'11 SC QB Everett Golson (FSU transfer)

[MNIrishman]

Irish Illustrated @PeteSampson_ · 49m 49 minutes ago
Everett Golson declined to speak to reporters on Friday, citing desire to focus on football and academics. May speak after spring game.

Good. I wish they'd leave athletes alone. They're busy enough as it is and having reporters up your butt doesn't help you stay humble and hungry.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Good. I wish they'd leave athletes alone. They're busy enough as it is and having reporters up your butt doesn't help you stay humble and hungry.

But it does give you hemorrhoids, so there's that.

 

[dshans]

But it does give you hemorrhoids, so there's that.

And hemorrhoids lead to faster 40 times.

And getting low and cradling the ball when being hit by a defender ...

 

[ulukinatme]

Golson scrambling with the ball out gives me hemorrhoids.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Anybody on this ND team would be crazy to leave!

Anybody on this ND team would be crazy to leave!

[Unless they had to!]

I will post this same thing in the EG and Spring Game thread.

I just talked to someone who I trust, and has forgotten more than I will ever know.

He said that he, and everyone he spoke to, (several), all agreed that their were major differences with the quarterbacks mechanics, from footwork, to throwing, major advances in reading defenses, (Showed with Kizer, even though he had a stinky day throwing the ball), hell even in calling cadences and communicating audibles. The days of having one quarterback that can play because he is the only one that can reasonably protect himself, (therefore not end up dead), may just be over at ND.

Also, the leg drive, hips underneath, lower pad level, blocking ability of running backs has improved markedly. (Both of these make the O-line look spectacular, by the way.)

And the D-backs, linebackers, and d-linemen are equally improved. One guy claimed it had been since Ara or Devine that there had been that clean of play across the roster. Everyone agreed that it had at least been since Holtz's first six years.

My strong half-assed gut feeling is that it is Kelly responding to Jenkins and Swarbrick, making himself the CEO and facilitator, and stopping micromanagement of his position coaches. This staff expansion and broad coaching change has allowed for a lot of innovation, preserving the best of the best, and improving on what needed fixing.

Call it letting Mike Sanford, Autry Denson, and Todd Lyght coach :

Running backs fanatic leg drive - Autry Denson.
Running backs blocking - Autry Denson
QB's out to the ball, calling plays, calling good cadences, and running up and down the line shouting the audible - Mike Sanford
Quarterbacks looking and playing like quarterbacks - Mike Sanford *
It is great that ES and MR get the adulation for their work, but their ascendance with Messr Watkins - All Todd Lyght (A little BVG)

* Even DeShone Kizer who threw the most poorly of the three, still looked like a better QB, game manager, than ND has had in a spring game since JC.

 

[IrishLion]

Perhaps I'm overreacting to last year, and looking too much into a meaningless spring game, and am too enamored by how natural Malik looks protecting himself and the ball when he runs, but there were several times in the spring game that I thought EG was still a little too lackadaisical with the ball.

There were a few times where he would scramble and dive forward after picking up yards where he was nearly losing control of the ball and/or cutting it too close in letting it go at the conclusion of the play. There were also a few throws he made into the middle that would have been frightening in a real game situation (a LB very nearly had an INT diving at one ball, but perhaps it had been tipped).

Either way, I would want to see EG holding onto that ball for dear life after running with it, to the point where the ref has to forcibly take it from him... I just fear that being too casual, even after the play while on the ground, contributed to bad habits.

Am I just shell shocked at the turnovers last season?

 

[Riddickulous]

Perhaps I'm overreacting to last year, and looking too much into a meaningless spring game, and am too enamored by how natural Malik looks protecting himself and the ball when he runs, but there were several times in the spring game that I thought EG was still a little too lackadaisical with the ball.

There were a few times where he would scramble and dive forward after picking up yards where he was nearly losing control of the ball and/or cutting it too close in letting it go at the conclusion of the play. There were also a few throws he made into the middle that would have been frightening in a real game situation (a LB very nearly had an INT diving at one ball, but perhaps it had been tipped).

Either way, I would want to see EG holding onto that ball for dear life after running with it, to the point where the ref has to forcibly take it from him... I just fear that being too casual, even after the play while on the ground, contributed to bad habits.

Am I just shell shocked at the turnovers last season?

He was getting hit as he threw that one. I was more concerned by that horrible pass he made rolling to his left where he nearly threw the ball directly to the safety. In one of the practice videos he makes a similar throw into double coverage which is picked.

