QB Competition

[BGIF]

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football - IrishSportsDaily.com

Christian McCollum
8/21

At the start of training camp, Notre Dame offensive coordinator Charley Molnar said he hoped Andrew Hendrix or Luke Massa would be able to move into the top three on the quarterback depth chart.

“If we can do that, that means we’ve made progress from spring practice, we’ve improved the position,” Molnar said at the time.

Two weeks into the preseason, it’s pretty clear that’s not going to happen, but it doesn’t mean that the Irish haven’t upgraded the position.

...

“Tommy Rees and Nate Montana are in a very close, competitive situation for that backup quarterback situation,” Brian Kelly said earlier in the week. “I would think that Luke and Andrew right now, there’s a separation there, I guess is the best way I could put it.

“Nate Montana, Tommy Rees, those two right now are very, very close. We’re going to need a little bit more time to decide who that number two is.”

More at the link.

 

[Riddickulous]

I don't care who wins the job, as long as he's the best.

 

[Irish_Angst]

I don't care who wins the job, as long as he's the best.

Although there is a concern that QBs tend to get a bit beat up in Kelly's system (someone way more intelligent than I made that point in an earlier post -- can't recall who) which is why BK strives to prepare multiple players as if they'll be the starter.

Whomever is on the field, I'm sure the "You don't have to win, just don't lose it for us" philosophy will reign.

I suspect Kelly will put in both Montana & Rees (and perhaps either Massa or Hendrix) any chance he gets assuming there is a sufficient lead. Personally, I think it's a great strategy from a risk (OMG! Crist is hurt!) avoidance perspective.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

I don't care who wins the job, as long as he's the best.

I couldn't agree more!!

 

[tankjeep]

the way kelly prepares his qb's....i'm not worried. it'd be nice to see montana do well....cuz i love his pops.

 

[Irish Man3]

Although there is a concern that QBs tend to get a bit beat up in Kelly's system (someone way more intelligent than I made that point in an earlier post -- can't recall who) which is why BK strives to prepare multiple players as if they'll be the starter.

Whomever is on the field, I'm sure the "You don't have to win, just don't lose it for us" philosophy will reign.

I suspect Kelly will put in both Montana & Rees (and perhaps either Massa or Hendrix) any chance he gets assuming there is a sufficient lead. Personally, I think it's a great strategy from a risk (OMG! Crist is hurt!) avoidance perspective.

I disagree alomost 100%. He's not going to for-go a redshirt with Hendrix and Massa unless he has to. Barring injury, look for Hendrix and Massa to recieve redshirts. Sufficient lead or not, dont forget that Crist has a total of 20 attempts in his career. Very rarely will he be taken out, but if that comes to fruition then dont look for it to go deeper than the back-up.
Also, Kellys offense is based almost fully on the qb's ability. His system makes it almost impossible to use the "you dont have to win, just dont lose it" philosophy when talking about the qb. Thats why Crist has been the biggest question mark this off-season. The skill positions are loaded but if you dont have a proficent and effective qb, then they dont get the ball when they need it and where they need it.
We dont have a Mark Ingram or Dion Lewis in the backfield to bail out an ineffective qb. Not only that but we dont run an offensive schemen that would allow that to happen. If Crist goes down we are screwed and theres no way around that.

 

[Irish_Angst]

I disagree alomost 100%. He's not going to for-go a redshirt with Hendrix and Massa unless he has to. Barring injury, look for Hendrix and Massa to recieve redshirts. Sufficient lead or not, dont forget that Crist has a total of 20 attempts in his career. Very rarely will he be taken out, but if that comes to fruition then dont look for it to go deeper than the back-up.
Also, Kellys offense is based almost fully on the qb's ability. His system makes it almost impossible to use the "you dont have to win, just dont lose it" philosophy when talking about the qb. Thats why Crist has been the biggest question mark this off-season. The skill positions are loaded but if you dont have a proficent and effective qb, then they dont get the ball when they need it and where they need it.
We dont have a Mark Ingram or Dion Lewis in the backfield to bail out an ineffective qb. Not only that but we dont run an offensive schemen that would allow that to happen. If Crist goes down we are screwed and theres no way around that.

It'll be interesting to see how the season progresses. I just don't see Kelly being as one-dimensional as Weis was last season & putting pressure on Crist to carry the team on his back with a precision pass oriented offense & neglect opportunities to get other QBs game experience (mostly because they couldn't throw with the accuracy required to be successful with Weis' offense). Kelly's offense instead uses simplified reads that relatively inexperienced QBs can handle and has horses in the backfield... he'll use 'em to keep defenses honest.

