I was saddened to hear about the impending transfer of wide receiver Richard Jackson.
When Jackson arrived on campus, I watched him early on his freshman year, and was impressed by his natural talent and prototypical receiver physique and mannerisms.
However, Jackson struggled in learning the fundamentals of the wide receiver position, which was further hampered by lingering injuries.
He has decided to transfer closer to home, officially for personal reasons. However, his place on the depth chart surely had something to do with his decision.
Because of the stellar recruiting, Jackson was staring at the backsides of Grimes, Kamara, Parris, Tate, and West. While he had worked his way up into the third string spot at X receiver, he was behind everyone in the classes ahead or immediately behind him, with only freshman pushing him. And Floyd has reportedly passed him already, although Floyd is listed as a Z receiver.
While Jackson's transfer is a signal of VERY good things for the Irish going forward, I am sad that he was never able to develop into the receiver he has the potential to be. With his natural ability, I'm sure he will be a starter sooner rather than later at his new school, wherever that may be.
I wish Mr. Jackson nothing but the best, and hope that his experience at Notre Dame will serve him well in the future.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
2008 Notre Dame Football Preview: Running Backs
Running Backs
Running back should be a huge strength for the team this year.
Of course running back SHOULD have been a huge strength for the team last year.
But we finished 115th in the country in rushing offense, averaging a paltry 75.25 yards per game.
The same three headed monster returns from last year, with an infusion of young talent pushing them from behind. All of the returning starters have increased their bench by a whopping 100 pounds. Hughes and Allen are no longer freshmen, and Aldridge is allegedly healthy for the first time since his junior year of high school.
But we need to see improved offensive line play for any of this talent to result in an improved running game. We'll cover that at length when we get to the O-line preview.
Robert Hughes Sophomore, 5'11" 237 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (1 game started):
Rushing: 53 rushes, 294 yards 5.5 avg 4 TD
Receiving: 3 receptions, 17 yards, 5.7 average 0 TD
Hughes only started one game last year, but his performance in the final two games of the season earned him top honors on my preview list.
Hughes is an extremely agile big back, who has good vision and excellent change of direction. He's also got a surprising burst. He lacks top end speed, but has enough giddy up to gain 20 yards before the defensive backs can catch him.
Hughes is excellent at running through contact, with a good pad level that makes him difficult to take down at the point of attack.
He was the first freshman since Allen Pinkett to rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games.
Hughes is the favorite to win the starting position going into San Diego State, but Aldridge's development and return to health make this battle the most exciting of fall camp, as Coach Weis has refused to name a starter coming out of spring.
James Aldridge Junior, 6'0" 225 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (5 games started):
Rushing: 121 rushes, 463 yards, 3.8 avg 0 TD
Receiving: 5 receptions, 30 yards, 6.0 avg, 0 TD
Aldridge was a 5-star recruit out of high school, but suffered an injury in his senior season of high school. That injury lingered through his freshman and sophomore seasons, but his athleticism and natural ability got him on the field as a freshman behind Darius Walker and the starting nod last year for most of the season.
Aldridge has been a passable running back thus far, but has not shown break away ablity or a nose for the end zone. Watching him on tape, there is not much mechanically wrong with his technique, it just appears that he is incapable of making the sudden cuts and quick bursts that made him such a highly touted recruit.
Weis is claiming that Aldridge is 100% healthy for the first time since he's been at Notre Dame, which means that this year could be the breakout season for Aldridge.
Also, most players come into their own their junior year. Freshman year is about learning the playbook. Sophomore year is about learning how to play. Junior year is when you stop thinking and start playing instinctively. If Aldridge can make that mental leap and return to top physical form, there is no doubt on my mind that he will be the feature back on this team.
However, I have not seen it from Aldridge in a game yet, and Hughes looked better even as recently as the spring game. Until I see something from Aldridge on the field, I'm giving the edge to Hughes in this battle.
Armando Allen Sophomore, 5'10" 195 lbs.
2007 Stats (4 games started):
Rushing: 86 rushes 348 yards 4.0 avg 0 TD
Receiving: 24 receptions, 124 yards, 5.2 avg, 1 TD
All last year, Weis was verbally drooling over Armando's speed. From the beginning of spring ball through the entire 2007 season, he wouldn't shut up about Allen's giddy up.
And it is true that this kid can flat out run.
But that doesn't necessarily translate into football speed. Too many times last year, Armando missed the cut back lane, went down at first contact, and lacked the vision to find daylight. Not one time last year did Armando find his way into the open field to show that blazing speed.
Weis has talked this offseason about how the game has slowed down for Armando, but I have yet to see any evidence of this on the field. He is running with more confidence, and not going down as easily, but he is not going to be an every down back like Aldridge and Hughes. He is the change of pace back, the home run hitter.
And I haven't seen hm hit any home runs.
Whether it be on game tape, in the spring game, or in practice videos, Allen just can't seem to find that crease to get into the open field. And until he does, I'm just not a big fan of giving him substantial carries. In fact, there are two backs behind him that I might push ahead based upon their practice performances.
Barry Gallup, Jr. Junior, 5'11" 195 lbs.
2007 Stats (0 games started):
5 special teams appearances
Recruited as a wide receiver, Gallup never developed into a good enough route runner to crack the starting lineup. However, he spent most of his high school career at running back, so the coaches agreed to give him a shot at tailback.
Gallup has excellent speed, and from what I've seen in practice, is a very instinctual runner. He isn't the most polished runner as far as technique during drills, but when he's put in game situations, he produces. He had some amazing runs on the 11-on-11 drills (albeit against 2nd and 3rd team defense for the most part).
Gallup appears to me to be one of those players (like Golden Tate) that have that "Forrest Gump" effect. You put the ball in their hands and say "Run, Forrest!" and special things happen.
Jonas Gray Freshman, 5'10" 195 lbs.
2007 Stats (Detroit Country Day School):
Rushing: 308 rushes 2,485 yards 8.1 avg 31 TD
Receiving: 2 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD
After putting up some gaudy numbers as a senior in high school, recruitniks have been hgh on Gray for a while now. Many, like myself, saw him coming in, learning the playbook, and sitting behind the three-headed monster for a year before entering the rotation.
After watching him in practice, however, he looks like he could be ready to challenge right away, and might be able to even push ahead of some of the returning starters.
He is in amazing physical condition, and actually looks MORE cut than the starting backs.
In drills, he looks very good, running with technique and precision, although his unfamiliarity with the drills is apparent sometimes.
In game situations (11-on-11), Gray looks like the flashiest back on the field, running hard, not going down on first contact and showing exceptional vision to identify the cut back lanes. He has excellent change of direction, good burst, and impressive top end speed.
