Sunday, August 31, 2014

Week 1 Recap: Notre Dame 48, Rice 17

The season opener for Notre Dame could not have gone any better when the Fighting Irish defeated the Rice Owls 48-17 yesterday afternoon. The biggest story entering this contest was the return of Everett Golson, and the redshirt junior delivered in a big way. Golson and the Irish started off a bit slow, but the offense was clicking on cylinders after they settled in. Golson accounted for five total touchdowns on the afternoon by throwing for two scores and adding three more on the ground. Golson was able avoid a few sacks and extended several plays with his legs that resulted in either touchdowns or big gains. Golson’s mobility was most noticeable in the red zone where he was able to run the ball in the end zone when a couple of plays broke down. Golson’s presence will likely do wonders to improve Notre Dame’s red efficiency this season. In all, Golson completed 14 of his 22 passes for 295 yards and added another 41 yards on the ground. I think it is safe to say that any doubts about Golson’s ability to lead this offense are no longer an issue.

While Golson was the star of the game, he was also aided by his supporting cast. Yesterday was a prime example of just how deep the Irish are at their offensive skill positions. Greg Bryant (71 yards), Tarean Folston (71 yards), and Cam McDaniel (40 yards) split the ball carrying duties quite well by combining for 182 yards on 28 carries. At 6.5 yards per carry, the Notre Dame offense was able to do whatever they wanted against the Owls defense. The most encouraging sign of Golson big day through the air was how he was able to spread the ball around to several receivers. Seven Irish players caught a pass on Saturday, with five players hauling in a reception of 25 yards or more. Those type of big plays have been missing for the Irish in recent years, so hopefully that will continue and happen consistently throughout the year. Obviously, the Irish will face tougher defenses later this season, but this offense should be able to move the ball and put up some points against just about every team in the country. For the first team since Brian Kelly has arrived, he finally has the quarterback situation and an abundance of skill players to run his offense effectively. If Saturday is any indication of what the rest of the season will look like, then 2014 season will be very exciting to watch offensively.

Although the offense had a field day, the defense showed some weaknesses against the Owls offense. Prior to game, the Irish got some bad news with starting safety Austin Collinsworth who injured his MCL on Thursday. Collinsworth was unable to play Saturday and he is expected to miss two to four more weeks. Hopefully, his absence will be shorter than four weeks because the Irish secondary could use him. Rice was able to connect on two long touchdown passes, with Elijah Shumate and Max Redfield looking lost on the first score when Zach Wright ran directly through the middle of the Irish secondary. If Notre Dame wants to beat Michigan next week, the secondary will have to communicate better and sure up those mistakes. Outside of that, the Irish defense played fairly well. They were able to create two turnovers and they didn’t allow too much success on the ground. The most surprising aspect of the defense was Joe Schmidt’s performance. The senior linebacker made eight tackles on the day, and showed a lot of skill for a former walk-on. I was not expecting Schmidt to be a huge contributor this season, so hopefully there will be more games like yesterday.

Last, but certainly not least, it appears that the Irish might finally have a punt return game! Florida transfer Cody Riggs had two returns of 24 and 25 yards, while Greg Bryant added 31 yards on his three returns. Those 80 yards helped give the offense excellent field position and provided a spark in an area that has lacked excitement for several season now. Let’s see if that type of production is sustainable throughout the season.

-Eric Tichelbaut


Twitter: @etichel07

White Sox Waiver Deals

With the waiver trade deadline approaching tonight, the Chicago White Sox have already made three waiver deals to date.  Second baseman Gordon Beckham was moved to the Los Angeles Angels ten days ago for a player to be named later. Yesterday, outfielder Alejandro De Aza was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitchers Miguel Chalas and Mark Blackmar. And today, designated hitter Adam Dunn was shipped to the Oakland Athletics for pitching prospect Nolan Sanburn. Since all three players were struggling offensively this season and none were in the long-term plan for general manager Rick Hahn, all three trades made sense for the future of the club.

In return, the White Sox will receive four low-end prospects, with Sanburn being probably the most intriguing player. Sanburn is a right-handed relief pitcher and was ranked as the 12th best prospect in the Oakland organization by MLB.com. Sanburn has fanned 73 batters in 71.1 innings while owning a 3.28 ERA in High-A ball. While it is always nice to stock-pile pitching prospects for a team that desperately needs bullpen help in the future, these deals were more about clearing roster space and saving a little money.

