The Dayne Crist Tragedy

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Big arm 5 star recruit and heir to Clausen under the guidance of Charlie Weis. Perfect for the Pro system run by Weis.

Redshirt year and knee injury in Weis final year.

In comes Kelly (at this point Dayne should have left–think Mallett at Michigan).

But Dayne all in for ND and was in fact the leader of this team–respected and liked by his team mates.

He had to rehab knee and at same time learn the spread–limited in Spring practice but recovered to start the season.
Scary head injury, vision loss and finally the next knee injury–so Rees thrown in to finish the season.

Interjection here—Think back to Kelly year 1. Did not matter if spread was new square pegs in round holes. Crist had to learn and run the spread in warp speed with only 6 months to grasp the system.

Sideline behavior of Kelly re Crist was unbelievable and uncalled for. Kelly shattered Crist’s confidence. The last thing a QB needs is a head coach screaming at him every time he saw him. If Weis knew anything he knew how to handle and coach up QB’s. Just go back as to how he handled Clausen and all the mistakes he made–he did not see a raving lunatic when he came off the field.

2011 Fall Practice Crist wins job but gets yanked after 1/2 of game and relegated to bench until USC game and fumbled snap.

Contrast the treatment afforded Rees–he can make all the turnovers he wants –you don’t see Kelly screaming at him. You also do not see the uptempo warp speed spread that Crist was expected to run–this is just the old shotgun offense.

So Rees is the QB with the complete inability to go deep–run the ball and short passes will carry the day. Except when defenses dare him–see Pitt and USC games. You have maybe the best receiver Floyd that was completely shut down in the USC game while ND let Woods run all over the place–maybe a time out when Lo Wood lines up to cover Woods would have been appropriate–huh coach. No not really Motta got hurt??? Does anyone think Motta could have covered Woods.

Another interjection–Andrew Hendrix, in system for 1 1/2 years but has limited grasp of offense-needs more time but Crist given no such luxury–he had 6 months along with bad knee to get this down pat. Hendrix is in Pre Med but can’t learn this system–huh.

Over the blogs lot of wailing about no one stepping up as a leader–players not stupid they all saw what happened to Crist–maybe behind the scenes he stood up to Kelly.

The whole point of this article is Crist not really given a chance to succeed while he might have been able to work thru his problems and if he succeeded we would have him for next season.

We’ll stumble thru next 4 games but without the deep ball threat Stanford will destroy us.

Don’t be surprised if Crist starts for Florida next year.

Offense Musings

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When Brian Kelly opened his first Spring Practices to reporters–they were blown away by the uptempo speed with which the offense was working. And Kelly quipped –you ain’t seen nothing yet–wait until we finish Fall Practice.

He also opined on the Spread Offense with warp speed running plays which happens so fast, it keeps the defense from substituting as well as changing up the defense before ball snapped.

Sure enough,they ran a blazing fast offense but Christ was unable to keep the tempo up to Kelly’s satisfaction, which started the screaming at the QB tirades every time Christ came to the sidelines. No one can tell me that this did not sap Crist’s confidence which led him to being scared of making the smallest mistake.

Crist is a Pro-set QB and always will be–tutored by Charlie Weis.

Ok let’s forward to the 2011 season. Now we have a slow tempo offense–might as well huddle, which re-acts to what the defense is doing-so Rees can go thru his progressions. The ND offense is not setting the tempo–their opponents are.

Seems very strange to me that Kelly ran a helter skelter uptempo offense at first, which has now slowed to a crawl since Rees is only a very green QB at this time. It has slowed so much that they can barely get the play off.

Was all this Crist’s fault–hardly. He did not get a fair shake. Rees, on the other hand can barely move and just locks onto on receiver and became almost unhinged when Pitt took Floyd out of the game.

It looks like there is utter confusion on the ND sideline.
.

I’ve posted this before but to re-iterate–doubt if Crist ever plays again nor will Hendrix and both gone elsewhere by end of season. Golson will be next in and soon.

2 Jersey Guys

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Mike Ragone, Camden Catholic–probably the best Tight End in that recruiting class when he committed to Charlie Weis.

Mike was big, tough and lightening fast–could have played Wide Receiver–he was that fast.

Unfortunately knee surgeries finished his days as a player.
He never fully recovered from surgery, yet he continued to play as the blocking Tight End.
We certainly could use him now.

Thanks for your great contributions over the last 4 years, Mike.

Carlo Calabrese LB–from Verona–another coup for Weis–highly coveted by big name schools. Tough, tough kid.

This guy was an incredible High School player–he did everything and played numerous positions both sides of the ball but it was at Linebacker that he truly excelled–he was a fierce hitter.

Carlo, in my opinion, was as good as Teo and I had visions of them playing together hammering Running Backs.

Won starting job last year after riding the bench as a Freshman. Has a fight on his hands splitting time with Dan Fox this season. Dan is a nice player but nowhere near the hitter Calabrese is.

They say he can’t pass cover–oh yea- check out game saving tipped pass vs. Pitt. He is much better than Fox, who I think would be better outside.

These 2 guys symbolize what Weis was talking about–he wanted the tough NJ guys that usually ended up at Penn State.

We need more like them from the Garden State.

Pitt Aftermath

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I have already expounded on my take of the Pitt game–lucky win, but so were the losses lucky for our opponents.

