Another week, another lopsided win for Notre Dame as it pounded Purdue 49-10 for its 14th straight double-digit win. Opponent aside, this felt like the first game of the season that was pretty close to a complete performance as the Irish continue to travel the path that leads to their two top-10 opponents later in the campaign.

Let’s talk about the standout items I noticed as ND went to 4-0:

Best game of the year for the Irish defense

ND’s defense has been excellent throughout the season, but I thought Saturday’s effort was its best so far, including the shutout of Rice. The Irish took an offense that had had some success against legitimate opponents early in the season and utterly stifled them. The Boilermaker offense didn’t actually cross midfield (they did have 2 drives that started at midfield or closer) until the final garbage time drive that resulted in a touchdown.

It was a sack party in the Boiler backfield much of the game as ND racked up six of them and affected many other plays with their pressure. Bryce Young was a menace and Boubacar Traore wrecked a few plays by himself. It was hard to find any particular thing any single defender did wrong with the starters in; the group functions as a fully cohesive unit. Three TDs allowed (one in extended garbage time) through four games is impressive.

It’s hard to pick out a favorite because the unit as a whole is so good. Whether it’s a hearty chuckle any time an offense decides to throw at Leonard Moore’s side of the field, the guffaws from Traore or Young or Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa destroying a blocker, or the impressiveness of Drayk Bowen always being where he needs to be, watching these dudes play is a joy.

Some (limited) progress in the running game

Yes, the running game has taken its place at the top of the Spoiled ND Fan Consternation Power Rankings. There was some progress made in that area today, but as good as Purdue’s offense was its first few games, its defense was equally bad, so it’s hard to know what to make of it. Still, it’s never a bad thing to see a couple big runs finally get broken off. Aneyas Williams broke the seal on 20-yard runs with the Irish’s first of the season, a touchdown run, and he had a game much more befitting of his reputation than what he had shown to date.

In garbage time, we got a brief look at why Jonaz Walton is probably the RB1 of the future among the group, as he ripped off the season’s new longest run, of 44 yards, and nearly scored. His time will come, but for now the room looks to still belong to Williams and Nolan James, who got the start but was a bit less effective than Williams this time around.

The most important factor in the run game – the offensive line – certainly looked better. Williams had a massive hole to run through on his TD scamper, and Walton’s big gain was buoyed by a strong seal of the edge by the big guys.

Freeman’s (and Carr’s) aggressiveness continues to pay off

There are few things I love more about Marcus Freeman than his aggressiveness on fourth down. Whether it’s his seemingly endless bag of fake kicks or whether it’s fourth-and-short, he’s not afraid, and it’s a mindset I love – even when it occasionally gives me heartburn, like when he kept the offense on the field on fourth down inside ND’s own 30.

It worked, though, as CJ Carr found an opening on the left side of the line and got the first down. The Irish scored on that drive. How they scored was my favorite moment of the season to date.

Carr lined up wide as ND went to the Wildcat (OC Mike Denbrock can’t quit the Wildcat) on first-and-goal. Purdue took the opportunity to take a bit of a shot at Carr, as Boiler defensive back Hudauri Hines gave Carr a quick two-handed shove to the collarbone on the play. Cheesy, but legal.

Carr gave Hines a few words and then ran QB power to the left side – Hines’ side – on the very next play, going into the end zone untouched. Peacock’s replay of the TD going into commercial caught Carr cackling as he got the edge, knowing he’d gotten Hines back for his impudence.

So much of this sport is about attitude and mindset. Freeman’s is damn near flawless.

Next week: North Carolina. Hopefully no one else has been forced off Bill Belichick’s coaching staff before ND visits Chapel Hill next Saturday.

(Photo credit – South Bend Tribune)