 

[Booslum31]

He was getting hit as he threw that one. I was more concerned by that horrible pass he made rolling to his left where he nearly threw the ball directly to the safety. In one of the practice videos he makes a similar throw into double coverage which is picked.

just watched the Michigan game from last year again...Golson was flawless. Boat load of drops. He's my 1A.

 

[Riddickulous]

just watched the Michigan game from last year again...Golson was flawless. Boat load of drops. He's my 1A.

Hoping we see more of that Golson this season. He couldn't miss that night.

 

[Irish Insanity]

just watched the Michigan game from last year again...Golson was flawless. Boat load of drops. He's my 1A.

Hoping we see more of that Golson this season. He couldn't miss that night.

And FUCK Michigan

 

[Irish YJ]

just watched the Michigan game from last year again...Golson was flawless. Boat load of drops. He's my 1A.

re-watch the ASU game, then LSU game.

 

[rocket66]

re-watch the ASU game, then LSU game.

Yup.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Funny you all mention this. There are at least three, maybe four games last season, that I have no memory of, whatsoever!

 

[NDPhilly]

I think i'm rooting for Malik to win the job outright but won't be upset if Golson wins. I expect Golson to win.

 

[IrishinSyria]

re-watch the ASU game, then LSU game.

Golson did great things under a ton of pressure in both of those games. The entire offensive scheme was jacked up in the first half of ASU.

 

[Irish YJ]

Golson did great things under a ton of pressure in both of those games. The entire offensive scheme was jacked up in the first half of ASU.

He did some great things, but also some bad things. I think that was the game he threw 4Ints, 2 for P6, and fumbled once. I love EG, and I think if he can limit the TOs, he's our best guy. If he can't, it's MZ. I think it's more in EGs head than anything.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I was looking for what was different in this "quarterback competition," than in past. (I will spare you the recitation of names.)

As opposed to any individual's characteristics, is what is different the amplitude of results following either path?

In other words, does anyone think that if either quarterback looses the competition and as a result, gets his panties in a bunch, we would be that much worse off, in the long run, with three of the four quarterbacks expected on the fall roster remaining?

Don't you think that the strides made since January don't argue that the system, (teaching, coaching strategies, attention to detail evident), with the engagement of all the new coaches doesn't bode well for any outcome?

How many of you, like me wondered why specific young players would come into ND, and have such a hard time adjusting to the system, or some aspect thereof?

And in fairness, this was an issue at ND before Kelly arrived. An ND graduate that I know thinks it has as much to do with the all around expectations of an ND student athlete as any coaching issues. Another acquaintance that does not disagree with that premise has some familiarity with other programs, Ivy League, Stanford, and Duke, among others, and feels that ND presents more for a student athlete than anywhere but a few Ivy's. When I asked he agreed that even though Stanford may have a better overall academic reputation than ND, their athletes are nowhere near as challenged.

Maybe adaptation to the newness of college, class requirements, and adjusting to a D1 college program together, slow some players down. That is why I am going to watch the instruction techniques and nuances, particularly of the new coaches, and the effect of the coaches having off field counterparts backing them up, carefully. Maybe this time it has been technique more than individual.

 

[phork]

Becareful what you wish for. If Zaire is named started our loaded QB rotation more than likely loses one to transfer...

 

[Crazy Balki]

Funny you all mention this. There are at least three, maybe four games last season, that I have no memory of, whatsoever!

To my knowledge, from what I remember each game went...

Rice - General optimism
Michigan - Increased optimism
Purdue - Decreased optimism
Syracuse - Confused optimism
Stanford - Back to general optimism
UNC - *Insert 4 hours of blind fury here*
FSU - *Insert 4 minutes of blind fury here, followed by 4 hours of excess drinking and passing out in a bush.*
Navy - Didn't watch, getting drunk in NOLA.
ASU - UNC x500
Northwestern - ASU x500
Louisville - 5 grape vodkas helped matters
USC - No amount of booze on the planet could subdue my rage.
LSU - General optimism

Comes full circle.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Becareful what you wish for. If Zaire is named started our loaded QB rotation more than likely loses one to transfer...

Was that in response to my post?

Because my point was, if we have a system in place, and are developing our quarterbacks, as much easier as it would be having Golson for his last year, if Zaire were named starter it would infer that Golson were not going to play much anyway. So wouldn't the net difference be that we would have Kizer or Winbush backing up Zaire instead of Golson? In analysis how much worse is that, because the "kids" would get more game experience to help them in seasons past 15.

