Robert Hainsey is still listed as the starter at RT. He came out against Michigan and was replaced by Josh Lugg due to injury. A case could have been made for him to be relieved by Lugg before injury. Lugg is listed as the backup at RG, but he is first OL off the bend anywhere but C is seems.
Notre Dame doesn’t list a #1 RB but does have Jafar Armstrong’s name first in the list of “or’s”.
Alize Mack still listed as the #1 TE ahead of Nic Weishar and Cole Kmet. Some speculated Kmet may have passed Mack in camp.
Shayne Simon is now listed as the #3 BUCK and will cross train at BUCK and ROVER. This is an interesting development since Simon was considered a threat to Asmar Bilal at ROVER at the start of camp. Bilal’s strong play week one however could have played a role here.
Jalen Elliott is listed as the starter at SS with Nick Coleman second. Coleman was the top nickel last week after the loss of Shaun Crawford and figures to be again this week. Freshman Houston Griffith could still be the long term answer at nickel which could bump Coleman up at SS.
Tariq Bracy looks like the 4th corner for the Irish right now behind starters Julian Love and Troy Pride and top reserve Donte Vaughn.
POS
NUM
NAME
HT
WT
CL
DROP
9
Daelin Hayes
6-3.75
265
Jr
or
42
Julian Okwara
6-4.5
241
Jr
19
Justin Ademilola
6-1.75
246
Fr
DT
99
Jerry Tillery
6-6.75
305
Sr
57
Jayson Ademilola
6-3
284
Fr
NG
55
Jonathan Bonner
6-3.75
295
5th
41
Kurt Hinish
6-1.75
295
So
or
97
Micah Dew Treadway
6-4
300
Sr
SDE
53
Khalid Kareem
6-4
265
Jr
91
Ade Ogundeji
6-4.5
255
Jr
BUCK
23
Drue Tranquill
6-2
235
5th
2
Jordan Genmark-Heath
6-0.75
225
So.
33
Shayne Simon
6-2.75
222
Fr.
MIKE
4
Tevon Coney
6-1
240
Sr.
52
Bo Bauer
6-2.75
225
Fr.
or
45
Jonathan Jones
5-11.5
227
Jr.
ROV
22
Asmar Bilal
6-2
225
Sr.
30
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
6-1.5
215
So.
CB
27
Julian Love
5-11
193
Jr.
8
Donte Vaughn
6-2.75
211
Jr.
FS
11
Alohi Gilman
5-10.5
202
Jr.
14
Devin Studstil
6-0.25
200
Jr.
28
Nicco Fertitta
5-9
181
Sr.
SS
21
Jalen Elliott
6-0.5
205
Jr.
24
Nick Coleman
6-0
194
Sr.
or
3
Houston Griffith
5-11.75
205
Fr.
CB
5
Troy Pride Jr
5-11.5
190
Jr.
35
Tariq Bracy
5-10
170
Fr.
Special Teams Depth Chart
Jonathan Doerer is still listed as the top kickoff man after getting replaced by Justin Yoon. Brian Kelly likes having a separate player handle kickoffs and place kicking so expect him to give Doerer multiple chances. The same situation played out last year where Doerer had issues early and then settled in.
Alohi Gilman is listed as the backup punt returner behind Chris Finke. Notre Dame clearly prioritizing hands over athleticism/speed at PR.
Coach Polian’s special teams last year (2017) were much improved over 2016! They really did not make a huge gaff until the Citrus Bowl. Still, if you want to look at it that way, the Citrus Bowl and Michigan are big screw ups in two games in a row…both “big” games, too. That does not bode well for the future and it needs to stop now. These blunders (1. CitBowl: letting a punted ball hit you and go live…then lose what should have been a hard earned possession, and then LSU scored immediately afterward, of course, AND (2. “M”game: getting out of your lane?!!? really guy? and instantly getting stung for a 95 yard return, of course,…these blunders are on the players…not Coach P…BUT IT IS UP TO HIM TO PUT A STOP TO IT…and if we don’t…if it continues to evolve into a “trend”…which is what it is starting to look like, we could very well lose a game in the future. FOCUS, Children.
Agree Bruce. But what about punt return and the things I mentioned? We have sucked forever at punt return. Zbikowski is our last good returner and hmm, Charlie Weis probably had an NFL type return set up for him to actually allow for something other than a fair catch or getting drilled immediately upon catching it. It’s on Kelly just as much it is Polian, if not more.
We’ve not been explosive in those areas Chris. Maybe a new scheme is needed…but I think we’d do better just by executing standard special teams stuff…we are pressing for a big play on special teams too much I think…just get good at all the fundamentals and the big play will come to us. A somebody once said (I don’t remember who) “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.” But that happened for Michigan…and they were prepared…they stung us. That must turn around.
BGC ’77 ’82
I know Notre Dame will probably never do this but I would like to see them make a few changes with their schedule moving forward. First I have no problem with 5 acc games every year. Also I’m okay with USC Navy and Stanford every year
HHowever I would like to play USC or Stanford the last game every year. I think it is a bad advantage for Nortredame to always play the last game on the road. Next get rid of the neutral site games and add a seventh home game. It’s always to your advantage to play at home. Finally play a cupcake to start the season. Yes Notredame got away with this year but if you are breaking in a bunch of new players and a new quarterback it is not a recipe for success. Also the 4 games Notredame plays in addition to the 5 acc games andusc navy and Stanford should be against 2 traditional good top 25 teams and 2 cupcakes where you can get playing time for your second and third st 7thging. As the saying goes you COACH next year’s team this year. Teams in the future I would like to see Notrdame play Oklahoma State Kansas State west Virginia Iowa tenessee.
