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Notre Dame: Can Irish Balance Two Quarterbacks?

By Garrett Hagan

Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Malik Zaire (8) looks to throw in the first quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blue team defeated the Gold team 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Malik Zaire (8) looks to throw in the first quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blue team defeated the Gold team 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dames kicks off their 2016 season this weekend against the Texas Longhorns. Can the Irish balance a two-quarterback system if they wish to be successful this year?

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly stated a few weeks ago that he would like to run a two-quarterback system this year with the Irish.

Last season, starting quarterback Malik Zaire was lost for the season after an injury sustained against Virginia. Backup quarterback DeShone Kizer stepped up and ultimately won the game.

Under Kizer, Notre Dame would go on to 8-3 — falling short to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl game.

It comes as no surprise as to why Kelly would want to feature the two quarterbacks throughout the season. Zaire is a proven talent and the same can be said about Kizer, who showcased what he was capable of all throughout 2015.

Despite this, ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge isn’t fond of the two-QB system.

"“As a former quarterback, obviously I’m not a huge fan of playing two quarterbacks,” Blackledge said on Monday morning. “But, by the same token, I’m not necessarily all-in with the idea, the adage, ‘If you have two quarterbacks, then you really have no quarterbacks.”“In today’s world of college football, I think you have to have at least two guys ready to take first-team reps and ready to play at a high level because of effectiveness of quarterback run game in offenses today. The offenses that are really prolific, you either have an NFL-type quarterback who can make every throw or you have an element of quarterback run, and when you do that you put the guy at risk.”"

The only downside to having two quarterbacks share reps throughout a given season is that oftentimes, quarterbacks need to get into rhythm as the season progresses. It does no good to a quarterback’s confidence to be pulled out if they are suffering from a bad game, in favor of the other quarterback in the same system.

Notre Dame
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

On the other side of the argument, Ohio State won the CFP National Championship for the 2014 season with an offense that saw multiple quarterbacks under center throughout the year. Although this was also mainly due to injury, many teams have taken after the blueprint to try to find success of their own.

Next: Notre Dame Vs. Texas Longhorns Week One Preview

We very well may have to wait until the season progresses to see how Notre Dame fares featuring two quarterbacks, but many teams would also consider themselves fortunate to be in such a situation.

Notre Dame begins their quest for the College Football Playoffs when they take on Texas Sunday, Sep. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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