Dayne, Rees, Massa, or Hendrix

[tommyIRISH23]

Well, here we are, on the verge of being 4-8/5-7. Let's take a look at our QB situation objectively.

Dayne- Out for season, and possibly out until fall camp. That's like 9 months of no football, and limited physical activity. There is a shot that he falls back into the depth charts, and not play again for ND, especially if Rees/Hendrix really do well in the coming months of Spring/Fall camp and pick up the offense. Dayne could be months behind both of them in his development, and progression. Or, Dayne could come back and be ready for some "no contact" practice in the spring, and be able to compete for the starting job.

Anyone know the recovery time for his specific injury yet?

Rees- Cool, calm, hungry, and seems to have a good grasp on the offense, and can manage the game. But physically lacks the tools to be a game changer. His arm strength, and size have to improve. How much can he grow in those areas from now until next summer?

Hendrix- All reports show that the staff loves him. He has picked up the offense, and has a cannon of an arm, and is physically ready to go. But has no real-time game experience (Huge question mark). Most can agree that he is the QB of the future, and was Dayne's replacement upon graduation.

Now, here is my question. Where does coach Kelly go? Even if Dayne comes back, it's a given that a BK QB needs repetitions in the offense, and has to be mobile. With 2 injuries to both knees, how mobile is he going to be? And, with the time out of football, the other players will pass him on the depth chart. Do you wait and see with Dayne? Or move ahead and go with Rees or Hendrix?

If you move ahead with Rees and Hendrix, by all accounts, Hendrix is the future, and better athlete (personally, I have no idea, just going by what I have read). But is he the the immediate future? 2011? 2012? Do you start Hendrix now? Get him 3 games of experience under his belt? And prepare him to be your "number 1" from now until September? No QB controversy, and the team has direction?

Or

Do you play Rees for the rest of the season, and have a QB competition between Hendrix -Rees all off season? (Sure, we can add Dayne in there for those who insist Dayne will be back) Personally, I think the team needs stability, and have direction to the future. Also, whomever the QB is for 2011 is going to need all the reps he can get with the 1st team, a competition will split the reps, IMO, hurting the team.

Trying to spark some debate, and get some opinions. Let's hear it!!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

What about Massa? No love for him in this thread.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

rees for the remander of the season w/ him and hendrix fighting it out next year dayne transfers

 

[tommyIRISH23]

What about Massa? No love for him in this thread.

I dont know much about him, most of what I have read is about those 3. But sure, throw him in there.

 

[jmurphy75]

What about Massa? No love for him in this thread.

I'd really like to hear about Massa too. I think finish with Rees and keep an extra year of eligibility for Hendrix

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Aaaaa...just joshing you...Georgia Domer's guess seems about right. It's tough, because none of us know how Hendrix and Mass are really doing during practice.

 

[aubeirish]

I remember Massa being very tall and yet still had a growing body. It will be interesting to see him at spring ball.

 

[TerryTate]

Updated thread title for Massa. He has a shot.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

rees for the remander of the season w/ him and hendrix fighting it out next year dayne transfers

People are undoubtedly going to disagree with me, but this is what I would do as an arm-chair coach. And am assuming that what I have read about Hendrix is true.

As Coach Tom I would;

1. Dayne's done. He struggled picking up the offense this season, and starting him would hinder execution because he is going to miss a lot of time recovering.

2. Rees has a long way to go to develop physically. His arm strength is not going to be that much better ina years time.

3. I would start Hendrix now, and name him my QB of the future. He's big, strong, and mobile. He is what BK needs to run his offense. ND needs to make a statement about the future, and where the program is going. That will ease the panic of a lot of people.

4. A QB controversy over the off-season will take reps away from the whomever the starter is, and also hinder the consistency of the offense. The offense needs to gel, and going back and forth between QB's will not help.

People talk about the stress of being the coach at ND and how overbearing it is. Coach Kelly is a grown man that has fought 2 episodes of cancer with his wife, he knows what real stress is, and I think he is more built to handle adversity. The players are the ones who seem to crack under the pressure season after season. They need consistency, and they need to believe in the direction of the program. Starting Hendrix now, and naming him the QB of the future will speak volumes of the where the team is going, and give the kids something to hang on too, and work with over the offseason. They need decision making, and a clear line of sight of what is to come. Not to mention need all the work the next 9-10 months will bring towards being "on the same page" as a unit.

