It's A Mailbag -- 4/1/07

This is no April Fool's joke -- we're back with another mailbag this spring. Before we get to your questions, a couple things. Check out ESPN's SportsCenter tonight (Sunday night) for the network's Sunday Conversation with Brady Quinn. Also, we won't be at practice Wednesday, instead heading to Indianapolis for the media days for the Indy 500.

On to your questions and remember, you too can be part of the mailbag by throwing questions in the comment section of the blog or by e-mailing us at mrothstein@jg.net. Questions about football, basketball or anything else are welcomed. And when you do send your questions, please include your name and hometown.

Who is returning kicks and punts this year? Is D.J. Hord going to play this year? What's going on with the defense -- any improvement?
Jonathan O'Reilly
Norton, Mass.

Jonathan --
Good to hear from you. You asked a lot of stuff. As far as kicks and punts, we don't expect that to be answered completely until the fall. One would have to think Tom Zbikowski will continue to return punts and George West will likely be involved in kick returns somehow. Other than that, we wouldn't be surprised to see some freshmen getting a shot there. As for Hord, check out our story from Sunday about the wide receiver. As of now, he's at best No. 3 on the depth chart, but he'll probably see some action. With the defense, it'll be tough to tell at least until the spring game because the media doesn't see much as far as actual action with either the offense or defense.

Zibby to LB, what are the chances?
Jeff Stanner
Angola, Ind.

Jeff --
No shot. It's that simple.

I didn't see the name of Darrin Walls in your early observations of the defensive backfield. What's his status so far?
Jim Strick
Toledo, Ohio

What's the situation with Walls at corner? Is he getting any reps?
John Amberg

There were a lot of questions about Walls this week. He's been all over the place from first-team to third-team during the media portion of practice. But we can tell you that defensive coordinator Corwin Brown really seems to like the rising sophomore. He's said before he believes he has the requisite skill set. Take that for what it's worth, but also understand that we'd be surprised if anyone other than Terrail Lambert and Ambrose Wooden were the starting cornerbacks in the fall. Notre Dame starts installing its nickel Monday, so that might be the spot for Walls or Leo Ferrine or Raeshon McNeil or Gary Gray this year.

Doesn't it seem reasonable that these recent recruits that have said "ND" will be ND and that the last-minute jump to another school will be avoided? This is based on (Charlie Weis') approach to recruiting this year, that if a kid says Notre Dame "he had better be sure" otherwise the offer is removed from the table? What's your take on this?
Bob Crugnale
Sun City, Ariz.

Bob --
That is a reasonable thought, but any recruit making a decision before signing day is "non-binding" because there is no written agreement. We'd be surprised if any of the players who have already committed would switch, but remember that just because Weis says it doesn't mean it'll happen. I think Notre Dame will not be as involved in the circus as last year, but these are high school juniors and seniors, who sometimes don't have the most concrete decision-making skills -- no matter where the prospect goes. It happens all over the country.

Not much is said about (Luke) Schmidt, he was supposed to be all-everything as a running back.
John Tague

How is Schmidt doing in the backfield?
Paul Dici

Guys --
Don't give up on Schmidt yet, not by a longshot. He was a freshman last year, stuck first behind Asaph Schwapp and then Ashley McConnell. He didn't play last year because he wasn't needed, but he was working with Travis Thomas, who looks like the starting running back, during Saturday's open practice. It could be one of the least talked-about but most competitive battles in camp -- between a returning-from-injury Schwapp and Schmidt.

Any thoughts on (Demetrius) Jones?  I just think his athletic ability is too strong to keep off the field. I saw Jimmy (Clausen) play this year as I live right by his high school and they had some deep talent. Not sold on him yet. Thoughts?
John Wilds
California

John --
From the limited amount we've seen, we think Jones can be real good. He seems to get along with the team well -- even the kickers, punters and long-snapper J.J. Jansen during practice. His release is somewhat unorthodox, but he's won with it before. We're also impressed with the little amount we've seen of Clausen. In Saturday's open practice, we saw Clausen make good passes where only receivers can get it and be smart enough to throw the ball away when he had nothing. Not bad for a kid who was in high school three months ago.

Who do you think will lead the Irish in receiving this year? And if you answer (David) Grimes, who will be No. 2?
Craig Palik
Lincoln, Neb.

Craig --
It's early, but we're going to say Grimes will lead the Irish in receiving. As far as No. 2, we're going to go with tight end John Carlson. He'll be a safety blanket -- a term we're using a lot with him -- for whoever wins the quarterback job. As far as the No. 2 receiver, Weis gave indication Saturday that George West is starting to separate himself.

And our last thought today comes from blog reader JohnJ:
Please quit using the term "rising" to describe every underclassman. Thank you.

John --
Well, it isn't a description. It is more of an explanation that Player X -- Anthony Vernaglia for example -- is currently a junior but will be a senior next year. He's not yet a senior, so he's a rising senior. The only two places we can get away without it are fifth-year seniors (like John Carlson) and incoming freshmen (like Jimmy Clausen).

Thanks for all the good questions and keep sending them in.  Our goal is mailbags every Sunday at least through the spring and maybe continuing after, too. That depends on you, the reader.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Gabe]

Since you mentioned Schwapp, how does he look? A little rusty or already back in full swing?