from him in the spring. The question should have been can Crist come in and take over the 2 spot this fall.
#13 To many RB. No we have different type of RB.
#14 1 back or two back sets. I think we see them both, but I see Hughes being used more like Bettis was used.
#15 Is Schwaap the right man for the job. No see above answer.
#16Luke Schmidt. Have seen people saying he might be moved to TE this spring. Don't know if that is true.
#17 Nagel. I have also read the same people saying that he will be moveing to FB this spring we shall see.
#18 Hughes become the workhorse. Yes I can see that, but I also see alot of an Hughes, Allen backfield.
#19 Aldridge improve. i would hope that every player improves from yr to yr. That doesn't mean he will necissarily start, but they should always improve or the staff isn't doing their job.
#20 Will Allen improve. See above answer.
#21 Which RB will step up as pass blocker. I would hope that all 3 of them improve. Once agian coaching.
#22Which RB carries the load. I see both Hughes and Allen being the main guys this season.
#23 How does ND practice with only one TE. By putting their uniforms on and getting after it. They can practice different formations. And for running plays that use 2 TE you put a backup OT in their for PRACTICE.
#24Who backs up Ragone. I posted eaarlier what i have seen written by others. I'm sure the staff has thought about this and will make the changes neccesary.
#25Out of the 8 WR who will step up to play opposite Kamara. Grimes will start opposite of Kamara.
#26 Can West stand out like ast spring. Why not.
#27 How much will Tate improve this spring while also playing baseball. I like Golden alot and this is only his first season at ND on the baseball team. But from what I've read he is definetly a top of the line baseball player. i don't see him missing to much baseball time for football practice.
#28 Last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord. I'm not going to write any of them off just yet.
#29 How can Parris step up and play opposite Kamara. CATCH the ball.
Will a kicker step up. NDGirlz is READY, WILLING and ABLE from all accounts here at GH.

That is the first 30. Need to take a cig break will do last 30 in a little bit.

[scooper]

Can Chris Stewart find a home somewhere on the offensive line?
I see him getting reps at guard and RT. He'll play a lot. May outplay a guard for some starts.

Can the offensive line really improve its physicality?
We'd better hope so. I like the young interior guys. It has to start with them. Look for Wenger/Olsen to set the tone. Stewart as well when he plays. If they don't, lights out.

Does the line have to cross train again?
If by cross training he means guys playing G/T L/R, then I don't mind it. It happens far more across college and pro football than ND fans apparently realize. That said, I hope Young stays on the right side, which brings me to.....

Can Romine prove that he is the best left tackle and move Young to the right side?
The pre-injury reports were shining, so we hope so. He will have a year of strength and growth under his belt. Young is clearly better suited at RT.

Can Sam Young show the world why he was a 5 star coming out of high school?
Ratings evaluations have shown OL being one of the hardest positions for recruitniks to judge. Look at the best OTs heading into the NFL. Many came into college as undersized 2 and 3 stars who grew and blossomed. The fact is, it's tough to judge the talent of a HS OL against a bunch of 170 pounders. So, take Young's ratings with a grain of salt. That said, he is still the most talented of ND's OL. Hopefully if he can get some coninuity of his position, along with consistency across the line, he will improve. It will help when everything isn't placed on him.

What can ND do to improve what was its weakest link from 2007?
Get stronger. Get the offensive assistants more input on training OL and blocking schemes. A year for the youngsters to grow and learn. Prayer.

Will the Irish really have the 5 best lineman playing as a unit?
No. The 6 best linemen with Stewart getting reps in a couple spots. Injuries happen. Somebody had better be ready.

Is Clausen 100%?
Don't know.

Did Jimmy get in the weight room enough this odd season?
It's hard to imagine he won't be. The big issue last offseason was his elbow which kept him from doing what needed to be done to prepare physically.

Can Clausen become emotionally stoic, or will he look like a freshman again?
I don't think he looked like a freshman last year. His only consistent mistake was running out of bounds for sacks without getting rid of the ball. He didn't throw stupid passes and did a nice job of not risking turnovers. He found open receivers, some of whom did him no favors by dropping balls. All this in the face of one of the worst OLs in ND history.

Will Jimmy progress in his knowledge of the system and use his check-offs?
Yes. Another year, more experience. Rarely do you see QB's in college not improve in this area over time.

Will Sharpley do enough this spring to cement himself into the #2 spot?
Yes. He knows the system. He has starting experience. They will want to preserve eligibility for Dayne. So if JC goes down for periods of time, I expect Sharpley to play. That said, if JC goes down early and it looks to be long term, I expect Dayne to get a shot to at least compete for the spot. But the only way I exect DC to pass Sharpley this year is if it's for a long term starting spot. I'm happy to have an experienced guy like Sharpley coming back.

Are there too many horses at running back?
Nope. In fact, they are not as deep as people think. Hughes/Aldridge play similar roles. They are one injury away from only having one guy capable of being the workhorse. Allen is the speed/scatback. And he is the only one on the roster. Gray will be a freshman. RB is actually not that deep. Just because you have a few guys to compete for carries doesn't mean you have too many. It's just that we're not used to any kind of depth at ND.

Will ND lean more on a 1 back set or a 2 back set?
Oooh. Good question. And the answer lies with the FB's. I hope Schwapp picks it up, or Nagel or somebody else switches and steps it up. Normally, I would suggest more multiple TE sets, but don't look now but TE isn't very deep either. There are numbers, but a couple of those guys are true freshmen. Who knows how well those freshmen will be able to block DI defenders?

Is Schwaap the right man for the job?
See above. I like the Schmidt to TE rumors.

Will Luke Schmidt FINALLY step up?
See above

Is Nagel getting moved to FB?
Such is the rumor. He seems to be a good physical build for it. Hopefully he has that spit in his eye as well.

Can Hughes develop into the workhorse?
Early returns say yes. But early returns were against two crappy football teams. However, Stanford and Duke didn't give him that nice wiggle he possesses for a big back.

Will Hughes be used at FB at times?
No. Next question.

