‘21 AL QB Riley Leonard (Duke Transfer - Notre Dame Verbal)

[IrishTusker]

Saban benched his QB at halftime of the NC game. We'll see what MF is made of but indications are not good so far.

 

[IrishLax]

The crazy part is that they had Will Howard in the bag and told him "no thanks" to get Leonard. He can run just as well as Leonard and is a much more complete passer with a longer track record of success.

And then the other guy they passed on was Hudson Card, who is currently starting for Purdue and has an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever next week.

 

[spoonidentity]

It is clear that he's banged up and couldn't run. He's also useless without being able to run. If he can't run and can't throw, he's not better than the other QBs

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

The crazy part is that they had Will Howard in the bag and told him "no thanks" to get Leonard. He can run just as well as Leonard and is a much more complete passer with a longer track record of success.

And then the other guy they passed on was Hudson Card, who is currently starting for Purdue and has an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever next week.

Card is who I wanted badly. Two years of eligibility and the perfect bridge to Kenny or CJ.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Card is who I wanted badly. Two years of eligibility and the perfect bridge to Kenny or CJ.

At least we don't have to play Card next weekend

 

[Sea Turtle]

The crazy part is that they had Will Howard in the bag and told him "no thanks" to get Leonard. He can run just as well as Leonard and is a much more complete passer with a longer track record of success.

And then the other guy they passed on was Hudson Card, who is currently starting for Purdue and has an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever next week.

What makes you so sure that Howard would succeed here at ND? Hartman and Leonard haven't.

 

[Huntr]

Leonard must have some dirt on Freeman if he’s the starter moving forward.

They paid him a million to come to ND. That's why they're gonna play him.

 

[fightingirish26]

They paid him a million to come to ND. That's why they're gonna play him.

It'll cost certain coaches more than that if he keeps playing losing football

 

[DillonHall]

They paid him a million to come to ND. That's why they're gonna play him.

If $1-2M affects the decision-making then we are a small-time program

 

[arrowryan]

They paid him a million to come to ND. That's why they're gonna play him.

Sounds like a terrible idea

 

[Terry Jillery]

Saban benched his QB at halftime of the NC game. We'll see what MF is made of but indications are not good so far.

Great point.

 

[Huntr]

Sounds like a terrible idea

It *is* a terrible idea.

But here we are.

 

[NDRock]

Not to pile on after a loss but I thought this last week and last year with Hartman but why are these transfer QBs named Captains? I'm sure it means little in the grand scheme but it's jarring to me seeing the C on their jerseys. They just got here. I'm old.

 

[Bluto]

Not to pile on after a loss but I thought this last week and last year with Hartman but why are these transfer QBs named Captains? I'm sure it means little in the grand scheme but it's jarring to me seeing the C on their jerseys. They just got here. I'm old.

Team voted on it.

Kind of telling that the only captain on offense is a transfer that has been pretty terrible so far. That side of the ball is a mess from a leadership standpoint.

 

[NDRock]

Team voted on it.

Kind of telling that the only captain on offense is a transfer that has been pretty terrible so far. That side of the ball is a mess from a leadership standpoint.

In that case, mea culpa. Not to get political but maybe we should raise the age of voting to 21.

 

[Bluto]

Here’s something to consider, basically all of Kelly’s best seasons had an offense that featured a back up replacing the presumed starter in some way.

2012 - Rees in a relief and closer role.
2015 - Kizer replaces Zaire.
2018 - 2020 - Book replaces Wimbush.

 

[NDQuebec]

What makes you so sure that Howard would succeed here at ND? Hartman and Leonard haven't.

Howard can pass, Riley can't. Simple as that. The actual QB room is not bad. Have Freeman keep away from everything on the offensive side of the ball and let Denbrock choose one of Angeli, Minchey or Carr to start next week.

 

[NDRock]

Here’s something to consider, basically all of Kelly’s best seasons had an offense that featured a back up replacing the presumed starter in some way.

2012 - Rees in a relief and closer role.
2015 - Kizer replaces Zaire.
2018 - 2020 - Book replaces Wimbush.

For whatever reason, Kelly’s quarterbacks were always better their first year as starters. They seemed to get worse the more they played under him. Book probably didn’t as the exception although he never really got much better.

 

[Bluto]

For whatever reason, Kelly’s quarterbacks were always better their first year as starters. They seemed to get worse the more they played under him. Book probably didn’t as the exception although he never really got much better.

I think Kizer in year two started off great. Kelly completely bungled that whole situation.

 

[Giddyup]

So…..who is gonna buy out Riley’s NIL contract?

 

[irishandy]

If Riley is the starter next week and I think he will be; he is on a short leash.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

If Riley is the starter next week and I think he will be; he is on a short leash.

He came into this week on a short leash and still managed to singlehandedly lose us this game.

 

[Katzenboyer]

They paid him a million to come to ND. That's why they're gonna play him.

That cannot be the deciding factor. Just absolutely cannot.

The decision is who gives you the best chance to win the football game, PERIOD. If that's not Riley - and I don't believe it is - then he wears a headset.

