this was the Drew Pyne class, right? If i'm not mistaken, Pyne committed very very early and that was it at QB and no, no way DJ was coming to ND, don't care what he says
i'm confused that you keep mentioning this. ND is very picky about who they offer at QB and almost always require that they camp first or the coaches can see them throw live first and then they offer because they are willing to take them how exactly are they supposed to handle it? in the last 5 years, ND has landed Wimbush (top 100), Phil (top 100), Buchner (top 100)...like someone said earlier in the thread - talent IS NOT THE ISSUE...it's development and that is on the coaches
its just absolutely insane Book went from a 68% passer in 2018 to a 60% passer in 2019 with really good receiving talent. Wimbush went from a HS prospect who was all arm and a little bit of mobility to not being able to hit food in a supermarket Kiser dropped from 63 to 59% Rees dropped from 65% in 2011 to 55% in 2012 and 2013 its virtually impossible but pretty obvious that its not even lack of development, its actual deterioration
It’s all about risk aversion. My guess is that while other efficiency goes down, TO% also goes down in each case. Kelly’s QB development is reduction of TO% at all costs, and removing any “feel” from the position. When you bring in top 100 talents, you should let them play their game to a certain extent. Kelly’s QB development ensures consistent performance and a team that doesn’t often beat itself, but college football at the highest level today is about how high your QB can push your team’s ceiling.
well wimbush became more turnover prone, rees did improve in that sense and book and golson were more or less flat so even in that sense it doesnt really work. I really wish that BK looked at what Bama did with Tua and playing him over hurts, if even saban moved away from crockpotting im not sure why this is still our go to move
That UCF QB whose leg basically fell off. I wonder if he grad transfers? Worth a look. As someone else said, maybe run at a gt as a bridge next year.
Prister was really ripping into BK on the podcast today for the way he acted in the press conference. Strange.
There is a non zero chance that Dexter Williams goes from rb #5 on the practice squad to feature back on Thursday nights game
We’ll never fire a guy that wins 10-11 games per year, even if they’re all against garbage teams. That’s a major step up from where we were for two decades.
fair enough. never had much sympathy or paid much attention in my youth but somehow in my 30s it seems like ND should be able to land a guy who flips a few of the titular games
He's a 10-11 win per year coach who has brought the program back to respectability and CFP contention regularly. He isn't elite as we haven't actually won the whole thing but he's very good. For now, that seems acceptable at ND.
He has brought us back to being in the top 5 every season at some point for 4 seasons in a row...not many programs can say that
Honestly, our D, OL and in general, the running game have been on par with the elites the last years. If he could recruit and actually develop a top QB for a change, he'd have a chance to catch lightning in a bottle and have that one year that completely changes how he's viewed. If...
Dear God, if we had a QB like Fields Spoiler Brian Kelly would turn him into one hell of a mediocre WR.
one of my biggest "what ifs" ever is if Jimmy Clausen had come back in 2010 for his senior year and BK's first year. No way BK could have ruined him at that point and we had a decent defense and still had Floyd and Rudolph. The offense really could have been something else instead of muddling through with Crist/Rees
77 things to say.... Spoiler 1 — I’m told a healthy chunk of viewers missed the first four plays of Saturday’s contest. What you saw in the stat sheet: Michael Mayer with a first down catch on third down. What you didn’t see because a Note Dame holding penalty occurred (on Mayer): Chris Tyree’s sideline fumble on a 19-yard Jet Sweep was recovered by a hustling, diving Kyren Williams. 2 — 3rd-and-9 and Ian Book hits Javon McKinley on a short cross. McKinley’s dive through a tackle picks up the first down. McKinley running crossing routes (started the game with a drag as well) is an adjustment I like to see. His separation downfield is suspect. 3 — Notre Dame’s first called rushing play of the contest is on the eighth snap. I like the tactic vs. Tech to get Book going…but that better not happen Saturday night or you and I (if ‘you’ are indeed *Tommy Rees/Brian Kelly reading this for some reason) will have a problem. 