Will Aldridge improve on his lateral step?
it would be nice, wouldn't it? He shows good burst at times, but seems to lack Hughes' ability to shift moving forward. He'll be needed at times, so every improvement helps. We all love Hughes because of his final two games, but we forget that at times against slightly better teams such as MSU and Purwho, Aldridge showed some nice flashes.

Will Allen take the next step towards being the burner?
I'm not convinced he was healthy so another year to get better and stronger should help. And a funny thing about burners, their speed does no good without an offensive line. They tend to not be able to make their own holes like power backs can. One thing's for certain. Charlie is fond of trying to get him the ball. He must see something there. We saw it, too, if we were paying attention to some of those "almost" kickoff returns.

Of all the running backs, who is going to pass block better now that Jabbie is gone?
Hopefull all of them. I think Hughes' physical nature can be an asset here.

Which running back is going to carry the load?
Early returns point to Hughes. But again, early returns were against Duke and Stanford.

How in the hell does ND practice with one Tight End on scholarship?
In the spring? It's going to be tough. This is one reason I believe the Schmidt rumors.

Who will be on the depth chart underneath Ragone for the Spring?
See above. Failing that, me or you. Hell, I don't know.

There are 8 wide receivers going into spring ball. Who besides Kamara is really worthy to start?
Grimes is still a passable WR when healthy. He runs good routes. He'll get his shot. WR is a tough position to learn early. There are a lot of reads and nuances. So I like to afford young guys a learning curve. On that note, if Tate can learn a few additional patterns, he may be the most gifted WR on the team. Parris runs good routes, but has a case of the dropsies. He can be a servicable WR to move the chains and in the red zone if he toughens up and makes catches. At least early, I think it's out of those four. Fans who worship at the alter of scout and rivals will expect Floyd to be a superstar early, but they need to temper that a bit. He'll get his shot. Maybe even next year. But I doubt it's against San Diego St.

Will Grimes lock down the slot spot?
As mentioned above, he runs good routes and gets open when he's healthy.

Can West stand out like last spring?
I'm not sure what to make of him. He makes occassionally flashy plays, then disappears for periods of time. He's very similar to Grimes, but less consistent though a bit faster.

How much can Tate improve while he is playing baseball?
Hopefully, enough.

Is this the last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord?
We've seen too many guys come out of nowhere late in their careers to say it's anybody's last hurrah. Every improved player that steps up helps. Hord's long term health ramifications worry me, though.

How can Parris shape himself into the rotation opposite Kamara?
He figured out how to get open. Now he just needs to hang onto the damned ball.

Will a kicker please stand up?
Ugh.

Will Weis let the special teams go full speed in the spring?
I'm concerned about the line going full-go. With e ST's, I'm more interested in the fact that a coach is finally able to go full go on that part of the team.

Who will step up to the PR spot formerly occupied by Tommy Z?
This should be a very interesting competition. I have no idea who is going to get a shot, but I think Tate may have a good combination of speed and strength.

Any hitters?
Sharpley and Tate.

Will Maust solidify himself?
Yes. I'm more confident in him than the place kickers.

Who takes over for Jansen as a long snapper?
Quite possibly Golic. Otherwise, there are 80 something players. Somebody on this roster can snap the ball.

Will anything be decided on special teams this spring?
Other than Maust? No. That's not really enough time and freshmen who aren't yet on campus may have a say in special teams as well.

Can Mo Richardson and Kallen Wade start to climb the depth chart?
Richardson's in the two deep. Will he start? No. Play? Who knows? I love Kallen Wade and was a big fan of him as a Cincy guy coming out of HS. But I fear this isn't the best scheme for him. However, if he can add a few more pounds this offseason, the DE depth could sure use him. One thing's for certain, there is an opportunity there for him and Mullen if they are up to the task.

How much will the loss of Kuntz this spring affect the defensive line?
Immensely. The Dline this spring will look like the Oline during the last two springs.

Nwankwo has been labeled as a sleeper by a few insiders. Will he wake up?
Wow, "waking up" is a bit of a harsh way to put a guy that was a true freshmen. Again, fans seem to worship at the alter of scout and rivals and expect every kid to be 100% ready to kick ass right out of high school. That's not the reality at 95+% of Division I football programs. It's not the fault of these kids that they stepped onto a roster void of depth in the upperclasses and it shouldn't be held against them that they didn't all win heismans and national championships as 18 year olds. To answer the question, yes. I expect him to play into the DL rotation.

Will Ian Williams eat someone?
Yes.

No.
Seriously. Yes he will.

Will he continue to ride the momentum he created for himself last year?
Yes. He was an exception to the rule about most freshmen not being ready. Then again, he really didn't come on until late. Finding some depth behind him to allow him some breathers will be key, but I have complete confidence in him as a starting NT.

Calling Justin Brown. Can you be a difference maker?
No. If he can improve his game 5%, that's some help. He can be a body. Hopefully he can do his job and hold a few guys up. But I don't see a difference maker.

Will the John Ryan experiment finally be over at OLB and will he be back as a DE?
Wrong place, wrong time. He would have done very well, I believe as a 4-3 end. He got some snaps with his hand down last year and looked good. With the emerging talent at OLB and with the lack of depth and experience at DE, that may be the best thing for him and for the team. It certainly is the most predicted position change.

Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1,2 punch that they will just be known as... Neal Smith.
Hah! I see what you did there. (I loved Neal Smith) The upside with this duo is incredible. Now they need to build on it. Certainly, I don't remember ND in recent years having a better 1-2 pass rush combo on the field.

Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an inside backer alongside Crum?
There's not quite enough depth at OLB. I doubt it. But ILB has to improve somehow.

Can Toryan Smith become THE man?
Hopefully he begins by becoming A man. I'd actually like to see him slim down a bit now that Mad Dog Tenuta is commanding the LB's.

If not T. Smith, how about Scott Smith?
Tough kid. We haven't seen enough of him in a LB role to know for sure.

Will Kevin Washington make any move?
I don't think so. Not at this point. At least in Scott Smith, we see a ST demon. I've not noticed that out of Washington.

How much of Tenuta's influence will we see right away this spring?
In the spring? Very little. Then again, we never get to see much of anything in the spring.

Can Lambert and Walls retain their jobs as the starters?
Yes and Yes. Though Gray will push them and hopefully McNeil has something to say about it.

