I was talking with my dad last night, just general chit chat, and something hit me. I doubt this will be received well at all and I apologize if this comes off Debbie-Downerish, but could the best thing right now for EG be that... he loses a game?

 

Think about it. BK is playing with house money right now. He is 4-0 and sees a very real chance to run the table. As such, he's had a hair trigger for trotting out Rees in place of Golson. Because of that, EG has played tight. Now, I don't know if that's actually EG, or if that's the plays being sent in, but for sure I think we can all agree we expected more offensive explosiveness than we've seen this year so far. We've done enough on offense not to lose, but we're not attacking, per se.

 

So, if ND loses a game, most if not all hope of a NC are gone. Personally, I'm ok with that this year, especially if it means we take the choke off the turbo and just let the kid figure out what he's made of on the field. No more 1a 1b QB situation, just put in Golson until we get to mop-up time, then play Hendrix.

 

This is not a bash Rees thread, I'm thankful he's come in and managed the game well enough to earn a few victories.

 

Thoughts?

rabble rabble rabble

Uh no. Don't think it's better for Golson to lose a game. First of all, I don't even know if he'll have an opportunity to lose a game with Kelly quickly yanking him for Rees. Also, this kid is a flat out winner. Always has been and will be. Wins breed more confidence not losses.

Missing my point, sorry if I worded it poorly. I don't mean that EG has to or should be the reason we lose. What I'm saying is that if the Irish lose - for whatever reason - does that stop this whole QB nonsense? In that scenario, BK has no reason to be scared of what EG will or won't do and can maybe, just maybe *let him play*

Let me also clarify - this is bourne out of what is probably a false sense of nervousness. Big win this weekend and screw it, I'm all in. Until Monday before Stanford, lol. I guess maybe I understand what I assume is BK's mindset

I think Kelly will continue to yank Golson quickly and I don't see this ending soon, unfortunately. Rees is Kelly's security blanket flat out and I don't like it. He displayed this first against USF with Crist and now has done it twice in 4 games with EG. He needs to allow EG to grow into the position and fight through adversity. Rees didn't do anything in the 2nd half v. UM. I really hope Kelly ends this stuff soon frankly and allows Golson to play through all of it.

Additionally, I can understand about the 2 minute stuff against Purdue but thought the yank against UM was premature. Our mouths were on the floor at Oklahoma Irish with that move. Let the kid fight through it. His talent and potential are through the roof. We saw Rees' potential last year.

Yea, I was pretty Ok with it up until recently and I'm just thinking it's got to stop sooner or later. I mean, he was able to do the same song and dance (I think?) at Cincinnati but it's not the same situation lol pressure cooker.

 

I was just curious if anyone else thought the "quick hook" would go away if we weren't undefeated. By no means do I want that to be the reason it goes away, it was just one of those "6 beers in and had an epiphone" moments

Yea, I was pretty Ok with it up until recently and I'm just thinking it's got to stop sooner or later. I mean, he was able to do the same song and dance (I think?) at Cincinnati but it's not the same situation lol pressure cooker.

 

I was just curious if anyone else thought the "quick hook" would go away if we weren't undefeated. By no means do I want that to be the reason it goes away, it was just one of those "6 beers in and had an epiphone" moments

I don't think it will go away even if we lose although I'm beginning to see your point. What I'm concerned with is an all out qb controversy could begin which is the worst thing right now. Golson made 2 poor decisions and got yanked. EVERY outstanding college qb has made 2 poor decisions early in his career. Let the kid fight through it. We are so lucky UM's offense was off and Denard through every pass to us. Rees did very little in that game offensively other than his initial td drive. 2nd half- zilch.

I appreciate the sentiment of this post.

 

Its a very unusual situation i think we can all agree to that. Two QB systems are a little rare, and a system where a "limited" veteran comes off the bench with regularity to support a NEWBIE starter, thats even more unusual.

 

Now Purdue was not worrying about TERBUSH & MARVE so we saw a two QB system right there on our own schedule---and that rotation likely would have continued all season had Marve not been hurt.So its not that rare!

 

So back to your point---its not that GOLSON NEEDS TO LOSE--its that at some point it has to be left to golson to bring us back from behind, despite the fact that coach might "feel" better with REES at the specific moment.

