Start Demetrius Jones in 2007

[IrishAlum1997]

I reserve the right to change my mind after the Blue-Gold game...

I would argue that having a team with as many questions on offense as we will have going into 2007 (what will we get from our O-line, who's going to catch the ball), we need an athletic QB that can break containment and make plays with his legs. This O-line is going to need some time to gel, and a young dropback passer (Claussen or Sharpley) is going to get KILLED early (GT and Michigan), which may have a psychological effect on the entire team and spiral our season to Spartan-like depths.

I read in one of the Chicago papers that DJ has looked sharp in practice running the scout team all season, and has at time been the best QB on the field (BQ included).

I know things are a little different than 1993, where Aaron Taylor and Tim Ruddy highlighted a stout O-line. But the expectations feel awful similar, with a great senior QB graduating along with our top two offensive weapons. A mobile QB with minimal experience struggled through a mediocre win vs. Northwestern before traveling to the Big House against Tyrone Wheatley and the gang and shocking the world. Maybe I need one of those 'Irish Kool-Aid' T-shirts, but if we get through our first 3 games unscathed, the confidence gained will be enormous.

We don't need to look ahead to 2008. Start believing.

 

[Steve]

We'll just have to wait and see what happens. That's all you can do right now. I just know i'm definately not gonna be down about whichever one starts. I'm pumped, actually.

 

[nayers]

I read in one of the Chicago papers that DJ has looked sharp in practice running the scout team all season, and has at time been the best QB on the field (BQ included).

This is where you lost me...DJ may be good, but better than Brady??? come on, lets not get ahead of ourselves, Brady is a 4 year starter with #1 NFL draft pick status...give DJ some time a nd reps, and MAYBE he will be better than Brady.

 

[irishlaw77]

This is where you lost me...DJ may be good, but better than Brady??? come on, lets not get ahead of ourselves, Brady is a 4 year starter with #1 NFL draft pick status...give DJ some time a nd reps, and MAYBE he will be better than Brady.

I read that as meaning that DJ had moments of brilliance in practice. I seriously doubt the poster meant that Jones was overall better than Brady at this point in his career. As to who should start next season, I want the guy that excels the best in the pressure-cooker and the speculation that will be spring practice. Nobody knows who that will be yet, but the competition of the four-way horse race should make whoever prevails that much better. Next year will be fun and nerveracking all at once.

 

[tedwick]

I guess that'd be ok, as long as Clausen starts the second half of the season. I mean, the guy has to play a LITTLE to win a Heisman, right? : D

But I agree that a little scramble ability wouldn't hurt at all next year. However, I doubt that Charlie allows DJ's running ability to play more than a minute role in the decision. The line will be young, but it will be very, very talented. Sam Young, while not the best lineman we had this year, was probably second, maaayyyybee third. I expect the rising sophomores to step in and play very well. Having a year under their belts means that they'll have the system down and a full year (almost two for stewart) in the weight room with mendoza. The OLine will need a bit of time to gel, but once they do, they'll be a force for their remaining time at ND.

 

[nayers]

yes, but with the freaks of nature we have coming in at WR...whoever it is may not need to scramble too much...just "huck" it up and let them come down with it.

 

[dth31]

Hate to be obvious, but whoever starts will be the one who earns it--on the field-- during Spring and Fall practice.

That's what I love about Charlie. He doesn't care who you are. If you are the best and deserve to play, you play. Freshman, Senior, doesn't matter. No entitlement. Want to play? Earn it.

Simple.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

I posted something similar to this earlier I agree that DJ should get the nod but lets have them compete first

 

[IrishRamMan10]

I too would also like to see Jones get a chance next year, especially with our inexperienced Oline next year it would be nice to have a mobile QB.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

This is where you lost me...DJ may be good, but better than Brady??? come on, lets not get ahead of ourselves, Brady is a 4 year starter with #1 NFL draft pick status...give DJ some time a nd reps, and MAYBE he will be better than Brady.

Of course I recognize that no one (Claussen included) is going to walk in next season and be a better option than Quinn. As another poster mentioned, the article indicated that Jones demonstrated those 'flashes of brilliance' that may give him the inside track on the starting gig next year.

I'm real fired up about next season. I think a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball will be a good thing for this team. We will respond to the adversity surrounding next season well.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Hate to be obvious, but whoever starts will be the one who earns it--on the field-- during Spring and Fall practice.

That's what I love about Charlie. He doesn't care who you are. If you are the best and deserve to play, you play. Freshman, Senior, doesn't matter. No entitlement. Want to play? Earn it.

Simple.

Yeah, you are spot on.

Honestly, who knows what is going to happen? What if Frazier is uber-pocket passer like BQ and gets it? Sharpley, same thing? DJ? He's mobile, but will that help in this system? Claussen? Will he need ramp time?