I've heard that Gary Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start?
Because anybody who told you that doesn't know because they've never seen him play in a college football game. He may very well be. If he is, he will start. But Neither of the above are slouches and experience counts for a lot at CB. Gray will get his shot and may ultimately be the best of the bunch. But I'm not sure it will be against San Diego St.

Where does McNeil fit in?
At first, fighting for some Nickel/Dime action. Again, the guy was a true sophomore. Don't judge a career yet. Lambert moves on soon. CB will get very interesting. It's arguably the most talented position on the team. Never thought we'd see the day, did you?

How badass will Bruton get after another year?
Ian Williams will eat somebody. But in Bruton's case, there won't be enough left of the body to eat after he runs through them. He may be my favorite Domer heading into 08. If nothing else, he's probably the guy with the most pro potential for next season.

How many safeties are after the spot opposite Bruton?
I don't have enough fingers and toes to count them, but the the numbers and talent should lead to a strong competition.

Who will step up to the table and set themselves up for the fall: Harrison Smith, Sergio Brown, Kyle McCarthy or even Ray Herring?
I can honestly make a strong case for any of the above. Based on last season, McCarthy has to have the inside track, but I think the other four will get their shot. One thing I like about McCarthy is he was usually in the right spot. Something that has plagued our safeties for years.

Who in the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold Game?
Isn't that why ESPN dug up the Gipper?

How is the Tenuta/Brown relationship going to develop?
Fine. I think it's a non-story.

How is the Weis/Haywood relationship going to develop?
Weis will have his say, make no mistake about it. Haywood has a tough job ahead of him and he might suffer a few headaches. Weis will be demanding of him, but I think both will grow as coaches by going through this process.

Is Latina getting the job done?
We'll see. With Charlie being a bit of a control freak, I'm not sure Latina has been allowed to get the job done yet. The guy has coached some good OLs and he didn't become an idiot overnight. He's been handpicked at times by Steve Spurrier and David Cutcliffe, two guys who are more proven as collegiate offensive coaches than Weis is. So he can't be a bum.

Who is ready for some motherfucking spring football?!
You have no idea.

[daytonirish]

#31 Will Weis let ST go full spead.in the spring. He had better let the whole team go full speed.
#32 Who will step up as PR. West, Grimes, H Smith or G Gray.
#33 Any hitters. Don't exactley know what they mean by this one. Talking ST or D.
#34 Will Maust solidify himself. I thought he handled the punting duties pretty good last season.
#35 Who will be longsnapper. The craziest walk on we have.
#36 Will anything be decided on ST this spring. I would hope so.
#37Can Mo Richardson and Kallen wade climb the depth chart.I think mo will be part of a rotation on the DL-OLB position. As far as Wade goes. I would like to see him step up and make an impact.
#38 How much will the loss of Kuntz this pring affect the DL. It should turn out to be a positive. Hopefully some of the younger guys and guys who haven't made an impact yet will see this as an oppurtunity to show they can play.
#39 Nwankwo has been labeled a sleeper. Will he wake up this spring. I believe the staff was very impressed by this young man last yr. But playing behind Trevor he wasn't going to get any reps. S before you label him as a disappointment, lets wait and see.
#40Will Ian Williams continue his strong play. YES
#41 Is Justin Brown a difference maker. I think he can be a solid player, difference maker don't know.
#42 Will John Ryan move to DE. Yes.
#43 Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1-2 puch the will be known as Neilo Smith. No they will be known as Kerry Neal and Brian Smith.
#44 Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an ILB . NO
#45 Can Toryan Smith become the man. First lets see if he can play up to the potential he appears to have and wins a starting spot.
#46 If not T. Smith how about Scott Smith. Same answer as above.
#47 Will Kevin washington make any moves. hopefully he will become a standout on ST. don't see him getting many reps on D.
#48 How much of Tenuta's influence will we see this spring. Lets not make a mistake here and think that improvement on the D side of the ball will be because of Tenuta's philosophy. if we see a dramatic improvement it will be because Corwin Brown, John Tenuta, and the rest of the D staff have put together a great plan and impliment it correctley working together.
#49 Can lambert and Walls retain their starting jobs. Why you would have Walls listed is beyond me. Unless you know of some kind of injury. As far as Lambert goes, i would love to see either or both Mcneil and Gray move ahead of him on the depth chart.
#50 I've heard G Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start ? He was injured last season and if he steps it up this spring he very well could be a starter.
#51 Where does McNeil fit in ? Right in the middle of the battle and the final answer.
#52 How badass can Bruton get after another year. As bad as my HOME BOY wants.
#53 How many safeties are after the spot oposite Bruton. All of the remaining ones.
#54 Which one will step up and start oposite of him. My pick is Harrison Smith.
Who the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold game. I hope it is the current staff. If your talking honorary coaches. Wouldn't surprise me to have SVOBODA announce something wild on Gold Helmet. Maybe split the Mods into 2 groups and find out which group is better.
#55 How will Tenuta and Brown get along. Fine if people are smart enough to realize that Brown is the D coordinator. And i'm talking "fans " here.
#56Weis and Haywood relationship going to go. I don't see either one of them divorcing their wifes.. It will be fine.
Is Latina getting the job done.There have been stories that he wasn't getting to run the OL practice the way he wanted. We talked about that here on GH. Charlie has said he will let the coaches run this spring and fall practices. If he does we will find out if Latina is the man for the job.
#57 Who is ready for some spring football. I know I am But I do have one question of my own.






After reading some of these questions is that you ROCKNE 19 ?

[IrishGrizz]

Holy-cannolies! Scoop and dayton! Reps to ya both- nice write ups of your thoughts to the questions most of us have for the 08 year. Now I don't have to think- I can look up these answers and just say ditto, or bull sh*&.:goirish:

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Yeah, I don't want questions. I want answers.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Scoop is big on productivity.

[IrishGrizz]

I,m wit him, not agin him.


Hey, stoney are you planning to use this dude :donttazemebro:

all the time now with your new title?

[Fishin'_Irish]

Hold on to your hats everybody, my answers are coming in a minute.

[IrishGrizz]

I'll bet we can just burn the other answers up cause these will be the definitive ones, right Fishin?