In short, Gray is the all-around back that I had hoped Aldridge would be when we recruited him.
*****
With all of the depth at running back, we should have a very good season running the ball if we can improve our run blocking.
And with Cierre Wood showing up next year, our running back depth chart is starting to look like the depth chart over at USC.
Unfortunately, there will probably be a transfer or two in the next couple of years as the depth chart starts to shake out. These players are too good for them to be willing to ride the pine for an extended period of time.
With the unknowns at receiver, and the need to build the confidence of the offensive line, I expect to see a very run-heavy game plan to start the season, using our depth at running back to wear down defenses.
If I were Coach Weis (and Haywood), I would be more than comfortable playing all 5 of these players in a variety of situations. The multitude of personnel packages that a defense would have to account for is astounding, and would allow Haywood to disguise his playcalling.
Hell, I wouldn't even be surprised to see a wishbone formation thrown in just to confuse defenses.
UP NEXT: Tight Ends and Fullbacks
Running back should be a huge strength for the team this year.
Of course running back SHOULD have been a huge strength for the team last year.
But we finished 115th in the country in rushing offense, averaging a paltry 75.25 yards per game.
The same three headed monster returns from last year, with an infusion of young talent pushing them from behind. All of the returning starters have increased their bench by a whopping 100 pounds. Hughes and Allen are no longer freshmen, and Aldridge is allegedly healthy for the first time since his junior year of high school.
But we need to see improved offensive line play for any of this talent to result in an improved running game. We'll cover that at length when we get to the O-line preview.
Robert Hughes Sophomore, 5'11" 237 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (1 game started):
Rushing: 53 rushes, 294 yards 5.5 avg 4 TD
Receiving: 3 receptions, 17 yards, 5.7 average 0 TD
Hughes only started one game last year, but his performance in the final two games of the season earned him top honors on my preview list.
Hughes is an extremely agile big back, who has good vision and excellent change of direction. He's also got a surprising burst. He lacks top end speed, but has enough giddy up to gain 20 yards before the defensive backs can catch him.
Hughes is excellent at running through contact, with a good pad level that makes him difficult to take down at the point of attack.
He was the first freshman since Allen Pinkett to rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games.
Hughes is the favorite to win the starting position going into San Diego State, but Aldridge's development and return to health make this battle the most exciting of fall camp, as Coach Weis has refused to name a starter coming out of spring.
James Aldridge Junior, 6'0" 225 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (5 games started):
Rushing: 121 rushes, 463 yards, 3.8 avg 0 TD
Receiving: 5 receptions, 30 yards, 6.0 avg, 0 TD
Aldridge was a 5-star recruit out of high school, but suffered an injury in his senior season of high school. That injury lingered through his freshman and sophomore seasons, but his athleticism and natural ability got him on the field as a freshman behind Darius Walker and the starting nod last year for most of the season.
Aldridge has been a passable running back thus far, but has not shown break away ablity or a nose for the end zone. Watching him on tape, there is not much mechanically wrong with his technique, it just appears that he is incapable of making the sudden cuts and quick bursts that made him such a highly touted recruit.
Weis is claiming that Aldridge is 100% healthy for the first time since he's been at Notre Dame, which means that this year could be the breakout season for Aldridge.
Also, most players come into their own their junior year. Freshman year is about learning the playbook. Sophomore year is about learning how to play. Junior year is when you stop thinking and start playing instinctively. If Aldridge can make that mental leap and return to top physical form, there is no doubt on my mind that he will be the feature back on this team.
However, I have not seen it from Aldridge in a game yet, and Hughes looked better even as recently as the spring game. Until I see something from Aldridge on the field, I'm giving the edge to Hughes in this battle.
Armando Allen Sophomore, 5'10" 195 lbs.
2007 Stats (4 games started):
Rushing: 86 rushes 348 yards 4.0 avg 0 TD
Receiving: 24 receptions, 124 yards, 5.2 avg, 1 TD
All last year, Weis was verbally drooling over Armando's speed. From the beginning of spring ball through the entire 2007 season, he wouldn't shut up about Allen's giddy up.
And it is true that this kid can flat out run.
But that doesn't necessarily translate into football speed. Too many times last year, Armando missed the cut back lane, went down at first contact, and lacked the vision to find daylight. Not one time last year did Armando find his way into the open field to show that blazing speed.
Weis has talked this offseason about how the game has slowed down for Armando, but I have yet to see any evidence of this on the field. He is running with more confidence, and not going down as easily, but he is not going to be an every down back like Aldridge and Hughes. He is the change of pace back, the home run hitter.
And I haven't seen hm hit any home runs.
Whether it be on game tape, in the spring game, or in practice videos, Allen just can't seem to find that crease to get into the open field. And until he does, I'm just not a big fan of giving him substantial carries. In fact, there are two backs behind him that I might push ahead based upon their practice performances.
Barry Gallup, Jr. Junior, 5'11" 195 lbs.
2007 Stats (0 games started):
5 special teams appearances
Recruited as a wide receiver, Gallup never developed into a good enough route runner to crack the starting lineup. However, he spent most of his high school career at running back, so the coaches agreed to give him a shot at tailback.
Gallup has excellent speed, and from what I've seen in practice, is a very instinctual runner. He isn't the most polished runner as far as technique during drills, but when he's put in game situations, he produces. He had some amazing runs on the 11-on-11 drills (albeit against 2nd and 3rd team defense for the most part).
Gallup appears to me to be one of those players (like Golden Tate) that have that "Forrest Gump" effect. You put the ball in their hands and say "Run, Forrest!" and special things happen.
Jonas Gray Freshman, 5'10" 195 lbs.
2007 Stats (Detroit Country Day School):
Rushing: 308 rushes 2,485 yards 8.1 avg 31 TD
Receiving: 2 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD
After putting up some gaudy numbers as a senior in high school, recruitniks have been hgh on Gray for a while now. Many, like myself, saw him coming in, learning the playbook, and sitting behind the three-headed monster for a year before entering the rotation.
After watching him in practice, however, he looks like he could be ready to challenge right away, and might be able to even push ahead of some of the returning starters.
He is in amazing physical condition, and actually looks MORE cut than the starting backs.
In drills, he looks very good, running with technique and precision, although his unfamiliarity with the drills is apparent sometimes.
In game situations (11-on-11), Gray looks like the flashiest back on the field, running hard, not going down on first contact and showing exceptional vision to identify the cut back lanes. He has excellent change of direction, good burst, and impressive top end speed.
In short, Gray is the all-around back that I had hoped Aldridge would be when we recruited him.
