2023 Transfer QB

[Free Manera]

He's very good and deserves MAC POY. He's played Syracuse, Northwestern, Penn State and Iowa State...and was bad.

I hate saying "it is what it is", but I've exhausted the discussion and I'm no doubt wrong, but I'm not getting paid for scouting or analysis, which is a good thing.

There is never going to be a right answer to this because of all of the variables.

No one can say what Pyne would be like protected by Ohio's O line, throwing to Ohio's receivers.

And no one can say what Rourke would be like protected by ND's O line, throwing to Michael Mayer and Deion Colzie.

However, I think the fact that this is a legit debate says all we need to say about Pyne's ability to quarterback the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

 

[Dale]

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

There is never going to be a right answer to this because of all of the variables.

No one can say what Pyne would be like protected by Ohio's O line, throwing to Ohio's receivers.

And no one can say what Rourke would be like protected by ND's O line, throwing to Michael Mayer and Deion Colzie.

However, I think the fact that this is a legit debate says all we need to say about Pyne's ability to quarterback the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

We saw what we needed to see Saturday night. For a QB like Pyne to lead ND to victory against a team with a QB like Caleb Williams, he has to play literally perfect for ND to win the game.

At some point we are going to be due for our Vince Young/Cam Newton/Caleb Williams. A tall dude who can run with a good passing arm that gets drafted in the Top 10 if not first overall that likes snow and has taken whatever classes are needed in HS.

 

[Luckylucci]

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Rees and Freeman discuss the various options. Talk about an insane resume from last year with a total boner of season this year. Paid no attention to UVA this year so couldn’t form much of an opinion on what went wrong

 

[dublinirish]

 

[fightingirish26]

With all due respect to Tyler Buchner, what these two have actually done on a collegiate football field as passers, is not similar.

Tyler Buchner, so far, has a career 57.6% comp pct. Card is 65.5%.

In 2022, Card had 5 games in which he threw 5 or more passes, was never below 63%. His 2022 comp pct. for those 5 games was 69%.

In 2022 Buch had 2 games in which he did. He was never above 60% comp pct. and the average of his 50 throws was 56%.

For Card, if you combine 2021 and 2022, it's 10 games of 5 or more passes with only 1 below 60%. The comp pct for those 10 games is 66%.

Tyler Buchner has literally never had a game in which he threw the ball 5 times or more and completed 60% of his passes. In games in which Buch has thrown the ball 5 times or more here are his pcts. 43%, 50%, 56%, and 56%.

At the present, Buch's floor as a passer is substantially less than Cards. While I think very highly of the Buchner, Card has more experience and proven much more capable of being an actual QB at this level.

Card was also the QB at Lake Travis and had his own monster jr season, while Buchner had limited experience against lowly San Diego competition, albeit looking like the next kyler murray in the process. HS resumes and experience are not similar.

 

[mick2]

Unofficial odds on the starter for next year:

Transfer -220
Buchner +170
Minchey +250
Angeli +280
Pyne +4200

if kelly is still the coach I take those Pyne odds, lol.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Rees and Freeman discuss the various options. Talk about an insane resume from last year with a total boner of season this year. Paid no attention to UVA this year so couldn’t form much of an opinion on what went wrong

Just from watching highlights I think he's a bit of a cowboy. I don't think it's Tommy's style to have a freewheeling guy back there trying to do it all by himself (hence the Jurkovec friction).

 

[Free Manera]

if kelly is still the coach I take those Pyne odds, lol.

Me too, but if Kelly were the coach the Pyne odds would be -500

 

[NDMatt91]

if kelly is still the coach I take those Pyne odds, lol.

Kelly would bring in a grad transfer provided that the grad transfer he would've brought in this year didn't have any eligibility left.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Rees and Freeman discuss the various options. Talk about an insane resume from last year with a total boner of season this year. Paid no attention to UVA this year so couldn’t form much of an opinion on what went wrong

What changes philosophically on offense in 2023? They can't jump into any Briles/Air Raid type of an offense. They won't have Mayer. You have Styles, Colzie, Thomas and Merriweather back with a room full of true freshmen coming in.

Whoever the QB is next year, the offense is probably looking at being built around the OL and running the ball at least until they can get more post Kelly Era personnel in should they be wanting to do something different.

Probably would hold true if and when an OC change is eventually made.

 

[benneboy]

Card was also the QB at Lake Travis and had his own monster jr season, while Buchner had limited experience against lowly San Diego competition, albeit looking like the next kyler murray in the process. HS resumes and experience are not similar.

He was just as inconsistent in high school as he has been in college

 

[IrishLax]

2021 Brennan Armstrong was ridiculous. Relatively mobile/athletic and could sling it all over the field. 2022 was such a disaster tho.

