Notre Dame couldn’t stop North Carolina and they lost one of their best defensive players to a targeting call in the second quarter. Deep trouble, right?
Clark Lea laughs in the face of deep trouble. Notre Dame allowed 3 points in the final 3 quarters Friday and downed North Carolina, 31-17. It won’t go down as ND’s highlight win of the season, but it showed the program’s strengths maybe as well as any of them.
Highlights:
The defense. Oh my goodness, the defense
When Lea gets hired as a head coach someday, it will be a sad day in South Bend, but all he needs to do to win over his new fan base will be to show them the footage of this game. After North Carolina, one of the most ballyhooed offenses in the country, scored 14 points (essentially on Tariq Bracy) to start the game, they managed three more after that, and zero in the second half. Not once did they seriously threaten to score in the second half.
They took two running backs each averaging over 100 yards per game – Michael Carter and Javonte Williams – and held them to 85 in total. The great Sam Howell had 213 yards of total offense. ND’s defensive line got in Howell’s face with regularity, more than contained the run, and held Mack Brown to his lowest scoring total as North Carolina’s head coach since November 8, 1997.
(Alright, I’m cheating a bit with that last one since Brown wasn’t Carolina’s coach between 1997 and 2019. It still sounded cool, didn’t it?)
Sometimes you get a defense that is far more than the sum of its parts. This is one of them. (I’m still trying to figure out how the Irish secondary in particular continues to do this; on paper, they have no right to be pulling this off.) The depth, effort and football savvy on that side of the ball is something to behold.
Ian Book was feeling himself
On a day Ian Book moved into a tie for all-time wins by a Notre Dame quarterback (!!), he got extremely comfortable amidst chaos. Maybe a little too comfortable. After miraculously saving a bad snap by Zeke Correll (you knew there would be 1 or 2 of those, didn’t you?) and ensuing bum-rush by the Carolina D-line by turning it into a touchdown pass, Book didn’t stop there. He busted out not one, but two Patrick Mahomes-ish forward flip passes, the second of which may have violated some laws of physics.
Book also broke Brady Quinn’s school record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Anyone waiting for whatever magic stuff the senior QB got a hold of a month ago to evaporate, keep on waiting, because he’s doing some special things. This team is his to a degree I’m not sure has been the case at Notre Dame in many, many years.
Case in point: Coaches are even delivering metaphorical hand-slaps to anyone who slights Book.
Kelly just called out a USA Today article (and its author) on the top-10 quarterbacks in college football that did not include Ian Book.
“He really shouldn’t be writing about football.”
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) November 28, 2020
A battered O-line holds up fairly well
It was a little jarring to the psyche when it came out that Notre Dame would be down two starting offensive linemen this week, with center Jarrett Patterson done for the season with a foot injury and guard Tommy Kraemer sidelined by an emergency appendectomy. (The aforementioned Correll and Josh Lugg, respectively, took over their spots in the starting lineup.) The Irish line has been, indisputably, the team’s best position group this year, and having to replace 40 percent of it on the fly didn’t seem like a recipe for success.
It wasn’t always perfect Friday, as Book seemed to face a bit more pressure than usual and ND’s running game wasn’t quite as effortless as it sometimes seems, but the line did its job when it came to brass tacks, controlling the second half. The Irish ultimately ran for just under 200 yards, over five yards per attempt, and kept Book from taking any big hits.
Neither of the next two defenses on the schedule are particularly scary, so hopefully the new-look line (Kraemer should be back soon) can round into form in time for Dec. 19.
Confidence
This team never, ever seems rattled. Not when their legacy is on the line against the top team in the country, not when it all seems to be crashing down around them early on in Chapel Hill, not when a Tar Heel whacks them in the head (nice one, Crawford!). When you have a bunch of veteran players that fought desperately to make their season happen in the first place, I guess little things like football plays don’t seem all that daunting.
The Irish need only win once more to secure their place in the ACC championship game. But let’s go ahead and win two more. Or five. That’d be good.
And just for posterity:
ND Kyren Williams I see you hit em with “The Silencer” to close out this game! 🙏🏾💪🏾👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 27, 2020
Mack Brown being stubborn and running the ball on multiple 3rd and 5+ opportunities was hilarious. It’s been so nice for the past few years to be the team that is outcoaching the opponent, rather than the team getting outcoached.
(1) Was Correll overpowered a few times in there? Is that just inexperience/technique or since he’s so young not quite developed enough physically?
Is there a chance someone else, like Lugg, slides over to center when Kramer gets back, to make it less of a weakness? It’s tough to give up such a strength and still go on to win it all.
