Blue-Gold Game 2011

Rees or Crist??? That was the question that was asked after the 2010 Notre Dame Football season, asked during the off season, and will continue to be asked to head coach Brian Kelly until the September 5 opening game. Irish fans were hoping to see one of the two quarterbacks take the reins in the Blue-Gold game last Saturday, but neither Dayne Crist, junior, or Tommy Rees, sophomore, were able to take a step toward claiming the starting role. Each played only two quarters, and both had to struggle to play through a very dreary day in South Bend that was filled with unrelenting rain and wind. Crist went 5-11 for 34 yards; Rees went 7-14 for 61 yards and one interception.

                 

           Last season, Dayne Crist was named the starter and compiled a 3-3 record and threw 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, with 59% accuracy. In his seventh game, he was injured and Tommy Rees was called in. Notre Dame would end up losing that game, but as a starter Rees went 5-0, with wins against Utah, USC, and Miami in the Sun Bowl. Rees threw 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, with 61% accuracy during his time as starter.

Crist is considered to be more mobile and also have a more powerful arm, but in my opinion he doesn’t have that killer instinct it takes to win close games. Rees seems to actually improve each game, and seems more determined to walk off the field with a victory, as evident by his undefeated record.I think Rees has to be the starter this season. Crist made the same lousy throws in every one of his games. I don’t know how many times it would be third down and long, Crist would drop back and throw it to a receiver that was two or three yards short of the first down, who would then get tackled immediately after catching it. EVERY game this would happen and I thought Crist would finally wake up and realize to throw the ball downfield, but he never did. If anybody can bring N.D. a national championship it will be Tommy Rees, and not Dayne Crist, guaranteed.

As for the rest of the Fighting Irish, three players definitely stood out. Aaron Lynch, Andrew Hendrix, and Everett Golson all had very good games.

 Lynch is a freshman defensive end that reminds me of a Jason Taylor-type player. He’s 6’-6’’ and 260 lbs. of pure mean.He is quick enough to chase down running backs and wide receivers, but big enough to break through the defensive line. In the game he had seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. His real attention –getter was a hit on quarterback Andrew Hendrix. Brian Kelly said of Lynch after the game “He played inside; he played outside. He's going to be a great addition”.

Andrew Hendrix is a sophomore quarterback who is efficient in the spread system, which Notre Dame now runs under Brian Kelly. He came in late in the second quarter and led his squad on a two-minute drive, but failed to result in any points. In the second half he ran for two touchdowns, and passed for 113 yards, and went 10-16.

Freshman Everett Golson is a freshman quarterback who really impressed me.  He only went 9-18 in passing and threw for 91 yards, but has a really strong arm. He ran eleven times for 74 yards though, and that seems to be his strength right now. When Golson was in the game, the running backs seemed to get more yards and more open holes. Golson would hold onto the ball and run sneak plays, which then forced the linebackers and safeties to bite on any play action. Golson also ripped off a great run of 23 yards, starting on the left side of the field, then cutting back all the way across to the right side of the field while breaking tackles and shaking defenders. Needless to say, I think this guy will get some playing time in the future.

All statistics were gathered from www.und.com