(just hit that star down there for the set-up)

[HereComeTheIrish]

Kamara has definately rubbed off on Grizz! We have a new member of the Rep Whores... :nanana::nanana:

[daytonirish]

Well if he keeps talking about burning my answers up. I'm going to rep him alright. And he will be :verysad: because I will :donttazemebro:. :jawdrop:

[IrishGrizz]

Well if he keeps talking about burning my answers up. I'm going to rep him alright. And he will be :verysad: because I will :donttazemebro:. :jawdrop:

Like I was sayin, dayton, you are the man with the answers! They are the ones that sould be chiseled in stone! :kiss:

[Fishin'_Irish]

Can Chris Stewart find a home somewhere on the offensive line?
I sure hope so. He's a hoss of a physical specimen. He looked pretty good towards the end of the year, so let's hope he can keep it up in '08.

Can the offensive line really improve its physicality?
If they can't, it's gonna be a looooooong year.

Does the line have to cross train again?
As Scoop said, it's not as uncommon as we think...It won't happen as much as last year, but don't rule it out.

Can Romine prove that he is the best left tackle and move Young to the right side?
Can he? Yes. Will he? That's the question. Young is, in my opinion, a better fit for RT anyway. Romine was just a freshman last year, so if he can bulk up a little and polish his technique, I think it could happen.

Can Sam Young show the world why he was a 5 star coming out of high school?
I think Sam will show big improvement once the line gets settled in. How many times last year did we see someone look bad on the line because someone else missed an assignment? A lot. Basically, it's hard to do your job when no one else is, either
.
What can ND do to improve what was its weakest link from 2007?
Get stronger, get more physical, learn the system, experience.

Will the Irish really have the 5 best lineman playing as a unit?
If all goes well, yes, but guys will definitely get rotated in during games. Fatigue happens. Injuries also happen, so it's always good for players to have game experience should someone go down.

Is Clausen 100%?
No idea. I hope.

Did Jimmy get in the weight room enough this odd season?
This ties in with the question above. It's hard to bench press with bone spurs in your elbow. I'm sure he's been in the weight room quite a bit.

Can Clausen become emotionally stoic, or will he look like a freshman again?
I'm not sure I get this question. As a leader, he showed pretty good poise for a freshman. As Scoop said, he needs to learn to get rid of the ball sometimes instead of taking sacks. I think he stares down the first option a little too, but that comes with playing.

Will Jimmy progress in his knowledge of the system and use his check-offs?
Common sense would say yes. Another year in the system never hurts.

Will Sharpley do enough this spring to cement himself into the #2 spot?
Yes - he knows the playbook and his more physically and mentally ready than Crist will be. The coaches are going to want to save eligibility for Dayne, barring an injury to Clausen.

Are there too many horses at running back?
No no no no no no no. We'll have 4 running backs, one who is a freshman (Gray), and one who can't be an every down back (Allen). I wouldn't even consider ourselves deep at the position yet.

Will ND lean more on a 1 back set or a 2 back set?
Well, this ties in directly with the TE's. If we can't get some solid production there, I think we'll see more two back sets. Otherwise, look for the staff to keep doing what they've been doing.

Is Schwapp the right man for the job?
If Schmidt gets moved to TE, then yes. I still think Schwapp has got it in him...we'll see.

Will Luke Schmidt FINALLY step up?
At TE or FB?

Is Nagel getting moved to FB?
I don't know the answer to that, but apparently that is the case. Physically, it's a good fit, but that doesn't mean anything. (See Stewart at DT)

Can Hughes develop into the workhorse?
I still think he'll split carries with Aldridge. Aldridge was playing on injuries, and Hughes's big games were against Duke and Stanford. I'm not trying to take away from Hughes; he showed characteristics that will be present regardless of the opponent. I'm just sayin'.

Will Hughes be used at FB at times?
Nope.

Will Aldridge improve on his lateral step?
Probably, off season work-outs alway help, and he has a good work ethic. He's got the potential to be a stud in the backfield.

Will Allen take the next step towards being the burner?
He'll go as far as the O-Line will take him. Obviously, he isn't one who can plow through people, so he needs the lineman to create holes so he can get in the open field.

Of all the running backs, who is going to pass block better now that Jabbie is gone?
I wouldn't mind seeing them all pass-block well, but I do think Hughes did a good job of it when he played.

Which running back is going to carry the load?
No one guy is going to do it himself. They'll all split carries depending on the team we're facing, the package we're in, where we are on the field, down and distance, etc.

How in the hell does ND practice with one Tight End on scholarship?
Luke Schmidt?

Who will be on the depth chart underneath Ragone for the Spring?
Luke Schmidt?

There are 8 wide receivers going into spring ball. Who besides Kamara is really worthy to start?
Grimes played hurt a little bit and came back with a case of the drops. When he's focused and healthy, he's good to go. If Hord can get back to 100% percent from his Achilles tear, throw him in there, too. Parris gets open, but drops the ball. If Tate learns more routes besides the fly, I think he could be the guy defenses have to watch out for.

Will Grimes lock down the slot spot?
See above.

Can West stand out like last spring?
I'm not sure. Really, I don't know.

How much can Tate improve while he is playing baseball?
Improve his catching by not wearing a mitt. Get Sharpley to throw him routes in the infield.

Is this the last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord?
It's hard to come back after tearing your Achilles. If Hord can get back to where he was, I think he'll be on the field. Gallup is maybe moving to RB. Jackson has the physical traits, so I don't know about him.

How can Parris shape himself into the rotation opposite Kamara?
If he stops dropping the ball, yes.

Will a kicker please stand up?
For the love of God, please.

Will Weis let the special teams go full speed in the spring?
Time will tell. Probably more so than last year.

Who will step up to the PR spot formerly occupied by Tommy Z?
A lot of options here. Allen, Gray, Grimes, and Tate just to name a few. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tate get the nod here. Don't forget about the freshman though.

Any hitters?
Tenuta.

Will Maust solidify himself?
I think so, yes.

Who takes over for Jansen as a long snapper?
Anyone but Sullivan.

Will anything be decided on special teams this spring?
Maust, that's about it. We'll see things start to cement once the freshman get here.

