One Foot Down - 2021 Notre Dame Football: Toledo Rockets WeekA never-ending discussion about Notre Dame and the greater CFB landscapehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52610/ofd_fav.png2021-09-14T11:45:04-04:00http://www.onefootdown.com/rss/stream/224260862021-09-14T11:45:04-04:002021-09-14T11:45:04-04:00Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Toledo Rockets Analytics Recap
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<p>Numbers to Assure You The Sky Isn’t Falling</p> <p id="r2CKLH"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> escaped Toledo with a last-minute win, raising a lot of questions in the process. While winning by 3 as a 17-point favorite was disappointing, there were some bright spots during the game and the Rockets’ performance was pretty lucky and unsustainable at times Follow along as we break down why the outcome may not be as disappointing as it was on first watch (and hold off on your “It was Toledo, we should’ve won by a million” takes until the end). For more information on the statistics we will be using, please check out this <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com/22663594/updated-primer-for-understanding-analytics-recaps-and-previews-advanced-stats-notre-dame-football">analytics primer</a> that explains our methodology. </p>
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<p id="kuFiNX">This game was all over the map, as every time something went Notre Dame’s way Toledo would answer back with a big play of their own. As the Irish were beginning to settle in just before halftime, Jack Coan threw a pick six. When Notre Dame looked to be putting the game away in the 4th Quarter, Toledo breaks off a 67-yard run leading to a touchdown, and on the very next possession force a Kyren Williams fumble when the Irish are close to running out the clock. While credit is due to Toledo for capitalizing on their opportunities, converting on this many big plays while being otherwise inefficient is an unsustainable way to play.</p>
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<p id="zmuSZ5">Jack Coan didn’t have his best game, finishing with 0.05 EPA/play and a 62.4 PFF grade. He missed some open receivers forcing the ball to Michael Mayer and the interception was a glaring mistake, but he did save his day a little bit by leading the game-winning drive. Part of the regression from a likely unsustainable <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> performance was a step back in his performance throwing 10-19 yards downfield. After completing 83% of his passes for 1.51 EPA/play against Florida State, he only connected on 38% for an average of 0.45 EPA. Despite Coan’s up-and-down game and the interception, the Notre Dame passing attack was the most efficient unit in the game and the only one of both teams to finish with positive EPA. With the state of the Irish rushing attack - more on that later - they may need to lean into the pass more than even we thought they ever would.</p>
<p id="ajTnBb">A note on Tyler Buchner. While his performance was electric and he showed he deserves a role on this team, we didn’t see enough from him as a passer to have an opinion yet on whether he should start, with only 3 pass attempts and an aDOT of 4.3. Clearly he has earned a role on this team at the very least as a situational weapon in short-yardage and the red-zone. However Notre Dame will likely need to change their play calling for him if he is going to be on the field for more than a play at a time. Tommy Rees called for a 23% pass rate with Buchner under center. It worked against Toledo because it was his college debut and they didn’t know what to expect, but future defenses will begin to key in on the run if Rees doesn’t counter with more drop backs for the prized Freshman.</p>
<p id="OlMvsK">Although Coan himself might not have had his best day, the pass-catchers put up another quality performance. Every receiver except for Lorenzo Styles produced positive EPA and a success rate of 50% or higher on their targets. Avery Davis also appeared on the box score a week after we asked for him to be more involved. And he responded with 0.87 EPA and 11 yards per play. He has the potential to be an elite slot weapon, so it was encouraging to see him get some opportunities with the ball in his hand. Putting up the performance with an aDOT of 3.8 suggests he could be a go-to option for Coan or Buchner underneath with the likes of Mayer, Lenzy, and Austin stretching the field.</p>
