'11 SC QB Everett Golson (FSU transfer)

[Luckylucci]

FWIW, the South Carolina 247 site is reporting that if Golson decides to transfer he's a take for their staff. There is no mention of the likeliness of this happening just they'd take him if he wanted to come.

 

[GoldenDome]

I don't agree with that partially because I don't know. I don't think we've seen enough of him to make that decision. However, the second part is absolutely right. This game was called completely different from previous games. Somewhat similar to 2012. Kelly made the game and decision making process easier for Zaire. It also simultaneously gave LSU something they weren't expecting. Then once they got comfortable we were able to switch it up. However, now there is tape on this and coaches will be watching very closely.

I didn't say Zaire was not the best option. I simply stated he is far behind mentally from the sample we got and what he was asked to do. But don't you think if he was further along that they would have asked him to do more. Not too many throws inside the pocket where he could take a hit. I mean, there was a huge difference in what was asked of Golson and what was asked of Zaire.

I think it is obvious though that Zaire run dimension alone makes him the starter. More explosive first step, can break tackles due to his size and lower body power, and can run the zone read. Unknown is somewhat intriguing and frightening at the same time, it could end up great or end up like Hendrix.

 

[IrishLion]

I think there's also a difference in the "being in command" idea.

There is a difference between a "command of the offense" and "command of the team."

You can't measure it, but Zaire seems to have a command of the team when he's on the field to a level that Golson doesn't. Even though he doesn't have a command of the full playbook, like Golson (sort of), he seems much more comfortable being in charge, and much more decisive within the offense he was given. And that decisiveness made the offense go in a way that it really hadn't all year, at least in terms of consistency.

 

[Luckylucci]

I didn't say Zaire was not the best option. I simply stated he is far behind mentally from the sample we got and what he was asked to do. But don't you think if he was further along that they would have asked him to do more. Not too many throws inside the pocket where he could take a hit. I mean, there was a huge difference in what was asked of Golson and what was asked of Zaire.

I think it is obvious though that Zaire run dimension alone makes him the starter. More explosive first step, can break tackles due to his size and lower body power, and can run the zone read. Unknown is somewhat intriguing and frightening at the same time, it could end up great or end up like Hendrix.

1. I wasn't implying he was the best option or not. I was saying there is no way we can comment on his mental capacity because we have no idea. I personally have no idea what parts of the game Zaire can and cannot do from a mental aspect. The sample size is just too small.

2. No, I absolutely do not believe if he could handle more would Kelly have wanted him to do so. The gameplan was put in place for specific reasons and it worked perfectly. Kelly wanted to control the ball for 9 min. of each qtr. Kelly wanted to hold onto the ball, limit risks, let our defense rest, get the game into the 4qtr. with a chance to win. No where in that gameplan was Zaire going to let it loose.

3. Lastly, you could also argue that managing a game to near perfection is having a very good mental grasp on what coach wants. There's something to be said for that and to not try to do too much.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

1. I wasn't implying he was the best option or not. I was saying there is no way we can comment on his mental capacity because we have no idea. I personally have no idea what parts of the game Zaire can and cannot do from a mental aspect. The sample size is just too small.

2. No, I absolutely do not believe if he could handle more would Kelly have wanted him to do so. The gameplan was put in place for specific reasons and it worked perfectly. Kelly wanted to control 9 min. of each qtr. Kelly wanted to hold onto the ball, limit risks, let our defense rest, get the game into the 4qtr. with a chance to win. No where in that gameplan was Zaire going to let it loose.

I completely agree with this. I just want to add that Zaire looked very strong throwing the quick slant (which is vitally important for a mobile QB) and that the game plan he executed is not sustainable from week to week. Zaire needs to be able to throw the ball downfield (his one deep throw was cringe-inducing) and we can't expect to move the chains by giving the QB nearly so many carries.

It was a great performance with what he was asked to do but not conclusive as to Zaire's superiority over a full season.

 

[Luckylucci]

I completely agree with this. I just want to add that Zaire looked very strong throwing the quick slant (which is vitally important for a mobile QB) and that the game plan he executed is not sustainable from week to week. Zaire needs to be able to throw the ball downfield (his one deep throw was cringe-inducing) and we can't expect to move the chains by giving the QB nearly so many carries.

It was a great performance with what he was asked to do but not conclusive as to Zaire's superiority over a full season.

I too agree with this, thats why above I posted, now coaches have film on this.

 

[wizards8507]

...we can't expect to move the chains by giving the QB nearly so many carries.

Why not? Read option teams run their quarterback all over the place.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Why not? Read option teams run their quarterback all over the place.

I think it plays a major role in, say, Denard Robinson going from Heisman front-runner to liability on an annual basis.

If you have confidence that the QB rotation can mimic Ohio State's progression when they lose guys to injury then it's not such an issue. I don't think ND is there.

