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

[Riddickulous]

We essentially brought in two Tyler Buchners in the portal

 

[IrishTusker]

Who picked him over Will Howard?

 

[Connman89]

Probably the same.guy who evaluated Phil as a potential #1 overall before his last year at BC.

I get misses at the high school level but this evaluation is borderline criminal.

 

[KyfightingIrish36]

I think that time missed in the spring had a much bigger effect than we gave it credit for. He’s not on the same page with any of the receivers.
I didn’t see a lot of awful passes but quite a few bad decisions.
The decision to throw on 2nd and 1 was horrendous and an awful throw.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Who picked him over Will Howard?

Howard, McCord, and Card. Hudson was begging the staff to take him.

 

[Southside Sully]

He couldn’t hit the broad side of a 100 foot long barn. You can not start him next week

 

[mrmcgrail]

That deep throw might have been the worst looking pass I've seen in an nd game and I can't remember a point in time in my 38 years I haven't been watching

 

[NDFAN2008]

Howard, McCord, and Card. Hudson was begging the staff to take him.

McCord is lighting it up

 

[CanadalovesND]

A lot of emotions going on right now.

I think some of you are being a bit ridiculous with your takes, but also find some stuff to agree with.

The second INT was ugly. He really couldn't drive the ball more than 10 yards. He tried it once but Greathouse dropped it, which itself was a great throw. I don't know if it was an issue of receivers not being able to get open, or the play design, but ND will have more games like this if they can't push the ball downfield vertically. The OL is young and still finding their barrings, and despite some rather poor moments, they didn't play all that bad. Defenses can stack the box if they know you can't pass for more than 10 yards. His running ability is nice and all, but ND won't reach the CFP if this is how they will operate offensively.

It has to be a legitimate conversation among the offensive coaching staff this week if they want to keep rolling with Leonard or not.

 

[Tejas]

Maybe this guy can punt?

 

[luckofirish8]

We essentially brought in two Tyler Buchners in the portal

This may sound crazy, but I think Buchner might actually be a better passer. Like how though?

 

[Mass MoCA]

That deep throw might have been the worst looking pass I've seen in an nd game and I can't remember a point in time in my 38 years I haven't been watching

I'd agree except I vividly remember Andrew Hendrix throw a pass that may be the worst pass I've seen at any level in all my years of watching football.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Yeah Hendrix and I think arnez battle against SC had some bad throws but it's been about a decade since I've seen something that bad

 

[KMac151993]

That 2nd INT was high school stuff. I see why Denbrock can't call anything over 10 yards because there is 0 confidence in this guy to make the throw.

I don't know who I would take: Andrew Hendrix, Tyler Buchner, Riley Leonard.

 

[Bluto]

Maybe this guy can punt?

Fullback?

 

[luckofirish8]

That 2nd INT was high school stuff. I see why Denbrock can't call anything over 10 yards because there is 0 confidence in this guy to make the throw.

I don't know who I would take: Andrew Hendrix, Tyler Buchner, Riley Leonard.

That play can't be an under-thrown INT. The WR has a step and I could handle an over-throw, but how does Denbrock even have the confidence to call that play? And why isn't Freeman in his ear about game management (I'm assuming he wasn't based off his response in the presser)?

 

[Tejas]

That play can't be an under-thrown INT. The WR has a step and I could handle an over-throw, but how does Denbrock even have the confidence to call that play? And why isn't Freeman in his ear about game management (I'm assuming he wasn't based off his response in the presser)?

Taht's my question, 1 pt lead, late, manage teh game. They were thinking kill shot maybe

 

[luckofirish8]

Taht's my question, 1 pt lead, late, manage teh game. They were thinking kill shot maybe

100%. Good throw and that is a big play and probably a TD, but what has RL done to even think he had that in the bag?

 

[Bluto]

100%. Good throw and that is a big play and probably a TD, but what has RL done to even think he had that in the bag?

CJ Stroud makes that throw in 8th grade. It’s not an unreasonable expectation to expect a D1 QB to do it.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

That 2nd INT was high school stuff. I see why Denbrock can't call anything over 10 yards because there is 0 confidence in this guy to make the throw.

I don't know who I would take: Andrew Hendrix, Tyler Buchner, Riley Leonard.

Hendrix at least put up 41 vs NIU his senior transfer year at Miami (OH).
We could still be playing right now, and there ain’t no way in hell Leonard would be at 41 right now.
Haha

 

[NDMD]

A lot of emotions going on right now.

I think some of you are being a bit ridiculous with your takes, but also find some stuff to agree with.