<p id="XxbUH2">And credit where credit’s due, Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree put up another efficient performance through the air. We were skeptical of their increased role in the passing offense, as targets to Running Backs are generally less efficient than those to Wide Receivers and Tight Ends. But after another efficient day with both averaging over 1 EPA/target, if they can keep up this level of performance it will help offset the woes of the rushing attack.</p>
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<p id="2F3w2V">In addition to Avery Davis, our other call to action was for Tommy Rees to utilize play action more heavily. And he responded with a 35% rate on drop backs compared to 24% against Florida State, taking advantage of the cheat code that is the play-fake. The offense’s performance on non-play-action throws is a little concerning but the Irish were at 0.24 EPA/play on such throws against the Seminoles. As long as they can be positive on those plays and continue to use play action as a focal point of the offense, they should be fine.</p>
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<p id="rnDLP9">Notre Dame’s rushing attack continues to be abysmal, and most of the blame can be placed at the feet of the Offensive Line. While they have been excellent protecting the Quarterback, ranking 14th in PFF Pass Block Grade, they are abysmal paving holes for Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree, ranking 95th in Run Block Grade. The most concerning issue is the Irish can’t even run on light boxes. Against Toledo, they faced a 6-Man Box 9 times and averaged -0.97 EPA and 1.7 yards, good for an 11% success rate. And when they had a hat on a hat (meaning Notre Dame has the same number of blockers in the box as the opponent has defenders) they averaged -0.62 EPA and 3.5 yards, good for a 36% success rate. Credit to Tommy Rees, Notre Dame did have an early down pass rate of 58%, up from 43% last season. The problem is, unless the run-blocking shows some massive improvement, it still might not be enough, and Brian Kelly and Tommy Rees may need to be comfortable being uncomfortable and start to air it out even more.</p>
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<p id="HuEo97">When you look at the Toledo box score, you wouldn’t figure this game came down to the last drive. Devin Maddox had a great game averaging 0.83 EPA and 15 yards on 9 targets, but nobody else really did anything of note. Both Quarterbacks put up negative EPA and starting running back Bryant Koback did the same. In reality, this game was close because of some offensive woes and some luck that went Toledo’s way that we talked about earlier. Keep in mind the defense only gave up 22 Points with the other 7 coming on Coan’s Pick-6. And while getting a stop was preferable, Dequan Finn’s late fourth quarter touchdown run was actually good for Notre Dame given that they were already close to Field Goal range. If he had taken a knee on the 1-Yard Line Notre Dame loses, since the Irish only had one timeout remaining and Toledo could essentially run out the clock and kick a 20-yard field goal.</p>
<p id="r4RnbK">Now take a look at Toledo’s offensive performance by down. Marcus Freeman’s unit had a field day on early downs, with the Rockets averaging -0.39 EPA/Play and a 22% success rate overall. One of our concerns coming into the game was Toledo’s heavy use of Play Action and whether Notre Dame would fall prey to it as Clark Lea’s units had the tendency to last season. But Freeman’s defense responded well, performing almost identically on Play Action throws as non-PA ones. The Rockets also converted only 41% of their third downs, and really just took advantage of poor tackling by the Irish Defense on some runs. While the continued allowance of big rushing plays is concerning, at some point players need to just make a play and Brian Kelly after the game stressed the importance of fundamentals.</p>
<p id="mgsPbP">The larger concern is the continued vulnerability on the back end of the secondary. When Toledo threw less than 20 yards downfield, Notre Dame performed really well and were able to shut down the Rockets, funneling most of the plays to a depth of 9 yards or less. But as was the case last year, they continue to allow big plays down the field and offenses continue to be extremely efficient when doing so. Last season Clark Lea’s defense gave up over 1 EPA/play when thrown at 20+ yards downfield. On Saturday Toledo completed 2 of 4 passes for an average of 1.57 EPA and 22.2 yards. The secondary was ours and many others’ biggest concern with the defense coming into the season. They’ve held up fine when they’re able to keep things in front of them but if they continue to allow a high percentage of throws to be completed deep, it could offset the gains they’ve made at the other levels of the field. But even with the big plays Notre Dame allowed negative EPA against both the run and the pass. So while there was still room for improvement, it was a good performance from Freeman’s group.</p>
