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

[Rockin’Irish]

I was in attendance too. I see you left out the terrible drops by Love and Faison to fit your narrative. Nice.

I wasn’t in attendance but there was also one other drop that should have been caught but can’t remember who the receiver was (I think it was another drop by Faison or Greathouse but not sure).

 

[arrowryan]

I wasn’t in attendance but there was also one other drop that should have been caught but can’t remember who the receiver was (I think it was another drop by Faison or Greathouse but not sure).

Faison has had some really bad drops.

 

[irishff1014]

His throwing ability has improved. Does he still miss some throws that DI college QBs should make, sure. Are there times his DI receivers don't do him any favors? Absolutely.

But I'm not sure why fans want to completely discount his running stats. It's not like it's 3 rushes for 20 yards to extend plays on 3rd down and that's it. The dude will end the season with the most rushing touchdowns as a QB in ND history.

It has improved from ugh to maybe average at best.

No doubt there was at least 4 catches that should have been made but they do a good job helping as well with off the mark throws.

 

[irishff1014]

Faison has had some really bad drops.

I know he has been injured but his hands haven’t been good this year in general.

Same with Collins. No you see why he probably wanted to transfer. But I also think the WR get tired of being open and Riley runs instead of staying in the pocket and throwing the ball.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Faison has had some really bad drops.

All the injury time has definitely set him back but it appeared he may have turned the corner in the second half.

 

[ab2cmiller]

His throwing ability has improved. Does he still miss some throws that DI college QBs should make, sure. Are there times his DI receivers don't do him any favors? Absolutely.

But I'm not sure why fans want to completely discount his running stats. It's not like it's 3 rushes for 20 yards to extend plays on 3rd down and that's it. The dude will end the season with the most rushing touchdowns as a QB in ND history.

Considering he's 6'4", his running moves in space are very impressive.

 

[NDohio]

I don't know how you can watch college football, other than ND, every week and talk about how poor of a thrower RL is. Since the second half of the Miami (OH) game he has been as accurate and consistent as most other college QBs. Add in his running ability and there are very few QBs I would choose over him the way he is playing.

 

[SDIrishFan]

It has improved from ugh to maybe average at best.

No doubt there was at least 4 catches that should have been made but they do a good job helping as well with off the mark throws.

Agree, I felt like last week everything was less "crisp", if that makes sense. Ball location, poor drops, a few poor playcalls, Love never really got going. I'm not sure if the bye week was a bad thing and we played a little sloppy, or what. Hopefully that gets cleaned up going to this week.

 

[irishff1014]

I don't know how you can watch college football, other than ND, every week and talk about how poor of a thrower RL is. Since the second half of the Miami (OH) game he has been as accurate and consistent as most other college QBs. Add in his running ability and there are very few QBs I would choose over him the way he is playing.

Riley isn’t even throwing the ball down the field. I could understand your argument if that was the case.

His best throw of the game was to Evans for the TD.

When you run the quarterback as much as they do with Riley, they know they can’t win it with his arm.

Good young man but average QB.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Riley isn’t even throwing the ball down the field. I could understand your argument if that was the case.

His best throw of the game was to Evans for the TD.

When you run the quarterback as much as they do with Riley, they know they can’t win it with his arm.

Good young man but average QB.

I am genuinely curious if you have a remote clue to what "average:" is in college football.
If you want to say, "he's not good enough to win a national championship". Go for it. You can argue something like that.

But his production is far above average in FBS.

 

[irishff1014]

I am genuinely curious if you have a remote clue to what "average:" is in college football.
If you want to say, "he's not good enough to win a national championship". Go for it. You can argue something like that.

But his production is far above average in FBS.

1575 passing yards 83rd in the nation.

7.0 yards per attempt 85th in the nation

9 passing TD’s 93rd in the nation.

64.4 In completion percentage 40th in the nation.

All stats per ESPN

Again his passing ability is below average. If it wasn’t for his running ability he would be a terrible QB overall.

Some are on the WR but most of this is on him.

 

[jprue24]

RL always wants to make a play. I think that's a good thing and a bad thing. He's been good enough to beat any team in the country. He's bad enough to lose to NIU and Miami, OH (first half was atrocious).

I hope the good RL keeps showing up.

 

[ndfanatic78]

I swear if message boards were around in the 80’s you guys would have been shitting all over Tony Rice.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

1575 passing yards 83rd in the nation.

7.0 yards per attempt 85th in the nation

9 passing TD’s 93rd in the nation.

64.4 In completion percentage 40th in the nation.

All stats per ESPN

Again his passing ability is below average. If it wasn’t for his running ability he would be a terrible QB overall.

Some are on the WR but most of this is on him.

Shaq was a terrible shooter, what an awful basketball player

 

[MacIrish75]

One thing I will absolutely give Riley over Hartman (for example) is that Riley does an exceptional job of taking care of the football. I’ve come to appreciate that even more as the season has gone on and he’s tried to stay in the pocket more and process his reads. He doesn’t panic and resort to questionable decisions. The value in that is an unquantifiable asset to his game.

I’ve been fairly critical of RL at points this season, but he’s really done a marvelous job of leading us to convincing wins over the last two months.

