Post spring thoughts

[Patulski]

"Freudian slip"??? I would place more blame on Hendrix for that one

Solid Int...I think 11 was there because he was told to be...

I've seen this a couple of times where he looks off, and comes back to a receiver...but its like anything in the periphery between he and the reciver...can't see it. Kid says he loves to throw the dig..but maybe thats because its all right in front of him...he's thrown a couple inexplicable ints since he's been here that really make me worry about him.

He was my preseason pick to start, but EG has as much claim to that as anyone at this point...

Hendrix had kind of a strange explanation of his interception to Ishaq. He said:

"I have a tendency to try to force the ball. I’m a little too confident in my arm. I’m not sure. A little more air and he’s off to the races.”

I get the "a little more air and he's off to the races" part, but did he really think that he could throw the ball "through" Ishaq, because he's so confident in the strength of his arm?

It makes me wonder if it really is about "air" or "arm strength". It may be about seeing the linebacker. It sure as heck seems like that, when in three straight games Hendrix has thrown the ball right to a stationary linebacker. I just don't see how Hendrix's arm strength comes into the equation when its thrown to a stationary linebacker at chest height.

 

[stlnd01]

Golson was on the field for 3 fumbles.
-1st was when the snap hit Riddick while he was in motion. Unsure if it was a direct snap to him or not. Not his fault.
-2nd was under center and the ball went through his hands. WAS his fault.
-3rd was in shotgun and the ball only was snapped about a yard and a half never reached him.

All our quarterbacks are turning the ball over.
IMO only Golson appears to have the ability to play over the mistakes.
Tommy is Tommy and Hendrix is his own worst enemy.
The choice is clear.

Yes.
Worth noting that, in all three cases, the center was also at least partly to blame. And our starting center didn't play yesterday.
Also worth noting, Golson turned the third one into a four yard gain. A certain poor guy who'll remain nameless because he's gotten so much abuse here lately would probably have just dove on it for a two yard loss.

 

[Zbi]

If Tommy Rees starts and we win 8 games or less, BK is likely to get fired.

 

[ryno 24]

He wont be fired if we win 8 games calm down

 

[irishfan]

If Tommy Rees starts and we win 8 games or less, BK is likely to get fired.

It would probably take something drastic like 4-8 for him to be fired.

Personally, I would rather see Golson/Hendrix and a 6 win season than Tommy and another 8-5. We need to build for 2013 and not just roll out the same QB/generic offense again.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Yes.
Worth noting that, in all three cases, the center was also at least partly to blame. And our starting center didn't play yesterday.
Also worth noting, Golson turned the third one into a four yard gain. A certain poor guy who'll remain nameless because he's gotten so much abuse here lately would probably have just dove on it for a two yard loss.

Hendrix has a good enough arm to get the ball out to the sidelines and down the field, but when operating in the middle of the field he seems to lack the vision that is necessary. It is almost the opposite problem that Rees has, and both of them are MAJOR problems. Some of the most respected (and respectable) posters on this board keep saying that "it was just a spring game", and to some extent they are right. But you can tell some things from a spring game, and one thing I could tell is that Tommy and Andrew continued to make the same mistakes yesterday as they did during the season. That is as big of a reason that I think Golson is the guy as the way Golson played. It isn't just that Golson was very good, it was that the alternatives are scary.

 

[BGIF]

It would probably take something drastic like 4-8 for him to be fired.

Personally, I would rather see Golson/Hendrix and a 6 win season than Tommy and another 8-5. We need to build for 2013 and not just roll out the same QB/generic offense again.

Last year that might have been true but no longer. The talented guys aren't freshman any longer.

No, we need the talented guys to get THEIR acts together. The only reason for a 6 win season with Golson/Hendrix is because of the man in the mirror. It's THEIR inability to read defenses, to not see the field, to think too slow. Joe Montana was 7th on the depth chart. HE did something about it and he did it with a coach that wasn't happy with his practice habits.