*****
With all of the depth at running back, we should have a very good season running the ball if we can improve our run blocking.
And with Cierre Wood showing up next year, our running back depth chart is starting to look like the depth chart over at USC.
Unfortunately, there will probably be a transfer or two in the next couple of years as the depth chart starts to shake out. These players are too good for them to be willing to ride the pine for an extended period of time.
With the unknowns at receiver, and the need to build the confidence of the offensive line, I expect to see a very run-heavy game plan to start the season, using our depth at running back to wear down defenses.
If I were Coach Weis (and Haywood), I would be more than comfortable playing all 5 of these players in a variety of situations. The multitude of personnel packages that a defense would have to account for is astounding, and would allow Haywood to disguise his playcalling.
Hell, I wouldn't even be surprised to see a wishbone formation thrown in just to confuse defenses.
UP NEXT: Tight Ends and Fullbacks
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
2008 Notre Dame Football Preview: Quarterback
It's that time of year - my birthday is rapidly approaching, fall practice is in full swing, schools are starting up, and it's time to start the annual season preview posts.
This year, I'll do a position-by-position breakdown of the Irish, hopefully with a new post each day. I'm waiting to hear back on a new job I applied for, so that may briefly interrupt posting - I'll let you all know.
Quarterback
This year, the quarterback situation is stable, and has been all offseason, unlike last year. Last year, there was a full QB derby between Demetrius Jones, Zach Frazer, Evan Sharpley, and Jimmy Clausen as someone had the unenviable task of attempting to fill Brady Quinn's shoes. With Clausen's elbow surgery, Jones came in to opening day as the starter, which did not go well, to say the least.
This year, with DJ and Frazer transferred to other universities and Sharpley focusing on baseball, the quarterback job is Jimmy Clausen's to lose.
Jimmy Clausen Sophomore, 6'3" 217 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (9 games started):
Passing: 138/245 1254 yds. 7 TD 6 INT 103.85 Effic. 125.4 yds/gm
Rushing: 62 rushes 97 yards gained, 284 yards lost -187 net -3.0 avg 2 TD 34 sacks
Last season was a long one for the young Clausen, who had been used to winning all of his athletic career, winning 4 state championships in high school. In his frosh campaign, Jimmy was sacked a whopping 27 times, more than twice as much as Brady Quinn was sacked in his freshman year.
Many people were quick to label the young signal caller a bust, but when you dig deeper into the numbers, there is much to get excited about. If you take Brady Quinn as the gold standard by which to measure Jimmy Clausen, it's no wonder that Coach Weis is still so high on this kid. (For the record, uhnd.com had a couple of posts similar to this a while back)
The first thing to look at would be production, and in that category, Brady has the edge, throwing for over 1800 yards compared to Clausen's 1254. However, this discrepancy is largely due to the number of attempts - Brady attempted 332 passes, compared to Clausen's 245.
A better measurement, then would be passer efficiency and TD/INT ratios. In efficiency, Jimmy has the clear edge, with a 103.85 passer efficiency rating, compared to Quinn's 93.53. Also, Quinn threw more INTs than TDs, with a 9/15 ratio. Clausen, on the other hand, threw 7 TDs against only 6 INTs.
And Clausen's better efficiency came in the face of worse protection, and with far less run support. Quinn's freshman year featured over 2200 yrads of rushing, compared to barely 1500 yards in Clausen's freshman year.
And with the confirmed reports that Clausen was never healthy last year, there is much to get excited about.
Clausen has put on 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and everyone that has watched him throw can tell that his accuracy and arm strength are far superior to last year.
While every team this year is talking about how good offseason conditioning has been to their program, this is one situation where (assuming he stays healthy) it appears that Clausen could have a jump in production similar to the one Brady Quinn had between his sophomore and junior years.
Another big difference this offseason? No splitting reps. Last year's QB derby meant that Clausen got only a quarter of the reps in practice. This year, he has been the only guy, which means a lot more time developing chemistry with his receivers. It also means more coaching from the coaches, and more chances to absorb the playbook.
Weis has said in his press conferences that Clausen is ready to take on a lot more of the playbook than last year, but that he can only open up the playbook as far as his offensive line will allow.
There are still lots of questions on the O-line, but I predict a much stronger campaign from Clausen this year, barring injury.
Don't be surprised if, in fact, at the end of the year Clausen is being touted as a Heisman candidate entering his junior year. Lofty goals, I know, but (at least at this position), I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.
Evan Sharpley Senior, 6'2" 215 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (2 games started):
Passing: 77/140 736 yds. 5 TD 3 INT 106.66 Effic. 92.0 yds/gm
Rushing: 38 rushes 68 yards gained, 163 yards lost -95 net -2.5 avg
Sharpley was in the middle of the QB battle all last season, spending the majority of the season as the backup to either Clausen or Jones. He did get two starts, and almost pulled out a come from behind victory against Purdue last year. In fact, many people thought that Sharpley should have been the starter all season last year, and that view is supported by the fact that he had a better passer rating, and a better TD/INT ratio, than Clausen. However, I believe that Coach Weis' decision to start Clausen, despite not being healthy, was in the best long term interests of this football team. Starting Sharpley may have won us 1 or 2 more games last season, but it would have still been a losing season.
Also, that would have made Sharpley the returning starter. With Clausen 100%, there is little doubt in my mind that he is the better quarterback. However, then Weis would have been faced with another offseason of QB controversy, as he would be forced to choose between the more talented yet inexperienced QB, or the returning starter who is splitting time with baseball during the spring.
I know that Sharpley can't be happy with the way things worked out on the football field, and I'm still not sure that Coach Weis didn't handle the situation badly. However, I think that the team is better off having an unquestioned starter in Jimmy Clausen.
Sharpley is back this year, and will be a reliable backup with starting experience should Clausen go down with injury. This is a huge plus for the Irish, considering Frazer and Jones' transfers. If not for the dependable Sharpley, the Irish would look to true freshman Dayne Crist for leadership - and unlike Clausen last year, Crist did not enroll early and have the benefit of spring practice to get him ready to play.
Dayne Crist Freshman, 6'4" 233 lbs.
2007 Stats (Sherman Oaks High School):
Passing: 134/232 2178 yds. 16 TD 1 INT
Rushing: 81 rushes 454 yards 4 TD
Crist comes in with Brady Quinn-like size and strength. He looks as much like a linebacker as a quarterback, and seems ready to play right out of the box.
That said, Crist is not going to see the field this year, unless catastrophe strikes the Irish offense.