If you are going to start Hendrix next season do it now, and name him the starter for the future. A QB competition would be a bad thing, IMO.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

again, I do not know much about Massa. I am just going on what I know from reading here, and other forums.

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

Thank God you guys are here to provide such brilliant analysis of the qb situation.

I was worried Kelly wouldn't be able to make the decision on his own. It's his offense and he watches these guys every day, but what does he know?

 

[Rack Em]

Here's what I've heard from a walk-on on the football team:

Basically when a quarterback is redshirted, he gets put on the practice squad and doesn't get a chance to understand the offense. He doesn't take many reps, if any, and the coaching staff teaches him the offense in the Spring.

This is the situation Hendrix is in. He probably doesn't have the same grasp of the offense as Rees since he wasn't at Spring practice. So I mean, Hendrix could start the next few games, but the odds are that things will revert back to square one. He'd either sink or swim, but I'd rather him at least have a life jacket.

Personally I think I'd be giving Hendrix some reps during practice in case something happens to Rees, but save the year of eligibility. Everything I'm hearing around campus is that the kid is a stud.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Thank God you guys are here to provide such brilliant analysis of the qb situation.

I was worried Kelly wouldn't be able to make the decision on his own. It's his offense and he watches these guys every day, but what does he know?

We're doing this for fun because we are fans, and all have an opinion. Why do we discuss anything about ND football, we should just be drones and watch the games with no emotion. If you do not like the thread, then do not participate.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Here's what I've heard from a walk-on on the football team:

Basically when a quarterback is redshirted, he gets put on the practice squad and doesn't get a chance to understand the offense. He doesn't take many reps, if any, and the coaching staff teaches him the offense in the Spring.

This is the situation Hendrix is in. He probably doesn't have the same grasp of the offense as Rees since he wasn't at Spring practice. So I mean, Hendrix could start the next few games, but the odds are that things will revert back to square one. He'd either sink or swim, but I'd rather him at least have a life jacket.

Personally I think I'd be giving Hendrix some reps during practice in case something happens to Rees, but save the year of eligibility. Everything I'm hearing around campus is that the kid is a stud.

Oh alright, I didn't know that. Thank you.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

lose a season?

lose a season?

People are undoubtedly going to disagree with me, but this is what I would do as an arm-chair coach. And am assuming that what I have read about Hendrix is true.

As Coach Tom I would;

1. Dayne's done. He struggled picking up the offense this season, and starting him would hinder execution because he is going to miss a lot of time recovering.

2. Rees has a long way to go to develop physically. His arm strength is not going to be that much better ina years time.

3. I would start Hendrix now, and name him my QB of the future. He's big, strong, and mobile. He is what BK needs to run his offense. ND needs to make a statement about the future, and where the program is going. That will ease the panic of a lot of people.

4. A QB controversy over the off-season will take reps away from the whomever the starter is, and also hinder the consistency of the offense. The offense needs to gel, and going back and forth between QB's will not help.

People talk about the stress of being the coach at ND and how overbearing it is. Coach Kelly is a grown man that has fought 2 episodes of cancer with his wife, he knows what real stress is, and I think he is more built to handle adversity. The players are the ones who seem to crack under the pressure season after season. They need consistency, and they need to believe in the direction of the program. Starting Hendrix now, and naming him the QB of the future will speak volumes of the where the team is going, and give the kids something to hang on too, and work with over the offseason. They need decision making, and a clear line of sight of what is to come. Not to mention need all the work the next 9-10 months will bring towards being "on the same page" as a unit.

If you are going to start Hendrix next season do it now, and name him the starter for the future. A QB competition would be a bad thing, IMO.

this season is a wash, and would that take away a year of eligibility from hendrix?

 

[tommyIRISH23]

this season is a wash, and would that take away a year of eligibility from hendrix?

If he's going to be the future, and play next season get him some reps. My thought here is that ND needs to come out firing next season, another 4-6 win season is going to be really bad. I just feel that the captain of the ship should be named, and the ship steered in that direction so that the offense is working on 1 philosophy towards the talents of one QB. 2 different QB's offer 2 different variations of the offense.

 

[jason_h537]

Dayne still has more talent than anyone on the roster, maybe Hendrix is a better athlete. If Hendrix doesn't lite it up i still say its Dayne's team. He has more time to watch film and learn

 

[aaronb]

If he's going to be the future, and play next season get him some reps. My thought here is that ND needs to come out firing next season, another 4-6 win season is going to be really bad. I just feel that the captain of the ship should be named, and the ship steered in that direction so that the offense is working on 1 philosophy towards the talents of one QB. 2 different QB's offer 2 different variations of the offense.