Read Kelly’s comments on this game (I’m in control) and Rees is MY QB–okay so what if he is planted in the sod of ND stadium–what is plan B–really no answer except maybe more Frosh will play.

So what do we take from that. My gut instinct–Crist out, Hendrix out and Golson is next in , even if preferable to redshirt him.

I further read this that the Charlie Weis recruits out, namely Crist and Hendrix. Crist and Hendrix are both Pro-set QB’s–so they are out

If I were either, I’d tell Kelly to stuff it–Crist, maybe has 1 yr. eligibility left–Anyone need a strong arm Qb that plays Pro set–same for Hendrix–Charlie Weis wanted this kid real bad and if anything CW knows Qbs–so off to Fla goes Hendrix. Crist one year left goes anywhere he can start.

So that brings us back to the present. We just saw a defense with Pitt that worried about vertical long strike hold ND to 15 pts–every team ND faces will play short knowing Rees can’t throw the long ball.

So mix in the OL woeful pass block ability ND has a real problem–an absolutely piss poor Pitt Db’s took Floyd out of game.

Looking ahead USC and Stanford(with much Better athletes) blanket Floyd and blitz the shit out of Rees resulting in regular picks and fumbles.

The only thing Kelly has going for him is the Defensive side of the ball although Diaco has movie star looks, can recruit, doesn’t have the cojones yet to be outstanding defensive coordinator–hey you have the players–let them loose the entire game.

ND’s future rests on the defensive side of the ball.. Kelly has to get the offensive moving–see how fast we run the offensive–I don’t see it happening against USC or STANFORD.

NEW YEAR’S NIGHTMARE

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Reports that Charlie Weis will become Florida’s OC is possibly the worst news that ND could possibly receive. If true might as well cede all best Fla high school talent to Weis–he can flat out recruit. Imagine what he will be able to do with guys that don’t even have to go to class. REVENGE — only reason I can think why Weis would take this job. He was not happy at all about his ND ouster. He will be chomping at the bit to get ND in a Bowl Game. Florida is going to be on top very quickly with the duo of Muschamp and Weis. Happy Fucking New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMAGINE

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The Bowl Games and ND’s placing will not occur until later today. But just take a moment to consider where we would be playing if the following had transpired:

  1. Kelly and new staff.
  2. Vastly improved defense.
  3. Kyle Rudolph not injured.
  4. Jimmy & Golden staying for senior year.

This was the year Weis was building for and his great recruiting would pay off. He snake bit himself by ignoring the defensive situation.

So adding Kelly and keeping all of the above I believe we would be playing in the NC game and winning.

Imagine Jimmy running this offense with Golden, Floyd and Rudolph all healthy and playing. WOW

Recruiting News

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Say goodbye to Justice Hayes-looking around–means gone for good. Apparently must have felt slighted somehow on his recent visit.

I was not surprised by this news and LB recruit Councell is also making visits elsewhere-so say goodbye to him also.

I don’t know what it is but recruits don’t seem to know what giving your word means. I would yank any offer to anyone who commits and then visits other schools and I would let them know when offer is made. Iowa coach Ferentz pulls schollie if recruit visits anyone after committing.

I also in the future would not kill myself in the state of Florida–they have no clue what giving your word means and quite frankly the one’s who do come fall on their faces(young) or just leave as soon a starts to chill up a little bit.

I think Huggins is a pipe dream. If there was real interest he would not have missed the Army game. So now what?

Start off by looking at guys that really want to come to ND. The state of Penna is loaded with top flight Catholic HS kids that would kill to go to ND–so too the rest of the midwest. I also would rather get kids from Texas than Fla. loads of talent in Texas.

I would now concentrate on lineman–you don’t need 4-5 stars just get good tough kids like Wisconsin, Iowa and MSU. Try to keep the pipeline in Calif but also go to Hawaii–3 now on team and they have big dudes there.

There is an O lineman Flavin who wants ND–offer him now and build him up.

Rockne said give me a good OL and DB’s and we will win regardless of the running back. We are spending way too much time pampering these recruits.
Take Clay Burton he was just waiting for a Fla offer.

We had that NG at Michigan–Martin but held onto a Charlie Weis pipedream and lost him.

I get the impression that Kelly doesn’t go out of his way to personally visit recruits–not like Weis who flew to Hawii for a day with 2 broken legs to land Manti.

So message is Kelly–get on the plane.

YOU BETTER GET USED TO IT

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Kelly quote on intercepted pass. Does anyone think that is somewhat arrogant.

Imagine if Weis had said that in this same situation.

What would the howling be like if Weis bypassed the FG.

What would the howling be like if Weis said our goal is to finish 6-6 and go to a bowl.

This Act is getting old: Is it really necessary to publicly berate players on National TV. Sooner or later they are just going to tune him out. Think this would be a turn off for a recruit or his parents?. You could get away with this in Cinn-only on TV maybe once a year–not at ND

3RD And Long–why is it so easy for teams over the last 4 coaches tenure for pass completions on these most crucial points in the games. They invariably lead to another ND loss. For USC it has led to multiple Heismans.

This team, unfortunately, is unraveling and I fear another de-commit coming-really hope I’m wrong.

DAYNE CRIST

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If ever a guy was star crossed it’s Dayne. Came to ND to study under Weis and knew he would have to sit and backup Claussen.

He did all that, got injured. Weis leaves and Kelly comes in–square peg in round hole.

Thanks for all you have contributed on and off the field– You are truly a ND man.

Good Luck in your recovery.