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ESPN's 5 Breakthrough Offenses


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From the article by Brad Edwards :

 

"Notre Dame Fighting Irish http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/ncaa/med/87.gif

 

 

 

The Irish were, by all appearances, an average offensive team last year, ranking 54th in the nation in yards per game. Digging a little deeper, however, we see that Notre Dame faced four top-10 defenses plus three others that ranked in the top third of the FBS (according to adjusted defensive EPA), which makes those offensive struggles much more understandable.

 

That degree of difficulty posed by the opposition is a big reason why Notre Dame ranked 18th in adjusted offensive EPA in 2012. An underrated passing attack (71st in the FBS in yards per game but 24th in passing EPA) is another reason. But as many people are aware, the Irish lost their top receiving target, Tyler Eifert, to the NFL, and starting QB Everett Golson is no longer on the roster.

 

Therefore, any chance of Notre Dame continuing to improve on offense this season probably rests on the arm of quarterback Tommy Rees. Fortunately for the Irish, Total QBR -- ESPN's metric that measures all aspects of quarterback play -- says he's the equal of Golson. Rees had an opponent-adjusted rating of 69 (on a 100-point scale) for last season, which was slightly better than Golson's 67 (35th among FBS starters). And over a three-year college career that has lacked continuity, Rees has still managed to produce better-than-average numbers along the way.

 

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly arrived in South Bend with a reputation as a quarterback developer, and even though we've seen little of that in the last three seasons, this will be his first chance to work with a veteran QB as his starter. If you still believe in Kelly as an offensive guru, it's hard not to like the potential of this Notre Dame unit.

 

One area of likely improvement is big-play production. Rees is a better passer than Golson, and that should give Notre Dame more opportunities through the air. And without an elite tight end as a security blanket this season, expect the Irish to get the ball into the hands of their wideouts more often. Although TJ Jones has proved himself reliable, DaVaris Daniels may be the target who proves to be a difference-maker, with more opportunities to make plays.

 

Without the threat of Golson behind center, the running game will be different, but the explosive George Atkinson III figures to get more touches after the departure of leading rushers Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood. If either of two highly rated recruits can make significant contributions, the running game might also produce more big plays, even if it proves to be less consistent overall.

 

The bottom line is that Notre Dame has recruited well enough in recent years that losing a few impact players should not signal a step backward for the offense. If anything, an experienced QB should finally show us signs of what we thought the Irish would be when Kelly was hired."

 

The others were Bama, Texas, Michigan, and Wisky.. Interesting take on TR.

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I agree with everything written. Plain and simple. Golson had a higher ceiling and I still think he does, but a goldshirt freshman Golson vs. a senior Rees... I think I would take a senior Rees. Though, I wouldnt take him over a goldshirt sophomore Golson. :(

 

GS Soph Golson > Senior Rees > GS fresh Golson > Freshman-Soph Rees.

Junior Rees is an unknown really because he did come in and save the day a couple times.

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From the article by Brad Edwards :

 

"Notre Dame Fighting Irish http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/ncaa/med/87.gif

 

 

 

The Irish were, by all appearances, an average offensive team last year, ranking 54th in the nation in yards per game. Digging a little deeper, however, we see that Notre Dame faced four top-10 defenses plus three others that ranked in the top third of the FBS (according to adjusted defensive EPA), which makes those offensive struggles much more understandable.

 

That degree of difficulty posed by the opposition is a big reason why Notre Dame ranked 18th in adjusted offensive EPA in 2012. An underrated passing attack (71st in the FBS in yards per game but 24th in passing EPA) is another reason. But as many people are aware, the Irish lost their top receiving target, Tyler Eifert, to the NFL, and starting QB Everett Golson is no longer on the roster.

 

Therefore, any chance of Notre Dame continuing to improve on offense this season probably rests on the arm of quarterback Tommy Rees. Fortunately for the Irish, Total QBR -- ESPN's metric that measures all aspects of quarterback play -- says he's the equal of Golson. Rees had an opponent-adjusted rating of 69 (on a 100-point scale) for last season, which was slightly better than Golson's 67 (35th among FBS starters). And over a three-year college career that has lacked continuity, Rees has still managed to produce better-than-average numbers along the way.

