It seems that every time I discuss Notre Dame Football with friends, family, or forums, the conversatin always leads to keeping Dayne Crist healthy. I would agree that this is VERY important, and would like to discuss what would happen if we are faced with a worst case scenario, BUT <whispering as to not offend the lord> God forbid he goes down...I honestly believe we would manage. Here are my reasons:

 

1. Brian Kelly has a Golden touch with unknown QB's.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/colleges/post/_/id/544/irish-eyes-focused-on-crists-development

 

2. Our backup talent isn't all that bad. Look at this Hendrix film and watch how the kid can throw on the run. It was as if he was born to play in the spread. Hendrix seems to be left out of a lot of the discussions, but IMHO he is the man for the #2 spot.

 

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3. We are going to have a formidable running attack.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/416222-will-the-spread-offense-work-for-notre-dame-in-2010

 

Look at this list of backs, and keep in mind that we are going to see a fast paced no huddle offense. It's simply going to be a matter of conditioning...

 

Armando Allen, Cierre Wood, Jonas Gray, Robert Hughes, Theo Riddick

 

I would be happy with any of these guys in the backfield. Combined, they are going to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

 

The last thing I want to see is an injury to Crist, but I honestly don't think it would be the end of the world. We are loaded with talent, and I think we are going to get some surprises out of some unknown's this season.

 

34 days men!!

Edited August 1, 201014 yr by indyirishdad

God forbid that happens!

 

BUT, if it did, my dream scenario would be Montana coming in and killing it!

 

Bring glory back to the Montana name. Shock the world with another Montana legend here at Notre Dame.

 

Probably won't happen but that would be so cool. lol

 

I'll take Dayne staying healthy and succesfull over that scenario though!

I agree about Hendrix at #2. I do NOT want to see Montana in there if Crist goes down. Other than Crist, you could make an argument that Andrew Hendrix needs the 2nd best fall practice. Especially since he's the most talented #2 and we need a legit backup option.

 

Kelly will be watching these qbs like a hawk this August. I just hope Crist is as tough as Jimmy was. Clausen never got enough attention for his toughness which was a real overlooked quality of his.

IF I were Coach Kelly I would make the running game the focal point of the offense no matter who is behind center. That stable of RB's is just too impressive not to be featured esp when the QB's are so inexperienced.

 

Coach Kelly's success with backup QB's came through guys that had multiple years in the system. When you can eliminate some of the thinking from the equation and replace it with reacting because you know the offense it leads to success.

 

Hopefully Crist will slide in plenty of time when scrambling this year.

Our backs are unproved. Not one single back is considered a top 20 back in the country. How is that stacked? Alabama has two awesome backs. USC has blue chippers backing up blue chippers. The big ten has a handful of great backs. Hughes and AA would not see playing time in the majority of the top 25 teams.

Lets not kid ourselves, if Crist goes down to injury, we are in deep trouble...

Lets not kid ourselves, if Crist goes down to injury, we are in deep trouble...

 

no, we are screwed....................

no, we are screwed....................

 

I TOTALLY disagree. Nonetheless, I think that Crist will be just fine...(crossing fingers)...and that our other QB's will be getting some PT anyway. BK won't be putting all his eggs in one basket, I can assure you.

 

Personally, I would be more concerned if some of our defensive players went down...

 

And our backs Erick:

 

Armando Allen: Other Offers - Florida, Florida State, Tennessee

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2360408

 

Cierre Wood: Other Offers - Auburn, Cal, Florida, Oregon, UCLA, USC

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=3135686

 

Jonas Gray: Other Offers - Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2741217

 

Robert Hughes: Other Offers - Michigan, Ohio State

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2359188

 

Theo Riddick: Other Offers - BC, Penn State, Pitt

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=3044087

 

Now I am not saying that USC doesn't have good talent, but their starting RB according to their website was a LB in high school http://usc.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=63746 and here are his stats from last year:

 

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

Bradford, Allen 13 115 692 24 668 5.8 8 43 51.4

 

How is that any better than Allen??

 

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

ALLEN, Armando 9 142 733 36 697 4.9 3 26 77.4

 

Pretty comparable IMHO...How are these guys not considered blue-chippers again??

And here are two of our other QB's:

 

Andrew Hendrix: Other Offers - Boston College, Florida, Miami, Ohio State.

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4203379

 

Nate Montana: Unranked Walk-on

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Nate-Montana-hits-camp-29730

 

Outplays DC at the B&G game going 18-30, 223 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT...and has some very nice moments.

I TOTALLY disagree. Nonetheless, I think that Crist will be just fine...(crossing fingers)...and that our other QB's will be getting some PT anyway. BK won't be putting all his eggs in one basket, I can assure you.

