2024 Spring Practice Thread

[IrishLion]

Because Angeli has started and played in a big game now away from home.

If i'm the coach, i feel really good about having leonard starting and angeli as backup going into college station next year. Minchey and obviously carr haven't had any meaningful college reps. I wouldn't want there first ones to potentially be at college station if leonard were to miss time in the game.

With that said, I also could see where the coaches believe minchey and carr have more tools for what they want to do offensively going forward over Angeli. Northern Illinois and Miami (OH) would be a great opportunity to get minchey or carr some real game reps looking to 2025.

So basically you want Angeli to understand that he is the long-term backup should Leonard go down, and he's also your guy if you're in a pinch in a close game...

But if the game is not on the line, Minchey and Carr should both be getting real, live-fire reps, and Angeli should hang out.

It makes total sense in theory! But you're asking Angeli to be awfully understanding of the situation, knowing he's forfeiting his own opportunities in mop-up duty, which he will feel that he's earned, to give more reps to the guys that you think can unseat him with some seasoning. Not sure I'd let them dangle that carrot in front of me if I were Angeli.

 

[Fbolt]

IMO, Angeli played last year due to familiarity with the program. He did see the Reps and was able to play well in the Bowl game. However, Minchey and Carr bring much more to the table and would anticipate them getting the Reps this year.

I know my opinion is sh!t though. Coaches will do what they want and what they need. It's their J-O-B on the line, not mine.

 

[PutuporShutup]

So basically you want Angeli to understand that he is the long-term backup should Leonard go down, and he's also your guy if you're in a pinch in a close game...

But if the game is not on the line, Minchey and Carr should both be getting real, live-fire reps, and Angeli should hang out.

It makes total sense in theory! But you're asking Angeli to be awfully understanding of the situation, knowing he's forfeiting his own opportunities in mop-up duty, which he will feel that he's earned, to give more reps to the guys that you think can unseat him with some seasoning. Not sure I'd let them dangle that carrot in front of me if I were Angeli.

I doubt the coaches would show their hand on their 2025 thoughts early with angeli.

If my scenario were true, Angeli probably wouldn't get the feeling he might be behind the others going into 2025 not until somewhere during the 2024 season.

I wouldn't expect the coaches to say "Hey, we like you as our backup in 2024, but we hope carr or minchey beat you out in 2025"

I would be 100% focused on winning at college station, that would be with angeli getting 2nd team reps. Then i would work carr or minchey in more as the season progressed.

 

[SDIrishFan]

It is coaches jobs to win NOW. So whomever the best player is when the season starts will play. Could that change as the season progresses? Absolutely. Coaches don't buy into the philosophy after a few losses of, "let's start to build for next year and play younger guys." It doesn't work like that and is a disservice to the older guys. The QB depth chart should represent who is most ready now.

Angeli had a year head start on Minchey. If Minchey is better (ability wise, gives the team a better chance to win), we're at the point now where it should be expected he understands the demands of a D1 college QB (playbook, leadership, intangibles, reading defenses, etc) and should be passing Angeli up sooner than later. If he's not, then he hasn't earned the reps and will be stuck behind Angeli for now.

Also, there's no way Angeli would be okay being QB2 in name only for this year and ruled out from being QB1 next year.

 

[PutuporShutup]

It is coaches jobs to win NOW. So whomever the best player is when the season starts will play. Could that change as the season progresses? Absolutely. Coaches don't buy into the philosophy after a few losses of, "let's start to build for next year and play younger guys." It doesn't work like that and is a disservice to the older guys. The QB depth chart should represent who is most ready now.

Angeli had a year head start on Minchey. If Minchey is better (ability wise, gives the team a better chance to win), we're at the point now where it should be expected he understands the demands of a D1 college QB (playbook, leadership, intangibles, reading defenses, etc) and should be passing Angeli up sooner than later. If he's not, then he hasn't earned the reps and will be stuck behind Angeli for now.

Also, there's no way Angeli would be okay being QB2 in name only for this year and ruled out from being QB1 next year.

Coaches wouldn't rule him out, but he probably could get a sense/feel if he think he will have a good/fair shot at the starting job.

Angeli's number one goal might be to get an ND degree. But they brought leonard in to be the starter. IF angeli wants to try and have a path at starting and the NFL (if that's his top goal) then he would probably be taking a pretty big risk staying at ND, that he may never be named full time starter.

 

[Fbolt]

Ignore list just expanded. Continuing to repeat yourself gets old for all others. I always wondered how peeps hit meg-posts in a few short months-now I know.

Replying to your own post is inevitable.

