Spring Practice Report: Week Two Recap

Reports I read had Floyd meeting with Res. Life yesterday. Announcement probably next week.
Nuss-Watt- Golic left guard, not tackle.
Filer just can’t get the pass coverage at cat, it seems?
Jonas Gray needs to be productive, it is not an option.

Yeah, I’m thinking gray will average well over 6 carries a game. Thanks for the update.

First Hughes, now Gray.

Why is it so hard to train a big back to stop dancing in the back field and just lower his pads?

Is the instinct to go for a home run so strong that it can’t be replaced with “run people over”?

Did he meet already? I thought it was scheduled for next week…that’s better I guess.

Yes, left guard…that’s what I get for hurrying this on a Friday.

Perhaps they should have just had Filer play behind Fleming this whole time? I don’t know…I hate to see his career go to waste.

I don’t understand the problems with Gray. Luckily he still has time to figure it out.

Eic nice picture, were you in Johnny Quest ?

Sterling Archer, from the FX show Archer.

It seems that this multiple QB system is continuing to raise some discussion. I wish that I had more time to write a full on post with my thoughts on this but I’ll settle for commenting for the time being.

I’m not a fan of a true two QB system. In my opinion it can be a rhythm killer for the offense and can hamper the leadership of the starter. It also lends itself to armchair quarterbacking of the highest order. Say Crist drives the team across the 50 now you bring Hendrix in on 3rd and 3 to run the read option and it gets stuffed. We’ll all be on here the next day bitching about it for a multitude of reasons. Of course if said play gets a 1st down and the drive ends with points we’ll all be calling Kelly a genius. I just don’t like the overall scenario that it creates. That said….

There is some utility in showing that look a little bit from time to time. I know it is a Weisism but if the opposing team has to spend some reps prepping for it during the week that is less reps that they are using to prepare for your base offensive package. That is goodness and I always liked Charlie’s theory on that despite the fact that he never really brought it to fruition save the GT 07’ debacle.

So what I’m hoping to see are some random Hendrix/ Golson type plays mixed in early in the season just to keep opposing defenses honest. But I sincerely hope that it doesn’ turn into a regular “package” that detracts in any way from the base offense or established rhythm of the starting QB.

I fully expect to see Crist under center on opening day and I hope that his health supports a full and very productive seasson as the Notre Dame QB. I personally think that he’s the best guy for the job despite my affinity for Rees who I personally classify as a winner. Tommy still reminds me a lot of Major Applewhite in many ways. Despite his size, lack of a killer arm and youthful appearance he’s just one of those guys that I think will go out and consistently do enough to get you a W.

Now if Crist can’t stay healthy and Rees takes back over I think we will see a lot more of the Hendrix/ Golson read option package. If and when that happens we will have plenty to discuss here.

That said I still believe that all of this is of little consequence as I am extremely optomistic about the defense. I don’t think the offense is going to need to score a whole lot of points to win games this fall. I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.

Whiskey,

Thanks for checking in, hope things are well with you.

I pretty much agree with everything you’re saying. Ultimately the two-QB system just can’t work. Believe me, I’d love to see the team be able to go out and run the spread to its fullest capabilities, and I love watching Hendrix and Golson with two studs like Wood and Riddick in the backfield, but…I still think all of this talk about throwing those two in there with certain packages is to force USF and Michigan to prepare for it.

What team has run a two-QB system and been successful? I can’t think of any besides Florida in 2006 and even then, we don’t have a Tebow, and that 2006 Gator team was very dependent on Leak. In SEC play, Tebow was 5 for 10 with 76 yards and two touchdowns. Of course Meyer used him as a battering ram and he put up 356 yards on the ground with five scores, but we don’t have that.

Like I said earlier, MAYBE we’ll see Hendrix come in near the goal line, or in short yardage situations, but I don’t see him coming in to take over for an entire series after a change of possession of anything like that.

I do think it might be wise to put Hendrix in for a play here and there (maybe two a game) and that’s just to keep the defenses honest and also to make sure he doesn’t transfer…yes I’m still worried!

This is definitely going to be something that Kelly is going to have to delicately balance, but I think more so, I’m worried about what we’ll be doing offensively with Crist (or Rees) at QB.

