Category: Irish in NFL

Watch: Troy Pride, Jr.’s Senior Bowl Interception

However, had Pride left a year early you’re looking at what, a very late round pick if he gets drafted at all?

Let me just start by saying evaluating passing games in the Senior Bowl is difficult. It’s difficult in that only very generic coverages are run, quarterbacks aren’t facing blitzes, nor do they have to worry about twists or anything wild being thrown at their linemen.

With that said, I still think making a huge play in the game as a defensive back is better than not making a big play.

Captain Obvious, right?

Well, Troy Pride, Jr. wrapped up his impressive week at the Senior Bowl with exactly that.

People have taken notice of Pride who showed out in practices long before Saturday’s interception.

What I do know is that Pride is a fantastic example of what staying in school can do for a player. Yes, it’s easy to want the money and I’ll never knock a football player for seeking compensation for putting their bodies on the line like they do.

Had Pride left a year early you’re looking at what, a very late round pick if he gets drafted at all?

Now you’re talking a possible day-two of the draft type player as Pride proved Notre Dame’s pass defense wasn’t just a fluke but that is was one of the very best in college football in 2019.

Senior Bowl: Chase Claypool’s Touchdown Reception

Claypool deserves credit because it’s a nice route but the defensive back that shall remain nameless wasn’t, um, we’ll just say he doesn’t appear to be the next Deion Sanders.

Playing the final time with the iconic golden helmet on his head, Chase Claypool scored a touchdown.

Participating the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, Claypool has been a player getting much praise throughout the week.

Although most scouts will say that the practices in Mobile matter more than the actual game, Claypool didn’t exactly struggle in game, scoring a touchdown just past the midway point of the third quarter.

It won’t go down in his official Notre Dame records but I have trouble believing there were many receptions, let alone touchdowns receptions for Claypool since he’s started playing football than that.

He completely froze the defensive back and went undefended as you see. Claypool deserves credit because it’s a nice route but the defensive back that shall remain nameless wasn’t, um, we’ll just say he doesn’t appear to be the next Deion Sanders.

Claypool’s touchdown reception gave the North a 23-10 third quarter lead.

How to Watch the 2020 Senior Bowl Featuring Four Former Notre Dame Stars

Care to watch Chase Claypool, Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman or Troy Pride, Jr. one more time in their iconic Notre Dame helmets?

Care to watch Chase Claypool, Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman or Troy Pride, Jr. one more time in their iconic Notre Dame helmets?

Saturday afternoon is your chance as all four will be participating in the annual Reese’s Senior Bowl that we’ve kept an eye on for you all week long.

The Senior Bowl kicks off at 2:30 pm E.T. from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama and can be seen on NFL Network.

Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals will be the head coach for the North team while Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions will coach the South.

Earlier this week each Claypool, Elliott and Pride had impressive showings at their respective positions.

The Cincinnati Bengals hold the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft but their most likely selection, Joe Burrow of LSU, will not be in attendance.

WATCH: Quenton Nelson Gets Wakeup Call in Pro Bowl Dodgeball

Participating in the Dodgeball Competition in the Pro Bowl Skills Competition, Nelson had a ball bounce of his hands right before another, well, gave Big Q a wakeup call.

Good morning and happy Friday to all of you!

Crazy weather across the Midwest aka winter (it happens every year) so what better way to wake up this Friday and get ready for your weekend than by watching a former Notre Dame star participate in the NFL’s Pro Bowl Skills Competition?

All-World offensive guard Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts is a beast. He’s in rare-air in that he’s been a First-Team All-Pro in both of his first two NFL seasons, he’s the straw that stirs the drink for the Colts offensive line and he’s got perhaps the best set of highlights we’ve ever seen for a guard.

One thing he doesn’t appear to have however is a great set of hands.

Participating in the Dodgeball Game in the Pro Bowl Skills Competition, Nelson had a ball bounce of his hands right before another, well, gave Big Q a wakeup call.

All I can think of is in “Billy Madison” when Adam Sandler’s character goes hog-wild on a bunch of kids in a game of dodgeball.

In my head that is what Quenton Nelson is doing right now – storming through Disney Land destroying whoever hit him in the face and each of their teammates one by one.

Senior Bowl Update – Chase Claypool

To the surprise of absolutely nobody who has watched him the last two seasons, Chase Claypool measured out about as well as he could possibly hope.

Senior Bowl festivities got started Tuesday morning in Mobile, Alabama as participating players checked in with their official heights, weights and measurements.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody who has watched him the last two seasons, Chase Claypool measured out about as well as he could possibly hope.