4 — *Get back to work! 5 — Williams on third-and-short to the left…Williams for 19 over right tackle…Williams on third and short to the right…and Robert Hainsey is having one quality drive right now. 6 — Book rolling right and throws across the back of the end zone to a fairly-well tracked Joe Wilkins crossing to the back line for his first career touchdown. That resembled Sprint Right Option for you people that love joy and beauty from days of yore… By the way, the other two routes (Mayer, Williams to the right) were either decoy floods or the worst routes in plant history. Irish 7 Georgia Tech 0 7 — Remarkably, that is Joe Wilkins’ first catch since he had four in the season opener vs. Duke—three of them on one second quarter drive. 8 — Notre Dame’s 2020 passing game: where statistical delusions of grandeur go to die. 9 — More on that touchdown: It was a three tight end set with Takacs, not Tremble—who didn’t start. He was clearly being protected last week due to a lingering, but not prohibitive injury. (Mayer 51, Wright 42, Tremble 32 snaps) 10 — Book opens 7-for-7 on a 15-play touchdown drive. It’s like 2018 all over again… 11 — Unblocked Daelin Hayes is shot out of a cannon for the TFL. Let’s put it this way: I thought it was JOK, not Hayes. The ultimate compliment. 12 — Hayes whiffs high, otherwise he’d have had three Stuffs on the opening drive, but MTA is there to clean up a 5-yard loss on a swing pass to the boundary. Simon was kinda there too, for you guys scoring his every move and non-tackle at home… 13 — I’m not saying his great, or Notre Dame’s best ‘back by any stretch, but if you don’t like how C’Bo runs in relief, we cannot be football friends… 14 — Jake Golic’s name dropped for the first time in a Notre Dame game since…? 15 — That might be the fastest I’ve seen Avery Davis run. Wide receiver screen behind Hainsey and to a lesser extent, Kraemer, gains 15 yards. Decisive burst on 3rd-and-2 and that’s mixing up the Power Approach in short-yardage. Irish open 5-for-5 on third down including 4-for-4 on third-and-short 16 — Sack. Mostly Brock Wright. Maybe some C’Bo thrown in. Little bit of Kraemer at the end allowing pressure and the technical sack. 17 — More pressure on Book, this time Patterson loses his block late and a lost fumble by Book is overturned by a hands-to-the-face penalty (Tommy Kraemer’s facemask). Yikes. 18 — Williams fumbles fighting for extra yards, the ball scoots between (a moving) Aaron Banks’ legs and into the arms of Zamari Walton for a 93-yard scoop-and-score. (I don’t think Mayer blocked the correct defender, allowing a free run to Williams.) We’re tied at 7-7 and that’s the FOURTH time this has happened in the Brian Kelly Era if you include Dayne Crist vs. USC; three by running backs. Bizarre. 19 — More important than the historical oddity above: that’s two strip fumbles vs. Notre Dame running backs in 15 minutes and 10 seconds… 20 — After Tech swallows a telegraphed Jet Sweep to Davis (-5), Book brings the Irish back to a reasonable down-and-distance with a 10-yard escape and scramble. His feet are his best weapon, he said, resigned to that reality… 21 — Davis again, this time on a sprint out and the Irish are 6-for-6 on third down, have a 150-6 yardage advantage, and it’s tied at 7. Crazy time. 22 — Love Williams’ vision in traffic…and now here comes Tyree finishing at full speed on the Jet Sweep to field side. The second-most intriguing thing about that 21-yard gain is how play-action might work off of it this week… Easy score by Kyren Williams behind Aaron Banks, Liam Eichenberg, Jarrett Patterson, and Brock Wright, who puts everything he has into every block. This OL could do some damage in 2021 as well if both Tremble and Wright join Aaron Banks—the left tackle—and Robert Hainsey. 14-7 Notre Dame early in the second quarter 23 — Yikes…Jahmyr Gibbs brings the lumber, eh? Holy Smokes he pounded JOK on that tackle. 24 — Jacob Lacey beats the double team and Justin Ademilola knifes through for a 3rd-and-2 Win. Ademilola plays per snap has always been impressive. Now he’s getting consistent double digit snaps and it’s paying off. He’s a strong run defender. 25 — How much do you think Clemson wishes they had Isaiah Simmons to contain if not completely control Salerno this weekend? 26 — Notre Dame really dialing up the tight end big receiver crosses and drags these days. Would love it if there were an over-the-top complement. 