 

[a mike]

Everyone is making this way too complicated

The #3 coming out of spring will transfer. Various talking heads have said as much

And these kids aren't stupid and the coaches aren't that cutthroat

Nobody is running some extravagant op making so and so think they're the #2 when really they're the #3 in order to "trick" them into staying

If Angeli is #2 coming out of spring he's likely insurmountably ahead of Minchey at this point in their respective careers regardless of Minchey's "live arm"--whatever that even means

Fair or not, its highly likely the case that Minchey is the odd man out as he's sandwiched in between a guy he may be slightly more talented than but whom has a headstart on him and a guy who is a lot more talented than him who would likely eventually pass him up

Also not sure why so many people are reflexively turning their nose up to Angeli being the #1 in 2025. He's looked pretty poised and has been receiving solid practice reports going back to last fall

If Angeli holds off Minchey and is the #2 coming out of spring then I'm guessing he will be the defacto 2025 starter with Carr the backup

Also agree with other posters that it's a pipedream to think that Carr or Minchey would be slowly worked in during the year. That only happens in rare cases like Wimbush being a complete dumpster fire in 2018. And I can count on both hands the number of meaningful series that backup qbs have received during mop up time over the past decade or so

 

[IrishBoognish]

Carr may pass Minchey for #3... in that case #4 transfers.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Everyone is making this way too complicated

The #3 coming out of spring will transfer. Various talking heads have said as much

And these kids aren't stupid and the coaches aren't that cutthroat

Nobody is running some extravagant op making so and so think they're the #2 when really they're the #3 in order to "trick" them into staying

If Angeli is #2 coming out of spring he's likely insurmountably ahead of Minchey at this point in their respective careers regardless of Minchey's "live arm"--whatever that even means

Fair or not, its highly likely the case that Minchey is the odd man out as he's sandwiched in between a guy he may be slightly more talented than but whom has a headstart on him and a guy who is a lot more talented than him who would likely eventually pass him up

Also not sure why so many people are reflexively turning their nose up to Angeli being the #1 in 2025. He's looked pretty poised and has been receiving solid practice reports going back to last fall

If Angeli holds off Minchey and is the #2 coming out of spring then I'm guessing he will be the defacto 2025 starter with Carr the backup

Also agree with other posters that it's a pipedream to think that Carr or Minchey would be slowly worked in during the year. That only happens in rare cases like Wimbush being a complete dumpster fire in 2018. And I can count on both hands the number of meaningful series that backup qbs have received during mop up time over the past decade or so

Book was ready in 2018 due to his big time reps as backup in 17… angeli is much better suited to come in if needed next year due to PT vs osu.

Buchner wasn’t rattled (shockingly) by moment at osu due to good reps year before.

Pyne was much more ready to take over Buchner because he got reps in 21

Young qbs with no meaningful reps that start typically have major growing pains

 

[Irish#1]

Everyone is making this way too complicated

The #3 coming out of spring will transfer. Various talking heads have said as much

And these kids aren't stupid and the coaches aren't that cutthroat

Nobody is running some extravagant op making so and so think they're the #2 when really they're the #3 in order to "trick" them into staying

If Angeli is #2 coming out of spring he's likely insurmountably ahead of Minchey at this point in their respective careers regardless of Minchey's "live arm"--whatever that even means

Fair or not, its highly likely the case that Minchey is the odd man out as he's sandwiched in between a guy he may be slightly more talented than but whom has a headstart on him and a guy who is a lot more talented than him who would likely eventually pass him up

Also not sure why so many people are reflexively turning their nose up to Angeli being the #1 in 2025. He's looked pretty poised and has been receiving solid practice reports going back to last fall

If Angeli holds off Minchey and is the #2 coming out of spring then I'm guessing he will be the defacto 2025 starter with Carr the backup

Also agree with other posters that it's a pipedream to think that Carr or Minchey would be slowly worked in during the year. That only happens in rare cases like Wimbush being a complete dumpster fire in 2018. And I can count on both hands the number of meaningful series that backup qbs have received during mop up time over the past decade or so

I was reading through the thread and was going to post something very similar when I saw your post.

Angeli has already shown he can run the offense pretty efficiently. Leonard was brought in because he brings a running threat to the offense.

 

[Green Mountains]

I mostly agree that #3 will transfer....however, Minchey has more arm talent than Angeli and might actually pass him this spring and summer. Yes, he has less experience. But in practice when (if) Minchey is throwing dimes all over the field and reading the defense timely.....you go with the more talented guy as #2 (experience be damned). The players know...the coaches know, get the most talented guy out there.

IF Minchey passes Angeli before the fall....ND has Leonard, Minchey, Angeli and Carr....then depending on his graduation desire, Angeli could stay and try to get his ND degree. He likely knows he isn't a NFL talent.

It wouldn't shock me that by August, it's Leonard, Minchey / Carr (2a/2b), and Angeli (4). I think both Minchey and Carr are that good. Minchey getting the backup playing time and Carr will still likely be redshirted. But by Spring '25, it's a Minchey and Carr donnybrook to take the job.