Despite protests below that Golson was too busy last year to learn the ND offense because had to run the scout team "last year", he didn't run it for 365 days. He ran the scout team last Fall. He's had an ND playbook for a year. He's watched film for a year. This was his second B&G game. Learn the damn ND playbook, learn the signals, AND if you're supposed to be the Field General know where your troops are supposed to be deployed on the plays so the coach doesn't have to move them around like a peewee football game. On the field that's the QB job. IF Eifert supposed to wide and he's not, the QB moves him. If the RB is aligned too tight to the QB, the QB moves him. This isn't high tech but football 101 even when Rockne played.

If their heads can't process the information at Division 1 game speed then like Carlyle Holiday and Arnaz Battle they need to find someplace they can contribute without conceding additional games (6 wins comments). Both Hendrix and Golson realize that from their comments. ANY QB ND has now should win a minimum of 8 games by next September. They've got 5 months to get there. IF the receiving corps the secondary both arrive 10 wins should be minimum.

Kelly is challenging his players to excell yet we are ready to cut the season to .500 because a sophomore QB hit a LB in the chest. I recall Quinn and Clausen doing that in games as upperclassman. But they did it a damn side less than they did as underclassmen.

To whom much is given much is expected. And it's NOT a 6 win season.

 

[Domer4ever]

Is anybody else just concerned with the offense in general and perhaps that all the problems are not just a QB issue, but perhaps a scheme issue? Why is it that the offense continue's to look like they are stuck in the mud all the time with all the mistakes going into year 3? It certainly isn't because the QB's on the roster are not smart enough to understand and grasp everything, I mean hell, Hendrix is pre-med! Perhaps there are just too many components to Kelly's offense from getting everybody lined up right, to getting the play in on time, to making audibles to what the defense is throwing out there. It just continues to be a calamity of errors and it seems like it's too much and Kelly is trying to ram his system down the throats of the players instead of adjusting to what the players do well. Brady Hoke went in to Michigan last year, "dumbed" down the playbook and all the weird crap Rich Rod was trying to do, and Michigan won a lot of games by simply adjusting to the skill sets of the players and running simple systems on both sides of the ball.

I don't know about everyone else, but to me it just seems like everything this team does is based on trying to "trick" the opposition from fancy blitzing schemes to multiple offensive formations out of the spread where they run a horizontal passing game and run the football out of the shotgun. IMO they just do not need to do it. The talent is good enough to where if they just simplified things and went with more traditional schemes on both sides of the football they would have a better chance for success on the field.

I know Kelly has won everywhere and that is cause for hope, but Rich Rod also won everywhere from being a very successful offensive coordinator at Tulane to Head Coaching at West Virginia before getting canned on the big stage at Michigan. I think he and Kelly are very similar and I fear that if Kelly does not make some changes to the way he approaches things and start winning football games he will suffer the same fate.

 

[BGIF]

Is anybody else just concerned with the offense in general and perhaps that all the problems are not just a QB issue, but perhaps a scheme issue? Why is it that the offense continue's to look like they are stuck in the mud all the time with all the mistakes going into year 3? It certainly isn't because the QB's on the roster are not smart enough to understand and grasp everything, I mean hell, Hendrix is pre-med! Perhaps there are just too many components to Kelly's offense from getting everybody lined up right, to getting the play in on time, to making audibles to what the defense is throwing out there. It just continues to be a calamity of errors and it seems like it's too much and Kelly is trying to ram his system down the throats of the players instead of adjusting to what the players do well. Brady Hoke went in to Michigan last year, "dumbed" down the playbook and all the weird crap Rich Rod was trying to do, and Michigan won a lot of games by simply adjusting to the skill sets of the players and running simple systems on both sides of the ball.

I don't know about everyone else, but to me it just seems like everything this team does is based on trying to "trick" the opposition from fancy blitzing schemes to multiple offensive formations out of the spread where they run a horizontal passing game and run the football out of the shotgun. IMO they just do not need to do it. The talent is good enough to where if they just simplified things and went with more traditional schemes on both sides of the football they would have a better chance for success on the field.

I know Kelly has won everywhere and that is cause for hope, but Rich Rod also won everywhere from being a very successful offensive coordinator at Tulane to Head Coaching at West Virginia before getting canned on the big stage at Michigan. I think he and Kelly are very similar and I fear that if Kelly does not make some changes to the way he approaches things and start winning football games he will suffer the same fate.