Claypool’s height of 6-4.3″ was the second-tallest of any wide receiver at the Senior Bowl while coming in at 229 pounds makes him the heaviest receiver participating this week.

He also measured out to have the second longest arms, biggest hands and the second widest wingspan of any receiver in Mobile.

Meeting the media ahead of practice, Claypool spoke about his physical nature on the field, his love for special teams and how football isn’t the only sport he’s talented at.

To further the solid start to Senior Bowl week for Claypool, one of the NFL’s proudest franchises is also looking to learn more about him.

If you watched Chase Claypool from the second half of 2018 through his final game for Notre Dame in the 2019 Camping World Bowl you saw an elite talent who offers a rare combination of size and athleticism, even if the speed isn’t elite.

I’m becoming more curious by the day if Claypool’s future in the NFL wouldn’t be best served by putting on another 10-15 pounds and becoming a tight end.

His physicality certainly would fit that role.

 

Four Former Notre Dame Football Stars Weigh In at Senior Bowl

who doesn’t love the Senior Bowl or eventually the combine where you hear more about arm length, hand size and wingspan than you do about actual football ability.

It’s that time of year again where men around the age of 21 or so get parades around in the tightest fitting workout clothes imaginable to show that they’ve got the physique to play in the NFL.

Ah, who doesn’t love the Senior Bowl or eventually the combine where you hear more about arm length, hand size and wingspan than you do about actual football ability.

Just like recruiting is to college teams to being successful the attention to detail at these events can be what separates great draft classes from the awful ones for the 32 NFL teams.

With that in mind – four Notre Dame players from the 2019 squad took part in Tuesday’s weigh-ins at the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Here’s how they measured out:

Chase Claypool, WR: 6-4.3″, 229 pounds, Arms – 33 1/8″, Hands – 10″, Wingspan – 80″

Jalen Elliott, S: 6-0.4″, 205 pounds, Arms – 32″, Hands – 9 1/8″, Wingspan – 76 5/8″

Alohi Gilman, S: 5-10.5″, 202 pounds, Arms – 31 5/8″, Hands – 9″, Wingspan – 73 3/8″

Troy Pride, Jr., CB: 5-11.3″, 193 pounds, Arms – 31 3/8″, Hands – 8 3/8″, Wingspan – 73 3/4″

Weigh-in information courtesy of Pro Football Network.

Be sure to stay with us throughout the week if you’re interested in the NFL Draft stock of these four. We’ll be following news and reports out of Mobile all week and will break down anything that happens to the four participating Fighting Irish.

Former Notre Dame Captain Reportedly Named Texans DC

Weaver takes over a defense that gave up the fifth-most yards in the NFL in 2019 but did manage to allow a significantly more respectable 19th fewest points.

Former Notre Dame captain and defensive end Anthony Weaver has worked his way from player to graduate assistant and now all the way up to an NFL defensive coordinator.

On Monday news broke courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter, reporting that Weaver will be named defensive coordinator of the Houston Texans.

Anthony Weaver was a star defensive end at Notre Dame, playing under Bob Davie from 1998 through 2001.  In 2001 he served as a captain and was named team MVP for a squad that disappointed to the tune of just a 5-6 record after earning a Fiesta Bowl berth the season before.

Weaver went on to become a second round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2002 and played four seasons there before playing three more with the Houston Texans from 2006-08.

Weaver then got his start in the coaching ranks at the very bottom, serving as a graduate assistant to Urban Meyer at Florida in 2010 before taking a job as linebackers coach at North Texas in 2011.

From there it was a long climb to his new post as Weaver had stints with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns along the way.  In 2016 he took over as defensive line coach of the Texans before being promoted to defensive coordinator today.

Weaver takes over a defense that gave up the fifth-most yards in the NFL in 2019 but did manage to allow a significantly more respectable 19th fewest points.

For a flashback, check out this newsclip about Weaver from 2013 that briefly features footage from his kicking career in high school and one of his highlights from his days at Notre Dame.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVjH2JWnEO8&w=560&h=315]

49ers Super Bowl Berth Earns Pair of Notre Dame Products Trip to Big Game

Sheldon Day and Mike McGlinchey will be wearing the red, gold and white of the 49ers when they meet the Kansas City Chiefs on February 2 in Miami.

When the San Francisco 49ers finished their domination of the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, a pair of Notre Dame alumni earned their first trips to the Super Bowl.

Sheldon Day and Mike McGlinchey will be wearing the red, gold and white of the 49ers when they meet the Kansas City Chiefs on February 2 in Miami.

Day is in his fourth NFL season after spending a year and a half in Jacksonville before being waived in 2017 and picked up by the 49ers.