Crist has an exciting future here at Notre Dame, and I have no doubt that he will be the heir apparent to Jimmy Clausen whenever JC leaves for the NFL. However, he is in no particular hurry, and will take his time learning the playbook and serving as an understudy until his time comes.
This year, I'll do a position-by-position breakdown of the Irish, hopefully with a new post each day. I'm waiting to hear back on a new job I applied for, so that may briefly interrupt posting - I'll let you all know.
Quarterback
This year, the quarterback situation is stable, and has been all offseason, unlike last year. Last year, there was a full QB derby between Demetrius Jones, Zach Frazer, Evan Sharpley, and Jimmy Clausen as someone had the unenviable task of attempting to fill Brady Quinn's shoes. With Clausen's elbow surgery, Jones came in to opening day as the starter, which did not go well, to say the least.
This year, with DJ and Frazer transferred to other universities and Sharpley focusing on baseball, the quarterback job is Jimmy Clausen's to lose.
Jimmy Clausen Sophomore, 6'3" 217 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (9 games started):
Passing: 138/245 1254 yds. 7 TD 6 INT 103.85 Effic. 125.4 yds/gm
Rushing: 62 rushes 97 yards gained, 284 yards lost -187 net -3.0 avg 2 TD 34 sacks
Last season was a long one for the young Clausen, who had been used to winning all of his athletic career, winning 4 state championships in high school. In his frosh campaign, Jimmy was sacked a whopping 27 times, more than twice as much as Brady Quinn was sacked in his freshman year.
Many people were quick to label the young signal caller a bust, but when you dig deeper into the numbers, there is much to get excited about. If you take Brady Quinn as the gold standard by which to measure Jimmy Clausen, it's no wonder that Coach Weis is still so high on this kid. (For the record, uhnd.com had a couple of posts similar to this a while back)
The first thing to look at would be production, and in that category, Brady has the edge, throwing for over 1800 yards compared to Clausen's 1254. However, this discrepancy is largely due to the number of attempts - Brady attempted 332 passes, compared to Clausen's 245.
A better measurement, then would be passer efficiency and TD/INT ratios. In efficiency, Jimmy has the clear edge, with a 103.85 passer efficiency rating, compared to Quinn's 93.53. Also, Quinn threw more INTs than TDs, with a 9/15 ratio. Clausen, on the other hand, threw 7 TDs against only 6 INTs.
And Clausen's better efficiency came in the face of worse protection, and with far less run support. Quinn's freshman year featured over 2200 yrads of rushing, compared to barely 1500 yards in Clausen's freshman year.
And with the confirmed reports that Clausen was never healthy last year, there is much to get excited about.
Clausen has put on 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and everyone that has watched him throw can tell that his accuracy and arm strength are far superior to last year.
While every team this year is talking about how good offseason conditioning has been to their program, this is one situation where (assuming he stays healthy) it appears that Clausen could have a jump in production similar to the one Brady Quinn had between his sophomore and junior years.
Another big difference this offseason? No splitting reps. Last year's QB derby meant that Clausen got only a quarter of the reps in practice. This year, he has been the only guy, which means a lot more time developing chemistry with his receivers. It also means more coaching from the coaches, and more chances to absorb the playbook.
Weis has said in his press conferences that Clausen is ready to take on a lot more of the playbook than last year, but that he can only open up the playbook as far as his offensive line will allow.
There are still lots of questions on the O-line, but I predict a much stronger campaign from Clausen this year, barring injury.
Don't be surprised if, in fact, at the end of the year Clausen is being touted as a Heisman candidate entering his junior year. Lofty goals, I know, but (at least at this position), I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.
Evan Sharpley Senior, 6'2" 215 lbs. Returning Starter
2007 Stats (2 games started):
Passing: 77/140 736 yds. 5 TD 3 INT 106.66 Effic. 92.0 yds/gm
Rushing: 38 rushes 68 yards gained, 163 yards lost -95 net -2.5 avg
Sharpley was in the middle of the QB battle all last season, spending the majority of the season as the backup to either Clausen or Jones. He did get two starts, and almost pulled out a come from behind victory against Purdue last year. In fact, many people thought that Sharpley should have been the starter all season last year, and that view is supported by the fact that he had a better passer rating, and a better TD/INT ratio, than Clausen. However, I believe that Coach Weis' decision to start Clausen, despite not being healthy, was in the best long term interests of this football team. Starting Sharpley may have won us 1 or 2 more games last season, but it would have still been a losing season.
Also, that would have made Sharpley the returning starter. With Clausen 100%, there is little doubt in my mind that he is the better quarterback. However, then Weis would have been faced with another offseason of QB controversy, as he would be forced to choose between the more talented yet inexperienced QB, or the returning starter who is splitting time with baseball during the spring.
I know that Sharpley can't be happy with the way things worked out on the football field, and I'm still not sure that Coach Weis didn't handle the situation badly. However, I think that the team is better off having an unquestioned starter in Jimmy Clausen.
Sharpley is back this year, and will be a reliable backup with starting experience should Clausen go down with injury. This is a huge plus for the Irish, considering Frazer and Jones' transfers. If not for the dependable Sharpley, the Irish would look to true freshman Dayne Crist for leadership - and unlike Clausen last year, Crist did not enroll early and have the benefit of spring practice to get him ready to play.
Dayne Crist Freshman, 6'4" 233 lbs.
2007 Stats (Sherman Oaks High School):
Passing: 134/232 2178 yds. 16 TD 1 INT
Rushing: 81 rushes 454 yards 4 TD
Crist comes in with Brady Quinn-like size and strength. He looks as much like a linebacker as a quarterback, and seems ready to play right out of the box.
That said, Crist is not going to see the field this year, unless catastrophe strikes the Irish offense.
Crist has an exciting future here at Notre Dame, and I have no doubt that he will be the heir apparent to Jimmy Clausen whenever JC leaves for the NFL. However, he is in no particular hurry, and will take his time learning the playbook and serving as an understudy until his time comes.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Media Day and Fall Practice
Finally, some meat to chew on as we move into the 2008 football season. With the start of fall practice, we have practice clips, player interviews, and (my favorite) Coach Weis press conferences.
Coach Weis Press Conference Notes
The first thing that jumped off the page when reading Coach Weis' press conference was this tidbit:
Weis called that a "significant upgrade in strength." I call it downright astounding. If their strength gains in other areas are similarly impressive, we should see more powerful running this year. The player this is most likely to help is Armando Allen, who often appeared to lack the necessary strength to fight through arm tackles last year, costing him the opportunity to break some big runs. He's also listed as the primary kick and punt returner, where speed is paramount, but being able to shrug off arm and shoestring tackles can make a huge difference.