27 — Think C’Bo missed his gap. He’s not one to freelance and probably can’t afford to. 28 — Kiser and Bauer in together. You know what…Kiser can get engulfed by guards that get to the second level. Maybe Clark Lea believes Shayne Simon handles that better than Kiser/Liufau at present? I’m searching… 29 — Kyle Hamilton has no use for your amateur-ish screen tactics, Tech. TFL. I cannot wait to watch him play vs. Etienne (and JOK vs. Etienne) this Saturday. 30 — Not so sure I want to see the Bucks (or Mikes, for that matter) play against Etienne, to be honest… 31 — Ovie gets blocked a lot. This time though he gets lost on a tight end release but Jeff Sims misses badly. Irish get lucky late in the first half. I’d consider shortening the DE rotation this week to four. 32 — 4th-and-2 now and Georgia Tech just ensured Kyle Hamilton will not be tested by the Tigers in such a scenario. GO AWAY FROM 14!!! Misdirection boundary toss is swallowed whole, and frankly, I’m insulted they tried it. Irish ball with 3:59 remaining in the first half and it’s time to cash in. 33 — I don’t think this is a faster Notre Dame defense as everyone seems to purport. I think two guys are faster and they play on opposite sides, making plays on a weekly basis. 34 — Love everything about Tyree save for how many steps he takes to gather and cut in space. Maybe it’s a confidence thing? 35 — Book with another 13-yard scramble, this time down to the Tech 14-yard line. This situation MUST BE A TOUCHDOWN on future Saturdays—South Bend, Chestnut Hill, and Chapel Hill 36 — THat’s an easy pass to Tommy Tremble for six points. You cannot miss that in the modern era. It’s a standard athletic throw by an athletic player! Drop it in there!! 37 — Book does not see Tyree on the late release but instead throws wide, high, and out of bounds to a solo-covered Mayer. I’m getting frustrated. That might be worse than the last play… That’s it, no film review for me next week. It’s official! 38 — Doerer with the 32-yard field goal and its 17-7 near the break 39 — Irish linebackers getting covered up a bit too much for my taste this quarter. White and Simon this time and Gibs goes for and easy dozen. I think Tech caught the Irish defense thinking pass with 1:44 to go from the 12-yard line, however… 40 — Simon one-on-one with Sims and it’s not close. Would’ve missed him in a phone booth. I am positive that’s a play Kiser can make in space. Can we clone JOK and move him to Buck? When does Anzalone get on campus, anyway? 41 — Man, it is going to be CULTURE Shock this week after facing two offenses on life support in Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. Irish lead 17-7 at the half 42 — Drew White ruins his best play of the day with a ridiculous, Jordan-Johnson level personal foul penalty (See, it’s easy to work him in!) 43 — 39 yards right down the post from Sims to Camp over McCloud and the Yellow Jackets breech the Irish 25-yard line for the first time… 44 — Daelin Hayes with the easy pass rush rip over right tackle for the strip sack, recovered by MTA to end the Yellow Jackets only threat to date. Prister is right: that was not quality pass pro by right tackle Jordan Williams. But that was a heads-up recovery by MTA, spin-move to extricate included! 45 — Whatever gets Hayes going, I’m all for it. The Irish need three games of Hayes’ best this month. 46 — 3rd-and-3 and here goes Book again, 14 more on a scramble to the right, receivers covered man-to-man. How many first downs does he need to run for this week? Five? 47 — Back shoulder fade to McKinley who makes a nice adjustment against less-than-stellar coverage in terms of ball awareness. I wish McKinley would’ve cared and focused in 2017 and 2018, too. Thirty-one yards down to the Tech 13-yard line. 48 — Kyren Williams cuts back are reminiscent of Blair Thomas, for those of you that lived through the Penn State/ND rivalries of the 1980s. It’s a compliment. 49 — Jarrett Patterson and Tommy Kraemer win at the point and it’s all Wiliams for the 4-yard score. Two tight ends that time with Skowronek aligned as such as a third. Haven’t seen that formation yet I don’t believe… 24-7 Irish and this should become 38-10 in a hurry, honestly 50 — I am POSITIVE Drew White was better vs. the run last season than he is now. I did not imagine it, and my personal analytics back me up. 51 — My goodness is that Jevon Kearse!? Isaiah Foskey is not your mark in space, people! Sims suffers an 8-yard loss and it’s 3rd-and-18 back to the host’s 32-yard line. That’s a dangerous man. Remember, Foskey had almost no coaching from Elston for part of 2019 (scout team for most weeks) and all of spring ball 2020. He’d be miles ahead with a full spring under his belt. 52 — This is a beating. Ogundeji with a Stuff on the draw play. Long, quick, knowledgeable, ever-improving…imagine if he comes back? 53 — Hey, Ben Skowronek is playing. 