Day played in all 16 regular season games for San Francisco this season, making 15 tackles and recording one sack this year.

Day played on Notre Dame’s defensive line from 2012-15 and was a valuable rotational piece in the the 2012 year that finished with a 12-0 regular season. He had 32 tackles for loss in four seasons at Notre Dame.

Joining Day in Miami will be Mike McGlinchey who reaches the Super Bowl in just his second NFL season.

McGlinchey was a key part of why Notre Dame won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s best offensive line in 2017 as he and Quenton Nelson of the Colts were both drafted in the first round the following spring.

McGlinchey was key in the 49ers dominating run game as the right tackle was part of the reason they ran for 285 yards and attempted just eight passes all day.

The 49ers will meet the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV as the Chiefs have no active former Notre Dame players on their roster but do feature former Irish tight end Alize Mack on their practice squad and former Notre Dame offensive lineman Andy Heck who has coached Kansas City’s offensive line since 2013.

Notre Dame’s NFL Conference Championship Representation

The hometown and 7.5 point favorite San Francisco 49ers employ a pair of former Notre Dame stars in former top ten pick, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey and former Irish defensive tackle, Sheldon Day.

To me there isn’t a better day of professional football all year than what today brings.  AFC and NFC Championship Games, an all day affair of football between four usually very good teams.

If you’re like me and most of America, your favorite NFL squad was eliminated from Super Bowl contention long ago and you don’t have a dog in either of the fights this Sunday.

If you’re a Notre Dame fan looking for a team to get behind then the AFC game that kicks off just after 3:00 pm E.T. will be tough sledding as neither the Tennessee Titans or Kansas City Chiefs have any former Notre Dame players on their rosters.

Look into the NFC game however and you may get a little bit conflicted.

The hometown and 7.5 point favorite San Francisco 49ers employ a pair of former Notre Dame stars in former top ten pick, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey and former Irish defensive tackle, Sheldon Day.

McGlinchey battled through a knee issue earlier this season that ultimately led to him getting a scope, missing four games but ultimately helping the 49ers to the third most rushing yards in the league this regular season.

Day played in all 16 games this regular season for the 49ers, recording 15 total tackles and one sack along the way.

When the 49ers kickoff against the Green Bay Packers at 6:40 pm E.T. today the Packers will have a former Fighting Irish star as Dexter Williams will be wearing the iconic Packers colors.

Don’t expect to see much of the former Notre Dame speedster however as Williams had just five rush attempts all regular season.

Enjoy the games and your Sunday.

Notre Dame Pair Featured in USA TODAY Mock Draft

The other Golden Domer that Middlehurst-Schwartz had going in round one would be headed to one of the few franchises still playing football this January.

As college football has concluded for 2019 and the NFL has just three more games of consequence we slowly start to turn to the annual blending of the two, the NFL Draft.

Next weekend will be the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama and coaches and scouts will get a chance to see the stars of tomorrow up close for a week.

With that in mind it is officially Mock Draft Season.

Perhaps the excitement in the air isn’t quite as rich as when the holidays hit in December but for football fans and followers it’s an interesting time to watch stocks rise and fall NFL bound players.

With that in mind the USA TODAY released their latest NFL Mock Draft on Thursday and a pair of key 2019 Notre Dame players made their way to the first round.

Here is who Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has going and where he has them headed in April’s draft:

23. Patriots — Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame: While New England’s future with Tom Brady remains unclear, perhaps it’s time for Bill Belichick and Co. to focus on a different glaring issue. As the draft’s top talent at tight end, Kmet might help fill the Rob Gronkowski-sized hole in this offense.

Ah, the natural fit. If you’re a tight end you want to go to Notre Dame because they turn out more talent than anyone else at the position. Meanwhile if you’re in the NFL it’s hard to find many places better to play than New England where so much of their offensive success over the last two decades has been built on great tight ends. This would be a dream scenario for Kmet.

The other Golden Domer that Middlehurst-Schwartz had going in round one would be headed to one of the few franchises still playing football this January.

29. Titans — Julian Okwara, DE/OLB, Notre Dame: Mike Vrabel has thrown an assortment of players into the pass-rushing mix, yet none have proven consistent threats. Tennessee can ramp up its efforts on this front by grabbing Okwara, who’s still learning the finer points of his position but has a tantalizing athletic profile.

Will Okwara end being a first round pick? It depends you ask, read or follow as he is seemingly very much on the bubble there. After what they’ve done the last two weekends and really since the middle of the regular season Okwara would be walking into a place to likely to compete for something big again.