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

[Irishdrunk]

I think they're saying there is another offer on the table (Auburn?) that he would be turning down to come to Notre Dame.

My guy whose father is on the BOT and involved with the FUND stated Hartman got $600K. So 2X is certainly possible. Still $600K and to play for ND and get elite training by War Daddy is hard to pass up.....

 

[Irishdawg]

ACC coach told Saturday Down South: “We all thought (Wake Forest QB) Sam (Hartman) was a big deal last year. Riley will make a much greater impact wherever he goes if he stays healthy. He can make every throw, he runs hard and he’s 1 of the fastest guys on the field.”

“If he stays healthy” is what worries me. But that true dual threat with our RBs will🤞🏼be awesome to watch!!

 

[NDdomer2]

100%. leonard gives us playmaking ability with his running. it's a shame to have to NEED that in our qb, but it is what it is.

You think this is exclusive to ND?

 

[Luckylucci]

Below is his schedule from last year and the teams end of season DFEI ranking in parenthesis.

Temple (82)
Northwestern (52)
Kansas (105)
Virginia (42)
GT (41)
UNC (118)
Miami (90)
BC (70)
VT (69)
Pitt (22)
Wake (67)
UCF (65)

In back-to-back games against Virginia (42nd) and GT (41st), hardly playoff worthy defenses, he threw 66 total passes to accomplish 265 yards. Or, in other words, 4 yds/att. That is absolutely terrible. When I looked this up several weeks ago, I literally double, triple, and quadruple checked the math because that is such a bad number. Keep in mind that Hartman against Clemson (FEI's 3rd ranked defense this season), which I think most would agree is when the offense was hitting rock bottom and folks were calling for his benching. His yds/att in that game was 4.86. Riley against Virginia and GT was that much worse.

Just two games later against Miami, an even worse defense than the previous two, 13/25, 52%, 136yds, 5.44 yds/att. So, over those 3 games (in a 4 game span in the middle of their season) he needed 91 passes to get 401 yards. Or, 4.4 yds/att. He only completed 56% of his passes in those games.

Also, in those 3 games he had 32 rushes for 150 yards. So, the tradeoff is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-4 yards/attempt (again, on 91 passes) to get 150 rushing yards. That math won't make sense against good teams. They make him one dimensional and eat his lunch.

He played one top 25 defense, Pitt. He was 24/45, 53.3%, 290 yards, 6.3 yds/att. He had 7 carries for -4 yards.

The key to this conversation is not whether he is exciting, or talented, (insert another superlative I'm sure we'll here next). It's whether or not he'll be able to beat teams that have both a Top 25 defense AND offense. And you are not going to win those games with this type of inconsistency throwing the ball.

So, we can turn on the highlights and get excited about the upside. I'll be joining in on that at some point because why not. But what doesn't show up in the highlights is what I posted above.

He'll be exciting. He'll be talented. He'll be a lot of positive things. But, will he be consistent enough throwing the ball to run a schedule and win a playoff game or two? He'll have to be a hell of a lot better than 2022 or 2023 to do so. Which is a major projection.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Below is his schedule from last year and the teams end of season DFEI ranking in parenthesis.

Temple (82)
Northwestern (52)
Kansas (105)
Virginia (42)
GT (41)
UNC (118)
Miami (90)
BC (70)
VT (69)
Pitt (22)
Wake (67)
UCF (65)

In back-to-back games against Virginia (42nd) and GT (41st), hardly playoff worthy defenses, he threw 66 total passes to accomplish 265 yards. Or, in other words, 4 yds/att. That is absolutely terrible. When I looked this up several weeks ago, I literally double, triple, and quadruple checked the math because that is such a bad number. Keep in mind that Hartman against Clemson (FEI's 3rd ranked defense this season), which I think most would agree is when the offense was hitting rock bottom and folks were calling for his benching. His yds/att in that game was 4.86. Riley against Virginia and GT was that much worse.

Just two games later against Miami, an even worse defense than the previous two, 13/25, 52%, 136yds, 5.44 yds/att. So, over those 3 games (in a 4 game span in the middle of their season) he needed 91 passes to get 401 yards. Or, 4.4 yds/att. He only completed 56% of his passes in those games.

Also, in those 3 games he had 32 rushes for 150 yards. So, the tradeoff is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-4 yards/attempt (again, on 91 passes) to get 150 rushing yards. That math won't make sense against good teams. They make him one dimensional and eat his lunch.

He played one top 25 defense, Pitt. He was 24/45, 53.3%, 290 yards, 6.3 yds/att. He had 7 carries for -4 yards.

