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

[Me2SouthBend]

Lot of good points here and I hope RL continues to progress into a true dual threat, but I still disagree on the whole. At the moment, Riley Leonard gives us a better chance only because the coaching staff has spent half the the season getting him to the point where he can perform like a Power 5 QB — which he is, although he is by no means elite at this point. In the meantime, this approach has cost us loss to lowly NIU, cost us development at the WR & RB positions, and has likely damaged our recruiting efforts. Had Angeli been the starter from game one we are likely 6-0, with a developed passing game and RBs attacking down hill against defenses who have to respect both the ground and air attacks. Right now, RLs running prowess hurts the RB production as a competent defense can just stack the box. I do think a well protected RL, fully developed, and performing at his peak potentially gives us a great unique advantage against playoff opponents. The problem is, it is a near certainty that all three of these conditions will never be met.

If Angeli had been the starter from game 1 we are likely 6-0? You think he’d have won game 1 in College Station against that Defensive Line? I’m gonna have to disagree wholeheartedly on that statement. I’m not certain he gets it done against Louisville either.

 

[OhioIrish]

If Angeli had been the starter from game 1 we are likely 6-0? You think he’d have won game 1 in College Station against that Defensive Line? I’m gonna have to disagree wholeheartedly on that statement. I’m not certain he gets it done against Louisville either.

I do. He’s a vet, the game plan would have looked different, and the line was solid.

 

[OhioIrish]

I wish I drank the cool aid that most of you on this board have, but I've been burned too many times by just getting in there by ND. RL is leading us to another let down IMO. Yes, can we make the playoffs with RL at QB? Is it highly likely that we make the first round of the playoffs and get our butts kicked with RL at QB? Yes. Who cares if he is improving every week? He is a glorified RB with a crappy QB arm. He can't make routine throws and under throws wide, open downfield routes, or simply short arms throws that 75% of P4 QBs would make. Many are high on his running ability but who cares? We have one great back in Love and one highly productive solid back in Price. Great that RL had a productive day against a horrible Stanford defense but what happens when we get down against USC like Penn St did, can we make a comeback through the air when the D expects it? RL cannot lead us to a comeback victory through the air.

Sorry for the long rant but while it was a good win yesterday, it was also another frustrating or boring win against a team that many are praising our poor QB instead of holding him accountable and realizing what reality is with him at the QB position.

I agree, unfortunately. He’s just too ineffective in the air, so there is no complementary football. Thats why I prefer Angeli even though he is not near the athlete. Though, we aren winning a natty with Angeli either.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

I wish I drank the cool aid that most of you on this board have, but I've been burned too many times by just getting in there by ND. RL is leading us to another let down IMO. Yes, can we make the playoffs with RL at QB? Is it highly likely that we make the first round of the playoffs and get our butts kicked with RL at QB? Yes. Who cares if he is improving every week? He is a glorified RB with a crappy QB arm. He can't make routine throws and under throws wide, open downfield routes, or simply short arms throws that 75% of P4 QBs would make. Many are high on his running ability but who cares? We have one great back in Love and one highly productive solid back in Price. Great that RL had a productive day against a horrible Stanford defense but what happens when we get down against USC like Penn St did, can we make a comeback through the air when the D expects it? RL cannot lead us to a comeback victory through the air.

Sorry for the long rant but while it was a good win yesterday, it was also another frustrating or boring win against a team that many are praising our poor QB instead of holding him accountable and realizing what reality is with him at the QB position.

I agree, I am just hoping for the best at this point. We are married to RL and not shifting at this point. But, I do see some improvements, unfortunately it is looking up to average, not exceeding it. He is above average runner, but still below average passer.