I did not like Molnar’s comments at the start of spring basically saying we’ll have a package of plays for Crist but they might not use all of them. That signals to me that we’re not going to have Crist run at all, or utilize the option read, and I don’t like that.

Maybe the passing game will be so potent and the running game will do well without a threat from the QB, but I don’t like the idea of “holding back.” I can just envision a 13-7 game in the third quarter against USF and we don’t punch it in inside the 10 yards line and wanting Crist to run the ball if there’s daylight on the option read. I want Crist to stay healthy and I think he starts, but I’d also like to see him leave it all out on the field. Last year, we could excuse his lack of running (or more appropriately, not taking the ball and running on the read) because of his inexperience in the system, but there really isn’t that excuse this year. Maybe the coaches didn’t want to see it last year, and maybe they don’t want to very much this year, but I think it’s definitely something we should exploit.

To put it more simply, I don’t see us taking our running game to the next level, something that needs to happen if this team is to be great, if our quarterback pulls it down on the read once or twice a game. Maybe we can throw three tight ends in there and just overpower teams, but I’ll believe that when I see it too.

Okay, I’m done!

If Dayne can prove to Kelly that he’ll get down or go out of bounds instead of taking on tacklers, maybe he’ll get the green light to run a little more. That may only happen after a couple of scrambles that show Kelly he gets it. Kelly’s trust in his backups will have a lot to say about it also.

TLNDMA,

I think you’re right. I am prepared for zero option reads against USF if Crist is in at QB, with the QB taking the ball. I definitely think we’ll have to see Crist scramble on a broken play a few times before the coaches get comfortable with pressing him to take the ball on designed reads.

I also think purposely developing Hendrix (and Golson to a lesser extend) plus having a capable backup in Rees should mean Crist can run more.

I’m just worried about being able to run the ball and would hate to see someone like Wood bottled up because defenses don’t have to worry about the QB on the option read.

I always think of the game against Michigan where on numerous plays we were completely shut down in the running game…against the worst UM defense ever. They just completely zoned in on the running back and it was too easy to stop us.

With that said, I definitely think we’re going to be better almost everywhere on the field and our offensive line could be dominant enough where we’ll be able to “get by” against most of the teams we play. But I fear what will happen running up against USC or a really good team in a bowl game. I know if our QB doesn’t run that it will come back to bite us at some point this year.

Unless….Kelly is really serious about rolling out 3 tight ends and blowing people off the line and having a great run game that way. But I just don’t see that happening to such an extreme. Maybe we’ll continue that kind of power run game we saw late last year, but this is still gonna be a passing offense especially with limited options at running back.

Also, I realize the Michigan game isn’t a great example of the option read not working properly probably because Crist pulled down his longest run of the year then. But after he went out the run game struggled mightily, and I remember thinking “Why are there 3 Michigan defenders surrounding Wood and Allen on every run!!”

I’d look to the early Utah game and the vast majority of the USC game as better examples of a non-running threat at QB stifling the running game out of the shotgun in the spread.

Interesting thoughts on Crist. The guy is a competitior, and while it might be easy to say and do one thing in the spring with a red jersey on, once game time rolls around in the fall it will be hard for him to just switch it off (when looking to run). I think he will run when he has to and be smart about it, but for the BK offense to really be effective, you need the threat of the QB pulling the ball down every now and again.

As far as Filer goes, I think part of his problem is that the coaches haven’t forced him to learn one position. The Cat seems more natural since the coverage skills required aren’t as much as the Dog position. If Williams is going to see limited PT (like Shembo did in 2010), then they should put Filer at Cat and force him to learn behind Flemming. He, more than anyone, has struggled with the 3-4 to 4-3 to 3-4 switches becasue he has never had a true position. We know he will be a solid playmaker on special teams, but Diaco needs to put him someplace and let him sink or swim instead of moving him around. Who knows, maybe the guy needs to move inside and play next to Te’o.

What is great to hear is the solid play/development of the O-Line. It all starts up front, so the better that group plays, the better the offense will look.

