For as much as we’re ready to move on from the quarterback talk... we’re not really ready to move on from the quarterback talk.
So let’s tear the band-aid off one last time (who are we kidding?) and talk about the situation behind center for the Irish.
bearcatirishfan: Do you think there is any risk that Zaire will stop trying to improve, or just won’t get pushed enough without Golson’s there to provide extra incentive/competition?
Malik Zaire is not the kind of kid that needs someone to push him. While his success remains to be seen, his intangibles and off-field profile are everything you could ask for. So while the departure of Golson makes Zaire the starter with no real competition, there’s not much risk of Zaire deciding to coast now that the team is his.
If anything, I think the tendency will be the opposite. The last two seasons, I think there was a “check-out” factor, especially when it was clear that this was Golson’s offense and nothing Zaire did during practice could change that. This is Zaire’s team now. And he’ll be ready.
irishkevy: Is there any worry with Malik Zaire getting injured? The worst possible situation is that happening and Wimbush giving up his redshirt. I’ve seen Wimbush in person and as a three year starter he’ll be very legit.
Zaire getting hurt is probably the biggest X-Factor of the season. I don’t think it was ever possible for Zaire to run the ball 20+ times a game, like he did against LSU. But looking back at Mike Sanford’s play calling at Boise State, he ran his quarterback 10 or more times in a game eight times, and Zaire is a far more dangerous runner.
He’s a big kid, likely pushing 230 pounds, so that’ll help. But how Kelly and company decide to protect Zaire now that the back-up QB situation is an unknown will be interesting.
Last thought on Wimbush: Redshirting is obviously preferred. But this football team is too good to hold somebody back with the hopes of having a great season in 2020, especially when you consider how unrealistic it is for a head coach to spend a decade as the man on top of the Notre Dame football program. So if Wimbush is ready (and needed), he’ll play if he’s good enough to be the No. 2 quarterback.
robtrodes: Keith, I keep seeing comments that Zaire isn’t all that good of a passer, and the (admittedly meager) stats available don’t appear to support the position at all. Is this just something that everyone says because everyone else says it, or is there evidence of it?
Good question. Compared to Golson, Zaire isn’t necessarily as accurate. But the position comes mostly from hearing Brian Kelly talk about Zaire needing to improve in the intermediate and short passing game, not from anything we’ve seen.
One thing that I’ve noticed in Zaire’s passing game that I think needs to be fixed: The tendency to slow his arm down when throwing short or underneath. A little like a baseball pitcher, you can’t change the speed of your arm when throwing shorter or softer.
But watching him hit Will Fuller for 70 in the Blue-Gold game, and do a nice-enough job against USC, it’s like a lot of inexperienced quarterbacks. We want them all to be more accurate.
onward2victory: Keith, how do you think Zaire compares to Johnny Manziel (on the field only)? Personally, I see some similarities and in my most optimistic moments believe that Zaire could see that kind of production so long as Kelly lets the reigns loose. Would love get your take.
I’m going to ask you to pump your brakes, Onward. I actually think Zaire’s body-type and mental game makes him a far more durable quarterback, but we’ve seen this kid run for 96 yards against LSU and play a nice second half in a blowout loss to USC.
He’s a little bit behind the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback that made the SEC look like a sandlot.
ajw21: Keith, Did you alter expectations now that Golson is gone. you have said before you believe ND could be in the final four. Do you still feel that way with Zaire the starter and the only qb who plays barring an injury? Also does Wimbush redshirt if Zaire is out for let’s say 2 or more games.
Notre Dame has a chance to win every game on their schedule. They get USC at Notre Dame, which should help. And that doesn’t change just because Everett Golson disappeared, so there’s every reason to believe the Irish are a legit contender for a spot in the CFB Playoffs.
But without Zaire? I have no clue how good Wimbush can be, and Kizer sure didn’t look like a guy who was ready to run a team in his limited Blue-Gold game action. But it’s May.
scoli: With the transfer of Golson, most of the concern seems to be that Zaire is too “inexperienced”. Having watched college football closely for more years than I should admit, I have seen MANY teams be successful, and actually win championships with “inexperienced” QB’s. Some have actually done it with true freshman.Look at Ohio States success last year with 2nd and 3rd string.
My question to you then is, DO you think that Coach Kelly’s system is too complicated? ND has some of the highest admission standards of any D1 school, so you know these kids are not dummies, why does it take so long for them to understand/get a handle on the playbook?
I kept the statement part of your question in because it’s correct. Last year’s national champ? First-year quarterback. Two seasons ago? First-year starting quarterback. It can—and does—happen.
Is Kelly’s system too complicated? I don’t know it, but I also don’t think so.
To your point about the academics/grasp of the playbook, I don’t think that’s necessarily fair. ND is definitely not running the type of offense where a QB looks to the sidelines, gets a play and then runs it regardless. But trying to make a grand statement on speed of proficiency in a system in comparison to other programs with varying degrees of academic difficulty is a tough one to make.
What I will say: Notre Dame’s offense has been too quarterback reliant. The one season that it wasn’t (2012) was the year the Irish rode their defense and running game to an undefeated regular season. That’s not to say it’ll happen every year, but it’s hard not to see what Urban Meyer did last year and wonder how the Irish would look utilizing that style of offense. And I’m guessing Kelly and his staff took note.
irishdog80: What makes Golson believe that he will not have the same competition issues at his next stop?
I don’t think Golson transferred because of competition. Because every football team he plays on for the rest of his life will offer significant competition.
notrebob: Keith,what could you tell us about the Kelly /Golson relationship especially towards the end surely you some authentic info you can share tired of all the speculation
That’s too hard to say for sure. But from talking to people in and around the situation, I do think that part of the issue was their relationship, at least from Golson’s point of view.
On the flip side, I’ve also heard from people inside the program that getting to Golson was difficult. He’s a unique kid, and any issues in the relationship wasn’t for a lack of trying.
In the end, Golson earned his degree. That allows him to transfer. He did. End of story. (For now...)
