[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith 1:15 on the clock, Malik Zaire took the snap and stepped back, looking for an open receiver. Once he had his target in sight, he let go a rocket. Unfortunately, the ball was picked off by the defender who then ran down the field before whistles blew.
It wasn’t how Zaire wanted to start drills during Tuesday morning’s practice, but it can happen to any quarterback.
Later in the day, during Head Coach Brian Kelly’s press conference, he said he believes Zaire could be an elite college quarterback with time.
“I think he throws it pretty good for a college football quarterback,” Kelly said. “He could throw it better. … He’s going to be around here a few more years. I think he could be a top, elite thrower of the football because his mechanics are not far off.”
Is Kelly just hyping up his offensive leader before the season begins, or can Zaire grow to become one of the top quarterbacks in college football?
Malik Zaire is poised to lead the Irish into the 2015 season. But are his skills up to par? Damien Dennis/The Pit
There’s certainly a lot of hype heading into the season opener against Texas on September 5, with Zaire drawing a seemingly endless amount of both supporters and doubters.
Zaire proved he has the ability to lead the Irish over a top-level program in LSU in December during the Music City Bowl game. Notre Dame beat the Tigers 31-28 with Zaire leading the charge. The then-sophomore completed 12-of-15 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for an additional 96 yards and another touchdown in the win.
Despite Zaire’s success during the postseason last year, he has still needed work.
“I think it’s all I think all of the things that Malik had coming into the season, into the spring in terms of mechanics and things he needed to work on were all correctible,” Kelly said during Tuesday’s media day. “He gets a little big, gets the ball stuck behind him a little bit. It’s just repetition.”
With fall training camp winding down and just two weeks before the Irish take the field against the Longhorns, it seems that Zaire has taken the leap to the next level – despite the rough start he had Tuesday morning.
His form looks good when he steps back in the pocket, while his speed is just as good as ever, giving him the ability to scramble if needed. He’s got laser precision in many of his short passes.
Kelly credits much of Zaire’s success – and that of the other quarterbacks – to new coordinator Mike Sanford.
“I think he’s already made some really good progress. Ball placement, touch, things like that that were not really part of what Zaire) did, he was always throwing the fastball and never really changing speeds at all,” said Kelly.
Zaire spoke about Sanford’s approach to training the quarterbacks, calling it much more specific.
Coaches Brian Kelly and Mike Sanford think Malik Zaire has the makings to be a top-tier college quarterback because of his athleticism and eagerness to learn. Damien Dennis/The Pit
“Coach Sanford is a guy that’s been more specific than other coaches. We’ve been more keen on finding out how we are going to get better every day and the steps we’re going to take every day to get better. It’s helpful because the day-to-day work isn’t so broad. It’s much more specific and set out each day. The step-by-step (approach) has helped us grow as a unit,” Zaire said.
For Sanford, the first thing that stood out to him about Zaire was is wish to be coached.
“There’s an old saying that I’ve always said about players, you want them to have the mentality of ‘coach me, coach’, and he’s a guy that personifies that in every way. He wants to be coached. He’s always looking for something else that he can improve his game, and he’s been very diligent with that ever since the day that I arrived on campus. His desire to be great would be number one in my mind, and then his overall athletic skill set,” Sanford said.
One of the big things with recruiting and training quarterbacks if finding one that’s skilled enough to get the ball to the target, but also being athletic enough to scramble and carry the ball.
“The number one thing that really does start, in my opinion, in winning football games is being great in situational football and as a quarterback position, we make our weight,” he said. “Our value is what we do on third downs, and obviously in the NFL that’s how most quarterbacks are evaluated.”
While Sanford praises Zaire’s athleticism and willingness to learn and Kelly’s belief that he can be an elite quarterback, nobody is interested in talking about the possibility of a Heisman. … yet.
“So, naturally it always goes back to the quarterback. Heck, he’s a first time starter,” Kelly said. “I just hope he keeps the job, right?”
Zaire downplayed the Heisman question too.
“Right now, all of our focus is towards becoming prepared for our first game,” he said.
