New practice video
Its not too special (4 minutes, low quality), but ill watch any kind of footage from practice. I cant embed, so heres the link.
At 1:55 ... what are the linebackers doing? It looks like they're learning how to dance. anyone with football experience know what that is?
It's not just the linebackers.
It looks to me as if they're practicing steps/blocking/protection for the punt team.
If you look on the right, there are offensive guys too. It looks like they're learning some basic punt blocking or FG edge blocking techniques (it's pretty much the same technique). For the punt team, it's gap-punch-go. For FG team, it's gap-punch.
Edit: Beaten by Magnus, Argh!
I love the footage, but I can get better quality video with my iphone.
I think I can get better video with my Startac.
They just had to get the dong forest in there at the end.
Oops, ruined the surprise for everyone else.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Apparently the AD is more media-savvy than we thought.
WE WANT MOOORE DONGZ!
Dong Forest sighting!
Mike Martin coming off the edge at 1:00??? Me likey.
Yeah, I was a bit thrown off by that as well. He looked good, though.
Just another testament to that man's beasthood. He is a force.
By far, one of the things I am liking the most from spring practice. Moving Mike around getting the most out of him. Could be even more of a monster year for MM.
I love our away techfit jerseys. You can see it well on Cam Gordon at ~1:55mins. They look clean. Really hope they use them this year.
Correct me if I'm worong, but I thought that the players didn't like the tech fit jerseys last year.
A couple of them are wearing them at practice. The white pants are the new tech pants they're trying out. Both QBs and a few of the skill players are wearing the techfit jerseys in these practice videos.
I've seen all of the spring videos and I'm aware some of them are wearing them. I just thought that last year we didn't wear the tech fit all the time becuase the players didn't like them.
Right. Based on the comment about white pants in the video, I'm assuming they're just testing out some new gear with some guys. Why they chose almost exclusively skill and lean players is beyond me, if they found something too tight it would have to be a death trap. If anyone should have one it's Mike Martin.
I also found it funny that only the skill players had them. I can't remember who said it, but some OL in the NFL said that white pants are not flattering on guys that big.
A few Notre Dame guys are trying out new Addidas pants too. Kelly was quoted as saying he doesn't care what they wear as long as they're gold.
History teacher's syllabus: "You may drink whatever you like in class so long as it is water."
They didn't like how they fit...but these could be new.
At the 3:12 mark is an example of UNACCEPTABLE!!!111!! The manager drops his piece of paper blocking my view even longer from a 4 minute clip. Does he even care?
Im not impressed with the guy at 3:11 we dont need those kind of drops at this level!
#37 Has just been smacking people from the linebacker spot. Kind of reminds me of McClintock in his build and strengths (Or probably more because I just saw the '05 Rose Bowl again... either way).
That would be Jake Ryan. He does not need Tom Hanks' help.
That's Jake Ryan? His play looks really familiar now. Glad to see his effort/willingness to plug up the gaps hasn't changed much from HS (or atleast, what was on his film).
Good to see Jake Ryan chipping paint out there this spring. *sighs like Molly Ringwald
One of the stories coming out of bowl practice was that Ryan had been stepping up and was one of the best tacklers on the team. Be interesting to see if he can turn that into playing time.
Jake Ryan will be good, I think he's about perfect for the WILL spot in this defense. A starting LB group of Gordon, Demens and Ryan would be pretty solid. Although if Fitzgerald grabs the WILL spot over Ryan that would work too. We'll see where guys like Mike Jones, Merrell Evans and Brandon Herron end up, but it should all be good depth either way.
It sounded like Merrelll Evans was running with the 1s at MLB. I think that is due to Demens having to sit out of the contact portion of practice. Also it seems like Herron will playing more combo DE/LB than just pure LB this season.
Jake Ryan has been playing SAM.
What's the different approaches to body types for Sams vs. Wills in the 4-3. It seems to me that the plan is to have C Gordon play strong-side, favoring a relatively quicker but leaner guy. The weak side linebacker on the other hand is suupposed to be closer to a middle backer type in this defense. Yes? But don't others have the stronger guy, well stronger?
It depends on what type of 4-3 you're running.
Mattison has said that he wants Cam Gordon to get significantly bigger, so I don't think you should count on the SAM being a 215-pounder like it was under Greg Robinson. The rest of the SAM linebackers are all bigger linebackers, more like a 3-4 outside linebacker. Think Shawn Crable.
Briefly...
SAM: Probably the best overall athlete of the linebacker crew, somebody who can stand up to the run, rush the passer, and cover a little bit. Most of the guys playing SAM are bigger than Cam Gordon, but they think that he can add weight while still keeping some of his speed.
MIKE: Big, thiick sturdy player. Think of a traditional middle linebacker. He should be able to run a little bit, but mostly he's got to be a run stopper.
WILL: Smaller than the MIKE, but still an ILB position. Unlike in a Tampa 2 defense (where the WILL has to be very quick and athletic), he needs to fill running lanes and blitz while still taking on lead blocks from fullbacks.
With all Michigan Man respect to McClintock, may we please aim a bit higher for Jake Ryan's ceiling? I'd like to suggest Steve Morrison:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Morrison_%28American_football%29
Yeah, keeping it same-complected ...
Kthx.
What's that dude doing in the background at 3:20-3:30? He's slowly shuffling to the side carrying something like a big barrel with a rope attached to it. I'm so confused.
Thats the rip Justin Borens head off and shuffle away like nothing happened drill....classic
Thats the rip Justin Borens head off and shuffle away like nothing happened drill....classic
I enjoyred the pitch outs. I despised the many stuffed at the line of scrimmage for only a yard or two.
I'm almost certain I saw a zone-read handoff get stuffed at the line of scrimmage. Oh, if we only had a 5* RB on the roster...
He jumps in the air after the play b/c he knows it. The Hulk is crashing down the line (at very limber, impressive speed) and kills the RB as soon as he gets the ball. No chance
If Denard keeps and runs it outside, that's a big gain.
This fall is going to be crazy with all the different running weapons Borges has at his disposal, assuming half of what we've been hearing about our RBs is true.
Test for truthiness of statements about RBs:
Has Fred Jackson said it?
Yes > it is hyperbolic
No > it is probably true
that Fred Jackson occasionally modifies the truth?
No, Fred Jackson occasionally modifies reality. He always modifies the truth.
Fred Jackson occasionally modifies reality.
Absolute truth: Sometimes, you just know it when you see it.
about those long runs, is it just plain missed tackles or are they still working on that whole "teaching running backs how to break tackles thing" .
They're not going full speed 100% of the time. Sometimes they are, which is when you see the RB's get tackled. But when you see a big clump of guys standing around and ripping at the ball...and then the running breaks away from the pack...then they're not taking the RB's to the ground. It teaches them to break tackles, hold onto the ball, keep driving their feet, etc.
Exactly, there was another clip on the video of (forget who it was) someone cleary being tackled to the ground, he got back up and simply finished the run.
Hopkins
Blowing Barnum 5 yards into the backfield. Jebus he's big. Weak effort to pull down the ballcarrier, but totally disrupts the play. More please, BWC.
Denard does not read the zone read very well.
Roh makes a real nice play in there - unblocked, but sqares his shoulders to the line and then makes a nice tackle on Hopkins.