 

[dublinirish]

derp Landow must go

 

[Rocket89]

Everyone is making this way too complicated

The #3 coming out of spring will transfer. Various talking heads have said as much

And these kids aren't stupid and the coaches aren't that cutthroat

Nobody is running some extravagant op making so and so think they're the #2 when really they're the #3 in order to "trick" them into staying

If Angeli is #2 coming out of spring he's likely insurmountably ahead of Minchey at this point in their respective careers regardless of Minchey's "live arm"--whatever that even means

Fair or not, its highly likely the case that Minchey is the odd man out as he's sandwiched in between a guy he may be slightly more talented than but whom has a headstart on him and a guy who is a lot more talented than him who would likely eventually pass him up

Also not sure why so many people are reflexively turning their nose up to Angeli being the #1 in 2025. He's looked pretty poised and has been receiving solid practice reports going back to last fall

If Angeli holds off Minchey and is the #2 coming out of spring then I'm guessing he will be the defacto 2025 starter with Carr the backup

Also agree with other posters that it's a pipedream to think that Carr or Minchey would be slowly worked in during the year. That only happens in rare cases like Wimbush being a complete dumpster fire in 2018. And I can count on both hands the number of meaningful series that backup qbs have received during mop up time over the past decade or so

I'll also add the discussion around Minchey has been pretty bizarre to date. For someone who is supposedly ready to zoom up the depth chart we've basically seen no evidence that he's ready to do that or is actually on this path. Part of that is the lack of practice access for the media, but even the insider talk isn't THAT positive for Minchey. Like you said, everyone just keeps repeating that Minchey has a better arm but that doesn't mean a ton in the grand scheme.

I also think it's wild that many are casting Angeli aside as the lesser talented option. He's looked pretty athletic to date! He's got good size and performed well so far. His ceiling (relative to the past) is way higher now based on available evidence.

I don't want to rag on Minchey but there's just not much to go on right now and it's really odd.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I'll also add the discussion around Minchey has been pretty bizarre to date. For someone who is supposedly ready to zoom up the depth chart we've basically seen no evidence that he's ready to do that or is actually on this path. Part of that is the lack of practice access for the media, but even the insider talk isn't THAT positive for Minchey. Like you said, everyone just keeps repeating that Minchey has a better arm but that doesn't mean a ton in the grand scheme.

I also think it's wild that many are casting Angeli aside as the lesser talented option. He's looked pretty athletic to date! He's got good size and performed well so far. His ceiling (relative to the past) is way higher now based on available evidence.

I don't want to rag on Minchey but there's just not much to go on right now and it's really odd.

Is it that strange? I remember thinking it was odd that we never heard anything about Angeli and now here he is.

 

[Rocket89]

Is it that strange? I remember thinking it was odd that we never heard anything about Angeli and now here he is.

Sure, in that anything can happen and Minchey taking a step forward isn't that strange in a vacuum.

Just the context in which the quarterbacks are discussed now has been weird. It took playing time for people to see Angeli differently and almost no one was saying he was going to overtake QB jobs in the last 12 months before he saw the field, and I think rightfully so.

I can't stress how little of Minchey we've seen so far in his career. It feels like a lot of extrapolating because BIG ARM but I just want to see something from him before it seems realistic he's forcing Angeli out the door.

 

[stlnd01]

I'll also add the discussion around Minchey has been pretty bizarre to date. For someone who is supposedly ready to zoom up the depth chart we've basically seen no evidence that he's ready to do that or is actually on this path. Part of that is the lack of practice access for the media, but even the insider talk isn't THAT positive for Minchey. Like you said, everyone just keeps repeating that Minchey has a better arm but that doesn't mean a ton in the grand scheme.

I also think it's wild that many are casting Angeli aside as the lesser talented option. He's looked pretty athletic to date! He's got good size and performed well so far. His ceiling (relative to the past) is way higher now based on available evidence.

I don't want to rag on Minchey but there's just not much to go on right now and it's really odd.

I think it’s mostly that we’ve seen this three-star story before. We know the ceiling. And we want better.

In his modest playing time to date, Angeli has looked solid. Probably better than his recruiting rating. I’ve no doubt he’s a capable QB2 for us.
But Minchey, while not as highly-rated as Carr, was substantially higher-rated than Angeli, and sounds like he has the potential to be a QB1. I think some of us would like to see the kid before he ships off to the portal.

Ideally they both stick through the ‘24 season, anyways. That would probably be the best outcome for all involved. But I understand in this day and age why that usually doesn’t happen.

 

[NDQuebec]

I haven't read through all of this but, if only 3 QBs stay after spring, I would prefer they be Leonard, Minchey and Carr, with the better of the latter two as a starter next year.