9 yards on the hitch. I bet that’s keeping Venables up at night… 54 — I have no idea what just happened here and neither do Dave Pasch and Mike Golic watching from home. Thats a tough gig that I do not envy Oh wait, I’m doing that Saturday. Carry on. 55 — Liufau called for targeting. Its technically true. I suppose I’m always going to have to live with it, and if that were my kid getting hit in the head, I’d be grateful for the rule change…but my goodness. So hard to play defense these days… 56 — Liufau is thus out for the first half this week along with Clemson’s Xavier Thomas for his targeting call against Phil Jurkovec (was pretty bad albeit unintentional). I’ll take that trade, though Thomas has really struggled this season post-Covid (spring, and he had it bad) and injuries. 57 — Daelin Hayes looked 10 pounds overweight in September. Today he looks like a New England Patriot circa 2004. What the heck? Sack/strip but no recovery this time screaming around left tackle. 58 — 3rd-and-14 and the man with a penchant for the big play, Shaun Crawford, comes up with the sack. He’s like a 140-pound, older Stonebreaker! 59 — That is honestly the worst kick I’ve ever seen. 60 — Is Georgia Tech the only school that doesn’t know student-athletes are offered kicking camps these days, and you can recruit from that lot of speciality talents for your scholarship allotment? 61 — Did you know that my greatest weakness as a standard athlete is the inability to place-kick? I can punt (kind of), throw any ball (well), swing a bat (okay), field (yes) shoot (great), dribble (great), hit a speed bag (adequately), run (stretching it), cut (seriously), and well, maybe not jump…but I CANNOT kick a field goal. And I’m okay with that. Field goals are fascist. 62 — Book on 3rd-and-8 to McKinley on a scramble route—that’s the best effort by an ND receiver I can recall this season helping out Book when everything breaks down. Catch-and-run for 34 yards to the Tech 38-yard line. 63 — There is no way McKinley is only 6’2” 215? COME ON! 64 — Kyren on the swing pass for 20 yards with Robert Hainsey leading the way. That’s going to look good next season in Solider Field against Wisconsin, too. Bring Back Hainsey! 65 — Touchdown C’Bo. C’BO KNOWS short-yardage. Irish lead 31-7 early in the fourth quarter 66 — “Rees Is only six years older than Book.” Big deal. Rees just missed playing with Shaun Crawford. 67 — Wonder what Cam Hart can become with another season of tutelage? Clarence Lewis and TaRiq Bracy are clearly your two-best corners in 2021 (assuming McCloud leaves). Who moves to the boundary? 68 — Marty Smith: “Nerds have staying power.” What a great line on Halloween candy. He pandered a little with this one but “The Reesey Cup is the Notre Dame of Candy…” Marty Smith is good people. 63 — Joe Wilkins has to catch that rolling throw by Book. Dropped on dime moving left. 64 — I see Derrik Allen! (On the field in a little scuffle with Brock Wright. Good for them. Both of them.) 65 — I didn’t realize Armstrong played. Not a fan of him at the W spot, but as long as that’s just to allow him reps in practice while he operates out of the slot or a backfield wheel route, I’m fine with it. 66 — Jahmyr Gibbs can play for real. He comes to South Bend in 2021 and thankfully his teammates aren’t at his compete level, though I do wonder what Sims will look like as a sophomore. 67 — Houston Griffith is clipped. No call. Give me a break. Also, word to the wise, you don’t need to clip Houston Griffith. Just let it play out. It was about right now I realized Tech was about to score and impact my on-the-spot Game Story. 68 — Touchdown Yellow Jackets, going for two and HOLY SMOKES THAT’S KYLE HAMILTON! Irish lead 31-13 and Kyle Hamilton is about to announce his presence to the College Football World with authority this Saturday in South Bend. 69 — So the ND hands team for onside kicks includes Shayne Simon and #45 who’s not on the roster. Who is that? I get Bo Bauer (hit the oncoming opponents). But what about Simon? And Houston Griffith? And who is No. 45? Did Jack Henige change numbers? I have so many questions. Oh, I assume that’s Kiser because Tremble is also out there? Regardless, it’s Kyren Williams that flubs it. Wow. 70 — My all hands team includes Tony Rice, circa 1988. If you don’t get the reference, run some laps, then watch some ND/Miami Tape. 71 — 15-yard gain as Gibbs eschews Bauer. At this point a game story re-write was simply not acceptable. Tweak was in progress. 72 — Ade Ogundeji with the sack. Order is restored. (And he’s getting better weekly.) 