I think this is an important point–the interceptions were very different. Rees is an experienced QB who sees the field fairly well but continually tries to squeeze the ball into his first or second read even when they aren’t open, or would only be open with pinpoint accuracy which he does not possess. That’s been his m.o. since HS and it hasn’t changed yet. Whether it’s overconfidence or something else, he keeps making bad decisions.

Hendrix is still an earlier developmental phase due to his lack of playing time and passing opportunities is both HS and college. One of the first things that young QBs have to learn is to ignore many of the defensive players on the field while dropping to pass. In this day and age of blitz recognition, site adjustments etc. that may seem like a crazy thing to say, but it’s true. If a QB can’t look past all of the distractions that are going on in the front seven and concentrate on the downfield action, he has no hope of finding open receivers and getting them the ball. The second step is locating your receivers and determining if the defender covering them is in position to make a play on the ball. This is where Hendrix is in his development. He hasn’t reached the third step of looking off defenders and seeing other potential threats in the area. He sees his man, locks in, and lets it rip. When he locked in on Eifert he not only lost his ability to see Ishaq, but he led Ishaq into perfect position to make the play. The question is, will he advance past this stage of development and if so how soon?

Unfortunately for Hendrix, Golson might be further ahead developmentally–not necessarily in understanding of the offense and game management, but in terms of seeing the whole field and reading defenses. We won’t know until he gets some real playing time, but he seems to have good vision and doesn’t seem to lock in on receivers. At this point, it would seem to be a race against time to see if Golson can improve his game management skills by September. If so, Hendrix may never get the chance to play enough to develop.

Remember that Kiel is still a high school kid. I was impressed by the fact that he kept his head fairly well when he should be thinking about going to the prom. Give this kid some time and dont judge him until next spring. That is why you dont have many freshman QBs come in and light it up their first year.

Hendrix and Rees both made bad interceptions. But in a lot of ways, I think Hendrix’s is more excusable. Hendrix can learn from that pick, and become better for it.

If you look at that play, Hendrix clearly just didn’t read the field properly, and didn’t see the Cat backer dropping off into coverage. Its a bonehead mistake, but its something you can fix and learn from. It looked identical to the pick he threw against FSU, and also reminds me of that infamous bonehead pick Clausen threw against North Carolina in the second half. Remember that even a guy like Clausen made a lot of bonehead throws when he was young, but by the time he was a junior he was a fantastic quarterback. In short, these are throws that are caused by an error in reading the defense.

However, both Hendrix and Clausen have a natural ability to put a lot of velocity on the ball, and to get accurate placement on deep throws. If you look at the throws Hendrix made right before GA3’s first fumble, thats a big-time throw. His TD throw was quick, showed great recognition of coverage with the blitz, and had a lot of velocity on an accurate throw. Lastly, he also threw a great deep ball to Eifert which was uncharacteristically dropped. In short, he has the ability, and can learn and grow from his mistakes.

I feel Rees’s pick was far different. For one, the defense had 3 deep safeties sitting over the top on a 3rd and long just waiting for the deep ball. He was baited, and threw the ball up. However, it wasn’t a pick because he made a terrible read (he did make a terrible read, but again, that can be improved upon). It was a terrible pick because he had a very, very slight window in between the center field safety and the left safety within which to quickly fit that ball into, and he just could not do it. He just doesn’t have the ability to throw that ball with enough accuracy or velocity to get to where it needed to be. So the ball sailed on him, and was a gift to the safety.

I guess in short, regardless of who is the starter next year, the real question is who can we expect to consistently improve at the QB spot? Rees cannot improve on his mistake unless he learns “I just cannot throw the deep ball….I need to check down and throw 5-10 yard routes.” Hendrix, on the other hand, can improve, by understanding that teams will occassionally use a zone-blitz, and learning to watch for OLBs sneaking into coverage.

