“We have to get more touches for the three dynamic players at running back. Somebody had to go to receiver. And Theo has the best overall skills.”
– Coach Kelly
Lets look at some of the spring story lines with the Irish…
As the start of spring practice is just around the corner, there are many questions surrounding this team. New coaches, graduations and new schemes will always make for some interesting story lines. Installing the spread offense in one offseason can be tricky. Transitioning to a 3-4 defense can be just as tough. This team is going to look completely different come this fall, and we finally get to see the first glimpse of them in 2 weeks. Coach Kelly said it himself; until they practice, he isn’t completely sure of what he has.
Some of the spring story lines that we will be watching happened in the past few days. Brian Kelly announced today that Theo Riddick would make the switch to the slot position. Kelly reiterated that with all of the talent at the running back position, he wanted to get his “3 dynamic players on the field.” Kelly alluded that Riddick was most suited for this transition so he would be making the jump. I like this move. Kelly putting the best talent on the field in any position possible sounds good to me. Not saying he is taking a page from the last regime, but Charlie did an excellent job of getting Golden touches from just about every offensive skill position last year. Riddick will continue to get carries on sweeps an reverses but also get touches in the open field.
Running back position could be a bit bare come next year. Allen and Hughes will be gone and that leaves Gray, Wood and Roberson as the only backs. Rumors are swirling about Gary Gray’s Jonas Gray’s future already and we hope they are not true. If Riddick does move full time to receiver, are the Irish confident in Gray and Wood’s ability to play the role of the dynamic back with Cameron Roberson as the bruiser? Im pulling for Riddick to make a seamless switch to what some are calling Golden 2.0, I just hope the other RB’s can step up next year.
The wide receiver position just got a whole lot more talented. When you lose the Biletnikoff winner you lose some talent. Yet the Irish still appear loaded at the receiver position. The Irish have 2 extremely tall possession receivers in Duval Kamara and John Goodman. Each of these players while not explosive, are extremely talented and can hopefully fill the void of the sure hands that Golden possessed. Shaq Evans, Deion Walker, Theo Riddick and Roby Toma in the slot position? Thats a lot of inexperienced talent, but talent none the less. Walker and Evans can split out wide and add some explosiveness to the spot Tate left empty, but can also add depth to the slot position. With all of the receivers that Kelly uses in his offense, I’m sure he is glad to have this depth.
Who will leave spring practice as the starting safeties. Both starting safeties from last year have moved on. Where this leaves the Irish is without a trusted center fielder. Coach Kelly has stated that Harrison Smith will return to the safety spot although he struggled with that position last year. Dan McCarthy is the younger brother of Kyle but he came into ND with a little more hype. A bigger kid than his brother, 6’2″, 205, he could push for time on the field but is relatively inexperienced only playing in 5 games last year during mop up duty. Zeke Motta returns after getting reps as freshman last year on special teams and some defensive packages. Motta is a big kid listed at 6’2″, 215 and can hit. He played a lot of special teams but he will look to crack the 2-deep at the safety position this spring. Also returning is Jamoris Slaughter. Slaughter was moved from corner back to his natural high school position of safety late last season even receiving some playing time. Slaughter who is listed at 6’1″, 185 might be a bit small for safety as we all saw the truck stick used against him by Toby Gerhart in last years Stanford game. Entering the mold this spring is early enrollee Chris Badger from my home town of Provo Utah. Chris played for a local powerhouse Timpview High and his highlight film shows that he can hit.
Harrison should, with all of his career playing time and tackles, regain a starting spot. I’ve been adamantly against Harrison Smith but you can’t really argue against his playing experience. Hopefully, Diaco and Chuck Martin can get him turned around and heading into the right direction. The Irish really need a senior leader back there to command the secondary. That leaves the other safety spot up for grabs. Zeke Motta needs to be on the field next season. Zeke has shown that he can compete up and down the field on special teams and should leave spring practice with starter listed next to his name. Look for Dan McCarthy to get a look over Jamoris Slaughter as Slaughter will need to put on some weight if he wants to compete at safety. Depth is limited here we expect all players to get a look at the field this fall including Badger. Badger could get his reps at special team and look to ascend to the top of the depth chart next fall.
178 days until kickoff.
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