 

[IrishLax]

One thing I will absolutely give Riley over Hartman (for example) is that Riley does an exceptional job of taking care of the football. I’ve come to appreciate that even more as the season has gone on and he’s tried to stay in the pocket more and process his reads. He doesn’t panic and resort to questionable decisions. The value in that is an unquantifiable asset to his game.

I’ve been fairly critical of RL at points this season, but he’s really done a marvelous job of leading us to convincing wins over the last two months.

With one notable exception

 

[Rockin’Irish]

1575 passing yards 83rd in the nation.

7.0 yards per attempt 85th in the nation

9 passing TD’s 93rd in the nation.

64.4 In completion percentage 40th in the nation.

All stats per ESPN

Again his passing ability is below average. If it wasn’t for his running ability he would be a terrible QB overall.

Some are on the WR but most of this is on him.

I don‘t think you can look at any player unless you include all his attributes in the assessment. If he didn’t have running ability, he may not even be a starter and his playing style would completely change. That’s like saying if you took away MJ’s jump shot then he would have been a mediocre player. Factor in leadership, running ability, turnovers, passing, etc. Statistics are important but they also aren’t the be all end all. For example do the QB statistics take into account dropped passes or poor routes by the targets? I know there have been a number of those that are clear on the telecasts and who knows how many have occurred that we are not aware of. Is Riley Leonard the best passer in CFB? No, I don’t view him as such but as a complete package is he a QB that can take you far? I believe he can, especially with the improvement since NIU. I’ve watched a lot of games across CFB this season and Riley instills a lot more confidence in getting the job done than the vast majority of the other QBs. As he’s improved, he is putting a huge strain on opposing defenses to gameplan against.

 

[T-Boone]

The only reason his number is even close to being good is his rushing stats. His throwing ability is blah.

He seems to suffer bad from time off. Even a week off for a bye sent him backwards a little. The pattern seems to be that if he plays each week he gets incrementaly better. I’d say overall he is the best QB we have had since I’ve been watching.

 

[irishff1014]

I don‘t think you can look at any player unless you include all his attributes in the assessment. If he didn’t have running ability, he may not even be a starter and his playing style would completely change. That’s like saying if you took away MJ’s jump shot then he would have been a mediocre player. Factor in leadership, running ability, turnovers, passing, etc. Statistics are important but they also aren’t the be all end all. For example do the QB statistics take into account dropped passes or poor routes by the targets? I know there have been a number of those that are clear on the telecasts and who knows how many have occurred that we are not aware of. Is Riley Leonard the best passer in CFB? No, I don’t view him as such but as a complete package is he a QB that can take you far? I believe he can, especially with the improvement since NIU. I’ve watched a lot of games across CFB this season and Riley instills a lot more confidence in getting the job done than the vast majority of the other QBs. As he’s improved, he is putting a huge strain on opposing defenses to gameplan against.

You would think his ability to take off and run would help options to throw.

 

[MacIrish75]

With one notable exception

 

[rtrn2glory]

Hate on the dudes throwing all you want but the kid is a playmaker. Right now he's feast or famine. Fortunately right now it's more feast than famine. I love the dude and his attitude so I'll be out of character and continue to hope he gets better throwing the ball while also wanting him to continue to break games open with his legs.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

I was in attendance too. I see you left out the terrible drops by Love and Faison to fit your narrative. Nice.

Narrative? It was an observation not a political statement. Yes he progressed over the course of the year and is NDs best option at quarterback. He is exciting as a runner, which makes the offense go. Sorry but he is not a good throwing quarterback. That was why I questioned the PFF grade. Did you miss the amazing catches by Harrison?

 

[GrangerIrish24]

He’s a 7 foot white dude that straight dead legged an FSU player and turned it into one of the slowest and fastest 40 yard td runs I have ever witnessed. He makes plays. We are winning by large margins and he is a big reason why.

 

[ndfanatic78]

He’s a 7 foot white dude that straight dead legged an FSU player and turned it into one of the slowest and fastest 40 yard td runs I have ever witnessed. He makes plays. We are winning by large margins and he is a big reason why.

I think you’re wrong. He is not 7 foot tall.

🤣

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I think you’re wrong. He is not 7 foot tall.

🤣

He is in my heart

 

[Rocketman84]

One thing I will absolutely give Riley over Hartman (for example) is that Riley does an exceptional job of taking care of the football. I’ve come to appreciate that even more as the season has gone on and he’s tried to stay in the pocket more and process his reads. He doesn’t panic and resort to questionable decisions. The value in that is an unquantifiable asset to his game.

I’ve been fairly critical of RL at points this season, but he’s really done a marvelous job of leading us to convincing wins over the last two months.

Even better than that, the guy doesn't take sacks which goes along way in maintaining field position.

 

[AKRowdy]

He’s a 7 foot white dude that straight dead legged an FSU player and turned it into one of the slowest and fastest 40 yard td runs I have ever witnessed. He makes plays. We are winning by large margins and he is a big reason why.

Honest question, is he Tim Tebow with a little more wiggle?

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Honest question, is he Tim Tebow with a little more wiggle?

Hard to compare. College Tebow was just different. He had that “it” factor. Plus he played on all time great teams, so it certainly elevated his game.

 

[IrishLion]

I’m banning all of you on account of jinxing him when he plays like shit this weekend

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I’m banning all of you on account of jinxing him when he plays like shit this weekend

You mean like he does all the other Saturdays-
Piombino probably somewhere