Tag: Sage Surratt

Lions need to focus on development instead of depth in 2021

The 2021 Detroit Lions need to emphasize young player development over trying to compete with low-end veterans

One of the takeaways that didn’t make the top four as I drove home from Detroit Lions minicamp was the rather startling lack of proven NFL depth at a number of positions across the Lions roster.

The reality hit me when I was mentally sorting the running backs. D’Andre Swift is in his second season, and he looks very impressive in the receiving drills in the early portions of the offseason. Newcomer Jamaal Williams is also looking special as a receiver (they’re not allowed to tackle or play behind an OL yet, so actually running the ball is still just theoretical).

After that? Seventh-rounder Jermar Jefferson, first-year newcomer Michael Warren and undrafted rookie Dedrick Mills round out the RB room. Warren played exactly two reps on special teams for the Washington Football Team in 2020 as an undrafted free agent from Cincinnati. That represents the entire NFL experience behind Swift and Williams.

It’s incredibly frustrating when factoring in the significant amount of draft capital the past regime spent on running backs, but that’s for a different story. It has led to an intensely tepid public courtship of veteran Todd Gurley and his arthritic knees, which have since marched onto Baltimore after nothing materialized in Detroit in 10 days.

Nothing against Gurley, who was the best all-around RB in football in 2017-2018, but it’s a good thing the Lions haven’t broken character and signed him. And the reason why is in that last sentence: it’s not 2017-2018 anymore. It’s 2021. These Lions are at the beginning of a major overhaul with a new regime from ownership at the top down to the interns in the media relations department.

Is Todd Gurley a better running back in 2021 than Dedrick Mills or Jermar Jefferson? Probably. But upgrading the No. 3 RB spot with a past-his-prime veteran isn’t what this Lions team needs. One of the reasons we’re here is because the last regime decided it was a good idea to cut 2020 fifth-round rookie Jason Huntley before he ever played. Just for good measure they also dumped 2019 sixth-rounder Ty Johnson–the team’s most effective RB as a rookie–too. They did that to bring in Adrian Peterson.

Was Peterson more effective for the 2020 Lions than Johnson or Huntley would have been? For sure; Peterson proved he still had some gas in the old tank. But it certainly didn’t help drive the Lions to success. And because of the decision to chase past glory instead of developing young talent, the roster is that much more barren now because of it.

It’s time for the new Lions under GM Brad Holmes to stop that maddening carousel of clout-chasing, of eschewing the tougher task of player development in the name of spackling veteran putty over cracked walls with rotten studs. It’s time to rebuild the studs, and maybe find some through actual coaching and attention to a longer-term vision.

It’s even truer at wide receiver. If the season started today, the Lions would trot out an 11 (1 RB 3WR) package of Swift in the backfield and new QB Jared Goff throwing to Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman and Kalif Raymond.

Here’s what those receivers produced in 2020, none of them in Detroit:

Williams (now age 29): Missed the season with injury.

Perriman (27): 30 catches on 60 targets, 505 yards, 3 TDs, 3 drops. One game (vs. NE) produced 5 catches, 101 yards and 2 of the TDs.

Raymond (27 in August): 9 catches on 16 targets, 187 yards, no TDs, 3 drops.

Williams’ playing history, his Chargers experience with new Lions OC Anthony Lynn and early performance with the Lions dictate that he’s a big part of the mix. Based on the last two weeks it’s very clear Williams is the most talented wide receiver in Detroit.

As for Perriman and Raymond? Rather than repeat the RB mistakes of the past regime, learn from them. The Lions of 2022 and beyond are better if fourth-round rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown and last year’s sixth-rounder, Quintez Cephus, are playing instead of them. Even if Perriman and Raymond are better in the offense right now, the Lions need to learn if St. Brown and Cephus can rise above that and be a part of the future.

(Raymond looks like the clear front-runner for the return specialist job, by the way, and his value to Detroit this year is in that capacity)

Then there is the trio of UDFA rookies: Jonathan Brown, Javon McKinley and Sage Surratt. All three were players projected to be drafted as high as the fourth round just a month out from the 2021 NFL draft. All have shown at least some spark in the last three weeks in Allen Park.

