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ND Post-Spring Wrap-Up: Safeties

  • http://notredame.247sports.com/Article/An-analysis-of-Notre-Dames-safety-positions-73326

    Personnel, coaching situation, potential freshman impact and vital stats are among the topics addressed.

    Lou Somogyi ●

  • I think ND really needs for someone to step up with above average cover skills at safety. Slaughter can do the job well enough, but I have very little confidence in Motta's ability to play center field--all I can think of is that Dennard Hail Mary that he and I think Harrison Smith could have knocked down. I am hoping Hardy comes along quickly this fall.

    dc irish

  • Lou, what about Chris Badger? Is he still planning on starting with the team this summer/fall?

    donahuet2

  • donahuet2,

    We have not heard otherwise. He was included in the story and all indications have been that he will be in summer school with the Irish next month. Our Dan Murphy is planning a summer feature on him and his experiences in Ecuador for our print publication.

    Lou Somogyi ●

  • donahuet2 said...

    Lou, what about Chris Badger? Is he still planning on starting with the team this summer/fall?

    Badger will be in South Bend in early June. In the meantime he has dedicated the past two or three months to getting himself in football shape. He said in late March that his goal was to get on the field in any way possible this fall.

    Dan Murphy

  • We need these guys to anchor the secondary and help out the cb's.

    First time POTW for 4/18/2011-4/24/2011.

    edd1066

  • Looking forward to hearing about Badger's adventures.
    I remember hearing pretty positive things about him, even though he was a a 3-star, he was a high 3-star, with high potential, from what I remember.

    Lou, you gave this unit a "6" grading. I didn't expect a grade that high, but if that is true, it will certainly help to back-up the inexperience at the CB position.

    signature image signature image signature image

    "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another" -- Charles Dickens

    dave83nd

  • The breakdown and ratings of each unit is interesting but just to totally grasp how good/bad ND is by positions what would you rate a team like USC on your scale/

    signature image signature image signature image

    5 Time POTW--Gringo Mafia Director of Guerrilla Warfare

    19BlueAndGold85

  • dave83nd,

    I was thinking more along 5.5, but to have 16 career starts apiece from your top two safeties, both of whom were quite sought after in SEC country, I'm not sure there are many teams that can match that. There is still plenty to do. Slaughter can't let his game regress, while Motta needs to become more of a factor. This is strictly on paper.

    19BlueAndGold85,

    I haven't looked at every position unit for USC, but there are two big differences we know of. I would put USC in the 9 category at quarterback with Barkley (not 10 because uncertain about depth), whereas ND right now would be in the 4 range. At the outside receiver spots with Woods and Lee, they would be in the 8 category (again, depth is a little more iffy), where ND with Goodman and TJ Jones is more at the 4 to 5 level.

    However, ND would be at a 9 or 10 at tight end, whereas USC would be far less. It's in the way that you use it (soundtrack from The Color of Money). The huge difference though right now is at quarterback, which is so crucial to a team's hopes.

    Lou Somogyi ●

  • We have a very deep bench at this position which bodes well for the future. Watch a few of last year's games recently and tried to focus in on the secondary (given our thinness at CB). I came feeling that Slaughter could either be last year's Smith (team leader with his potential fully realized) or last year's G. Gray (someone whose mistakes cost us in big spots).

    Regardless, the team is stocking defensive talent and this year's haul could add to that.

    signature image signature image signature image

    NDNJ96 ●

  • curiously, i am even more nervous about our achilles heel (the whole secondary) than i am about the unproven offense. we MUST be able to stop the run and come up with enough pressure pkgs with our front 7 on d, or it's going to be a very, very long year.

    Run the ball. Stop the run. You win, or lose, up front.

    Coach_Clancy

  • Thx Lou.

    SDWolverine

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