MALIK--"Amazing" per BK

[BGI User 348]

“I don't know how to put it in words precisely other than most that I have been around in 25 years separate for a period of time during an injury. They just naturally separate. He hasn't separated at any time from the club,” he said. “It's been as if he's had an ankle sprain, not a fracture, dislocation. Quite contrary to any other player that I've had, he's maintained that close association with everything that we do. He doesn't miss a meeting. I'm in there every day. He has not missed one quarterback meeting. He's at every practice.

“Now he's full gear taking one-on-one reps and throwing the football. He's probably 60 percent. He can't load on his ankle right now, but he's out there still throwing the football. Pretty amazing young man.”

 

[captstabbin]

I hope he gets a real look in the spring and fall...

 

[IrishBlessings]

we most likely have 2 amazing QB's and maybe 3 w/ BW. MZ is not going anywhere. He will stay and battle for the starting job. IF he does not win it - he will stay and be ready if DK goes down. Very nice problem to have for ND. 2 great QB's.

 

[88ND]

we most likely have 2 amazing QB's and maybe 3 w/ BW. MZ is not going anywhere. He will stay and battle for the starting job. IF he does not win it - he will stay and be ready if DK goes down. Very nice problem to have for ND. 2 great QB's.

That is a fantastic story....but if its his last year and he doesn't win the job you think he should just be a back up? Sort of limits his future doesn't it if he does that.

 

[perseverare]

“I don't know how to put it in words precisely other than most that I have been around in 25 years separate for a period of time during an injury. They just naturally separate. He hasn't separated at any time from the club,” he said. “It's been as if he's had an ankle sprain, not a fracture, dislocation. Quite contrary to any other player that I've had, he's maintained that close association with everything that we do. He doesn't miss a meeting. I'm in there every day. He has not missed one quarterback meeting. He's at every practice.

“Now he's full gear taking one-on-one reps and throwing the football. He's probably 60 percent. He can't load on his ankle right now, but he's out there still throwing the football. Pretty amazing young man.”

no surprise there; we have known what kind of character he is since he arrived.

 

[mbd11]

That is a fantastic story....but if its his last year and he doesn't win the job you think he should just be a back up? Sort of limits his future doesn't it if he does that.

He's got 2 years of elig. left. However, Kizer would still be there for his 5th year too, of course.

I'd have to guess at least one of the 3 will transfer after the spring, but hopefully not.

 

[mokpra37]

Very impressed with the determination of MZ.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

That is a fantastic story....but if its his last year and he doesn't win the job you think he should just be a back up? Sort of limits his future doesn't it if he does that.

Not bashing MZ but I do not see him winning the QB job in '16. That said, I see him on the field and contributing to the offense. Let's face it, MZ is not going to be highly sought after in the draft even if he plays out his time at QB. If BK can figure out a role for him that fits his strengths then I see a hybrid player NFL teams will take a chance on in the draft.

I am fairly convinced after 10 starts that DK is the future QB at ND. Call me crazy but should anyone be convinced that Zaire should start over Kizer when he only has three starts? I believe DK has earned first shot to win the position and benefit of the doubt is due to him. Maybe red-shirt BW and back up with Zaire and he can transfer to almost any team in the country as a grad student if he is not happy.

 

[Bodizephax]

Not bashing MZ but I do not see him winning the QB job in '16. That said, I see him on the field and contributing to the offense. Let's face it, MZ is not going to be highly sought after in the draft even if he plays out his time at QB. If BK can figure out a role for him that fits his strengths then I see a hybrid player NFL teams will take a chance on in the draft.

I am fairly convinced after 10 starts that DK is the future QB at ND. Call me crazy but should anyone be convinced that Zaire should start over Kizer when he only has three starts? I believe DK has earned first shot to win the position and benefit of the doubt is due to him. Maybe red-shirt BW and back up with Zaire and he can transfer to almost any team in the country as a grad student if he is not happy.

I think would be 12 and 0 with Malik. Malik is a stud. Deshone turns it over too much. Kizer is a a better pro prospect because of his height.

 

[Nocalirish]

If Kizer has a great bowl game the starting job is his next year unless there is an injury. If MZ is only 60% why not rest him all next season and he can take over when Kizer goes pro the next year and will be 100%.

 

[Telx1]

We'll be debating this until next Fall. I think the big question about Kizer is whether he has the ability to make his throw decisions more timely. He showed great promise for sure, and he's cool under pressure, and he threw many great throws, and he is well liked and respected by his teammates, and he represents ND in the best possible light. That said, I think he would have performed well, but not nearly as well, if the OL had not provided so much time for him to see separation by his receivers before throwing. He needs to go through his progressions much quicker and make his decisions to throw much quicker and trust the routes and his receivers. The OL masked this weakness on his part, and this weakness is more apparent in the red zone because there is not the space for the receivers to work for the kind of separation he likes. If he develops in this area, preferably by the Fiesta bowl, I think he'll be the starting QB; if not, then it's a legitimate wide open competition.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

I think would be 12 and 0 with Malik. Malik is a stud. Deshone turns it over too much. Kizer is a a better pro prospect because of his height.