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<p id="L0ujYL">One interesting thing we wanted to note at the end here is the number of light boxes Freeman presented Toledo with. On 20 of 22 runs Notre Dame lined up with 6 or fewer players in the box and they have done so on 88% of run plays on the season. It seems that Freeman is trying to incentivize teams to run, whether that’s to cover for vulnerabilities in the secondary or because he knows rushing is less efficient than passing remains to be seen, but this is a very welcome development because of the latter point. Keep an eye on this over the next few weeks, especially as Notre Dame faces more potent passing offenses.</p>
<p id="Hs9Osl">While the final score was certainly a disappointment, the game wasn’t all that close. According to Bill Connelly of ESPN, Notre Dame had a 91% postgame win probability because of their large efficiency advantage and being on the wrong side of some turnover luck. The offense has some questions to answer and may need to adapt to a more aerial attack, but the defense played well and rest assured the sky isn’t falling.</p>
<p id="bIEOrm"></p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/14/22673624/notre-dame-fighting-irish-vs-toledo-rockets-analytics-recap-advanced-stats-news-nd-jack-coanJackConcannon9Cooper Klaus2021-09-14T09:37:09-04:002021-09-14T09:37:09-04:002021 Notre Dame Football Schedule, TV Times, Stat Leaders, and Complete Roster
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<figcaption>Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It’s all here</p> <p id="xcs1VA">The <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> are 2-0 to start the 2021 college football season, and fans all over the country are settling in for an exciting year. The Irish are currently ranked #10 in the Coaches Poll and #12 in the AP Top 25 — both of which are lower than where they started the season.</p>
<p id="boVtKl">SB Nation did some changes to the back end of the network, and in doing so, there are no longer the “team pages” with player hubs or stats. In service to all of our loyal readers, I offer this page as an easy reference to the basic information and stats for the 2021 season. I’ll keep it pinned somewhere under the fold throughout the season, as well as placing it in the “MORE” drop down menu. </p>
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<p id="IayvhN">Notre Dame has updated its roster due to some attrition over the last month, positions changes, and jersey number changes. This roster reflects those changes.</p>
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<h2 id="8T3Hmj">STATS</h2>
<p id="6HyqDz">Here are the basic player stats for the 2021 college football season. </p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/14/22673419/2021-notre-dame-football-schedule-tv-times-stat-leaders-and-complete-roster-updated-purdue-toledoJoshua Vowles2021-09-13T03:45:45-04:002021-09-13T03:45:45-04:00OFD Podcast: Notre Dame won, so don’t burn down the Dome Part 2
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<figcaption>Brendan McAlinden</figcaption>
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<p>The Toledo review isn’t an obscure newspaper, but we do have a Medill grad</p> <p id="sUgc3G">Jude and Brendan welcome Ashton Pollard to the show. Ashton is the On3 Sports national news desk writer, and a fan of the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a>. Joshua was out roaming the wilderness meditating in search of a path to 12-0 while having a defense that consistently gives up big plays. In this episode:</p>
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<li id="85cn6p">Welcome to the show Ashton!</li>
<li id="Ju5e5T">Brendan explains his apology to Brian Kelly.</li>
<li id="eWquTT">The missing seats and loud crowd.</li>
<li id="7dZ0tp">The Toledo game was reviewed and everyone kind of has that knot in their stomach.</li>
<li id="PwTHJC">The Rockets messed up.</li>
