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

[Guest]

I agree. I have seen BK run the ball and cater to his personnel. But I think he thought Golson could handle duties and played to what he thought was his team strengths, only to figure out he was wrong.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I agree. I have seen BK run the ball and cater to his personnel. But I think he thought Golson could handle duties and played to what he thought was his team strengths, only to figure out he was wrong.

I think you are probably correct. Reps


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[IrishLion]

If ND would commit to a run-first offense with him and Folston/Bryant doing lots of zone read I think it'd be incredibly effective. Bryant had 11 YPC yesterday.

But we're never going to do that.

I wouldn't be so sure. If Zaire becomes the mainstay, I think the zone read becomes a mainstay as well. Whenever Collaros had to play in BK's time at UC, the offense immediately transitioned to the read, with a heavy dose of RB1/2 mixed in. The passing game became muxh more vertical as well, especially attacking the seams.

Kelly wanted Golson to be the air-raid master that Pike was, while limited action against USC shows that Zaire is already getting the Collaros flavor of the offense.

As an aside, I think the "Pike" version of the offense is much more deadly, but Golson simply can't protect the ball or see the whole field. This is why my money is on Kizer to be the most effective when all is said in done down the line. The ISD guys are always raving about how smooth and effective he looks compared to the others, and he's got the size to see the entire field. If he picks it up mentally, he'll have a legit shot at competing ASAP, regardless of Golson/Malik.

 

[Bluto]

I wouldn't be so sure. If Zaire becomes the mainstay, I think the zone read becomes a mainstay as well. Whenever Collaros had to play in BK's time at UC, the offense immediately transitioned to the read, with a heavy dose of RB1/2 mixed in. The passing game became muxh more vertical as well, especially attacking the seams.

Kelly wanted Golson to be the air-raid master that Pike was, while limited action against USC shows that Zaire is already getting the Collaros flavor of the offense.

As an aside, I think the "Pike" version of the offense is much more deadly, but Golson simply can't protect the ball or see the whole field. This is why my money is on Kizer to be the most effective when all is said in done down the line. The ISD guys are always raving about how smooth and effective he looks compared to the others, and he's got the size to see the entire field. If he picks it up mentally, he'll have a legit shot at competing ASAP, regardless of Golson/Malik.

Makes sense to me.

 

[Emcee77]

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

I agree. I have seen BK run the ball and cater to his personnel. But I think he thought Golson could handle duties and played to what he thought was his team strengths, only to figure out he was wrong.

Exactly. Golson just did not play to Kelly's expectations this year. In hindsight, I am sure Kelly would have done things differently.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Kelly is too damn stubborn like a lot of coaches. Holgorsen at WVU ran the ball a lot more this year because he adjusted to the team and type of running backs he had. Traditionally he would air it out but that was not the case this year.

Just eight more carries in the bowl game and the Kelly will have rushed the ball more than every season outside of 2012.

2010: 414 | 1646 | 4.0
2011: 433 | 2085 | 4.8
2012: 506 | 2462 | 4.9
2013: 440 | 1963 | 4.5
2014: 433 | 1810 | 4.2

If all of the players comes back for 2015 I don't see a legitimate excuse to not top an 5.0 average with 2700 yards. With Zaire/Folston/Bryant they should really be topping a 5.5 average.

At the end of the day though, success in 2015 will be decided by the defense's ability to be a top 35 defense. I think the offense will score points regardless of the quarterback.

 

[BMT]

As an aside, anyone think Golson will transfer to say Wisconsin/Kansas type thing? Personaly, I hope he starts as NDs QB in 2015 with a little Malik sprinkled in>

 

[Irishman77]

As an aside, anyone think Golson will transfer to say Wisconsin/Kansas type thing? Personaly, I hope he starts as NDs QB in 2015 with a little Malik sprinkled in>

I hope not . Golson would be a wonderful backup to have until Wimbush is ready to take over after Zaire's 5th

 

[pkt77242]

Just eight more carries in the bowl game and the Kelly will have rushed the ball more than every season outside of 2012.

2010: 414 | 1646 | 4.0
2011: 433 | 2085 | 4.8
2012: 506 | 2462 | 4.9
2013: 440 | 1963 | 4.5
2014: 433 | 1810 | 4.2

If all of the players comes back for 2015 I don't see a legitimate excuse to not top an 5.0 average with 2700 yards. With Zaire/Folston/Bryant they should really be topping a 5.5 average.

At the end of the day though, success in 2015 will be decided by the defense's ability to be a top 35 defense. I think the offense will score points regardless of the quarterback.

Well not to put a damper on your numbers but we are running more plays per game this year then in previous years (at least 4 plays per game more and in some cases even more) and the rushing attempts include sacks which have been significantly higher this year then in the past few years.