 

[Free Manera]

What changes philosophically on offense in 2023? They can't jump into any Briles/Air Raid type of an offense. They won't have Mayer. You have Styles, Colzie, Thomas and Merriweather back with a room full of true freshmen coming in.

Whoever the QB is next year, the offense is probably looking at being built around the OL and running the ball at least until they can get more post Kelly Era personnel in should they be wanting to do something different.

Probably would hold true if and when an OC change is eventually made.

I would actually love to hear/read what Rees's ideal offense would be. A lot of people think he is auditioning for the NFL and wants to run an "NFL offense" but what does that really mean? You can't actually run and NFL offense, because it's not the NFL.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Does Armstrong have more than one year of eligibility left?

 

[CanadalovesND]

Does Armstrong have more than one year of eligibility left?

Yes, just the one. He'll be a sixth year player.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

What changes philosophically on offense in 2023? They can't jump into any Briles/Air Raid type of an offense. They won't have Mayer. You have Styles, Colzie, Thomas and Merriweather back with a room full of true freshmen coming in.

Whoever the QB is next year, the offense is probably looking at being built around the OL and running the ball at least until they can get more post Kelly Era personnel in should they be wanting to do something different.

Probably would hold true if and when an OC change is eventually made.

With inexperienced but elite speed on the outside, I think we see a ton of WR screens next year.

Which means ND is going to want somebody who can step quick and drive the ball to the sideline.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I agree with everyone that Card is likely a better version of Buchner. That just isn't the kind of QB I prefer and I think it would create a lot of strife with Buchner and probably Angeli.

Armstrong would be my pick, personally. The kids would be great with a stable pocket. And I want an older leader.

I wonder if the tragedy makes him more likely to stay in Charlottesville or leave? God bless those poor kids.

 

[Free Manera]

With inexperienced but elite speed on the outside, I think we see a ton of WR screens next year.

Which means ND is going to want somebody who can step quick and drive the ball to the sideline.

If you’re running a lot of WR screens these days you might as well be running RPOs. Which Card or Leary would be great at

 

[SoIll]

2021 Brennan Armstrong. There's your guy. No question.

2022 Brennan Armstrong. What in the fuck happened.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

2021 Brennan Armstrong. There's your guy. No question.

2022 Brennan Armstrong. What in the fuck happened.

Watch the play about 4:10. Cool as the other side of the pillow LINK

 

[T-Boone]

2021 Brennan Armstrong was ridiculous. Relatively mobile/athletic and could sling it all over the field. 2022 was such a disaster tho.

I’d take a punt on that. 50% chance we get a needle mover.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

2020 Brennan Armstrong wasn't anything amazing either, so IDK.

Apparently Virginia did have to replace all five OL this year.

 

[BoredIrish]

I vote for Card. I'm all about the high ceiling play and 2 years of eligibility.

Expanded playoff starts in 2024. Need a potential difference maker who can compete against the big boys.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I got my impression of Card from the Alabama game. He was not overwhelmed, but he was not an impressive thrower when hurried at all. Alabama is a very good team, but they are not elite this year, so it’s what I wanted to see:



Like most QBs, I’m sure he’s incredible in some games. But I think you revert to form under duress and he’s not particularly accurate. I’d love a QB who is a natural thrower.

To me, Pyne’s completion numbers are completely misleading if you watched him play. He was fine some of the time, completely unserviceable a good amount of time, but had two excellent halves. The idea that he is a good, reliable QB is not true.

He’s streaky as heck with serious physical limitations.

*hears Gus Johnson's voice, immediately mutes video*

 

[Luckylucci]

Watch the play about 4:10. Cool as the other side of the pillow LINK

2021 Armstrong made throws that we've seen very little of at ND over the last 10 or so years.

 

[Irish#1]

One things for sure, the portal is loaded with QB's to go after.

 

[lcaps20]

2021 Armstrong made throws that we've seen very little of at ND over the last 10 or so years.

Armstrong was so weird this year. If this was the NFL we're about 3 days from his agent floating a story out there that he played all of 2022 with a shoulder injury.

 

[IrishLax]

2021 Armstrong made throws that we've seen very little of at ND over the last 10 or so years.

Seriously. He just absolutely slings it. So many on time, tight window throws.

This year he looked like Nate Montana mixed with Everette Golson. Just two completely different players. And I get that his OL was trash and the offensive scheme was horrible but it was also just accuracy and arm strength problems.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I would actually love to hear/read what Rees's ideal offense would be. A lot of people think he is auditioning for the NFL and wants to run an "NFL offense" but what does that really mean? You can't actually run and NFL offense, because it's not the NFL.

Hard to say. Just feels like it isn't about scheme as much as it is execution and relying on the OL. This year he had an entirely new staff around him, including Hiestand. That shouldn't be an issue next year, but with the carousel who knows.

He's going to lose both guards in the interior and Mayer. That's significant.