Spring Practice Thread 2012

[CanadalovesND]

Anybody else think that we should just move Slaughter to CB?

 

[jimmymac]

I think ncaa restricts the amount of practices that can be run 11 on 11, so you might just be seeing the one practice there are running 11 on 11

 

[Buster Bluth]

Anybody else think that we should just move Slaughter to CB?

I think we could probably add up the collective football knowledge on this board and that it would still be less than coaches Cooks and Elliot. We should probably trust their judgment on this.

 

[irish1958]

11 on 11 practices are a waste of time for teaching and learning. If done right one on one or three on three offer much more coaching opportunity then the clusterv**** that is 11on 11 .

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

The problem with Rees is the same problem people have with Tim Tebow. While he tries hard and is a great kid...that is not going to change the fact that he just does not have the physical ability that is ideally required to be thought of as an upper echelon QB. As far as Rees is concerned; average to below average arm strength, zero mobility, and while he is smart I just don't know what the heck he is thinking about when throwing some of these ridiculous INT's. Is this something he can get better at or is that just who he is as a QB?

I would also say I am skeptical of Kelly and his ability to make "the right choice" when it comes to the QB position. Last year he looked really bad when it came to making those decisions. He pulled Crist after a mere half of bad football after anointing him his starting QB for the season. Rees really was a turnover machine all season long and then when Hendrix does finally get a chance and shows some ability, Kelly sticks with Rees in the bowl game and he continues to turn the football over in a losing effort against Florida State. Right now Kelly has a lot to prove himself and if he continues to play musical QB's all season long, it's going to be bad news for an offense that has a lot of question marks as is.

If it's close, he has to start Kiel.

I totally forgot about that.. we were all convinced that Hendrix would get the nod, then Kelly gave it to Rees.. I remember being pretty disappointed, lol.. I agree with you, Kelly needs his initial choice to stick as the starter for the entire season (barring injury) or else it really looks like he doesn't know how to evaluate his own QBs

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

I don't know that starting Kiel based of the other QB's incompetence rather than his competence is the best idea. Kiel is extremely talented in every facit a QB should be. But, he is still very young, and impressionable. Starting Kiel before he is ready could damage him for the future. The last thing you want is your potentially "franchise" QB psycholologically damaging himself and turning into a deer in headlights second quessing himself. We saw wtih Dayne that talent doesn't always equal success, and once a player loses his confidence and develops bad habits their game can be ruined, and cause more problems.

I strongly that believe rookie QB's, on every level from high school to NFL, should sit for atleast a year and ideally 2-3. The speed and the complexity of the game while transitioning from HS-College and College-NFL is very difficult to adjust to. I think, in this case, we should look at what is best for Kiel's development more than what is best for the 2012 Notre Dame team. If Kiel is ready, then I am all for it. But I am against Kiel starting because Rees/Hendrix/Golson are not ready.

here's a different example, same situation.. Jimmy Clausen had his a$$ handed to him on every play his rookie year and finished 3-9.. that didn't crush him, I think it just pi$$ed him off enough to make himself become a great college QB.. point is, you'll never know if a player has any "stones" if he isn't put in a situation with some adversity, and we're certainly going to have a better year than what Jimmy experienced in his true freshman campaign

 

[D-BOE34]

Were going to see several QB's regardless. I am not to worried about who starts the Navy game. I would bet if Rees starts, Hendrix and/or EG come in and does a much better job, Purdue will be more of an EG/AH playoff sort of thing. (if you understand what I am saying here) I think the Purdue game is when were really going to know who is doing what from behind center.

3,2 or 1 QB... Redshirt Gunner

 

[BobD]

Phew! I saw all the new posts in this thread when I got home and was worried someone might have started over analizing things. Geez I worry too much.

 

[D-BOE34]

Phew! I saw all the new posts in this thread when I got home and was worried someone might have started over analizing things. Geez I worry too much.

At least you have the GIF to take our minds off things!

 

[Patulski]

What would Kelly's rationale be for starting someone other than Rees?

An offense that passes less, and is committed to running lots of spread option running plays where the QB keep is integral to the scheme.

 

[JughedJones]

Huh... Looks like I got modded.

Interesting.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

here's a different example, same situation.. Jimmy Clausen had his a$$ handed to him on every play his rookie year and finished 3-9.. that didn't crush him, I think it just pi$$ed him off enough to make himself become a great college QB.. point is, you'll never know if a player has any "stones" if he isn't put in a situation with some adversity, and we're certainly going to have a better year than what Jimmy experienced in his true freshman campaign

You're very right. But at the same time JC may have shown some sort of characteristic that he could handle the up's and down's of starting so young. He was very cocky and confident from day 1, while that did turn some people off to him, he was plainly evident that he had a tremendous amount of selfconfidence. I am not saying that Kiel can't handle everything that comes with starting so young, I am only arguing that the coaches should be reasonably sure that he can before putting him in that position. And, if he gives the best chance to win + is mentally strong enough to handle the tremendous amount of pressure of being the starting QB at ND....then I am all for it.

Kiel is the future for ND. While I don't think any player is bigger then ND, I do believe that we have to consider whats best for our future more so then for our immediate interests. Regardless of who is QB. I think ND will get 8 wins again, and while people will be pissed off, I don't think we'll see the same **** storm that follows a 6 win season.