 

[BobbyMac]

I'd rather have a guy who gets 3-5 yards on a busted play. Check down's... check out's... whatever. Drop back, take a look for 2 counts tops and take off and get your 3-5 each down.

It's a real simple game when you have that type of QB behind a talented line.

They just did it against a top D that earned that spot playing against SEC-W. There is your sample size. Does he have to play the same game against the '85 Bears? He was 12-15 with two of those incompletes coming right off Robinson's hands. I don't remember the other incomplete.

He single handedly won the game. He controlled the ball for 37+ minutes and kept it out of the hands of Fournette.

.

 

[Luckylucci]

Why not? Read option teams run their quarterback all over the place.

Do you mean triple option teams? For example, Oregon runs the zone read option and Mariotta doesn't actually carry the ball as many times as you may think. He avg. about 10 carries a game. Zaire had 22 yesterday. I'll add that Nick Marshall at Auburn who also runs a successful zone read scheme only has about 12/game.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Do you mean triple option teams? For example, Oregon runs the zone read option and Mariotta doesn't actually carry the ball as many times as you may think. He avg. about 10 carries a game. Zaire had 22 yesterday.

Kinda amazes me how healthy Kennan Reynolds has stayed at Navy.

 

[kmoose]

POTY candidate.

This is exactly what the Keyboard All-Americans here needed to see. Guys here watch too much Sunday football. You can be a Brett Farve and have 12 off the chart games per year and 4 TO fests and still go to the Super Bowl and the HOF. In college, ONE crap game in ND's case most likely sends you to the Off Brand Bowl and two guarantees a spot in the Huggie's Diaper Bowl.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it... I'd rather have a left handed Tony Rice than a 5-10 Jay Cutler.

.

In the initial CFP rankings, 6-1 ND was ranked #10, with 5 games left to play. 3 of the 4 teams in the playoffs have a loss. Hell, 5 losses got us into a game with a marquee SEC program.

 

[wizards8507]

Do you mean triple option teams? For example, Oregon runs the zone read option and Mariotta doesn't actually carry the ball as many times as you may think. He avg. about 10 carries a game. Zaire had 22 yesterday. I'll add that Nick Marshall at Auburn who also runs a successful zone read scheme only has about 12/game.

That's fair, I didn't realize MZ's total was that high. Regardless, this was clearly a ball control gameplan and it's unlikely that we would have seen such an emphasis on ground-and-pound if we had a fully healthy (and competent) defense.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I'm of the iffy on Golson crowd and in full support of Zaire. But let's not ignore the fact that Zaire is getting only plays he's familiar with that Kelly knows he will succeed at. A package tailored to what he can handle. If Golson had plays called better (more runs) he would be in a similar position. Zaire is being put in a position to succeed with very little chance of failure. Golson isn't.

 

[BobbyMac]

In the initial CFP rankings, 6-1 ND was ranked #10, with 5 games left to play. 3 of the 4 teams in the playoffs have a loss. Hell, 5 losses got us into a game with a marquee SEC program.

Notre Dame should be about national championships. There are only 2 bowls that matter and they are being played tomorrow. All the rest are Toilet Bowls.

ND isn't getting in next year with 1 loss. They may never get in with a loss if winning the conference championship game really is as important as some have argued. The ND QB has to not only win some games but he cannot lose even one. That's my beef with Golson, one valley will erase 12 peaks and he's gonna give you some valley's, that's his history.

 

[wizards8507]

I'm of the iffy on Golson crowd and in full support of Zaire. But let's not ignore the fact that Zaire is getting only plays he's familiar with that Kelly knows he will succeed at. A package tailored to what he can handle. If Golson had plays called better (more runs) he would be in a similar position. Zaire is being put in a position to succeed with very little chance of failure. Golson isn't.

The problem with that theory is, "why?" Why would the same head coach have such vastly different approaches with his two quarterbacks, especially when Golson has proven he needs that tailored playcalling that you say Malik is getting.

EDIT: Also, as previously mentioned, much of the conservative playcalling was due to the fact that we were playing ball control to protect our defense from being exposed. We don't know how much Malik would have been allowed to sling it if the game and circumstances dictated a different approach.

 

[Irish Insanity]

The problem with that theory is, "why?" Why would the same head coach have such vastly different approaches with his two quarterbacks, especially when Golson has proven he needs that tailored playcalling that you say Malik is getting.

One is considerably less experienced and younger. I understand why he would do it. What I don't understand is why, after Golson struggled, you wouldn't reign it in for him. But my point was more along the lines of quit anointing Zaire the 2nd coming of Heysus after one start with a play book to help him succeed, and let's quit treating Golson like the red headed step child after he couldn't succeed with the full play book in his lap. I think Kelly needs to do a better job of putting his players and this team in a position to win.