 

Personally, I would be more concerned if some of our defensive players went down...

 

And our backs Erick:

 

Armando Allen: Other Offers - Florida, Florida State, Tennessee

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2360408

 

Cierre Wood: Other Offers - Auburn, Cal, Florida, Oregon, UCLA, USC

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=3135686

 

Jonas Gray: Other Offers - Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2741217

 

Robert Hughes: Other Offers - Michigan, Ohio State

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=2359188

 

Theo Riddick: Other Offers - BC, Penn State, Pitt

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=3044087

 

Now I am not saying that USC doesn't have good talent, but their starting RB according to their website was a LB in high school http://usc.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=63746 and here are his stats from last year:

 

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

Bradford, Allen 13 115 692 24 668 5.8 8 43 51.4

 

How is that any better than Allen??

 

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

ALLEN, Armando 9 142 733 36 697 4.9 3 26 77.4

 

Pretty comparable IMHO...How are these guys not considered blue-chippers again??

 

OK, this is the reality. Bradford was the number 3 back last year and he had a 5.8 average and 8 TD. Those numbers are better than AA and AA was the primary back last year.

 

And offer sheets and stars go out the window when kids step foot on campus. By blue chippers, I mean NFL caliber RBs. McKnight and Stephon Johnson are going to be on a pro roster.

 

I will not consider any team stacked unless the starter is a definite pro and the backup is going to be a pro too. And I don't think you are a pro prospect unless you can put up quality numbers in college and AA does not put up good numbers. As far as YPC, I don't think he was in the top 50 last year. Wood and Gray could be pro prospects but they need to perform. And that's my point. No RB on our team has shown that they can consistently perform at an elite level week after week.

God forbid that happens!

 

BUT, if it did, my dream scenario would be Montana coming in and killing it!

 

Bring glory back to the Montana name. Shock the world with another Montana legend here at Notre Dame.

 

Probably won't happen but that would be so cool. lol

 

I'll take Dayne staying healthy and succesfull over that scenario though!

 

That would be legendary...

And here are two of our other QB's:

 

Andrew Hendrix: Other Offers - Boston College, Florida, Miami, Ohio State.

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4203379

 

Nate Montana: Unranked Walk-on

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Nate-Montana-hits-camp-29730

 

Outplays DC at the B&G game going 18-30, 223 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT...and has some very nice moments.

trust me indy, ND doesn't want to go down that road, and you don't want to see it. it is the one thing that keeps kelly up at night............

OK, this is the reality. Bradford was the number 3 back last year and he had a 5.8 average and 8 TD. Those numbers are better than AA and AA was the primary back last year.

 

And offer sheets and stars go out the window when kids step foot on campus. By blue chippers, I mean NFL caliber RBs. McKnight and Stephon Johnson are going to be on a pro roster.

 

I will not consider any team stacked unless the starter is a definite pro and the backup is going to be a pro too. And I don't think you are a pro prospect unless you can put up quality numbers in college and AA does not put up good numbers. As far as YPC, I don't think he was in the top 50 last year. Wood and Gray could be pro prospects but they need to perform. And that's my point. No RB on our team has shown that they can consistently perform at an elite level week after week.

 

I don't disagree Erick but since you want to talk reality, let's talk. All of our backs have been playing in a Weis offfense designed for a passing QB. AA shared carries primarily with Hughes and Tate last year.

 

Allen

142 carries

733 yds

4.9 avg

 

Hughes

88 carries

430 yds

4.7 avg

 

Tate

25 carries

195 yds

7.4 avg

Totals:

255 carries

1358 yds

5.3 avg

 

Compare that to USC:

 

McKnight

164 carries

1,014 yds

6.2 avg

 

Allen Bradford

98 carries

596 yds

6.1 avg

 

Stafon Johnson

32 carries

157 yds

4.9 avg

Totals:

294 carries

1767 yds

6.0 avg

 

Where is the enormous difference you refer to??

 

I'm saying if you put our RB's behind USC's offensive line last year, they do MUCH, MUCH BETTER. Same thing for Alabama's O-line, Florida, Ohio State, etc, etc, etc...I wonder how well Joe McKnight would have done if he would have played his career at ND??

 

Our players were highly recruited athletes coming out of high school. They have been poorly coached and playing in a QB system at ND...Until now...Call it what you want, but when you see them blowing up defenses all year long simply because of GREAT COACHING, don't forget this post...

They have been poorly coached and playing in a QB system at ND...Until now...Call it what you want, but when you see them blowing up defenses all year long simply because of GREAT COACHING, don't forget this post...