Long story short, I think Hendrix and Golson both showed a level of ability which, when combined with added experience and mental learning, means that we can and should expect them to improve consistently.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that we can expect that from Tommy Rees do a ceiling on his natural ability. While that doesn’t mean he cannot improve as a QB (I wholly expect him do), I do think it means that in order for him to improve as a QB, this offense needs to be limited to the horizontal passing game we saw last year, and the 5-10 yard routes that he can complete, along with an occassional PA ball lobbed down the field up for grabs to Eifert. But Rees does not possess the ability or the arm to stretch defenses vertically in the passing game, and never will.

For the first time in years, we have a group of talented offensive linemen who have been developed both in terms of strength and technique, and play together as a unit (with a good group of backups and developing players behind them). For the first time in years we have a group of talented defensive linemen who have been developed both in terms of strength and technique and play aggressively within the scheme. For the first time in years we have a true stable of talented running backs, some of whom are experienced and others of whom are developing . On the other side we have a solid and deep linebacking corps, with enough depth of talent to have competition at every position, except the one occupied by an all American. Solid at safety at the back end of the defense, and while entested it looks like the coaches (shout out to Kerry Cooks) have quickly coached up inexperienced corners to what should be serviceable to solid. Our receiving corps, though inexperienced in the depth chart, looks to be somewhere between OK to very good. Add to that perhaps the most talented and deepest tight end group in the country.

My point is that the program is in the best shape it has been in many years. We are adding talented depth to every position group every year (OK … except corner), and have enough talent in depth to be able to (i) create real competition for playing time at almost every position and (ii) ability to red-shirt.

I have to give Coach Kelly credit for the shape we are in. We are poised to continue to improve, and to reach the level of consistency that is necessary for championship football. We have reached some modicum of stability of scheme and of coaching staff, which we have sorely lacked for years and years. I love Kelly’s decisions on coaching assignments and hires (Martin as coordinator, leaving Diaco alone, adding Hiestand and Elliott, promoting Booker, etc.). An on top of that we have a disciplined and effective approach to recruiting.

If it were not for the glaring uncertainty and weaknesses at QB, I do not think the question you are asking would be asked. (I recognize that is like saying that except for the little dust up, Mrs. Lincoln very much enjoyed the play.)

Reese has had 3 springs and a year plus as a starter for ND. His first 4 games were based on a limited play book. He was assigned to manage the game to allow the defence to do it’s thing. This was most evident in the USC game. He is a competent quarter back against a lesser opponent which allows the offence to run at will as seen last year. How against teams that exposed his physical weaknesses and could produce pressure all his knowledge of the playbook and that calm demeanor went out the window. When pressured or when the other team dropped eight and forced him to go vertical or run to make a play he could not. This has not changed this year. The open media day he experienced pressure made wrong choice. Saturday same thing. Even Coach Kelly acknowledged this. He is a great kid that has the image of a good leader but gets the deer in the head lights personality under pressure. He needs the defence and running game to be on form to succeed.
Golson is basically in the same boat as Kiel. As a freshman he was given a special limited package by Kelly. Also he became the scout team quarter back with little access to ND’s offence and little one to one coaching to develop technique. With what he showed last year and this year in the Blue Gold game what is there not to like. Those throws may have been off his back foot but the were on the money and with more zip then Reese could produce with his proper foot work.
Hendrix is an option but lack experience in the spread and seems much more methodical/mechanical in his movements. He has great arm strength but little touch on the ball. Seems to lack vision/ability to see the whole field at this time.

The bigger question I have is about Kelly’s decision making not Tommy Rees, or Hedrix, or Golson. Through the past 2 years we have seen a coach say and do some very stupid things — like putting a wedge between Weis’ recruits and his own – like benching Crist and never letting him play again, and staying with Rees? And many, many other decisions like field goals, etc. Did any of you guys ever think that perhaps we need a different coaching staff?

Agree with the intent of the comparison. There is a reason Hoke last year decided to forget the new playbook and just run with Shoelaceless while he has him. It is a tougher choice for CBK because he has a decent QB who runs the offense correctly in Rees but has a low ceiling; whereas, UM’s prior competition at that spot was Tate Forcier. Still though, give us a heart attack with EG this year — I still think we win more games than we would otherwise — and in 2013 EG could be close to unstoppable.

Use of the term “Whore City” earns a “like” whether I agree with you or not.