Can Mo Richardson and Kallen Wade start to climb the depth chart?
Mo will get some playing time, but I doubt he'll start. With the lack of bodies on the DL, I think Wade could get some reps at end if he beefs up.

How much will the loss of Kuntz this spring affect the defensive line?
A lot. It can't be understated. We're only gonna have a 1.5 deep without him.

Nwankwo has been labeled as a sleeper by a few insiders. Will he wake up?
I think he'll see some reps on the field come game time.

Will Ian Williams eat someone? No.
That's debatable.

Will he continue to ride the momentum he created for himself last year?
Yep.

Calling Justin Brown. Can you be a difference maker?
He'll get reps, that's for sure.

Will the John Ryan experiment finally be over at OLB and will he be back as a DE?
With the way Smith and Neal have been playing, and the way we've had to question whether or not Ryan's minutes at OLB qualified as "playing", probably.

Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1,2 punch that they will just be known as... Neal Smith.
Not bad, but there's gotta be something more creative than that.

Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an inside backer alongside Crum?
I don't see it. The depth at OLB isn't much, and he played too well there last year to be moved to ILB. Just my opinion.

Can Toryan Smith become THE man?
I thought Bruton was THE man. Can he turn into a playmaker? I hope so.

If not T. Smith, how about Scott Smith?
Probably on special teams. If he's gonna make a move as far as LB goes, now would be the time.

Will Kevin Washington make any move?
Personally, I don't think so.

How much of Tenuta's influence will we see right away this spring?
It's spring ball, which means not a lot. Come fall, expect that to change.

Can Lambert and Walls retain their jobs as the starters?
I think they'll be pushed (Lambert more so than Walls), but will remain the starters.

I've heard that Gary Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start?
Good question. We've never seen him play, but if that's the case, don't expect him to sit on the bench.

Where does McNeil fit in?
As of now, nickel and dime packages. He'll push for more time though.

How badass will Bruton get after another year?
Very.

How many safeties are after the spot opposite Bruton?
Herring, Smith, McCarthy, Brown, etc. A better answer is - a lot. I think it's gonna come down to a three pony race with Smith, Herring, and McCarthy, with McCarthy in the slight lead. However, right now, that means nothing

Who will step up to the table and set themselves up for the fall: Harrison Smith, Sergio Brown, Kyle McCarthy or even Ray Herring?
See above.

Who in the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold Game?
Rumor on the street is Bob Keuchenberg.

How is the Tenuta/Brown relationship going to develop?
Very smoothly.

How is the Weis/Haywood relationship going to develop?
Weis will still have a say in everything, and don't think for a minute that he won't. Time will tell how much of a say that will be.

Is Latina getting the job done?
Pass.

Who is ready for some motherfucking spring football?!
Who is ready for some motherfucking fall football?



Sorry they took so long, I got sidetracked by lunch.

[Fishin'_Irish]

I'll bet we can just burn the other answers up cause these will be the definitive ones, right Fishin?

(just hit that star down there for the set-up)

I edited it. That better? :aggressive::guns::angry::tease:

[IrishGrizz]

As I was sayin, here is the definitive answers here, Fishin. Good job.

[mlcspinner]

Can Chris Stewart find a home somewhere on the offensive line?
I sure hope so. He's a hoss of a physical specimen. He looked pretty good towards the end of the year, so let's hope he can keep it up in '08.

Can the offensive line really improve its physicality?
If they can't, it's gonna be a looooooong year.

Does the line have to cross train again?
As Scoop said, it's not as uncommon as we think...It won't happen as much as last year, but don't rule it out.

Can Romine prove that he is the best left tackle and move Young to the right side?
Can he? Yes. Will he? That's the question. Young is, in my opinion, a better fit for RT anyway. Romine was just a freshman last year, so if he can bulk up a little and polish his technique, I think it could happen.

Can Sam Young show the world why he was a 5 star coming out of high school?
I think Sam will show big improvement once the line gets settled in. How many times last year did we see someone look bad on the line because someone else missed an assignment? A lot. Basically, it's hard to do your job when no one else is, either
.
What can ND do to improve what was its weakest link from 2007?
Get stronger, get more physical, learn the system, experience.

Will the Irish really have the 5 best lineman playing as a unit?
If all goes well, yes, but guys will definitely get rotated in during games. Fatigue happens. Injuries also happen, so it's always good for players to have game experience should someone go down.

Is Clausen 100%?
No idea. I hope.

Did Jimmy get in the weight room enough this odd season?
This ties in with the question above. It's hard to bench press with bone spurs in your elbow. I'm sure he's been in the weight room quite a bit.

Can Clausen become emotionally stoic, or will he look like a freshman again?
I'm not sure I get this question. As a leader, he showed pretty good poise for a freshman. As Scoop said, he needs to learn to get rid of the ball sometimes instead of taking sacks. I think he stares down the first option a little too, but that comes with playing.

Will Jimmy progress in his knowledge of the system and use his check-offs?
Common sense would say yes. Another year in the system never hurts.

Will Sharpley do enough this spring to cement himself into the #2 spot?
Yes - he knows the playbook and his more physically and mentally ready than Crist will be. The coaches are going to want to save eligibility for Dayne, barring an injury to Clausen.

Are there too many horses at running back?
No no no no no no no. We'll have 4 running backs, one who is a freshman (Gray), and one who can't be an every down back (Allen). I wouldn't even consider ourselves deep at the position yet.

Will ND lean more on a 1 back set or a 2 back set?
Well, this ties in directly with the TE's. If we can't get some solid production there, I think we'll see more two back sets. Otherwise, look for the staff to keep doing what they've been doing.

Is Schwapp the right man for the job?
If Schmidt gets moved to TE, then yes. I still think Schwapp has got it in him...we'll see.

Will Luke Schmidt FINALLY step up?
At TE or FB?

Is Nagel getting moved to FB?
I don't know the answer to that, but apparently that is the case. Physically, it's a good fit, but that doesn't mean anything. (See Stewart at DT)

Can Hughes develop into the workhorse?
I still think he'll split carries with Aldridge. Aldridge was playing on injuries, and Hughes's big games were against Duke and Stanford. I'm not trying to take away from Hughes; he showed characteristics that will be present regardless of the opponent. I'm just sayin'.