<li id="l9WpFT">THE AVERY DAVIS PASS!</li>
<li id="cySi4e">Jack Coan and Tyler Buchner - maybe it’s like Everett Golson and Tommy Rees?</li>
<li id="cv6Lfc">Who are the best players on Notre Dame right now?</li>
<li id="Y70P4r">The mythical Kevin Austin.</li>
<li id="mO8ovf">A look at what happened nationally.</li>
<li id="SsFHoX">The Peacock experience. </li>
</ul>
<p id="Rem7J8">And much more weaved in and out of the show.</p>
<p id="Euwe9D">You can follow Ashton on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/ashtonpollard7">@ashtonpollard7</a></p>
<p id="RoTdDT">Please RATE and REVIEW! All reviews left on Apple Podcasts will be read on the next OFD Podcast.</p>
<p id="rnDtl0">You can listen to the show in the player below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.</p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/13/22671167/ofd-podcast-notre-dame-won-so-dont-burn-down-the-dome-part-2-toledo-review-irish-news-notes-footballJoshua VowlesndjrsBrendan McAlinden2021-09-13T01:27:23-04:002021-09-13T01:27:23-04:00We finally got the Notre Dame football experience back and the game almost ruined it
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<figcaption>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It was a stressful day that I’m still happy that it happened — kind of</p> <p id="1nhW9E">It’s 6:30 AM eastern time on Saturday morning and I pull into my driveway after a 12 hour shift at the job I hate. I have exactly two hours before I need to get up and get around to leave for <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> Stadium to put in more than 12 hours at the job I love. Throughout the night I tried to stay mellow and not think about the game too much, and thought I did a really fine job of it all — but now it was go time.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="esNUle"><q>We finally got the full college football experience back inside Notre Dame Stadium, and it was almost ruined by a MAC attack.</q></aside></div>
<p id="gQHAc4">I crept into the house quietly. The last text I received from my wife that night had something to do with the kids and movie night, so I was confident all or some of them were camping out in the living room — and they were. A quick shower was all I needed before I jumped into bed, but I felt more awake and more alive just moments after I got out. Using some mental sorcery that I’ve developed over the course of my life, it’s probable that I finally fell asleep around 7:10.</p>
<p id="RKveAN">The 8:30 alarm hits, and my wife who has been sleeping soundly since around midnight, gives me a slight nudge to help me out. I’m up, dressed, and out the door by 9:10 — but not before I stopped my youngest son from trying to smash the leftover sushi from dinner as his breakfast. </p>
<p id="cakK9Z">I’m up on the 80/90 turnpike now with a cup of coffee and one 12 oz can of blueberry Red Bull in my system. Scooting right along, I decided a solid shuffle on my Apple Music catalog would serve me better than listening to ESPN’s College Gameday. I’m pumped and re — I’m at a complete stop on the highway. Because someone in power decided that massive construction along the turnpike for the start of college football season was a good idea, the normal 90 minute jaunt turned into about 150 minutes. </p>
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<cite>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="veR8Gi">Regardless... I’m excited, and despite the heat increasing by the minute, the walk up to campus with Brendan from Innovation Park was emotional enough to give my stomach a few twists. I decided to opt out of covering Notre Dame football in person in 2020, and this is the first game back at Notre Dame Stadium since November of 2019. As someone who enjoys college football in its total experience, my adrenaline poured into my veins and lifted my excitement to a level that has usually been reserved for those big rivalry games. </p>