Fair enough. 12-0 with Malik is a serious question mark in my mind, though. I didn't have confidence in his game while playing UVA and thought his weakness was exposed by them that would have just continued throughout the rest of the year. We all would have been saying, "well, what do you expect, it's his first year as a starter."

When DK came in and pulled out the dramatic victory something changed - it was like I felt that 'luck of the Irish' again. We all saw that the rest of the season even in the losses. There's no going back in my mind - BK does not sit experience in favor of 'well...maybe' players.

 

[greengael]

Fair enough. 12-0 with Malik is a serious question mark in my mind, though. I didn't have confidence in his game while playing UVA and thought his weakness was exposed by them that would have just continued throughout the rest of the year. We all would have been saying, "well, what do you expect, it's his first year as a starter."

When DK came in and pulled out the dramatic victory something changed - it was like I felt that 'luck of the Irish' again. We all saw that the rest of the season even in the losses. There's no going back in my mind - BK does not sit experience in favor of 'well...maybe' players.

If I recall correctly , he did that with the Crist/ Rees Rees/ Golson tandems and it looked like it was happening with the Golson /Zaire tandem also. I agree that Kizer had chemistry with the team and also with Telx's post that a lot of that was attributable to a healthy and dominant oline!

 

[Irish Grandeur]

If I recall correctly , he did that with the Crist/ Rees Rees/ Golson tandems and it looked like it was happening with the Golson /Zaire tandem also. I agree that Kizer had chemistry with the team and also with Telx's post that a lot of that was attributable to a healthy and dominant oline!

Nothing should surprise me any longer but Kizer being beat out by Zaire would surprise me.

 

[greengael]

Nothing should surprise me any longer but Kizer being beat out by Zaire would surprise me.

Me too! smile!

 

[BigFellaFan]

If Zaire was to beat out Kizer it would demonstrate that Zaire must be a tremendous player as Kizer will be a top five QB heading into 2016.

 

[Weisnheimer]

Breaking and dislocating your ankle is a devastating injury. I did it my senior year of HS, along with tearing ligaments. You can recover fully, but in a year's time would be very difficult. Just in pushing off with power would be a fear to overcome.

Malik had quick feet and great leg strength and BK had more read-option plays set for Malik. DK was slower afoot but could throw with pretty amazing accuracy and being able to learn/command the offense for a young man being thrown into the fire. Really unbelievable job. The 1st half of the season receivers just weren't dropping the balls for him. The Clemson game was where we saw many drops starting to happen. I'd have to contribute that to weather. But DK did throw int's more in the 2nd half of the season, and I believe a healthy MZs running skills would've helped with the troubles we saw in the red zone.

If I was playing, I would want Spring to be open to who performs best in trying to win a starting spot, Wimbush, and all positions included.

 

[stu4don]

Good comment about the ankle injury -- we saw that with Schmit's diminished contrib this year. Does anyone see Kelly playing both QB's? Maybe using Malik in red zone packages? (Or are their abilities too similar for this to be worthwhile?) I'm thinking of Urbia and Tebow in Fla...

Put Sanford's brilliant mind to work. I want BOTH Malik and Kizer's leadership! They are both fine young men and great leaders. Malik is clearly the heart of this team. We need that!

Should be interesting.

 

[Weisnheimer]

Good comment about the ankle injury -- we saw that with Schmit's diminished contrib this year. Does anyone see Kelly playing both QB's? Maybe using Malik in red zone packages? (Or are their abilities too similar for this to be worthwhile?) I'm thinking of Urbia and Tebow in Fla...

Put Sanford's brilliant mind to work. I want BOTH Malik and Kizer's leadership! They are both fine young men and great leaders. Malik is clearly the heart of this team. We need that!

Should be interesting.

Agree.

Using a 2 QB rotation worked for the most part for BK in the LSU Bowl game last year, but I didn't really see any rhyme or reason for when the switch-offs were made. With Urban and Florida, it was a given that Tebow was coming in at the 10 yd. line and in, and was quite successful.

I think it could work next year with ND just because both are so talented. There's also the advantage of making the opponent prepare for both. Were it me? I might give the back-up one series in each half with exceptions.

 

[HDK]

We'll be debating this until next Fall. I think the big question about Kizer is whether he has the ability to make his throw decisions more timely. He showed great promise for sure, and he's cool under pressure, and he threw many great throws, and he is well liked and respected by his teammates, and he represents ND in the best possible light. That said, I think he would have performed well, but not nearly as well, if the OL had not provided so much time for him to see separation by his receivers before throwing. He needs to go through his progressions much quicker and make his decisions to throw much quicker and trust the routes and his receivers. The OL masked this weakness on his part, and this weakness is more apparent in the red zone because there is not the space for the receivers to work for the kind of separation he likes. If he develops in this area, preferably by the Fiesta bowl, I think he'll be the starting QB; if not, then it's a legitimate wide open competition.

I think there is a lot of truth in this post. I love Kizer, but he often had 5, 6, 7 seconds to throw the ball.