Comments on: Freshman Focus: Davonte Neal

By: atw34

atw34 — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:18:18 +0000

The learning the play book issue is not just about leearning the plays. It’s about recognizing the defense as that determines each players responsibility. It changes as a defense shifts and changes formation. You may break the huddle being responsible for the middle linebacker if he blitzes, but if the defense shifts, do does your responsibility. That is what a young player has trouble with. The same thing goes for slot receivers too. The route they run is predicated on the defense.

So, its not about Kelly’s offense being too difficult, its about learning the opposing teams defense. Any good defensive coordinator knows this and plays to a freshmen/inexperienced players weakness.

Therefore a good offensive coach(Kelly) has to pick and choose when he can get a young player good reps. You don’t want a rookie/freshmen confidence to get shaken because he’s not being successful out there!

By: joeschu

joeschu — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:25:42 +0000

Agree… it would be fun to find a stat/film junkie to look at situational touches for the RB and slot positions. Breaking down carries, screens, slants, etc… would be very telling. I’d love to see multi-back sets this year. If you can spring someone like Riddick or Neal on a wheel down the sideline, that “explosive Brian Kelly offense” may finally show up.

By: joeschu

joeschu — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:23:14 +0000

If the PR unit blocks like they did last year, it won’t matter who is back there. They didn’t bother blocking anyone last year, yet the guy staring down 9 guys coming at him at full speed is getting all the blame.

By: kleinick

kleinick — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:32:00 +0000

Totally agree! There are true freshman that tear it up every year in CFB….if this kid is a top 10 recruit, he should be one of them.

By: nudeman

nudeman — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:35:49 +0000

I agree, but only to an extent.

Like to a 1000000% extent

This has been the single biggest excuse for foisting Tommy Rees on us.
For God sake, cut the damn playbook in half.
Then for each game, cut it in half again.

And get the most talented guys on the field, as pjm says.

By: audomer

audomer — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:40:16 +0000

Sadly, If Davonte is returning punts this year. All he has to do is catch the ball and fall FORWARD and he’d triple our return yards…….ugh

By: pjm79nd

pjm79nd — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:27:15 +0000

I don’t know how everyone else feels, but I am sick and tired of reading about “the need to learn the playbook” as an excuse for talented players not seeing the field. Either the players must work harder to learn the plays, or Kelly must structure the offense so the playbook is not an impediment to the talent at his disposal. This excuse has been made even for players with a year of experience. Enough already.

By: nudeman

nudeman — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:40:57 +0000

Keith,
I second this suggestion. It was previously a topic of speculation here as to just how many carries the 3rd RB (GAIII?) and 4th RB (AC?) will get. Prister and Sampson researched this a while back and the most carries any 3rd RB got was Hughes a couple years back with something like 35-40. On Mahone, I’m sort of assuming he’ll do a lot of watching and scout team work.

The same question could be asked about balls thrown to the slot receiver. Lots of talent there with Toma (who knows the O but is less gifted than the rest), Russell, Neal, and Riddick when he lines up there.

BTW bern, I think Farley was moved to D this Spring.

By: ravenseattheirownpoop

ravenseattheirownpoop — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:52:39 +0000

Keep him on offense!! We need explosive players there!! Too small for cb.

By: bernhtp

bernhtp — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:47:46 +0000

The RB/slot positions are very crowded with talent right now with Wood, Riddick, Atkinson, Carlisle, Toma, Farley, and the freshmen Neal, Mahone and Russell.

Keith: it would be great to get your analysis on this (RB/slot) competition and the likely distribution of snaps in the fall. I think it’s the most interesting competition other than QB.

Neal would have far less competition at corner, but it’s unclear if that’s what he wants or coaches believe is best. Is he also being considered for any of the other WR positions (other than slot)?