We our a flawed team, but many other teams are also. So we need to hope for good bounces and RL good enough not to cost us games.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Yeah at this point it is going to be super up and down with him. He had his best game but against probably the worst pass defense he will play. He runs well but does he run better that love and price? Would him being able to hit down field shots to receivers like Mitchell have changed how the receiving unit looks and plays? Would the line look better without constantly having to face pressure because they are playing cover 1 or 0 and stacking the box and bringing pressure because no one is afraid of our passing attack? I will never be a fan of how he plays he is a bad version of of Tim Tebow and his inconsistent play could easily put us on the ropes against a team like army and navy where they possess the ball for so long you can't kill drives

 

[NDPhilly]

If you remove the NIU game when he was injured, his QBR is 83, which would be 12th nationally and essentially tied with Dillon Gabriel, Quinn Ewers, and Jalen Milroe.

Despite his deficiencies as a passer, he’s an incredibly effective runner, doesn’t turn the ball over often, and doesn’t take sacks.

 

[CoachB]

Wow. Pretty telling. Yeah, the facts bear out that is our best chance of winning for sure. It's one thing if he had a noodle arm and couldn't stretch the defense, but he has a strong arm and the defense has to respect that. It isn't the days where a team could stack the box because the QB couldn't throw it 30 yards. RL won the Manning passing camp MVP for a reason. He has a strong arm. I think he is going to have a great second half of the year, to build on the great past couple games he has had (all the while some on this board will still be complaining).

 

[irishandy]

Leonard gives this team the best option to win, I don't care how we win. I would like if he had more complete performances like he did yesterday.

 

[jprue24]

I love the hindsight washing with stats of just how horrid RL was at playing QB from NIU to halftime at Miami. His play was atrocious. He has been better since the 2nd half against Miami and I credit Denbrock for figuring out how to use him.

He was booed for good reasons.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I'm glad the fans don't decide who our QB is, though it would be a fun experiment.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I'm glad the fans don't decide who our QB is, though it would be a fun experiment.

Taking out 'ties' RL is ranked by QBR by ESPN at 27.... I will take that. He seems to get better each week. RL, technically is a first-year QB in the Irish system/team. Take a look at the top four albeit - the teams they have played.

2025 College Football Season Leaders Total QBR | ESPN

Visit ESPN to view College Football Total QBR for the current and previous seasons

www.espn.com

 

[Irish#1]

I don’t know to tell you, playa. We could put up 500 points, it’s a slog watching the guy play. Perhaps it’s you who needs a hobby.

Sounds like if the kid leads the Irish to a natty, you’d be complaining because it lacked style points.

 

[Irish#1]

I posted in the fall camp thread before the season that someone said “think Josh Allen at Wyoming” and that comp has basically been spot on. He’s a poor man’s Josh Allen. Super dynamic in the run game, but inaccurate to the point of missing some “layups” in the passing game. The bigger issue for me is that … unlike Allen … he doesn’t have the arm strength to make you pay with big vertical throws when he escapes pressure and can extend.

So he’s going to kill about 2 drives a game by missing throws he should make, but then how much does he help your run game because of his legs? Because anything that helps our RBs get quality opportunities might be worth the trade off… they are absolutely dynamic.

You could also say his legs extend about two drives a game, probably more.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Sounds like if the kid leads the Irish to a natty, you’d be complaining because it lacked style points.

It has zero to do with “style”.

 

[NDPhilly]

Wish we had another year of him.

 

[NDohio]

Interesting nugget from an article in The Athletic. We are hyper sensitive to the Irish not throwing the deep ball - here we see that the guy some IE posters wanted instead of RL having the same issue:

Can offense sustain success without deep ball?​

Panic meter: 2/10

Howard had a funny moment in his weekly news conference Tuesday. Asked what the key to executing the deep ball against two deep safety defenses was, he smiled and said, “Don’t throw it. Just don’t throw it.”

That has been Ohio State’s mentality this season.

Howard hasn’t been asked to throw the deep ball as much this season. According to Pro Football Focus, his average depth of target is just 9.2 yards, which is the 84th highest in the country. And that hasn’t hurt the Buckeyes, yet, because they’ve been able to methodically move the ball.

 

[NDWarrior]

That's why we should have taken the under-the-radar FCS QB transfer, Kurtis Rourke... Instead that other Indiana school scooped him up on their way to a to-date undefeated season; and he can attack and throw the long, downfield throws.