For example last year we ran 67.5 plays per game and this year it is 74.7, so about 7 plays per game difference. That isn't even factoring in the fact that Golson has been sacked more this year then Rees last year and that he has scrambled more often. The truth is that while we might have more attempts this year then last year, we are not "running more often" as our percentage of called runs would be less.

 

[NDRock]

Yeah, 113 of the carries are Golson for 277 yards (61 on the TD against NW). Our RBs have only gotten 282 carries combined, which seems low.

If Zaire is was the QB and he was taking carries away from our backs I could understand but Golson hasn't been a running threat all year.

 

[NDRock]

As an aside, anyone think Golson will transfer to say Wisconsin/Kansas type thing? Personaly, I hope he starts as NDs QB in 2015 with a little Malik sprinkled in>

It seems like the problem is more to do with Kelly and his offense than the QBs. I think Golson could be very successful if the offense was a little less dependent on the QB. Run the ball more, simplify some things, let these guys play more "loose". Malik looks confident now but give it time, Kelly will confuse the hell out of him and make him think too much.

 

[koonja]

Golson won't have graduated, will he? And if not, is he even allowed to pull a Russel Wilson?

 

[GoldenDomer]

Golson won't have graduated, will he? And if not, is he even allowed to pull a Russel Wilson?

Can we frame Golson for cheating and get Zaire in next year...?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I quit on Golson Saturday, and not because of the turnovers, but because he clearly has lost that edge. He looked like Dayne out there. He wasn't seeing the field. His throws were wildly inaccurate. And to top it off, he basically quit on his team by sulking on the bench.

I've been trying to defend EG all this time, but I think the Malik era began Saturday. He brings passion, play-making ability, and hopefully a great knowledge of the game. It's a small sample size and he wasn't Superman, but I think it's time for BK to look in the mirror and quit playing favorites. The guys at ISD have been saying that Bryant, Malik, and McGlinchey need to be on the field for weeks now. BK finally puts them out there and they played great. I'm so sick of BK's stubbornness.

Great job, Malik! Keep it up!

 

[dublinirish]

I quit on Golson Saturday, and not because of the turnovers, but because he clearly has lost that edge. He looked like Dayne out there. He wasn't seeing the field. His throws were wildly inaccurate. And to top it off, he basically quit on his team by sulking on the bench.

I've been trying to defend EG all this time, but I think the Malik era began Saturday. He brings passion, play-making ability, and hopefully a great knowledge of the game. It's a small sample size and he wasn't Superman, but I think it's time for BK to look in the mirror and quit playing favorites. The guys at ISD have been saying that Bryant, Malik, and McGlinchey need to be on the field for weeks now. BK finally puts them out there and they played great. I'm so sick of BK's stubbornness.

Great job, Malik! Keep it up!

The most popular player at ND is always the backup Quarterback - Dr. Lou's words were never more true

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The most popular player at ND is always the backup Quarterback - Dr. Lou's words were never more true

I'm aware.

But I'm not putting All-American, Heisman status on Malik. I just think something is seriously wrong with Golson and I'm sick of seeing him pout on the sidelines. Malik didn't have an amazing stat line Saturday, but he played with passion and fire and he moved the ball. I'm not a wishy-washy fan. I'm not going to be screaming for Kizer after Malik's first INT. I just honestly feel like EG has lost what made him special. Idk if it's coaching, or if its all on him, or if it's both. But it's obvious Golson is not the same player he was early in the season and I think it's time that Malik gets some serious playing time.

I think Golson could shake this off. I think if he had any kind of kicking game and a defense, ND would have a better record. ND has won a lot of games because of him. I'm not saying he's terrible. But I just feel Malik closed the gap over these two years and push come to shove, EG just wasn't getting it done Saturday and I'm glad BK finally pulled the cord.

Run a QB-by-committee, idc. But Golson has officially fallen off the pedestal. This far into BK's tenure, he needs guys that put up or shut up...consistently.

 

[wizards8507]

Golson won't have graduated, will he? And if not, is he even allowed to pull a Russel Wilson?

I think he will... my understanding is that he was academically "ahead" due to summer classes and whatnot, so the suspension put him back on what would otherwise be a normal track. I might be wrong but I think he graduates with his class in the spring.

 

[IrishLion]

The most popular player at ND is always the backup Quarterback - Dr. Lou's words were never more true

But what if Malik is no longer the backup???? Do we pick Golson or Kizer as the favorite?

 

[dublinirish]

But what if Malik is no longer the backup???? Do we pick Golson or Kizer as the favorite?

