'21 CA QB Tyler Buchner (ND FB -> Bama FB -> ND LAX???)

[SeekNDestroy]

It doesn’t matter if he starts or not, Saban won’t put up with poor decision making. He’ll yank Buchner and we’ll never see him again a la Blake Barnett.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I have the opposite feeling that Saban will work some sort of magic and help him reach his fullest potential. Just a gut feeling.

I don’t know…I’ve said it ad nauseam, I think the guy is garbage. He likely doesn’t know the playbook and likely hasn’t developed a chemistry or rapport with the receivers and offensive line. The majority of Alabama QBs under Saban have been a “take charge” and don’t make stupid mistakes kind of player. Buchner isn’t that. In fact, he’s the inverse. He’s also timid and chalks up pick-6s like they’re going out of style.

 

[Blazers46]

Curious how much say Rees will have in regard to his boy.

 

[Old Man Mike]

... doesn't know the playbook? Notre Dame kid. I doubt that will be his problem.
For the record, I can't believe that he'll suddenly find consistency and ball security either, so he'd loose Saban some games.
BUT I just might believe that the Buchner athletic Dazzle might enchant even Alabama's staff in practice.

 

[ab2cmiller]

It seems like this could be something that potentially divides a locker room unless it's just obvious to everyone that Buchner is the answer. Otherwise it might feel like TR is playing favorites.

 

[forkbeard3777]

... doesn't know the playbook? Notre Dame kid. I doubt that will be his problem.
For the record, I can't believe that he'll suddenly find consistency and ball security either, so he'd loose Saban some games.
BUT I just might believe that the Buchner athletic Dazzle might enchant even Alabama's staff in practice.

Pretty well established that Saban makes ever coordinator adopt his system, playbook and such. This is coming directly from players that have played under him with different coordinators. So, it’s not like TB will have a “leg up” or any significant advantage by previously being coached by Rees.

Besides, Rees purposefully went out and got Hartman while at ND. You can’t say he thinks glowingly of him.

Also, TB doesn’t have 1/10 of the “athletic dazzle” that Milroe possesses.

ETA: This year’s Alabama team should remind you all Saban’s early teams. Lots of running the ball and play action.

 

[PutuporShutup]

If he comes out with a different throwing motion I will agree but his delivery was very cringy

Lack of reps will always be an issue when you throw 4 pick 6’s in 120 attempts … you won’t get any more game reps

 

[Blazers46]

Lack of reps will always be an issue when you throw 4 pick 6’s in 120 attempts … you won’t get any more game reps

Lack of D1 reps was always my issue… lol

 

[IAIrish]

Can we bet on the probability of TB getting hurt in some form or fashion this year if he plays? Odds start at 3.5 games.

 

[NDRock]

I’m still just fascinated that both Rees and Tyler would end up bouncing to Alabama. I get the opportunity, but if neither of them feel a bit gross about it, 🤷🏻‍♂️. I get that everybody is friends now and jersey swapping is a thing, but sports is best when competition and pride matter, IMO. This Lebron to South Beach mentality is not cool for us old heads. Then again, Wake Forrest is probably saying something similar about Hartman to ND.

 

[ulukinatme]

I’m more convinced Saban made a deal with the devil a long time ago and TB will end up a Heisman candidate.

That's kind of where I'm at. Alabama has too many weapons for a QB not to succeed. Not sure if Buchner will start or not, and he has yet to show that he can stay healthy, but knowing our luck he'll come out and kill it down there.

 

[Redbar]

It's not really surprising IMO. His biggest problem isn't lack of talent it's lack of reps.

Totally agree. That and an Oline that had not jelled at all yet.

 

[T-Boone]

. I get that everybody is friends now and jersey swapping is a thing, but sports is best when competition and pride matter,

You mean team swapping when you say this right?
In Australian sports it use to be a thing that at the end of a game players would swap jerseys with an opposition player from time to time.
Out of respect or some such.

 

[T-Boone]

That's kind of where I'm at. Alabama has too many weapons for a QB not to succeed. Not sure if Buchner will start or not, and he has yet to show that he can stay healthy, but knowing our luck he'll come out and kill it down there.

