Is Dayne Crist the Problem?

[CanadianIrish]

Your words were, "I haven't seen this bad of quarterback play since Brady's freshman year, and perhaps this is worse." Now you want to change it to that you were talking about 'visible potential'??? Nice try. Brady was awful his freshman year, he even said himself that he felt as if he weren't even being coached. And you won't find a bigger Clausen fan than me, and even I admit that he was awful his freshman year, and did not show the kind of potential that he would eventually get to. To say otherwise is revisionist history at its finest (and yes, his line and entire team sucked).

Crist has shown PLENTY of potential...if you haven't seen it it's because you are blinded by your desperation to be proven right. You don't put up the numbers he has without showing potential. You just don't. You're not even looking. The fact that you supported our pathetic defense and put all the blame on Crist shows your prejudice.

As for being a redshirt sophomore, I'm talking about years in a system. You look at it your way all you want; I'll look at it my way. He is learning a completely new system that requires completely different footwork and reads. And as far as age, look at Jimmy Clausen's age as a junior, and then get back to me. Nice try though.

Again, I'm not saying he doesn't need to improve. Hell yes he does. All I'm saying is give him more than 7 games before you proclaim him done and start asking for true freshmen that he has beaten out badly in practice, and in Rees' case, games. Seriously, to call for those guys is insane, sorry. Call that an attack or whatever, but it's true. Like I said, you were probably calling for Clausen's head and Brady's head, that is, if you were consistent.

That's a far more reasonable post and one I can actually respond to.

With respect to my language in talking about this being the "worst quarterback play since ..." I didn't say worst quarterback stats. The question is how you define play, and a part of play (to me at least) is a question of where the problem lies. I would re-iterate my earlier position that while their play was bad, it was decision making that was the problem rather than fundamentals. With Dayne, I think it's the opposite, the fundamentals are the problem. The coaching staff was talking about problems with his mechanics in the pre-season, it's been noted by many in this thread he has problems throwing on the run and with his point of release, and I continue to maintain that he has a distinct lack of touch, and I don't think anyone can point to a single throw he's made all season where he has taken something off the ball to get it into a tight spot.

So based on that standard of analysis, I would say that Dayne's performance is worse than Brady or Jimmy's.

With respect to the potential, I think Dayne's situation may be similar to Ryan Mallet's. Sure he has shown tons of potential, he can throw a rocket and he's a good leader. But the spread is more about accuracy than anything else, and that's Dayne's weakness. Additionally, he cannot throw on he run, whereas that is considered to be one of Hendrix's strengths. Dayne would likely have been great in Charlie's system, but I don't think he is suited for Kelly's and it's really showing.

As for Jimmy's Age, that's certainly true, but the question is about coaching. If I remember correctly, Jimmy was held back in years when he was younger - I doubt the extra year of coaching when he was 10 or something helped a lot (unless you're a big believer in the book Outliers). And for the record, I was a big proponent of starting Jimmy because I knew he was the long term answer and wanted him to get experience. The difference here is that I'm questioning whether Dayne is the long term answer based on:

1.) Lack of touch (inability to throw a fade, take something off a ball)
2.) Lack of ability to throw on the run
3.) General lack of accuracy

 

[BeatSC]

Irishman3, because he is an uniformed poster with something against Dayne. A 1st year starter coming off major knee surgery in a new offense. And Canadian Irish thinks he should be a miracle worker.

Dayne was recruited for one type of offense, and now has had to learn a whole different one.

Dayne has had major knee surgery

Dayne has hardly played.

Dayne has done pretty well, not an All American. But, solid.

Dayne has had the nations best TE, but he has been hurt all year.

Dayne has a slot receiver who was a running back last year.

Dayne has a true freshman other receiver.

But, Dayne to some supposedly should be much better?????????

Come on!!!!!!!!!!!! He is a 1st year starter. We are a team that is building for the future, and if our recruits sign we will be better.

Support our players, don't rip. They all can get better. But, saying Dayne is no good is just not true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that if he isn't better than what we have seen so far this year the QB spot will be a very open competition next year and Dayne will need to win it because I think athletically some of the younger guys have a bigger upside if DC doesn't show some serious improvements. DC showed very poor decision making aginst minimal pressure today. With that said Kelly called a flat out ****ty game today and I would say his performance was worse than DC and we aren't going to bench him yet.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Mechanics and throwing? A guy that could work on that how much this off season? How much after coming off surgery that you consistantly overlook.

Man, keep skipping that little subject of major knee surgery. Where all off season he would have been working on throwing on the move, etc. But, he had to rehab his knee, learn an offense, and when healthy get back his total body fitness in a new offense. And you still knit pick his accuracy in his first year starting, and in a new offense, and coming off knee injury where he couldn't work on most of what you rip him on.

 

[enrico514]

Crist is the starter until the end of the 2010 season AT THE EARLIEST.

Give him the offseason to prove himself. If Hendrix or Rees or Massa beats him out, then so be it. He's our best option, right now. Deal with it.

+1

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I think BK should look at his defense and his defensive coor. game plan as the issue today. Or his own play calling. That was the real issues today.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Well, if I can add something useful about my perception about Dayne's throwing motion... I have noticed his late release during the arm rotation, and maybe a tendency to be "straight legged" during that passing motion. I "think" that is a response to his knee injury. That affects everything. I guess... if you want to try to narrow it down to a thing or two... I think Dayne will own the position before the backups get there, but if a backup gets there sooner, well, more better for ND. I already have my vote cast for Crist as next Cali governor.