'13 OH QB Malik Zaire (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[Jimmy3Putt]

Tommy is a good kid and a capable quarterback against lesser defenses. We'd lose 3-5 games with him starting. I'd rather take my lumps with the kid, lose the same amount of games, and be set up for a better '14 season.

 

[ThePiombino]

Heavy dose of Tommy up front, transition to Malik by season's end. It's the only logical solution, UNLESS BK already knows Hendrix is coming back next year. Give him the reigns for '13 and '14.

 

[stlnd01]

Heavy dose of Tommy up front, transition to Malik by season's end. It's the only logical solution, UNLESS BK already knows Hendrix is coming back next year. Give him the reigns for '13 and '14.

Yes. This would seem like the most logical approach. Obviously change-able depending on how well Rees and Zaire perform.
Very interesting to see how all this plays out in '14 if Golson misses next season but winds up returning.

 

[arrowryan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Got to catch up with my dude @<a href="https://twitter.com/luckylefty8">luckylefty8</a> this morning. Can't wait to get back and start grindin with him again! <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23work">#work</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23noceilings">#noceilings</a></p>— James Onwualu (@J_Walls) <a href="https://twitter.com/J_Walls/status/338690205798256640">May 26, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[Who'saWildManNow]

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Go ahead and re-introduce yourself.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

Tommy is a good kid and a capable quarterback against lesser defenses. We'd lose 3-5 games with him starting. I'd rather take my lumps with the kid, lose the same amount of games, and be set up for a better '14 season.

Are we basing everything off of two seasons ago? I mean I'd like to think players get better as they practice and play in games, and I can't assume Tommy is any different. Yeah he's not as mobile, but neither are a lot of productive QB's. It would be nice to hear maybe something to relate to why you assume Tommy is a lock for 3-5 losses. Again is this based off of two seasons ago when everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Is there anything you can tell us to back up the 3-5 losses your claiming Tommy is going to provide, or are you just talking out loud, and purely speculating? Yeah, with Tommy in we lose a lot of athleticism at the QB position, but we gain a $hit ton of experience, leadership, and knowledge of the playbook and defenses and defensive adjustments. Golson was on the path to gain all of those attributes as well, but he definitely was not there yet.

"IN MY OPINION" I think BK will play Hendrix and Tommy all season, unless some freak injury knocks one of those two out, he's got to keep Malik on the Bench to prepare for next season, we have no other answer at QB after this season. More than likely Hendrix will not return, he'll get his degree?, and move past football. Plus as bad as it sounds, I think it's a heck of a recruiting tactic to keep Malik on the bench this season, then go out and recruit the QB's you want and tell them they can come to ND and compete for the starting QB job at ND their very first season, not a lot of prime time schools can offer that and mean it, and those QB recruits could easily look at the depth chart and know they would have a chance.

 

[greyhammer90]

Bacon- when I guess 3-5 losses with Tommy I'm basing it off the byu game this year. Go back and watch that game. To say the offense was limited is an understatement.

 

[ShakeDown]

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Go ahead and re-introduce yourself.

Thanks for posting this, I forgot how much I like Malik and how he carries himself.

 

[Circa]

Tommy is a good kid and a capable quarterback against lesser defenses. We'd lose 3-5 games with him starting. I'd rather take my lumps with the kid, lose the same amount of games, and be set up for a better '14 season.

I just never understood the hate directed toward Tommy.. He has never started a game that we lost that I can remember.. DC started Tulsa Navy, Mich..... Just crazy imo

 

[pkt77242]

I just never understood the hate directed toward Tommy.. He has never started a game that we lost that I can remember.. DC started Tulsa Navy, Mich..... Just crazy imo

He has a couple of losses as the starter.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

He lost under the lights vs Michigan, FSU, Stanford, and USC while barely beating Pitt, BYU, BC, and Wake the past two seasons as a starter.

 

[FLDomer]

I just never understood the hate directed toward Tommy.. He has never started a game that we lost that I can remember.. DC started Tulsa Navy, Mich..... Just crazy imo

2011 Tommy started and lost to Michigan(2int) USC(1 int) Stanford (1 int) and FSU (2 int)

19 turnovers for the 2011 season might have something to do with a lot of fan's frustrations with Tommy.

 

[Domina Nostra]

2011 Tommy started and lost to Michigan(2int) USC(1 int) Stanford (1 int) and FSU (2 int)

Plus, certain wins (Utah, USC) were almost unbearably ugly for large portions of the game.

