Spring Game excitement....TEMPERED BY REALITY!

You know the weekend started pretty normal....
Trip to the liquor store....

BBQ essentials for Friday night...

Excited?...yeah...but playing a kinda wait and see approach!

We were still morning the loss of another causality of war...

RIP...or should I say...USF?...LOL

So we were tempered in our approach...we saw some 

friends...bought some memorabilia....
Got "THE" shirt...which is the best in DECADES!...

But mostly...we sat and talked REALISTIC expectations....

Then this happend...

Now first things first....

I've seen 2 full practices and the spring game via the Coaches Clinic..

 That's me in the practice video next to my buddy 

Pete Sampson Irish Illustrated,

and my little asian buddy Matt and Ryan!...

So let me break down for you what I saw....

COACH HARRY HIESTAND

Might be the best hire by a head coach in 20 years!

This guy is paying dividends IMMEDIATELY!

The O Line last year struggled to perform in the big games..

and pass protection broke down way to often and caused 

some needless interceptions.... Not only do the players

love this guy...but we have already wrapped up 

our O-line recruiting for 2012 RIGHT NOW with 

whats sure to be a top 5 O-Line class by seasons end...

The O-Line for ND is gonna DICTATE the tempo

of the game for 2012... 

Thank GOD we upgraded this coaching position!

We've always had "BIG" and we've always 

had "NASTY" but we've struggled in the 

past four or five seasons to have both..

"BIG & NASTY"

That's what I saw in the practices and spring game!

Ground game:

Cierre is a premier BCS running back...he's hit the gym

and just is what he is...a workhorse..1000 yard rusher..

Theo Riddick...he's my wild card...what can he accomplish

and what he's capable of is a mystery...

He can leave you picking up the change outta your pockets

with one move...he can catch the ball...and 

is very dangerous in open field...

George Atkinson III...LORD 

You tell me?....But one thing is for sure...it's hard 

to determine where and when lighting strikes....

but a good bet is to be SOMEWHERE else...

He is DANGEROUS on the outside!...

Just ask the special teams coaches for USC and MSU!

Having a SOLID O-Line

and a group of elite running backs will, 

ease the transition of what I'm sure will 

be a new starting QB for 2012...

At this point...I break down our QB race as....

1. Everette Golson

2. Andrew Hendrix

3. Tommy Rees

4. Gunner Kiel

Each have different strengths and weaknesses!..

Golson- Makes ALL the throws and has touch

as well as the ability to scramble but more importantly

during the scramble he keeps his eyes down field and 

alert and almost ALWAYS makes something 

outta nothing... 

BUT:

He seems to be struggling reading the defenses and getting the 

mental aspect of the game under control.
That can be mended by fall thorough film study and coaching!

Hendrix- Andrew has me a bit confused at this point...

Brilliant one play...struggles the next...

But the upside is TREMENDOUS!

He's got a rocket for an arm...He can throw it on a rope

for 50 yards with a flick of his wrist...

He runs like a freight train...and is not afraid to 

lower his pad level...

BUT:

His arm?...It's STRONG...but that seems to affect the short 

route and touch passes!....He's like a convict who's been 

locked away for years at home with his wife 

for the first night...IT'S GONNA BE ROUGH!

He seems to struggle to make the "touch" passes..

This can be mended by fall through 7 on 7 drills and practice!

Before I go into Tommy...Gunner is work in progress...

If we have to play a true freshman?....We got PROBLEMS!..

I have NO DOUBT that Gunner Keil will be the future of ND!...

But not yet...

Tommy Rees is like a new puppy dog....He was fun..

he did some great stuff....

BUT:

When he did good...

We never remembered!

When he did bad...

We never forgot!...

I want to first of all say....

TOMMY REES DID 

NOT COST US A SINGLE GAME LAST YEAR!

Get it outta your head!...Was he a Heisman 

contender...NO!

But was he HORRIBLE...no!

He was what he was...over his head!...

Tommy could win us 10 games!...I have no doubt...

Hell he almost did last year!....but what Tommy in my 

opinion can't do....go into Norman and beat OU!...or USC!..

The 2012 Class is coming together....

We have the talent and for the first time in DECADES

we are shelving talent... because we are just 

LOADED at certain positions!...

We just need to wait and develop and prepare!...

Cause I don't know about you?....

But when I look at this schedule it seems

very manageable to me...

Only 2 games really worry me if we don't 

shoot ourselves!

One in Oct...one in Nov!....

By then?....who knows!...

Next Week...the D!....I'm not really that 

concerned with our D!...just our late game play 

calling on D!....
You know what I'm talking about!...

But in closing...
Louis Nix

Stephon Tuitt

KLM

Gonna be rough on opposing QBs!...

GO IRISH and GOD BLESS!...