I have visions/hopes of Bama being like Clemson last year.

 

[Rasputin]

It's not really surprising IMO. His biggest problem isn't lack of talent it's lack of reps.

And stairs.

The thing with Buchner is his college playing career so far is filled with exhilarating highs and mind-boggling lows. The bowl game was a microcosm of his entire time at ND. He could get away with some of the lows because he was young and inexperienced, and ND coaches and fans hadn't seen a raw QB talent like this for years so letting him grow into the role was acceptable to most. ND was mesmerized by the upside potential.

At Alabama, he's surrounded by superior talent and coach that doesn't care too much to nurture his potential and give him time to grow. Saban has enough talent elsewhere on the roster to win now. Alabama can pretty much out-talent everyone else. They don't need the exhilarating highs from Buchner to win (ND did). They just need him to avoid the mind-boggling lows. If he can do that, he'll be successful there. If he can't, Saban will not put up with it and Buchner won't be the starter for very long.

 

[Henges24]

If it doesn't work out & he makes mistakes and is pulled, he'll transfer back out West.

It's a risk worth taking

 

[SDIrishFan]

If it doesn't work out & he makes mistakes and is pulled, he'll transfer back out West.

It's a risk worth taking

He’d had to sit out a year now though

 

[PutuporShutup]

He’d had to sit out a year now though

time for him to get valuable reps

 

[forkbeard3777]

And stairs.

The thing with Buchner is his college playing career so far is filled with exhilarating highs and mind-boggling lows. The bowl game was a microcosm of his entire time at ND. He could get away with some of the lows because he was young and inexperienced, and ND coaches and fans hadn't seen a raw QB talent like this for years so letting him grow into the role was acceptable to most. ND was mesmerized by the upside potential.

At Alabama, he's surrounded by superior talent and coach that doesn't care too much to nurture his potential and give him time to grow. Saban has enough talent elsewhere on the roster to win now. Alabama can pretty much out-talent everyone else. They don't need the exhilarating highs from Buchner to win (ND did). They just need him to avoid the mind-boggling lows. If he can do that, he'll be successful there. If he can't, Saban will not put up with it and Buchner won't be the starter for very long.

Maybe I’m ignorant here, but what are some of Buchner’s “exhilarating highs?”

Unless I missed something, when I really watched him, and just considering nothing else but his play on the field, I didn’t see “it” at all. He looked timid, lacked pocket presence, stared down receivers. He had a decent arm, but I wasn’t blown away by any means with his arm strength and accuracy. He has some elusiveness, but I can rattle off many, many other starting QBs that are more elusive, are faster, and have more breakaway speed. Hell, Alabama’s got on on their current roster playing QB.

I just don’t see it.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

The bowl game against South Carolina was on last week. The talent is definitely there, but so are the head scratching mistakes. Such an odd combination with a guy like Saban.

 

[arrowryan]

Bama fans are gonna go nuts when Rees/Buchner lead the offense to 13 points against Texas

 

[stlnd01]

Maybe I’m ignorant here, but what are some of Buchner’s “exhilarating highs?”

Unless I missed something, when I really watched him, and just considering nothing else but his play on the field, I didn’t see “it” at all. He looked timid, lacked pocket presence, stared down receivers. He had a decent arm, but I wasn’t blown away by any means with his arm strength and accuracy. He has some elusiveness, but I can rattle off many, many other starting QBs that are more elusive, are faster, and have more breakaway speed. Hell, Alabama’s got on on their current roster playing QB.

I just don’t see it.

Like Rasputin said, a lot of the appeal was his potential. He came up big in the 2021 Va. Tech game, for instance. Some of his first real action (Coan must've been hurt?) And he has a bigger arm than we're used to. The throw at 37 seconds of this video may not blow you away but it was the sort of thing we've seen far too little of at Notre Dame in recent years.


(of course you will also see two brutal picks in the span of five game minutes that gave Va. Tech the lead after we'd already come from behind once. But that's the Full Buchner Experience).

No question Buchner has a high ceiling. Whether he reaches it, who knows.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

(Coan must've been hurt?)

