tkirish said:

I don’t disagree. My point was that offense was based around the option and having a running QB. Rice did just enough to keep defenses at least thinking pass if they sold out to stop the run.

Click to expand...

tkirish said:

Yup. One hit away from Angeli being the starter. I find it hard to believe RL is that bad at passing. Something just doesn’t seem right. One thing I see is when he goes to pass , he doesn’t look comfortable in the pocket. Not sure why. QB’s like to get into a groove. He hasn’t found that yet. I just think something is wrong physically that they aren’t saying. I don’t know

As far as Tony Rice goes. That was a running offense. But Rice was effective at passing when he was throwing. He had some pretty good receivers too. I remember the Michigan game in 89 when the Rocket ran those 2 kicks back. Rice threw 2 passes the entire game. Different offense back then. But it worked. You need to throw today. No two ways about it. I want to see how things progress over the next 2 games. Hopefully they win too. The way this is going, it will probably go overtime next week. lol 😂. Can you imagine?

Click to expand...

Granite45 said:

Rice was effectoveenough passing at times, but career-wise, he had more interceptions than TDs and was barely above 50% completion average.

Click to expand...

tkirish said:

Rice was effective at passing when he was throwing.

Click to expand...

4-4-3 said:

To do what you suggest MAKES SENSE, but it will require a lot of CAREFUL GAME PLANNING each week as, obviously, not all teams will respond the same.

Question is, CAN Riley pass effectively enough to keep running lanes open? Or will he run what one guy online referred to what amounts to a WILDCAT offense, supplemented with short out-patterns and handoffs to Love and Price? Which is pretty much what ND showed against Purdue when Riley was in there.

And not only Purdue. That first drive against NIU now looks like ND's basic bread-and-butter M.O, namely KEEP RUNNING RILEY.

I'm wondering, in fact, if it's simply the plan to keep RILEY running until he CAN'T -- either due to teams stopping him or him getting injured, the chances of which would have to be about 50/50.

Connecting the dots then -- that Angeli played the entire second half would suggest to me that ND's staff realizes that either of those things -- Riley being stopped or getting hurt -- could happen, and so THEY MUST HAVE ANGELI ready to step in with PLAN B at any time.

In effect, they need to prepare TWO OFFENSES each week, just in case.

I realize that Tony Rice and Mirer ran a lot. But in Rice's case, he was more compact and, while not really shifty, never seemed to take a DIRECT HIT. Plus, he shared carries with some really productive backs, so he wasn't at risk as much or as often. Same was true with Mirer and to an even greater degree.

But with Riley, it reminds me of when I was a kid playing pickup games where the biggest, fastest kid played QB, took the snap, rolled out with no intention of throwing and just outran everyone to the goal line.

I'm also reminded of videos I've watched of Frank Gifford running the single wing at USC in the early 50's, something I actually wouldn't mind seeing -- AND I'M SERIOUS -- if Riley is going to be principally a RUNNING QB.

Click to expand...

buckey said:

Carr not going anywhere. Loves nd and will be our qb next year

Click to expand...

Patrirish said:

If self preservation is the critical factor, than a coach protecting his job is going to supersede and trump the underlying pressure to start an NIL star.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it !

Click to expand...

IrishMike409 said:

It's one thing to think he should start over Leonard. That's fair and reasonable.

But it's ridiculous to think that they won't start Angeli because it'll scare Carr off. You clearly have no idea how big time college football works.

Click to expand...