Now I am not trying to start a Zaire versus Golson argument. I think Golson is the preferred point. But a year or so ago, when I pointed out the abilities of Zaire, not Golson were more likely for ND quarterbacks transferring, I was laughed at. (I was right, though I refused to make an argument of it at the time. Even a blind squirrel stumbles across an acorn occasionally!)

Zaire is not polished, but he is a gamer. Golson and Zaire, for seeming to have some similarities are really as opposite as night and day. (Or left versus right hand.) Planning for the two of them would be a nightmare for any opponent. However from the point of all their teammates interviewed, particularly the linemen and running backs, it doesn't matter who is back there, these guys are comfortable with either.

That being the case, playing both appeals to me more than a little. Now I haven't thought that much about it, I certainly am not suggesting an "every other series type debacle!" But a change up like Kelly himself presented in the 2012 season can be more than just effective!

And to complete the points of my hypothesis, about ND being just as well off in any roster situation featuring as little as three of the four possible studs we have lined up, I believe that if Kelly does go for both EG and MZ to play, and one of them is insulted enough to leave, (both won't because as soon as one would leave the other would be the uncontested leader), that answers questions from the character end of the overall talent to play issue.

To me beyond the ideal of all four remaining, which I prefer, any option of the three is just as good for second best, in the long run.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

To my knowledge, from what I remember each game went...

Rice - General optimism
Michigan - Increased optimism
Purdue - Decreased optimism
Syracuse - Confused optimism
Stanford - Back to general optimism
UNC - *Insert 4 hours of blind fury here*
FSU - *Insert 4 minutes of blind fury here, followed by 4 hours of excess drinking and passing out in a bush.*
Navy - Didn't watch, getting drunk in NOLA.
ASU - UNC x500
Northwestern - ASU x500
Louisville - 5 grape vodkas helped matters
USC - No amount of booze on the planet could subdue my rage.
LSU - General optimism

Comes full circle.

Reps, sir!

 

[RDU Irish]

Didn't see the spring game but here are my thoughts on the QB situation:

With probably the best O-line in the country, one of the strongest running games around and a bevy of WR talent I have a hard time seeing the value of transferring. Good QBs can look great under these circumstances. It just requires EG to give in to the system and table his street ball point guard tendencies. A lot easier to do that with a run first offense.

I also think EG benefits from MZ sharing time. For his entire career I have felt he gains a lot from watching from the sidelines for a few series. Game slows down a lot and he tends to come back in with better focus.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Didn't see the spring game but here are my thoughts on the QB situation:

With probably the best O-line in the country, one of the strongest running games around and a bevy of WR talent I have a hard time seeing the value of transferring. Good QBs can look great under these circumstances. It just requires EG to give in to the system and table his street ball point guard tendencies. A lot easier to do that with a run first offense.

I also think EG benefits from MZ sharing time. For his entire career I have felt he gains a lot from watching from the sidelines for a few series. Game slows down a lot and he tends to come back in with better focus.

I agree with the premise, but I don't think EG is choosing the offense, BK is. Sure, he may make stupid errors by trying for the big play instead of the smart play. But at the end of the day, I blame BK for putting him in those situations after being burned.

I do agree that if we come out with a 2012 offense mind set in 2015, there is potential for a special year.

 

[RDU Irish]

Having MZ in the fold helps keep EG in check. 1) slow game down for EG letting him sit a few series. 2) threat of being pulled more likely to keep him in line instead of going gunslinger nuts out there.

QB's best friend is a good run game.

 

[Luckylucci]

Golson did great things under a ton of pressure in both of those games. The entire offensive scheme was jacked up in the first half of ASU.

While Golson should shoulder some responsibility for what transpired in that first half, Kelly did him no favors with how that half was called. It was mind numbingly hard to watch.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

My mind was numbed, which is probably why I don't remember much of ASU other than the taunting.

But, I think you all have good points. Kelly inexplicably calls offense in some games for shiit, "Check!" Golson tries to streetball his way out of things, "Check!" It helps both to slow the game down, "Check!"

Remember the game we lost last year because Kelly went for two, instead of one? When all we needed was to not get zero? EG and BK both get flustered at a point.