Rodriquez tryed to change the football culture at UM and got resistance from the start from players and big hitter boosters. He's had 5 Star defections at QB and OL (to OSU!) and there was constant turmoil from Day 1. Holtz changed the football culture at ND from smashmouth to Blarney Offense even though he didn't have the coaching skills OR assistants with them to bring it off.

I commented in the this thread yesterday about it taking too much time to get the play in when Kelly takes a "coaching moment" (purple faced or otherwise) speaking to a player coming off the field after a play, then reads his playlist while listening (assumed) to the OC over the headset, then telling the RedArmy the play to signal, then having the signals conveyed, then having the QB digest and call the play, go to the line, have the center bark out line signals, and then audiblizing after the defense moves following the play called. Even if all goes smoothly and the QB recognizes the play which didn't happen yesterday, and the players all line up in the right spots which didn't happen yesterday, and the QB moves them to the right spot which didn't always happen yesterday, ND needs a playclock the length of these two runon sentences.

Kelly has talked tempo since Day 1 but his method of calling the play and getting it in and set before the play clock expires is a problem. It was a problem with Crist and Rees for 2 years and seems to be a problem with Hendrix, Golson, and Keil as well. Yesterday he had the play clock turned off to stop the Delay penalties. Can't do that in season. I think this contributed to the number of False Start penalties as well.

I don't understand how it could work at UC or Grand Valley but can't work with ND's students. I think he needs to delegate the "after play teaching moments" to his assistants and to focus on as Holtz would say, "W-I-N", What's Important Now. Get the play in on a timely basis.

 

[BobD]

Rodriquez tryed to change the football culture at UM and got resistance from the start from players and big hitter boosters. He's had 5 Star defections at QB and OL (to OSU!) and there was constant turmoil from Day 1. Holtz changed the football culture at ND from smashmouth to Blarney Offense even though he didn't have the coaching skills OR assistants with them to bring it off.

I commented in the this thread yesterday about it taking too much time to get the play in when Kelly takes a "coaching moment" (purple faced or otherwise) speaking to a player coming off the field after a play, then reads his playlist while listening (assumed) to the OC over the headset, then telling the RedArmy the play to signal, then having the signals conveyed, then having the QB digest and call the play, go to the line, have the center bark out line signals, and then audiblizing after the defense moves following the play called. Even if all goes smoothly and the QB recognizes the play which didn't happen yesterday, and the players all line up in the right spots which didn't happen yesterday, and the QB moves them to the right spot which didn't always happen yesterday, ND needs a playclock the length of these two runon sentences.

Kelly has talked tempo since Day 1 but his method of calling the play and getting it in and set before the play clock expires is a problem. It was a problem with Crist and Rees for 2 years and seems to be a problem with Hendrix, Golson, and Keil as well. Yesterday he had the play clock turned off to stop the Delay penalties. Can't do that in season. I think this contributed to the number of False Start penalties as well.

I don't understand how it could work at UC or Grand Valley but can't work with ND's students. I think he needs to delegate the "after play teaching moments" to his assistants and to focus on as Holtz would say, "W-I-N", What's Important Now. Get the play in on a timely basis.

BINGO!

 

[Domer4ever]

Rodriquez tryed to change the football culture at UM and got resistance from the start from players and big hitter boosters. He's had 5 Star defections at QB and OL (to OSU!) and there was constant turmoil from Day 1. Holtz changed the football culture at ND from smashmouth to Blarney Offense even though he didn't have the coaching skills OR assistants with them to bring it off.

I commented in the this thread yesterday about it taking too much time to get the play in when Kelly takes a "coaching moment" (purple faced or otherwise) speaking to a player coming off the field after a play, then reads his playlist while listening (assumed) to the OC over the headset, then telling the RedArmy the play to signal, then having the signals conveyed, then having the QB digest and call the play, go to the line, have the center bark out line signals, and then audiblizing after the defense moves following the play called. Even if all goes smoothly and the QB recognizes the play which didn't happen yesterday, and the players all line up in the right spots which didn't happen yesterday, and the QB moves them to the right spot which didn't always happen yesterday, ND needs a playclock the length of these two runon sentences.

