Does Dayne Have Mackey Sasser Syndrome?

[CurtisCandy]

Before anybody thinks this a bashing thread, it is truly anything but... I'm a huge Dayne Crist fan! From what I'd seen of him, I was honestly more excited when we got him than I was when we got Jimmy.

But to play (totally) amateur psychologist for a moment, during games when things are going poorly, does anyone else notice that distinct unsettled look about him?

You guys remember Mackey Sasser? He was a catcher for the Mets, Pirates and a few other teams. He could throw a rocket to second base, and was solid in all aspects of the game, except he couldn't throw the ball accurately back to the pitcher. Of course, he had some sort of psychological disorder that, now years later, he has reportedly finally beaten.

I just wonder if Dayne has similar demons that crawl into his head. Not choking; just an overwhelming lack of self-confidence and feeling of things going awry that Sasser said he would feel in simply tossing the ball back to the pitcher.

Dayne is a physical stud of a quarterback and sometimes plays up to it. But when things are going bad, it seems as if a whole new demeanor takes him over. Unlike Tommy, who has inferior physical skills, but seems to shrug off everything and move forward.

Maybe I'm just stating something that's been obvious to everyone, but I was just curious if you guys had noticed the same things?

 

[NDPhilly]

So you think Dayne Crist is mentally unstable? Wow

 

[loomis41973]

I just don't think he can handle "game speed".

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I think he just had a bad day. It happens. Also, its been a long while since he has played a game.

 

[CurtisCandy]

So you think Dayne Crist is mentally unstable? Wow

Hardly "mentally unstable" in as much as any of us have our own little quirks and traits. I was just noticing that he seems to get that shaken, uncertain look about him. It doesn't make him mentally unstable, nor do I believe my assessment is necessarily accurate, as I've never even met the man. It was just an observation that reminded me of what Mackey Sasser had described, and I was wondering if anyone else noticed his uneasy demeanor.

Maybe it's not even there; it's quite possible I misread the whole thing in his mannerisms.

 

[Bubba]

Going a little overboard here IMO. He may just get a little nervous, and you can't be that way as a QB. He does not run this offense at the tempo it needs to be run. He probably does great in practice in the ideal situation, but thngs are not ideal during a game. Tommy manages the real game better and he has good instincts and reaction. Sad to see it, because I like Crist. But, he needs to find a way to feel more comfortable during the real thing.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

except he couldn't throw the ball accurately back to the pitcher. Of course, he had some sort of psychological disorder that, now years later, he has reportedly finally beaten.

That's fantastic. I'm glad that Mackey Sasser is exorcised his "demons" and is now capable of throwing the ball back to his pitcher now that he's been retired for 16 years. Glad to hear it.

Next...

 

[CurtisCandy]

That's fantastic. I'm glad that Mackey Sasser is exorcised his "demons" and is now capable of throwing the ball back to his pitcher now that he's been retired for 16 years. Glad to hear it.

Next...

LOL! He says he exorcised his demons because now he is able to toss batting practice to the team he is (was) coaching, which he also couldn't do.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

LOL! He says he exorcised his demons because now he is able to toss batting practice to the team he is (was) coaching, which he also couldn't do.

hah.... Does Dayne throw batting practice? That may be the problem.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Agree with Loomis, just on intuitive eyeball testing. Crist seems to be alright for a bit, then something tightens things up [game speed particularly], fear-of-failure steps in and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

People have quite different levels of nervous wiring. Crist seems wired too sensitive/tense. Rees seems wired at a take-it-as-it-comes level, shuck-it and get on with it level. The only thing that I've ever seen work for a player like Crist is to really get him mad --- sock him in the face mad. All the tension goes out in a roar of angry aggression and the player goes full-function without overthinking anything. Tough to maintain the proper level, but most great linemen do it all the time. [and great basketball players].

I think that if we want to get Crist playing, Braxton should turn around before the first snap, deck him, call him a wuss and then snap the ball. [obvious a joke, but doing something to change that look that he gets on his face, and turn him into an angry determined man, would be a step in the right direction].

 

[tadman95]

hah.... Does Dayne throw batting practice? That may be the problem.

That's kind of funny...

 

[pkt77242]

This is the first time Crust has had full contact since his injury. It would not be shocking if he that caused him to be nervous. Having said that I still want Rees to start vs UM

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Wow Mackey Sasser, that's a blast from the past. He was the Mets backup catcher when I was growing up lol.

