Rockne's Roundtable

Keil is going to his SR. Prom.

Well-defended, Ham, but, then, what is the basis for eveyone's optimism?

If they are who they are -- and we realize it -- from whence the great leap forward or, or as Mr. Rice recently termed it, ND football "breaking out?"

What seems to be implied in the optimism is that Golson or, less likely, Hendrix, will be the QB, make lots of mistakes, but still enable us to go something like 10-3.

You're the horse player, but, boy, that sure looks like a long shot to me.

I guess I finally realize why, like you, I'm an advocate of the 5-year plan for Kelly. It will take that long for any QB -- assuming he hangs around -- to direct the offense.

Man, I can't tell you, after watching yesterday's game, how much I long for option football's skinnier playbook.

You're right, Ham. Kelly should have a 5th year Senior named Dayne Crist on the roster, the unquestioned starter ready to lead the team while the other guys continue to develop. Of course, we all know how that played out, and now the guy with the most experience on our team is the kid who wasn't projected to be a D1 starter.

I am just curious which QBs Kelly has really DEVELOPED. We all know he had success at Cincinatti with 11 different QBs in one year, but was he the QB coach there, or was his OC a bit more involved? You know, the guy who didn't come with him to ND. Now, I'm not saying that Kelly has had all aces, but he was still dealt a pretty solid hand only to bust. It's still too early to tell, but at some point I am going to start wondering if the problem is Kelly and not the QBs -- OK, I am already wondering that.

I don't blame Kelly for not wanting to have a heart attack -- who does? -- but how is Rees not a heart attack? If not a heart attack, he's at least a slow, debilitating disease with no prognosis for a cure. Kelly has said that he wants a game manager, but a game manager is not supposed to turn the ball over consistently. In fact, that's one of the key elements of a "game manager" at QB.

Rees appears to be all risk with little reward. While Hendrix and Golson may be high risk, they also have high reward potential. You'd also like to think that maybe with some game experience, both Hendrix and Golson would begin to correct some of their errors. Like Kelly himself said, we've all seen the Rees movie. It's time to change the tape.

Mixed metaphors were just for you, Ham.

I learned this...
cut the QB depth chart in half and name your top 2. As a coach you can not get any real feed back with the offense having to deal with 4 different types of ball speed, reading and everything else that does not go on a stat sheet. WR's after a while can get to learn their QB and help them out RB's can sometimes save their QB's with a back side pick up because they know he likes to slide or run in a different way.
Im sorry but I love Kelly and all but really 4 QB's in the race what a joke, you can not get tangible evidence of a QB leading an offense. For example
QB's get a 100 snaps total all practice with the offense
split up 4 ways that is 20 snaps a QB
really... 20 something snaps against first team defense, you can not get anything out of that.
Its ether going to be Golson or Hendrix at this point, stop with all the talk and let them get 50 reps or so each and you will have real evidence of what each QB can bring. Tommy has had 2 season, you know how that suit fits.

I was encouraged by the play of the QBs on Saturday. Not that they looked spectacular, but that there seems to be some separation, now. It's clear Kiel will preserve a year and TR is digging a deeper hole, leaving Golson and Hendrix to compete for the job.

I have to applaud BK. His handling of the QB competition, this spring, was excellent, IMO. Rarely, will a incumbant starter be outplayed by two newcomers (or relative newcomers). BK and his staff, took steps to ensure a level playing field. We all heard the reports that Rees was leading the competition, through the first 14 practices, which is too be expected. If you took a C student in 5th grade, back to 2nd, he'd likely be the smartest 2nd grader. That's no slight to Rees, I don't think this competition was designed for him to win. If it was, all four guys would be responsible for the entire playbook, versus just the basics. Any advantage TR had, coming into spring, was severely muted by this stipulation.

Now, I know we can't count TR out, nor should we. If he truly was the best performer through the first 14 spring practices, that cannot be discounted. However, the 15th and final practice cannot be evaluated equally with the others. No other practice generate a live playing atmosphere, in front of tens of thousands. Not only is the B&G game the last practice (so, the team should be sharper than the previous sessions, presumably), but it is also the closest to the atmosphere of a live game. EG's and, to a lesser extent, AH's performance on Saturday vindicated BK's handling of the QB race. Seeing both of those guys outperform TR, in a controlled environment, could be a tipping point in this race.

This performance should give the idea that someone other than Rees will start, plenty of momentum heading into the summer. This cannot be understated, IMO. The most important component of selecting a starter will be trust, of coaches and players, alike. The coaches cannot have much interaction with the players for the next three months, but these players will spend almost every day with each other. Surely, this thought is creeping into their minds, if it hadn't already. This provides an opening for EG and/or AH to take on more of a leadership role. If TR had outperformed the other QBs in the B&G game, after reportedly leading the pack during the rest of spring, there would be less of a window, if any window at all, to "win over" the rest of the team.

Doubt is not usually a good thing, but when inciting change, doubt is very powerful. I hope that EG and/or AH use this summer & fall camp to convince the coachs and, more importantly, the players, leaving little doubt to whom the starter should be. I'm not rooting against TR, but I am doubtful (there's that word again) that he can erase the doubt and uncertainty his play has caused.

This is just my speculation/interpretation. I'm sure I probably sound like Mel Gibson (in Conspiracy Theory, not the homemade tapes with his Russian GF). However, I really think BK wants someone other than TR, much like the rest of us; however, he knows that it has to be earned. His format, may have just provided that opportunity for someone else.

if BK's starter is'nt the right "overall" choice, it's all on him. these kids are'nt dummies. if no one among his 4 "student's" does'nt "get it" by august, maybe the teacher is the one we should call dummy......

Solid analysis, T-sul, and not your first one either. I should have mentioned you in my POTW summary.

Tsulliv08,

Very good perspective on the total picture. Love seeing such sound and fair reasoning on a debate where such a level-headed approach takes a hiatus.

Man, it strikes me as out of line to call out a player like this. I know we all have selective memory as fans; however, TR has accomplished some positive things for us. Regardless, we shouldn't take a shot at a guy that is competing for us. I have to think he's trying his best. I don't blame you for being frustrated, I'm right there with you. I wouldn't even blame you for rooting against the guy. But taking a shot at him, like this, seems unfair.

I still think TR, at this point, is just as likely to start as any other QB. Like I said earlier, though, I have my doubts, as it appears the momentum is swinging away from him. Even if he doesn't start, though, he will play a key role for us. Even if it's just teaching EG/AH/GK the playbook, I still wouldn't want to call-out a player like that.

BORGHI,

I don't want to argue with you about TR, or your evaluation of his performance. I have stated my opinion, clearly, in my previous response, and believe it or not I don't think you're completely off base. However, I took issue with how you expressed.

I know this is a message board, where people can say anything they want under the pretense of relative anonymity. Beyond it being rude (IMO), I think comments like this are pretty damaging to us (ND), specifically the perception of our fanbase. It's possible to be passionate without being rude. TR or his friends/family may not read this board, but I can guarantee you that some players/recruits/parents/friends do read this board. I would even venture to guess that the percentage of said individuals reading this board is increasing. So, even if you don't care about how you come off, when making a statement like that, you probably care about the success of ND. Don't you think the perception of our fanbase factors into the success of ND? I do.