Kelly has talked tempo since Day 1 but his method of calling the play and getting it in and set before the play clock expires is a problem. It was a problem with Crist and Rees for 2 years and seems to be a problem with Hendrix, Golson, and Keil as well. Yesterday he had the play clock turned off to stop the Delay penalties. Can't do that in season. I think this contributed to the number of False Start penalties as well.

I don't understand how it could work at UC or Grand Valley but can't work with ND's students. I think he needs to delegate the "after play teaching moments" to his assistants and to focus on as Holtz would say, "W-I-N", What's Important Now. Get the play in on a timely basis.

I think you are spot on about the play calling. Everything gets rushed. It's like Indians trying to send smoke signals across the valley watching these guy's trying to get the play called on time and everything else that goes along with that in Kelly's system. The timing is just not there and that is very discouraging when you are talking about year three of his system with players that have been here and are "his guy's" as he likes to point out. If I did not know any better and watched the spring game, I would have thought it was a new coach trying to implement his system with a new team. I have yet to see any progression with his offense from year one to now and continue to see the same mistakes being made. How does this happen and what are the reasons? It is not just a QB issue because every QB he has had at Notre Dame look like they are confused, rushed, play tight, and are just trying to process a ton of information pre-snap with him hollering from the sidelines. Like I stated before, these guy's aren't dumb, which can only lead me to believe that there is a flaw in the system and he needs to simplify things and adapt if he want's to continue to coach past this season. I can tell you right now if the offense does not improve drastically this team will not win more than 7 games with the schedule they have and he will hear it from the fanbase and boosters.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

My first thought is unmentionable. My computer crashed just as I was begining a series of uploads for work before I left for the game. I was, able to get my computer back today with the drive replaced. One of two in a raid array. So everything is cool, will be back after I get my work done.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I think you are spot on about the play calling. Everything gets rushed. It's like Indians trying to send smoke signals across the valley watching these guy's trying to get the play called on time and everything else that goes along with that in Kelly's system. The timing is just not there and that is very discouraging when you are talking about year three of his system with players that have been here and are "his guy's" as he likes to point out. If I did not know any better and watched the spring game, I would have thought it was a new coach trying to implement his system with a new team. I have yet to see any progression with his offense from year one to now and continue to see the same mistakes being made. How does this happen and what are the reasons? It is not just a QB issue because every QB he has had at Notre Dame look like they are confused, rushed, play tight, and are just trying to process a ton of information pre-snap with him hollering from the sidelines. Like I stated before, these guy's aren't dumb, which can only lead me to believe that there is a flaw in the system and he needs to simplify things and adapt if he want's to continue to coach past this season. I can tell you right now if the offense does not improve drastically this team will not win more than 7 games with the schedule they have and he will hear it from the fanbase and boosters.

I like the idea of using the giant cards with pictures on them like Oregon uses. I think its a fair point that BK has to keep the teaching moments at a mininum during the offensive series, and needs to develop his QB more efficiently, and stick with one. The offensive ran with tommy rees is different then with golson, so the rest of the offense has to adjust to tommy abilities and vice versa. I think the offense just needs continuity. He's not trying to install a Rodriguez offense, BK has blended it nicely to complilment what he has to work with, 2-TE's...etc.

 

[Downinthebend]

I like the idea of using the giant cards with pictures on them like Oregon uses. I think its a fair point that BK has to keep the teaching moments at a mininum during the offensive series, and needs to develop his QB more efficiently, and stick with one. The offensive ran with tommy rees is different then with golson, so the rest of the offense has to adjust to tommy abilities and vice versa. I think the offense just needs continuity. He's not trying to install a Rodriguez offense, BK has blended it nicely to complilment what he has to work with, 2-TE's...etc.

Didn't we use giant cards against some teams?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

GAIII needs to carry a football everywhere he goes on campus, and every student that walks by him needs to try and knock it out of his arms.

 

[Fbolt]

Hmmm, I saw alot of flashes on the offensive side. GAIII, Golson, Wood, Eifert, and a few DD catches. I assumed that their would be problems-especially not having the QB position figured out. I didn't expect a polished product at the end of spring. The flashes gave me hope that this team-at least on O-can be extremely dynamic come Fall. On D, I liked what I saw from Isaaq, Josh, Day, Nix and Cam.