 

[Irish Beaver]

If anyone has seen Friday Night Lights, Crist is JD McCoy and Rees is Matt Saracen.

 

[NDIrishlover3]

I think someone has said it already on a different thread but he really just looks like a deer in the headlights... His eyes are always wide open like he is scared he is going to screw up and he just kinda looks confused

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

No he's just not a good quarterback.

 

[Rhode Irish]

If anyone has seen Friday Night Lights, Crist is JD McCoy and Rees is Matt Saracen.

Yeah except Dayne Crist isn't a douche bag.

I still don't understand where people are coming from with regards to Crist. If Jonas had fallen forward into the endzone, Floyd didn't get that holding call, and Theo had just caught that punt, then we would have gone into the locker room at halftime no worse than ahead 14-6 and nobody would have anything to say about Crist. I'm glad Tommy came in and played well, but I don't think he did anything that Dayne isn't capable of.

 

[NDIrishlover3]

Yeah except Dayne Crist isn't a douche bag.

I still don't understand where people are coming from with regards to Crist. If Jonas had fallen forward into the endzone, Floyd didn't get that holding call, and Theo had just caught that punt, then we would have gone into the locker room at halftime no worse than ahead 14-6 and nobody would have anything to say about Crist. I'm glad Tommy came in and played well, but I don't think he did anything that Dayne isn't capable of.

Thankyou!! Finally someone has it right

 

[Irish Houstonian]

[T]o play (totally) amateur psychologist for a moment, during games when things are going poorly, does anyone else notice that distinct unsettled look about him?

...

I just wonder if Dayne has ... demons that crawl into his head. Not choking; just an overwhelming lack of self-confidence and feeling of things going awry ...

Dayne is a physical stud of a quarterback and sometimes plays up to it. But when things are going bad, it seems as if a whole new demeanor takes him over. Unlike Tommy, who has inferior physical skills, but seems to shrug off everything and move forward.

I don't know about "demons" -- that seems a little harsh/vague/prejudicial. But reps for the sports psychology. Crist did seem too afraid to fail, and didn't really hit his stride unless he knew EXACTLY what that proper throw was. (See, e.g., his first-drive screen pass or his quick slant audible against safety blitz with 0 coverage.)

I might take you even one step further -- if it doesn't have on already ND should hire an in-house sports psychologist. The pressure of ND, the national TV coverage, Doug Flutie interviewing you even before the first game, a more-difficult-than-needs-to-be first game of the year, NFL aspirations, BCS aspirations, competing to becoming a starter, all on top intense academic rigor they need to pass to keep playing -- it's a wonder how any of these 17-21 year old even sleep at night. Hell, I get butterflies for them and all I have to do is watch...I don't even have vbucks on it.

I think some of the ND kids know just how bright their futures could be, if they just make good, that the fear of not making it, national criticism, or just becoming that old, fat, could-have-been, "bust" just paralyzes them. And Crist appears to be patient 0 here.

Major League Baseball recognized (proved?) the benefit of sports psychology pretty early, so it's not like this is junk science. And if it prevents just one of the bone-headed plays made yesterday we're looking at a 1-0 Fighting Irish, making it a least pay for itself in just one game.

I'm not necessarily saying that getting Crist, H. Smith, J. Gray, TJ Jones and Riddick laying on the couch talking with Freud about their mommy issues will necessarily solve all of their athletic problems, but it's the next (last?) logical step when vastly superior athletes underperform and commit head-scratching mistakes when asked to perform under pressure.

 

[chadder20]

Bottom line, Dayne is a practice player. He does everything you want in practice, but cant handle the game. He even looked like crap in the B & G game. The guy just cant do it when he is pressured. Being a Bears fan, I can use Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton as the same situation. Rex must have out played God on the practice field because he was always the starter. Kyle Orton did nothing but win football games. Tommy is the same way, he does nothing but win football games and gets benched for the great practice player...

 

[Kak7304]

Turk has the same issue as Crist. Warming up for the game, all his punts are 45-60 yds and have incredible hangtime. During the game, he shanks the crap out of everything. These guys have the tools to be great players but for some reason, can't put it together in a game situation.

On an unrelated side note, I caught a ball and got to throw it back when Ruffer was warming up after the second delay. Just thought I'd share since I thought it was so cool. lol