<p id="EicWrI">Speaking of my stomach and my veins — we made a quick dash over to Pole 3 where @NDirishwonder had my tall boys of PBR waiting, and @JAK0107 had brisket sliders with shells and cheese on the menu — tailgate cuisine at its finest. Fattened up and lubricated, it was now time to finally head up to the press box to begin the day’s work. It wasn’t until we sat down that I regretted our arrival time. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Victory Beers under my shaft… win by 1 or 100 beers are still cold ☘️</p>— ND Stadium Lot Pole 3 (@NdStadiumPole3) <a href="https://twitter.com/NdStadiumPole3/status/1436811684744777735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="a4TiJo">Usually I take a lap around campus, light a candle at the Grotto, and try to meet up with at least one new person. It’s in that hour that I’m able to spread my wings as a fan and take in the game as more than just a work thing. My job actually requires it in a sense. While OFD operates in the same space as the Athletic, South Bend Tribune, Irish Illustrated, Blue-Gold Illustrated, and others — the mission, focus, and product is supposed to be different. On Saturday, I effectively failed in that regard, which means I did a bad job of being me. </p>
<p id="mdTWlg">Maybe it was an omen.</p>
<p id="fiFSmB">As the team prepared to come out of the tunnel is became quite obvious that Notre Dame Stadium was going to have a lot of open seats — like a lot. Be that as it may, Notre Dame opened the windows up in the press box which is something that almost never happened pre-2020. It was nice to sit in there for a change and get a better sense of the feel of the game thanks to the sounds of the crowd. </p>
<p id="1lQIlE">Working a game inside the press box provides you a pretty sanitized version of college football. As someone who has done their fair share of time in one, and done more than their fair share of time in the crowd, I’m still amazed how well I can dull my visible emotions. It’s three (and more) hours of watching, tweeting, and taking notes. For this game against Toledo, I took way less notes than a normal game, and they were also about as general as it gets.</p>
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<p id="kVXORB">My main concentrations were on the offensive line and the secondary. To be honest, the frustrations of the day were quite noticeable, and I didn’t need to keep writing about mistakes via the guards. It was also a day to check what personnel was checking into the game and doing what. Notre Dame’s injuries — and other attrition — meant a larger scope of the roster was needed to win against the Rockets, and not just as appearances. </p>
<p id="tzk0Pj">As the game melted into the middle of the 3rd quarter, I played around with a few scenarios as I — at least mentally — prepared for what I may be writing about after the game. The 3rd quarter drug on like that long enough that by the start of the 4th quarter, I had yet to start piecing together the quick recap of the game. </p>
<div class="c-wide-block"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Toledo v Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/legZAOoOuke5iB56F1pu_lOLa1k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22846131/1235193476.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="fNN4Z1">These quick recaps are a bit tricky because a college football game can change so quickly. In the case of Notre Dame vs Toledo, that’s exactly what happened as the two teams put up a combined 31 points in the 4th quarter. </p>
<p id="owa8hg">With about 7 minutes left in the game, I decided “to hell with it” and we went down to the field. The quick recap, while always a bare bones piece, was really thin. I had let the day’s disappointment affect my schedule — but I had waited long enough to be submerged into the action inside Notre Dame Stadium... it was time to go. </p>
<p id="RRDJS0">Going down onto the field always has a fun “rush” to it, and despite the close game against a MAC opponent, this wasn’t any different. The difference, however, was that this game was still very much in doubt. Usually if a game is in doubt, I stay in the box until it’s over. I had not been on the sidelines for a close game like that in the 4th quarter since the 2017 game against the <a href="https://www.dawgsports.com">Georgia Bulldogs</a>. </p>
<p id="q4Z1ya">We watched Dequan Finn scamper 26 yards into the endzone we were standing behind, and Toledo held a 29-24 advantage with 1:35 left in the game. Of course the argument can be made that if Finn goes down on the 5 yard line instead of the endzone, the Rockets win the game — because that’s exactly what would have happened. </p>
<p id="r4GjWe">Things really felt bleak at that moment. </p>