(2) One great thing about COVID scheduling this year is that there will be little to no break between last regular season game to big games. Obviously the ACC champ. game is normally like that we just don’t ever participate in such games but it’ll also be the case with the playoffs too.
With Book on fire, I think this will be a highly underrated aspect if things play out well for us. Taking a month or more off makes it a totally different kind of beast (where perhaps those programs who do it every year have an advantage) than just taking another week to play another game. There will be no break for Book to cool-off.
(3) You didn’t even mention that the D did it in the 2nd half *without Hamilton*! Wow. Who was even back there? I think I heard DJ Brown one time. What kind of sorcery is this from Lea?
As far as 1) goes, I think I’d stick with Correll. He won’t be worse than he was today once he gets more experience. A couple of bad snaps but new to a high pressure situation. He was a top 100 prospect and is mean and should grow into a great college player. Just gotta ride it out but I’d give him another go. (Before reviewing any tape or seeing any analysis). Especially since Patterson isn’t going to be a center next year anyways with the departures, the time is now for Correll to get in there and take his spot as a true center for the future.
3) can’t be emphasized enough! Lea and the defense worked great in second half. Seemed the pass rush and pressure was awesome and White and JOK were on point too. Also I think the corners just played better.
The break thing could be huge. The Dabos and Sabans and Urbans of the world have eaten our lunch when given 4 weeks to figure out a plan. Even in the playoff (knock on wood), it’ll only be an extra week. Definitely plays to our advantage.
Exactly. I’m not sure why they’ve eaten our lunch. Is it just more experience of having that layoff and getting used to or is it better coaching? This year I’d put Lea up against anyone but I’m still happy to just keep going with the way Book is playing. Players can lose their rhythm too and won’t necessarily pick it up the same way again.
I think one thing is Bama has a team of like 50 college and HS coaches in a bunker doing super detailed Steele dossiers on every game any of our coaches have ever coached, looking for kkmpromat on our staff, catfishing our players etc. Ok maybe not the latter two, but the former. They have so many resources to watch film and analyze tendencies.
Also those coaches are paid. Most schools don’t have the money to hire a team of consultants.
In 2016, Bama beat Clemson for the title with a gutsy onside kick that made the difference. Apparently one of their coaches in a bunker was in charge of watching kickoffs. When watching film, he noticed a player turned slightly too early every time. They then spent days practicing how to attack that one spot. Nailed it in the 4th quarter.
https://youtu.be/7M-iEsfL4Qk
No way they have time to do things like that with a shortened break.
Wow that’s crazy. And exactly, that’s the little stuff that turn out to be huge where this year will be different.
Small correction: it was a spacing issue. https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/1/14/10763992/alabama-onside-kick-clemson-national-championship-nick-saban-adam-griffiths-marlon-humphrey
Correll did get beat a couple times early, but I think a big problem was they knew our snap count/cadence early and kept jumping the snap. By halftime, we got that sorted out, and the only issue seemed to be the bad shotgun snap.
Clark Lea is the best DC in the country, and frankly, I don’t think it’s all that close. He’s that good.
That second half was the best half of ND defensive football since…? Syracuse 2018? 2012?
Unbelievable, and without our best player! Hopefully Clark Lea is offered as much money as it takes for him to stay DC as long as he wants.
How dare you insult the beauty of second half of the 2013 Southern Cal game.
I loved Sam Howell’s performance playing the role of Andrew Hendrix
Ouch haha.
That game might be the only USC win I’ve ever tried to cast from my memory.
On that crazy snap, scramble, 4 yard TD pass, Kyren Williams made a key block on the right side before releasing to make the catch. Book would not have been able to swing right without it.
I am going to repeat my crazy belief that he is/will be the greatest ND RB in decades.
I know, Josh. But, wow, KW is a monster. He refuses to lose a yard, ever.
I’m fully on team Adams, but goodness I was hooting and hollering about what a play he made on that TD. That’s a sack, 100% guaranteed, if Williams doesn’t make that block. The fact that he then released and caught that TD was unbelievable.
Adams was a great home run hitter, and at the end of his career, we had just put too many miles on him. But he just wasn’t nearly as good at making a guy miss in the backfield–so important and really helps cover up your OL imperfections and 33 wasnt even in the same galaxy as 23 as far as that skill. Who from the last 20 years would we take over Kyren? Julius Jones maybe and… thats it thats the list. And Kyren already does so much JJ probably never had to, like blocking.
