In the wake of Notre Dame’s shattering loss to Northwestern, the short-comings and failures of the 2014 Fighting Irish touch every position group and go all the way up the coaching tree. But it is with Number Five that I find the most fault, for he has failed to lead the team in any manner that comes across on the field. While Brian Kelly was highly complimentary of his quarterback’s leadership following last week’s Arizona State loss, I did not see any on display yesterday.
There’s something rotten at the heart of this squad. Formerly solid Kyle Brindza suffered a crisis of confidence. Max Redfield sat. Cam McDaniel fumbled when merely holding on would have iced the game. The defense was an octopus on roller-skates throughout most of the game, handing the Wildcats acres of yardage up the middle of the field and, among other transgressions, committing a pathetic pass interference penalty to set up a Northwestern touchdown that cut Notre Dame’s lead to three points.
It may be that Everett feels he does not have the moral authority to challenge his teammates. Maybe he doesn’t. After all, he’s a player who flushed away an entire season due to academic issues and then who flushed away any Heisman consideration in a cascade of perplexing fumbles and turnovers. Sure, he’s owned up to his turnovers, and some of the ones at Arizona State were not his fault. But the point is that Golson has been more a cause of his team’s problems rather than a bulwark against them.
Compare him to Jameis Winston for a moment. The Florida State quarterback has been simply remarkable in his ability, especially in the second half of games, to put his team on his back, make critical plays, and win games. If Everett doesn’t lead because he perhaps feels he doesn’t have the moral authority to do so, Jameis has never heard the phrase. He certainly doesn’t care about moral authority. In that perception, he is joined by his teammates, his coaching staff, administration, fans, and local police department, who are all more than happy to ignore behaviors that would have put other players at other schools on ice for swaths of games, if not had them booted out altogether.
And maybe that’s the difference. Everett may feel that there’s always another chance, another redemptive moment to come, whereas Jameis knows that all he has is the next game. You don’t get a pass on rape charges if you’re not the lynch-pin of your team’s success. He knows that if he costs the ‘Noles a game, his disciplinary hearing doesn’t get postponed. Simply put, Jameis has too much at stake outside the lines to tolerate mistakes inside the lines.
It’s been a season of two teams for Notre Dame. The first team set alight the dumpster fire that was Michigan and almost dethroned the Seminoles. The second team is now itself a dumpster fire, sparked by that fateful OPI call in Tallahassee. It’s burned so bad and for so long because no one has had the courage to put it out. For that, I blame the quarterback.
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Ryan Ritter
I know that the whole “leadership” thing can be cliche at times, but honestly, it does seem lacking. Ever since Te’o departed, it feels like the on-field emotional leader has been a huge void.
And, honestly, that isn’t just an Everett problem. Sure, you’d like for your QB to naturally take those reigns, but right now, it’s an everyone problem.
JD
Schmidt. Schmidt is absolutely a leader. And now he’s off the field.
Bayou Irish
He absolutely is. My problem is that he was evidently the only one. No successor. The other issue I have is that he is/was a walk-on. This is troubling because the staff has not seemingly recruited leaders. Perhaps this is the final legacy of Manti Te’o.
GB
These problems started way before Schmidt went down. It did not help when he went though.
Bayou Irish
Agreed that it is an everyone problem, but when the quarterback doesn’t lead, he stands out like wet fart. I do believe we’ve got a major leadership issue and that it stems from Manti.
Hotbod Handsomeface
Finally someone speaks the truth. Excellent comparison to Winston as well – incomparable as far as having moral authority, yet Winston COMMANDS that team and isn’t afraid to do so.
So tired of hearing how it’s the “defense’s fault”. Maybe stop giving the ball away and the defense won’t be worn out, tired, and disheartened in games!
tommy928
As I was watching the game I had the same feeling – that something was wrong and has been the last few games. I think it started with the FSU OPI call and the mounting costly miscues from Golson. Seemed like they were all waiting for the next shoe to drop and it did starting with the kicking game on Saturday. ASU stuck it to us for another score as time ran out. We were playing not to lose, giving NW the momentum and leverage on the play. In the words of Patton: “Attack, attack, attack” The D is not responsible for the scoring numbers when the offense gives away 14-21 points every game plus extra possessions to run plays and gain more yards. Plus the loss of Schmidt has torn the heart and brains out of the D.
Robin Banks
Bayou Irish, my husband and I thoroughly enjoy your posts. Spot on descriptions of a defense that looks like an octopus on skates. Your use of humor is priceless. Another ND football season down the drain fills me with all sorts of emotions. Your writing helps me to laugh rather than cry. Thank you.
Bayou Irish
Mom? Seriously, though, thank you. I’m not flushing this season down the drain, though — remember, we benched four starters and lost our OC and DC. This season, before it began, was one fraught with peril. Remember how we all felt walking into the Michigan game? Would we win? That said, I am sticking with my criticism of EG and the rest of the team. Maybe Jaylon is too young to be a leader. Maybe Cody Riggs is too much the outsider. Whatever the case, the staff have done a poor job on developing multiple leaders, e.g. a successor to Joe Schmidt. Anyway, thank you so much for the kind compliment.