To this end, I suspect he'll want Crist (or Rees, Montana, etc) to manage the game with short, quick passes to multiple receivers to complement a balanced running attack (pass to setup the run; but balance the two) and try to create mis-matches while minimizing drive-killing mistakes (interceptions).

Here's a link to an excellent post on Clashmore Mike:

Spread and Pass, Brian Kelly’s (Somewhat) New Irish Offense » Archive » Clashmore Mike

Kelly knows that winning this right now is paramount and while he wants Crist to be main QB, I think he'll be willing to hedge his bets by substituting QBs if a game is under control in the 4th quarter. IF Montana & Rees are looking solid as backups, then it's very likely that Massa & Hendrix will redshirt; but I wouldn't be surprised if one or the other sees the field if, as you said, there is an injury.

Re backup QBs getting meaningful playing time: If you look at what Kelly did at Cincy; it's fairly different from what Charlie did at ND. I just don't see him changing his philosophy.

 

[luvthemirish]

Not sure if you watched the Spring Game or not but Montana did't look bad at all. His stats were better than Danye's

 

[Rocket89]

Not sure if you watched the Spring Game or not but Montana did't look bad at all. His stats were better than Danye's

Montana made some nice throws, but Crist still looked much better. There's a pretty massive drop off from No. 1 to No. 2

The key play for me was Montana's touchdown to Kamara. On the scoresheet it was a nice 30 or 40 yard score, but in reality it was ugly as hell.

He rolled out and kept moving sideways/backpettling while the defenders were obviously not charging after him like he was Purdue's QB...and then he floats one up to a wide open Kamara who falls into the end zone.

There were a handful of plays like that for Montana in the spring game. Most of them turned into completions, but in a real game situation they would have been incompletions, sacks or worse.

 

[Riddickulous]

Crist made some great throws in the spring game. The one that stood out to me was a beautiful lofted pass downfield to Michael Floyd.

 

[Irish Man3]

Not sure if you watched the Spring Game or not but Montana did't look bad at all. His stats were better than Danye's

1. That was Dayne Crists first action since knee surgery.

2. Montana was not going against the #1 defense.

3. Montana is having a hard time keeping the backup spot away from a TRUE freshman.

4. And if uve looked at all the spring and summer practices/b&g game and you still put Montana on the same level as Crist then I strongly question your sanity. The fact of the matter is that he is not his father and as much as ND fans would love to bring that back from the future, its not gonna happen.

 

[Irish Man3]

It'll be interesting to see how the season progresses. I just don't see Kelly being as one-dimensional as Weis was last season & putting pressure on Crist to carry the team on his back with a precision pass oriented offense & neglect opportunities to get other QBs game experience (mostly because they couldn't throw with the accuracy required to be successful with Weis' offense). Kelly's offense instead uses simplified reads that relatively inexperienced QBs can handle and has horses in the backfield... he'll use 'em to keep defenses honest.

To this end, I suspect he'll want Crist (or Rees, Montana, etc) to manage the game with short, quick passes to multiple receivers to complement a balanced running attack (pass to setup the run; but balance the two) and try to create mis-matches while minimizing drive-killing mistakes (interceptions).

Here's a link to an excellent post on Clashmore Mike:

Spread and Pass, Brian Kelly’s (Somewhat) New Irish Offense » Archive » Clashmore Mike

Kelly knows that winning this right now is paramount and while he wants Crist to be main QB, I think he'll be willing to hedge his bets by substituting QBs if a game is under control in the 4th quarter. IF Montana & Rees are looking solid as backups, then it's very likely that Massa & Hendrix will redshirt; but I wouldn't be surprised if one or the other sees the field if, as you said, there is an injury.

Re backup QBs getting meaningful playing time: If you look at what Kelly did at Cincy; it's fairly different from what Charlie did at ND. I just don't see him changing his philosophy.

I think that at times Crist may be taken out in the fourth quarter but like I said I dont think it will go deeper than the qb that wins the back-up role. In my opinion, if Crist stays healthy then I would go with Rees late in meaningless games to get him some real speed reps. As a freshman I think its far more important for Rees to see some snaps than Montana as a junior. If the two of them are that close for the slot then I would have to give it to Rees.
I agree that our backs may be the deepest and most talented position on the field and that will help immensly. I think if Crist goes down they will see more carriers but hes also not going to put the ball up and "theyre not gonna play scared" so a solid qb is essential to the success of our season.