There is no purpose in playing Perriman or Geronimo Allison or Damion Ratley over any of those guys. Any short-term benefit they might offer the new-look offense is outweighed by the need to develop some actual depth in Detroit. Cephus had a great day in camp on Tuesday. Build on that. Surratt destroyed smaller coverage in reps all week. That’s something to work with.

Unless there is a radically clear difference in skill level between the older veteran and the young up-and-comer, there’s absolutely no reason to choose the veteran. Now at tight end, 35-year-old Darren Fells makes an exception.

Fells clearly better at all facets of his position than youngsters Charlie Taumoepeau or Jake Hausmann, and he’s also quickly proven to be a worthy mentor for budding star T.J. Hockenson. A year ago with Jesse James as the No. 2 TE, none of that would have been true. Fells is different, and that’s the kind of case-by-case exception that Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions need to value. The likes of Taumoepeau and Hausmann are vying with Alize Mack for the No. 3 spot. Based on the early observations they’re not close to winning that role from the promising young Mack.

By giving the youngsters the keys to the car, the Lions can drive forward with some viable young depth that gains valuable experience. Sure, they might crash here and there. But this season’s Lions are the NFL’s version of a student-driver car: a no-frills learning experience designed to help build for something bigger and better–in due time–for everyone involved.

By teaching the rules of the NFL road to budding young developmental players like Surratt, Jefferson, OT Matt Nelson and LB Tavante Beckett, the Lions just might find something worth keeping. Doing that helps end the cycle of bringing in has-been veterans past their primes, and their primes often weren’t great to begin with. This Detroit coaching staff is loaded with former players who have quickly shown a hands-on approach and enthusiasm for working with players. Utilize that to see what the revamped scouting department and front office can find instead of scouring the scrapyard for what other teams didn’t want anymore.

That’s the culture change I want from Holmes and the 2021 Lions.

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Notes and observations from 1st open Lions OTAs

Noted and observations from the May 27th Detroit Lions OTAs

The Detroit Lions wrapped up the first week of 2021 OTAs on Thursday on a beautiful sunny day in Allen Park. And for the first time since 2019, I got to attend in person.

Here’s what I saw from my first in-person impressions of the Dan Campbell era in Detroit.

Campbell is a different style of practice coach than his Detroit predecessors, most notably Matt Patricia and Jim Schwartz. He is more of an observer and not a micromanager. To sum it up quickly, he lets his position coaches run their groups without interference. There’s not necessarily a right or wrong way to operate on that front, I’m just noting the difference.

On a logistical note, the Lions have reoriented the practice fields at the facility. There are just two practice fields now, down from three, and they are perpendicular to the old setup. For fans who have been to training camp in Allen Park, the area where you walk into the fields is now walking toward an end zone, not a sideline.

Player notes

The OTAs are not intense football. Contact is not allowed, the players were not in pads and the brief period of 7-on-7 was more of a walkthrough than hardcore football. As such, the observations here are more about physical first impressions.

Penei Sewell: The first thing to note with Sewell is that he’s not as big as expected, a comment echoed by several other Lions media. He’s certainly not small, but Sewell is quite a bit shorter on the field than Taylor Decker, Dan Skipper, Matt Nelson or even Logan Stenberg. It’s clearly visible. I’ll be stunned if Sewell weighs more than 310-315, too. He looks in great shape.

D’Andre Swift: Holy leg muscles! Swift has clearly not missed leg day in some time. The definition of his thighs, calves and even ankles jumped out. He’s very thick in the lower body, thick in a positive way. I haven’t seen Swift in person since the 2019 scouting combine and he’s definitely more developed and defined all over.

Breshad Perriman: The new wideout is wearing Kenny Golladay’s old No. 19. He’s got a lankiness to him even more so than when I covered his ill-fated season in Cleveland in 2018. As is the case with Sewell, I’d be stunned if Perriman is close to his listed weight (215). He looks good, but he’s not the bulkier guy who was a first-round pick once upon a time in Baltimore.

The Lions media got to see the full Perriman package I remembered from Cleveland in the one hour of open access. He looks spectacular running in a straight line and his acceleration for a taller wideout is fantastic. He made a beautiful one-handed stab on the sideline, carefully planting both feet down inbounds. He then dropped two of the next three passes thrown his way, one of them hitting him in both hands on a crossing route. As impressive as his acceleration is, Perriman has a very real issue decelerating to make a sharp cut, too.

