We'll win comfortably if Book plays well but if he wastes possessions then yeah it's gonna be a long day. Especially if there's weather.
He wastes at least 2-3 possessions per game and the rest of the offense is good for another 2 with false starts and other stupid shit so it should be fun..
73 things to say... Spoiler 1 — I kind of like the long walk from the visitor’s locker room to the field at Wallace Wade. Be better if they had obstacles though... 2 — “We’ll take the ball and we’re gonna score!” Wait…Nope…wrong Hasselbeck. Takes away some drama from this coin toss I suppose. It just occurred to me Notre Dame’s freshmen were two years old when the other Hasselbeck uttered that fateful boast at Green Bay. Man I’m old. So are you. 3 — Book waits for Kmet to be covered before releasing the ball on first down (short gain), then does the same to Chris Finke (incomplete, PD) on third… Three-and-out. Why this flaw began to permeate Book’s game in 2019 I’ll never know… 4 — Chase Claypool, Kyle Hamilton, and Bo Bauer cover the first punt. Bauer makes the stop. It speaks volumes of Bauer that he BELONGS in that triumvirate when discussing special teams. 5 — It’s not that he’s having a poor season by any stretch, but Jalen Elliott hasn’t made as many plays in space as forecasted this fall. I liked him, and I know two other websites ranked him ahead of Gilman when projecting the pair’s production this season. 6 — Drew White, when kept clean, is a straight-up baller out there. Run-stuffing fool! 7 — The guy gives everything he has left, but I have a feeling Trevor Ruhland is going to cost the Irish offense over the next three weeks. There’s a speed, strength, ballast issue that might outweigh assignment sound, leverage-focused football. This time he almost got Book killed and it’s third-and-10… 8 — Book to Finke with third-down conversion No. 2 on the drive and Book absolutely fired it in there after stepping up in the pocket. This is just like September and October…of 2018. And Finke again, 18 yards (on third down) for the score. Those three third down conversions triple Finke’s total entering the contest. Not a Game #9 sentence I figured to type back in August… 7-0 Irish 9 — Oh yeah, Finke ranked second with 12 third-down wins last season. That’s one more than Book, Claypool, and Dexter Williams and behind only Miles Boykin (19). 10 — Bo Bauer. Again. Sticking the return man on kickoff coverage. Owusu-Koramoah was about to do the same. There’s Claypool, Gilman, Elliott, Jamir Jones…Troy Pride, Elliott, Jordan Genmark Heath. Kudos to Brian Polian for pushing for top players on these coverage units. (Not sure his advice was heeded on returns, however.) 11 — Jayson Ademilola wants more playing time…he probably deserves it. But honestly, MTA might’ve been the team’s most consistent defender in the season’s first six weeks. Either way, this will likely be a 50-50 job share next fall and I’m okay with that. 12 — Jarrett Patterson with the inside seal—he’s made a living this season allowing a modicum of penetration then sealing his gap—did so throughout the spring and August against Kurt Hinish, I might add—and Josh Lugg with the big block in space to free my main man Jahmir Smith for 40 yards down the right side. Javon McKinley wins downfield. Give Ruhland credit for battling and sealing at the second level. Brock Wright guaranteed Smith an extra 20 yards…I wonder had he attacked his defender (risking a miss, however) and executed if Smith might’ve scored instead? 13 — Jet Sweep to Lawrence Keys who shows great patience on his 16-yard gain but Aaron Banks rarely executes that far downfield block in space. He’s often there in the screen game but can’t get to the (difficult) assignment. 14 — Smith trips en route to an easy score…Needs to work with Mr. Miyagi in the off-season… 15 — Predetermined boundary fade to Kmet fails (you know my feelings on this play), but on 3rd-and-Goal, it’s Claypool with the easy slant touchdown as both ‘backers blitz, clearing the middle. That’s too easy. 14-0 ND 16 — By the way, John Dirksen replaces Trevor Ruhland on PAT/FG. And Kurt Hinish has replaced the injured Robert Hainsey. 17 — Owusu-Koramoah just SWALLOWS a swing screen. How good is that guy going to be in 2020 with some seasoning? Wow. (By the way…O’Malley #4 recruit in 2017. HOYO!!!) JOK again. Tight end with no shot in the flat. That #4 ranking might make up for Donte Vaughn #6 in 2016…right? Can I get a ruling? 18 — Asmar Bilal is the lone Dime package linebacker. Think about that statement at any point prior to mid-season 2019!! 