Honestly, to even begin to think about who should start BEFORE the Blue and Gold game is just an adventure in futility.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

yes, but with the freaks of nature we have coming in at WR...whoever it is may not need to scramble too much...just "huck" it up and let them come down with it.

Let's hope Kumara and Little are studs....but if we don't have an effective run game those jump ball situations will be our only chances to score. A mobile QB with a young O-line will help to stretch defenses and get those DB's to sneak up just enough to let our WR's get behind them...

Maybe I am underestimating how our O-line will perform next season. But I obviously agree that we should start the QB that performs the best coming into the start of the season. Is there a deadline that CW should keep to name a starter? Will he wait as long as the Tuesday before the game to announce?

 

[iam3r3rd]

IIs there a deadline that CW should keep to name a starter? Will he wait as long as the Tuesday before the game to announce?

I would guess that he'll decide much sooner, probably early Fall camp or end of Spring Ball so that the starter can get the majority of the reps with the 1st team -- especially considering that we will be breaking in an almost entirely new O-Line and we will have a batch of new receivers come Fall. Plus, if this is Jones, I would imagine that the O-Line (and the WRs) would have to get a feel for when to start blocking downfield if he does take off. You don't want illegal men downfield, but you do want men downfield blocking when he does decide to take off. And having a starter named going into Fall camp, or very early on in it, would probably allow the starter better timing with the 1st string guys, though who knows how long these guys will be 1st string with the freshman WRs we have coming in.

 

[bmf175]

I agree I think he will make a great wideout, but we already have alot of potential at the WR position next year.

 

[hmoney]

One thing is for sure all of these QB's should make each other better....the competition will only push them to improve and if one falters we should have someone ready to step in and take over the reigns...I can't remember when we have had a backup that could be just as good as the starter. The only thing that worries me is with all that talent at one position and not enough playing time to go around. Should be a heated spring....seems like Clausen would be the prototypical QB in Charlie's system but I would be interested to see how Charlie would use a mobile QB like DJ...should be fun to watch

 

[gallup21]

what happened to Frazer in everyones mind? wasnt he the first QB on Weis' list? and im pretty sick of everyone playing out this guy. I know D.J is a scrambling QB, but have any of the QB's proved anything to us yet other then HS? Give them all a chance i say, and dont go into the offseason thinking one specific guy will start.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

Whoever earns it will obviously play. Whoever it is, their success will be LARGELY determined by ND's ability to run. Asking any 1st yr QB, TE and WR's to carry the load is a bit much to ask. If the running game is a real threat, it will open up everyone else to perform without as much pressure. The ability to run the ball will determine how much success the QB has. We were spoiled with BQ/Shark/Rhema etc. They could get the job done despite not having a threatening running attack.

 

[mizzouirish]

I read in one of the Chicago papers that DJ has looked sharp in practice running the scout team all season, and has at time been the best QB on the field (BQ included).

What do the Mechanicsburg papers say about the progress of Frazier? What do the Michigan papers say about the progress of Sharpley?

I mean, of course the Chicago papers are going to build up DJ, he's from inner-city chicago. It's probably a good article from their perspective because he's a local product and people fall in love with local products (i.e. Chris Zorich). I'm not saying that he is a bad quarterback, I'm just saying look at the source of the article. I don't read too much into a lot of local newspapers because they want to promote their own product.

I think Sharpley and Frazier deserve to be considered because Charlie hasn't used too many mobile quarterbacks in his past. He is an amazing coach to pure pocket passers but he hasn't tutored quarterbacks that add a different dimention to their game, that being mobility. DJ may tuck and run a lot more than Charlie likes.

I agree, it should be a good idea to flirt with DJ as next year's quarterback with our O-line in disarray, but you never know what the future holds. Personally, I think Frazier and Jones see the field next year, with Sharpley probably starting the year.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[irish4ever]

Charlie has a good "problem" to address ... which QB takes over for Brady!? Though there will be painstaking moments (inexperience @ the college level), there are 4 good QB's available to choose from. This is a "problem" that a lot of top-tier college teams would love to have!

 

[njuneardave]

we have seen 67 TD passes compared to 12 interceptions in the past 2 years at Notre Dame. Whatever the case... Irish fans are going to have to be re-introduced to interceptions since we have been living a virtually pick-free life for 2 years.

 

[Indydomer]

DJ may tuck and run a lot more than Charlie likes.

Actually in one of the other numerous threads about this, someone stated that Weis has been trying to get DJ to run more. He is trying to thread the needle to much and not using his ability as much as he could. DJ will start next year, I've said it for a long time now. Give this kid a chance, and he can be dangerous.