Another note comes off of the offensive line. I commented in an earlier post that I saw Chris Stewart, and he looks like he is in amazing shape compared to last year. In the weigh-in, Stewart actually dropped below Sam Young in total weight, at only 329 pounds. All of the linemen are over 300 pounds, and the increases in size and strength should translate into overall improved play. Size and strength won't correct missed assignments, but it should reduce the number of times that players just get beaten by their opponents, and also should provide a fraction of a second more when they do get their hands on a blitzing opponent. And if you ask a QB, fractions of a second can mean the difference between a completion and a sack.
David Bruton is still in freakishly good shape, and is adding strength despite already being in peak physical shape.
There are no injuries to speak of going into camp, which is a huge difference from last year and even earlier this spring. Only a minor hamstring pull on Will Yeatman was reported as an injury. Undoubtedly, there will be injuries as training camp progresses (there almost always are, we lost Gary Gray last year in training camp), but the lack of injuries going in means that the attrition should be much lower. Also, it means that there aren't any players (like Clausen last year) whose progress may be hindered by an injury or limited practice time. Also (no surprise) there are no academic casualties. Only Darrin Walls' absence from the team is notable as losses go.
Pat Kuntz is listed as a defensive end, not a defensive tackle, on the depth chart. At first, I was surprised, considering the lack of depth inside. But then, I thought that Laws should have been kept inside last year, which shows how much I know. Kuntz is similar to Laws as far as playing style (except that Kuntz is rabid dog crazy). This leaves Ian Williams and Paddy Mullen inside, with freshman Brandon Newman pushing into the rotation as well. They set a 600 pound standard for DT's in the squat, and even the freshman hit that mark. Weis did mention that Kuntz has position flexibility, so we may see him move around on the D-line, depending on how other players develop.
Weis exuded confidence about the all-around depth on the team, with the lone exception of the defensive line, which bodes well for the end of the season. Many recent Notre Dame teams have sputtered down the stretch, which can be partly attributed to the lack of depth at key positions, especially along the offensive line.
Weis - Aug. 9 Presser
Weis' first media session gave us the opportunity to get Weis' impressions of the players now that he's seen them on the field during practice.
He likes the talent at the running back position across the board, which is a good sign. Despite the fact that he is in great shape, all signs point to Jonas Gray sitting out this season while the three headed monster battles it out through camp and into the season. There's no sense in burning eligibility when you have that much quality depth at the position.
He also pointed out Ethan Johnson, as a player that impressed in the first practice, although he said that there are several freshman that looked good. We'll have to wait until the freshman get some reps with the first teamers to know how good they really are.
Kyle Rudolph is still growing, and has put on 40 pounds since his recruitment, and has plenty of room to grow on his frame.
Kamara needs to drop weight, but has looked good in practice despite the extra weight. Weis also singled out Kamara and Grimes as players that have shown really good hands in practice.
Coach Weis Press Conference Notes
The first thing that jumped off the page when reading Coach Weis' press conference was this tidbit:
All three of the [running backs] that are in contention all raised their bench press 100 pounds from last year to this year.
Weis called that a "significant upgrade in strength." I call it downright astounding. If their strength gains in other areas are similarly impressive, we should see more powerful running this year. The player this is most likely to help is Armando Allen, who often appeared to lack the necessary strength to fight through arm tackles last year, costing him the opportunity to break some big runs. He's also listed as the primary kick and punt returner, where speed is paramount, but being able to shrug off arm and shoestring tackles can make a huge difference.
Another note comes off of the offensive line. I commented in an earlier post that I saw Chris Stewart, and he looks like he is in amazing shape compared to last year. In the weigh-in, Stewart actually dropped below Sam Young in total weight, at only 329 pounds. All of the linemen are over 300 pounds, and the increases in size and strength should translate into overall improved play. Size and strength won't correct missed assignments, but it should reduce the number of times that players just get beaten by their opponents, and also should provide a fraction of a second more when they do get their hands on a blitzing opponent. And if you ask a QB, fractions of a second can mean the difference between a completion and a sack.
David Bruton is still in freakishly good shape, and is adding strength despite already being in peak physical shape.
There are no injuries to speak of going into camp, which is a huge difference from last year and even earlier this spring. Only a minor hamstring pull on Will Yeatman was reported as an injury. Undoubtedly, there will be injuries as training camp progresses (there almost always are, we lost Gary Gray last year in training camp), but the lack of injuries going in means that the attrition should be much lower. Also, it means that there aren't any players (like Clausen last year) whose progress may be hindered by an injury or limited practice time. Also (no surprise) there are no academic casualties. Only Darrin Walls' absence from the team is notable as losses go.
Pat Kuntz is listed as a defensive end, not a defensive tackle, on the depth chart. At first, I was surprised, considering the lack of depth inside. But then, I thought that Laws should have been kept inside last year, which shows how much I know. Kuntz is similar to Laws as far as playing style (except that Kuntz is rabid dog crazy). This leaves Ian Williams and Paddy Mullen inside, with freshman Brandon Newman pushing into the rotation as well. They set a 600 pound standard for DT's in the squat, and even the freshman hit that mark. Weis did mention that Kuntz has position flexibility, so we may see him move around on the D-line, depending on how other players develop.
Weis exuded confidence about the all-around depth on the team, with the lone exception of the defensive line, which bodes well for the end of the season. Many recent Notre Dame teams have sputtered down the stretch, which can be partly attributed to the lack of depth at key positions, especially along the offensive line.
Weis - Aug. 9 Presser
Weis' first media session gave us the opportunity to get Weis' impressions of the players now that he's seen them on the field during practice.
He likes the talent at the running back position across the board, which is a good sign. Despite the fact that he is in great shape, all signs point to Jonas Gray sitting out this season while the three headed monster battles it out through camp and into the season. There's no sense in burning eligibility when you have that much quality depth at the position.
He also pointed out Ethan Johnson, as a player that impressed in the first practice, although he said that there are several freshman that looked good. We'll have to wait until the freshman get some reps with the first teamers to know how good they really are.
Kyle Rudolph is still growing, and has put on 40 pounds since his recruitment, and has plenty of room to grow on his frame.
Kamara needs to drop weight, but has looked good in practice despite the extra weight. Weis also singled out Kamara and Grimes as players that have shown really good hands in practice.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Things to Watch: Fall Camp Edition
With fall camp starting today, I thought I'd take a couple of minutes to outline the story lines to watch over fall camp this year. For those of you in or around the South Bend area, there is an open practice on Sunday afternoon at the stadium, and you can come and see for yourself. I'm not sure yet whether I'll be going to the open practice (sacrilege, I know), as I may instead be headed to the beach with a hot brunette.