19 — There is no way for Duke to defend that read-option Keeper by Book. 12 yards over the right boundary with Lugg and Patterson dominating and Claypool’s slant clearing the side. Tremendous read and decisive quickness by Book. 20 — Armstrong’s stiffness as a runner has to be attributable to his September surgery. He looks like he’s ice skating and trying to avoid the slow couple on the rink… 21 — Claypool with the best catch the year but it’s out of bounds. I’m going to miss that guy. Injured his shoulder on the play but he’s an unstoppable Rebel Force, so he’ll be back. 22 — Javon McKinley: Big-bodied, athletic, and he’s a plus-blocker in the running game…but he doesn’t get much separation downfield. An off-season of training with a clear goal in mind would aid his cause as the rising junior class and (Jordan Johnson) develop alongside him… 23 — Kyle Hamilton is going to make a few crucial downfield stops vs. Navy Saturday…and Alohi Gilman is going to do so barreling down that outside alley. Any chance these two play the back end together next season? I’m asking Gilman next time I see him. The worst he can do is tell me is ‘I’m not even thinking about that right now’…and then I’ll have my answer. 24 — Claypool draws his fourth pass interference of the month and I believe sixth of the season but I should double check. (I know Eifert drew 10 in 2012.) Another leaping, crashing deep fade… 25 — Duke’s offense stinks. Bilal drops the hammer and the omnipresent Khalid Kareem had quarterback Quentin Harris’ legs… 26 — Julian Okwara making his mark with a run Stuff followed by a QB hurry to end the drive. Shaun Crawford right there defensively on third down…sticky coverage. Bracy, Crawford, Hamilton, Gilman, Wallace, Griffith…I think we could all live with that best-case scenario Top 6 next spring, no? 27 — C’Bo Flemister with a weaving 12-yard cutback run. I spaced out—perhaps annoyed looking at Duke’s basketball team on my screen prior—and did not know who that was. That’s how much different Flemister looks with the ball than the three box-shaped frames of the ‘backs ahead of him. 28 — My goodness Duke’s defense failed to account for Book far too often. An easy 12 yards escaping the pocket again that precedes an athletic, read-option keeper cutback for 45 yards. Patterson absolutely awesome at the point of attack this time. 29 — C’Bo for six points from the 2-yard line. I’m not saying he’s better than the other guys…but I do think the offense would benefit from increased dispersal of carries including Flemister. This time Brock Wright (part of a 4 TE set) executed the key block from an I-formation fullback position. Credit Ruhland with a huge kick-out to seal an inside lane for Flemister. 21-0 and I’m thinking about salting the driveway while Duke has the ball… 30 — Fair catches on kickoffs to the 10-yard line sure are fun… 31 — Driveway complete…Jamir Jones with the third down pressure and can you believe how much we’re going to miss him next season? In fairness…To be fair, he was actually pretty good in kickoff coverage as a freshman in 2016—but they could’ve redshirted him as a sophomore in 2017 thereafter. He was a man without a position. Maybe they figured, ‘Just play him. We won’t want his fifth.’ Can’t blame them if that was the case at the time. But boy oh boy… 32 — Tony Jones slashing over left tackle. Maybe seeing C’Bo drive the ball into the end zone further inspired the senior… 33 — Finke completely uncovered underneath on a short Smash route and, before anyone approaches him 15 yards later, cuts inside to gain another 60-plus and a 78-yard gain. Holy Cow what a block downfield by McKinley! Oh my goodness that’s a flag and a hold on Ruhland. Kick in the gut for Finke on the longest play of his life and of the season for Notre Dame. 34 — Jay Bramblett hurried and shanks a 22-yarder to the 39-yard line. 35 — Hey that’s Donte Vaughn! Touchdown. 21-7 at 2:55 in the second quarter 36 — Keys fair-catches a kickoff at the 5-yard line with under three minutes left. That’s, uh, poor situational awareness… 37 — Hang on, I have to go get my glasses for what Kelly is saying to Polian…Wait, wait. No I don’t… Fossil Fuels are Fairly Futile, in Fact Forgotten iF not Foraged For the Future (I think thats what he said) 38 — That was Ruhland’s assignment that hit Book upon his release for the downfield interception. I wonder if they’re self-scouting this or just letting it ride out? But I agree with Hasselbeck. Where was he throwing that? Deep down the post? 39 — Just occurred to me Julian Okwara would not be out for the year if not for that needless turnover. Well that stinks… 40 — Down 21-7, curiously plays for the field goal by the heretofore perfect A.J. Reed who pushes it wide from 44. Imagine if BK did that down 14 at Clemson?! Ya know…AJ Reed put the final nail in BVG’s coaching coffin in South Bend three years ago. Not all heroes wear capes…. Halftime, Notre Dame 21 Duke 7 41 — Deon Jackson for 19 yards to open the second stanza—notable in that it’s the longest rush by a running back over the last two weeks. 