Amon-Ra St. Brown: Wearing No. 14, the rookie wideout sure looks like a slot receiver. He had a rep where he caught a nice pass on a jerk route and exploded up the field with a sweet stutter move than caught the defense flat-footed. It would have been a long TD in an actual game, more than likely. His hands looked strong.

Sage Surratt: If Perriman’s weight is overestimated on the official listing, he might have given some of those pounds to Surratt. He’s every bit of 6-foot-3 but he looks bulkier through the shoulders and torso than 215. It’s not bad weight, just more of it than expected. He flashed nicely in a punt coverage drill.

Jahlani Tavai: The weight loss and body transformation with the third-year LB is legit. He looks like a different guy physically. I didn’t watch any LB reps in their grouping but his newly svelte body stood out as the players warmed up and stretched. He said in his post-practice media session that he’s lost 17 pounds since January.

Jared Goff: It was strange seeing No. 16 as the first-team quarterback. He’s a different personality from Matthew Stafford in practice, a little more engaging with his teammates upon first blush. Again, it’s just one first impression. He missed one throw (to T.J. Hockenson) badly but looked fine and had enough zip when asked to unload the deeper throws.

Todd Gurley

About five minutes after the practice session started, word circulated that free agent RB Todd Gurley was in the building. He did not make an appearance at practice, however.

My take: It’s a curious courtship from both sides. The Lions have an impressive 1-2 punch in Swift and Jamaal Williams, and they drafted big Jermar Jefferson, too. Two priority newcomers with potential are already in Detroit to pair with Swift, who could be a rising star in his second season.

For Gurley, it seems like he would find a better opportunity for more carries and a (likely) bigger paycheck elsewhere. It’s nothing beyond the visiting stage at this point, and he does have a relationship with the Lions front office from their Rams days together. I wouldn’t lose any sleep — be it excitement or bemusement — over the possibility of the Lions signing Gurley until it actually happens.

Sage Surratt: What the Lions are getting in their UDFA wide receiver

Surratt has a clear path to making an impact in Detroit as a UDFA

Normally the undrafted free agent class doesn’t stand much of a chance to make an immediate impact on a roster. The 2021 Detroit Lions are an exception, especially at the wide receiver position.

In signing Sage Surratt from Wake Forest, the Lions landed a wideout with a legitimate chance of making the final 53-man roster as a rookie. He’ll have to compete with fellow UDFA Jonathan Adams, of course, but there is room in the den for both–potentially.

Here’s what the Lions are getting in Surratt.

Sage Surratt

6-2, 209 pounds

Surratt opted out of playing in 2020 and his 2019 season ended early with a bad shoulder injury, so it’s been some time since he played football. When he was on the field for the Deamon Deacons, he was a very productive, widebodied receiving threat.

He was a high school basketball star, good enough to get recruited by North Carolina, but Surratt chose football. His basketball background is obvious in his receiving game. Surratt uses his frame and long reach very well, shielding off defenders and mastering the high-point and contested-catch opportunities.

It’s a good thing Surratt is comfortable making contested catches and dealing with defenders, because he’s not fast. The 4.7 40-yard dash he recorded is slower than how he plays, but speed is not amongst his list of assets. Surratt is also fairly straight-linish as a route runner, which makes him vulnerable to press corners who aren’t blasted away by his strength.

The lack of athletic dynamism shows in his testing profile.

RAS courtesy Kent Platte (@MathBomb)

In that regard, Surratt has some similarities to Quintez Cephus. But Surratt is better-suited for playing outside; Cephus, last year’s Day 3 pick, is craftier with his routes and quicker with his feet in shorter spaces despite being almost exactly the same size as Surratt. There is less nuance to Surratt’s game. He’s more physical with the ball in the air but does that more on the outside and sidelines than over the middle, which is where Cephus is at his best.

For Surratt to stick with the Lions, he’ll need to prove he can get free with releases off the line and also make things happen after the catch. Surratt is physical with the ball in his hands and tough to bring down, but NFL defenses are bigger/faster than what he faced in college. If he can add value on special teams, that would certainly help his cause.

Some highlights to get a feel for Surratt’s game:

Analyzing the Detroit Lions 13-player UDFA class

The Detroit Lions stayed busy after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL Draft by signing 13 UDFAs and we analyze their roster potential

Even though the Lions finished the 2021 NFL Draft with the third to last pick, they stayed busy on the phones signing 13 UDFA to round out their roster.

