Tommy Rees’s Nightmare

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Much has been written about both Crist & Rees everywhere. I’m going to try another angle.

Just consider the outcome of the QB situation from Rees perspective. Unheralded prospect ranked after Hendrix, Massa and maybe even Montana on depth chart. Knows Crist will probably be starter for at least 1 or more years–plenty of time for him and just maybe he can compete with guys in his class. Not much expected of him and— I actually thought he was more of a running QB.

His nightmare starts with Crist injury but somehow he wins 4 games as a fill in–maybe I can play this game. So he comes out for 2011 season competing against Hendrix and Massa and Golson for 2nd spot–Dayne’s the guy–senior, leader and all around great guy–teammates love him and he takes me under his wing to help me be a better QB–sorta like the All American big brother.

1st game 2011–half time–Kelly yanks Crist and benches him for the season.
All hell breaks out on the team and Rees right in middle of a schism that is still festering—Dayne leaves team and won’t be at Bowl Game.

While all that going on in-house Rees is blistered on game reviews everywhere–5 yard Tommy etc

How the hell would you like to be in this kid’s shoes?

SIDE LINE DEMEANOR

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I wish there was a football camp for coaches on how to conduct themselves during a game–Kelly should be an attendee.

It’s one thing to call out a player who makes a critical penalty such as unsportsmanlike conduct as opposed to someone who fumbles or throws an int.–that’s football.

Last thing a player needs is a vein popping head coach waiting for him on the sideline–especially on national tv.

Most asst coaches know what the head guy wants and they can pull the player aside and strongly counsel him.

The head coach should at least look like he’s calm as opposed to frantic for that rubs off on the players plus those issues can be addressed at practice.

Not to mention such antics might have an effect on recruits or their parents.

Kelly had Crist wound so tight he didn’t know if he was playing football or baseball.

On defense I always prefer, if you have a high energy, gung-ho DC that he coach from the sideline. Diaco has that type of personality–he could really rev up the defense, especially in tough games.

Hope we get a Bowl opponent we can obliterate.

Sinking Feeling

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Waiting around for tomorrow’s game so had an opportunity to see the first half of the LSU -Arkansas game.

What an eye opener and ND has so far to go that I’m not sure we will ever reach that level. Speed and power all over the place–they even field and run back punts.

Both OL’s open up huge holes
and they have an endless supply of running backs while we now have one. They also play freshman backs.

Their defenses deliver crushing hits.

I know Petrino is a good coach but Miles?

I really don’t get it–even the freshman know the plays and let’s face it– probably none actually go to class.

On the other hand ND gets smart kids but can’t seem to know the playbook. Hendrix has to have a limited package–what the hell’s going on.

Does Kelly and staff watch any of these games? If so, they must know the mountain they have to climb. Good idea to get some SEC asst coaches.

Praise the Lord we won’t have to play any top 5 team.

Few thoughts on BC game

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Wish BC #40 Kuechley played for us–he wanted to come to ND–can you imagine ILB’s Teo & Kuechley.

Losing Gray a big big hit, field position and flu had big impact. I thought team always got flu shots–at least they used to.

ND fans really need to back off on Rees–what’s he supposed to tell Kelly-“play some other guy”

ND spoiled by a once in every 25 yrs QB–Çlaussen and can’t get it thru there heads no QB on team now is anywhere near Jimmy.

Knock off Stanford in prime time and win Bowl game–turn the defense loose.

Monkey Off our Backs ND 56 Navy 14

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Notre Dame clearly shrugged off an embarrassing loss to USC and a ridiculous Twitter controversy to just absolutely manhandle a Navy team who at the time of the game was 3rd in rushing in the nation. Fired up from the get go Tommy Rees led the Irish to fast scores and the defense completely shut down Navy led by Manti Teo. Rees finally connected a long ball throw to Floyd who scampered away into the endzone. Good play by everyone all around especially the freshman on defense (Lych, Tuitt, etc.). It was great revenge against a tough Navy team that has had our number for the last two years. Here’s to never losing to another service academy team ever again.

My only gripe with this game was where were these guys last week against USC?
Hopefully we have turned the corner and now we can win out. This team can beat anyone in the country if they get it together. I think they can beat Stanford if they come in hyped with wins over Wake, BC, and Maryland.

Classless, Class & Clueless

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Classless — SC players & Kiffen
Players comments as well as Kiffen’s.

Class — Pat Hayden — I believe he told Kiffen just run the clock out.

I also believe he told Kiffen to have players apologize and for Kiffen to call Kelly and apologize.

Clueless — ND coaching staff.

The Dayne Crist Tragedy

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Big arm 5 star recruit and heir to Clausen under the guidance of Charlie Weis. Perfect for the Pro system run by Weis.

Redshirt year and knee injury in Weis final year.

In comes Kelly (at this point Dayne should have left–think Mallett at Michigan).

But Dayne all in for ND and was in fact the leader of this team–respected and liked by his team mates.

He had to rehab knee and at same time learn the spread–limited in Spring practice but recovered to start the season.
Scary head injury, vision loss and finally the next knee injury–so Rees thrown in to finish the season.

Interjection here—Think back to Kelly year 1. Did not matter if spread was new square pegs in round holes. Crist had to learn and run the spread in warp speed with only 6 months to grasp the system.

Sideline behavior of Kelly re Crist was unbelievable and uncalled for. Kelly shattered Crist’s confidence. The last thing a QB needs is a head coach screaming at him every time he saw him. If Weis knew anything he knew how to handle and coach up QB’s. Just go back as to how he handled Clausen and all the mistakes he made–he did not see a raving lunatic when he came off the field.

2011 Fall Practice Crist wins job but gets yanked after 1/2 of game and relegated to bench until USC game and fumbled snap.