These three moves have already allowed for infielder Carlos Sanchez and first baseman Andy Wilkins to be called up, and several more additions will likely follow in September. Along with Sanchez and Wilkins, look for players like Marcus Semien and Jarrod Mitchell to see increased playing time at second base and left field respectively. During the final four weeks, it will be interesting to see if any of the young players step up and excel with their opportunities. The White Sox sure would prefer to fill those three positions from within the organization going forward, but they will also have some money to spend in the offseason if needed with plenty of salaries coming off the books in 2015.

-Eric Tichelbaut


Twitter: @etichel07

Friday, August 29, 2014

Week 1: Notre Dame vs. Rice

The 2014 regular season gets underway tomorrow afternoon for Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish welcome the Rice Owls to South Bend, Indiana. Despite a rather low-profile opponent, this home opener carries several storylines.

This will be the first game played on the new FieldTurf surface that was installed during the season at Notre Dame Stadium. I realize that some fans are upset with the change, but it needed to be made. The playing surface had become an absolute joke, and there was no reason to continue to play in those conditions. The new turf will allow for better footing, sharper cuts, less falling, and lessen the chance of knee injuries.

Everett Golson returns as quarterback and will be making his first start since the BCS Championship game on January 7th, 2013. Golson beat out Malik Zaire to earn his starting spot back this offseason, and he should give the offense a much needed boost with his ability to expand plays with his legs and make throws from outside the pocket.

Of course, the biggest news is the current investigation regarding the possible academic fraud of several key players. Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive back KeiVarae Russell, defensive end Ishaq Williams, linebacker Kendall Moore, and defensive back Eilar Hardy are all suspended indefinitely. With all five players out for at least this Saturday, younger players will have to step up and play a lot earlier than expected.

With that being said, the 2014 season figures to be another exciting year of football for the Irish. I expect the offense to be one of the more explosive attacks in the nation, while the defense will likely face some major growing pains. The Irish lack depth with their front-seven on defense, and will have to improve quickly and avoid injuries if they want to be a successful unit. With a brutal schedule looming that feature games against Florida State, USC, Stanford, Michigan, Arizona State, and North Carolina among others, the Irish will have a difficult time reaching double digits in wins. I think nine wins is definitely doable, and it would be a very successful season. If the defense matures quicker than expected, than Notre Dame could reach or even surpass ten wins.

But first, what will happen on Saturday?

Much of the focus tomorrow afternoon will be on Everett Golson. It will be interesting to see how he plays, and I would expect to see some rust early on. With Brian Kelly now calling plays again, I would imagine that Kelly wants to get Golson involved early and often. I expect to see Golson involved with the running game early on and moved outside the pocket to alleviate any nerves or pressure that he may have Saturday. Also, don’t be surprised if Kelly dials up a few deep balls early to Chris Brown or Corey Robinson try to make a quick strike. However, once the game settles into the second quarter, the Irish rushing attack should see a lot of work. Tarean Folston, Greg Bryant, and Cam McDaniel should give the Irish one of the more potent running games in the country. With a big offensive line creating holes for them, the Rice defense will likely have a tough time slowing down the trio of talented rushers. As long as Notre Dame avoids turning the ball over, the Irish should put up a ton of points against a weaker defense.

While the offense seems to be the strong point for the Irish, the defense is big question mark. With many veterans no longer with the program and two key starters suspended, the Irish are very inexperienced defensively. Obviously, the talent is there, but it remains to be seen how they will play as a unit. Linebacker Jaylon Smith has moved from the outside to the inside this season and will be the leader of the defense. Defensive coordinator Brain Van Gorder has stated that he will be moving Smith all over the field to utilize his speed and skills in different situations. I’m excited to see what Smith can do this season, and he has the potential to be one of the best defensive players in the nation despite only being a sophomore. Smith and the rest of the Irish defense will be tested by the Owls’ quarterback Driphus Jackson. Jackson has only seen limited action in his first two seasons, but he has the ability give defenses trouble with his legs. Notre Dame’s young defense will have to show discipline and contain Jackson to avoid any big plays. If Notre Dame can keep Jackson in the pocket, then the defense should be able to keep the Owls in-check. I don’t think the Rice will be able to line up and run right at the Irish, so it will take extended plays and creativity for the Owls to score enough points.