 

I think if Everett can start to play better generally then he will get more & more the benifit of the doubt----

 

AT THIS MOMENT---we are not at that place---If Everett struggles for a quarter or so, likely coach will go to REES---

 

Now when REES comes in and throws INTS & takes sacks---Then coach will have out-smarted himself into a REAL MESS!---

 

But so far so good---BEST OUTCOME--a great game by Golson that inspires some confidence in the staff---they don't feel comfortable risking games soley to get experience for Golson---

 

ITS UNUSUAL--ITS INTERESTING--ITS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING FOR BOTH REES & GOLSON FANS--AND ITS A SOMEWHAT RISKY STRATEGY THAT HAS AN INDETERMINATE CONCLUSION.

 

Could golson have recovered from the fumble at purdue and handled the pressure of the defense by driving the team to a FG the same as REES did??---WE DON'T KNOW----Could Golson have at least gathered himself against michigan and made a game out of it win or lose or would he have thrown 6 picks instead of Denard??--WE DON'T KNOW--

 

At some point those questions have to be answered but it doesn't seem to be a mystery that the staff wants to put to the tes anytime soon----

 

Lets Hope this all works out with a smooth and successful transition even if it takes all season---it likely will be the strategy all season---so wait & see is in order--

 

aloha's go irish!

I'll take it My confidence isn't exactly soaring, but I see and agree with your points.

I don't want us to lose a game no matter what. We are in this thing trying to run the table. We are all taught that if you have two quarterbacks then you don't really have any. Kelly has done the two quarterback system before very successfully. Here's the bottom line right now. We are 4 and 0.

 

I fully expect Golson to have a big day against Miami. I'm completely disregarding the Michigan game as far as evaluating him. Personally, I want Hendrix to come in for mop up duty and not Rees. I want to run that spread option with the quarterback keeping when it is open. Hendrix still has a bigger upside then Rees.

 

After this weekend, I think everyone will feel better about the quarterback situation. Golson will have a big day.

Sure, two QB's makes everyone squeamish. Golson could have lost Purdue or Mich if BK was in the mood. BK doesn't turn purple for no reason. He hates losing. But as long as we win I don't care if we use 5 QB's. Keep the wins coming however, whatever, any which way we can.

 

Miami is somewhere between Navy and MSU. Golson should do fine here. If the OL can't establish the run game - do not expect a freshman QB to carry the team. It will not happen. The focus of our consternation should be the OL, not Golson, Rees.

I don't want us to lose a game no matter what. We are in this thing trying to run the table. We are all taught that if you have two quarterbacks then you don't really have any. Kelly has done the two quarterback system before very successfully. Here's the bottom line right now. We are 4 and 0.

 

I fully expect Golson to have a big day against Miami. I'm completely disregarding the Michigan game as far as evaluating him. Personally, I want Hendrix to come in for mop up duty and not Rees. I want to run that spread option with the quarterback keeping when it is open. Hendrix still has a bigger upside then Rees.

 

After this weekend, I think everyone will feel better about the quarterback situation. Golson will have a big day.

 

Along with the strange play calling, I think not developing a Tebow-like package for AH is a mistake. I get what BK is doing here and he wants a BCS bowl apperance in his back pocket so he can feel truly that his seat is cool, but he and his offensive staff have done a poor-to-middling job of putting playmakers in positions to succeed and create mismatches. He's playing it conservatively and it's hard to argue the result... So far, at least...

Along with the strange play calling, I think not developing a Tebow-like package for AH is a mistake. I get what BK is doing here and he wants a BCS bowl apperance in his back pocket so he can feel truly that his seat is cool, but he and his offensive staff have done a poor-to-middling job of putting playmakers in positions to succeed and create mismatches. He's playing it conservatively and it's hard to argue the result... So far, at least...

 

Yeah, it is hard to argue with winning, but this clearly can't be the offense Kelly wants to run.

 

If you are going to give Golson the experience, why aren't you giving him experience running an actual spread offense?

Well, if there's a defense made to order to torch, the U is it. Let's hope with the week off and plenty of film watching and practice, Golson will get that big time win his confidence needs.