'10 OH QB Andrew Hendrix (Notre Dame Signee)

[In Lou I Trust]

He's always seemed very neurotic and tense to me any time he went in. Could that have anything to do with the coaches never deeming him the best option?

He's clearly a smart kid with great athleticism and a cannon arm.

Maybe... Just maybe... If Kelly and Martin hand him the ball this off-season and get behind him 100% we'd see a different demeanor out there.

I may be grasping at straws here but maybe the difference in Hendy being Clark Kent or Superman is a little trust and belief.

Agreed. Just name him the starter today. Maybe hearing that will give him that confidence boost he may need. If come fall ball he's clearly not the best option put in Rees. Rees has proven numerous times that his confidence isn't easily shaken.

 

[DillonHall]

Agreed. Just name him the starter today. Maybe hearing that will give him that confidence boost he may need. If come fall ball he's clearly not the best option put in Rees. Rees has proven numerous times that his confidence isn't easily shaken.

Extremely unfair to Tommy

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Agreed. Just name him the starter today. Maybe hearing that will give him that confidence boost he may need. If come fall ball he's clearly not the best option put in Rees. Rees has proven numerous times that his confidence isn't easily shaken.

Extremely unfair to Tommy

I want to see a fair battle but I don't think a Rees/Hendrix experiment similar to that of Golson's would work with Andrew. I don't mind if Rees ends up the better choice but if Hendy gets the nod I hope they back him completely.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Looking at films, I think Hendrix could excel at quarterback for the Irish this year. He seems to have the ability to run better to his left than his right. I don't know if that is his skill set, or ND's O-line blocking. But his option pitches and everything look better to the left.

Now if you look at tape of Hendrix, 60 to 70% is the Stanford '11 game. There were two things about that game; the field was a bloody mess (I still can see closeups of the turf over sand tearing up in hunks every time anyone cut on that crap); and the entire right side of the offensive line collapsed every play, and Stanford blitzed (successfully) at will, all game long. Our starting center was out; most people forget about that with Stanford and FSU.

This is the kind of thing that has been fixed with the Irish, that nobody, expecting we repeat two seasons ago is accounting for.

I always feel Hendrix was unduly criticized for his performance in that game. His work with his feet was legendary. And his passing wasn't terrible, as Stanford's passing defense was one of the better we faced. Remember these were the games Tommy wilted during.

I think a nice left-handed running first team could be put together with Hendrix. You have Tommy off of the bench. I would throw Andrew out there first and have him give it his best go!

 

[Emcee77]

Yep, Hendrix is the dark horse. He has the talent to be the guy this fall ... He's just got to put it together mentally.

 

[EddytoNow]

He's always seemed very neurotic and tense to me any time he went in. Could that have anything to do with the coaches never deeming him the best option?

He's clearly a smart kid with great athleticism and a cannon arm.

Maybe... Just maybe... If Kelly and Martin hand him the ball this off-season and get behind him 100% we'd see a different demeanor out there.

I may be grasping at straws here but maybe the difference in Hendy being Clark Kent or Superman is a little trust and belief.

I agree totally. Hendrix has never benefited from being the number 1 QB at practice. As the third string quarterback, he has gotten only a handful of snaps in practice. The majority of the reps were always going to someone else. If he can get more practice reps, the on-field uncertainty will be greatly reduced.

 

[Fbolt]

Great to have options! Rees, Hendrix, Zaire. Was believing that it was going to be Hendrix last year prior to Golson getting the nod-maybe this year?

 

[rocket66]

I'm in the Hendrix camp this season. Was really high on him and loved his toughness in the '11 Stanford game. I love TR, but ND needs an athletic/mobile qb for BK's offense to see its full potential. Go with Hendrix and let Rees play that closer role again. I think we'll all be pleasantly surprised by the qb play and offense this season.

 

[irishfan]

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Put this in another thread, but he impressed me a ton this game against a Stanford team that went 11-2 and only lost to OK State and Oregon who finished #3 and #4 respectively that year.

He was the #2 QB for the second half of that year, and he impressed Kelly enough where he was getting special packages a lot in the second half of the season. He could impress Kelly again now that he will be getting #2 reps this summer.