This one might be close early on, but the Irish should win comfortably.

Prediction: Notre Dame 41, Rice 17

Twitter: @etichel07

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

What the Academic Fraud Scandal Means for Notre Dame

With the regular season just two weeks away, Notre Dame’s football team suffered a huge blow when it was announced last Friday that four players were suspended indefinitely while being investigated for academic fraud. After a few days have gone by and the rumors have died down, it is time to assess what this means for Notre Dame going forward on and off the field.

Early reports stated that wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, cornerback KeiVarae Russell, defensive end Ishaq Williams, and linebacker Kendall Moore were all dismissed from the team for the entire 2014 season due to academic fraud. While it is very likely that all four players will be suspended for the entire 2014 season or even expelled from the university, it can’t be made official until the investigation has been completed. For now, Notre Dame must move on without four key contributors for the foreseeable future.

DaVaris Daniels might be the biggest name on this list, and he was also already suspended for the spring and summer due to academic probation. Daniels is Notre Dame’s best and most experienced receiver, and he and quarterback Everett Golson seemed to build some chemistry in the final games of the 2012 season. Now with Daniels gone, Chris Brown is the only receiver on the roster that has caught a pass from Golson in a regular season game. Despite the lack of experience, the Irish receiving corps seems loaded with young talent.  Last season, we caught a glimpse of what Corey Robinson, Chris Brown, Will Fuller, C.J. Prosise, and Amir Carlisle can do on the field. In addition, top recruits Justin Brent and Corey Holmes have elite talent and may be asked to contribute a lot sooner with Daniels no longer in play. There’s no doubt the loss of Daniels is big, but it appears that Notre Dame has the depth to still make plays through the air.

KeiVarae Russell is probably the biggest loss of the four players. Russell has started at corner for two seasons and has made great strides since first taking the field as a true freshman in 2012. Russell was expected to be Notre Dame’s lockdown corner and looked poised for a breakout year. In the offseason, Notre Dame added a big piece to their secondary when fifth-year senior Cody Riggs transferred from the University of Florida. Riggs was expected to be more of a nickel and dime defensive back, playing both corner and safety, but now he will take Russell’s spot. Riggs is talented enough to start at corner, but now he must master the responsibilities of his position in a short time. With Riggs moving to starting corner, sophomore Devin Butler and freshman Nick Watkins figure to see more playing time in nickel and dime sets. While both players are talented, they lack experience and will be tested against some of Notre Dame’s tougher opponents.

Ishaq Williams was once a five-star recruit, but he has yet to live up to the hype. After being blocked behind players like Darius Flemming and Prince Shembo, Williams hasn’t had a shot at a starting position. This season, Williams was expected to start a defensive end and add experience to a young unit. Even with Williams starting, the defensive end positions were a big question mark for the Irish. The middle seems stout with Sheldon Day moving to the inside along with Jarron Jones, but the Irish could struggle on the outside. True freshman Andrew Trumbetti was slated to start opposite of Williams, and now sophomore Isaac Rochell will start in-place of Williams. With two freshmen Grant Blankenship and Jay Hayes behind Rochell on the depth chart, Notre Dame is an injury away from being in serious trouble in terms of depth.

Kendall Moore is the least significant name of the group, but his loss will be felt the most in the special teams department. In addition, Moore is a fifth-year senior and is considered one of the leaders in the locker room. Notre Dame will likely be able to fill the gap with Moore on the field, but it remains to be seen how much he will be missed off the field.

Once the investigation plays out, there will likely be off the field consequences for the Irish. If proven that any of these players would have been deemed academically ineligible during anytime they played regular season games, wins might be vacated from previous seasons. Considering that all four of these players were on the team in 2012 and that there might also be past players involved, it is possible that the entire magical 2012 regular season will be wiped out of the record books. While that would be disappointing, hopefully that is where the punishment would end. It is important to note that the University of Notre Dame is conducting their own investigation and the NCAA is not involved. At this point, there is no reason to think that Notre Dame officials, coaches, or personnel were involved in the scandal and have done nothing to try to cover up the situation. Given that, there shouldn’t be any reason to reduce future scholarships or put the football program on postseason probation. Obviously, there is always a chance that could happen, but hopefully the players and coaches won’t have to suffer in the future for what some players did in the past.

