Good to Great!...IRISH STYLE!..

One of my favorite books on business is GOOD to GREAT!

One line that always seems to stick out to me no matter

how many times I read the book is...

"Doesn't matter where your bus is headed...but more

importantly..Who's on the bus!"

This flashed to the front of my mind watching the 

NEW O-Line for the Irish!

Thursday, I was told that the staff thinks that the O line 

RIGHT NOW, is better than at any point the entire 

season last year!

That...makes me very excited!

One reason?...fundamentals!

The other reason?

Who's teaching class!

Louis Nix is SCHOOLING young Martin on how to 

compete against the "elite" of D-Linemen in this sport!

Don't underestimate how unique this situation is for Notre Dame!

Wanna know why BAMA's O-Line is so good?

WHO THEY PRACTICE AGAINST EVERY DAY!

Our Line will face, on a daily basis...NIX-TUITT-DAY..ect!...

Think they will see anyone even close to that in the first 11 games?

What you don't see in a 2 minute practice video, is EVERYTHING

that matters!...In practice on Friday Nix lined up vs Martin and in 

what I saw to be more of a 1/2 speed drill, Martin PANCAKED 

Big Lou twice...then like clockwork Nix got 

pissed and BOOOOOOOOM!!!

Let him know who was Daniel and who was Mr. Miyagi!

NIX KILLED HIM!

This was a learning moment...and one that most players 

don't get until they face other teams!

The O-Line is extremely athletic...They move as one, and 

remind me of cartoons I remember as a kid!...

Separate they are VERY strong...but working together 

they can be one big...bad UNIT!

The run game I think, as RIDICULOUS as this may 

sound...may be better this season than last!

Let's talk about who's gonna be taking advantage of this 

iron wall!

GA III

Take a good long look at this picture!....

Cause this guy isn't on the team anymore!

Atkinson has been re-born into the LONGO transformation 

project...He has completely re-worked his build and for the

first time since he arrived at ND...looks and runs like a legit 

D1 1200 yard rusher!

And he knows it!...He hits the whole like a bullet and seems to 

run with lower pad level doesn't go down after first contact,

and has not lost speed by adding more 

lean muscle!

He's thicker...stronger...and more aware of his role in the offense.

CAM MCDANIEL

This kid realizes that under GAIII the slot is WIDE OPEN and 

has taken advantage of every snap thrown his way!

Cam is smart...he knows that like the astroid in Armageddon

there are BIG ROCKS heading to campus in June...and 

there is nothing he can do to stop them from arriving!

He catches the ball smooth...is fluid in the open field and is 

like a 69NOVA...he might not be the fastest car

on the street...but he's quick and powerful!

He's gonna be a BIG surprise in my opinion!

WILL MAHONE

This is our POWER back...I love Will!

I think he's got all the tools and skill but hasn't 

seen many reps with the first team O-Line...

Spring Game for me..is Mahone's chance to shine!

WILL...WILL IF YOUR READIN THIS...Don't

let a brother down!.... You know what your capable of!

Then...the arrival of:

BRYANT & FOLSTON

So...running the ball...I think won't be an issue!

Jesse Palmer during his Michigan breakdown last night on ESPN

said..."I think Michigan's first loss will be under the lights 

to Notre Dame...Notre Dame will have a much improved 

offense!"

So...you wanna call me a Kool Aid Drinker...sounds like 

I'm not the only one!

GO IRISH and GOD BLESS!

NOTRE DAME COACHING CLINIC!...Haven't slept since!...

***My editor is off tonight...so forgive the grammar errors!***

With any great journey in life, planning is the first, and most key 

ingredient to success.

One of my favorite things to tell a client, is how a plan is so 

right, so AIR TIGHT that we don't need much to happen to 

achieve our goals!

We don't need to make up for lost time...or the loss of something here,

or something not performing there..it's just...ready!

This was the feeling I had watching practice and scrimmage 

at Notre Dame this week!...It's just ready!

There is a "quiet confidence" in almost every aspect of the 

team...a mild but noticeable swagger to how they practice

and compete with each other.

I spent some time on Thursday with some folks in 

the program and just like last year..they tell you 

"We really got a lot to work on." and almost smile

as they deliver the words!

But what I think they mean is...."We don't need much to 

happen to achieve our goals!"

Part one:

OFFENSE

Let's start with the obvious:

EVERETT GOLSON:

Where should I start?

For most of the practices I saw last year, and videos, I thought he 

might have been mute!...Well the kid has found his voice!

He's the COMMANDER AND CHIEF on that field!

He reads coverage, moves around players...changes plays

and executes with ease!

He reminds me of a kid playing Nerf Football in the back yard vs 

other kids that are 4 years younger!

He glides across the field!...smooth like he's sliding on ice with 

no effort or worry of slipping!