The turnovers are to be expected. My only concern is that the coaches make a decision to cut the competition down at the earliest moment in order to spend the time with the 2 guys or the "one" and coach them up.

EG is the one in the driver's seat at the moment IMO-surprised me as I expected AH to be there. TR disappointed me.

Bitter ending-now what am I going to do since Spring FB is done?

 

[stlnd01]

Didn't we use giant cards against some teams?

Yeah, in 2010 in Rees first few games after Crist got hurt. Seemed to work well enough.

 

[BobD]

GAIII needs to carry a football everywhere he goes on campus, and every student that walks by him needs to try and knock if out of his arms.

Haha! I said this last year about the whole team.

 

[Patulski]

I commented in the this thread yesterday about it taking too much time to get the play in when Kelly takes a "coaching moment" (purple faced or otherwise) speaking to a player coming off the field after a play, then reads his playlist while listening (assumed) to the OC over the headset, then telling the RedArmy the play to signal, then having the signals conveyed, then having the QB digest and call the play, go to the line, have the center bark out line signals, and then audiblizing after the defense moves following the play called. Even if all goes smoothly and the QB recognizes the play which didn't happen yesterday, and the players all line up in the right spots which didn't happen yesterday, and the QB moves them to the right spot which didn't always happen yesterday, ND needs a playclock the length of these two runon sentences.

Your forgot to mention the last step in that sequence: When a timeout is called, Kelly screams at the QB.

I don't understand why you need 4 guys in red hats, or 4 placards. Give the QB a play and formation sheet he can wrap around his wrist-like Weis did and Stanford does- and call the friggin formation and play.

 

[ryno 24]

Your forgot to mention the last step in that sequence: When a timeout is called, Kelly screams at the QB.

I don't understand why you need 4 guys in red hats, or 4 placards. Give the QB a play and formation sheet he can wrap around his wrist-like Weis did and Stanford does- and call the friggin formation and play.

This is a good idea but it does not really work in spread systems it is harder to relay this to the rest of the team. When we are moving efficiently it all moves faster. That system requires a huddles and is much easier to discern for defenses.

 

[Downinthebend]

When I was attempting to edit the B&G game (my first attempt that failed due to an unrelated issue) many times NBC would include clips of Brian Kelly yelling at the given quarterback, then BK would signal the play into #17, then the given would get the call and get everyone set, and by that time ~20-30 seconds had passed. Now, obviously this was a spring game, but it could signal an issue with the playcalling.

I was trying to include (as a point) many of these clips (the signaling of plays) into my condension (is that a word? I want the noun of something that is condensed) of the game.

 

[Downinthebend]

This is a good idea but it does not really work in spread systems it is harder to relay this to the rest of the team. When we are moving efficiently it all moves faster. That system requires a huddles and is much easier to discern for defenses.

Not sure how to add quotes onto a post, so I'll just post again. If someone would like to enlighten me, be my guest.

I don't recall seeing us moving efficiently much at all last year, and I've rewatched 4 or so of the games recently. In the videos where I condense the Offense and the Defense, unfortunately there is no possible way to show tempo. Does anyone know of any way to tell (quickly) (bar watching the full games) whether we were moving efficiently or not in a given game?

 

[ryno 24]

The maryland game was pretty up tempo so was the purdue game. Tommy also slowed the game down pretty often because of his style of play. The possibility of speeding the tempo is easier with less checks and more just go. Kelly's system of two plays in one check should allow for a more up tempo game.

 

[josejose4482]

I agree with everyone. Golson needs to be the starter for the opener. I hope it's not like a few years ago, when Demetrius Jones was the starter cause of his ability to run with the ball and gets benched right away because of not holding onto the ball. I see/compare Golson to a Marcus Vick. Not a lot of size but fast as heck and more accurate.

GA3 was a beast running that ball. Wearing that #4, he looked like Ryan Grant, but with speed. Riddick looks swoll, he's going to have the ability to run over defenders and to me, he looks a lot more agile/quicker.