Also, with Rees, every team will rush 3 and drop 8 whenever it is 2nd or 3rd and long. I think we can beat a lot of teams on our schedule with Rees (Temple, Purdue, Air Force, Navy, Pitt, BYU). I think some games will be a challenge with Rees (Michigan, MSU, Az State, USC), and I think beating Oklahoma or Stanford will be very tough with just Rees in there.

I love Tommy as much as the next guy, but I really think Kelly needs to go "all-in" on developing Hendrix as a change-of-pace guy at the minimum.

 

[yankeeND]

I tend to lean towards the staff being more comfortable with Rees. That's not to say that they don't go all in with Andrew and maybe have themselves a Collaros 2.0. I really just want one of these QB's to just take charge of the team. Either way I support whoever the coaches choose, I just hope they can grow as an offense this year.

 

[DillonHall]

I couldn't keep watching that Stanford video. Way too annoying to see the ball carrier slip every other play

 

[Domina Nostra]

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Put this in another thread, but he impressed me a ton this game against a Stanford team that went 11-2 and only lost to OK State and Oregon who finished #3 and #4 respectively that year.

He was the #2 QB for the second half of that year, and he impressed Kelly enough where he was getting special packages a lot in the second half of the season. He could impress Kelly again now that he will be getting #2 reps this summer.

Also, with Rees, every team will rush 3 and drop 8 whenever it is 2nd or 3rd and long. I think we can beat a lot of teams on our schedule with Rees (Temple, Purdue, Air Force, Navy, Pitt, BYU). I think some games will be a challenge with Rees (Michigan, MSU, Az State, USC), and I think beating Oklahoma or Stanford will be very tough with just Rees in there.

I love Tommy as much as the next guy, but I really think Kelly needs to go "all-in" on developing Hendrix as a change-of-pace guy at the minimum.

The field conditions at Stanford that year really hurt us.

 

[irishfan]

The field conditions at Stanford that year really hurt us.

Ya, that game was painful to watch. Still, seeing Hendrix take off for a bunch of 10+ rushes and throwing bullets down the seam gives me hope that somehow he can develop into an every down QB.

 

[rocket66]

Did Hendrix play in the bowl against FSU? I think I remember expecting him to play after his Stanford performance and then being really pissed when Rees started against FSU. I do remember Rees had two INT's in the redzone in that game.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Did Hendrix play in the bowl against FSU? I think I remember expecting him to play after his Stanford performance and then being really pissed when Rees started against FSU. I do remember Rees had two INT's in the redzone in that game.

Yes, Hendrix threw one of the worst interceptions I've ever seen. That game was a disaster.

Ya, that game was painful to watch. Still, seeing Hendrix take off for a bunch of 10+ rushes and throwing bullets down the seam gives me hope that somehow he can develop into an every down QB.

Me too. Hendrix could really improve his game by (1) being a little more patient, (2) not always throwing as hard as he can, and (3) watching film and learning what defenses are doing. I think a simplified offense or a read option with AH could be pretty dangerous once he settled in.

 

[rtrn2glory]

hope Andrew can improve enough in the summer to push Tommy for the job....

 

[Whiskeyjack]

OFD's Larz breaks down what limited game tape of Hendrix is available here:

With recent developments at Notre Dame Hendrix is now officially back in the quarterback mix. This would have caused me great concern a few weeks ago. However, after watching the film, I feel much better about Hendrix. He has the ability to help this team win. He has a strong arm, he is an effective runner, he throws well on the run and he can actually put some touch on the ball. If he can stop with the Ricky Bobby impersonations he could be an effective player for the Irish.

Don't count out the Voodoo Child. I think he's our only hope of making a BCS bowl over the next two seasons.

 

[BGIF]

OFD's Larz breaks down what limited game tape of Hendrix is available here:



Don't count out the Voodoo Child. I think he's our only hope of making a BCS bowl over the next two seasons.

Interesting statement considering Larz doesn't see him competing for the starter's role. He makes that clear in the two sentences immediately following the Larz Ricky Bobby quote you included in your post.