42 — Gilman is a maniac. He wants you on the ground more than you want to stay up. Unless your name is ‘Markese Stepp’ but I digress… 43 — That is a terrible fake punt but Temitope Agoro basically caught the intended target and it has to be a penalty. Agoro looked surprised while somehow still anticipating the fake… I wonder if Polian is considering coaching from the booth next week? 44 — That’s Troy Pride’s first INT since Week 3 last season. A Larry Brown special circa Super Bowl XXX… 45 — Book to Claypool on the slant. I expected about 30 of these passes this fall…Claypool deep corner from Book. I don't think he had to jump that time, did he? I supposed he’d have been drilled had he kept his feet. 46 — Well-designed screen to pick up exactly 7 yards on third down as Tony Jones waddles to the sticks… 47 — Third down again and Chris Finke runs a route similar to the Florida State illegal touchdown pick play — only this time no one comes close to blocking anyone. Touchdown No. 2 and third-down conversion No. 4 for Finke on the day. 28-7 Irish…What was Pro Football Focus’ grade on Finke Saturday? 48 — Long kickoff return by Duke and cue the requisite Polian/Kelly shot…. Yep. Polian believes those yards were gained by way of nefarious means. I don’t Kelly’s in the mood to hear any explanation, however. He seems to be smirking. Was that a smirk? Maybe bemusement is the better word. I’m smirking, regardless… 49 — Lotta nerds in those stands today, yeesh. Speaking of which, Finke doing the Macarena… 50 — Holy Cow it’s SNOWING AGAIN!!? (Not at the game, I just looked outside.) This is option football weather in South Bend, my friends… 51 — Finke is held on the no-call trip against Javon McKinley on third down. (That was accidental…the hold against Finke was not.) 52 — Highlights of BC and Hasselbeck beating Notre Dame 31-29 in 1999. Those were some dark times, man. First of six in a row dropped to the Eagles. SIX IN A ROW TO B-FREAKING-C!!! 53 — Ade Ogundeji negates Harris’ boot attempt on 3rd Down and Drew White is there to stuff the quarterback. Ogundeji again on fourth down with the QB pressure and Donte Vaughn with ideal coverage on the crossing route. Well done by the oft-tested senior… 54 — By the way, Sampson and I had dinner Friday night with the guy on the screen in the ‘Jackson Pollack’ coat! (As Hasselbeck refers to him). He enjoys traveling to Notre Dame games and water polo in his spare time… 55 — The problem with those nachos the little Irish fan is eating is there’s NO CHANCE the cheese is still hot. How about Asmar Bilal running with a go route 25 yards downfield? Sure that’s a completion in a Playoff game, but, well…yeah. 56 — Bilal with a well-timed blitz and brutal shot on Harris. This is the only time I’ve ever compared Asmar Bilal to Michael Stonebreaker… 57 — Armstrong’s like a magnet in the open field. The highly necessary ‘change of speed’ isn’t in his arsenal at present… 4th Quarter and the Irish lead 28-7 58 — 3rd-and-1 as we start the fourth and Book keeps a fake Jet Sweep over left guard (Eichenberg and Banks dominance while a pulling Ruhland absorbs/wins) and the quarterback sprints 53 yards down to the 13-yard line. This is the best full-game rushing effort by an Irish quarterback since Brandon Wimbush went over 2-Bills at Boston College in early 2017. 59 — Book falls down (clips feet with the RB). Then has a pass deflected at scrimmage. Jonathan Doerer field goal. I saw Doerer in the Charlotte airport over the Bye Week, by the way. That is one tall kicker. Irish 31-7 60 —Duke with a horrendous backwards pass attempt, off-target, and the resulting, obvious fumble is recovery by TaRiq Bracy. What was that? 61 — At 31-7, I’d think Dirksen could use some snaps at right guard. TFL, incidentally… 62 — Jahmir Smith craves contact. Looked like a poor man’s Christian Okoye on that six yard gain! 63 —4th-and-2 and Book, on a designed roll right, forces it to a double-covered Javon McKinley. The pass is deflected, bounce off the prone McKinley’s helmet, and intercepted at the 1-yard line. Should’ve dropped it) 64 — I’m not a play-call nitpicker…but that was uninspired coming out of a timeout. Duke played the three-man route with single-high, man-under, it appeared. 65 — Three-and-out (man this is a clinic by a very good defense against a pedestrian offense) 66 — Finke makes the first man miss, then weaves his way for a season-high 46-yard punt return down to the 10-yard line. A+ instincts by Tommy Tremble for avoiding a block in the back at the point of the punt reception… 67 — Book, clearly trying to get George Takacs his first touchdown, finds the seldom-used redshirt-freshman in the back of the end zone for a leaping grab. George Takacs!!! 