If Kelly stops micro-managing this year and keeps the system in place he has through spring, the team should preform light years better! No one can do that much in today's game! It ain't like Knute Rochne All-American, anymore!

 

[irishfan]

While Golson should shoulder some responsibility for what transpired in that first half, Kelly did him no favors with how that half was called. It was mind numbingly hard to watch.

Yep. ASU was bringing guys off both edges every play and we made 0 adjustments until halftime. Constant sacks and batted passes...BK wanted quick passes and was calling WR screens for Golson to throw it right at the guy blitzing un-touched....

That was also our first game post-Schmidt....when the coaches basically admitted they had no gameplan for if Schmidt got injured. I swear everytime I convince myself that BK is the guy who can win a Championship here, he goes and does something that completely changes my mind. But it's the off-season and we ended the season with a nice Bowl win so of course I'm back on board with thinking BK can win one here.

 

[IrishLion]

I swear everytime I convince myself that BK is the guy who can win a Championship here, he goes and does something that completely changes my mind. But it's the off-season and we ended the season with a nice Bowl win so of course I'm back on board with thinking BK can win one here.

It's really simply about the stars aligning perfectly... I honestly don't think BK could have done much better in terms of building/modernizing the roster and the program. The difference is the stars aligning perfectly for a relatively injury-free season, combined with some bounces and calls going your way, combined with some guys developing far beyond what their initial outlook seemed to be.

Much of this is out of a coach's hands, the developmental thing included (BK is a master at developing talent IMO, but even then, he needed some guys to transcend their perceived ceilings on their own in 2012).

Because of the restrictions, he can't simply keep ND loaded like other programs. And so, there is less margin for error, and requires greater fortune than other programs might need.

Perhaps the stars can align again this season or next... but I don't think the coaching situation at ND can get much better than BK.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I think that BK has tried to do too much. He has tried to micro-manage ND Football to too great of a degree. That may work at Grand Valley, or CMU, but definitely not ND.

As Golson attempts to try to do too much, and becomes a turnover machine, Kelly has the same sort of issue, and it comes out with play-calling or slow adjustments, etc.

Wasn't the even a game last year where ND went for two points and could have taken one, just not zero against Northwestern? I think he has gotten too busy on game days, (at times - anyone would), and I hope he has the system which allows him to sit back and do what he does best.

 

[irishfan]

It's really simply about the stars aligning perfectly... I honestly don't think BK could have done much better in terms of building/modernizing the roster and the program. The difference is the stars aligning perfectly for a relatively injury-free season, combined with some bounces and calls going your way, combined with some guys developing far beyond what their initial outlook seemed to be.

Much of this is out of a coach's hands, the developmental thing included (BK is a master at developing talent IMO, but even then, he needed some guys to transcend their perceived ceilings on their own in 2012).

Because of the restrictions, he can't simply keep ND loaded like other programs. And so, there is less margin for error, and requires greater fortune than other programs might need.

Perhaps the stars can align again this season or next... but I don't think the coaching situation at ND can get much better than BK.

All of this is very true. The injuries we've had at the end of the seasons in 2013/2014 were absurd. However, he and the staff seem to always have a couple of headscratching moments every year.

In 2010, we had no business losing to Navy or Tulsa. None. In 2011 we opened the year with 10 turnovers in 2 games and didn't show up againt USC at home. In 2012, it was one of those years where we got the bounces and the staff was awesome all year....although opening up the Bama game going 5-wide seemed like conceding the loss right out of the gate. 2013 we had about twice the talent of Michigan or Pitt and lost to both. Last year we had no business losing to NW and the USC game was pathetic from the start despite the injuries.

BK and the staff have moments of greatness too. They rallied the troops amazingly well in 2010 after the Tulsa loss and same thing in 2011 after the 0-2 start and the USC loss and near team-mutiny. Even the win over LSU was pretty amazing considering the 0-4 end to the season. The players clearly have pretty much bought in as a whole on BK from the start.

There are just always the "little" things with BK. Throwing the game away against Tulsa, the 2-pt conversion and horrid clock management against Northwestern, having to call one play on D the whole Navy game because Schmidt got hurt, 5 years of no punt returns, clearly not putting enough of an emphasis on Special Teams which led to your Holder and backup Holder blowing games for you.....just small things that pop up with BK that you don't see with Saban/Meyer.

I still like BK a lot and think he's the right guy for the job. I just thinking there has been more learning-on-the-fly than he anticipated when he took over here.