Yes, more than likely. My feelings are Wimbush will be the next fan favourite because he passes the eye test and and has a big arm.

 

[Irish#1]

As an aside, anyone think Golson will transfer to say Wisconsin/Kansas type thing? Personaly, I hope he starts as NDs QB in 2015 with a little Malik sprinkled in>

That would kind of contradict what he said when he came back to ND. He said he wanted to finish what he started (academically and as a football player).

 

[TheTurningPoint]

If ND would commit to a run-first offense with him and Folston/Bryant doing lots of zone read I think it'd be incredibly effective. Bryant had 11 YPC yesterday.

But we're never going to do that.

You're right because Notre Dame doesnt have the offensive line to run Zone Read over and over and over and over again like Auburn.

BK has no problem running the ball 75% of the time to win games, but you need to have a OL to do it and backs that succeed. Folston has proven he can be consistent.

GB looked great running on Saturday, but how hard is USC playing up 35-0 when he got carries. Not taking anything away from GB or Zaires performances on Saturday, but when its 35-0, its a little different than 4th and 18 in Tally.

Zaire looked good at times on Saturday and then showed why he hasnt been playing at times. He definitely needs game reps.

I dont care who is the QB, I just want someone to win games. Im not jumping on a "Zaire Bandwagon or a Golson Bandwagon", I want the kid that can wins games for Notre Dame on the field. As of Saturday, neither did anything to make me say, wow we should go in that direction. Id love to see Lafleur start earning that paycheck.

 

[wizards8507]

Zaire looked good at times on Saturday and then showed why he hasnt been playing at times. He definitely needs game reps.

This is the chicken-or-the-egg catch-22 scenario that we've been dealing with all season through Golson's bonehead mistakes. Zaire doesn't get reps because he's inexperienced but he can't get experience without reps. At some point you need to dive right in, accept some growing pains along the way, and see how the kid does in meaningful situations.

As of Saturday, neither did anything to make me say, wow we should go in that direction.

If nothing else, Zaire has the extra weight that allows him to run BK's full playbook. Golson carries the ball on designed runs occasionally, but BK has acknowledged several times that he just doesn't have the "body armor" to be a featured runner on a regular basis. There's also something to be said for attitude and sideline demeanor, if for no other reason than a tiebreaker.

 

[Cackalacky]

Yeah. I still have not been able to decipher what it is that Lafleur does or is doing.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

You're right because Notre Dame doesnt have the offensive line to run Zone Read over and over and over and over again like Auburn.

BK has no problem running the ball 75% of the time to win games, but you need to have a OL to do it and backs that succeed. Folston has proven he can be consistent.

GB looked great running on Saturday, but how hard is USC playing up 35-0 when he got carries. Not taking anything away from GB or Zaires performances on Saturday, but when its 35-0, its a little different than 4th and 18 in Tally.

Zaire looked good at times on Saturday and then showed why he hasnt been playing at times. He definitely needs game reps.

I dont care who is the QB, I just want someone to win games. Im not jumping on a "Zaire Bandwagon or a Golson Bandwagon", I want the kid that can wins games for Notre Dame on the field. As of Saturday, neither did anything to make me say, wow we should go in that direction. Id love to see Lafleur start earning that paycheck.

Great post TP. Maybe Kizer emerges as the guy.

 

[dublinirish]

Yeah. I still have not been able to decipher what it is that Lafleur does or is doing.

my guess his job is to pick the QB's up after BK gives them a bollicking :/

 

[Big23Head]

Scout (VIDEOs): Player Video: Zaire, Luke, Smith

Good interview of Malik

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You're right because Notre Dame doesnt have the offensive line to run Zone Read over and over and over and over again like Auburn.

Please expound on this a little further. What is it specifically that our OL is lacking? We've arguably recruited the position better than any other team in the nation over the last few cycles, so the issue can't be general quality.

 

[BobbyMac]

Yeah. I still have not been able to decipher what it is that Lafleur does or is doing.

Sounds like he's working with the QB's on a daily basis and everything is ok. I know one of the QB's is fond of him and so is that player's family.

 

[IrishLax]

Please expound on this a little further. What is it specifically that our OL is lacking? We've arguably recruited the position better than any other team in the nation over the last few cycles, so the issue can't be general quality.

Yeah, I completely disagree with this assessment by TP. Please explain how the OL isn't built for that kind of blocking.

 

[Luckylucci]

Oregon runs a run first, zone read option offense that has a tremendous amount of success without physically imposing offensive lineman. They consistently run the ball more than they throw and sometimes by a wide margin. Now, do they have more speed than we do sure but we're getting close and Royce freeman isn't LaMichael James fast and he's still insanely productive that offense.