Here are the 13 players and what they can bring to the table in Detroit

Jonathan Adams, WR, Arkansas State

Adams finished his career at Arkansas State with 2,306 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, earning the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award in his senior season. He makes his money by making the tough contested catches, notching 23 contested catches, best in college football, and tied for the lead with 15 deep catches, only behind first-round selection Devonta Smith. He can abuse corners with his massive catch radius and superb body control, making one highlight after another. He does have average speed and lack of consistency leading to 11 dropped passes his senior season–the most in college football–and ran a limited route tree. Even with the negatives against him, he can be a deep threat that wins those 50/50 balls.

The Lions need to stock the wide receiver room, only taking one in the draft in Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round, but he will mainly be used in the slot. The Lions gave Adams $90,000 in guaranteed money to come to Detroit, so they must feel he has a shot at contributing to the team.

D’Angelo Amos, S, Virginia

Amos was a graduate transfer from James Madison to Virginia, where in his lone season he recorded 47 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. In an interview, Amos noted that the Lions were interested in him after they initially met him at an All-Star event in Texas in January and had constant contact with the Lions until the draft. Amos has also contacted James Madison alum Dean Marlowe, who the Lions signed this past offseason.

The Lions didn’t address safety in the draft even though it was one of the holes that needed answering; Amos can potentially be a depth piece with a good camp. Also, Amos is a very good return man, returning 1,259 punt yards along with five punt touchdowns, which may be his ticket to making the team.

Tavante Beckett, LB, Marshall

Beckett had a rocky start to begin his collegiate career. After his freshman season, he was dismissed from Virginia Tech, where he was charged with conspiracy to sell and possession of marijuana, but those charges were later dropped. He would transfer to Marshall, where he would earn C-USA Defensive Player of the Year his senior season, finishing the year with 90 tackles and no touchdowns allowed.

He has a strong nose for the football and can sniff through the traffic to find the ball carrier, but unfortunately, he is erratic and misses tackles. With his small stature for a typical linebacker, some see a move to safety will be his best bet to make in the NFL. He is not the most athletic, but there is no denying his playmaking ability, and with coaching, he could carve out a role.

Rakeem Boyd, RB, Arkansas

Boyd is a feel-good story coming of JUCO to find success at Arkansas, where he led the team in rushing in 2018 and 2019 but chose to opt out in 2020 after six games. He is a very patient runner allowing the block to develop and attack the crease making a weapon in the open field. He has to rely on his instincts more due to a lack of finesse and explosiveness. He does have some receiving capabilities, but he has multiple drops in the process and needs to work on his pass protection.

With his straight-line speed capability, he will be best utilized as a role player to get you those few extra yards, but nothing more. The Lions running back room seems set at the moment with Swift, Williams, and Johnson. He will have to compete with seventh-round pick Jermar Jefferson, but even then, that might not be enough to separate himself from the pack.

Jake Hausmann, TE, Ohio State

Hausmann had a lackluster career while with the Buckeyes catching only three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. He was mostly regulated to special teams and utilized for his blocking. Unfortunately, with the lack of vitals to go off of and his poor testing numbers, it seems like Hausmann is destined as a camp body.

Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky

Jackson was a surprise non-draftee due to his center starting experience with his time at Kentucky earning a starting spot his freshman year while playing 45 straight games. He has strong intelligence, sound hands and can clear lanes going into the second level.

The problem being with Jackson is his size with only 31” arms and 8 ¼ in hands, which hinders his position versatility to guard, putting him as a center-only type player. Now the Lions only have Evan Brown behind Frank Ragnow for center depth, but Jackson is smart and a technician to find a role along the Lions offensive line.

Jerry Jacobs, CB, Arkansas

It was bad timing for Jacobs to solidify his status as a prospect when he tore his ACL in 2019 and then opted out after he transferred to Arkansas putting significant jeopardy to his draft stock. If he continued the trajectory he was on in 2018 when he notched twelve pass breakups and four interceptions while at Arkansas State, it could’ve been a different story. He is a very aggressive player but lacks the fundamentals to utilize his full potential. He will need to get coached to iron out the wrinkles, but the potential is there to turn the corner.

