It's no secret, the biggest question looming over the 2012 edition of Notre Dame Fighting Irish has been who will line up under center when the Irish open up their season in earnest on September 1st in Dublin. Spending the first half of the program's annual Blue-Gold spring game shuffling through a three-quarterback rotation, the picture may have become clearer with a standout performance by redshirt freshman signal-caller Everett Golson. Head Coach Brian Kelly has remained adamant that he would not be naming a starting quarterback before fall camp commences in August, but the decision may have already been made for him on one sunny Saturday afternoon in April.
Golson completed 11-of-15 pass attempts for 120 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing a level of poise and a handle of the offense noticeably more advanced than he displayed as a wide-eyed early-enrollee in the 2011 Blue-Gold game. He connected with Tyler Eifert over the middle on a 31-yard pass play, showing an ability and willingness to stretch the field that was sorely missing from the Irish's offensive attack last season. When those plays weren't available, Golson showed a knack for consistently finding open receivers underneath. What might prove more vital to the Notre Dame offense achieving its potential could be Golson's ability to tuck-and-run, which came into use after several plays broke down. It still appears to be a last resort and Golson's least preferred method of moving the football, something that may have only been reinforced after taking a 15-yard late-hit penalty along the sidelines from outside linebacker Ishaq Williams.
The good play of Golson was only made more evident by a pair of underwhelming performances from his two counterparts. Quarterbacks Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix combined to throw for 135 yards on 11-of-23 passing, accounting for just one touchdown and several turnovers.
Upstaging the attention on the quarterbacks may have been the play of sophomore tailback George Atkinson. Atkinson dazzled, carrying 15 times for 124 yards. He hadn't yet found his feet as a running back in 2011, but on Saturday, he showed the same elusiveness and explosive ability that made him a dynamic kick returner during his freshman campaign. Atkinson's afternoon was only slightly marred by a couple of turnovers, one a non-contact fumble and the other a dropped option-pitch from Tommy Rees(a playcall that should probably be discontinued).
Rounding out the noteworthy performances on offense was Tyler Eifert, who reeled in two great catches and barely missed out on a third. The Senior Tight End will figure to be the focal point of Notre Dame's pass offense in 2012. With the void left by the departure of Michael Floyd and no proven presence on the boundary, the Irish will look to utilize Eifert on the outside more this season, hoping to exploit mismatches that his 6'6", 242 lbs. frame poses on smaller cornerbacks.
The big story on the defensive side of the ball for the Irish will continue to be the secondary for the foreseeable future. Starting cornerback Bennett Jackson did not dress for the Blue-Gold game as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury, which gave ample opportunity for those competing for the number two corner job to see action. Josh Atkinson, brother of George Atkinson, did not impress to quite the extent his twin did. Atkinson came across too early on one blitz and was flagged for off-sides, a play that ultimately resulted in a touchdown pass from Andrew Hendrix to Tyler Eifert. He also seemed to struggle with containment in the run game, which resulted in a couple of long plays on the ground. If you were looking for a bright spot in the defensive backfield, it may have come in the form of Cam McDaniel, the recently converted running back-turned-corner. While still raw, he showed an ability to stick with his receivers and displayed good closing speed, actually managing to track down George Atkinson on a broken run play.
Less of a concern probably lies within the Notre Dame front seven, which saw dramatic improvement in Saturday's Blue-Gold game from linebacker Ishaq Williams. Williams, a former highly-touted recruit who slogged through his freshman season as he learned the nuances of his position in defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's system, gave indications that things might be coming together. He accounted for two turnovers, falling on an errant pitch and also intercepting a pass from Andrew Hendrix. His development as a pass-rusher will be integral after the recent transfer of defensive end Aaron Lynch.
Saturday also marked the first chance for the Irish faithful to see new faces. The much heralded Gunner Kiel made his debut, quarterbacking the entirety of an abbreviated second half. He ended up completing 5-of-10 throws for 57 yards and an interception. Kiel was working with a limited amount of the playbook, very similar to Everett Golson last year, so there's only so much of what he did on Saturday that should be read into. Defensive linemen Sheldon Day impressed in his first action as a Fighting Irish, applying pressure and collapsing the pocket on more than one occasion.
The 2012 Blue-Gold Game had a little something for everyone, optimists and pessimists alike. One can hope that breakout offensive performances from quarterback Everett Golson and running back George Atkinson will be a sign of the future, with the play-making ability of each contributing to dynamic offenses for years to come. Skeptics will point to inconsistent offensive execution that resulted in six turnovers, making it difficult to shake the memories of a 2011 season that saw the Irish turn the ball over nearly twice as often as they took it from their opponents. At least for one game, the turnover ratio was a much more palatable 1:1.
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