Freshman to Watch
Fall practice is always spotlight on the freshman making their first appearance. There are a handful from this class that are worth keeping your eye on:
Michael Floyd, WR Floyd was the jewel of last year's class - the staff's top target and the most potential for an early impact. Floyd still needs to work on some fundamentals (see below), but he has the raw talent to make an immediate impact (ala Arrelious Benn for Illinois).
Dayne Crist, QB A bit of a surprise, right on the heels of Clausen's high profile commitment last year, Crist committed despite being a clear backup walking in the door. His confidence and swagger are as impressive as his size (nearly as large as TE recruit Kyle Rudolph), strength and accuracy. He will be battling Sharpley for the backup spot. Not sure if he can absorb enough of the playbook quickly enough to make an impact this year (he'll likely 'redshirt'), but his development should be watched with great anticipation.
Kyle Rudolph, TE A complete package tight end, with that rare combination of size, strength, speed and hands that make him a great blocker as well as a great receiver, Rudolph could make an impact sooner rather than later. He has some talent ahead of him on the depth chart, with Mike Ragone and the recently reinstated Will Yeatman having the advantage of experience on Rudolph. However, with so few tight ends on the roster (Mullen moved to DT, Reuland transferred), Rudolph could see early work in goalline/3 TE sets.
Brandon Newman, Sean Cwynar, and Hafis Williams With the lack of depth on the D-line, these three kids should have ample opportunity to play themselves into the rotation. Newman is the most likely to see early playing time, if he shows up to camp in shape, as he already has the size to compete. Cwynar and Williams both need 15-20 pounds of bulk to be truly competitive.
Offensive Line Development
There has been much talk in the offseason about the offensive line. Reports out of spring and summer have shown that the entire offensive line has bulked up, and I can tell you from first hand knowledge that these guys look ripped. I ran into Chris Stewart on campus a couple of weeks ago, and he looks night and day from when he came to campus - he looks like he could rip trees out of the ground.
Wide Receiver route running
We know David Grimes has excellent route running and footwork, but the rest of the receiving corps last year leaned more on their innate physical ability than the fundamentals of good route runnning. With Grimes returning to lead this group, I would look for cleaner route running, especially from the youngsters Kamara and Tate.
Defensive Line Depth
Pat Kuntz is out of his damn mind, always has been, and I expect nothing less than everything he has on every play. Ian Williams showed promise last season as a true freshman. Behind those two, there isn't much to get excited about on the D-line so far. Paddy Mullen is working into the position, and the freshmen likely need some time to work into playing shape.
Backup QB Derby
Evan Sharpley rolls into summer as the solid backup to Clausen, but he spent most of his time on baseball this spring, and may have some lingering resentment about not being given a chance to compete with Clausen this offseason. With highly touted true frosh Dayne Crist coming in, the backup battle could get ugly. Either way, I just want to see signs that there will not be a major dropoff if Clausen goes down.
Middle Linebacker
Mo Crum has locked down one of the inside linebacker spots, but the other MLB is still up in the air. Last year, it was hoped that Toryan Smith would take that spot, but now there have been rumors that we are moving Brian Smith inside, rather than leaving him outside where he had some success last year. There are a lot of players in the mix in the linebacker position, and the flexibility of the OLB/DE position complicates things even more. Hopefully, someone steps up and embraces the inside linebacker position and makes it their own.
Kicker
I'm starting to feel like a broken record, but hopefully this year we can find a dependable place kicker so we don't have a repeat of last year's Navy game. (YOU KICK THE BALL TO TRY TO WIN THE GAME!!!)
There won't be much opportunity to garner much information about Haywood's playcalling or the Tenuta/Brown combo during practice, as all of the wrinkles will be kept under wraps until SDSU, if not Michigan.
Freshman to Watch
Fall practice is always spotlight on the freshman making their first appearance. There are a handful from this class that are worth keeping your eye on:
Michael Floyd, WR Floyd was the jewel of last year's class - the staff's top target and the most potential for an early impact. Floyd still needs to work on some fundamentals (see below), but he has the raw talent to make an immediate impact (ala Arrelious Benn for Illinois).
Dayne Crist, QB A bit of a surprise, right on the heels of Clausen's high profile commitment last year, Crist committed despite being a clear backup walking in the door. His confidence and swagger are as impressive as his size (nearly as large as TE recruit Kyle Rudolph), strength and accuracy. He will be battling Sharpley for the backup spot. Not sure if he can absorb enough of the playbook quickly enough to make an impact this year (he'll likely 'redshirt'), but his development should be watched with great anticipation.
Kyle Rudolph, TE A complete package tight end, with that rare combination of size, strength, speed and hands that make him a great blocker as well as a great receiver, Rudolph could make an impact sooner rather than later. He has some talent ahead of him on the depth chart, with Mike Ragone and the recently reinstated Will Yeatman having the advantage of experience on Rudolph. However, with so few tight ends on the roster (Mullen moved to DT, Reuland transferred), Rudolph could see early work in goalline/3 TE sets.
Brandon Newman, Sean Cwynar, and Hafis Williams With the lack of depth on the D-line, these three kids should have ample opportunity to play themselves into the rotation. Newman is the most likely to see early playing time, if he shows up to camp in shape, as he already has the size to compete. Cwynar and Williams both need 15-20 pounds of bulk to be truly competitive.
Offensive Line Development
There has been much talk in the offseason about the offensive line. Reports out of spring and summer have shown that the entire offensive line has bulked up, and I can tell you from first hand knowledge that these guys look ripped. I ran into Chris Stewart on campus a couple of weeks ago, and he looks night and day from when he came to campus - he looks like he could rip trees out of the ground.
Wide Receiver route running
We know David Grimes has excellent route running and footwork, but the rest of the receiving corps last year leaned more on their innate physical ability than the fundamentals of good route runnning. With Grimes returning to lead this group, I would look for cleaner route running, especially from the youngsters Kamara and Tate.
Defensive Line Depth
Pat Kuntz is out of his damn mind, always has been, and I expect nothing less than everything he has on every play. Ian Williams showed promise last season as a true freshman. Behind those two, there isn't much to get excited about on the D-line so far. Paddy Mullen is working into the position, and the freshmen likely need some time to work into playing shape.
Backup QB Derby
Evan Sharpley rolls into summer as the solid backup to Clausen, but he spent most of his time on baseball this spring, and may have some lingering resentment about not being given a chance to compete with Clausen this offseason. With highly touted true frosh Dayne Crist coming in, the backup battle could get ugly. Either way, I just want to see signs that there will not be a major dropoff if Clausen goes down.
