2009 NFL Draft

Well, this wasn't a very exciting year for the NFL draft for ND fans. So let's start by living in glory years and look at the biggest former ND player draft steals of all-time. How could we start with anyone other than Joe Montana? Montana was drafted in the 3rd round and #82 overall. I'd say that turned out to be a good pick! QB Joe Theismann picked in the 4th round at # 99 overall was a pretty big steal as well. How about a little more recent with RB Ricky Watters going at #45 overall? Ricky had a pretty nice NFL career.


Ah, some of the great old memories. Well, we can always shift gears and look at the biggest ND draft day bust of all time. Unfortunately I don't think you have to go back all that far. How about QB Rick Mirer? I loved Rick at ND, but he was drafted #2 overall. I would say it's safe to call him a bust. Another point of interest might be the link that I always have over on the side, but as a reminder, all of the former ND players drafted into the NFL:


http://www.databasefootball.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=University+of+Notre+Dame

This link to "An Irish All-Pro team" is pretty cool too

http://www.blueandgold.com/content/?aid=6976



Well, back to 2009. Not very exciting. Safety David Bruton was drafted in the 4th round, #114 overall to the Denver Broncos. That's it. However, these former players signed free agent deals: WR David Grimes(Broncos), DT Pat Kuntz(Colts), CB Terrail Lambert(49ers), FB Asaph Schwapp(Cowboys), OT Michael Turkovich(Cowboys). Now I don't know that any of them have much of a chance to make the roster, but they've signed for now. Be thinking about your all-time favorite ND players for my next poll question...

Annual Blue/Gold Game

Well, I'll warn you, this sounds kind of Ho-Hum, but I'll give you the highlights and lowlights! First of all, the Offense won 68-33. Obviously it was a strange scoring system. Armando Allen was named offensive MVP with 12 carries for 70 yards. Robert Hughes ran 22 times for 93 yards and 2 TDs(not sure why he wasn't named MVP). Jonas Gray ran 20 times for 89 yards and a TD. I guess that sounds pretty good, but doesn't clear up the starting RB situtation much to me. Don't forget we do have a highly touted freshman (Cierre Wood)coming in this fall. The offense stayed very vanilla and didn't pass much at all. Jimmy Clausen was 8-17 for 70 yards and an INT. Dayne Crist was 4-10 for 40 yards. TE Kyle Rudolph was the top receiver with 4 catches and 27 yards. Golden Tate and Michael Floyd were completely shut down. Not too alarming because they didn't want to take many deep shots and both have missed time this spring for an inury and playing baseball. RB James Aldridge did not play due to injury. He is thought to be the favorite to start at fullback this year.

On the defensive side, cornerback Robert Blanton was named MVP. He returned that Clausen pick for a TD. Freshman early enrollee, LB Zeke Motta led the D with 7 tackles. This is encouraging to me. He graduated HS early to start practicing with ND. Fellow freshman LB Manti Te'o is the higher ranked recruit, but he's still in HS. If Motta can contribute this quickly, Te'o should be even better. DB Harrison Smith, DL Ethan Johnson, DB Darrin Walls, and DL Morrice Richardson all had good defensive showings.

It should be quiet for awhile now. I'll keep you posted on recruiting and give you some things to think about from now until fall.

Spring Update 4/14/09 - The Offense

With the Blue-Gold game coming up this Saturday, I thought I'd give you some updates from the offensive side this Spring.

As for the “quarterback competition,” all reports are that it’s not close. That’s not to say that they don’t see progress with Dayne Crist. This kid was a huge prospect coming out of high school and eligibility wise is still a freshman. He is 6’5’’ and seems to be a capable back-up and ready to take over after Clausen graduates. This seems to be Jimmy’s team though, and
with all the weapons and an experienced line, I think ND fans will finally be able to embrace him. If he falters at all, we will have Crist to fall back on.

I like the idea of having James Aldridge at the starting fullback position. Weis seems to be looking this way. I don’t know what kind of blocker he is, but he would be a pretty nice weapon as a running fullback. I like the idea of having a quicker, better running fullback along with a small quick Armando Allen, Jonas Gray(sophomore highly touted coming out of HS who Weis is very happy with this Spring), or freshman Cierre Woods as the feature back.

Michael Floyd and Duval Kamara are back to practicing after minor injuries. Golden Tate has rejoined the team as he has been playing baseball for the Irish. Pretty unbelievable how talented that guy must be! The latest report is that the coaches are happy with the progress of Robbie Parris. Parris is a big receiver who has shown some bright spots and might just knock Kamara out of that 3rd spot.

Charlie is very excited about his tight ends, and I am too! Kyle Rudolph set ND records for freshmen tight ends in Then add the return of 6’5’’ Jr., Mike Ragone who may have been the starter last year had he not gotten hurt, and word is that Weis plans to run more double TE sets and use the TE even more than last year. He is even big on 6’7’’ So., Joseph Fauria, who is the son of NFL TE Christian Fauria as his third TE.

Now don’t forget this is without some pretty solid incoming freshman. Obviously they can’t participate in Spring practices when they are still in high school. Now granted I don’t expect freshmen to come in and make a significant impact very often, but I think when you have the #2 rated player overall by ESPN in linebacker Manti Te’o, you can expect him to start and make a difference. Fellow freshman linebacker Zeke Motta should get some time as well. Running back Cierre Wood and wide receiver Shaquelle Evans were highly recruited. Evans is at a tough position to find playing time, but maybe Woods could be a pleasant surprise at RB? Chris Watt is a big, highly touted offensive lineman that probably won’t get playing time with this experienced line, but should be a good one down the road.

Spring Update 4/7/09 - The Defense

Reports from Spring practice indicate that the coaching staff is very happy the way the defense is looking. Big Ian Williams (#95 pictured on the left) appears to be the anchor of the defensive line. Defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore didn't play a down as a freshman, but is being tabbed by Weis as possibly the best defensive player this Spring so far. Returning senior John Ryan and sophomore Ethan Johnson finish out a defensive line that the coaches have been very high on thus far. In fact, they have knocked out part-time starter, Morrice Richardson at this point. That is always a good sign. The linebacker position is very interesting to me. We have returners in seniors Scott Smith and Toryan Smith and junior Brian Smith. Sophomore Steve Filer will also be in the mix. However, the feeling is definitely that the #2 overall rated player by ESPN, linebacker Manti Te'o will have a very good chance to claim a starting spot right away. He chose ND over USC by the way. Unforunately we'll have to wait until fall to see him in action. Fellow freshman Zeke Motta is an early college entry though and also a highly touted recruit that might compete for time. We have heard a lot about the return of DB Darrin Walls(#2 pictured on the left). He is a cornerback that missed last year for personal reasons. Weis is very excited to throw him in the mix with returners Raeshon McNeil and Robert Blanton. All indications are that Walls would have beaten one of them out for a starting spot last year. Blanton had some very promising moments as a starter in only his freshman season. Walls may also help returning kicks. The secondary returns three that were starters at different points at safety. Junior Harrison Smith looks to start at free safety while senior Kyle McCarthy should start at strong safety. That leaves junior Sergio Brown for special packages or backing one of them up. I fully believe with the return of 7 players that started or played significant roles last season, the addition of freshman sensation Te'o, and how high the coaches are on Lewis-Moore that this will be a greatly improved defense. Let's not forget that the defense really wasn't all that bad until the offense would put them in bad positions and/or keep them on the field for long periods of time!