I’m a little concerned by the lack of running success and – I think – subpar pass protection relative to other games. Kyren’s big run toward the end made the rushing stats look more respectable. Hopefully, things will be fixed by the ACC CG.
I saw Lugg at RG take several losses in pass pro: a LB crossed his face that Kyren had to take, then he failed to get the looping DE, which forced book to scramble and throw away without the routes developing. All that considered, they still got 199 on the ground, and I think the 67 on final drive is extra important; NC knew they were going to run it, yet notre dame muscled down the field for the TD, ate up over 4 min, and ended the game with 0 drama. Replacing 40% of the oline for a top 25 game against a recovered and healthy defense and they still racked up almost 500 yards. Concerning if they dont improve, but damn they’re still strong
Can’t disagree with any of that. TBH, I think the offense as a whole right now is just fine. Like if this was how they were in September, it would be huge problems without a reliable rushing attack.
But Book has such mastery and looks so poised and confident right now, I don’t think the details matter. McKinley has somehow evolved into a legit deep threat. Skwornek is solid as the day is long. Mayer is strong. Even out of 2 TE they can move the ball in the air now.
…And for the points about overall rush success, get to the goal line and they still powered it in and you can go off Banks to the left and pretty much that’s money. Not too concerned even though Lugg as a G wasn’t great. Kraemer will be back when they need him so that’s cool.
But if that happened against UNC, what will happen against Clemson again (healthy) or other teams we may meet in the playoffs? We need Kramer back and hopefully someone will step up to play center without getting blown off the ball.
We’re weeks away from that point. Kraemer will be back, Lugg apparently wasn’t close to 100% and Zeke will continue to improve with experience. Settle down.
I think we are all settled. Just asking questions. It’s a genuine concern and hopefully we can get it fixed. I wouldn’t be surprised if we could get it fixed at this point but it’ll be close with only 2 games before Clemson with so far mostly unproven players. When we have a chance at a championship the difference might make the difference.
I don’t know that there’s really a lack of rushing success. It true Kyren was only 11 of 23 today, and that is just 6th best of nine games, but it’s tge highest in 3 games and several runs were into a stacked box. Despite this he was only stuffed three times.
I spoke without knowing the actual stats on the defined metric of rushing success rate. As for them stacking the box, I would’ve hoped that would have given Ian more open reads before having to spin out of sacks but just like our defense exceeded expectations maybe their defense deserves credit too.
That sounds fair to say their defense did play better than expected. But that said ND had almost 500 yards of offense, 6.9 yards/play, 0 turnovers, 199 yards rushing and held the ball for 35 minutes so it wasn’t THAT good of a day for the UNC defense.
We beat another good team albeit with their backup quarterback. I was kinda looking forward to watching Sam Howell play. I’ve heard a lot about him. That Peace kid was pretty good the first quarter but he really sucked after that. I was visiting with family and had the sound off, plus I’m less of a Herbstreit fan now so I didn’t hear why Howell was out. I’m assuming it was Covid.
He seems to have come down with the mutation that jumped from those minks in Denmark, COVID-Lea-20. Apparently, you feel fine at first. But then a sense of doom closes around you with hellish hallucinations of arms reaching for you from the sides, behind you, and finally right in your face. Happily for the victims, this variant usually runs its course in as little as sixty minutes, and is not considered fatal.
I love it CC
I think it should be pointed out that Josh Lugg was a game time decision. So weigh his performance with knowing he was banged up. Correll is going to be the center next year, talk of replacing him after his first start is a little harsh and short sighted(IMO). The next two opponents are perfect for him to gain some experience against less imposing foes.
This team seems to go into every game wanting to break the other sides will. It seems by the end they do.
Well Kramer should be back so Lugg should be able to get healthy and be the 6th lineman again.
Why is Correll going to be the center next year? You think Patterson will switch positions? Was he originally slated to play another position?
My guess for the likely OL combinations next year:
Banks—Patterson—Correll—Gibbons—Lugg
Banks—Lugg—Correll—Gibbons—Patterson
Banks—Patterson—Correll—Lugg—Kristofic
Seems like Correll has been the future at center and the staff likes Patterson at other positions, too. The II podcast mentioned they like Patterson at tackle, FWIW.
Correll came in highly rated but needing to add weight and strength. He’s done both. Should be good to go by next year and there will be 3OL positions to fill. Therefore Patterson gets moved.
Will that be a step down from this year? It always seems to be a step down because our OL is often so good until the new group starts playing and they often turn out to be pretty good too.
You can’t replace the experience of this years OL. It will take time for next years unit, no doubt.