Tommy Rees

[VCDomer 75]

Read this just a few minutes ago. Does the "Coach Speak" about MZ point to anything? Intersting that he thinks EG wont play anywhere this year. If that is true we most certainly need to get MZ ready and help him "grow in the position" to the point that he gets playing time this year. A rusty EG coming back (if he comes back) makes it imperative. That and not knowing what happens with Hendrix's 5th year. IMHO

 

BRIDGMAN, Mich. (AP) -- Coach Brian Kelly says he decided to announce Tommy Rees as Notre Dame's starting quarterback after having time to think, even though he initially said it would be a three-way competition in August.

 

Kelly said Wednesday that Rees won't have to fight for the starting job. But he reiterated he believes senior Andrew Hendrix can help the Fighting Irish and freshman Malik Zaire will continue to grow in the position. Kelly needed to find a new starting quarterback after Everett Golson was suspended for the fall by the university for what the player called poor academic judgment.

 

There have been media reports that Golson is considering playing at a junior college. Kelly says Golson has indicated he's focusing on improving his academics, and he doesn't think he will play football this fall.

Edited June 12, 2013 by VCDomer

[Rattlesnake 54]

Read this jsut a few minutes ago. Does the "Coach Speak" about MZ point to anything? Intersting that he thinks EG wont play anywher this year. If that is true we most certainly need to get MZ ready and help him "grow in the position to the point that he gets playing time this year. A rusty EG coming back (if he comes back) make it imperative. That an not knowing what happens with Hendrix's 5th year. IMHO

 

BRIDGMAN, Mich. (AP) -- Coach Brian Kelly says he decided to announce Tommy Rees as Notre Dame's starting quarterback after having time to think, even though he initially said it would be a three-way competition in August.

 

Kelly said Wednesday that Rees won't have to fight for the starting job. But he reiterated he believes senior Andrew Hendrix can help the Fighting Irish and freshman Malik Zaire will continue to grow in the position. Kelly needed to find a new starting quarterback after Everett Golson was suspended for the fall by the university for what the player called poor academic judgment.

 

There have been media reports that Golson is considering playing at a junior college. Kelly says Golson has indicated he's focusing on improving his academics, and he doesn't think he will play football this fall.

 

In the situation we're in, I don't trust anything BK says about the starting QB position in the offseason. I have a feeling he knows the QB situation is going be an absolute circus this year, and is just weathering the storm until 8/31.

[VCDomer 75]

In the situation we're in, I don't trust anything BK says about the starting QB position in the offseason. I have a feeling he knows the QB situation is going be an absolute circus this year, and is just weathering the storm until 8/31.

 

What circus? There is no circus associated with ND football. :juggle::noidea::llama::pop2:

[hawaiiirish 62]

I don't know--not much there to glean from VC--but enough to draw some conclusions

 

I would maybe read two things into that ---

 

1)---Coach seems very confident golson will return in 2014---he isn't a naïve guy so I doubt its just wishful thinking --I would guess given his communication with the family & Everett he feels VERY confident golson will return.

 

2)---Given that belief about golson, I think coach feels less pressure in developing zaire on the FAST TRACK then a lot of us on the site ,Oklahoma & Hawai leading that contingent, would have liked to hear.--it sounds to me that REES IS GOING TO BE IT PLAIN & SIMPLE and that experimentation or multiple QBs will LIKELY NOT OCCUR unless and until REES fails to deliver wins & quality play.

 

I don't have much confidence in tommy as everyone knows but I am going to have to be willing to defer to the coach here and HOPE REES CAN DO MUCH BETTER then my feelings and his history would indicate.

 

Maybe we will hear something different come MID-AUGUST---But I have to assume at this point that coach is planning & hoping to go WIRE TO WIRE with REES--will keep Hendrix as the back-up for injury ONLY--will redshirt malik unless everything goes south--and plans to RESEAT Golson in 2014 with Zaire & Kizer to follow him.

 

 

THATS NOT WHAT I WOULD DO---but then nobody wants me to be the coach---:brick:

 

" rees will not have to fight for the starting job"---captain subtext tells me that means REES all the way no questions asked---

 

" hendric can continue to help"--captain subtext translates that as Hendrix is the back-up and will not be rotating in at all barring failure or injury from REES"

 

"zaire will continue to grow into the position" --captain subtext says thate means zaire will redshirt according to his initial plan.

 

 

Like it or not---unless TOMMY really lives down to my lowest expectations its his team for as long as he can get something done---

 

Where we go if tommy comes out giving us his best impression of tommy turnover is totally problematic and it sounds like coach is not planning or expecting to have to deal with that---

 

ITS TOMMY ALL THE WAY___so we will simply have to live on the edge this season and keep our expectations realistic!

 

aloha's go irish!

Edited June 12, 2013 by hawaiiirish

[VCDomer 75]

I don't know--not much there to glean from VC--

 

I would maybe read two things into that ---

 

1)---Coach seems very confident golson will return in 2014---he isn't a naïve guy so I doubt its just wishful thinking --I would guess given his communication with the family & Everett he feels VERY confident golson will return.