<p id="hiTGl4">I didn’t know much about Jack Coan’s finger until before Brian Kelly’s post game press conference. I didn’t see the trainer “pull his finger,” but we did see the Mayer touchdown, and almost as important, the Avery Davis reverse pass. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The most impressive part of that TD throw by Jack Coan was that he had a dislocated finger casually popped right back into place just before the play.<br><br>( : <a href="https://twitter.com/bubbaprog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bubbaprog</a>) <a href="https://t.co/Jz6MiXnX8C">pic.twitter.com/Jz6MiXnX8C</a></p>— Field Yates (@FieldYates) <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1436809841616510979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="7MORPi">Thankfully the field isn’t like the press box, and Brendan and I had much rejoicing to partake in at that moment. For over a year, we have discussed THAT play on the OFD Podcast. Just a few weeks ago I said that I doubt we ever see it, because if they were going to run it, Notre Dame would have done so already. Brendan never gave up on the play, and still felt it would happen. So... when they rolled it out and it actually worked — we were over the moon with joy. </p>
<p id="fGISsE">Against Toledo.<br>Very late in the game.<br>To help seal the deal.</p>
<div id="CFMiZH">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE AVERY DAVIS PASS! <a href="https://t.co/254uRDGstA">pic.twitter.com/254uRDGstA</a></p>— One Foot Down (@OneFootDown) <a href="https://twitter.com/OneFootDown/status/1436812697916645377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="fqI0T0">As the game essentially ended after the Myron Tagovailola-Amosa strip sack, I looked around this stadium that I had been in hundreds of times, and was incredibly surprised. The place was going nuts, which just was never a thing before when these close games happened against lower level schools. Not like this — and it was even more impressive given the large number of empty seats in the stadium. </p>
<p id="Ach7Az">Maybe it was just a giant collective sigh of relief, disguised as a real roaring crowd, but whatever it was — it helped heal the day’s disappointment if only for a few minutes. We finally got the full college football experience back inside Notre Dame Stadium, and it was almost ruined by a MAC attack. For me, I had already felt like I had wasted away some moments before the game, so there was an eagerness to feel good about the ending.</p>
<p id="XVfe6y">Plus I was operating on a little more than one hour of sleep since 9 AM on Friday morning. </p>
<p id="u5nMvd">Kelly’s post game press conference was one of the more revealing pressers that I had been at in quite some time. I was there when Notre Dame lost to Duke in 2016, and Brian Kelly’s post game press conference included a moment where he said Brian VanGorder did a “great job today,” so I’ve seen some strangeness. So when I see BK up on the podium really thinking about his answers and, at times, being honest with his frustration about the issues at hand, it took my good feelings and threw them in the trash. I didn’t lose all confidence in this team’s ability to win a lot of games this year, but I definitely allowed thoughts about real limitations for the season.</p>
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<p id="nQkOef">It wasn’t what I had expected at all at 1:45 PM when we walked into Notre Dame Stadium. </p>
<p id="z62jK5">After Kelly was done, I decided we would make a run back to the box rather than be present for the players after the game (which is common for me). I had things to finish up, and really began dreading the drive back home. It didn’t take long after I was back in my seat that I finally said that I had enough. I really didn’t feel like producing anything more at that moment, and to be honest, I hadn’t quite processed the game as well as I normally do an hour afterwards. </p>
<p id="0k79Ua">Once I was on the road I allowed myself to really start thinking about the game scenarios, which helped pass the time with construction delays and helped keep me conscious. I came to the conclusion that I was giving Notre Dame a free pass on the day because I got the college football experience back in my life for the first time in a year and a half. Is that wrong? Of course it is, but NOT ruining things is always better than ruining things. There are real problems on this Notre Dame football team, but I’m giving it one more week before I start making any kind of concrete statement. </p>
<p id="moTxNC">I’ll have more sleep for the <a href="https://www.hammerandrails.com">Purdue Boilermakers</a>, and that is both a joke and a true statement. </p>