Tommy Kraemer, G, Norte Dame

Kraemer is a versatile offensive lineman seeing time at tackle and guard during his time at Norte Dame, where he started 39 games for the Fighting Irish. He looks like your prototypical guard with strong hands that can control the line of scrimmage from just looking at him. His downfall is his footwork and technique that doesn’t allow him to give off blocks and handle athletic players. He has the grit to make it on the Lions squad that needs guard depth.

Javon McKinley, WR, Norte Dame

McKinley seemed to be on the top of the list of UDFAs the Lions wanted to go after, considering they gave McKinley a cool $100,000 to come to Detroit. It was a rough go for him to start his collegiate career with his long injury list, 2016- Missed 6 games (broken fibula), 2017- Out for the season, 2018-Limited to four games. 2019-Missed the final four games (foot sprain). In his final season, he was able to play the whole season while leading Norte Dame in receiving with 717 yards with three touchdowns.

He wins off of contested catches and strong body control and ball skills. If it weren’t for the injuries, McKinley might have seen better pastures, but he is coming to a Lions receiver squad in desperate need of bodies.

Dedrick Mills, RB, Nebraska

Mills was Nebraska’s leading rusher in 2019, where he rushed for 745 yards, but then he saw his 2020 campaign shorted with injuries but finished the season with 396 yards and three touchdowns. He is very similar to Mills on the profile type with straight-line speed, navigate the gaps, and his ability to make cuts with a strong vision.

On the flip side, he lacks the agility to change direction and top-end speed to get to the next gear once he clears the lanes and also not a strong receiver even though he received targets with the Huskers. If the Lions decided to keep a fourth running back, Mills and Boyd would have to battle it out.

AJ Parker, CB, Kansas State

Parker found a spot as the nickel corner with Kansas State starting every game starting in his sophomore season. Even though he might not be an explosive athlete, he manages to make plays on the ball defending 24 passes along with six interceptions in his career. He can read the offense and get in the passing lanes and off coverage with his strong instincts.

With his size, though, he sometimes has issues getting through blocks to make plays on the ball carrier, which tends to be his downfall. The Lions starting nickel corner is Corn Elder, and if Parker can overcome his shortfalls, he could find his way as a depth player.

Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest

During his time at Wake Forest, Surratt lined up inside and outside and before he was sidelined with a shoulder injury includes leading the Power 5 schools with 1,001 yards and eleven touchdowns. He is a massive player at 6’2’ and 209 pounds, and he uses every bit of strength alength to abuse defenders for contested catches.

He won’t be the fastest player on, the field and his route tree is very limited, which might keep him as a big slot and red zone option for the Lions, where he can compete with Quintez Cephus for potential reps.

Brock Wright, TE, Norte Dame

Like Hausmann, Wright saw very limited action during his stint at Norte Dame, catching only seven passes during his four seasons. He mostly got his playing time as a blocking tight end, but he shows he does have the athleticism (9.21 RAS) to ne utilized in the passing game if called upon. It seems Dan Campbell is trying to recreate a version of himself with these two blocking tight ends. If Wright can outshine players down the tight end depth chart, Wright could find his way on the roster.

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2021 NFL draft: 8 of the best red zone threats in this class

Here are eight of the top red zone threats in this draft class.

The Carolina Panthers signed tight end Dan Arnold to a two-year, $6 million deal recently, finally addressing their need for a new red zone weapon to replace Greg Olsen, now retired.

Adding another one in the 2021 NFL draft isn’t a bad idea, either. Here are eight of the top red zone threats in this draft class.

Saints land another mid-round steal in 7-round 2021 mock draft

The New Orleans Saints landed Florida QB Kyle Trask and Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard in the latest seven round 2021 NFL mock draft.

We’re a long way off from the 2021 NFL Draft, but with bowl season set to begin soon it’s worth taking another look at which prospects could be on the New Orleans Saints’ radar in the spring. So it’s as good a time as any to run through another seven-round mock draft, courtesy of the Draft Network mock draft machine.

It’s kind of tough to project where they’ll stand. Salary cap casualties feel inevitable, and free agency should be a toss-up. Compensatory draft picks for 2021 won’t be announced until the offseason, and the Saints should receive two of them: a third rounder for losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a sixth rounder for losing linebacker A.J. Klein. 