Three TE power look? Interesting thought. I think the number of times we will see that I will be able to count on one hand, but if BK can get the defense caught in the wrong package, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him do that. I think it would be even more interesting with three TEs with Riddick and Wood in the backfield. A little play action hitting Riddick on a wheel route down the sideline sounds like 6 to me.

Crist looks like he’ll start, but there are still a lot of question marks. I hope he has a great passing performance in the spring game.

I don’t know why Filer didn’t backup Fleming right from the get-go last year. It seems like they are going to keep him at Cat for now. He should at least be a serviceable (or better) pass rusher every once and a while there.

With all this talk about the defense, I wonder how we’ll react if the offensive line shuts them down in the spring game. Oh, the wonders of an intra-squad scrimmage.

I like the idea of a three tight end look. With the improved play of Golic, that gives us four tight ends, plus Kelly kind of hinted that Koyack would come in and possibly play right away. In some respects you have to play to your strengths, right?

Having three tight ends out there with our playmakers is a lot different than what most other teams can do. We can line up 8 at the line with Riddick out wide and Wood in the backfield. We can run the ball straight ahead. We can motion Riddick into the backfield and run the option like we’ve seen in practice clips. We can have Riddick come across on a jet sweep. We can bounce Eifert and Welch out wide and go to a 3 receiver look. Lots and lots of opportunities to get mismatches there.

I agree, we’re probably not going to see a lot of three tight ends and purely running the ball, but with our talent and skill at this position, it gives us a lot of options and flexibility.

Eric —

The beauty of what you propose is that you force the defense to commit to one or the other (pass or run). With a 3 TE set, they can stack the box (possibly bringing in an additional LB) and you split the TEs out. If the opposing D plays pass, you run the ball. I like the proposal, but BK will probably save it for when he really needs it.

“Unless….Kelly is really serious about rolling out 3 tight ends and blowing people off the line and having a great run game that way. But I just don’t see that happening to such an extreme. Maybe we’ll continue that kind of power run game we saw late last year, but this is still gonna be a passing offense especially with limited options at running back.”

Not so fast, my friend. Just kidding—on the Corso quote. That guy’s an idiot. But seriously, I think Kelly showed us in those last four games that he realizes the value of pounding the rock. And Murtaugh has it in his head that this is a passing offense, but au contraire, I say. Kelly’s career run:pass ratio is a lot closer to 50/50 than most people realize. But as some of us have touched on, the read-option is a staple of Kelly’s run game. Kelly’s problem now is that he has a potentially very good and surprisingly mobile pro-style QB with bum knees. What does that mean for our purposes? Well, Crist has the athleticism to run the read option, but we’re afraid that his knees won’t hold up so we don’t run the read-option. So Kelly will rely more on straight-up running and passing plays. Our receivers have been pretty good, and our OL’s run blocking has been a work in progress, so we’ve probably passed more in Kelly’s time at ND. But again, I think Kelly showed us in his last four games that he realizes the importance of relying on your run game. Let’s hope that this line only improves with another year with this system and this strength and conditioning staff.

And by the way, what makes one player—like Crist—seem injury-prone, while another player with a similar build—like Brady Quinn—is absolutely NEVER injured? Both of those guys is 6’4", 235. Brady was clearly more jacked than pretty much everybody but Mariusz Pudianowski. But Crist is still a solidly-build guy, and Quinn took FAR more punishment in his first game—Purdue—than Crist took all of last year. I don’t really believe in luck, so maybe that’s why I’m having a hard time with this. Is there a doctor in the house?

Mouth

Maybe some players have an almost subconscious ability or knowledge as to how to protect themselves, in addition to just being put together well.

I know Kelly isn’t married to the passing offense as much as people think, but is he convinced that this 2011 team will be more potent running the ball? Or even so much so that we’ll get close to a 50/50 split in play calls?

I think this speaks to the question that people are starting to ask, namely: What is this offense going to look like when it’s “complete?”

And, how long until we see that offense?

I think I’ll have a piece on this after the spring game.

Anyway, I think Kelly is going to do whatever it takes to win. Naturally, no one expected him to run the ball a ton with the 2010 roster, but I think it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that in some years over his career (which let us pray is long and fruitful) at Notre Dame, that we will see a very potent rushing attack that leads the offense.

