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Link: Notre Dame Football Post Spring Analysis: Linebackers Lead The Way
I know spring practice is just like the repuppetlican party. All of them just playing with themselves. But ND has more class and more dedicated people on the field. Let's hope we get it done, regardless.
Martini/Coney and Tranquill/Bilal platoons at the outside with Morgan in the middle and ND is in great shape there.
D-line is interesting. I actually feel pretty good about 3 of the 4 spots after spring. I think the Hayeses will be good on the outside and a Cage/Tillery platoon can be really good at nose. The problem is the other DT spot. Bonner would be great as a change of pace guy there, playing 25-40% of the snaps, but right now he's the starter and there is no legit back up.
I share your concerns at safety.
I would probably put corners ahead of WRs right now. I think with Love, Watkins, Vaughn, Pride and Crawford ND is in great shape at CB. WR is still an unknown outside of St. Brown. WR could end up being really good or guys like Claypool and Stepherson might be a year away (if Stepherson is around at all).
If I knew what they were getting out of Crawford, I'd probably switch them. I'm still a little skeptical on Pride, he doesn't look all the way comfortable yet. That confidence isn't there.
Like, what is the cornerback equivalent from Pride that we've seen from Claypool or Boykin at receiever? In games or in the spring. Same with Vaughn, who is now an off corner. But, I'm being nit picky a bit, it's really close.
As for the defensive line, I'm just a little tired of the "when he wants to be" narrative with Tillery. Same thing with Jones last year. Can we get some guys in this group who want to be good all the time or what? Are we asking too much to know you are at least trying hard?
And I like Hayes, but as I wrote, we were in the same spot with him last year. So, not a lot of confidence there.