Nope
Just one of the "Buchner packages"

Actually, this game Coan got sort of benched, right? Then came back in for that miracle two point conversion? Or something like that.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

He’d had to sit out a year now though

I believe if he's a graduate he would be able to transfer and play right away next year.

That might have been a motivation for him to transfer this past spring (and for ND to even say he would be welcomed back).

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

He has some elusiveness

Just watch highlights of the bowl game against South Carolina. You'll see some explosives with his arm and legs, and you'll see some extremely frustrating decision making within a 60 minute window.

And this is just flat out inaccurate. He's more than just "elusive," he's quick. Not saying 4.40 speed or the fastest in the nation, but he's one of the faster QBs in the country. Seems like you haven't watched him much at all and are just drawing conclusions based on a couple of things you've read, not from watching him.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Nope
Just one of the "Buchner packages"

Actually, this game Coan got sort of benched, right? Then came back in for that miracle two point conversion? Or something like that.

That's basically correct; Coan struggled early in the game, so they went to the Buchner package hand had some success. VT came back out in the second half and adjusted, and Buchner struggled; threw two picks, including one pick 6 and our lead evaporated.

Coan came back late in the second half looking like a completely different QB and engineered two scoring drives; I want to say he was basically perfect, don't think he had many, if any, incompletions, and got us 11 points in under 5 minutes to win in Blacksburg.

 

[Rasputin]

Maybe I’m ignorant here, but what are some of Buchner’s “exhilarating highs?”

Unless I missed something, when I really watched him, and just considering nothing else but his play on the field, I didn’t see “it” at all. He looked timid, lacked pocket presence, stared down receivers. He had a decent arm, but I wasn’t blown away by any means with his arm strength and accuracy. He has some elusiveness, but I can rattle off many, many other starting QBs that are more elusive, are faster, and have more breakaway speed. Hell, Alabama’s got on on their current roster playing QB.

I just don’t see it.

Well, for starters, how about his first two plays as a true freshman? Runs the ball twice for 40 yards to get a moribund ND offense off of its own goal line. You don't think Irish fans found that exhilarating? Besides, Rasputin wasn't relating Buchner to the rest of college football. It was in relation to other recent ND QBs. In that comparison, his highs were definitely exhilarating because you could see the potential.

 

[ulukinatme]

Like Rasputin said, a lot of the appeal was his potential. He came up big in the 2021 Va. Tech game, for instance. Some of his first real action (Coan must've been hurt?) And he has a bigger arm than we're used to. The throw at 37 seconds of this video may not blow you away but it was the sort of thing we've seen far too little of at Notre Dame in recent years.


(of course you will also see two brutal picks in the span of five game minutes that gave Va. Tech the lead after we'd already come from behind once. But that's the Full Buchner Experience).

No question Buchner has a high ceiling. Whether he reaches it, who knows.

Those two picks were super costly, true Buchner form. We were lucky Coan bailed us out in the end, we probably wouldn't comeback to win that game late in some other seasons.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Just watch highlights of the bowl game against South Carolina. You'll see some explosives with his arm and legs, and you'll see some extremely frustrating decision making within a 60 minute window.

And this is just flat out inaccurate. He's more than just "elusive," he's quick. Not saying 4.40 speed or the fastest in the nation, but he's one of the faster QBs in the country. Seems like you haven't watched him much at all and are just drawing conclusions based on a couple of things you've read, not from watching him.

I did watch that game, in its entirety, over the holiday weekend. Stop making him out to be Eric Crouch. He ran for 60 yards. 60. Some QBs get that on one or two plays...He's shifty and a little quick, but is he a legitimate running threat? I don't see it. I also don't believe he can endure a few games (much less season) carrying the ball 10+ times? The good news is that it's August 2nd...we'll find out very shortly.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

As an Irish fan, I have to root for this to fail terribly for both Buchner and Tommy. Sorry, it's about competition now, I'm not "hoping for the best" for either of them. Buchner and Tommy succeeding at Bama is only going to reflect poorly on ND.

I hear ya but at the end of the day Rees is working w/ a much better roster than he had at ND so don’t be surprised if he excels. I still firmly believe he wants to get to the NFL and away from recruiting ASAP