Middle Linebacker
Mo Crum has locked down one of the inside linebacker spots, but the other MLB is still up in the air. Last year, it was hoped that Toryan Smith would take that spot, but now there have been rumors that we are moving Brian Smith inside, rather than leaving him outside where he had some success last year. There are a lot of players in the mix in the linebacker position, and the flexibility of the OLB/DE position complicates things even more. Hopefully, someone steps up and embraces the inside linebacker position and makes it their own.
Kicker
I'm starting to feel like a broken record, but hopefully this year we can find a dependable place kicker so we don't have a repeat of last year's Navy game. (YOU KICK THE BALL TO TRY TO WIN THE GAME!!!)
There won't be much opportunity to garner much information about Haywood's playcalling or the Tenuta/Brown combo during practice, as all of the wrinkles will be kept under wraps until SDSU, if not Michigan.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Jack Swarbrick tapped as new Athletic Director
In a bold move for the leadership of the Notre Dame athletic department, the University has eschewed the traditional paradigm of hiring athletic directors at major universities and instead conducted a search focused on the requirements of the position and identifying a candidate that fills those needs.
The previous director, Kevin White, was very good at some aspects of the position and very poor at others. Kevin White was excellent at promoting Olympic sports and building top notch facilities. Where he suffered, however, was in leveraging Notre Dame's unique position in the negotiation of agreements with other entities. The BCS negotiations, scheduling negotiations (Nevada and SDSU), control over ND's image through Adidas and NBC - all areas in which Notre Dame has seen it's bargaining position eroded over the course of Kevin White's career.
Enter Jack Swarbrick.
Indianapolis was hardly the hotbed of amateur sport before Mr. Swarbrick appeared on the scene. Due to his prowess at negotiation, now Indianapolis is the home of the NCAA, has a long-term deal with the Final Four (hosting once every 5 years through 2039), hosts the Big Ten tournament (beating out Chicago, a larger market and home of the Big Ten offices), and will be home to the 2012 Superbowl. He was a finalist for the presidency of the NCAA, and open athletic director positions at Arizona State, Ohio State, and Indiana - all schools which he did not have a connection to.
For some insight on the import of this hire, look no further than this excerpt from the Indianapolis Star article dated April 27, 2005:
Swarbrick, a partner at Baker & Daniels, is not a college sports administrator. He said he is not looking to leave Indianapolis, either, but responded to an inquiry by Arizona State president Michael Crow .
"For ADs, the relationship with the president is everything," Swarbrick said. "There are very few of these that I would consider. As I got to know him and understand him a little better, I was intrigued.
"My impression was borne out. It's a university that's going to do some great things under president Crow. At the end of the day, it wasn't right for me."
Swarbrick said sports can exist as a central part of a university's educational mission. Public perception is that sports, specifically big-time football and men's basketball, are merely an entertainment adjunct.
If Swarbrick were to become an athletic director, "it's because I really want to change that paradigm," he said.
I wanted Orsini, as I stated earlier, but I must say that for the first time in a long while, I am truly impressed with the way the University handled this process.
Swarbrick has a long history of success with not only Olympic sports, but also negotiating with athletic conferences and big time football. As an alum, he understands the needs of this University. As a long time veteran of big firm life at Baker & Daniels, he has shown an impressive work ethic. He has proven to be a shrewd negotiatior even when he lacks leverage.
At Notre Dame, he will not lack for leverage.
In fact, this hire is in many ways the same hire that Jenkins made when he hired Coach Weis - tireless worker, brilliant mind, a true Notre Dame man.
There are many things that he will need to fix when he arrives at the University, and like all humans, there will be weaknesses that will appear as time moves forward. However, I am confident that time will show that this was a great hire.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Top 10 "Football Factories"
While I hate the term "Football Factory" when applied to a University, the fact remains that there are certain schools that, year-in, year-out, produce a slew of talented NFL players. The NFL network recently aired an episode of their "Top Ten" show that counted down the top football factories. With this being the slow season, I thought I'd try to take a deeper look at their list, and see whether they were really accurate in their assessment, or whether it is just more hype.
Here is the list of teams on the NFL Network list:
10. Tennessee
9. MAC Conference
8. Syracuse
7. Penn State
6. Alabama
5. Michigan
4. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
2. Miami
1. USC
I'm going to break this down, and try to determine which teams really do the best job of sending successful players to the NFL. I'm going to look at not just number of players drafted, but also Pro Bowlers, Superbowl MVPs, and the best players at the various positions to come up with my own list.
First, let's break down the numbers of some perennial powerhouses in my analysis:
Southern Cal
Total players drafted: 450
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 43
Superbowl MVPs: 2 - Lynn Swann (X), Marcus Allen (XVIII)
Hall of Famers: 11
Quarterback:
Running Back: O.J. Simpson*, Reggie Bush, Marcus Allen*, Frank Gifford*
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Keyshawn Johnson, Lynn Swann*, Morris (Red) Badgro*
Offensive Line: Bruce Matthews*, Anthony Munoz*, Ron Yary*, Ron Mix*
Defensive Line:
Linebacker: Lofa Tatupu, Junior Seau
Defensive Secondary: Ronnie Lott*, Willie Wood*
Notre Dame
Total players drafted: 461
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 40
Superbowl MVPs: 3 - Joe Montana (XVI, XIX, XXIV)
Hall of Famers: 9
Quarterback: Joe Montana*, Joe Theismann
Running Back: Paul Hornung*, John McNally*, Jerome Bettis
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Dave Casper*, Tim Brown
Offensive Line: George Trafton*, Jeff Faine, Aaron Taylor
Defensive Line: Alan Page*, Wayne Milner*, Chris Zorich
Linebacker: George Connor*, Nick Buoniconti*
Defensive Secondary:
Miami
Total players drafted: 293
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 53
Superbowl MVPs: 2 - Ottis Anderson (XXV), Ray Lewis (XXXV)
Hall of Famers: 4
Quarterback: Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar, Jim Kelly*
Running Back: Clinton Portis, Edgerrin James
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Michael Irvin*
Offensive Line: Jim Otto*
Defensive Line
Linebacker: Ted Hendricks*, Ray Lewis
Defensive Secondary: Sean Taylor, Ed Reed
Ohio State
Total players drafted: 383
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 49
Superbowl MVPs: 0
Hall of Famers: 5
Quarterback
Running Back: Eddie George
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Paul Warfield*, Dante Lavelli*
Offensive Line: Jim Parker*, Lou Groza*, Bill Willis*
Defensive Line
Linebacker
Defensive Secondary
Michigan
Total players drafted: 330
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 51
Superbowl MVPs: 3 - Desmond Howard (XXXI), Tom Brady (XXXVI, XXXVIII)
Hall of Famers: 4
Quarterback: Benny Friedman*, Tom Brady
Running Back:
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Bill Hewitt*
Offensive Line: Dan Dierdorf*, Tom Mack*
Defensive Line:
Linebacker:
Defensive Secondary:
Alabama
Total players drafted: 276
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 25
Superbowl MVPs: 3 - Bart Starr (I, II), Joe Namath (III)
Hall of Famers: 6
Quarterback: Joe Namath*, Bart Starr*, Ken Stabler
Running Back: Shaun Alexander
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Don Hutson*, Ozzie Newsome*
Offensive Line: Dwight Stephenson*, John Hannah*
Defensive Line
Linebacker: Cornelius Bennett
Defensive Secondary
Oklahoma
Total players drafted: 334
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 31
Superbowl MVPs: 0.5 - Troy Aikman (XXVII) drafted out of UCLA, started college in OK
Hall of Famers: 2
Quarterback:
Running Back: Adrian Peterson
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Tommy McDonald*
Offensive Line:
Defensive Line: Lee Roy Selmon*
Linebacker
Defensive Secondary
After looking at the players from each team through the years, it becomes apparent that there are two schools head and shoulders above the others: USC and Notre Dame.
