Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/998819
QUARTERBACKS 46 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Redshirted last season, sophomore multi-purpose athlete Avery Davis worked at quarterback, running back and receiver during the spring. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern Starter ★★★½ If we are talking strictly potential, senior Brandon Wimbush has the wares to bump this to a top-10 grade. When Wimbush was on his game in 2017 there were few quarterbacks in the country more dynamic and impactful. He possesses a powerful arm, and his running ability can be game changing. He put the Irish offense on his back in wins over USC, Michigan State, Temple and Wake Forest. His inability to play at a high level with consistency and accuracy became an issue, and when he was off his game late in the season the Irish offense sputtered. During the spring Wimbush showed mechanical improvements and threw the ball with better tim- ing while displaying a better grasp of the offense. The next step is carrying that over into the fall and becoming a more disciplined quarterback. His emergence as a consistent playmaker and more accurate passer is arguably the most vital aspect to Notre Dame becoming a legitimate playoff team. Experience ★★★½ Notre Dame enters the season with two quar- terbacks that have starting experience, a dramatic change from last season. Wimbush started 12 games last fall, and when he was sidelined with an injury junior Ian Book stepped into the lineup and led the Irish to a 33-10 road victory over North Carolina. More significant was Book's strong relief effort in the 21-17 win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Both demonstrated playmaking ability in big mo- ments, but both also sputtered at times in crunch time. The hope is both can use the experience they gained to become more productive in year two. Notre Dame now has two players capable of leading the Irish offense. Depth ★★★ All three scholarship quarterbacks from 2017 return and the Irish add one of the nation's top freshmen in Phil Jurkovec, giving them quality depth at the posi- tion. Wimbush is the starter with vast potential, Book is the proven backup capable of leading the offense in a pinch, and sophomore Avery Davis will get a chance to find a role this season as a dual-threat player. Adding Jurkovec gives the Irish a much deeper unit than they had last season. Overall Grade ★★★½ There were times last season when the quarter- back position was outstanding. Whether it was Wim- bush putting the offense on his back and creating opportunities for his teammates or Book giving the offense a charge off the bench in the Citrus Bowl, the position showed it can perform well enough to lead the offense to a No. 11 finish in the final rankings. The question now is can Wimbush show enough consistency in the pass game to turn the offense into a group that can play championship-caliber football? BY THE NUMBERS 30 Touchdowns accounted for by Brandon Wimbush (16 passing and 14 rushing) in 2017 as a first-time starter. The 30 were the second most ever by a Notre Dame first-year starting quarterback, behind the 31 by DeShone Kizer (21 passing and 10 rushing) in 2015. Both teams finished 10-3 and No. 11 in the Associated Press poll. 49.5 Percent of his passes that Wimbush completed last season (136 of 275), mainly because of finishing 33 of 75 (44.0 percent) in the final four contests. It marked the first time since freshman Brady Quinn completed 47.3 percent (157 of 332) in 2003 that the starting Irish quarterback finished a season at less than 50 percent. 1,010 Rushing yards accounted for by quarterbacks last season at Notre Dame — 803 by Wimbush and 207 by sophomore Ian Book. It was the first time the 1,000-yard barrier was eclipsed at the position, breaking the previous school record of 981 set in 1989 by Tony Rice (934), Rick Mirer (32) and Pete Graham (15). QUOTABLE: QUARTERBACKS COACH TOMMY REES ON THE BENEFITS SENIOR BRANDON WIMBUSH HAD WITH HIS 12 STARTS IN 2017: "One is recognizing the defense and two is understanding the playbook. If you understand what the defense is trying to do and where your answers are, it gives you the opportunity to play fast. "My job is to get them to recognize what the coverage is trying to do. When you start to understand why you're calling a play for specific looks, it gives you the opportunity to process everything at the line and deliver the ball in time."