Here’s my strategy for opening vs Ball State. Jailhouse blitze on every down on defense to start the game. On Offense, pound, pound, pound the rock on every down early, then play action. See if Ball State can handle that.
Happy to see Javon McKinley listed. He will get good experience the next three weeks, then break out big time vs. Cardinals a team he could have played for.
“Notre Dame clearly prioritizing hands over athleticism/speed at PR.” – referencing Finke starting at PR
Wow, did you not see Finke simply blow by two guys on that throw from Wimbush? I think you might be underestimating Finke’s speed just a tad and not to mention how shifty he is in open space. Watch some of the old spring practice tapes of Finke going one on one with tacklers. They could never get him down.
Punt return’s problem has always been how we cover, not the man returning it. When gunners are in your face every effing time, what are you supposed to do other than fair catch? Polian honestly is a bad coach. Put multiple guys on the gunners on return. The priority should not be the guys inline as their first job is to block before running down field. These players are much slower and Finke would actually have some space if we would simply adjust to this type of coverage. Polian needs to watch the NFL and how they set up on return. It’s honestly embarrassing he doesn’t see that but I’m just a fan and can recognize it.
Terrible Decision letting Doerer continue to handle kickoff duties. In your punter and your place kicker You have two seniors with a lot of experience and big legs that can put the ball out of the end-zone.
Coach Polian’s special teams last year (2017) were much improved over 2016! They really did not make a huge gaff until the Citrus Bowl. Still, if you want to look at it that way, the Citrus Bowl and Michigan are big screw ups in two games in a row…both “big” games, too. That does not bode well for the future and it needs to stop now. These blunders (1. CitBowl: letting a punted ball hit you and go live…then lose what should have been a hard earned possession, and then LSU scored immediately afterward, of course, AND (2. “M”game: getting out of your lane?!!? really guy? and instantly getting stung for a 95 yard return, of course,…these blunders are on the players…not Coach P…BUT IT IS UP TO HIM TO PUT A STOP TO IT…and if we don’t…if it continues to evolve into a “trend”…which is what it is starting to look like, we could very well lose a game in the future. FOCUS, Children.
BGC ’77 ’82
Agree Bruce. But what about punt return and the things I mentioned? We have sucked forever at punt return. Zbikowski is our last good returner and hmm, Charlie Weis probably had an NFL type return set up for him to actually allow for something other than a fair catch or getting drilled immediately upon catching it. It’s on Kelly just as much it is Polian, if not more.
We’ve not been explosive in those areas Chris. Maybe a new scheme is needed…but I think we’d do better just by executing standard special teams stuff…we are pressing for a big play on special teams too much I think…just get good at all the fundamentals and the big play will come to us. A somebody once said (I don’t remember who) “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.” But that happened for Michigan…and they were prepared…they stung us. That must turn around.
BGC ’77 ’82
I know Notre Dame will probably never do this but I would like to see them make a few changes with their schedule moving forward. First I have no problem with 5 acc games every year. Also I’m okay with USC Navy and Stanford every year
HHowever I would like to play USC or Stanford the last game every year. I think it is a bad advantage for Nortredame to always play the last game on the road. Next get rid of the neutral site games and add a seventh home game. It’s always to your advantage to play at home. Finally play a cupcake to start the season. Yes Notredame got away with this year but if you are breaking in a bunch of new players and a new quarterback it is not a recipe for success. Also the 4 games Notredame plays in addition to the 5 acc games andusc navy and Stanford should be against 2 traditional good top 25 teams and 2 cupcakes where you can get playing time for your second and third st 7thging. As the saying goes you COACH next year’s team this year. Teams in the future I would like to see Notrdame play Oklahoma State Kansas State west Virginia Iowa tenessee.
Here’s my strategy for opening vs Ball State. Jailhouse blitze on every down on defense to start the game. On Offense, pound, pound, pound the rock on every down early, then play action. See if Ball State can handle that.
SHHHH, the Ball St coaching staff could be on here.
Happy to see Javon McKinley listed. He will get good experience the next three weeks, then break out big time vs. Cardinals a team he could have played for.
Frank,
Is this really your opinion on punt return?
“Notre Dame clearly prioritizing hands over athleticism/speed at PR.” – referencing Finke starting at PR
Wow, did you not see Finke simply blow by two guys on that throw from Wimbush? I think you might be underestimating Finke’s speed just a tad and not to mention how shifty he is in open space. Watch some of the old spring practice tapes of Finke going one on one with tacklers. They could never get him down.
Punt return’s problem has always been how we cover, not the man returning it. When gunners are in your face every effing time, what are you supposed to do other than fair catch? Polian honestly is a bad coach. Put multiple guys on the gunners on return. The priority should not be the guys inline as their first job is to block before running down field. These players are much slower and Finke would actually have some space if we would simply adjust to this type of coverage. Polian needs to watch the NFL and how they set up on return. It’s honestly embarrassing he doesn’t see that but I’m just a fan and can recognize it.
Polians special teams have been AWFUL all last year and this first game!!! Looks like KELLY will have to replace another friend after this year!!
What is happening with Freshman TE Brock Wright?
Is he being redshirted?
Terrible Decision letting Doerer continue to handle kickoff duties. In your punter and your place kicker You have two seniors with a lot of experience and big legs that can put the ball out of the end-zone.