 

[Sweetness34]

I think the offense will be better this year. They have a lot of weapons at their disposal and at different positions. They still have Davonte Neal to put in there. If Golson is the QB, he will throw double digit int's and that's fine because he will more than make up for it with plays that save sacks and gain yards. He is a thrower first and that's what makes him special. I hope BK lets him play and ride him through the season.

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

Rodriquez tryed to change the football culture at UM and got resistance from the start from players and big hitter boosters. He's had 5 Star defections at QB and OL (to OSU!) and there was constant turmoil from Day 1. Holtz changed the football culture at ND from smashmouth to Blarney Offense even though he didn't have the coaching skills OR assistants with them to bring it off.

I commented in the this thread yesterday about it taking too much time to get the play in when Kelly takes a "coaching moment" (purple faced or otherwise) speaking to a player coming off the field after a play, then reads his playlist while listening (assumed) to the OC over the headset, then telling the RedArmy the play to signal, then having the signals conveyed, then having the QB digest and call the play, go to the line, have the center bark out line signals, and then audiblizing after the defense moves following the play called. Even if all goes smoothly and the QB recognizes the play which didn't happen yesterday, and the players all line up in the right spots which didn't happen yesterday, and the QB moves them to the right spot which didn't always happen yesterday, ND needs a playclock the length of these two runon sentences.

Kelly has talked tempo since Day 1 but his method of calling the play and getting it in and set before the play clock expires is a problem. It was a problem with Crist and Rees for 2 years and seems to be a problem with Hendrix, Golson, and Keil as well. Yesterday he had the play clock turned off to stop the Delay penalties. Can't do that in season. I think this contributed to the number of False Start penalties as well.

I don't understand how it could work at UC or Grand Valley but can't work with ND's students. I think he needs to delegate the "after play teaching moments" to his assistants and to focus on as Holtz would say, "W-I-N", What's Important Now. Get the play in on a timely basis.

Pressure. Level of competition with regards to how the opponent prepares for you. Kelly is a damn good coach. But as you move up the chain, you are coaching against other damn good coaches. He has been successful doing it his way for so long that I think he is hesitant to change. He has to adapt. I agree with you that he has to trust his assistants and delegate more. I would go further and recommend that he delegate the play calling duties to Martin...with Kelly of course having veto power.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

It's a lot easier to look like a good coach/play-caller when your players are giving their all, focusing and executing their responsibilities.

For example, Kiffin out-coached Kelly last year, but why? He's not a better coach.

Because ND came out sloppy and did not execute the way they were taught to, the way the staff showed them. USC dominated the trenches and Barkley had the defense on their heels all night with the play action. I could have called that game for USC.

The players need to step up this year and play confidently. I heard someone say this on the radio the other day and I think it rings through with these guys.

"Some teams play to win and some play hoping to win."

ND must exude confidence and that starts with knowing your assignments fluently.

Unless there is something fundamentally wrong with the way the staff is disseminating the lessons, I thnk it's on the players to step up and lead this year.

 

[irishpat183]

From another thread...wanted to share:

I had to tape it on Saturday, so I didn't get time to sit down and watch it until yesterday and I wanted to avoid IE until then! I actually made recordings of what I watched in real time.

1. GAIII is a gamebreaker. Very shifty, very patient runner with some strength. Love the kid. However....needs to hold on to the ball. For all the gamebreaking ablity he has, it only takes one turnover to swing the game in the other teams favor. Work on that. We look to be in great shape at RB.

2. Golson is the most complete QB on our roster. There is no argument. He throws a great ball, has good vision and can move.

3. .....as for the rest....Rees looked awful. It's as if he didn't progress any in the offseason. I know it's spring, but come on. This is a guy with 2 years under his belt. Hendrix throws one of the sloppiest balls I've ever seen. I don't think I saw one tight sprial come outta his hands all day. Wasn't bad, but wasn't that great. Kiel, I believe, won't be a factor this year. As Kelly said, he is far behind on learning the offense, so I doubt we see him this year.

4. Ishaq looks like someone light a fire under his ***. Absolutely blew up Golson on the sideline. I like that. Agressive and made some plays. Still looks a little rigid, but he can work on that.

5. Josh Atkinson was solid at CB. Made some nice plays breaking up passes. He and Salvi both were stellar in the secondary. Cam McDaniel is a fiesty guy with some toughness and he runs down plays....but I don't think he's a Division 1 starting CB.