With that said, I don’t think we’re there yet. I’d be perfectly fine with being proved wrong, but it’s just one of those things that you have to see to believe at Notre Dame because it’s been so long since we’ve had a potent running game. In reality, I think a BCS bowl win seems more likely than a big running game. At least that’s how I see it.

I do think running the ball is more of a mindset and that Kelly’s history as a program builder means we’re going to slowly improve putting the rock on the ground, but I just don’t think we’re there in 2011.

Obviously, the play of Crist is crucial, assuming he starts. The day QB’s like Hendrix or Golson start running the offense, then I think we can see a great rushing attack. With Crist….I just don’t know. You could say Crist won’t run and we’ll just roll out running plays and blow people off the ball, yeah it could happen, but it doesn’t seem likely to me.

I don’t want to sound too dramatic and self-hating, but playing on that shaggy Kentucky Bluegrass, and playing a solid schedule all season, it just seems like a lot to ask to expect the running game to be dominant, or lead the offense, or be vastly improved.

A lot of this depends upon how our defense plays too. If they show they are very good right away, then I can see Kelly running the ball more and leaving those quick 40-second, 3-pass drives on the curb. With dynamic playmakers like Wood and Riddick, things could fall together and the team might take some big steps this season. But who after that can chip in? Can Gray finally break through as a senior or will there be a big step down when our back up is in? Do we even get any semi-major contributions from Cam McD or GA3?

I’m sitting here and thinking, Oklahoma State did not have a mobile quarterback, and they ran for over 2,220 yards last season. They had one big time runner and two freshman backs who shared back up carries. I see a team like that and I want to believe we too can be that type of team who can combine a potent passing game with a very good running game.

I want to believe!!!

Okie state also plays in a league with little defense and an anemic schedule at best. I think you have a valid point in saying that you need to expect a respectable ground attack (130-150 yds/game), but not something like the service academies.

Most of the those who post here are much more knowledgeable about football than I, so please explain this to me. Eric seems to be arguing that a spread offense can’t produce a respectable running game without a mobile quarterback; why is that so?

Our O-line appears to be much approved, Cierre is “electrifying”, and Gray is allegedly improving quickly as a power back. If anything, those factors, along with the way we ended last season, point toward a significant increase in production from our rushing attack in 2011.

If we maintain a roughly 50/50 run/ pass split with an immobile QB, are we suddenly betraying our spread principles? Does that move us into pro-style territory?

“Our O-line appears to be much improved…”

Okie State did run for over 300 yards combined against Nebraska and Oklahoma. And over 500 yards passing those games too. When was the last time ND exploded offensively with that much balance on a ranked team? I’ll concede their schedule wasn’t great, but their offense was nasty last year…and incredibly balanced for a spread offense that was 2nd in the nation in passing.

Yes, I think it’s is usually very difficult to run out of the spread without a mobile quarterback. Doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but there tends to be a lot more spread teams with stronger passing games. How many spread teams can you think of with immobile quarterbacks that consistently have strong running games? There are some, but I can’t think of a ton.

We can run the ball as much as we want and still remain a spread team. Question is if we’ll be productive at it or not. We can run the ball more next year and get 2,000 yards…a milestone we haven’t sniffed in years. Even then, we’ll move up to above average as 2,000 yards rushing usually gets you a national ranking in the 50’s. Combine that with a very good passing game then we’re talking.

Over the course of the last four years (1 at ND, three at Cincy), total Rushing attempts for Kelly’s teams – 1707, total Passing attempts – 1889.

However, Kelly’s QBs accounted for 379 of those rushing attempts (22%). Runs by non-QBs – 1328 (vs 1889 passing attempts).

Top QB rushers per year – Mauk accounted for 100 rushing attempts in 2007. Pike ran 56 times in 2008. Collaros ran 57 times in 2009. Crist ran 52 times in 2010. He may prefer the weapon that a mobile QB can bring.

Kelly’s rushing offenses have never finished higher than 62nd nationally (‘07). Last year’s rushing offense was 92nd and 2008 was 96th. His passing offense has never finished lower than 34th (’10). His three years at Cincy – 8th, 26th, 20th.