-Eric Tichelbaut


Twitter: @etichel07

Sunday, August 17, 2014

White Sox: Five Things to Watch in Final Whites

With the Chicago White Sox nearly ten games out of first place in the American League Central Division and only six weeks left in the regular season, there is not a lot to be excited about as a White Sox fan. However, there are several things to watch for as the 2014 season winds down.

Waiver Trades

Although the White Sox failed to make any moves prior to the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline, players can still be dealt through waivers for two more weeks. While it seems unlikely that any big deal would be consummated, there is a possibility that general manager Rick Hahn could deal a player or two to a contending team hoping to make a push towards the playoffs.

Avisail Garcia’s Return

To the surprise of many, right fielder Avisail Garcia returned to the lineup Saturday night. Garcia suffered torn labrum in his left shoulder diving for a ball on April 9th. After undergoing surgery, it was assumed that Garcia would miss the remainder of the season, and be ready to go in the spring of 2015. Now after missing the last four months, Garcia will have six weeks to face major league pitching and continue his developmental process. The fact that Garcia was immediately inserted into the cleanup spot speaks volumes of how much potential the 23-year-old possesses.

Paul Konerko’s Final Games

Paul Konerko’s outstanding career is coming to an end, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play as much as possible during the final six weeks. Hopefully, Konerko will play a little bit more often during home games to give fans a chance to give him a proper farewell. Knowing that the next time Konerko hits a home run could be his last one is a bittersweet thought. For 16 years Konerko has been the face of the White Sox and will forever be remembered for his dramatic grand-slam in Game Two of the 2005 World Series. I think I can speak for all White Sox fans that Paulie will be dearly missed.

Potential September Call-ups

As always, MLB rosters will be expanded in September allowing for minor league players to continue playing after their season’s are finished. It’ll be interesting to see who gets called up in September, but the most intriguing names are Carlos Rodon, Micah Johnson, and Andy Wilkins.

Rodon was drafted to slide into the number two spot in the future starting rotation behind Chris Sale, and he may get that chance as early as 2015. Rodon could be promoted in September, but I think he’d probably pitch on the bullpen if that happened. There’s no need to rush Rodon into being a starter this season, and obviously there would be less innings added onto his arm if he pitched out of the bullpen.

Micah Johnson is considered to be the second baseman of the future and will likely take over for Gordon Beckham sooner rather than later. The White Sox should try to move Beckham for whatever they can in the next two weeks or during the offseason to open up a starting spot for Johnson in 2015.

Andy Wilkins is an interesting case because he wasn’t considered a top prospect prior to the season. At 25 years old, the first baseman is not necessarily young in prospect terms, and I doubt he needs more development. At this point, Wilkins has likely maxed out his potential and it is time to find out if he can hit major league pitching. In 115 games this year at Triple-A Charlotte, Wilkins has hit .297 with 28 home runs and 77 RBI. With Jose Abreu firmly entrenched as the team’s first baseman, Wilkins may have to settle on being a designated hitter. Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko will be gone in 2015, so there is an opportunity for playing time. Considering that Wilkins is a left-handed bat, he has a great chance at getting a shot due to the lack of left-handed power in the White Sox projected roster for 2015.

Jose Abreu’s Historic Season

Jose Abreu is having a historic first season in the major leagues and will undoubtedly win the American League Rookie of the Year award. Whether or not Abreu should be considered a rookie is something that is debatable, but his season is historic either way. While Abreu played professional baseball in Cuba, the caliber of talent isn’t the same, and Abreu had to make a ton of adjustments throughout his first season in the majors. Abreu has exceeded everyone’s expectations by hitting .305 with 31 home runs and 89 RBI. Despite missing two weeks due to injury earlier this season, Abreu still has a chance at 40 homers and 120 RBI. It should be fun to see if he can reach those marks in the final 38 games.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Twitter: @etichel07