Like most here at OFD I think he will be battling with Zaire for the number 2 spot. If Zaire passes him on the depth chart, it will say more about Zaire's development and skill set than it will about Hendrix's lack of skill.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I'm convinced,,,,, Hendrix is our guy.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Don't count out the Voodoo Child. I think he's our only hope of making a BCS bowl over the next two seasons.

I disagree for 2 main reasons:

1. Early indications are that Golson is coming back, and he already lead us to a BCS game.

2. I was talking to a guy yesterday who knows a ton of guys on the team as well as a couple of the coaches. Of course, the players give the standard 'we'll be fine' lines to him that he takes with a grain of salt, but one thing that has always stood out to him is that the players LOVE Rees. Pretty much to a man. Not that they didn't like Golson, but they LOVE Tommy.

So his point was that the players are going to play really hard for Tommy, and that could count for something as he tends to galvanize the team. And this guy is no sunshine pumper, so it made me think.

Now, that said, Tommy has some severe limitations, and I could be dreaming here. But one can dream, right? RIGHT???

 

[ThePiombino]

Don't count out the Voodoo Child. I think he's our only hope of making a BCS bowl over the next two seasons.

Are we working under the assumption that Golson isn't coming back here?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Are we working under the assumption that Golson isn't coming back here?

Some are and some aren't.

From what I have heard last weekend was the shot to the head of a long miserable trail of tears, kind of like putting a horse out of it's misery. There are a lot of issues in the classroom and some still on the field. PLUS. EG would have to make some huge changes, ones that he has not been willing to make yet.

I agree that Tommy is well loved; but does the team see him as a starter? I am not sure that is the dynamic. (Not a point to argue, I am just not sure. I know the team loves him.)

To me the three quarterback relationship and play order comes down to how much has Zaire picked up; then, how much has Hendrix matured; then can Tommy limit his interceptions.

I feel this offensive team is going to need to establish their feet. That is number one.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Are we working under the assumption that Golson isn't coming back here?

At this point you almost have to. It would be great if he returns, and he saying all the right things along those lines, but until he actually is a approved and re-enrolls nothing is certain.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Are we working under the assumption that Golson isn't coming back here?

As my dad always told me "hope for the best but plan for the worst." I would work assuming he doesnt come back, but if he does then thats great

 

[rocket66]

I disagree for 2 main reasons:

2. I was talking to a guy yesterday who knows a ton of guys on the team as well as a couple of the coaches. Of course, the players give the standard 'we'll be fine' lines to him that he takes with a grain of salt, but one thing that has always stood out to him is that the players LOVE Rees. Pretty much to a man. Not that they didn't like Golson, but they LOVE Tommy.

So his point was that the players are going to play really hard for Tommy, and that could count for something as he tends to galvanize the team. And this guy is no sunshine pumper, so it made me think.

The players LOVED Charlie Weis, too.

 

[RyCo1983]

I'm convinced,,,,, Hendrix is our guy.

For this season, I agree, he's got experience and is far superior to Rees in arm strength and mobility. I'm no coach, but I'd give him a shot.

 

[ACamp1900]

I would expect two QBs to get time somehow... Kelly hasn't hesitated with that in the past

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I just don't want him solely coming in for those blatantly obvious designed QB runs... It's a butt fumble waiting to happen.

If he can just settle down back there and show some poise I think he'd move the offense just fine.

From what I've seen I don't think he'll succeed in a 2 QB system with sporadic playing time. It's hard to explain but it's almost like he's too hyped when he gets in.

Given a chance to manage the offense, we might have a solid arm with the ability to run. (Which is all we really had before..... It's partly speculation that EG was going to take a massive leap ((even though I was fully invested in the idea)) in 2013).

It's not an easy decision for Kelly and that's what makes it so exciting for all 3 options. They each truly have opportunity to step up and take the job.

 

[NDinL.A.]

The players LOVED Charlie Weis, too.

The players LOVED Tony Rice too. We can do this for days. You missed the point he was making.

 

[JughedJones]

I'm sure this has been said to death, but here it goes again:


Putting Tommy in after Hendrix blows it would be a lot easier to do than putting Hendrix in after Tommy blows it.

Just saying.