Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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RECEIVING AID I An influx of youth could help veteran but unheralded corps BY LOU SOMOGYI Dame collectively was 7-6, 6-6 and 8-5. The 2012 season will not be about maximizing an individual's superb tal- ent, but using all the ingredients possible to make a strong collective offense. Longtime Irish faithful might recall that in 1988, Lou However, even with such elite college talent, Notre Holtz would have still signed up to have 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown for another season. However, the overall team had to jell collectively without him — and improved from 8-4 to 12-0. "The best situation you can be in as a coach is people doubting the ability of the guys in your position," Den- brock said. "That type of motivation and outside influence is always a helpful factor for a coach when you're trying to make sure that they're practicing hard and doing the things they're supposed to do." In that respect, consider 2012 a "banner year" for Den- f Notre Dame wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock had his druthers, he'd take a Michael Floyd or Golden Tate, or both, in his lineup any year. SEASON KICKOFF: WIDE RECEIVERS brock. How it translates on to the field remains to be determined. Denbrock has plenty of doubt circulating around his 2012 receiving corps, which specifically includes the out- side X and W receivers. Meanwhile assistant coach Tony Alford instructs the slot players (Z) such as senior Robby Toma and freshman Davonte' Neal, along with the run- ning backs at the "two-for-one" hybrid slot. • The starting W in the boundary side of the field is fifth-year senior John Goodman, who caught only seven passes for 65 yards last season while caddying for Floyd. However, All-America tight end Tyler Eifert also might align some there. • The starting X is junior TJ Jones, who did grab 38 passes in 2011, but for only 9.6 yards per reception. • Toma is a fan favorite because he arrived as a rela- Junior TJ Jones, who caught 38 passes and picked up 9.6 yards per reception last season, will be one of several receivers expected to step his game up to replace All-American Michael Floyd. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA tively unheralded 5-9 receiver and embodies making the most of his skills. However, in the five losses last season his five catches netted only 43 yards — yet another case of Irish receivers averaging less than 10 yards per catch and not stretching defenses, even with Floyd in the lineup. • Junior Daniel Smith has good size at 6-4, but did not catch a pass his first two years. Classmate Luke Massa hasn't either after shifting from quarterback, and now he's hobbled after going through ACL surgery in the spring. Collectively, the corps has no established vertical threat, and the production has been inconsistent, if not limited. Enter the youth movement. In addition to sophomore DaVaris Daniels, who was NEW BLOOD www.BLUEANDGOLD.com withheld from action last season, the freshman class fea- tures explosive slot man Neal, physical X Justin Ferguson and swift W Chris Brown. Ranked as the top "athlete" prospect in the nation by ESPN, and the 53rd overall prospect in the country by 247Sports, Neal is the prototype for the newly created running back/slot position after rushing for 1,317 yards and catching passes for 1,113 as a high school senior in Scottsdale, Ariz. The No. 1 track star in the state of South Carolina the past two years, Brown was the runner-up in the Palmetto State in both the 100- (10.81 seconds) and 200-meter (21.6) dashes this spring, and was the nation's No. 2 high school triple jumper in 2011. In some ways, the 2012 receiving corps mirrors the Old Guard/New Guard look the 2011 defensive line featured. The unit had plenty of senior experience with Ethan Johnson, Kapron Lewis-Moore (who returns for PRESEASON 2012 49