Notre Dame Football: Hot and Cold Takes for Duke

How’d we do last week?

As mentioned last week, I will feature the Most Interesting, Most Wildly Inaccurate, and Most Accurate Takes for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from the previous week. Here we go!

Interesting

Checks Out....Sigh.

Wildly Inaccurate

Not a shutout Dave, but the defense did carry the team. Unfortunately (or fortunately), there were not too many takes that were wildly off. This week should be more off the rails personally.

Accurate

Hate to toot my own horn, but Claypool was a MAN during this game. As this was a cold take, I think many had the same sentiment. He didn’t reach the endzone but had season highs in both catches, yards, and overall Maple Banditisms (TM)

And now onto the takes for this weeks matchup between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Duke Blue Devils

Cold Take

Notre Dame running backs rush for under 100 yards.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Look for the “rush yards” to come on the less traditional shovel sweeps and swing passes. With the offensive line down 2 of its top starters, Chip Long needs to get creative. I think the running backs put up some yards, just not in between the tackles.

Hot Take

IAN BOOK GOES OFF, CAREER HIGHS IN YARDS AND TDs (I am counting rushing/passing).

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

(I think he is blowing kisses here). Ian Book responded to the haters with a game winning drive and honestly.....I loved the energy he brought. He didn’t play great by any measure and made some critical errors, but he found a way to win. I think he channels this energy and with the support of the team absolutely balls out to the point where we are saying...”where the F has this been?!?” I am definitely one to criticize both Book and Chip Long for their play this year, but I think things click this week. Duke’s defense is decidedly average and with Tony Jones Jr. a bit banged up, Jafar Armstrong still finding his ways, and the Irish down their top 2 O-lineman, Long will have to get creative. Things have been meh all year, so a forced change is a good change in my book (pun not intended)

I will say this, if Book doesn’t go off this game....I will entertain the pitchfork crowd. The offense needs a statement, and if they give me white rice, then I will be out on them. HERE IS TO HOPING.

Your Takes: Please leave your takes below (hot, cold medium-any temp). I will feature the Top Takes next week. GO IRISH!