Will Hughes be used at FB at times?
Nope.

Will Aldridge improve on his lateral step?
Probably, off season work-outs alway help, and he has a good work ethic. He's got the potential to be a stud in the backfield.

Will Allen take the next step towards being the burner?
He'll go as far as the O-Line will take him. Obviously, he isn't one who can plow through people, so he needs the lineman to create holes so he can get in the open field.

Of all the running backs, who is going to pass block better now that Jabbie is gone?
I wouldn't mind seeing them all pass-block well, but I do think Hughes did a good job of it when he played.

Which running back is going to carry the load?
No one guy is going to do it himself. They'll all split carries depending on the team we're facing, the package we're in, where we are on the field, down and distance, etc.

How in the hell does ND practice with one Tight End on scholarship?
Luke Schmidt?

Who will be on the depth chart underneath Ragone for the Spring?
Luke Schmidt?

There are 8 wide receivers going into spring ball. Who besides Kamara is really worthy to start?
Grimes played hurt a little bit and came back with a case of the drops. When he's focused and healthy, he's good to go. If Hord can get back to 100% percent from his Achilles tear, throw him in there, too. Parris gets open, but drops the ball. If Tate learns more routes besides the fly, I think he could be the guy defenses have to watch out for.

Will Grimes lock down the slot spot?
See above.

Can West stand out like last spring?
I'm not sure. Really, I don't know.

How much can Tate improve while he is playing baseball?
Improve his catching by not wearing a mitt. Get Sharpley to throw him routes in the infield.

Is this the last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord?
It's hard to come back after tearing your Achilles. If Hord can get back to where he was, I think he'll be on the field. Gallup is maybe moving to RB. Jackson has the physical traits, so I don't know about him.

How can Parris shape himself into the rotation opposite Kamara?
If he stops dropping the ball, yes.

Will a kicker please stand up?
For the love of God, please.

Will Weis let the special teams go full speed in the spring?
Time will tell. Probably more so than last year.

Who will step up to the PR spot formerly occupied by Tommy Z?
A lot of options here. Allen, Gray, Grimes, and Tate just to name a few. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tate get the nod here. Don't forget about the freshman though.

Any hitters?
Tenuta.

Will Maust solidify himself?
I think so, yes.

Who takes over for Jansen as a long snapper?
Anyone but Sullivan.

Will anything be decided on special teams this spring?
Maust, that's about it. We'll see things start to cement once the freshman get here.

Can Mo Richardson and Kallen Wade start to climb the depth chart?
Mo will get some playing time, but I doubt he'll start. With the lack of bodies on the DL, I think Wade could get some reps at end if he beefs up.

How much will the loss of Kuntz this spring affect the defensive line?
A lot. It can't be understated. We're only gonna have a 1.5 deep without him.

Nwankwo has been labeled as a sleeper by a few insiders. Will he wake up?
I think he'll see some reps on the field come game time.

Will Ian Williams eat someone? No.
That's debatable.

Will he continue to ride the momentum he created for himself last year?
Yep.

Calling Justin Brown. Can you be a difference maker?
He'll get reps, that's for sure.

Will the John Ryan experiment finally be over at OLB and will he be back as a DE?
With the way Smith and Neal have been playing, and the way we've had to question whether or not Ryan's minutes at OLB qualified as "playing", probably.

Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1,2 punch that they will just be known as... Neal Smith.
Not bad, but there's gotta be something more creative than that.

Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an inside backer alongside Crum?
I don't see it. The depth at OLB isn't much, and he played too well there last year to be moved to ILB. Just my opinion.

Can Toryan Smith become THE man?
I thought Bruton was THE man. Can he turn into a playmaker? I hope so.

If not T. Smith, how about Scott Smith?
Probably on special teams. If he's gonna make a move as far as LB goes, now would be the time.

Will Kevin Washington make any move?
Personally, I don't think so.

How much of Tenuta's influence will we see right away this spring?
It's spring ball, which means not a lot. Come fall, expect that to change.

Can Lambert and Walls retain their jobs as the starters?
I think they'll be pushed (Lambert more so than Walls), but will remain the starters.

I've heard that Gary Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start?
Good question. We've never seen him play, but if that's the case, don't expect him to sit on the bench.

Where does McNeil fit in?
As of now, nickel and dime packages. He'll push for more time though.

How badass will Bruton get after another year?
Very.

How many safeties are after the spot opposite Bruton?
Herring, Smith, McCarthy, Brown, etc. A better answer is - a lot. I think it's gonna come down to a three pony race with Smith, Herring, and McCarthy, with McCarthy in the slight lead. However, right now, that means nothing

Who will step up to the table and set themselves up for the fall: Harrison Smith, Sergio Brown, Kyle McCarthy or even Ray Herring?
See above.

Who in the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold Game?
Rumor on the street is Bob Keuchenberg.

How is the Tenuta/Brown relationship going to develop?
Very smoothly.

How is the Weis/Haywood relationship going to develop?
Weis will still have a say in everything, and don't think for a minute that he won't. Time will tell how much of a say that will be.

Is Latina getting the job done?
Pass.

Who is ready for some motherfucking spring football?!
Who is ready for some motherfucking fall football?



Sorry they took so long, I got sidetracked by lunch.


what a boat load of crap :rofl: :nanana:

[Fishin'_Irish]

what a boat load of crap :rofl: :nanana:

Yay! My first reported post... :rofl:

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Is this kinda like fill in the blanks stuff?

