He is a good but not elite QB. Kelly says he has two goals: to graduate his players and to win championships. The latter will not happen with Book.
After Phil Jurkovec committed to ND, he was asked about other programs that recruited him. He said that the hardest phone call to another coach was to Urban Meyer to tell him no. Meyer saw his ability and wanted him badly. Had Jurkovec gone to OSU, his trajectory would have been so different. Most likely, there would have been no need for the bogus Justin Fields transfer, because Phil would have been the man by now. He would have been able to throw the deep ball to a fleet of elite receivers, have had the running game of J.K. Dobbins, and could have displayed his own effective running ability.
But it's not too late!
We are going to have some outstanding talent on offense next year. Chris Tyree can fill a desperate need at running back. He is the fastest prep in the nation. Tight End U continues: Kmet is a stud, as is new recruit Michael Mayer. Five star WR Jordan Johnson can play right away. Kevin Austin is a star waiting to shine, and Braden Lenzy has just scratched the surface of his potential.
There are plenty of arrows in the quiver. We just need a new archer. Phil is the man. It's time for him to bloom. Let's go for the gold!
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Find a hobby or something because stalking college age kids isn't a good look.
I was an advocate for Lenzy getting more touches and here are his stats for the season.
Rushing: 10 for 188 yards; 18.8 per carry
Receptions: 10 for 247 yards; 24.7 per catch
The numbers speak for themselves.
Phil Jurkovec is an elite QB. Urban Meyer would have taken him if he could have and he would have soared at OSU. His talents have been wasted for 2 years. It's time for a change.
That's all there is to it.
The only two QBs to have 2,500 passing yards, 500 rushing yards, and 30 passing TDs this season.
Patterson.
I think the guy gets a bad rap and is a gamer. He has some obvious deficiencies, but overall he’s done a good job. He should also be thanked by Kelly personally for avoiding the third loss versus VaTech.
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He has personally saved Kelly's ass from additional losses more times than I can count vs lower level teams, with his improvisation when the drawn up plays were busted.
He appears to be exposed vs elite teams, because the rest of the offense is exposed beyond the level his improve can compensate for. You're right he's not an elite QB, he's just a pretty good college QB...but if we're really being honest, not based raw talent or NFL potential but based on the overall package of how they play the QB position on the college level, who has Kelly had at ND that was better?
Book has played 4 really good games in a row. If you can't see that you are blind.
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The offensive line's play was mediocre, at best, and that was before Robert Hainsey and Tommy Kraemer got shelved for the year. With Aaron Banks coming up rather gingerly during the Stanford game, I guess we should be *very* thankful that we have a month to heal up.
Even before the entire right side of the OL went down, Robert Hainsey wasn't playing at 100% health. He seemed pretty gimpy at times during the year, and I suspect that lidocaine + epinephrine injections can only go so far.
While pass blocking has been adequate, there hasn't been any real push from the offensive line when it comes to the 1st half of recent games. The only time we seem to be getting a nice surge is at the end of the games, when opposing defenses are either simply too tired, or are using 2nd stringers.
Jeff Quinn doesn't seem to be able to coach up these kids to their potential. Last year, a veteran squad helped cover up that inability, but now that this line is essentially "his" guys, and not Harry Hiestand's, the lack of development is sorely showing.
By the way, I'm not bashing the effort that our guys are giving. Even the weakest link of the group, Trevor Ruhland, is pouring his heart out into the game.
Trevor Ruhland does OK on finesse blocks, and has good technique on his pass blocking, but with the plethora of injuries, he simply can't do any real power blocking. He's playing on knees and shoulders that would have most of us ordinary human beings limping along every day.
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but he still panics and is ineffective when pressured. The last four games he saw little pressure. He won't be so fortunate against Clemson.
He's still the best ND has, so we roll with what we've got.
But we don't have to roll with him; we have an alternative.
College football big games largely rest on two key factors: energy and emotion. Notre Dame doesn't seem to lack for either at home in big games. Now if this game were at Clemson next year, I'd be much more pessimistic.
The other thing is that it often takes players different times to hit their strides, in all sports. I brought out the example of Sandy Koufax, who was very mediocre his first six years. There are countless other late bloomers everywhere. Book has shown great promise at times. I just think there needs to be a new O-coordinator to bring the best out of him.
The thing is that you can't just show " great progress at times." Book is inconsistent. We thought he would be ready this year, and he was, for the last four games; however, he played badly in the first eight games--inaccuracy and " happy feet ". Once again, just like against Clemson, he lost to the big boys on the schedule, Georgia and Michigan. He is not elite. No new OC can change that.
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looks to be somewhat conducive...
If you're cool with another 10 win season and another Camping World Bowl, Book is the guy.
Open your eyes man, we had way bigger problems than Ian Book on offense.
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May God have mercy on your soul.
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