I've got to defer to Brian Kelly on this one. He needs to play who he feels is the best today. That means Rees and Montana for the foreseeable future.

IMHO throwing Hendrix in now could create the following problems

1. Alienating the rest of the team by giving up on 2010
2. Probably forcing the transfer of every other QB on the roster
3. Because of 2, putting us in a hell of a bind depth wise in 2011
4. Stunting Hendrix's growth by just handing him a job as a true FR.
All we know about Hendrix at this point is that he was a 4 star recruit and about the 10th rated pocket QB in last season's recruiting cycle. That doesn't mean squat at this point though. Deion Walker,Jonas Gray and Dan Wenger are 3 current examples of top 10 positional guys from HS that can't get on the field, playing for a 4 and 5 club right now.

 

[Rocket89]

I posted this as a comment on Rees/Crist at OFD:

Oh no doubt Crist had taken some steps back and that had me worried. Now with another major knee injury I am pretty concerned about his future.

I’m just really skeptical right now about Rees’ abilities too. I believe this offense needs a mobile QB, I think Kelly wants one, and the coaching staff has made it known that Rees is the least mobile of all the QB’s. Short term and long-term that is a big concern for me.

I was impressed with his arm to a certain degree, he has a nice quick release, but his balls definitely seemed to slow down when they got to the receiver. Overall, I was happy with the way he played.

But what I kept thinking during the Tulsa game, is that we can’t keep throwing these short routes and expect success against better teams. Rees’ lack of mobility won’t be a huge problem the rest of the year because Kelly has switched the offense up to suit his game and Crist wasn’t crazy mobile to begin with (although getting more comfortable), but if Rees can’t complete some long throws it will lead to bad things.

I just see some warning signs that that’s all. A lack of accuracy/arm strength on the deeper and longer throws is a red flag, and not being mobile is another red flag. Combined, those are two things I’m not terribly excited about in the future, if Rees is indeed the future.

I’ve made no bones about it that I think Hendrix is the future (if we take Crist out of the equation for now, not that I think he’s done at all). It’s not terribly surprising since he was the highest rated QB in this freshman class, but I really like what this kid brings to the table.

From watching both of their tapes, I think Hendrix looks better than Crist as seniors in high school. I’m not entirely sure what kind of talent Crist played against in California, but I know Hendrix played in a very good league in Ohio.

First thing, Hendrix is the most mobile of all the Irish QB’s and I think he has the perfect amount of speed and quickness to be very deadly under Kelly. Crist was fairly athletic and quick in high school, but not like Hendrix and I think Crist’s knee injury and “fattening” into a pro-style QB from 2008-09 sort of ruined his speed.

I don’t mean to say that Hendrix is going to be like Denard Robinson, but I think he’ll be the type of player that turns those designed QB draws for an automatic first down, whereas Crist struggled to get 5 yards. Quickness is better than pure speed, we need a QB who can read the option and get quickly off the edge and pick up 7-15 yards and step out of bounds. Once Kelly gets someone to do that, this offense and the running game will become deadly.

Another aspect that I like about Hendrix is that he is quick and pulls away from guys, whether it be an on-coming DE or a LB in space. He also shows great instincts and awareness in escaping these defenders and making a play. Crist did this a little too, but you can tell from his H.S. tapes that he probably wasn’t going to be as effective at the D-1 level.

Third, Hendrix is known to be great at getting outside and making throws on the run. Here he has what we think should be a huge advantage over Crist and the other QB’s. Not only is he the quickest, but he can escape out of the pocket, stay calm and deliver a nice ball to his receiver.

Fourth, is all the praise that Kelly and the coaching staff have given Hendrix. They already stated he looked really good running the scout team triple option in preperation for Navy, that’s a good sign about his athleticism and quickness. And with Kelly saying he has maybe the best arm he’s ever seen, that’s also a terrific sign.

I didn’t agree with redshirting Hendrix just because I didn’t like the lack of depth behind Crist, I was worried he might transfer if this is Dayne’s team until 2012, and I thought he was skilled enough to come in and be a decent No. 2 guy. I understand that Kelly didn’t think he knew the offense enough to warrant him getting reps with the big dogs this year, but I read that him and Massa will now be getting some looks anyway because of Crist’s injury.