Contrast the treatment afforded Rees–he can make all the turnovers he wants –you don’t see Kelly screaming at him. You also do not see the uptempo warp speed spread that Crist was expected to run–this is just the old shotgun offense.

So Rees is the QB with the complete inability to go deep–run the ball and short passes will carry the day. Except when defenses dare him–see Pitt and USC games. You have maybe the best receiver Floyd that was completely shut down in the USC game while ND let Woods run all over the place–maybe a time out when Lo Wood lines up to cover Woods would have been appropriate–huh coach. No not really Motta got hurt??? Does anyone think Motta could have covered Woods.

Another interjection–Andrew Hendrix, in system for 1 1/2 years but has limited grasp of offense-needs more time but Crist given no such luxury–he had 6 months along with bad knee to get this down pat. Hendrix is in Pre Med but can’t learn this system–huh.

Over the blogs lot of wailing about no one stepping up as a leader–players not stupid they all saw what happened to Crist–maybe behind the scenes he stood up to Kelly.

The whole point of this article is Crist not really given a chance to succeed while he might have been able to work thru his problems and if he succeeded we would have him for next season.

We’ll stumble thru next 4 games but without the deep ball threat Stanford will destroy us.

Don’t be surprised if Crist starts for Florida next year.

Random Thoughts USC Game

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The extravaganza Kelly set up flopped.

ND does not have an elite QB–and if you want to compete with the studs –you need one.

Freshman Lynch and Tuitt got schooled and worn out by a mediocre USC OL.

ND–entire team played way too tight–see extravaganza above.

Monte Kiffen ate Kelly alive.

Both OL & DL got beaten up by a subpar USC team.

USC tweets–ND quit!!

Kelly way too defensive about bye week–you get 2 wks to prepare–let the injured off not the rest of team with so much riding on this game.

As opposed to everyone else I would start Crist against Navy. Why–Rees a little hobbled and he has to be eased out to make room for Hendrix.

Alternate series if need be — Crist & Hendrix.

I do not want Crist to end his career with that fumble. Give this guy a final chance–he deserves it.

Bob Diaco has to start thinking — 1 year to think Navy — didn’t show vs. Air Force — way too soft and confused — SC knew and ran and passed all over the field — imagination!!!!

QB switch — why? Michael Floyd bored — super player but you get him the ball deep with a better QB.

Kelly and entire staff — Stanford waiting and Rees’s limitations will lose that game.

Long hair and tats only look good if you back it up.

Offense Musings

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When Brian Kelly opened his first Spring Practices to reporters–they were blown away by the uptempo speed with which the offense was working. And Kelly quipped –you ain’t seen nothing yet–wait until we finish Fall Practice.

He also opined on the Spread Offense with warp speed running plays which happens so fast, it keeps the defense from substituting as well as changing up the defense before ball snapped.

Sure enough,they ran a blazing fast offense but Christ was unable to keep the tempo up to Kelly’s satisfaction, which started the screaming at the QB tirades every time Christ came to the sidelines. No one can tell me that this did not sap Crist’s confidence which led him to being scared of making the smallest mistake.

Crist is a Pro-set QB and always will be–tutored by Charlie Weis.

Ok let’s forward to the 2011 season. Now we have a slow tempo offense–might as well huddle, which re-acts to what the defense is doing-so Rees can go thru his progressions. The ND offense is not setting the tempo–their opponents are.

Seems very strange to me that Kelly ran a helter skelter uptempo offense at first, which has now slowed to a crawl since Rees is only a very green QB at this time. It has slowed so much that they can barely get the play off.

Was all this Crist’s fault–hardly. He did not get a fair shake. Rees, on the other hand can barely move and just locks onto on receiver and became almost unhinged when Pitt took Floyd out of the game.

It looks like there is utter confusion on the ND sideline.
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I’ve posted this before but to re-iterate–doubt if Crist ever plays again nor will Hendrix and both gone elsewhere by end of season. Golson will be next in and soon.

Pitt Aftermath

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I have already expounded on my take of the Pitt game–lucky win, but so were the losses lucky for our opponents.

Read Kelly’s comments on this game (I’m in control) and Rees is MY QB–okay so what if he is planted in the sod of ND stadium–what is plan B–really no answer except maybe more Frosh will play.

So what do we take from that. My gut instinct–Crist out, Hendrix out and Golson is next in , even if preferable to redshirt him.

I further read this that the Charlie Weis recruits out, namely Crist and Hendrix. Crist and Hendrix are both Pro-set QB’s–so they are out

If I were either, I’d tell Kelly to stuff it–Crist, maybe has 1 yr. eligibility left–Anyone need a strong arm Qb that plays Pro set–same for Hendrix–Charlie Weis wanted this kid real bad and if anything CW knows Qbs–so off to Fla goes Hendrix. Crist one year left goes anywhere he can start.

So that brings us back to the present. We just saw a defense with Pitt that worried about vertical long strike hold ND to 15 pts–every team ND faces will play short knowing Rees can’t throw the long ball.

So mix in the OL woeful pass block ability ND has a real problem–an absolutely piss poor Pitt Db’s took Floyd out of game.

Looking ahead USC and Stanford(with much Better athletes) blanket Floyd and blitz the shit out of Rees resulting in regular picks and fumbles.

The only thing Kelly has going for him is the Defensive side of the ball although Diaco has movie star looks, can recruit, doesn’t have the cojones yet to be outstanding defensive coordinator–hey you have the players–let them loose the entire game.

ND’s future rests on the defensive side of the ball.. Kelly has to get the offensive moving–see how fast we run the offensive–I don’t see it happening against USC or STANFORD.