 

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly arrived in South Bend with a reputation as a quarterback developer, and even though we've seen little of that in the last three seasons, this will be his first chance to work with a veteran QB as his starter. If you still believe in Kelly as an offensive guru, it's hard not to like the potential of this Notre Dame unit.

 

One area of likely improvement is big-play production. Rees is a better passer than Golson, and that should give Notre Dame more opportunities through the air. And without an elite tight end as a security blanket this season, expect the Irish to get the ball into the hands of their wideouts more often. Although TJ Jones has proved himself reliable, DaVaris Daniels may be the target who proves to be a difference-maker, with more opportunities to make plays.

 

Without the threat of Golson behind center, the running game will be different, but the explosive George Atkinson III figures to get more touches after the departure of leading rushers Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood. If either of two highly rated recruits can make significant contributions, the running game might also produce more big plays, even if it proves to be less consistent overall.

 

The bottom line is that Notre Dame has recruited well enough in recent years that losing a few impact players should not signal a step backward for the offense. If anything, an experienced QB should finally show us signs of what we thought the Irish would be when Kelly was hired."

 

The others were Bama, Texas, Michigan, and Wisky.. Interesting take on TR.

 

 

with that my buddy Hawaii says :smash: ... QB play statistically was not great last year. Edwards is a numbers guy though so I would not totally blow him off :boom:. No matter who the QB is ND has to execute period..

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with that my buddy Hawaii says :smash: ... QB play statistically was not great last year. Edwards is a numbers guy though so I would not totally blow him off :boom:. No matter who the QB is ND has to execute period..

 

Aaah the same ESPN secret metric that also fearlessly predicted the Irish to be unranked by season's end with 5 losses....someone musta flipped a digit...

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Other Edwards articles of note--

 

 

Brad Edwards---Why johnny manziel will struggle in the cotton bowl against Oklahoma.

 

A&M--41--Oklahoma 13--manziel 22- 34 2tds

 

Brad Edwards-- USC among teams that were better then their records.

 

Georgia Tech 21--USC 7 in the sun bowl

 

Brad Edwards--Is this the END for Alabama==:grin:

 

 

Brad Edwards--Wisconsin underrated

 

Brad Edwards--Ohio state overrated---

 

Seems to me this guys crystal ball is a little cloudy---;)

 

aloha's

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I'm having a really hard time predicting this year's offense because of the loss of Golson. That was a major major blow, but I must admit, it is quite possible to do better statistically than we did last year. Not sure how much Tommy has improved, not sure if Malik or Andrew get the second team and/or redzone snaps.

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Other Edwards articles of note--

 

 

Brad Edwards---Why johnny manziel will struggle in the cotton bowl against Oklahoma.

 

A&M--41--Oklahoma 13--manziel 22- 34 2tds

 

Brad Edwards-- USC among teams that were better then their records.

 

Georgia Tech 21--USC 7 in the sun bowl

 

Brad Edwards--Is this the END for Alabama==:grin:

 

 

Brad Edwards--Wisconsin underrated

 

Brad Edwards--Ohio state overrated---

 

Seems to me this guys crystal ball is a little cloudy---;)

 

aloha's

 

 

 

I said they paid him to crunch numbers NOT to Watch Football games!!!

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I'm having a really hard time predicting this year's offense because of the loss of Golson. That was a major major blow, but I must admit, it is quite possible to do better statistically than we did last year. Not sure how much Tommy has improved, not sure if Malik or Andrew get the second team and/or redzone snaps.

 

^ This..

 

I mean we could have a team that averages 200 yards rushing and passing

 

OR

 

a team that leads the nation in turnovers

 

 

Its making me wanna :censored: or by head wanna :boom:

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Yeah stay away from those. In what world is Tommy Rees a better passer than Golson? I don't think these guys watched the same Notre Dame games as we have the last 3 years.

 

They apparently don't watch games. They simply let their ouija board do the talking...

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There are a couple of things that make me think Tommy will be okay this year.

1. I think he will be a good, confident leader.

2. He knows this offense is his for the taking.

3. He's a smart, senior who understands the game and how to read defenses.

4. He will be able to go through his progressions.

5. He has veins of ice.

6. He just has to be good for the Irish to win...so he will!

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