 

Nostradamus, remember that most of these guys are only a few months in to this whole new offensive system.

trust me indy, ND doesn't want to go down that road, and you don't want to see it. it is the one thing that keeps kelly up at night............

 

Of course I don't, but here is why I trust BK:

 

Ben Mauk and Dan LeFevour...enough said.

I don't disagree Erick but since you want to talk reality, let's talk. All of our backs have been playing in a Weis offfense designed for a passing QB. AA shared carries primarily with Hughes and Tate last year.

 

Allen

142 carries

733 yds

4.9 avg

 

Hughes

88 carries

430 yds

4.7 avg

 

Tate

25 carries

195 yds

7.4 avg

Totals:

255 carries

1358 yds

5.3 avg

 

Compare that to USC:

 

McKnight

164 carries

1,014 yds

6.2 avg

 

Allen Bradford

98 carries

596 yds

6.1 avg

 

Stafon Johnson

32 carries

157 yds

4.9 avg

Totals:

294 carries

1767 yds

6.0 avg

 

Where is the enormous difference you refer to??

 

I'm saying if you put our RB's behind USC's offensive line last year, they do MUCH, MUCH BETTER. Same thing for Alabama's O-line, Florida, Ohio State, etc, etc, etc...I wonder how well Joe McKnight would have done if he would have played his career at ND??

 

Our players were highly recruited athletes coming out of high school. They have been poorly coached and playing in a QB system at ND...Until now...Call it what you want, but when you see them blowing up defenses all year long simply because of GREAT COACHING, don't forget this post...

 

OK, why would the guys who had better YPC get fewer carries than the ones with better YPC? That is why Weis failed. He didn't play the best players. And the difference between 6.0+YPC and 4.9 is HUGE. As for Johnson, when he played in the beginning of the season, he was a goal line back. If you look at Johnson's career stats, he has a solid YPC.

 

The OL argument makes me laugh every time I hear it. Last year, the OL made a bunch of holes. I think every OL from last year (and the TE) will make the pros. ND's OL was pretty good last year. I will say this a million more times while I post at DD. The OL's job is to get the RB to the second level. They did that plenty times. Then its on the RB to make someone miss. AA can't not make anyone miss. Riddick can. Gray can. I believe Wood can. Tate can. I think Hughes is a better runner than AA but he is just way too slow to be a every down back. But Weis made him the primary ball carrier when AA went down. So stupid.

 

Oh well, that is why I think Kelly will be a success. No BS, just plays the best players, no doghouses, just wins. Last year, we should have seen a healthy dose of Wood, Riddick, and Evans. Weis redshirted a kid who could be a difference maker. Evans was in the doghouse. And just like Tate and Floyd, Riddick proved to be a potential playmaker and got limited plays. Kelly will prove my points.

OK, why would the guys who had better YPC get fewer carries than the ones with better YPC? That is why Weis failed. He didn't play the best players. And the difference between 6.0+YPC and 4.9 is HUGE. As for Johnson, when he played in the beginning of the season, he was a goal line back. If you look at Johnson's career stats, he has a solid YPC.

 

The OL argument makes me laugh every time I hear it. Last year, the OL made a bunch of holes. I think every OL from last year (and the TE) will make the pros. ND's OL was pretty good last year. I will say this a million more times while I post at DD. The OL's job is to get the RB to the second level. They did that plenty times. Then its on the RB to make someone miss. AA can't not make anyone miss. Riddick can. Gray can. I believe Wood can. Tate can. I think Hughes is a better runner than AA but he is just way too slow to be a every down back. But Weis made him the primary ball carrier when AA went down. So stupid.

 

Oh well, that is why I think Kelly will be a success. No BS, just plays the best players, no doghouses, just wins. Last year, we should have seen a healthy dose of Wood, Riddick, and Evans. Weis redshirted a kid who could be a difference maker. Evans was in the doghouse. And just like Tate and Floyd, Riddick proved to be a potential playmaker and got limited plays. Kelly will prove my points.

 

I totally agree with everything you said, except for our O-line. Were they better last year compared to the two before, YES, but not great.

 

I blame Weis. His offense was overly complicated and confusing, the pace was painfully slow which killed momentum, many decisions questionable, and totally frustrating to watch. AA was the main back because he could catch.

 

The other issue I have with what you said is that we have a group of unproven RB's compared to the USC's of the world. I call BS!! I believe all of our backs would have been great on many other teams, as we will undoubtedly see this year.

 

But back to my main point...I will be more worried about our defense staying healthy than what happens to Crist. I don't think we can afford to lose Te'o in the middle for example, Williams, Ethan, or any of our DB's.

Edited August 2, 201014 yr by indyirishdad

I totally agree with everything you said, except for our O-line. Were they better last year compared to the two before, YES, but not great.