73 — Ogundeji and Hayes with the Stuff on 3rd and 14. What a day for the 5th-year bookends. 74 — Fittingly, it’s Daelin Hayes that ends the Yellow Jackets final threat with a QB hurry, hit and incompletion. 75 — Flemister for 21 yards. Dear god of all wagers, please…give me…give me a break. 76 — Flemister is stopped short of the goal line. Twice. That’s not a cover. Not that I care (i actually do)… CLEMSON is coming to town and both the Tigers and Irish are undefeated…it’s been awhile. TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS to be exact. It’s the biggest November Game in TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS!! How is that possible? 9COMMENTS 77 — Do not downplay this again. It’s time to win on the big stage. Notre Dame 31…The Trade School on North Avenue 13
Same for me but Tate too. The Clausen to Tate combo would have been lethal in the offense that Kelly tried to run those first two years.
I am kind of conflicted and you will all call me insane Obviously we all know what is happening Saturday night. A couple of nights ago my wife got a sitter and dinner reservation because it is supposed to be good weather and probably the last chance to go to a restaurant in who knows how long with indoor dining shut down. Now, I could get out of this easily if I wanted to but I kind of don't. 7 pm reservations at this place is capped at 90 minutes so worst case is I get home, , and watch the game on DVR starting at 8:32 at the latest Last time I made a similar decision regarding date night/social life was USC 2017
So you're saying we're going to blowout Clemson like we did USC that night? Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yea, I didn't want to be greedy but throwing together another season of Clausen, Tate, Floyd, and Rudolph would have had ND in title contention
for those who want to read more in depth on the matchup against Clemson, this is Prister's film review Spoiler Clemson’s Brent Venables has been coordinating defenses since he was 28-years-old at Oklahoma, sharing the duties before landing the solo gig with the Sooners five years later. He became the coordinator at Clemson under Dabo Swinney in 2012, where he’s served ever since. Tommy Rees, Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, has been in his role with the Irish for a minute compared to Venables’ 17 years of solo coordinating the Tigers. Saturday night in Notre Dame Stadium, the master and the apprentice-in-training who is off to a very good start in his new role will match wits when No. 1 Clemson visits No. 4 Notre Dame. DECIPHERING THE VENABLES DEFENSE Venables is the master of the late pre-snap decision. He’ll read the formation of the opponent and make a quick, last-second signal to his defense, sometimes causing his unit to still be in the process of deciphering the call and getting lined up, although it’s rarely enough of an issue to cause catastrophic results for his unit. With Notre Dame getting away from the tempo offense under Chip Long, in theory, the more deliberate pace plays to Venables’ strengths. He should have little problem aligning his defense the way he would prefer for Notre Dame’s formations. At that point, it comes down to execution, and whereas Venables had a bunch of early-round NFL draft choices manning his defense in 2018, he does not have that kind of personnel to put on the field this Saturday, particularly with injuries to linebackers James Skalski (No. 47) and Mike Jones Jr. (No. 6), and defensive tackle Tyler Davis (No. 13). Clemson’s strength remains its defensive front, which is led by talented freshmen Myles Murphy (No. 98) and Bryan Bresee (No. 11), who have combined for 6½ of the team’s 28 sacks and 11 of the 65 tackles for loss. Sophomore Justin Mascoll (No. 7) is next with 4½ tackles for loss among an army of defensive players who play meaningful snaps. Junior end Xavier Thomas (No. 3), who will miss the first half of the game against the Irish following a targeting penalty in the Boston College game, has been inconsistent but disruptive for the Tigers. Veteran tackle Nyles Pinckney (No. 44) and another true freshman, DE-K.J. Henry (No. 5), will be noticed. Venables is a very aggressive coordinator. While he’ll certainly drop eight and spy Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book in an attempt to take away scramble yardage, he much prefers to bring the second level of his defense, particularly linebackers Baylon Spector (No. 10) and Jake Venables (No. 15), who has replaced injured Skalski. (Note: Venables’ other son, Tyler, a freshman wearing No. 12, sees action at safety.) Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea likes to send blitzers up the middle of his defense as well. But Clemson has had greater success getting to the quarterback and/or creating turnovers on the back end. Sending middle pressure makes it more difficult for the 6-foot-1 Book to escape the pass rush while compressing the pocket and clogging his vision to the middle of the field, which has always been an issue for him anyway. That was one of the things that Venables was able to do to Book and the Irish offense two years ago in the Cotton Bowl playoff game. Book couldn’t find alternatives. The difference now is that a) the Clemson defensive line is not as good as it was in 2018, b) the back seven is considerably less experienced and c) the Irish have an improved offensive line. With two more years of starts under his belt, Book theoretically should be better prepared to handle this pressure, although he doesn’t have a Miles Boykin at the wide receiver position like he did in 2018 or Chase Claypool in 2019. By sending pressure against Book two years ago and playing coverage behind the up-front pressure, it made it difficult to get the back-shoulder throws to Boykin. Stepping up in the pocket was difficult, and that helps diffuse Book’s effectiveness. So strategically, the advantage remains with Venables. Personnel-wise, Venables is working with less physical talent to pull it off. Because the Irish still have to prove their wideouts can win in a game against this type of athleticism, look for Venables to try to take easy access throws away from tight end Michael Mayer. Stopping Mayer on his drive routes isn’t easy, but that’s what Venables will try to do and take his chances against one-on-one matchups against Javon McKinley, Ben Skowronek and Avery Davis. McKinley and Skowronek need noteworthy performances against the Tigers. Of those three, it will be easier to get the football in the hands of Davis. The Irish need to do so. The screen game could prove hugely significant to the Irish, particularly if they can catch the Tigers in one of those middle blitzes. Book has to be accurate to Kyren Williams. This isn’t the kind of game the Irish can afford a well-timed, well-set-up Rees screen call to fail. It’s always important but particularly imperative that Book and the Irish offense stay ahead of the chains. They did a good job of that against Pittsburgh. They converted the short-yardage runs against the Panthers. The difference between Pittsburgh’s defense and Clemson’s defense is that Clemson’s cornerbacks make more plays as a whole. Cornerbacks Deion Kendrick (No. 1), Andrew Booth (No. 23) and Sheridan Jones (No. 26) team up with safeties Nolan Turner (No. 24) and Lannden Zanders (No. 36), and a host of subbing personnel, to limit opponents to a 27 percent third-down conversion rate with nine interceptions on just 186 pass attempts. Turner leads the way with three thefts, generally on errant throws caused by the pressure up front. And yet Clemson’s secondary did not play the ball well in the first half of the Boston College game when they allowed three offensive touchdowns. Two touchdown passes in the end zone should have been, at worst, passes broken up if not intercepted. This is not the secondary the Irish faced in 2018 when eventual first-round pick A.J. Terrell, third-rounder Tanner Muse and fourth-rounder K’Von Wallace prowled the back rung of the Tigers’ defense. Notre Dame’s wideouts need to win their share of the battles. Look for Rees to remain committed to Notre Dame’s No. 11 rushing attack. In fact, the Irish should have a better chance of rushing the football with success against Clemson than they did against Pittsburgh, which limited Notre Dame to 115 yards on 50 rushing attempts. Clemson is still giving up just 2.7 yards per rushing attempt and 99 for the game. But look for the Irish to have success comparable to Virginia, which managed 147 yards and 3.9 yards per carry on 38 attempts. Notre Dame will want to run it even more than that, and thus, should have the highest rushing production against Clemson this season. With injuries to Davis in the middle of the defense and Skalski/Jones on the second level, Notre Dame’s offensive line has a chance to make some inroads for running backs Kyren Williams, C’Bo Flemister and Chris Tyree. And speaking of Notre Dame’s running backs, it’s very important that they hold up in pass protection with the bulk of that duty falling on the shoulders of Williams, who is a willing blocker, but still a freshman who can struggle with it. Can Notre Dame get to 28 points? Boston College did with