Irish Sports News Mailbag Monday

Nick asks: @ISNBlog who is the number one wideout going into camp? Who do you think will be the starter after?

Currently, T.J. Jones is the top returning Wide Receiver with 38 catches for 366 yards. This number pales in comparison to Michael Floyd's 100 receptions and 1,102 yards. However, two players return with higher yardage outputs. All-American Tight End Tyler Eifert had 63 receptions and 803 yards. Former Slot Receiver and current Running Back Theo Riddick had 38 hauls for 436 yards. Therefore, at the beginning of camp, the number one true Wide Receiver is T.J. Jones. In reality, Notre Dame's best receiver is Tyler Eifert.

The Wide Receiver position lacks a unique talent like Michael Floyd currently. However, Davonte Neal is probably close. The small tidbits of footage available show that Neal is a dynamic athlete. He is capable of having a similar impact despite the fact that they are two vastly different players. Neal is capable of turning a 3-yard hitch into a 50-yard gain. By the end of the year, Neal should be the best Wide Receiver on the team. He simply just needs to learn the position. His talent will take care of the rest. 

Carly asks: @ISNBlog Who starts against Navy? Hendrix or Golson?

When Everett Golson lead the first team offense during the tempo drill on Saturday, the conspiracies began circulate that Golson was the favorite to lead Notre Dame in Ireland against Navy. Kelly explained that he had won that opportunity because he had the best overall Blue-Gold game performance of the four Quarterbacks. Someone always has to go first. Overall, Kelly is still probably uncomfortable with Golson handling the offense on a week to week basis. In summation, the Quarterback situation can be viewed as a different ranges of play. For example, on a 10-point scale, Tommy Rees will likely give you anywhere from a 5 to 7. Nothing too spectacular but nothing too terrible either. Andrew Hendrix can probably give something about a 4 to 8. Finally, Golson might be able to give a 3 to 10. What does Kelly want? High risk, high reward like Golson? Slow and steady like Rees? Or maybe an in between choice like Hendrix? Based on Kelly's comments, it does not seem like he would tolerate the possibility of wide swings in play. He will most likely choose Hendrix, the safer choice for Navy.

Brett asks: With Tommy Rees missing the first game, does he have a chance of winning the starting position his first game back?

Absolutely. Two things need to happen for him. First, he needs to prove that he is still the best Quarterback in camp despite not being able to start the Navy game. Second, Hendrix or Golson need to under-perform in the game in Ireland. If both or maybe even one of these things happen, Notre Dame fans will see Tommy Rees again in 2012. 

To ask a question for next week's mailbag, tweet @ISNBlog, write on our Facebook page or comment on this page! Go Irish!

Notre Dame Kicks Off Fall Camp

Notre Dame kicked off practice at 10 a.m. at the LaBar Practice Field for the 2012 season. The first question for Fighting Irish Football fans is, "What's going on with the Quarterback situation?" On the first day, according to several media outlets and online videos that are available, Golson ran with the first group. Does this mean that Everett is currently the front-runner for the position? Probably not. Assuming it is a fair and equal competition, Andrew Hendrix would most likely get those reps tomorrow. In other words, someone always has to go first.

Notre Dame also released a depth chart today detailing the team at the beginning of the fall camp. Of course, it had Golson OR Hendrix listed. Cierre Wood gets the nod over Theo Riddick despite being unable to practice early on in the media sessions. The Freshman player who cracked the two-deep on offense was Davonte Neal who looked very quick and fast in all videos available for consumption online currently. The other two Freshman Wide Receivers looked skinny at this point. It appears that they could add about 10 to 20 pounds of muscle before they are genuinely prepared to play.

On defense, the first team currently is Stephon Tuitt, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Kona Schwenke, Manti Te'o, Dan Fox, Danny Spond, Prince Shembo, Lo Wood, Bennett Jackson, Jamoris Slaughter and Zeke Motta. Again, only one Freshman cracked the two-deep and that was Sheldon Day . Based on need and skill, Day will most likely play a lot this year.

In other news from today's practice, Brad Carrico went on a medical scholarship. This essentially means that he will no longer be with the team. The medical scholarships do not count towards the original 85 scholarships.

Here is the remaining practice schedule:

Aug. 4 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 5 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 6 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 7 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 8 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Media viewing, entire practice

Aug. 9 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 10 - Practice from 9:15-11:15 a.m. and 4:45-6:30 p.m.

Aug. 11 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 13 - Practice from 9:15-11:15 a.m. and 4:45-6:30 p.m.

Aug. 14 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 15 - Practice from 9:15-11:15 a.m. and 4:45-6:30 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Practice from 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Aug. 17 - Practice from 9:15-11 a.m. and 4:15-6 p.m.

Aug. 19 - Practice from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Aug. 20 - Practice from 6:45-8:30 a.m.

Aug. 21 - Practice from 6:45-8:30 a.m.

Aug. 22 - Practice from 6:15-7:30 a.m.

Aug. 23 - Practice from 6:45-8:30 a.m.

Aug. 24 - Practice from 4:45-6:30 p.m.

Aug. 25 - Practice from 9-10:30 a.m.

Aug. 27 - Practice from 6:15-7:30 a.m.

Aug. 28 - Practice from 6:45-8:30 a.m.

Aug. 29 - Practice from 6:15-7:30 a.m.

Aug. 30 - Practice from 12:15-1:50 p.m.