 

I blame Weis. His offense was overly complicated and confusing, the pace was painfully slow which killed momentum, many decisions questionable, and totally frustrating to watch. AA was the main back because he could catch.

 

The other issue I have with what you said is that we have a group of unproven RB's compared to the USC's of the world. I call BS!! I believe all of our backs would have been great on many other teams, as we will undoubtedly see this year.

 

But back to my main point...I will be more worried about our defense staying healthy than what happens to Crist. I don't think we can afford to lose Te'o in the middle for example, Williams, Ethan, or any of our DB's.

 

Well, we shall see (as we did the in the B&G game) that AA is and also will be a B line RB. And being a B line Rb is not necessarily make a RB bad, but the RB better be the fastest player on the field, and he is not. And his 4.9 YPC goes primarily to the OL. AA couldn't break the big run and consistently went down on first contact. That means that the opponent wouldn't touch AA til about 5 yards down field. That's pretty damn good.

 

And Crist staying healthy is absolutely critical. QB is the most important position in a spread offense. Which makes Crist very important, especially since I believe that Crist will be very very good. And it seems like the team really rallies around Crist. Seems like he is a good team leader. Although Hendrix can be very good, no way in hell do I want a true freshmen leading this team.

I'll agree that Dayne Crist is our most important player, and the one we can least afford to lose. However, I would argue that our line play (on both sides of the ball), rather than our skill players, will determine the success of this season. If our O-line can control the line of scrimmage we have the backs to run, and the receivers to catch. I don't want to see a true FR QB taking snaps at crunch time, but I'd rather see that behind a good line than Crist and our backs trying to make plays behind a porous line. On the D-line, we all know the problems from last year, they have to be better. I think that a lot of the blame that was placed on others was an indirect consequence of poor D-line play. Tenuta blitzed too much (because the D-line couldn't get pressure without a blitz). The secondary, which we all thought would be pretty good, got torched (no pressure/LBs blitzing instead of filling underneath). We gave up long runs, runs which get stopped at the LOS obviously don't become long runs. Our defense had plenty of problems last year, but great D-line play would go a long way toward fixing them. I think that one of the necessary ingredients to successful ND teams of the past (88,93), which perhaps we don't give enough credit, was great play on the defensive line.

 

So my nightmare scenario isn't Crist getting hurt, its our line play not improving.

To me its just common sense and what I've learned from watching the games. ND has multiple RB's with game experience as opposed to no QB's with real game experience. Allen is a very good RB and to me is only overshadowed by 3 to 5 in the country. He (and the rest of the RB's)were not featured in the last offense.

 

Nobody said the Irish have 3 all american candidates at RB but instead that maybe this year the talent sways more towards them rather than the QB's. Not to mention that by running more, you protect Crist a little at least for the 1st half of the schedule while he perfects the offense. A good coach plays to his teams stregths and doesn't force a system when it doesn't benefit the team.

To me its just common sense and what I've learned from watching the games. ND has multiple RB's with game experience as opposed to no QB's with real game experience. Allen is a very good RB and to me is only overshadowed by 3 to 5 in the country. He (and the rest of the RB's)were not featured in the last offense.

 

Nobody said the Irish have 3 all american candidates at RB but instead that maybe this year the talent sways more towards them rather than the QB's. Not to mention that by running more, you protect Crist a little at least for the 1st half of the schedule while he perfects the offense. A good coach plays to his teams stregths and doesn't force a system when it doesn't benefit the team.

 

Take the Notre Dame glasses off for a bit. Bama has two stellar backs. Texas has a good back. Clay from Wisconsin is really really good. Lewis from Pitt is really good. Purdue's RB, although hurt, is better than AA and Hughes. Illinois has two backs that averaged over 6 yards a carry. Illinois was garbage too. Florida has great backs. We already established that USC's third stringer from last season had a better season than AA. Oh, and Virgina Tech's Williams was a freshmen and tore it up. Almost 100, yes 100, backs had a better YPC than AA.

 

AA was the feature back. He saw the lion's share of the carries last season. He has had the lion's share every season. And his longest carry was for 26 yards. The Blue and Gold game shows that there are better backs on on our own team. The Blue and Gold game shows that having Weis or Kelly at the helm is not going to change the way AA runs. AA's ship has passed. He is not fast and he can't make people miss.

 

All there is to it is that Weis played favorites. AA was his favorite player. He always made AA the Number one every year without any competition. Riddick has so much more play making ability over AA. I said it last year and I'll say it again. If AA and Hughes get the majority of the carries, its going to be a bumpy season. But I am pretty sure the offense is going to be a majority of time, Crist, Wood, Floyd, Kyle, Shaq, and Riddick.