[notredomer23]

Can Chris Stewart find a home somewhere on the offensive line?
Yes, at right Guard
Can the offensive line really improve its physicality?
Yes, I truely believe they will own every team's Dline besides USC's and UM's
Does the line have to cross train again?
Hopefully no
Can Romine prove that he is the best left tackle and move Young to the right side?
I think Young Stays at left and Romine moves to Right
Can Sam Young show the world why he was a 5 star coming out of high school?
Yes, I am not saying he will be an AA but there will be some talk.
What can ND do to improve what was its weakest link from 2007?
By keep pounding the ball to get the Oline tougher
Will the Irish really have the 5 best lineman playing as a unit?
We can only pray
Is Clausen 100%
I believe so, and he will show the world why he was the #1 recruit
Did Jimmy get in the weight room enough this odd season?
He will never look like BQ, but he will definitly bulk up a little
Can Clausen become emotionally stoic, or will he look like a freshman again?
I believe the team finally becomes behind him, and they win win win baby.
Will Jimmy progress in his knowledge of the system and use his check-offs?
Yes, Nuff said
Will Sharpley do enough this spring to cement himself into the #2 spot?
Yes, Crist Redshirts
Are there too many horses at running back?
You can never have enough talent
Will ND lean more on a 1 back set or a 2 back set?
Both
Is Schwaap the right man for the job?
No, But I dont think CW will change
Will Luke Schmidt FINALLY step up?
I hope so.
Is Nagel getting moved to FB?
Sounds plausible
Can Hughes develop into the workhorse?
It depends how the others do
Will Hughes be used at FB at times?
I think so.
Will Aldridge improve on his lateral step?
Yes
Will Allen take the next step towards being the burner?
If he doesnt go down after get flicked than yeah.
Of all the running backs, who is going to pass block better now that Jabbie is gone?
Hughes
Which running back is going to carry the load?
All get significant time, but Aldridge will be the leader
How in the hell does ND practice with one Tight End on scholarship?
Whats a tight end
Who will be on the depth chart underneath Ragone for the Spring?
Ummmmm?
There are 8 wide receivers going into spring ball. Who besides Kamara is really worthy to start?
Grimes and Jackson. Jackson was injured last year and I expect big things from him. I pray hord does but I think his tenor with the Irish is over.
Will Grimes lock down the slot spot?
hard to say?
Can West stand out like last spring?
I dont think so
How much can Tate improve while he is playing baseball?
As long as he works on route running and the weight room he will be fine.
Is this the last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord?
Gallup, Yes, Jackson No, and Hord, unfortunately yes
How can Parris shape himself into the rotation opposite Kamara?
By not dropping every damn pass.
Will a kicker please stand up?
Soccer team?
Will Weis let the special teams go full speed in the spring?
I hope so
Who will step up to the PR spot formerly occupied by Tommy Z?
Walls baby
Any hitters?
BRUTON and MCCARTHY
Will Maust solidify himself?
Yes
Who takes over for Jansen as a long snapper?
Good question?
Will anything be decided on special teams this spring?
That Allen and Tate can break a return for a TD
Can Mo Richardson and Kallen Wade start to climb the depth chart?
Wade yes, Richardson no
How much will the loss of Kuntz this spring affect the defensive line?
it will a lot, but I think he will be back in the fall.
Nwankwo has been labeled as a sleeper by a few insiders. Will he wake up?
Not this year, Junior year though.
Will Ian Williams eat someone? No. Will he continue to ride the momentum he created for himself last year? Yes, he is the real effin deal.
Calling Justin Brown. Can you be a difference maker?
Yes, I hope
Will the John Ryan experiment finally be over at OLB and will he be back as a DE?
Yes, especially with the lack of depth
Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1,2 punch that they will just be known as... Neal Smith.
Yes, both will be all americans when there time is over.
Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an inside backer alongside Crum?
No
Can Toryan Smith become THE man?
Yes, I love his attitude
If not T. Smith, how about Scott Smith?
No, mainly because I know so little of him.
Will Kevin Washington make any move?
No, same as Scott Smith
How much of Tenuta's influence will we see right away this spring?
Instantly, Im expecting a lot of blitz. I also think he was brought in so that the offensive line and pass blockers can learn how to actually stop the blitz
Can Lambert and Walls retain their jobs as the starters?
Walls definitely, Lambert, I dont think so, but he will still get reps
I've heard that Gary Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start?
He will for Lambert
Where does McNeil fit in?
His time will come
How badass will Bruton get after another year?
AA baby
How many safeties are after the spot opposite Bruton?
2, McCarthy, and Brown
Who will step up to the table and set themselves up for the fall: Harrison Smith, Sergio Brown, Kyle McCarthy or even Ray Herring?
Thats really tough, Ill go with Brown
Who in the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold Game?
Joe Montana and Tony Rice
How is the Tenuta/Brown relationship going to develop?
Good hopefully
How is the Weis/Haywood relationship going to develop?
Good hopefully lol
Is Latina getting the job done?
I dont think so
Who is ready for some motherfucking spring football?!
Hellz YEAH!

[RichardRiot]

