Golson Gone

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Everett Golson QB starter is no longer enrolled at Notre Dame. Student privacy just leaves it at that.

So – big wrench thrown into the football program with just Rees, Hendrix and freshman Zaire left. Why the hell didn’t this happen before Kiel left – what a big mistake that kid made.

Probably never will find out the reason for Golson’s departure but that leaves Kelly with a real coaching challenge. Rees looks like the starter now and maybe the football God’s will hit him with a little extra mobility and arm strength – after all ND is God’s team so anything can happen.

Disaster Averted Notre Dame 20 Purdue 17

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An unexpectedly tough Purdue team gave Notre Dame a far closer game than anyone expected, especially me. Game won in the closing minutes by Tommy Rees, who calmly led his team down to the 6 yard line and Kyle Brindza kicked the winning field goal. Game ball to Tommy.

2ND game ball goes to the Purdue coach Danny Hope for alternating QB’s when Marve was the far superior QB and already had an excellent first game passing for 300 yds.–thanks coach.

Golson, actually had a pretty good day 21 for 31 289 yards and one TD while the running game was entirely shut down 52 yards rushing on 36 carries. Purdue stacked the box and their interior linemen completely abused the ND offensive line especially Watt Cave and Golic.

Notre Dame had a slew of injuries, which we hope won’t keep them from playing against MSU.

Conclusions:

  • Golson can only get better with more playing time–at times he was somewhat rattled.
  • Kelly needs to get the plays in on time–thought this was corrected–guess not. He did make the right call going to Rees for the closing drive whether or not Golson hurt. Just too much pressure for his experience level.
  • Student fans–mindless idiots among them booed Rees–ND students should have more class. Do they really think Rees wanted to go in????? and flop, a lot put on his shoulders and he came through. If he screwed up can’t imagine fan reaction. Good job Tommy. Incidentally, he’s now over 4000 yards passing and closing on Montana.

Finally. Weis loses heart-breaker vs. Rice 25-24 on a 45 yard field goal in last seconds. Crist 33 of 64 313 yds. 2 TD’s BUT 3 Ints.

Wrap it up with ND highlights courtesy of und.com

Golson Wins QB Battle

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Brian Kelly named Everett Golson the winner in the QB battle during his press conference Thursday. He expects Golson to play the whole game against Navy. I seriously doubt, barring injury, he will repeat the Crist fiasco.

Hendrix number 2 and Kiel number 3 for Navy game–both Hendrix and Kiel need to learn that trying to run over defenders will not prolong their careers. Although at 6’2″ 220 Hendrix has fullback size.

Other news freshman KV Russell surprisingly won the open corner back battle–speed and agility deciding factors.

Freshman Davonte Neal will return punts.

Golic wins right guard battle with subs Nick Martin as next OT in while Connor Hanratty next OG in.
Ronnie Stanley(frosh) is the 3rd tackle.

Tony Springmann finally ready as backup on the DL.

Ben Councell will start as the Drop Linebacker backed up by 17 yr old Romeo Okwara who Kelly says will be a star.

Chris Brown and D. Daniels will see significant playing time–speed and more speed.

So The Man is Golson lets just hope we can keep him healthy–6′ 185 lbs and from some of the short clips we’ve seen there were numerous occasions when defenders could have planted him.

On the plus side he does not seem to get rattled and can move around the pocket while still looking downfield.

Both Hendrix and Kiel are more the Charlie Weis pocket QB’s so it will be interesting how that plays out.
I would not redshirt Kiel but give him some playing time this year–get experience for the 2013 season.

Opening kickoff just a week away–let’s really lay it on Navy.

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.

USF 23 ND 20

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The day after the shock of this loss, a few things come to mind.

  1. This is not a BCS team
  2. ND does not have a QB
  3. ND has a schizo offense
  4. ND has moderate defense
  5. ND has a very slim chance for a major bowl.
  6. Kelly has to calm it down – looks like a maniac.

I think Kelly’s offense is a split second offense–sort of like a fast break for an entire game and for that to work you need a GOOD QB that can pass and run.

 

If you take Michael Floyd out– the offense will collapse.

With the schedule they have and the persistent problems they have in the red zone– it will be tough to win 6 games. Quite simply they have to have a high octane offense and put points up every offensive series to be competitive.

USF has a decent team but one of the weakest on the schedule.

So what do you do at the QB position? I do not believe Kelly has any time for Crist or Hendrix–so you go with Rees and slowly mix Golson into each game for a few series.

Of course that means Hendrix leaves. Now you have 3 QB’s with one solid hit on Rees just waiting to happen.

All of this spells trouble and with his over the top behavior he could easily lose this team.

Michigan is not USF and now I believe they blow out ND with Denard Robinson once again racking up over 500 yds total offense.

MAKE THAT 18

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ND picked up Everett Golson QB from South Carolina who de-committed from North Carolina. He plans to enroll early.

Listed at about 6ft 170 he can pass and run and is a perfect fit for the BK offense.

It will be an interesting spring for ND QB’s. Hopefully no one leaves for the Kelly offense uses up QB’s at a rapid rate. Golson missed more than a few games this year due to injuries in a similar offense. Could be our next Tony Rice. Welcome to ND and have a great career.

We are still in need of OL recruits and Pat Flavin is still out there–he’s 6’7″. I’d take him now