Notre Dame Football: Irish Done in by Poor QB Play in Champs Sports Bowl

So the song remains the same.

Notre Dame lost the Champs Sports Bowl to Florida State, 18-14, Thursday night and managed to let another game that should have been won slip away in a very familiar fashion.

The Irish dominated the first three quarters before committing two turnovers in the final frame and allowing Florida State to overcome 11 yards rushing in 3.5 quarters to rally for the win.

As in previous losses in 2011, Notre Dame was their own undoing.

Notre Dame devoured the Seminole offense in on the first possession, forcing negative yardage and a quick three-and-out.

The Irish then marched easily down the field, securing a 1st-and-goal before foreshadowing things to come with Tommy Rees forcing a ball into quintuple coverage for yet another red-zone turnover.

A fumble on Florida State's next offensive play was returned for a score, and Notre Dame had a 7-0 lead that stood through the half.

Throughout the first half, the groundwork was laid for the eventual collapse, as the Irish could not manage to extend the lead despite dominating the game and not allowing the Seminoles a first down until mid way through the second quarter.

David Ruffer pushed a second quarter field goal attempt wide right, and Notre Dame sputtered offensively squandering good field position throughout the half.

Tommy Rees played his usual game, hitting on some throws and making some good reads, but regularly forcing balls into coverage and being swallowed by the Florida State pass rush.

The book is definitely out on Rees, and Florida State was certainly well aware. Rees generally lacks the arm to challenge deep to the outside and lacks the mobility to escape even the slightest pressure.

The Seminoles kept short safeties and limited crossing routes and keyed on forcing Floyd to the outside with press coverage from the corner back with a safety over playing inside containment.

Oddly, on the other side, T.J. Jones and Robby Toma were in head-up man coverage with often a seven-yard cushion, and Rees never looked their way. His head was always to the strong side, where Floyd and Tyler Eifert were aligned.

If neither Floyd or Eifert were open, Rees would become confused and either take a sack (Florida State had four on the night) or throw the ball away, ignoring open receivers on the other side of the field.

Not a single pass was completed to a running back, who were generally open as the outlet receiver.

Down-field accuracy was also difficult for Rees, as evident on a first quarter 3rd-and-1 play from just inside Florida State territory as he took the snap and quickly launched a fade to Floyd, who had broken open.

Unfortunately, the ball sailed long, and one of many scoring opportunities was squandered. 

Even on his touchdown pass to Floyd, there was no redemption for the quarterback. Rees again tried a fade to the left corner, a ball that should have been high and to the far pylon for an easy jump-ball over a corner who was giving up six inches to the wide-out.

Instead, Rees threw low and short into the coverage. Thankfully, the covering corner only tipped the ball up before falling head first into the turf, with his foot tipping the ball back into Floyd's hands for the only offensive touchdown the Irish managed in the game.

To highlight the kind of night it was to be for Irish quarterbacks, Rees' best ball, a third-quarter seam to Floyd that was both well read and well thrown, was dropped by the senior wide out turning what would have been another scoring chance into a punt.

Rees finished the night 16-of-27 for 163 yards one touchdown and a pair of end-zone interceptions.

The Rees turnovers again prove fatal, for even if the pair of interceptions are converted field goals and everything else remains the same, Notre Dame wins, 20-18.

In games past, Andrew Hendrix was inserted to provide change of pace and to bring a spark in the way of active legs to the Irish offense.

Tonight, this tactic proved useless. As bad as Rees played, Hendrix was worse.

He did manage to carry four times for 26 yards, but was hopelessly confused when throwing the ball. He has a cannon for an arm, but little idea what he should be doing with it.

There were no pre-snap reads, no checks and seemingly no understanding of where his receivers were supposed to be on any given play.

The most evident of this was the interception that Hendrix tossed.

On a second down play from inside the Notre Dame 30, Hendrix dropped stared up the right hash, then fired a bullet to no one in particular. Perhaps he was aiming at Robby Toma on a 15-yard cross, but the ball was throw about seven yards to Seminoles linebacker Nigel Bradham.

The interception was returned 17 yards inside the Irish 20, setting up Florida State's go-ahead score.

Hendrix tallied only three completions in eight attempts for 24 yards with the costly interception.

Total, Irish quarterbacks combined for 19-of-35 187 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

In the end, the play of the Irish quarterbacks ultimately spelled doom for Notre Dame.

The defense shut down the Seminole offense for three-and-a-half quarters until a long kick return sparked the Seminoles, and Irish turnovers allowed them to take the lead.

Notre Dame limited Florida State to 41 rushing yards on 19 carries (1.4 yards per) and harassed Seminole quarterback EJ Manuel often. 

There were fluke plays and bad calls aplenty that also contributed to the Seminole victory, but had Notre Dame not continuously shot themselves in the foot, the other factors would have only served to keep the game close.

The evident fact that remains after the final depressing loss of the 2011 campaign is that there is a serious question mark at the most important position on the field.

Dayne Crist has transferred to Kansas.

Gunner Kiel is headed to LSU.

Tommy Rees is getting worse.

Andrew Hendrix simply isn't grasping the offense.

Everett Golson is completely untested.

Championship level football requires a champion-level quarterback. And right now, Notre Dame simply doesn't have it.