The second INT was ugly. He really couldn't drive the ball more than 10 yards. He tried it once but Greathouse dropped it, which itself was a great throw. I don't know if it was an issue of receivers not being able to get open, or the play design, but ND will have more games like this if they can't push the ball downfield vertically. The OL is young and still finding their barrings, and despite some rather poor moments, they didn't play all that bad. Defenses can stack the box if they know you can't pass for more than 10 yards. His running ability is nice and all, but ND won't reach the CFP if this is how they will operate offensively.

It has to be a legitimate conversation among the offensive coaching staff this week if they want to keep rolling with Leonard or not.

Rewatch the rest of his passes. This guy couldn't put the ball in the pocket on a 5 yard bubble screen.

 

[stlnd01]

That play can't be an under-thrown INT. The WR has a step and I could handle an over-throw, but how does Denbrock even have the confidence to call that play? And why isn't Freeman in his ear about game management (I'm assuming he wasn't based off his response in the presser)?

That's the thing. It was the first time all game it actually felt like we had some rhythm throwing the ball. I kind of get taking the shot. But you just can't underthrow a deep ball like that. If he throws it deep to the outside, Mitchell (IIRC it was) might be able to run under it and it's a touchdown. Instead Leonard short-arms it. There wasn't even pressure.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

A lot of emotions going on right now.

I think some of you are being a bit ridiculous with your takes, but also find some stuff to agree with.

The second INT was ugly. He really couldn't drive the ball more than 10 yards. He tried it once but Greathouse dropped it, which itself was a great throw. I don't know if it was an issue of receivers not being able to get open, or the play design, but ND will have more games like this if they can't push the ball downfield vertically. The OL is young and still finding their barrings, and despite some rather poor moments, they didn't play all that bad. Defenses can stack the box if they know you can't pass for more than 10 yards. His running ability is nice and all, but ND won't reach the CFP if this is how they will operate offensively.

It has to be a legitimate conversation among the offensive coaching staff this week if they want to keep rolling with Leonard or not.

He seems like a good kid. I would love if he succeeded here.
The reality is he just put up a 26 QBR versus a mid tier MAC program at home in perfect weather conditions.
For comparison Weigman scored a 31.8 last week.

We all saw his arm talent (or lack there of) on that 2nd INT embarrassing excuse for a deep ball, where he stepped into it with a clean pocket.

This isn’t Duke.
Freeman needs to make the playoff this year, or he will be on the hot seat going into next season.
I have to believe he knows that.

He needs to provide the program with a much needed spark going into one of our most difficult remaining games next weekend, and make the switch to Steve.

 

[Bluto]

He seems like a good kid. I would love if he succeeded here.
The reality is he just put up a 26 QBR versus a mid tier MAC program at home in perfect weather conditions.
For comparison Weigman scored a 31.8 last week.

We all saw his arm talent (or lack there of) on that 2nd INT embarrassing excuse for a deep ball, where he stepped into it with a clean pocket.

This isn’t Duke.
Freeman needs to make the playoff this year, or he will be on the hot seat going into next season.
I have to believe he knows that.

He needs to provide the program with a much needed spark going into one of our most difficult remaining games next weekend, and make the switch to Steve.

A 26? That’s freaking terrible.

 

[Henges24]

That play can't be an under-thrown INT. The WR has a step and I could handle an over-throw, but how does Denbrock even have the confidence to call that play? And why isn't Freeman in his ear about game management (I'm assuming he wasn't based off his response in the presser)?

I think he missed his read or went for it himself. Wide open WR coming from left to right across the center of the field. That was his spot, IMO.
And no, he isn’t calling out his OC when his QB couldnt throw a ball reliably.

 

[stlnd01]

I think he missed his read or went for it himself. Wide open WR coming from left to right across the center of the field. That was his spot, IMO.
And no, he isn’t calling out his OC when his QB couldnt throw a ball reliably.

Yep, the safety bit on the shallower route, the outside WR (Mitchell?) had one on one deep with a step on the corner. It was actually a pretty good play call if your QB can make the throw. Which you would think someone of Leonard's physical talent could. He just didn't.

 

[irishu]

Peanut Butter Angeli time

 

[CTIDANDREW]

A 26? That’s freaking terrible.

Agreed.
From a straight statically standpoint we may have just witnessed the worst performance from a ND QB this decade.

I knew it was going to be a low QBR score, but 26 is one of the lowest I’ve ever seen for a ND QB

Again, in perfect conditions.

 

[Bluto]

Agreed.
From a straight statically standpoint we may have just witnessed the worst performance from a ND QB this decade.

I knew it was going to be a low QBR score, but 26 is one of the lowest I’ve ever seen for a ND QB

Again, in perfect conditions.

Well, maybe Freeman talks with the analytics guys and pulls the rip chord on this one.

 

[Giddyup]

Analytics boy is co coach. Pay the kid