The headline in these parts was—Kelly on Kizer: ‘He’s got all the tools … He needs more football’
Irish coach Brian Kelly would rather it have read something along the lines of, “Coach Kelly sees Kizer as the best quarterback in the draft” or “Kelly sees Kizer as having great character.” Neither would have been an inaccurate description of Kelly’s comments regarding former Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer from a Monday afternoon interview on SiriusXM radio.
“Whatever was interpreted, I have a great deal of positive feelings for DeShone,” Kelly said Friday. “I think he’s the best quarterback coming out. I think that everybody that comes to Notre Dame would benefit from another year when they don’t have their degree and could use college football to season themselves. DeShone’s not in that category by himself.
“I think he has great character. I named him a captain. So for that to be seen any other way but positive … but it wasn’t and there’s nothing I can do about it. I think the world of DeShone and I think he’s going to be a great quarterback in the NFL.”
With that straightforward follow-up to the comments from earlier in the week, let’s take another look at some phrases from those remarks. Monday and Tuesday were spent focusing on what Kelly actually did say and mean with context. With that settled, taking a look at periphery points seems the logical next step. Call it a day-two story delayed.
‘BUSINESS DECISIONS’
Immediately following the phrase that turned Twitter into a sniping forum, Kelly explained Kizer’s decision to turn professional with two years of college eligibility remaining.
“The circumstances are such that you have to make business decisions,” Kelly said. “He felt like it was in his best and interest, and I’m going to support him and his decision.”
At any other position, Kizer’s decision may have made poor business sense, but a quick look around the NFL explains the logic for a quarterback. In the span of one drink, 21 starting quarterbacks can be identified as some form of stalwarts (Rodgers, Brady), entrenched veterans (Manning, Flacco) or intriguing prospects (Wentz, Mariota). That leaves 11 teams pondering their future passers.
Again, in the span of a drink, seven more teams can be written off as featuring just-paid question marks (see Mike Glennon; Chicago Bears), balancing injury dilemmas (Teddy Bridgewater/Sam Bradford; Minnesota Vikings), or tolerating serviceable solutions (Ryan Tannehill; Miami Dolphins). Admittedly, some of these designations were given generously, but that was by intention to support the argument.
Finally, and this may necessitate internet access more than a third drink, looking around at the NFL’s backups, perhaps six more worthwhile options present themselves.
With great reach, that makes 35 quarterbacks in the NFL worthy of taking snaps. Note: This less than three dozen includes the likes of Derek Anderson, Drew Stanton and Trevor Siemian. It does not include Brock Osweiler. That is what happens when you are the centerpiece of a history-making deal based on cash considerations.
If Kizer—or any of the other quarterbacks in this draft—can outperform the next 29 quarterbacks, he will set himself up as a backup. That is not a bad gig. If he can outperform four of the current backups (the aforementioned three, plus Jimmy Garoppolo, Paxton Lynch and Nick Foles), Kizer would positon himself to be a starter-worthy NFL quarterback.
That is not an opportunity to pass up. That is an opportunity to chase the moment it is presented. There are simply not enough quarterbacks to provide quality play at the position in the NFL. Teams will back up the armored truck to find someone who can fill that void. Again, look at the Bears.
This is not meant to start a conversation on Kizer’s viability as an NFL starter now or in the future. That has already been debated plenty this week. The only resolution on that debate will come no earlier than five months from now, possibly not until five years from now.
This is meant to illustrate why the business decision may have been a smart one.
‘SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTED’
Kelly acknowledged other former Irish players who turned pro with eligibility remaining, not just Kizer. For that matter, not just Kizer and show host Brady Quinn.
Quinn began the interview by asking Kelly about Kizer and his pro day. In his response, Kelly brought up the question asked most often of Kizer during this buildup to the draft.
“He’s got to answer the questions that everybody’s asked about being a 4-8 quarterback and certainly, can he lead a football team?” Kelly said. “My response to all that is, ‘Look at what he did as a redshirt freshman when he was sufficiently supported around him with a Will Fuller and a C.J. Prosise and the balance that he had.’”
Kelly, of course, was referring to Notre Dame’s 2015 season and the large number of departures following its 10-3 finish. Kizer made a similar point when he was interviewed at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in early March.
‘INSIDE THE IRISH’ MARCH MADNESS POOL
Here is a public kudos to Dennis, apparently otherwise known as rocket1988 in these parts, for winning the March Madness pool. His entry of “Brey Brey’s Kids” had only one Final Four team correct—the accurately-picked eventual champion North Carolina. Not exactly the strongest performance by anyone involved.
Your host finished back in 40th position. Not so terribly as to fall onto the third page of rankings, but disappointing, nonetheless. To my eye, fortunately enough, I knew no one in the top three.
MY OWN TARDINESS
There is an innate flaw to naming a seemingly-recurring piece after a particular time on a specific day. A week will come when instead of writing the majority of that bit the night before, one instead opts to head to a local establishment to watch a hockey game. Then, a Brian Kelly press conference delays catching up on the needed work Friday morning. Suddenly it is 4 p.m. CT. Posting when most on the East Coast and many in the Midwest are leaving their offices for the weekend runs counter to any acknowledgements to corporate desires regarding page views.
Thus, alas, this will post Saturday morning. I do not aim to make excuses. I am, after all, the one who named the seemingly-recurring piece after a particular time on a specific day. But given the Saturday posting, understand the deviation from a usual “Friday at 4” headline.
If you needed this post Friday afternoon to know what to do Friday at 4 p.m., well, then I profusely apologize. Blame Thursday night’s debate regarding what grouping of quarterbacks should include Ryan Fitzpatrick of the New York Jets. That did require a third drink.
Follow @D_Farmer
