The Montanas

[BGIF]

Nate and Nick and Joehttp://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/columns/story?id=5020596

Joe Montana enjoys watching his sons Nate and Nick play quarterback - ESPN Los Angeles

 

[nlroma1o]

Personally I would be more comfortable with Hendrix being the 2nd string back up. I haven't seen much of Rees though, so maybe he will beat out Hendrix. I just don't see Nate being valuable to ND...

 

[BGIF]

Personally I would be more comfortable with Hendrix being the 2nd string back up. I haven't seen much of Rees though, so maybe he will beat out Hendrix. I just don't see Nate being valuable to ND...

Nate's been a nominal QB for something like two seasons now including HS. If I recall correctly Dillingham had more career PT including HS when he saw a Div 1 field.

Rees doesn't have as widely known a father but he's been playing the game as a QB and dad's don't suit up.

Blue & Gold have Hendrix pegged for scout team duty this fall preserving a year of elgibility.

Should be an interesting Spring.

 

[ryno 24]

I think Rees will end up being the number two because he is the most talented and will be the most field ready. Other than that Hendrix could eventually be the starter I say redshirt hendrix and lets see in a year or two

 

[nlroma1o]

I've watched Hendrix play down here in Cinci and he has great potential. I would be comfortable if they dedicated working him into the 2nd spot. Rees did enroll early so he has the advantage. I really wanna see what Rees has to offer if he is projected to be better than Hendrix. Thats awesome cuz i really liked Hendrix. My understanding was that Rees was a spread qb in highschool so he probably is the best man for the 2nd spot.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Nate's been a nominal QB for something like two seasons now including HS. If I recall correctly Dillingham had more career PT including HS when he saw a Div 1 field.

Rees doesn't have as widely known a father but he's been playing the game as a QB and dad's don't suit up.

Blue & Gold have Hendrix pegged for scout team duty this fall preserving a year of elgibility.

Should be an interesting Spring.

Unbelievably, Kelly actually has Montana as the main competition for Crist:

"We gotta rely on Montana to really compete with Crist. He's got some experience. He bounced around a little bit, he understands what he needs to be. He's caught our eye a little bit. He's going to have to come through for us."

I know there really isn't much competition, but it's shocking that he caught their eyes even a little bit considering the kid couldn't even make 2nd string at Pasadena City College. It would be absolutely amazing (and scary for us Irish fans???) if he started the season at #2.

As for Rees, while his dad might not be Montana famous, as you probably know his dad (Bill) has been around the game and has been a personnel and recruiting director for decades, in both college and the NFL, most notably with UCLA for 15 years. He played QB, and has worked with QBs, RBs, and even DBs. So for those who aren't familiar with Tommy Rees, his dad is pretty big-time himself, albeit on a behind-the-scenes level...

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Who knows what the future holds. For almost 40 years of watching ND and other sports teams both college and pro, I have seen can't miss prospects, miss. I have seen who are they?, prospects become household names. Seldom, do children of sports greats duplicate or surpass the exploits of their fathers. Peyton Manning, and Ken Griifey Jr. being a couple of exceptions. Which category will Nate and Nick end up in? Of course, any ND fan has to at least appreciate the lore and legacy of the Montana name. We also appreciate the lore and legacy of the Fighting Irish name. Which means winning, "Joe Montana" and the "Fighting Irish" were once synonymous with winning. This does not automatically extend to Nick or Nate. It also does not mean they are excluded from greatness. Currently, whether my fellow Irish fans admit it, we are faced with starting a quarterback that is a virtual unknown as far as performance goes. Sure, Christ played impressively in one game.
Rees, is a highly recruited qb, but other than that we have know idea how either would perform in a full time role. I have not seen enough of Christ to be completely sold on him.
Don't misunderstand, he very well may be like Theismann replacing Hanratty or very well could be like a down year lke the one between Theismann and Clements. It all remains to be seen.

I took this from Wiki:

When the 1977 season began, Montana was the third quarterback listed on the team's depth chart, behind Rusty Lisch and Gary Forystek.[3] Notre Dame won their season opener and then lost to the University of Mississippi by a score of 20–13. Montana did not appear in either of those games.[13] In their third game of the season, Notre Dame played Purdue University. Lisch started and was then replaced by Forystek. In one play, Forystek suffered a broken vertebra, a broken clavicle, and a severe concussion; it was the last play of Forystek's sports career.[11] Devine inserted Lisch back into the game before Montana finally had the opportunity to play. Montana entered with approximately 11 minutes remaining and Purdue leading 24-14; he threw for 154 yards and one touchdown, and Notre Dame won the game 31-24.[11]

Think about it, a future National Championship coach had Montana third on the depth chart behind Rusty Lisch. Also, think about pro scouts and coaches that picked 3 qbs and a miriad of players before Joe was drafted. The 3 qbs taken: 1. Jack Thompson #3 Overall, 2. Phil Simms #7 Overall, 3. Steve Fuller. #23 overall. That means these professional, knowledgeable people looked at the qb's available and couldn't see into the future any better than any of us. Joe by the way was the 4th qb taken and 82nd overall pick.

 

[BGIF]

...Currently, whether my fellow Irish fans admit it, we are faced with starting a quarterback that is a virtual unknown as far as performance goes. Sure, Christ played impressively in one game.
Rees, is a highly recruited qb, but other than that we have know idea how either would perform in a full time role. I have not seen enough of Christ to be completely sold on him. ...