 

[Riddickulous]

Montana couldn't land the starting job at a community college. When he entered the game, he completed 35% of his passes. I am not a believer in Montana.

 

[pani_nasz]

[Re backup QBs getting meaningful playing time: If you look at what Kelly did at Cincy; it's fairly different from what Charlie did at ND. I just don't see him changing his philosophy.

Don't get me wrong, I think BK is the greatest thing to happen to ND since the Rocket, but in fairness to Charlie, how many times did he have a safe lead going into the 4th quarter to really develop another QB?

 

[Irish_Angst]

Don't get me wrong, I think BK is the greatest thing to happen to ND since the Rocket, but in fairness to Charlie, how many times did he have a safe lead going into the 4th quarter to really develop another QB?

Good point. Not too many times. However, when the time was right to make a change, I believe it was a "wholesale" substitution where the second team came in and more or less blew the lead (thinking of the 2008 Navy game). My thinking would be to keep the first team in and substitute only the QB and do more than hand off.

But, of course, my way thinking has normally led to disasters of epic proportions!

 

[irish1958]

but in fairness to Charlie, how many times did he have a safe lead going into the 4th quarter to really develop another QB?

Yes, when you are behind a 2-8 team in the forth quarter you have to keep your first team in. You can't blame the coach for that.

 

[kmoose]

Not that this isn't a reasonable discussion, but............


Until the defense gets it's collective s**t together, who is going to backup Crist is about 110 on a list of the top 100 things to worry about.

 

[IrishLax]

Not that this isn't a reasonable discussion, but............


Until the defense gets it's collective s**t together, who is going to backup Crist is about 110 on a list of the top 100 things to worry about.

hahaha

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

We need to be solid fundementally in our Defence...that is my #1 concern going in next week.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly will pick QB 10 days before opener - ESPN

 

[Seanthornton]

08-28-2010 07:41 PM
NDFANnSouthWest : We need to be solid fundementally in our Defence...that is my #1 concern going in next week.

I agree with you 100% !!

I cant help but think how Tommy Reese helped save the season last year. Nate better of come along way...to be in the "back up" conversation.



KEEP THE FAITH !!!

GO IRISH !!!

 

[IrishRugger2013]

08-28-2010 07:41 PM
NDFANnSouthWest : We need to be solid fundementally in our Defence...that is my #1 concern going in next week.

I agree with you 100% !!

I cant help but think how Tommy Reese helped save the season last year. Nate better of come along way...to be in the "back up" conversation.



KEEP THE FAITH !!!

GO IRISH !!!

uh...

 

[BeauBenken]

uh...

Who should tell him? lol

 

[BeauBenken]

08-28-2010 07:41 PM
NDFANnSouthWest : We need to be solid fundementally in our Defence...that is my #1 concern going in next week.

I agree with you 100% !!

I cant help but think how Tommy Reese helped save the season last year. Nate better of come along way...to be in the "back up" conversation.



KEEP THE FAITH !!!

GO IRISH !!!

Nate Montana is no longer on the team.

 

[buirish]

A very Long conversion from Montana (u that is)....

 

[Seanthornton]

Sorry guys must have misread BGIF's quote at the begining of the thread. It was my knowledge that he was gone too and surprised when i read it.

MY BAD ! THREAD STATEMENT WAS 8/21/10

feel like an idiot......wont be the last time LMAO !!



KEEP THE FAITH !!!

GO IRISH !!!

 

[buirish]

If you can't have fun with your fellow posters than who can you have fun with!! I'm a new poster so ready for my ribbing, as well!!
Go Irish

 

[kmoose]

If you can't have fun with your fellow posters than who can you have fun with!! I'm a new poster so ready for my ribbing, as well!!
Go Irish

We'll get around to you, probie. Don't you worry about that!

 

[tankjeep]

Sorry guys must have misread BGIF's quote at the begining of the thread. It was my knowledge that he was gone too and surprised when i read it.

MY BAD ! THREAD STATEMENT WAS 8/21/10

feel like an idiot......wont be the last time LMAO !!



KEEP THE FAITH !!!

GO IRISH !!!

haha, no worries.....everybody makes mistakes. it's funny, i've done the same thing before by responding to an old post without considering the date and time. lol.

 

[tankjeep]

We'll get around to you, probie. Don't you worry about that!

you told him.

btw, this time next week....i'll be flying out west to see my big sis. we will be hanging out on the oregon coastline.