 

[woolybug25]

Huh... Looks like I got modded.

Interesting.

What's modded?

 

[stlnd01]

Regardless of who is QB. I think ND will get 8 wins again, and while people will be pissed off, I don't think we'll see the same **** storm that follows a 6 win season.

Probably true. Just based on schedule and talent what we're really looking at next season is probably on a spectrum of 7 to 9 wins. And you don't want to make the wrong long-term decision just to push that from, say, 8 to 9.
That said, two or three of our losses last year you can pin largely on subpar quarterback play (USF, FSU, and maybe Michigan, depending on whether you think Tommy's TD drop was more costly than our defensive implosion). With even average QB play we're a 10-win team and everyone feels much better about themselves.
If that happens again in 2012, and we're an 8 or 9-win team on paper but only win 6 or 7 because of QB mistakes, well, I think it'd be fair to be pretty pissed. But I can't imagine that happens again.

 

[Cogs]

It's gotta be either Hendrix or Golson if we want to win games...Kiel is too young. Just look at Jimmy Clausen, he was the number one QB prospect just like Kiel was coming out of high school, and even then he managed to only lead a team to a 3-9 record. Freshman should never start their first year, it makes no sense. Rees just doesn't have the potential to get any better, average arm, average accuracy - he's not BCS caliber. We need a dual threat for the spread and someone who has the potential to be great. The range of our QB's ages could not be spread out any better. Hendrix/Rees have 3 years left, Golson has 4, Kiel has 5 (if he redshirts this year like he should). If its pretty even between Hendrix and Golson, I say start Hendrix cause he has experience against good teams(Stanford) where he surprisingly managed to play well, without even starting. Also, once Hendrix is gone after 3 years of great play, Golson or Kiel will step in and have a bunch of experience under their belts...I say think for the future as well. Start Hendrix.

 

[BGIF]

What's modded?

Don't ask; don't tell.

 

[MJ12666]

While I agree that starting a freshman is not the best scenario, it would be a mistake to compare Clausens' first year to Kiel starting. The team Clausen played on that year was defensively challenged and had no running game. If Kiel turns out to be the best alternative he should start and I given Kelly's history he will start him. Unlike a lot of you I don't think that next year's schedule is that daunting. The only game that we will probably be clearly underdogs would be USC because of MB at quarterback. However, even in that game if our lines can control the line I think we will have a chance. All the other games I think are winnable (although it is not likely we will win them all). Basically, if we have a good defense and running game, I think starting Kiel would not be a disaster.

 

[kzoondfi]

I am somewhat in agreement on the possibility of starting Kiel, although I have give up for the moment on trying to guess who it will eventually be..... You don't think we are underdogs against Oklahoma?

 

[STLDomer]

Kiel has the Navy game to ease him into starting and right now I want Hendrix or Kiel to start (Pro: Kiel > Rees, Dual: Hendrix > Golson)

No way Kiel can be compared to Clausen as MJ12666 said:

Clausen's O-Line <<< Kiel's O-Line
Clausen's run game <<< Kiel's run game
Clausen's defense <<<<<<< Kiel's defense

Also I know I shouldnt Start this Convo but if Golson doesnt start Pretty likely that he transfers IMO

 

[alohagoirish]

----" Reports of Golson's demise have been greatly exaggeratted"-----

 

[ChiRish]

We really need practice to start up again!

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Anyone on campus have an Aaron Lynch watch?

 

[IrishLax]

Anyone on campus have an Aaron Lynch watch?

Good question. Scuttlebutt as of yesterday was that he is definitely expected back. We'll see.

 

[Old Man Mike]

PLEASE be on campus Aaron!!!!!!!!

 

[IrishLax]

PLEASE be on campus Aaron!!!!!!!!

A current ND student can probably confirm this, but I've heard there are no classes today/practice and most students don't get back until the afternoon/evening for classes on Tuesday.

Could be wrong on that, though. And too lazy to look up an academic calendar.

 

[NDTampa]

Didn't Brian Kelly say Aaron would be returning Monday night?

 

[FLDomer]

I believe BK said in the presser he expects him Monday evening. He will be back, this kid love ND despite the way the media tries to spin BS!

 

[DillonHall]

A current ND student can probably confirm this, but I've heard there are no classes today/practice and most students don't get back until the afternoon/evening for classes on Tuesday.

Could be wrong on that, though. And too lazy to look up an academic calendar.

I think we always got the Monday after Easter off. And so the next practice would be Wednesday.

 

[CHIDomer9]

I believe BK said in the presser he expects him Monday evening. He will be back, this kid love ND despite the way the media tries to spin BS!

For me, BK's presser was a double edged sword . I got some comfort from the "Monday Night" comment:

"He's coming back Monday night."

The word "night" led me to believe that he had been given specific expectations, or that maybe a flight had already been booked.

On the other hand, the quote I took the least amount of solace from was:

"There were rumors that he quit or transferred or went pro. All of that is not true."

"All of that"? As in some of it is? Oy vey.

 

[beryirish]

I'm sure momma lynch will make sure he is back at ND