The key to this conversation is not whether he is exciting, or talented, (insert another superlative I'm sure we'll here next). It's whether or not he'll be able to beat teams that have both a Top 25 defense AND offense. And you are not going to win those games with this type of inconsistency throwing the ball.

So, we can turn on the highlights and get excited about the upside. I'll be joining in on that at some point because why not. But what doesn't show up in the highlights is what I posted above.

He'll be exciting. He'll be talented. He'll be a lot of positive things. But, will he be consistent enough throwing the ball to run a schedule and win a playoff game or two? He'll have to be a hell of a lot better than 2022 or 2023 to do so. Which is a major projection.

Absolutely, and if we don't get a couple really good WRs from the portal we're going to be running a similar offense to this year without alt or estime, but we'll have a very athletic big running qb defenses have to account for.

I think it's critical we have an experienced athletic QB next year with some size to hopefully make up for some growing pains on the line, and possibly challenges at WR again. My point, we need a QB that has the ability to run and throw, even if not super refined. Josh Allen was very similar after 2 years but he went pro and was drafted 7th. Hopefully leonard keeps improving.

 

[zbikowski88]

That 2x offer from Auburn is probably looking better by the minute

 

[NDBoiler]

That 2x offer from Auburn is probably looking better by the minute

See if Will Howard will still answer NDs calls lol.

 

[NDFan8349]

Why the hell would he want to come to this train wreck??? Probably changing his mind at this point.

 

[Luckylucci]

Absolutely, and if we don't get a couple really good WRs from the portal we're going to be running a similar offense to this year without alt or estime, but we'll have a very athletic big running qb defenses have to account for.

I think it's critical we have an experienced athletic QB next year with some size to hopefully make up for some growing pains on the line, and possibly challenges at WR again. My point, we need a QB that has the ability to run and throw, even if not super refined. Josh Allen was very similar after 2 years but he went pro and was drafted 7th. Hopefully leonard keeps improving.

If it were that easy, more teams would do it. Elite defenses don't have problems accounting for a running QB that doesn't consistently complete passes.

 

[EvilleIrish]

No way Leonard joins this sinking ship. Why would he??

 

[PutuporShutup]

If it were that easy, more teams would do it. Elite defenses don't have problems accounting for a running QB that doesn't consistently complete passes.

no, but he's better than wimbush throwing BY FAR, and that will make teams respect the throw (if we have WRs)

 

[Luckylucci]

No way Leonard joins this sinking ship. Why would he??

This isn't how it ends. Freeman is good at two things. Hype and recruiting. Recruiting largely because of the hype.

He'll land Leonard. Leonard will help land some WR's. In a month or two, folks will be back to singing his praises because such and such wasn't his fault and look who he landed.

That team will underperform next year. Rinse and repeat.

 

[notredomer23]

I hope you guys don't think this is a lot of transfers compared to what the rest of FBS is going to go through in the next week. ND is going to end up having 15-20 transfers. A lot for ND, no doubt. The average number FBS teams are going to have is 20-30. Relax. This is new for ND, but this isn't at all abnormal. FSU had 22 last year, LSU 21, Ole Miss 34, Louisville 25, Oregon 32, Oklahoma 23, Texas 21, Georgia 15, Alabama 22.

I personally hate it and what it's becoming, but this is the era that we live in. ND isn't immune from it.

 

[PutuporShutup]

This isn't how it ends. Freeman is good at two things. Hype and recruiting. Recruiting largely because of the hype.

He'll land Leonard. Leonard will help land some WR's. In a month or two, folks will be back to singing his praises because such and such wasn't his fault and look who he landed.

That team will underperform next year. Rinse and repeat.

Yeah,on paper we'll look like a playoff team and we'll go 9-3 next year despite playing one team that finished ranked.

 

[Floribama50]

I'm so confused, who of the outgoing players do you think Riley was transferring in to play with?

You all need to get a grip.

 

[irishff1014]

I hope you guys don't think this is a lot of transfers compared to what the rest of FBS is going to go through in the next week. ND is going to end up having 15-20 transfers. A lot for ND, no doubt. The average number FBS teams are going to have is 20-30. Relax. This is new for ND, but this isn't at all abnormal. FSU had 22 last year, LSU 21, Ole Miss 34, Louisville 25, Oregon 32, Oklahoma 23, Texas 21.

I personally hate it and what it's becoming, but this is the era that we live in. ND isn't immune from it.