 

[BobbyMac]

I'm of the iffy on Golson crowd and in full support of Zaire. But let's not ignore the fact that Zaire is getting only plays he's familiar with that Kelly knows he will succeed at. A package tailored to what he can handle. If Golson had plays called better (more runs) he would be in a similar position. Zaire is being put in a position to succeed with very little chance of failure. Golson isn't.

...and that is the dimension of being able to pick up positive yards on EVERY play that MZ brings to play calling. EG hasn't been able to capitalize on his athletic ability to pick up yards on a consistent basis during his career. He's a play extender which after an incompletion or two leaves you in a lot of 3rd and longs. MZ will be working with a lot of 3rd and shorts becuase his busted plays still produce positive yardage. His sample size is small but it's against maybe the best possible team to predict his future.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

The problem with that theory is, "why?" Why would the same head coach have such vastly different approaches with his two quarterbacks, especially when Golson has proven he needs that tailored playcalling that you say Malik is getting.

EDIT: Also, as previously mentioned, much of the conservative playcalling was due to the fact that we were playing ball control to protect our defense from being exposed. We don't know how much Malik would have been allowed to sling it if the game and circumstances dictated a different approach.

ND came into this season with a very inexperienced group on offense. I think it led to the decision to make Golson the strong focal point. Although Golson has had a number of issues, before the USC game ND had a lot of success scoring points. Just too many of the negative plays. Second, it's probably a lot easier to make a significant midstream change in prep for a bowl game than it is from week to week. Golson's worst play came after the second bye week - when his play was trending down ND didn't have the luxury of a two week hiatus to overhaul the scheme.

 

[irishfan]

It's kind of funny:

We simplified the hell out of the playbook and put an emphasis on the run game with Rees in 2010 after the bye and went 4-0 to end the year.

We ran it well in 2011 following the USF debacle and went 8-4 with Rees as the starter. Not bad.

Simplified the playbook and ran the ball consistently literally the entire season in 2012 and went 12-1.

Did the same for the LSU game and we won. Put a similar emphasis on the run game for the FSU game and nearly pulled that one off.

When BK goes pass happy, ignores the run game, and ignores time of possession (with Crist in 2010/2011, 2013, 2014), we struggle.

The recruiting numbers and the recent draft results don't lie. We have Top-15 talent. We can beat just about anyone running a balanced attack just due to talent alone.

 

[CanadalovesND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Spoke to Everett Golson on Wednesday. Said he plans to return to Notre Dame for the spring semester and is on track to graduate in May.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/550359364297830402">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[wizards8507]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Spoke to Everett Golson on Wednesday. Said he plans to return to Notre Dame for the spring semester and is on track to graduate in May.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/550359364297830402">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So he gone?

 

[DonnieNarco]

That does not sound like someone who is staying, but I hope he does. I can understand him transferring and being the man somewhere else, but a 2 QB system is something I would like to see.

 

[IrishLax]

Hard to read into the phrasing of the tweet. But I'm sure Golson will try to have backup options lined up in case he's not the starter coming out of spring ball. Has to graduate to get free transfer though.

 

[Cackalacky]

If he graduates, to stay at ND after May, he would have to be in grad school correct?

 

[wizards8507]

If he graduates to stay at ND after May, he would have to be in grad school correct?

Right, and that's an ND rule, not NCAA. If he goes somewhere else I'm pretty sure he's free to take Independent Study Principles of Learning.

 

[koonja]

I doubt bk names a starter after spring because he never does.

 

[Luckylucci]

I doubt bk names a starter after spring because he never does.

He may not have to. I highly doubt Golson stays if its anywhere close to a 50/50 battle. He can't afford to sit if he has aspirations of playing at the next level. He'll have his degree and get to play football someplace without worrying about school.

 

[kmoose]

Notre Dame should be about national championships. There are only 2 bowls that matter and they are being played tomorrow. All the rest are Toilet Bowls.

ND isn't getting in next year with 1 loss. They may never get in with a loss if winning the conference championship game really is as important as some have argued. The ND QB has to not only win some games but he cannot lose even one. That's my beef with Golson, one valley will erase 12 peaks and he's gonna give you some valley's, that's his history.

I don't think you have the first clue what the tradition of Notre Dame football is all about, or how college football rankings work, either. But stay right there in your fantasy land, man. Don't let anyone ruin the Unicorn Bowl for you.

 

[kmoose]

He may not have to. I highly doubt Golson stays if its anywhere close to a 50/50 battle. He can't afford to sit if he has aspirations of playing at the next level. He'll have his degree and get to play football someplace without worrying about school.

Golson can only transfer and play next year IF he graduates AND goes to a grad program at another school that is NOT OFFERED at ND. He could not graduate, enroll in an MBA program at some other school, and be eligible to play next year because ND offers an MBA program.