 

2)---Given that belief about golson, I think coach feels less pressure in developing zaire on the FAST TRACK then a lot of us on the site ,Oklahoma & Hawai leading that contingent, would have liked to hear.--it sounds to me that REES IS GOING TO BE IT PLAIN & SIMPLE and that experimentation or multiple QBs will LIKELY NOT OCCUR unless and until REES fails to deliver wins & quality play.

 

I don't have much confidence in tommy as everyone knows but I am going to have to be willing to defer to the coach here and HOPE REES CAN DO MUCH BETTER then my feelings and his history would indicate.

 

Maybe we will hear something different come MID-AUGUST---But I have to assume at this point that coach is planning & hoping to go WIRE TO WIRE with REES--will keep Hendrix as the back-up for injury ONLY--will redshirt malik unless everything goes south--and plans to RESEAT Golson in 2014 with Zaire & Kizer to follow him.

 

 

THATS NOT WHAT I WOULD DO---but then nobody wants me to be the coach---:brick:

 

" rees will not have to fight for the starting job"---captain subtext tells me that means REES all the way no questions asked---

 

" hendric can continue to help"--captain subtext translates that as Hendrix is the back-up and will not be rotating in at all barring failure or injury from REES"

 

"zaire will continue to grow into the position" --captain subtext says thate means zaire will redshirt according to his initial plan.

 

 

Like it or not---unless TOMMY really lives down to my lowest expectations its his team for as long as he can get something done---

 

Where we go if tommy comes out giving us his best impression of tommy turnover is totally problematic and it sounds like coach is not planning or expecting to have to deal with that---

 

ITS TOMMY ALL THE WAY___so we will simply have to live on the edge this season and keep our expectations realistic!

 

aloha's go irish!

 

If your assumption about 1) is true, then I think your a right. He will ride Tommy as long as there are no disasters and give Hendrix opportunities. MZ might just RS then. It is going to be a season on the edge. Interesting how things have changed in the course of 6 months. Prior to and just after the NCG I think the majority opinion on here was that the team was poised for another good year. EG with one year more developed and the D backfield with a year more experience the sky was the limit. Aside from a few well intentioned and positive posters, it now feels like we are all holding our breath, shaking our heads and rubbing our foreheads.

[hawaiiirish 62]

Yep its going to be a season to TEST the metal of the fans----I am lowering my expectations of course but I hate to lower them as far as the 8-5 my gut tells me---I will hope for Rees to get it done and for Bryant or Folston to add to a great year of big plays by GA3----and with our AWESOME defense I am hoping for 9-3 regular season with a post season shot at 10!

 

But as touch & go as it seems the OFFENSE in 2014 with a golson return is going to be something to ponder wistfully about---

 

2014 running backs will have as a core---GA3/Carlisle/Folston/Bryant/ HOOD----that's more talent then we maybe have seen since the 80s at RB---a breathtaking group IMO

 

At QB --Golson/Zaire/Kizer---that would be sweet

 

The oline is simply stacked with giants--

 

and the WR spot will clearly add some FIREPOWER this cycle to go along with the surging J BRENT---And then this years developing guys and we have some good ones already on the roster---

 

Going to be a sketchy , tense season of defense--struggling offense and a lot of CLOSE GAMES!

 

But if golson returns in 2014 we could be looking at a real renaissance offensively in 2014 behind some GREAT MOBILE QBs --A MONSTER OLINE & A STABLE OF RUNNING BACKS UNMATCHED.

 

Patience & Defense are the words for 2013 and offense may be the word for 2014 if things ever start to even out from this ridiculous series of events we have faced recently.

 

aloha's

[corysold 0]

I don't think Golson coming back in '14 is in anyway certain. Even if the path is cleared by ND, I am sure there is stuff Golson needs to do. He has already shown that he is willing to skimp to get by.

 

Now, does this experience change him and that all goes away? Maybe.

 

But at the same time, he likely already had been caught once before this latest incident and had a second chance which he also blew. Some guys just never change.

[Kelly Gruene 26]

8-5. Rees. Synonyms?

The thing that gives me hope is that ND is just a better team than two and three years ago. Better players, deeper roster, improved coaches, better strength and conditioning. Sure some former team members are now in the NFL, but this team also has many more that are probably headed that way too. Even with Rees' limitations, I like the 2013 team much more than the 2010 or 2011 teams.

[NDhoosier 1,336]

Zaire will goldshirt, no surprise there. I am happy to see the staff is confident in Golson's return.

[IRISHSTL7 0]

I'am not worried about this season I think ND will be just fine. Go ahead and start beating me up I'm ready for it. This TEAM made it to the NC last year not EG not Manti not Eifert ect... But this TEAM made it. I think a lot of you will be surprised at how good this TEAM will be this year. ND has a ton of talent and a very smart coaching staff.