6. Wasn't real impressed with Davaris Daniels. Very sloppy routes and didn't look all that agressive going for the ball. Yeah, I know some of you will point to that sideline grab...but I need more than that from our de facto #1 WR. Can't show up every 5th play. Eifert on the other hand, was fantastic. But we need another WR to step up. Eifert can't do it alone, teams are going to adjust for him.

7. Riddick....or should I say, Incredible Hulk. Dude looks like he put on about 15lbs of muscle in the offseason (has some serious guns). Looks fantastic and I'm very impressed with the way we were using him all over the field. Was running hard and looks like a man poised for a big year. Will this finally be the year he does what we've all been expecting?!?!?!!?

8. Ball control. One of the negatives. We didn't look like we made any improvements. It was sad. And I attribute that to coaching. We have GOT TO PROTECT THE DAMN BALL. We will be lucky to go 8-5 with the schedule we have this year if we turn the ball over like we did last year.

9. Nix looked good. Was in the backfield on most of the downs he was in the game. Also, love the way he gets his hands up.

10. Line looked really good. Really good. And that's without Cave.


Just some thoughts.....

 

[Buster Bluth]

1. GAIII is a gamebreaker. Very shifty, very patient runner with some strength. Love the kid. However....needs to hold on to the ball. For all the gamebreaking ablity he has, it only takes one turnover to swing the game in the other teams favor. Work on that. We look to be in great shape at RB.

He's never even started a game. People need to stop crowning him as the greatest thing since sliced bread. He has a crapload of potential and tore it up in a spring game. That's about it.

2. Golson is the most complete QB on our roster. There is no argument. He throws a great ball, has good vision and can move.

3. .....as for the rest....Rees looked awful. It's as if he didn't progress any in the offseason. I know it's spring, but come on. This is a guy with 2 years under his belt. Hendrix throws one of the sloppiest balls I've ever seen. I don't think I saw one tight sprial come outta his hands all day. Wasn't bad, but wasn't that great. Kiel, I believe, won't be a factor this year. As Kelly said, he is far behind on learning the offense, so I doubt we see him this year.

It's really hard to say that Golson is the "most complete QB on our roster" when he is still struggling to run the offense. Tommy Rees is still head and shoulders above Hendrix and Golson when it comes to pre-snap reads and audibling into great plays. I believe Golson took two timeouts just because he didn't get stuff set up properly, and mind you it's a spring game with a watered down offense and a MAC-level crowd being friendly as can be.

Golson needs a lot of work "on the science," that much is fact.

Hendrix is probably the most complete QB on the roster. And you're incorrect about him throwing sloppy balls all day. His touchdown to Eifert and his dig throw to Daniels were both beauties; and that's just off the top of my head.

For the record, I pray that Golson gets it done in the summer and comes out on top. His potential in this offense is off the charts.

Wasn't real impressed with Davaris Daniels. Very sloppy routes and didn't look all that agressive going for the ball. Yeah, I know some of you will point to that sideline grab...but I need more than that from our de facto #1 WR. Can't show up every 5th play. Eifert on the other hand, was fantastic. But we need another WR to step up. Eifert can't do it alone, teams are going to adjust for him.

We saw the equivalent of one practice, but in general I agree.

The good news is that Notre Dame shouldn't really need stalwart receivers this season. The TE, OL, and RB units are all exceptional. Daniels has all summer to improve and take the step from borderline guy to starter level; but let's remember that he doesn't need to be Michael Floyd for this offense to succeed.

Riddick....or should I say, Incredible Hulk. Dude looks like he put on about 15lbs of muscle in the offseason (has some serious guns). Looks fantastic and I'm very impressed with the way we were using him all over the field. Was running hard and looks like a man poised for a big year. Will this finally be the year he does what we've all been expecting?!?!?!!?.

He looked awesome. Hopefully he finally produces in the fall.

 

[Riddickulous]

GAIII needs to carry a football everywhere he goes on campus, and every student that walks by him needs to try and knock it out of his arms.

In 1952, Frank Leahy made John Lattner walk around campus for a week with a football taped to his hand as punishment for fumbling five times the week before.