Quarterback play was the subject of much discussion In Notre Dame fan forums following Northern Illinois 16-14 upset of the Irish. The Irish have already announced their decision as to who will be the starter when the team takes on Purdue on Saturday.
Riley Leonard led the Irish to an upset of No. 20 ranked Texas A&M on Labor Day weekend. Leonard was more effective as a runner than a passer, but his skillset allowed the Irish to win their best game under head coach Marcus Freeman.
Riley Leonard was bad against NIU
Leonard was ineffective against NIU. He went 20/32 passing for 163 yards and two interceptions. He missed easy throws.
We should've known Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard was in for a rough day when he missed this throw to wide-open Jaden Greathouse in the opening minutes.
NBC's Dan Hicks: "Looking, surveys, has time…"
Leonard did have time. More than enough. Seemed scared to step into the throw. pic.twitter.com/PWtyX55B1f
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 10, 2024
As Pete Sampson with The Athletic notes, Leonard made a bizarre decision to throw the ball to Kris Mitchell on the game’s decisive interception. Leonard underthrew Mitchell, and NIU drove down the field for a field goal.
I still don't get it. The formation gets Beaux Collins and Mitchell Evans to the same side and the route concept gets Jaden Greathouse there, too. One of those three will come open against zone. It's Greathouse. And it's Evans. Instead, the ball goes to Kris Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/Qvgcfnxuhf
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) September 8, 2024
Through two games, Leonard is 38/62 passing for 321 yards, and two interceptions. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass this season. He’s run 23 times for 79 yards and one touchdown, averaging 3.4 yards per rush.
For perspective, backup quarterback Steve Angeli went 15-19 for 323 yards and three touchdowns in his last start, a 40-8 win over Oregon State in December’s Sun Bowl.
Marcus Freeman explained the decision to roll with Leonard
Per the depth chart for the Purdue game released by the Irish on Monday, Leonard is listed as the team’s QB1. Angeli is listed as QB2.
Per Heather Dinich with ESPN, Freeman said the coaching staff believes Riley can run the offense. He added that the team as a whole needs to pay better.
“There are times that he has to throw the ball better,” Freeman said. “He knows that, and his fundamentals have to be better. His decision-making has to be better, but we also have to be better around him. That’s coaches, and what we’re asking him to do and what we’re asking him to read. We’ve got to catch the ball when he throws it. We’ve got to be better on contested catches. There’re fingers at everybody. We’re pointing our finger at everybody.”
Notre Dame fans’ are upset with Freeman’s decision
Most Irish fans on social media want Leonard to be released following the loss to NIU. Some want Angeli to have a crack at the starting job, others want to see the team development of freshman CJ Carr.
Here are the top reactions to the Irish sticking with Leonard.
**QB: steve angeli OR kenny minchey OR cj carr OR TYLER BUCHNER. JFC!
— taylor (@ghosted_machine) September 9, 2024
150 passing yards and 2 total touchdowns incoming pic.twitter.com/S3yzKjeiJZ
— Dan (@dannah__montana) September 9, 2024
Leonard to start. I see we aren’t worried about winning the game.
— EJH (@EJH3105) September 9, 2024
New uniform update pic.twitter.com/LzDyTMW8tf
— SpoonMan47 (@brutherford47) September 9, 2024
Caught a small mistake guys pic.twitter.com/PV0MdFAb77
— Donovan McNabb (@Eazy__ET) September 9, 2024
cant wait to watch a bunch of QB draws and short passes again
— Irish88 (@xIrish88x) September 9, 2024
Riley Leonard is starting vs. Purdue. Freeman hasn’t learned from the NIU game… pic.twitter.com/e2wV3QYX2N
— Ara Parseghian (@CoachParseghian) September 9, 2024
— #staNDwithus (@JLGallagher3) September 9, 2024
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