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

[FWIrish4]

You have to wonder how much his injured shoulder played a part in that. He's not throwing with it, but he's moving/using it during his throwing motion.

This is spot on. I would almost guarantee this is why he wasn’t stepping up in the pocket and driving into his throws. He has elite sack avoidance for his full career. You don’t just lose that ability, he clearly didn’t trust it/was afraid to get hit.

I also say this as a guy with multiple shoulder injuries and played QB/college baseball. Your opposite shoulder definitely affects you mentally and for sure physically in football.

If the staff knew this, which I think they did because they stopped running him in the game, why not pull him if he wasn’t going to be able to do what he’s best at (running)?

 

[ThePiombino]

You have to wonder how much his injured shoulder played a part in that. He's not throwing with it, but he's moving/using it during his throwing motion.

Wonder all you want, but if he's THAT hurt, he shouldn't be in the game.

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[arrowryan]

This is spot on. I would almost guarantee this is why he wasn’t stepping up in the pocket and driving into his throws. He has elite sack avoidance for his full career. You don’t just lose that ability, he clearly didn’t trust it/was afraid to get hit.

I also say this as a guy with multiple shoulder injuries and played QB/college baseball. Your opposite shoulder definitely affects you mentally and for sure physically in football.

If the staff knew this, which I think they did because they stopped running him in the game, why not pull him if he wasn’t going to be able to do what he’s best at (running)?

Yeah. So one of two things is true here.

1.) Leonard is worse than anyone could’ve expected, or

2.) The coaching staff or training staff put him in danger and there needs to be an internal investigation.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Yeah. So one of two things is true here.

1.) Leonard is worse than anyone could’ve expected, or

2.) The coaching staff or training staff put him in danger and there needs to be an internal investigation.

It’s possible he got hurt and withheld the severity of the pain from the staff. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. After the game they ran the tests and discovered the true extent of the damage.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It’s possible he got hurt and withheld the severity of the pain from the staff. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. After the game they ran the tests and discovered the true extent of the damage.

I'm thinking you are right.

 

[Huntr]

They didn't call a designed run after he got hurt, though. And they could see he had no oomph on his throws. They had to have had at least *some* idea he was pretty well jacked up and that he was significantly limited because of it.

 

[allenm5333]

Seriously... it wasn't a bad call on 2nd and 1, nor was it a bad read

It was a cheeks QB

If this hits, we are applauding the "killer instinct" mentality

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Yeah. So one of two things is true here.

1.) Leonard is worse than anyone could’ve expected, or

2.) The coaching staff or training staff put him in danger and there needs to be an internal investigation.

You’re dealing with a competitive kid who is already playing with a lot of pressure. I would guarantee he didn’t say shit.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Seriously... it wasn't a bad call on 2nd and 1, nor was it a bad read

It was a cheeks QB

I didnt' like the call, pesonally. Save one single pass to Greathouse that was dropped, there weren't any other throws that suggested airing it out was the right move there. I get it, 2nd and 1, best down to take a shot, you'll have two more chances to pick up the yard.

But with less than 6 minutes to play, ND should've done exactly what NIU did after the pick, and that was bleed the clock and run the football.

I know, it was NIU, we shouldn't have to play keep away, but they should've been thinking about survive and advance, not style points there. RL didn't have it all afternoon and Denbrock dialed up a play call anyways to put the game on his shoulders. We were running the ball just fine the previous drive. It was a bad call in that spot in the game, IMO. I know others will disagree.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I didnt' like the call, pesonally. Save one single pass to Greathouse that was dropped, there weren't any other throws that suggested airing it out was the right move there. I get it, 2nd and 1, best down to take a shot, you'll have two more chances to pick up the yard.

But with less than 6 minutes to play, ND should've done exactly what NIU did after the pick, and that was bleed the clock and run the football.

I know, it was NIU, we shouldn't have to play keep away, but they should've been thinking about survive and advance, not style points there. RL didn't have it all afternoon and Denbrock dialed up a play call anyways to put the game on his shoulders. We were running the ball just fine the previous drive. It was a bad call in that spot in the game, IMO. I know others will disagree.

From what I read, the play call was great in that it basically guaranteed one of three guys would be open against the zone. I don't think it was a play called with the sole intention of airing things out and going long.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

From what I read, the play call was great in that it basically guaranteed one of three guys would be open against the zone. I don't think it was a play called with the full intention of airing things out and going long.

I get it, I saw the breakdowns that showed Evans and another guy wide open in the intermediate routes, but RL had been missing those routine throws as well. Passing behind guys, even his completed passes were clunky.

Even if it was a *good* play call, I guess I don't understand putting the ball in a struggling QB's hands there, is all.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

It’s possible he got hurt and withheld the severity of the pain from the staff. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. After the game they ran the tests and discovered the true extent of the damage.

Hoping this is the case b/c if not, it leads to speculation that Freeman & Denbrock don’t trust Angeli to step in…even for a series or two.

 

[50milesSE ND]

I know Carr is the shiny new object, but he makes very quick decisions with the ball. He wouldn’t have to run as quick as he gets rid of ball. That would also help with how bad line play has been!

 

[IRISHDODGER]

From what I read, the play call was great in that it basically guaranteed one of three guys would be open against the zone. I don't think it was a play called with the sole intention of airing things out and going long.