[VCDomer 75]

Zaire will goldshirt, no surprise there. I am happy to see the staff is confident in Golson's return.

 

The staff has no choice.

[AlabamaDuck 0]

Zaire will goldshirt, no surprise there. I am happy to see the staff is confident in Golson's return.

 

2014 - Rees is gone. Hendrix moves on to Med school. Golson does not return which there is a good chance he will not.

Zaire is the starter without taking one snap.

 

Zaire had better play and play a lot this year.

[ndomer4 532]

2014 - Rees is gone. Hendrix moves on to Med school. Golson does not return which there is a good chance he will not.

Zaire is the starter without taking one snap.

 

Zaire had better play and play a lot this year.

 

Golson was fine sitting a year and learning, I'm not worried about Zaire. Going against ND's defense in practice seemed to be good enough experience for Golson, same goes for Zaire.

[Rocketsan 879]

I am happy to see the staff is confident in Golson's return.

 

They were confident that EV was going to report in June as well though...

[indyirishdad 0]

What do we expect CBK to say? Now is not the time to spark fierce competition amongst the remaing QB's. Pick your best option and invest 100% into their confidence. Also, an injury would be DISASTEROUS. Eggshell strategy is in full effect.

[MyFightingIrish 0]

They were confident that EV was going to report in June as well though...

 

EV is a dumb HS kid... Golson helped ND get to the NC game.... big difference...

 

it's certainly not 100% that Golson returns... but the odds are certainly in our favor here.

[Rocketsan 879]

EV is a dumb HS kid...

 

Hahaha, this reeks of a lover scorned...

 

The staff expressed confidence in EV coming. He's not. Coaches are paid to paint positives...I wouldn't take the staff's words as a definite (I know you aren't...). A year is a long time...just saying that anything can happen.

[MyFightingIrish 0]

Hahaha, this reeks of a lover scorned...

 

The staff expressed confidence in EV coming. He's not. Coaches are paid to paint positives...I wouldn't take the staff's words as a definite (I know you aren't...). A year is a long time...just saying that anything can happen.

 

agreed.

 

 

(and to clarify, I was a complete idiot in HS.)

[Rocketsan 879]

I still am...

[Katzenboyer 0]

2014 - Rees is gone. Hendrix moves on to Med school. Golson does not return which there is a good chance he will not.

Zaire is the starter without taking one snap.

 

Zaire had better play and play a lot this year.

 

OR

 

Rees moves on, Hendrix comes back for a 5th year, and Golson returns to the team. All of which is just as likely as your scenario.

 

In that case, playing Zaire this year would be a MASSIVE waste, and probably leads to a transfer (because he'd have the same amount of eligibility remaining as Golson).

[Scotty88 0]

 

In that case, playing Zaire this year would be a MASSIVE waste, and probably leads to a transfer (because he'd have the same amount of eligibility remaining as Golson).

 

No, he'd still have a year on EG.

 

EG comes back having only 2 more yrs.

 

Point taken though, no way of really knowing what the position will look like at this point.

[AlabamaDuck 0]

OR

 

Rees moves on, Hendrix comes back for a 5th year, and Golson returns to the team. All of which is just as likely as your scenario.

 

In that case, playing Zaire this year would be a MASSIVE waste, and probably leads to a transfer (because he'd have the same amount of eligibility remaining as Golson).

 

Playing Zaire this year and let him compete for the starting job and maybe we will have a chance of getting in a BCS bowl. Next year Zaire will have 3 years left and Golson 2 with a freshman, 4. I am sure that Kelly will sign other top QBs in the next 2-3 years.

Next year the best QB will start and that could be Zaire again. Zaire is a very good athlete and if his QB skills improve, he could be/might be better than any QB in resent memory.

My understanding about the bowls this year is that there will not be any bowls available to us unless it is a BCS bowl. That will take at least 10 wins minimum.

We have a very good team but winning 10 games with Rees as the QB does not seem likely.

[WeaverIrish 28]

I'd say redshirt Zaire, cause if we lose both Rees and Hendrix next year we are potentially lacking in quarterbacks, especially if Golson doesn't come back. So short term Zaire may help us this year, but long term we are going to need him as long as we can have him.

[Katzenboyer 0]

No, he'd still have a year on EG.

 

EG comes back having only 2 more yrs.

 

Point taken though, no way of really knowing what the position will look like at this point.

 

Does Golson lose a year of eligibility for being away from the program? My bad if so.

[Katzenboyer 0]

Playing Zaire this year and let him compete for the starting job and maybe we will have a chance of getting in a BCS bowl.

 

Do you honestly believe that we can compete for a BCS bowl berth with a true freshman at QB? Do you remember the 2007 season?

 

And yes, I know we had a terrible OLine from years of Willingham incompetency. But the point stands -- the best ND QB in recent memory (Clausen) still had some terrible, terrible games as a true freshman, and Zaire is not the prospect Jimmy was.