a defensive touchdown mixed in, although how the Irish would get to 28 points would be much more reliant on the rushing attack. The Eagles accounted for just 67 yards and 2.0 yards per attempt on the ground. If Book doesn’t play one of his best games in an Irish uniform and does not make Clemson pay for its aggressiveness, Notre Dame won’t get to 28 points, and that makes it extremely difficult to defeat the Tigers. SLOWING DOWN CLEMSON’S OFFENSE As it relates to Note Dame’s defense against the Tigers’ offensive attack, the loss of quarterback Trevor Lawrence (No. 16) is hugely significant, regardless how well true freshman D.J. Uiagalelei (No. 5) performed in his starting debut against Boston College. Clark Lea’s defense is better prepared to give Uiagalelei a battery of looks that confuse him. And while Amari Rodgers (No. 3) has emerged from the shadows of Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross to lead the team with 40 receptions and six touchdowns, the supporting cast is not nearly as game-breaking or productive as it once was. Cornell Powell (No. 17) has really started to come on. He runs a bunch of slants that are difficult to stop. He’s a confident, attacking wide receiver, although he’s averaging just 10 yards per completion. Frank Ladson Jr. (No. 2), at 6-foot-3, is averaging less than three catches per game, but three of his 17 grabs have gone for touchdowns and he’s averaging 16 yards per reception. Freshman wide receiver E.J. Williams (No. 6) was particularly active early against Georgia Tech. Clemson’s tight end play is better than it was two years ago. Braden Galloway (No. 88) and Davis Allen (No. 84) have combined for 25 receptions and five touchdowns. Both are a handful with Galloway offering 6-foot-5, 240-pound size and Allen an up-the-seam, red-zone threat. While Clemson’s offensive line of RT-Jordan McFadden (No. 71), RG-Will Putnam (No. 56), C-Cade Stewart (No. 62), LG-Matt Bockhorst (No. 65) and LT-Jackson Carmon (No. 79) has taken some heat, there are two things to consider with this group – 1) This is an exceptional pass-blocking unit, even better than Notre Dame’s. They are technically-sound and a cohesive unit. 2) They don’t have to be a great run-blocking team – which they’re not -- with RB-Travis Etienne (No. 9) running behind them. Etienne is, on the Tiger offense, the greatest impediment to an Irish victory. He just became the ACC’s all-time leading rusher. He is fast, strong and his yards after contact are off the chart. Like Georgia Tech RB-Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 130 of the Yellow Jackets’ 238 yards total offense against the Irish, Etienne is extremely dangerous catching the football. He is second on the squad in receptions. He averages 15 yards per grab, which is exceptional for a running back. When Etienne takes a swing pass, he gets his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage quickly and is at full speed immediately after the catch. He will leak out of the backfield or line up as a slot receiver and just beat defensive backs downfield as if he were a wideout by trade. While Notre Dame’s defense has been praised for what a great job it has done against the run since the Michigan debacle in Game Seven last season, this is an extremely stern test. Etienne averages a combined 148.6 yards of total offense per game – 86.6 on the ground at 5.9 yards per carry and nine touchdowns and 62.0 yards per game in the passing attack with another two scores and a long of 46 to go with that 15.0-yard average. Etienne is going to get his yards. How well the Irish contain Etienne is, arguably, as important as how well Notre Dame can keep the young quarterback in check. As it pertains to Uiagalelei, he struggled throwing the football to his left against Boston College. Whether that’s a true technical tell or just coincidence is difficult to ascertain in one game. He snapped off a 30-yard run, so the Irish have to be aware of his ability to take off. Mixing coverages and offering false reads to Uiagalelei will undoubtedly be a significant part of Notre Dame’s cat-and-mouse game with the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder. HOW TO DEFEAT CLEMSON • The Irish have to force the freshman quarterback into mistakes. At least one takeaway and preferably two. He’s making just his second career start against a great defensive coordinator and a very good defense. The Irish have to take advantage of a youthful mistake. Notre Dame has dropped a bunch of potential interceptions through the first six games. The Irish can’t let those opportunities literally slip through their