68 — Look at that joyous celebration for Takacs by his teammates on the rookie’s first career catch and touchdown. I guess they have something to play for after all… 69 — Heady coverage (PD) by sophomore tweener Houston Griffith to stop the fourth down pass. He’s an instrumental player (it is to be hoped as Safety No. 3) on the 2020 Irish. When’s the last time he made play? Pittsburgh in mid-October 2018, right? Pass breakup… 70 — The backup OL shows as follows: Andrew Kristofic (game No. 3?), Logan Plantz, Colin Grunhard, Dillan Gibbons, and John Dirksen out at tackle. 71 — Micah Jones gets penalized for shoving a Duke player that shoved GIbbons. I know why he did it, but next time just run into him (pop him chest-to-chest, face-masks) and tell him something, Micah. No ref will call that. Retaliation penalties aren’t worth it… 72 — I don’t know what I liked better, C’Bo Flemister finishing that run, or Tim Hasselbeck accusing Coach K of teaching the football team how to flop!! Actually I’m positive I know what I like better! Can we get him on NBC?!? 73 — Percentage Chance to Win out Graphic: — Navy 81% (a bit too high) — BC 90% (about right) — Stanford 74% (a bit too low) It’s this week, my friends…this is the toughest mental + physical challenge!
ND hockey started the season 7-0-1 and are up to #4 in the polls. So we have that going for us...which is nice.
yeah the thing is, we have a ton of young bodies, they just havent shown a thing. Cam Hart Lawrence Keys III (RS) Joe Wilkins Jr. (RS) Kendall Abdur-Rahman Braden Lenzy (RS) Micah Jones (RS) are all in the program for possibly 3 more years and with lenzys issues it might be only keys where we are actually happy with that thought
Is Austin still around and able to play next year? Here's to hoping BK makes a jump to the NFL this year. It would be the perfect separation. Then go after Rhule, Campbell or Fleck
I've had ten people this week ask me if I want tickets. Ian Book in cold weather against a team that makes you pay for wasted drives? I'm good.
On one hand, I actually agree with Swarbrick’s sentiment that 75k raucous fans is better than a placid sellout. On the other hand, for as much as the stadium environment has improved from a luxury standpoint during his tenure, absolutely nothing has been done to make things more “raucous”. We have neither sellouts nor raucous now. But I’m sure we have revenues, which I imagine is what matters most.
Yeah. I 100% agree with Jack that a smaller, but more raucous environment is better than a sell-out with people sitting and silent the whole time. But that "raucous" environment push was handily defeated a few years ago with the failed launch of "take a staND". Saturday will be quiet and small, which is not something anything wants
That’s the whole point. The required donation attached to season tickets has priced out the raucous fan and has created a country club environment. Economically, it probably makes entire sense as the athletic department continues to mint money. But to push this “raucous” narrative is basically a slap in the face. The most ardent Swarbrick supporter would never use that term to describe any gameday environment at ND in the last 20 years other than 2005 USC.
Devils advocate - this is an issue that every single major program is going through. How do you sell out seats and create a raucous environment in today’s college football? I do think something more legitimate could be done to make the games more accessible from Chicago. For both people flying into Chicago and Chicago residents.
Live sporting events in general. Places like Green Bay where the event is the biggest thing in town (I get that sense for a lot of the locals ITT, it's just habit like going to church) are the exception. But for a place like ND where your alumni base is spread out over the country, there is just little motivation to travel for games like these.
Why not partner with the local grocery store and give people 2 tickets if they buy a 6 pack of coke or something. just drop the prices and let people go.
Sets a bad precedent. People will start waiting till the last minute hoping the same deal comes around again etc.
Yup, this is where the donation contribution attached to season ticket sales gets whacked. Though secondary ticket marketplaces already do that anyway.
It will just provide a better contrast when Fleck takes over and energizes the blue hairs. They better double the number of defibrillators in the stadium.
If the goal was to sell tickets and have a raucous environment it would be an easy fix, but that is not the goal. The goal is to maximize revenue, hence the Yankees/US Soccer ticketing model
We just need enough of the grey hairs to die off for the next generation of disinterested curmudgeons (us) to take over.
if i become a rich old man, i'm going to buy one of those townhomes across the street from the stadium, come into town on friday night, tailgate all saturday morning, then go to my town house and watch the game on tv.
Also, BK personally donated some of his own funds for the new indoor facility? Sampson alluded to it in an article this week.