But the NFL is reportedly cracking down on teams that circumvent the comp picks policy, and could rescind that sixth-round pick because the Saints waited to sign quarterback Jameis Winston after the deadline. It figures that teams like the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens got away with this for decades only for the Saints to take the fall for it. While we won’t know for sure until next year, I’ll assume the Saints don’t receive that sixth rounder.

Colts’ 2021 NFL mock draft after Week 12

A mock draft as the season enters its quarter-pole.

It’s never too early to look ahead to the NFL draft in the spring. While the Indianapolis Colts are sitting nicely at 7-4, and in the thick of the playoff race in the AFC, they have some holes to fill in the offseason.

The NFL draft will be here before we know it, so why not start to take a look at some names the Colts could take in the draft in April.

The season is far from over, so the position where Indy will pick is likely going to change, but here is our the first official Colts 2021 mock draft after Week 12 of the regular season:

Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt opting out of 2020 season

One of the ACC’s top pass-catchers is opting out of the season and will get an early start on preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft

If there’s to be college football in the ACC this fall, one of the best wide receivers in the conference won’t be playing.

Wake Forest’s Sage Surratt is adding his name to an ever-growing list of top prospects who are opting out of the 2020 college football season in favor of early preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft:

Listed at 6-3, 215 pounds, Surratt has the prototypical frame for an NFL receiver, with a blend of speed, athleticism and toughness that should already have the pro scouting ranks excited about his potential at the next level.

He’s currently projected by most as a potential first-round pick in next year’s draft.

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2 new CFB opt-outs could be prime Lions targets in the 2021 NFL Draft

Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt and Michigan OT Jalen Mayfield should intrigue the Lions

Two new early additions to the 2021 NFL Draft pool are talented players that should intrigue the Detroit Lions scouting department.

Wake Forest wide receiver Sage Surratt and Michigan offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield have both elected to opt out of playing in 2020–whenever their schools might play–and devote themselves to preparation for the 2021 NFL Draft. Both are likely top-60 prospects and each will earn serious first-round consideration.

They each play a position that could very well be considered the Lions’ biggest need in the 2021 offseason, too. With Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Marvin Hall — the top four players on the WR depth chart — all set to be free agents after the season, adding a versatile, playmaking wideout like Surratt figures to be a priority. If longtime left tackle Taylor Decker doesn’t get a contract extension, he too will be a free agent and that position subsequently launches to the top of the Detroit offseason shopping list.

Surratt has a lot of Marvin Jones to his game. He’s not exceptionally fast or quick but wastes no movement and appears so smooth and controlled as a route runner and also after the catch. The time off for Surratt is significant; he missed the final four games of 2019 with a shoulder injury. He’s outstanding with the ball in the air, also like Jones.

Mayfield played just one season at Michigan but made it count. The 6-5, 319-pound right tackle is a skilled athlete with solid footwork and natural core strength to build around. He played quite well against No. 2 overall pick Chase Young in Michigan’s matchup with Ohio State last November. He has the physical ability and upside to transition into a potential top-10 overall pick at left tackle.

Irish Impact: Wake Forest’s star WR Surratt opt out of season

Notre Dame will not face one of the best receivers in the country this year.

It has become quite common for stars to opt out of the 2020 college football season. This morning yet another player opted out, Wake Forest’s wide receiver Sage Surratt.

The Irish are set to face the Deamon Decons on September 26th, the second scheduled game of the year for Notre Dame. The Irish now get to avoid facing a 1,000-yard receiver from last year who added 11 touchdowns out of his 66 catches. He won’t be missed by any Irish defensive back, as Surratt is viewed as an early NFL Draft pick. ESPN’s Todd McShay mocked Surratt to the New York Jets as the 24th overall pick just last week.

This is great news for Notre Dame, as the secondary can continue to work itself out after losing key members like Alohi Gilman, Jalen Elliott and Troy Pride Jr. Star sophomore Kyle Hamilton returns and transfer Isaiah Pryor and Nick McCloud get acclimated to Clark Lea’s defensive scheme. By avoiding one of the best receivers in the ACC early in the season gives the Irish more time to mesh together in the secondary. It would have been a nice measuring stick in game two to see how the reworked secondary looks, but well gladly wait a few more games to find out just how good the defensive backfield really is.