I'm at the point with this team and program where I want watch if Leonard is named the starter next week. It is so clear that the problems on offense starts with him, and if Freeman is going to be stubborn just because RL got a fat NIL package, that tells me all I need to know about how much I should care about this team.

 

[NorthDakota]

When was the last time a QB didn't regress/self-destruct at ND? Clausen? I guess Coan was fine.

I don't know if it's RL's fault or the spotlight at ND is too much or if it's coaching, but something is broken if the offense can't crack 300 yards against a MAC team.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

When was the last time a QB didn't regress/self-destruct at ND? Clausen? I guess Coan was fine.

I don't know if it's RL's fault or the spotlight at ND is too much or if it's coaching, but something is broken if the offense can't crack 300 yards against a MAC team.

In 2023 Riley had 3 TD, 3 INT, and a 57% completion rate. The fact the staff got swindled into taking him is mind blowing.

 

[NDRock]

When was the last time a QB didn't regress/self-destruct at ND? Clausen? I guess Coan was fine.

I don't know if it's RL's fault or the spotlight at ND is too much or if it's coaching, but something is broken if the offense can't crack 300 yards against a MAC team.

Weis years. Transformed Quin and developed Clausen. I believe both were high 2nd round picks.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Weis years. Transformed Quin and developed Clausen. I believe both were high 2nd round picks.

Quinn first round. Clausen late second.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

If Riley is the starter next week and I think he will be; he is on a short leash.

Sampson was asked this question so TIFWIW and said there’s no way he’s not starting. He said the offense is too invested in RL (in more ways than one) to scrap the offense and start over. He pointed out that the offense was built around a running QB and none of the other three options can run as effectively as RL. And if/when we do see another QB, it will be Angeli…not Carr.

 

[bumpdaddy]

Look at this video. He had one route on his mind with 2 guys open. I saw this when it happened live.

Riley is useless and his mom is right he does suck. Bye bye Riley and Freeman.

I get why everyone is fixated on this take based on the TV coverage, but for posterity's sake, I think it should be made clear that K. Mitchell was also open on this play. The TV shot makes it look like RL was throwing into double coverage, and that's technically true but Mitchell had just run past both guys when the ball was thrown and neither were going to catch him if the throw had been halfway decent. All RL had to do was put air under the ball and launch it and it was either an easy TD or overthrown. The one thing he absolutely could not do was underthrow it but, of course, that's exactly what he did. If he had made a different decision to throw to any of the other open guys I don't trust that he would have made an accurate throw in that scenario either.

The point being, his decision-making on this play wasn't the problem. His inability to consistently throw a good ball was the problem. But an even bigger problem was the coaching staff's inability to accept that reality and choosing to go with that play call as if it had a reasonable chance to succeed. It was as if the staff was still thinking about what they wanted to accomplish in the game - i.e., opening up the passing offense - rather than accepting that the only thing that mattered at that point was doing what was best to win the damn game.

The grand idea of showing that RL could make a big play by throwing the ball should have well expired at that point in the game. Sustaining a drive that hopefully ended in 3 or 7 points while running the clock to preserve a narrow lead was all that should have mattered late in the game.

2nd and 1 at midfield is a great opportunity to go for a homerun in most situations, but not that one. RTDB to keep the chains and clock moving would have been the right call. The coaching staff should be blamed most for this play, not RL. RL had a terrible game, and yet the coaches went with this play call as if he hadn't.

 

[GATTACA!]

I get why everyone is fixated on this take based on the TV coverage, but for posterity's sake, I think it should be made clear that K. Mitchell was also open on this play. The TV shot makes it look like RL was throwing into double coverage, and that's technically true but Mitchell had just run past both guys when the ball was thrown and neither were going to catch him if the throw had been halfway decent. All RL had to do was put air under the ball and launch it and it was either an easy TD or overthrown. The one thing he absolutely could not do was underthrow it but, of course, that's exactly what he did. If he had made a different decision to throw to any of the other open guys I don't trust that he would have made an accurate throw in that scenario either.

The point being, his decision-making on this play wasn't the problem. His inability to consistently throw a good ball was the problem. But an even bigger problem was the coaching staff's inability to accept that reality and choosing to go with that play call as if it had a reasonable chance to succeed. It was as if the staff was still thinking about what they wanted to accomplish in the game - i.e., opening up the passing offense - rather than accepting that the only thing that mattered at that point was doing what was best to win the damn game.

The grand idea of showing that RL could make a big play by throwing the ball should have well expired at that point in the game. Sustaining a drive that hopefully ended in 3 or 7 points while running the clock to preserve a narrow lead was all that should have mattered late in the game.

2nd and 1 at midfield is a great opportunity to go for a homerun in most situations, but not that one. RTDB to keep the chains and clock moving would have been the right call. The coaching staff should be blamed most for this play, not RL. RL had a terrible game, and yet the coaches went with this play call as if he hadn't.

Idk I think even accepting he was having a bad day it isn't unreasonable to think he should still be able to just chuck the fucking thing deep if it's wide open (which it was). Truly one of the worst passes I've ever seen.