I’ve also said a few months ago that I thought Hendrix would be pushing Crist really hard next year, maybe coming in and taking some snaps in non-blowout situations where Kelly can utilize his speed. Now, I won’t be surprised one bit if he’s starting against USF next September.

I could be completely wrong and Hendrix could be terrible, but he looks awfully poised and like he could be the real deal on tape. Accuracy and decision making will be things to watch out for, but I also think he was very good with both of those things at the prep level.

I don’t know what to make about Crist’s situation. It’s really hard to imagine that once he gets healthy that he won’t be the starter again, but I’m not sure, especially if he misses spring practice. Then we’d be looking at Hendrix, Rees and Massa with basically the same amount, if not more, time in Kelly’s system. And if Hendrix looks good in the spring, shows he’s clearly more mobile and can make all the throws, is Crist just going to be handed the job come fall?

This is a really intriguing situation.

I really thought redshirting Hendrix was a bad move and was predicated by Kelly that Crist wouldn't get hurt. Now, he is hurt and we are in a bad position. Playing Hendrix now is just dumb, but as you can probably tell I think he's the future.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I am 100% behind Dayne, and the next in line after him IMO is Hendrix. Rees is nice on the easy quick throws. Any tough throws, that require any amount of velocity--Rees is out in my mind.

Bailing on Dayne is just Crazy!!!!!!


Go Irish!

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Oh, and you talk about right kind of kid. Loyal Irish--Dayne is at the front of the line in my opinion. Just like Teo!

 

[IrishMoore1]

Hendrix has been redshirted simply because Kelly didn't have enough time to get him reps on offense. It was about winning right away, and since Hendrix didn't early enroll, Rees and Montana got the reps in the spring. Thus, summer comes along and Hendrix is already behind in running the offense, and he stayed behind because the other guys were way ahead of him.

Hendrix and Massa simply haven't had the opportunity to learn the offense. If either had early enrolled, I believe it would be a different story as to what the depth chart would be.

Putting in Hendrix now would be foolish. The kid doesn't know the offense yet or as well as Rees and Montana. We'll have a qb battle in the spring and then summer comes along, Dayne will be thrown in there.

BUT, if we end up with a new starter, we can expect another year like this, which is a huge problem for Kelly.

 

[KPENN]

Dayne

 

[aubeirish]

Put them in a Competitive situation. Best performer wins the job period.

 

[Irish4Life09]

There is absolutely zero reason to play Hendrix.
Not only would it cause him to lose a full year of eligibility for playing only 3 games, it does little to help.
Rees had a great last game except for a few passes.Let him run the offense.Hendrix has all offseason to learn the offense and vie for the starting position next year(which I think he wins in spring ball easily.)

 

[GreatGolson]

I think Rees will finish the season, and depending on how he does, BK will either choose him as his starter or have a competition with Rees and Hendrix

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Great answers guys, thank you.

Also, I admit, I did not know that Hendrix did not get a ton of reps running the offense. That throws my whole theory off.

In hindsight, if it was known that Hendrix was going to be the future, I kind of wish we took a page from Meyer-Tebow.

I gotta give Urban his due, how he used Tebow in certain situations when he was a freshmen with Chris Leak starting was a great idea. Not only did it give different looks to the defenses, but gave Tebow game experience in situations where he could not hurt the team, or his own development.

It would have been good to see Hendrix have his own packages and get into games, although, since Dayne had 2 years left, I assume Kelly would have done some of that in 2011.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Montana. Seems to be a fearless runner, and can toss the quick one. Wonder why he hasn't been given more of a chance. Seems his fearlessness on keeping for the run is exactly what Kelly's spread needs.

 

[mgriff]

I think Kelly is just going to have his usual staple of quarterbacks to rotate. He's done it almost everywhere he's been, so I don't think it would be a shock if he used them all at some point, to see who the best is under pressure. He may, eventually, decide who his QB is, but he's fickle, and if he has confidence in another QB when the starter is performing poorly, I don't think he'd hesitate to mix it up.

 

[eNDzone]

I do remember Kelly saying that attribute he is looking for in his new recruits is a quick release. From what I've seen that gives Hendrix a big advantage. Competition should be stiff at QB next season, which is a much better situation than we found ourselves in at the beggining of this season.