This offseason we'll be breaking down the performance of each unit - passing and rushing offense and defense - with a look ahead to 2021 and what this means for the Irish. First up is the Notre Dame run game, which brings back a loaded running back room but is working through a complete overhaul [...]
The offseason is a long, dreary landscape. It's cold, February signing day isn't even exciting anymore, and spring practice is a mystery. Still, to keep the lights on at the content factories across this nation, hot takes must be created and burned to keep us warm. This year, however, the pollution from these myths and [...]
When a team is hovering around a three-touchdown underdog, a lot of match-up and scheme questions go out the window in favor of simple ones - How do the Irish stay competitive with a historic Alabama offense? What would the path to an upset victory even look like? What moves give Clark Lea and Tommy [...]
It wasn't the cleanest performance, but a sparkling performance from Ian Book and timely stops by the Notre Dame defense prevented Boston College from posing a real threat. While the Eagles surprisingly created seven scoring chances, they settled for early field goals while the Irish offense piled up touchdowns early (when not fumbling for dramatic [...]
The advanced stats match the eye-test in that there was nothing cheap about this victory. The Irish went toe-to-toe with Clemson, outgaining the Tigers in yards per play overall, in the 3rd & 4th quarters, and overtime. Both teams were decently explosive, not reeling off a ton of chunk plays but each hitting two of [...]
Breaking down a business-like win in Atlanta with an eye towards the showdown with Clemson - can the Irish expect some positive regression creating explosive plays and gaining turnovers? How does the efficiency of rushing and passing this year compare so far? And what else should Brian Kelly, Clark Lea, and Tommy Rees be thinking [...]
Notre Dame dominated Pitt behind an explosive passing game, grinding out an efficient run game, and defensively abusing poor Joey Yellen and an abysmal Pitt rushing game. The Irish were due for some interceptions and came through with three, with a special teams touchdown added for good measure. A look at how Tommy Rees and [...]
An anticipated shootout turned into a slow, grinding affair thanks to a low possession game, red zone struggles, long fields, and a lack of explosive plays from both teams. The advanced stats liked the Irish offensive performance more than most fans, and the defense impressed by creating havoc while simultaneously limiting big plays from a [...]
The Irish nearly matched their offensive efficiency against USF versus a far more talented opponent and threw in more explosive plays for good measure. Defensively, the effects of a two-week lull were far more visible as Clark Lea's typically steady unit was boom (with havoc and three-and-outs) and bust (giving up chunk plays). Confused? Check [...]
With Saturday unexpectedly opening up the viewing schedule, let's take a look at some of the best games this weekend for Notre Dame fans to tune into. It's not the world's most exciting slate, but there are a few matchups of future ACC opponents that will be telling for what type of challenge the Irish [...]
The dominant win over USF featured an efficiency massacre, defensive disruption from unlikely sources, and a nearly 30-yard per possession field position advantage for Notre Dame. This game reached garbage time at the half, and the Bulls failed to convert a single successful play through the air or on a passing down. Confused? Check out [...]
The Irish labored to put away Duke in the season opener, struggling to find a consistent offensive rhythm and letting up some uncharacteristic explosive plays on defense early. It was reminiscent of last season's unsatisfying opener, with similar advanced stats - a decent win that felt closer than it needed to be and raising questions [...]
The past several seasons have provided Irish fans with exposure to every ACC team, but for 2020 that gets to be taken to an entirely new level. Advanced stat projections agree with the ironic storyline that Notre Dame joining a conference for a season has actually eased their strength of schedule. Would that have been [...]
The ranking of the top 25 players on the Notre Dame roster is an annual tradition that means football is almost here. Like everything in 2020, this year's exercise was stranger and more confusing than usual. Our friend Douglas Farmer from Inside the Irish, who coordinates this activity across ND platforms with folks like us [...]
The much anticipated ACC 10-game schedule was released yesterday, with the expected news finalized that Notre Dame will be included in the 10-game conference schedule and be eligible for the conference championship game (and Orange Bowl berth). It appears to be a perfect interim solution for fall football, if it can happen, in an insane [...]
Recent Comments