Blue Gold Game

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Very little can be drawn from this “scrimmage” so it was just bland as usual for an outing like this. Kelly was not going to give any of his real offense for others to plan on. That being said there was some good hitting from the linemen on both sides of the ball. Chris Watt LG did not play Tackle Ronnie Stanley took his place.

Thoughts on the performances:

Offense needs a lot of work – just not crisp at all. Quite frankly I really expected much better play or at least an offense that was in sync.

QB’s:

  • Golson started out very shaky missing 2 easy plays in flat and unfortunately he reverted back to sandlot ball which just cannot happen in real games.
  • Rees – boy do I wish he had a stronger arm and just a little mobility – he sure looks like a QB that would be starting on many other teams.
  • Hendrix – unfortunately he just has not progressed.
  • Zaire – Frosh – big kid with a strong arm (lefty) real nice pass to Prosise for a TD – kid will be good in a few years.

RB’s – hurting here and would not be a surprise if the freshmen coming in move to the front:

  • George Atkinson – unfortunately he just looks like a track-man playing football. Very fast running just straight ahead, has trouble cutting, does not look to have the swivel that good backs have. Straight up runner that was really blasted by Carlo Calabrese.
  • Cam McDaniel – just a more complete RB than Atkinson. Beautiful catch and run. Will play a lot this year.
  • Will Mahone – disappointed, thought he would be the big power back.

Others worth mentioning:

  • TJ Jones and D. Daniels looked real good.
  • Troy Niklas (TE) kid is just a monster at 6’7″ 260 – expect big year from him.
  • Steve Elmer OT freshman – big kid working with the 2nd unit already. Bright future.

Defense:

  • The DL for the most part won the battle in the trenches. NT Kona Schwenke destroyed Center Bruce Hegge for a safety.
  • Carlo Calabrese hardest hit of the game when he almost killed George Atkinson.
  • Jarrett Grace filling Manti’s old position looked pretty good.
  • Jarron Jones – really expected better showing.
  • Lou Nix – comic relief scoring 2 pointer with a QB draw. He just does not look in shape to me–sure he’s big but man he better put in a lot of work this summer.
  • Punt Returners – looked like they wanted to get out of consideration–certainly no Tommy Z with this group.
  • Punters – horrible. Must be some kid on the rugby team better than these guys.

Now we just have to wait for the Opener against Temple – in the meantime here’s game highlights provided by und.com

NBC & Notre Dame

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New contract extends NBC covering Notre Dame home games through 2025.

Suck on that SEC and USC!!!!!!!

Good News In The NBC Broadcast Booth

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Dan Hicks is replacing Tom Hammond as play by play announcer starting Saturday’s BG game. Hicks is married to ND alum Hannah Storm.

Mike Mayock will continue as analyst and Alex Flannigan roams the sidelines.

It really was painful trying to watch the game and listen to Hammond.

Spring Wrap up – 2013

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Next Saturday is the annual blue Gold game which, I understand will be televised on the NBC Sports channel at 1PM EST.

With limited access to practice – this seems to be what we have learned so far:

OL 1st team Zack Martin, Chris Watt, Nick Martin, Connor Hanratty and C. Lombard.
TE – Troy Niklas
RB – G Atkinson

DL Tuitt, Nix and Day
OLB’s Councell and Shembo
ILB’s Calabrese and Grace

So it will be interesting to see how the BG game pans out and if a sleeper emerges from the pack at any position.

Other news – G. Kiel going to Cincinnati
D. Neal going to Arizona – applying for hardship – so he just might play this season.

Another One Bites The Dust

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WR Justin Ferguson (2012) 6’2″ 4 star from Florida will transfer out of Notre Dame. 2nd in 2 days and I expect maybe a few others as these guys see where they are on depth chart – not willing to work for it and bide their time or just not good enough and getting passed by early enrollees. That together with the arrival of the rest of 2013’s in June making some guys jumpy and they’re jumping ship.

The good news – just more slots for the 2014 class.

Davonte Neal Gone

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One more from the 2012 class leaves Notre Dame and this time “wants to be close to new daughter”. Prima Donna who really never should have come to ND. He’s from Arizona so he’s perfect for Rich Rod who will make him a star. Just opens up another scholarship – concentrate on Midwest please.

Spring Injuries

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Two serious setbacks for 2 players that had to sit out last year:

Chase Hounshell DE – looking to work his way into the DL rotation suffered his 2nd broken shoulder which will require surgery and in all likelihood is out for 2013. This is going to hurt for the DL really has very little depth.

I never thought he should have played as a freshman–he was simply not strong enough. Very highly regarded but he did not have the size or strength of Tuitt and Lynch. He was in great shape but this is his junior year and even with eligibility preserved I’m not sure at all he will ever play.

Amir Carlisle RB broke his collar bone – this is just one of many injuries in his short career. It may be that he is just too small and perhaps too brittle. With this injury he should be recovered by the Fall.

We have had a spate of hamstring, shoulder and collar bone injuries and while the hammies seem to have been taken care of it’s the shoulder and collar bone injuries that cause a lot of concern. Those areas really need to be looked into by Longo – just too many of them.

Both were injured in the 1st practice in pads and the loss of Hounshell is going to have an impact on the practices for the rest of the Spring and maybe into the Fall.

You have to feel for these guys – both worked so hard to get into shape and get some playing time.