Agreed. Just about every ND media outlet has diagramed that play showing Evans open for a nice gain, Greathouse for a big gain & the check down wide open just beyond the sticks. Not to mention that Mitchell was open as well and the pass not been underthrown by 10 yards.

Remember that beautiful pass Leonard threw in the 1H that Greathouse inexplicably dropped that would’ve given them a huge 3rd down conversion? I wonder if that was before his shoulder started affecting his play? I believe it was before the play where Riley got dragged down by his non-throwing shoulder as he tried to throw ball away. It was the play that looked like intentional grounding but for the fact the ball went backwards and bounced out of bounds as a fumble and loss of yardage.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I know Carr is the shiny new object, but he makes very quick decisions with the ball. He wouldn’t have to run as quick as he gets rid of ball. That would also help with how bad line play has been!

That’s fair & I get it but we haven’t even seen Minchey firing live bullets in a meaningful game.

 

[Irish#1]

Wonder all you want, but if he's THAT hurt, he shouldn't be in the game.

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Couldn't agree more. I was calling for the relief pitcher in the 3rd quarter, but I still wonder if it was effecting his throwing?

 

[stpeteirish]

We saw all three QBs in the spring game and Minchey was clearly the third best.
Angeli has played and played well, he is obviously next man. If we play Angeli and lose its time to play for next year and beyond and that’s Carr.
This all seems pretty straightforward to me. The hard part is moving on from Leonard.

 

[Irish#1]

It’s possible he got hurt and withheld the severity of the pain from the staff. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. After the game they ran the tests and discovered the true extent of the damage.

This is where I'm at. I don't think they would have played him if they knew.

 

[NDisme]

He definitely strikes me as a kid that would do whatever it took to remain in the game. Unfortunately it cost us an incredibly embarrassing loss

 

[ab2cmiller]

At this point I can only assume that ND still giving the impression that Leonard will start is just posturing. I can't think of a better way for Freeman to go from "in the frying pan" to "in the fire" than to start a knowingly injured QB that has done close to nothing in his previous starts. Freeman would be risking all hell breaking loose if he did and we lost to Purdue.

 

[50milesSE ND]

That’s fair & I get it but we haven’t even seen Minchey firing live bullets in a meaningful game.

Yes, I’m only going off spring game which doesn’t mean alot!

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

If they trot him out there this week, and he plays like ass again, it's unforgivable.

 

[BeatSC]

I find our private equity alumni to be pretty rational





Now it’s “unclear” whether he will play

Well I have my fingers crossed! I don’t want to see Riley suffer anymore and the same goes with the rest of the offense. Time for the team to make the sacrifice and let their fearless captain convalesce on the bench. He could always wear a red hat.

 

[BeatSC]

Leonard can still redshirt. And I think he should. Then decide to transfer or stick it out and compete. I think it’s best for his pro potential to redshirt if injured. He’s almost guaranteed to get replaced, injured, or lose games if he plays all season.

Pro?! That is gone Johnson! Dare to dream just do it elsewhere please.

 

[BeatSC]

Seriously... it wasn't a bad call on 2nd and 1, nor was it a bad read

It was a cheeks QB

35 yards in the air. Tommy Rees and Drew Pyne could throw 45. Pathetic under any circumstance. Leonard should have just said that he sucked. Sucked on that throw and on several others.

 

[tko]

If they trot him out there this week, and he plays like ass again, it's unforgivable.

Freeman will lose the locker room. We are in one game playoffs from here on out.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Freeman will lose the locker room. We are in one game playoffs from here on out.

Especially if the backup QBs have been performing just as well as, or better than, RL in practice. Can’t imagine the locker room being content with losing playoffs due to the over-reliance on Riley.

 

[Henges24]

Riley gets the half to show himself. It’s Peanut Butter Angeli Time if he has failed.

He’s a good kid but Freeman will pull the plug, rightfully.

This is a university looking for a QB.

 

[NDWarrior]

Yeah, it just amazes me that in some areas, MF takes big chances - like on 4th downs recently - and yet, he seems fixated on keeping a run first QB with a passing handicap in the game and as top ND QB and yet it hasn't worked out (and was a disaster on Saturday). Furthermore, do you think any WR - TP option or HS recruit - is gonna want to come play at ND? It will be the place receivers go to die. Come on MFMF, relax and get your more talented passing QBs in the game... Trust them, take some chances... It can't have any worse outcome than the one on Saturday, but in reality, will likely show you what you and your stable of talented receivers, the team, and the fans have been missing with continuing this nonsensical play-it-safe strategy. Has any football team ever won a natty playing it this safe?

 

[NDWarrior]

Yeah, it just amazes me that in some areas, MF takes big chances - like on 4th downs recently - and yet, he seems fixated on keeping a run first QB with a passing handicap in the game and as top ND QB and yet it hasn't worked out (and was a disaster on Saturday). Furthermore, do you think any WR - TP option or HS recruit - is gonna want to come play at ND? It will be the place receivers go to die. Come on MFMF, relax and get your more talented passing QBs in the game... Trust them, take some chances... It can't have any worse outcome than the one on Saturday, but in reality, will likely show you what you and your stable of talented receivers, the team, and the fans have been missing with continuing this nonsensical play-it-safe strategy. Has any football team ever won a natty playing it this safe?

Also, still in disbelief that this is even happening with Denbrock being OC since early this year.