"I have not seen enough of Christ to be completely sold on him."

Tough line to follow. That's a question of faith.



As for the ND QB his name is Crist with NO "H". Once is a typo. Twice smacks of trolling.

Go forth and sin no more.


Don't confuse his NFL days with his college career. Apples and oranges.

The reason Joe was drafted so low was because he was a career 50% passer with a 1:1 TD to INT ratio, a history of medical injuries, a reputation for not practicing well, and a track record of inconsistant play. Quite of few of those 4th quarter miracles in college were set up by his inept performance in the first 3 quarters of the game. When he was hot he was hot. And when he wasn't, he was stone cold. Montana isn't in the College Hall of Fame. He was never an All-American. He didn't deserve to be.

Perhaps it was Walsh as coach that made the difference, Walsh's system definitely helped Joe. Then there was that guy, Jerry Rice. A heady dose of maturity also had a lot to do with it. Joe College grew up.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

"I have not seen enough of Christ to be completely sold on him."

Tough line to follow. That's a question of faith.

Geezuz Criste that was too funny.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

BGIF thanks for the correction my apologies. Believe it or not I know his name is Crist but for some reason, I always want to put a "H" in it. Never the less, that was funny In regards to college career vs. pro career of Montana. I understand exactly what you are saying. But the point is exactly that. A college carreer good/average/bad, does not necessarily translate into a pro career of the same results. Nor does a HS career vs. a college career. Yes, you have to use the statistics that are in front of you when offering scholarships. That is typically all you have, as you cannot see every game of every player. But that does not guarantee success or failure. In your remarks, you cited Walsh and Rice. Good point! Obviously, the system and the coaching staff are keys, as well as being surrounded by good players. Whoever, is the starting qb, I hope they have a fantastic season. All I'm saying is, we don't know at this point with any certainty what we have.

On a side note Walsh's system did help Joe. No doubt at all. Rice was added later after Joe had been in the league about 6-7 years. He already had 2 SB rings. Rice was probably helped equally by the system. Both turned out to be great.

 

[JKhrome1ND]

that was a good read ......... thanks wakeuptheechoes for the in-depth stats

as for Crist-Montana-Hendrix-and Rees situation, what is the back up depth chart like now ??? Just wondering ............ i know we are going with Crist as are full time starter, but i was wondering about the back-up situation. thanks

 

[NDinL.A.]

that was a good read ......... thanks wakeuptheechoes for the in-depth stats

as for Crist-Montana-Hendrix-and Rees situation, what is the back up depth chart like now ??? Just wondering ............ i know we are going with Crist as are full time starter, but i was wondering about the back-up situation. thanks

After Crist, it is Montana (pretty clearly, shockingly, considering how bad his numbers were at PCC last year), then Rees. When Hendrix and Massa arrive on campus, then we'll see how it all shakes out. The 2 other guys (Roback and Spond) will not be QBs in the end...

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Neither qb, regardless of where on the depth chart, has played enough to show anyone whether they are capable of playing at a high level week in and week out for a full season. Kelly knows quarterbacks so I will defer to him.

As far as talent, somethings cannot simply be laid at the feet of better talent, particularly at the qb position. Taking Joe Montana for example: there have been players that have been blessed with more talent and physical attributes than he. That does not necessarily equate to wins. Does that mean that Nate is the same way? No, I am not saying that. I am saying; as far as a field presence we don't know how any of them will respond.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Neither qb, regardless of where on the depth chart, has played enough...

What are you saying?

Montana sure looked good and confident in the part of the spring game I saw. GO MONTANA.

I felt better about ND's future after "we" found a future backup to my future favorite QB in Crist. C'mon Dayne, heal your friggen leg Champ.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

I want whoever starts, whether it be Crist, Montana, Rees, or Joe Shmoe from Kokomo to play lights out and have a killer season. I do not want either one to do bad so that another will get a chance to play. Whoever is on the field I will hope they complete every pass and
make all the right decisions. I want our best guy on the field regardless of what his last name is.

 

[irishmarine]

Look at the qbs in this draft that Kelly has coached or brought in. The guy from cmu was highly talked about and I think him bot throwing at the combine hurt him the cincinnati qb was taken late but has a weaker arm than most would like. I trust in Kelly to put the guy back there that gives us the best chance to win and I fully expect the backups to be ready to play as well. Kelly has playe numerous qbs at all of his coaching stops so I wouldn't be shocked to see multiple qbs play if crist gets hurt. I think crist is athletic enough to run the system and flourish. Only time will tell though

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

No way Montana is the backup. If he's in it would just be a throwaway season.

 

[JKhrome1ND]

even if Nate Montana doesn't live up to his dad (college or pro) it doesn't mean he doesn't have a chance at making it to the next level (NFL). look at Matt Cassell - i know they are completely different qb's and Matt was a PS#20 coming out of high school, and Nate was PS#245, Cassel could have started at any other school in the country but he played behind Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. well he only played mop up time in college, thats not enough to make him ready bound for the pro's ........ but he's having some success now in the NFL. If Nate can get his shit together he definitely has a shot at proving most of us wrong. I know Crist is going to be are leader for the next couple of years but i hope Nate can get in there and play some mop up and show what he can do.