His accuracy is unreal...putting the ball almost every time, where only 

his guy can get it!....Throws that you watch and go...OH SH#T...and then 

when it arrives, you see why he threw it!

You can tell he is making some of his guys realize that they have to 

meet him half way...but it's ALL THERE!

He's dangerous hitting the receivers almost on command...most of the routes

I saw, he threw the ball BEFORE the receiver even broke out of his 

route...he's years ahead of a second year starters learning curve!

If the receivers are all covered and he gets pressure?

Thats where the fun begins!

He's DANGEROUS when he breaks the pocket?

Fast...hard to get a hand on...and ALWAYS looking down 

field...and makes the big play look very easy and effortless!

He will be a top 5 QB by seasons end!

RECEIVERS:

This is an interesting topic, I keep hearing the "We need depth!"

or "We are low at WR numbers!"

Well..that's not what I saw!

What I saw, was off season of 7 on 7s creating what might be 

one of the most electric passing cores in the country!

Let's talk about who we KNOW will be nasty!

DAVARIS DANIELS-

 He's a man among boys in my opinion!

He's fast...know's how to use his body and seems to have 

figured out what his role is and how to maximize the balls 

being thrown his way!

Great hands and range!...he catches EVERYTHING that is in 

his area code!

TJ JONES-

Or as I'm staring to call him Mr. Consistency!

Death, Taxes and TJ JONES!

He's poised to break out and become the "go to" for Everett 

next season...you know if you look at his numbers..theres an 

argument that he already was!

He had almost as many catches as Eifert and most of the big throws

for over 20 or 25 yards he was in on!

He will draw attention and force teams to cover him with 2 people

opening up the door for the other receivers!

CHRIS BROWN-

Last year this was MR.GO ROUTE!

He was young...and inexperienced but we knew one thing,

HE WAS FASTER THAN ANYONE TRYING
TO COVER HIM!

Now?...Guess what..Happy's learned to putt!

The routes are crisp and clean and he's learned to use his 

size and ability to jump and pin point the ball!

He's a bubble screen NIGHTMARE for D coordinators!

TROY NIKLAS-

At 6'7  260 lbs and fast!

He's the type of TE that would make Bill Belichick DROOL!

His hands are soft...he runs great routes and jumps out of the gym!

When he catches the 8 yard cross...he's a

TRUCK HEADING DOWN HILL!

I'm amazed at how ND seems to find these Tight Ends that

can make such an difference in a game plan!

Niklas will be a first round draft pick when he leaves ND!

Now...to the WILD CARDS!

CJ PROSISE-

This is the Matthias Farley of the offense in my opinion!

This kid has ability...it's raw...and still being honed, 

but the player ran 7 on 7s this off season will make 

him into a trained assassin!

He's got speed to burn..he's a smart kid from a good 

school and wants to make a difference for Notre Dame!

He seemed a bit shy of contact...but that nothing new for 

a young WR running full speed into a forrest of D secondary!

Once he learns that he's 6'2 and 210 and runs a 4.5 and people

dont' want to hit that as much as he doesn't want them 

to hit him..he'll be just fine!

Let him ring some bells of corners or safeties a few times

he'll like the taste!

Everett broke the pocket... scrambled to his right..hit CJ going the 

opposite direction for an EIGHTY YARD TD in scrimmage on 

Saturday that was just beautiful!

JAMES ONWUALU-

This might be the most physically ready freshman I've seen since

Michael Floyd..and imagine that...they attended the same high school!

Not only did they attend the same high school, since the 8th grade they've 

attended the same training centers!

Onwualu is EXTRAORDINARY...he can line up in slot...or running back

or at 6'2 215 he could be a linebacker!..LOL

No POSSIBLE way he doesn't see the field game one in my opinion!

He's smooth and precise and makes all the right reads and 

is just too physical to be a freshman...I think he went through 

2nd grade 3 times!...LOL

This kid has the ability to be a 1000 yard receiver in Brian Kelly's system!

On to the BABY ADMIRAL!

COREY ROBINSON-

WATCH ME IDIOT!

Click on this link and use your imagination!

This kid catches EVERYTHING!...

He's long...can jump a house and has a VERY 

high football IQ! 

He will be a 3rd down and redzone MENACE!

So...the WR position?...No worries!

There is just too much to possibly cover in one blog!...

But I'll leave you with this schedule!

THURSDAY APRIL 18th second 1/2 of Offense

SUNDAY APRIL 28th Defense

SUNDAY MAY 12th OVERALL THOUGHTS!

I'll close with this thought:

 Our architect is Brain Kelly...

Our blueprint is nearing completion..

And this machine will be unstoppable!

And the beauty is...we don't need anything special to 

make it happen!

GO IRISH and GOD BLESS!