Can Chris Stewart find a home somewhere on the offensive line? He is a freakin' home; he will find a spot IMO
Can the offensive line really improve its physicality? I don't care what they do off-field; as long as they block better
Does the line have to cross train again? Bo knows football; think it is a good thing. If they don't improve their blocking, they may need to start cross-dressing to hide-out on campus
Can Romine prove that he is the best left tackle and move Young to the right side? I still like Sam at LT, but if he bulks up would like to see Matt at RT
Can Sam Young show the world why he was a 5 star coming out of high school? I think he has done alright; it is hard for one guy to stand out on the line when the whole unit is sucking
What can ND do to improve what was its weakest link from 2007? Realize that not every play calls for a screen blocking scheme
Will the Irish really have the 5 best lineman playing as a unit? I actually don't care if they use a Purdue cheerleader; just block the f*ckin' D
Is Clausen 100%? wtf - last year Coach Weis said he is the only one that is allowed to answer that question
Did Jimmy get in the weight room enough this odd season? It was an odd season; was he lifting in the off season??? Pretty sure is a$$ was stapled to a bench
Can Clausen become emotionally stoic, or will he look like a freshman again? He was a freshman - what was expected. I don't want stoicism, I just want a QB who makes good decisions. He looked fantastic as a true frosh last season - watch his FIRST START again if you want further evidence
Will Jimmy progress in his knowledge of the system and use his check-offs? Again, he was a TRUE Freshman - if you expected parting the Red Sea, you might want to re-set your expectations. You can expect him to be better
Will Sharpley do enough this spring to cement himself into the #2 spot? To put it another way, he would have to suck pretty bad to not be the #2 given there is no other scholarship QB on the roster right now. Now if Dayne was great in the fall, there is probably little Sharpley could do to hold him off; but agree with others that Dayne will red-shirt
Are there too many horses at running back? I want to see one consistent horse; after that we can worry about whether there are too many
Will ND lean more on a 1 back set or a 2 back set? Again, want to see at least 1 guy step up; until then I think there will be a rotation
Is Schwaap the right man for the job? What job?? FB??? Thought so in '06; changed my mind last year
Will Luke Schmidt FINALLY step up? If he can't, he obviously must have called Coach Weis 'Hoss' or something to get that deep in the dog-house
Is Nagel getting moved to FB? Wouldn't be the dumbest experiment
Can Hughes develop into the workhorse? He could, but I still think Alridge is the guy right now; until someone outplays him in a big game
Will Hughes be used at FB at times? I think he could play a Marc Edwards type role back there, with Armando being the Lee Becton; but even Barry Sanders would struggle running behind last year's line
Will Aldridge improve on his lateral step? I hope he does, cause his knee still seems to be a problem that is holding him back. That, and the 1500lbs of crumbling brick wall that was supposed to block for him
Will Allen take the next step towards being the burner? As opposed to who?? he is the only burner - unless Golden is moved to the backfield
Of all the running backs, who is going to pass block better now that Jabbie is gone? Any of them that actually throw a block would be better than they were last year
Which running back is going to carry the load? If I had to pick one, I would still go with Aldridge; but till someone steps up, I think the touches will be spread out
How in the hell does ND practice with one Tight End on scholarship? Kyle Rudolph said he was ready to get started during the signing day show; maybe he can just happen to be at the spring practices
Who will be on the depth chart underneath Ragone for the Spring? Bernie Parmalee??
There are 8 wide receivers going into spring ball. Who besides Kamara is really worthy to start? At times last year, NO ONE. However, I think that Grimes can play, and if Parris can concentrate he can be an effective receiver. Would love to see Tate pick up the playbook; he has already shown physical talents. Other than that, so far NO!!
Will Grimes lock down the slot spot? Most likely
Can West stand out like last spring? Unfortunately he also stood out in some REAL games last year - dropping sure catches. But then agains so did pretty much every one of the WR's. He seems to really fight the ball at times
How much can Tate improve while he is playing baseball? He is doing very well at baseball according to the article last week. Pretty sure that if it would make a tremendous difference, that Coach would get him on the practice field
Is this the last hurrah for Gallup, Jackson, and Hord? It certainly gets tougher with 3 strong WR's coming in as Freshmen; Floyd will play a lot as a Frosh. Goodman and Walker will be ahead of the 3 in 2009 (IMO)
How can Parris shape himself into the rotation opposite Kamara? C-A-T-C-H T-H-E B-A-L-L
Will a kicker please stand up? Will a kicker please go better than 50% from over 30yds; 30 yds, that is practically a P.A.T
Will Weis let the special teams go full speed in the spring? I don't think even CW can stop Bruton and Anello
Who will step up to the PR spot formerly occupied by Tommy Z? I think it will start as West
Any hitters? See above, apparently Golden Tate is doing well at baseball
Will Maust solidify himself? Unless he DUI's, Maust is the closest to a sure thing; although maybe Brandon Walker will get a shot a punting
Who takes over for Jansen as a long snapper? I think Mike Golic II
Will anything be decided on special teams this spring? Yeah, poor kicking will get you taped to the goalposts
Can Mo Richardson and Kallen Wade start to climb the depth chart? I think that with all of the DL issues, the depth chart is falling to them
How much will the loss of Kuntz this spring affect the defensive line? It will hurt the sack dance; guess it will be a big loss
Nwankwo has been labeled as a sleeper by a few insiders. Will he wake up? WTF is wrong with these Freshmen, that they aren't on the 1st Team All-American list in their first years? Is this a serious question?
Will Ian Williams eat someone? No. Will he continue to ride the momentum he created for himself last year? He better, cause there is no one else in the spring
Calling Justin Brown. Can you be a difference maker? He made a difference last year against GT; nice personal foul penalty, dude!! I think that he will be 'serviceable'
Will the John Ryan experiment finally be over at OLB and will he be back as a DE? He will have a better chance at DE than at OLB in the spring; by the fall he will be struggling for PT at both positions
Will Kerry Neal and Brian Smith be such a 1,2 punch that they will just be known as... Neal Smith. "I don't think so Tim"
Will Brian Smith be cross trained as an inside backer alongside Crum? Keep Brian Smith at OLB
Can Toryan Smith become THE man? Would love to see him smacking guys at MLB, but he needs to step up his pass coverage
If not T. Smith, how about Scott Smith? If there are 4 Smithes in the starting D, Hammond will have an aneurysm
Will Kevin Washington make any move? Not expecting him to move up the depth chart
How much of Tenuta's influence will we see right away this spring? Right away??? They are in helmets only; so probably little will be seen
Can Lambert and Walls retain their jobs as the starters? Yes, they can; Walls will; Lambert will have a tough fight with Gray and McNeil, but will likely stay as the starter early
I've heard that Gary Gray is our best cover corner. Why can't he start? I've heard that it is because he mentioned to Coach Weis that the Sopranos was a stupid show; what kind of question is this??
Where does McNeil fit in? He is a corner; at least per the depth chart
How badass will Bruton get after another year? strap on a helmet, step back as a PR, and find out
How many safeties are after the spot opposite Bruton? all but Danny Mc
Who will step up to the table and set themselves up for the fall: Harrison Smith, Sergio Brown, Kyle McCarthy or even Ray Herring? Kyle Mc wins the spot; Harrison Smith gets plenty of PT
Who in the hell is coaching the Blue-Gold Game? the only guy from hell that coaches is already with the Gators
How is the Tenuta/Brown relationship going to develop? They will live separately; Coach Brown will run the D, getting some significant input from Coach Tenuta. If the preceding doesn't work, Brown stays and Tenuta moves on
How is the Weis/Haywood relationship going to develop? Weis will provide input; sometimes too much. It will be tough on both of them
Is Latina getting the job done? Given that spring practices haven't started yet - NO!!
Who is ready for some motherfucking spring football?! Beer fridge is STOCKED!!!