But it's a lot harder to replace those players here.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I hope you guys don't think this is a lot of transfers compared to what the rest of FBS is going to go through in the next week. ND is going to end up having 15-20 transfers. A lot for ND, no doubt. The average number FBS teams are going to have is 20-30. Relax. This is new for ND, but this isn't at all abnormal. FSU had 22 last year, LSU 21, Ole Miss 34, Louisville 25, Oregon 32, Oklahoma 23, Texas 21, Georgia 15, Alabama 22.

I personally hate it and what it's becoming, but this is the era that we live in. ND isn't immune from it.

Bingo

 

[Grahambo]

I hope you guys don't think this is a lot of transfers compared to what the rest of FBS is going to go through in the next week. ND is going to end up having 15-20 transfers. A lot for ND, no doubt. The average number FBS teams are going to have is 20-30. Relax. This is new for ND, but this isn't at all abnormal. FSU had 22 last year, LSU 21, Ole Miss 34, Louisville 25, Oregon 32, Oklahoma 23, Texas 21.

I personally hate it and what it's becoming, but this is the era that we live in. ND isn't immune from it.

Just me personally, it’s not about the players. It’s the coaching staff. Mainly how MF is handling the offensive coaching side of the ball. If his only change is firing Chansi only to keep GP as OC, he better be right. There’s no in between or else this time next year we’ll be discussing head coaching candidates.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

This isn't how it ends. Freeman is good at two things. Hype and recruiting. Recruiting largely because of the hype.

He'll land Leonard. Leonard will help land some WR's. In a month or two, folks will be back to singing his praises because such and such wasn't his fault and look who he landed.

That team will underperform next year. Rinse and repeat.

The cycle will repeat until it doesn't. The one hope I have is that Freeman is learning and responding.

We'll see. If we bring in a big transfer class that augments the roster, this will will be a minor event. The clock is ticking...

 

[Luckylucci]

The cycle will repeat until it doesn't. The one hope I have is that Freeman is learning and responding.

We'll see. If we bring in a big transfer class that augments the roster, this will will be a minor event. The clock is ticking...

We're going to bring in a big transfer class to augment the roster. Stone cold lock. But that's not what matters. What matters is if that sets us up to accomplish what we want next year and the years after.

 

[notredomer23]

But it's a lot harder to replace those players here.

Maybe, maybe not. Let's see what happens this cycle. Early signs are it won't be as difficult as past cycles. We've been led astray before so I'm not banking on it yet.

Just me personally, it’s not about the players. It’s the coaching staff. Mainly how MF is handling the offensive coaching side of the ball. If his only change is firing Chansi only to keep GP as OC, he better be right. There’s no in between or else this time next year we’ll be discussing head coaching candidates.

No disagreements here. Everything since OSU on that side of the ball has made little sense. The II pod made the shout of Darrell Hazell for WR coach today and while that is someone Freeman has experience with, that could be the perfect piece of seniority needed to fix the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Man, I love MF as a person and as a representative. But I'm starting to worry he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

 

[SDIrishFan]

It's getting to the point of, are we even going to be able to field a team for the bowl? Certainly aren't fielding an offense at this point. Can defense play both ways?

 

[lcaps20]

Yeah,on paper we'll look like a playoff team and we'll go 9-3 next year despite playing one team that finished ranked.

Beating** one team that finished ranked

 

[lcaps20]

This isn't how it ends. Freeman is good at two things. Hype and recruiting. Recruiting largely because of the hype.

He'll land Leonard. Leonard will help land some WR's. In a month or two, folks will be back to singing his praises because such and such wasn't his fault and look who he landed.

That team will underperform next year. Rinse and repeat.

This is the most pessimistic I've seen you on the Freeman regime

 

[LifelongFan]

Howard is moving on because his job was taken by a freshman. That is enough for me to pass. If he's this can't miss player, why is a rising sophomore chasing him off?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

We're going to bring in a big transfer class to augment the roster. Stone cold lock. But that's not what matters. What matters is if that sets us up to accomplish what we want next year and the years after.

Fair. So if we bring in a big transfer class that augments, we'll have a better change to contend in 2024. That will improve our recruiting classes (most likely) and should also improve our future prospects and ability to keep talent.

I'm just having a hard time seeing how this is any different than any other program. Granted, this is our first real taste of people leaving so it is a rather bitter thing.

 

[AvesEvo]

So when does this all become official?

 

[dublinirish]

It's getting to the point of, are we even going to be able to field a team for the bowl? Certainly aren't fielding an offense at this point. Can defense play both ways?

Skip Vellotta and Sam Asaf two headed monster

 

[Luckylucci]

This is the most pessimistic I've seen you on the Freeman regime

Haha, and I wasn't even feeling particularly frisky today. But, this shit show will do it to me.

I'm pretty much over the Freeman Era hype machine and BS narrative spins.