Southern Cal actually edges Notre Dame on the resume recently, pouring players into the NFL in recent years, with a strong history going back to the 70s. Notre Dame's history goes back much further, but has not been as strong in recent years.
Notre Dame, however, has the best spread of players to come out of its system. USC is heavy on the offensive skill positions, except for QB. Miami is strong in offensive and defensive skill positions, but lacks the inside linemen. Notre Dame (with the lone exception in the defensive secondary) has produced multiple standouts (often multiple HOF-ers) at each position group.
Therefore, after close consideration, my ranking would be as follows:
1. Southern Cal
2. Notre Dame
3. Miami (FL)
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
Here is the list of teams on the NFL Network list:
10. Tennessee
9. MAC Conference
8. Syracuse
7. Penn State
6. Alabama
5. Michigan
4. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
2. Miami
1. USC
I'm going to break this down, and try to determine which teams really do the best job of sending successful players to the NFL. I'm going to look at not just number of players drafted, but also Pro Bowlers, Superbowl MVPs, and the best players at the various positions to come up with my own list.
First, let's break down the numbers of some perennial powerhouses in my analysis:
Southern Cal
Total players drafted: 450
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 43
Superbowl MVPs: 2 - Lynn Swann (X), Marcus Allen (XVIII)
Hall of Famers: 11
Quarterback:
Running Back: O.J. Simpson*, Reggie Bush, Marcus Allen*, Frank Gifford*
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Keyshawn Johnson, Lynn Swann*, Morris (Red) Badgro*
Offensive Line: Bruce Matthews*, Anthony Munoz*, Ron Yary*, Ron Mix*
Defensive Line:
Linebacker: Lofa Tatupu, Junior Seau
Defensive Secondary: Ronnie Lott*, Willie Wood*
Notre Dame
Total players drafted: 461
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 40
Superbowl MVPs: 3 - Joe Montana (XVI, XIX, XXIV)
Hall of Famers: 9
Quarterback: Joe Montana*, Joe Theismann
Running Back: Paul Hornung*, John McNally*, Jerome Bettis
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Dave Casper*, Tim Brown
Offensive Line: George Trafton*, Jeff Faine, Aaron Taylor
Defensive Line: Alan Page*, Wayne Milner*, Chris Zorich
Linebacker: George Connor*, Nick Buoniconti*
Defensive Secondary:
Miami
Total players drafted: 293
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 53
Superbowl MVPs: 2 - Ottis Anderson (XXV), Ray Lewis (XXXV)
Hall of Famers: 4
Quarterback: Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar, Jim Kelly*
Running Back: Clinton Portis, Edgerrin James
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Michael Irvin*
Offensive Line: Jim Otto*
Defensive Line
Linebacker: Ted Hendricks*, Ray Lewis
Defensive Secondary: Sean Taylor, Ed Reed
Ohio State
Total players drafted: 383
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 49
Superbowl MVPs: 0
Hall of Famers: 5
Quarterback
Running Back: Eddie George
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Paul Warfield*, Dante Lavelli*
Offensive Line: Jim Parker*, Lou Groza*, Bill Willis*
Defensive Line
Linebacker
Defensive Secondary
Michigan
Total players drafted: 330
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 51
Superbowl MVPs: 3 - Desmond Howard (XXXI), Tom Brady (XXXVI, XXXVIII)
Hall of Famers: 4
Quarterback: Benny Friedman*, Tom Brady
Running Back:
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Bill Hewitt*
Offensive Line: Dan Dierdorf*, Tom Mack*
Defensive Line:
Linebacker:
Defensive Secondary:
Alabama
Total players drafted: 276
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 25
Superbowl MVPs: 3 - Bart Starr (I, II), Joe Namath (III)
Hall of Famers: 6
Quarterback: Joe Namath*, Bart Starr*, Ken Stabler
Running Back: Shaun Alexander
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Don Hutson*, Ozzie Newsome*
Offensive Line: Dwight Stephenson*, John Hannah*
Defensive Line
Linebacker: Cornelius Bennett
Defensive Secondary
Oklahoma
Total players drafted: 334
Current number of players on NFL rosters: 31
Superbowl MVPs: 0.5 - Troy Aikman (XXVII) drafted out of UCLA, started college in OK
Hall of Famers: 2
Quarterback:
Running Back: Adrian Peterson
Wide Receiver / Tight End: Tommy McDonald*
Offensive Line:
Defensive Line: Lee Roy Selmon*
Linebacker
Defensive Secondary
After looking at the players from each team through the years, it becomes apparent that there are two schools head and shoulders above the others: USC and Notre Dame.
Southern Cal actually edges Notre Dame on the resume recently, pouring players into the NFL in recent years, with a strong history going back to the 70s. Notre Dame's history goes back much further, but has not been as strong in recent years.
Notre Dame, however, has the best spread of players to come out of its system. USC is heavy on the offensive skill positions, except for QB. Miami is strong in offensive and defensive skill positions, but lacks the inside linemen. Notre Dame (with the lone exception in the defensive secondary) has produced multiple standouts (often multiple HOF-ers) at each position group.
Therefore, after close consideration, my ranking would be as follows:
1. Southern Cal
2. Notre Dame
3. Miami (FL)
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan
6. Alabama
7. Oklahoma
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