fingers in this one. • Don’t let Etienne kill you. You can’t stop him from getting his 18-to-20 touches per game. Can you limit him to 120 yards total offense and zero touchdowns? He’s scored 11 times in seven games. He is a game wrecker. He also has shown a penchant for fumbling the football, so ripping and raking at the football while still trying to get a solid grasp of him is in order. But tackle him first. His escapable tendencies after contact is outstanding. • Limit the big plays amongst the receivers/tight ends. This is similar to playing Louisville in that the Irish had to slow down QB-Malik Cunningham, RB-Javian Hawkins, WR-Tutu Atwell, WR-Dez Fitzpatrick and TE-Marshon Ford. Notre Dame made it look easy against that group. This is a greater challenge with Etienne the superstar, Rodgers who is Atwell-like, a tight end corps that hurts you downfield more than Ford, and a young wideout unit that is getting better but a far cry from the Higgins/Ross pairing. • Run the football more effectively than the Pittsburgh game. The Irish converted short-yardage runs against the Panthers. Theoretically, they should be able to do the same against Clemson’s banged up defensive front. There are some double-digit-yardage runs to be had against the Tigers. They’re vulnerable against the run on the second and third level. Notre Dame has to ride its offensive line to victory. No fumbles lost in a game of this magnitude. Opponents have lost four fumbles in seven games against the Tigers. • The wide receivers have to win battles against a lesser-than-2018 Clemson secondary. McKinley, Skowronek and Davis need a noteworthy collective performance. This is a concern for Notre Dame, especially if Clemson can take away Mayer and Tommy Tremble in the process. Tremble could be in a position to make a significant play if the Tigers are intent on stopping Mayer. Of course, Book has to find him. • Notre Dame’s collective pass-blocking effort has to be tight. Although Brian Kelly downplayed the pressure applied by Georgia Tech, which has some noteworthy personnel at defensive end, Clemson’s pass rush can be avalanche-like, although again, not like 2018. There is an artistry to the layers of the Clemson blitz package. Sometimes it’s timed so well, it looks like a choreographed synchronized swimming presentation. It’s a time-released package that arrives in waves. • Book needs to play like a champion. He must see and connect with open receivers in this game. He has to find running avenues to escape the pass rush, which will be difficult. Book has to find some easy-access throws that Clemson surely will try to take away from him. Book’s 30th start needs to look like a veteran field general in charge, otherwise Notre Dame’s offensive output will fall short of the necessary production to defeat Clemson. • All of that being said, this would not be some miracle victory for Notre Dame. Rarely will you find a Clemson team as vulnerable as this one. They’ve temporarily lost their first-pick-in-the-draft quarterback. Their receivers aren’t as electrifying as they were, although their running back is Heisman Trophy-caliber. Their defense is missing significant pieces, is less experienced and not nearly as talented as the one the Irish faced in 2018, although their defensive coordinator compensates for a lot. A Notre Dame victory over Clemson would be an upset. But Notre Dame is capable, particularly if the Irish can take an early lead and dictate the tempo of the game.
Go, and enjoy the 2 minutes (less travel time) of sex. This weekend is as much a scrimmage as it is a top 5 matchup. The outcome will provide fodder for 5 weeks* of discussion about Kelly's legacy, the rematch in Charlotte will determine who goes to the playoffs. Stupid conference bullshit. *actually just 1 week... win or lose against Clemson, we're going to turn around and lose to BC somehow.
It would be very on brand for ND to have a massive outbreak of their own delaying the game until Lawrence was back
This is why night games are stupid. In the days of yesteryear I could get half drunk watching an afternoon game and get on with life for better or worse that evening.
no this is for the school in total, sorry about that! the football numbers come out 3 times a week and they're tweeted by the football program. it may turn out that football players are included in those counts, but no idea at this point.
The narrative is already set. They talk about the players out for Clemson. Nobody talks about Austin or Lenzy. And if Nd loses to this version of Clemson they can’t be in the playoffs this is such a lose/lose situation. I hate it.