 

[Rocket89]

I think it’s mostly that we’ve seen this three-star story before. We know the ceiling. And we want better.

In his modest playing time to date, Angeli has looked solid. Probably better than his recruiting rating. I’ve no doubt he’s a capable QB2 for us.
But Minchey, while not as highly-rated as Carr, was substantially higher-rated than Angeli, and sounds like he has the potential to be a QB1. I think some of us would like to see the kid before he ships off to the portal.

Ideally they both stick through the ‘24 season, anyways. That would probably be the best outcome for all involved. But I understand in this day and age why that usually doesn’t happen.

I'd argue a lot of the talk to date has been (unfairly) attached to recruiting rankings.

There's absolutely no way if Minchey performed like Angeli did in the Sun Bowl there's all this talk of "knowing his ceiling" or that his play was merely "solid."

 

[NDPhilly]

Outside of the interception against Stanford, Angeli made the most of his opportunity last year. If his name was CJ Carr, we'd be crowning him as 2024 Heisman winner. Have a hard time believing he won't be QB 2.

 

[dublinirish]

Video | Notre Dame Football Spring Practice Clips 4.9

Notre Dame hit the practice field on Tuesday morning and ISD was on hand for the first five periods.

irishsportsdaily.com

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Steve’s a gamer. All he does it light it up.

 

[a mike]

I'd argue a lot of the talk to date has been (unfairly) attached to recruiting rankings.

There's absolutely no way if Minchey performed like Angeli did in the Sun Bowl there's all this talk of "knowing his ceiling" or that his play was merely "solid."

This 100%

I think people are still unfairly sour on Angeli because it was perceived (and to be fair at the time probably was) a bit of recruiting blunder/mishandling by ND

But if I'm just objectively watching Angeli in games and ignoring recruiting history he looks really promising to me

Good size, mobile, poised, nice touch

And to just say "Well he's just doing it against backups" is stupid and unfair to him

Its not like ND is going to put him in during the 4th qtr of the OSU game

He's doing exactly like the old school heir apparents did under Holtz in mop up time like McDougal and Jarious Jackson. Going out and making positive plays

Not saying Angeli is the second coming or anything but he's on a really good career trajectory thus far. Time will tell

Also get tired of this whole "We just need a Deshaun Watson to win a title" or "We can't win a title without the next Deshaun Watson" or "muhhhhhhh Clemson model" tripe

Ian Book just kinda sucked. Couldn't read defenses/anticipate/throw guys open. He was really propped up and ND won in spite of him. Obviously guys succeeding him outside of second half of year Coan have been some other form of awful frankly

But that doesn't mean ND has to jump from a Book to Trevor Lawrence to be really good

 

[dublinirish]

Notre Dame Football Practice Notes - April 9th

Notes and observations from the Notre Dame spring practice

www.si.com

 

[notredomer23]

The reports on Young and KVA this spring are exciting to say the least. Easy to see both playing a ton. The positive reports on all of the '24 class in general is way more than I remember in the spring of any previous recruiting class. Also seems Micah Gilbert was first team today. I know that won't stick once Collins is available and Harrison and Thomas are healthy... but still amazing to see from an unranked 4 star

 

[SWirishfan]

I'd argue a lot of the talk to date has been (unfairly) attached to recruiting rankings.

There's absolutely no way if Minchey performed like Angeli did in the Sun Bowl there's all this talk of "knowing his ceiling" or that his play was merely "solid."

The Angeli reasoning has nothing to do with recruiting stars...there is 1 and only 1 factor.
When he is in a helmet he looks like Tommy Rees, baby face and all.
Unfortunate resemblance triggers my Post Tommy (player + QB Coach + OC) Stress Disorder

 

[Rocket89]

The Angeli reasoning has nothing to do with recruiting stars...there is 1 and only 1 factor.
When he is in a helmet he looks like Tommy Rees, baby face and all.
Unfortunate resemblance triggers my Post Tommy (player + QB Coach + OC) Stress Disorder

Harsh but fair.

 

[stlnd01]

Let’s clear the air here, because people are exaggerating the flip. Few, if any, are saying Angeli sucks. In fact, he has many great attributes, and he instills confidence. If he earns the job outside of Leonard, then let’s roll. However, Minchey is comparatively unknown, and before he takes his potential somewhere else, some of us fans want to see what he has in terms of live reps. This isn’t a diss on Angeli. It’s curiosity about Minchey. We have multiple cars in the garage. Test drive them all. Relax.

Exactly.

 

[IrishSportsDaily]

 

[greyhammer90]

Has this been a normal Spring practice? For some reason it feels much longer this year.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Has this been a normal Spring practice? For some reason it feels much longer this year.

There was a weird long gap after the first practice or two