NFL Connection
Charlie Weis let the media know that senior punter Geoff Price spent time working in the off-season with former Notre Dame and current Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith. Smith, as most fans remember, had an outstanding career at Notre Dame and has spent his entire career with the Colts. Price, a senior, will be a first time starter in 2006 and the off-season work with Smith appears to be paying dividends.
“One of the reasons he’s booming the ball so well is because he spent a bunch of time with Hunter Smith of the Colts. We got ‘em all over the place”
He would later add….
“Hunter did a chance to spend time with Geoff and I think the residual effect is obvious. Because if you see him out there, he’s booming the ball.”
Weis also suggested that the kickers will have a chance to get some guidance from Adam Viniteri who is also now with the colts.
“Now that Adam’s in Indianapolis, you know he’ll be a great resource for our kickers.”
Before anyone gets worried about NCAA rules and asks about eligibility, Weis would ass that…
“Everything we do we have to do through compliance. Because there’s certain things you can do and there’s certain things you can’t do.
Practicing in ND Stadium
Tomorrow night the team will practice in the Stadium in game situations. Up until now the coaches have been on the field talking with the players during drills and scrimmages. Tomorrow night however the coaches will be on the sidelines and the players will be on their own so look for some of the position battles to start to settle out tomorrow. Weis will be looking to start getting his first and second units more reps in practice so we’ll have a better idea of who is leading for starting spots soon.
“After tomorrow night, we’re going to have to stop repping three full teams because we’ve been trying to rep everyone to give everyone a fair shake but after tomorrow night we’re going to start repping two full teams. And then it’s going to be repping one full team and then I call them 1’s and 1a’s – the first guys and the first substitutions after that.”
Sam Young Climbing Depth Chart
Freshman offensive tackle Sam Young continues to be a hot topic at Weis’ press conferences. The highly touted recruit has been practicing with the first time in Ryan Harris’s absence and will compete for the starting right tackle spot when Harris returns. Young is farther along than your average college freshman because of his size and technique. Given the fact that he is already running with the first team, it’s a safe bet that he will secure the right tackle spot before the opener.
When asked how serious a contender Young is for the starting right tackle spot, Weis’ answer was…
“Serious. He’s a serious contender. He’s a serious contender (not a typo, he said it twice) That means, that if he ends up being the best guy there, which he might be, he’ll end up being in there.”
Thomas and Vernaglia Competing at SAM
Mitchell Thomas played some middle linebacker this spring but is in a position battle with Anthony Vernaglia for the starting strong side linebacker position. Neither has seen much action in crunch time yet, but the two have been promising so far in camp.
“I’ve been encouraged with both of their play. I’ll be curious to set what happens tomorrow night when its more of a game situation. Because what happens a lot of times in a controlled environment you don’t get as much of a read as when the coaches are no longer on the field. Now the coaches aren’t spoon feeding you anymore.
Junior Jabbie Improving
With all the hype around the freshman running backs Munir Prince and James Aldridge, the lost man in the half back rotation is Junior Jabbie. Jabbie had left the team, but return for camp and had to shake off some rust, but is competing and could earn some playing time this season.
“Actually he’s just starting to earn himself some extra reps. You know he came in and he wasn’t in very good shape. Rust is a fair, well it’s partially fair being in not very good shape, you know you can do something about that too, but he’s starting to earn some reps. I’m not saying he’s moved to the top of the depth chart but he’s played himself into contention.”
Jabbie is also getting a look as a kick returner as well along with several other candidates.
Finding a #2 QB
One of the biggest problems for Weis this camp is to find a backup to Brady Quinn at quarterback and Weis address that Sunday. With the first week of camp not including much live scrimmaging without the coaches on the sidelines, Weis is interested to see what the backups can do Monday night when the team practices in the stadium in more of a game situation.
“I want to definitely get through tomorrow night. I want to see what happens when we’re not standing right behind them and all of a sudden they got the play and no one’s near them and it’s their huddle and we have the play called and a blitz is coming and there’s some pressure and they have to make a good decision… I think tomorrow night we’ll start moving a little be closer to making that decision.”