 

[RDU Irish]

Because our offense was a juggernaut without him?

1) 2013 defense >>> 2011 defense

2) Senior >> Sophomore

3) 2013 running game >>>>2011 running game

4) Entire team knows the system versus half the squad running a different play on any given down.

I dunno, maybe I am downplaying this too much but I think our offense will be servicable.

 

[FLDomer]

Because our offense was a juggernaut without him?

1) 2013 defense >>> 2011 defense

2) Senior >> Sophomore

3) 2013 running game >>>>2011 running game

I don't agree with the bolded. Wood had over 1k rushing and Gray would probably had 1K had he not got hurt against BC. 2013 we dont what we have beside a fast kid who runs too up right and beyond that just potential.

 

[Anchorman]

Because our offense was a juggernaut without him?

1) 2013 defense >>> 2011 defense

2) Senior >> Sophomore

3) 2013 running game >>>>2011 running game

4) Entire team knows the system versus half the squad running a different play on any given down.

I dunno, maybe I am downplaying this too much but I think our offense will be servicable.

The defense I'll agree with.

Senior >> Sophomore is more than offset by the loss of a 1st round TE, 1st round WR, and many other favorite TR receiving targets in Toma, Riddick, and even Goodman. Passing game will inevitably be worse. Not Tommy's fault, but the passing game will probably be a step back.

The 2011 running game is, objectively, much more likely to be superior.

Cierre went for 1,000 and Jonas had a breakout year and could've gone for more if not for the injury. Sure, our OL might be better this year, but they are also free to stack the box, don't have to worry about EG scrambling, and free up a player due to not having to double/triple Eifert and Floyd.

Moreover, we don't have a single proven RB. Carlisle has potential but can't stay healthy. Bryant is a big five star that while potentially having a huge impact is much more likely to need a year to really adjust like every other player out of high school. He could be the next Stockton. GA3 has questions too.

The last one was a function of the experience on last year's squad. We don't have the same experience coming back this year on offense.

I'm all for getting away from the doomsday crowd, but let's not pretend things are great and Kelly is riding rainbows right now.

 

[ScooterIrish]

We had a running game in 2011? I kid...sort of.

 

[Irish#1]

The defense I'll agree with.

Senior >> Sophomore is more than offset by the loss of a 1st round TE, 1st round WR, and many other favorite TR receiving targets in Toma, Riddick, and even Goodman. Passing game will inevitably be worse. Not Tommy's fault, but the passing game will probably be a step back.

The 2011 running game is, objectively, much more likely to be superior.

Cierre went for 1,000 and Jonas had a breakout year and could've gone for more if not for the injury. Sure, our OL might be better this year, but they are also free to stack the box, don't have to worry about EG scrambling, and free up a player due to not having to double/triple Eifert and Floyd.

Moreover, we don't have a single proven RB. Carlisle has potential but can't stay healthy. Bryant is a big five star that while potentially having a huge impact is much more likely to need a year to really adjust like every other player out of high school. He could be the next Stockton. GA3 has questions too.

The last one was a function of the experience on last year's squad. We don't have the same experience coming back this year on offense.

I'm all for getting away from the doomsday crowd, but let's not pretend things are great and Kelly is riding rainbows right now.

I think the loss of EG raises a lot of question marks for the offense. Defenses will gear up to stop the run if MZ gets the nod. If TR gets it, they will still crowd the line and play underneath forcing him to throw log, which we know isn't his game.

 

[RDU Irish]

I didn't realize a running back was the only factor in a running game? Do you really think this O-line is no better than 2011? I will grant you Floyd's down field blocking was a thing of beauty.

Also consider, Cierre's blocking skills and blitz pick up are big reasons Theo passed him on the depth chart, his 2011 skillset was worse. I don't remember Jonas killing it as a blocker either (not that anyone we have on roster now is a known commodity as a blocker). Eifert's blocking was noticeably improve in 2012 vs. 2011 too.

Beyond Floyd, our WR depth was weak. I mean, you argue Toma and Goodman being "favorite" targets after Floyd and Eifert.... sounds to me like someone who spreads the ball around despite a chasm of a gap in talent after the top two targets.