 

[CanadalovesND]

That's why we should have taken the under-the-radar FCS QB transfer, Kurtis Rourke... Instead that other Indiana school scooped him up on their way to a to-date undefeated season; and he can attack and throw the long, downfield throws.

and he's Canadian.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

That's why we should have taken the under-the-radar FCS QB transfer, Kurtis Rourke... Instead that other Indiana school scooped him up on their way to a to-date undefeated season; and he can attack and throw the long, downfield throws.

Right, I'm sure you were opining for this to happen back in January. Hindsight is 20/20....Riley Leonard and Will Howard were probably the two most coveted transfer QBs. Riley has been playing better ball in October.

Really don't think the deep ball, as exciting as it is, needs to be a key factor in ND winning ball games. The RPO stuff is what's really going to give DC's nightmares when ND is running the ball effectively. I was as critical of RL as anybody early on in the season, but as he's gotten more comfortable, I don't think there's any denying that his legs, or the threat of him running, is masking a lot of our deficiencies up front with the young OL (who are definitely improving, btw).

 

[Giddyup]

Disagree. the long ball will eventually be necessary against the good defenses. Have to keep the safeties from crashing down. Explosives are important.

 

[IRISHMAN]

Disagree. the long ball will eventually be necessary against the good defenses. Have to keep the safeties from crashing down. Explosives are important.

im really surprised teams just dont play press coverage against NDs average wrs to take away the short throws and force RL to go deep.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Disagree. the long ball will eventually be necessary against the good defenses. Have to keep the safeties from crashing down. Explosives are important.

What’s your opinion on Michigan and their explosive downfield passing game last year when they won the championship? Yes, I realize cheating was likely in the mix, at least early in the season.

 

[NDWarrior]

and he's Canadian.

 

[SWirishfan]

im really surprised teams just dont play press coverage against NDs average wrs to take away the short throws and force RL to go deep.

We are kinda spoiled with riches when it comes to being able to man up on WRs a majority of the time - Thanks to BD Mick.
Not everyone can do it.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

We are kinda spoiled with riches when it comes to being able to man up on WRs a majority of the time - Thanks to BD Mick.
Not everyone can do it.

Put some respect on it. That’s Mr Big Dick Mick.

 

[irishff1014]

Right, I'm sure you were opining for this to happen back in January. Hindsight is 20/20....Riley Leonard and Will Howard were probably the two most coveted transfer QBs. Riley has been playing better ball in October.

Really don't think the deep ball, as exciting as it is, needs to be a key factor in ND winning ball games. The RPO stuff is what's really going to give DC's nightmares when ND is running the ball effectively. I was as critical of RL as anybody early on in the season, but as he's gotten more comfortable, I don't think there's any denying that his legs, or the threat of him running, is masking a lot of our deficiencies up front with the young OL (who are definitely improving, btw).

I am not saying you have to do it 12 times a game but have to show it. They know by now that he is going to hurt them down the field so they stack the block and make it harder for the o line and RB’s. The passing on the RPO’s will still get the benefit of stretching the field.

 

[Rocketman84]

That's why we should have taken the under-the-radar FCS QB transfer, Kurtis Rourke... Instead that other Indiana school scooped him up on their way to a to-date undefeated season; and he can attack and throw the long, downfield throws.

You would probably look good playing against that schedule they've faced so far! I think a 4-3 Washington is their best opponent thus far and probably beats them in Indy. Their SOS was ranked 103 before last week.

 

[NDPhilly]

Outside of the NIU game where he was hurt, His QBR this year is 81, good enough for 14th nationally.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

You would probably look good playing against that schedule they've faced so far! I think a 4-3 Washington is their best opponent thus far and probably beats them in Indy. Their SOS was ranked 103 before last week.

I’m also confident that if Cignetti could have gotten Leonard as his transfer QB vs. Rourke then he would have preferred Leonard. Rourke has played very well though, impressed with his performance so far. Hopefully he bounces back from his injury.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Outside of the NIU game where he was hurt, His QBR this year is 81, good enough for 14th nationally.

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I expect Leonard to have a good day against Navy tomorrow……maybe we will see more deep shots.