Turnover of talent is the nature of college football. I have a hard time believing our depth is worse today on offense than it was in 2011. Not saying we will be a top 25 offensive unit, but the 50-60 range should be enough to get the job done IF we can limit turnovers.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

I just never understood the hate directed toward Tommy.. He has never started a game that we lost that I can remember.. DC started Tulsa Navy, Mich..... Just crazy imo

USC, Michigan, Stanford, and FSU in 2011. He didn't finish the Stanford or FSU games, but he did start them. He finished a couple of games for Crist that were lost, as well, but don't count against his record.

 

[RDU Irish]

Plus - Its not like we could just pin our ears back and run over folks (like I fully expect us to do this year with regularity). We absolutely did not impose our will on others in 2011 in that sense.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

We had a running game in 2011? I kid...sort of.

Your sort of made me chime in on this. We had a 1000 yard rusher and came darn close to having a second 1000 yard rusher but Jonas got hurt. We ran the ball extremely well in 2011. I'm not sure we can produce those same stats this season even with a better OL.

 

[Ironman8]

Your sort of made me chime in on this. We had a 1000 yard rusher and came darn close to having a second 1000 yard rusher but Jonas got hurt. We ran the ball extremely well in 2011. I'm not sure we can produce those same stats this season even with a better OL.

Not to mention the two QBs from 2011 with 2 extra years of growth in the program.

I really think we may see Hendrix make a serious push for the job with Tommy being in another relief pitcher type role for him.

 

[NDFAN22]

After watching Golsons highlight tape I feel like he was quicker and a better passer than MZ. Just my opinion.

 

[Ironman8]

After watching Golsons highlight tape I feel like he was quicker and a better passer than MZ. Just my opinion.

Absolutely was coming out of high school. MZ has to absolutely quicken up his delivery while improving accuracy in order to become a great QB at ND. However, it is very encouraging that all the early reports have him being a sponge with the coaches and in the film room, while showing great work ethic and potential for leadership.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Not to mention the two QBs from 2011 with 2 extra years of growth in the program.

I really think we may see Hendrix make a serious push for the job with Tommy being in another relief pitcher type role for him.

We'd better pray that's the case, because so much hangs on him now. Rees' lack of physical tools makes him a major schematic liability, and Zaire is just too raw. A breakout year for Hendrix in 2013 followed by his return in 2014 is our only realistic hope for sustaining a BCS-caliber offense over the next couple seasons.

 

[Ironman8]

We'd better pray that's the case, because so much hangs on him now. Rees' lack of physical tools makes him a major schematic liability, and Zaire is just too raw. A breakout year for Hendrix in 2013 followed by his return in 2014 is our only realistic hope for sustaining a BCS-caliber offense over the next couple seasons.

Have been hearing reports that it seems this spring / summer the light has turned on for Andrew, so I really hope it is the case and he can take the bull by the horns. Probably would be the difference between a good and great year IMO.

Still love our D, O-line, running back stable and underrated WR core.

 

[RDU Irish]

I'm not sure we had a BCS (i.e. top 10) offense this year regardless. Zaire may be a better two headed option to pair with Rees than Hendrix anyway. If he is "cerebral" then he might be no worse than Rees playing so much as a freshman from a decision making standpoint, but with the bonus of some added playmaking ability. Pair that with Tommy in the bullpen ready to relieve when Malik needs a few minutes on the sideline to process and we are, again, serviceable.

We don't need a top 10 offense to win lots of games. We need a mediocre offense that does not make too many mistakes. Our defense will take care of the rest.

I think we drop from around a top 30 to a top 50 or 60 due to Golson's absence. Paired with a #1 or #2 defense I don't see anyone on the schedule that I would call any better than 50/50.

 

[ScooterIrish]

Your sort of made me chime in on this. We had a 1000 yard rusher and came darn close to having a second 1000 yard rusher but Jonas got hurt. We ran the ball extremely well in 2011. I'm not sure we can produce those same stats this season even with a better OL.

I said the "sort of" because we had too many moments where we either couldn't run the football against a team or refused to run the football against a team. We saw some of this in 2012 too (I'm still not sure what the gameplan against Purdue was...).

But Jonas was a beast in 2011 and should have carried the football more. I hope he makes an impact in the NFL this year.

 

[NDFAN22]

I think MZ should start vs Temple and have TR in the wings waiting if needed. I just think MZ system is so much more dynamic and TR attempting to do a read handoff and the whole defense knowing the Rb is getting the ball. And lets just say the miracle happens TR keeps it, im pretty sure the most hed get is 5 yards. Not too much deception created. As long as the turnovers like stated previous, ND should be a BCS team.