<div class="p-fullbleed-block"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Toledo at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0cibkyacXMh5Xf5ppMVwBXXs7c=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22846139/usa_today_16733167.jpg">
<cite>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/13/22670698/we-finally-got-the-notre-dame-football-experience-back-and-the-game-almost-ruined-it-toledo-storyJoshua Vowles2021-09-12T20:52:35-04:002021-09-12T20:52:35-04:00How Notre Dame’s Opponents Fared in Week 2 of College Football
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<img alt="Stanford Cardinal defeated the USC Trojans 42-28 during a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tJH9ru0dSxQ2PxJ2J_304V40Vmk=/0x0:2635x1757/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69849694/1235216299.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A loss to an FCS team. A Pac-12 upset. And lots of winners. </p> <p id="rrTmOY">Here’s how <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>’s 2021 opponents fared in week two of the college football season:</p>
<h3 id="QUdkTa"><a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/"><strong>FLORIDA STATE</strong></a></h3>
<p id="bNytjw">Result: Lost, 20-17, to FCS Jacksonville State<br>Current record: 0-2<br>PFF team rank: 73rd (out of 130)</p>
<p id="bvAXQg">The <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com">Florida State Seminoles</a> lost their first ever game to an FCS opponent on a last second 59-yard touchdown pass. PFF graded their overall performance as a 73.4; their previous game against the Irish was graded 70.9.</p>
<p id="ylTw2X">Defensive end Jermaine Johnson II was the team’s best graded player, according to PFF. He had 11 tackles, 2 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> sacks and hurried Jacksonville State’s quarterback three other times. He also batted a ball. His PFF grade was 81.1.</p>
<h2 id="MTLnmE"><strong>TOLEDO</strong></h2>
<p id="Eb8jRW">Result: Lost, 32-29, to Notre Dame<br>Current record: 1-1<br>PFF team rank: 46th</p>
<p id="CJOezw">PFF gave the Rockets a 67.7 grade for their performance Saturday against the Irish. Cornerback Chris McDonald, who only yielded two catches (to Chris Tyree and Deion Colzie) for 15 yards was Toledo’s most outstanding player. PFF gave him a 84.4 grade for his performance, which included an pick-six, a pass break-up (intended for Kevin Austin) and a tackle. </p>
<h3 id="tYR9YC"><strong>PURDUE</strong></h3>
<p id="xPcF5v">Result: Won, 49-0, over <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com">UConn</a><br>Current record: 2-0<br>PFF team rank: 15th</p>
<p id="Ssjgzc">After an impressive, but closer, win over the <a href="https://www.buildingthedam.com">Oregon State Beavers</a>, the <a href="https://www.hammerandrails.com">Purdue Boilermakers</a> just stomped the sputtering Connecticut Huskies Saturday. PFF was impressed, giving the team an overall 89.5 grade for its performance. </p>
<p id="2D6g0U">The Boilermakers had four standouts, two on each side of the ball: Tackles Greg Long and Cam Craig and linebackers Kieren Douglas and Jacob Wahlberg. Long, who played left tackle, did not allow a single pressure in 30 dropbacks while Craig, playing right tackle, didn’t yield a single hit, hurry or sack in 22 dropbacks. PFF also cited Craig for his run blocking prowess, giving him a 75.9 grade for his 28 snaps in running formations.</p>
<p id="SktL4H">Douglas, who played in the box, on the line and lined up against the slot receiver, had three tackles and was not targeted. Wahlberg — who did not start — had four tackles, gave up just five yards receiving the two times the Huskies zeroed in on his man. </p>
<h3 id="xEOWc9"><strong>WISCONSIN</strong></h3>
<p id="sr2DFf">Result: Won, 34-7, over Eastern Michigan<br>Record: 1-1<br>PFF team rank: 85th</p>
<p id="hjZnvl">One week after looking lost against Penn State, the <a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com">Wisconsin Badgers</a> controlled its game against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. PFF gave the Badgers an overall 84.7 grade for its effort, and awarded grades in excess of 90 points to quarterback Graham Mertz and nose tackle Keeanu Benton. </p>
<p id="YXFpVw">Mertz was 14-for-17 for 141 yards and feasted on the short yardage throws the Eagles were willing to give him (11-for-11 on passes 9 yards or fewer). Jack Nelson was the highest rated right guard of Notre Dame’s 12 opponents in Week 2, earning high marks for his run blocking and allowing just one QB hurry.</p>
<p id="fuuRyN">Benton didn’t make his impact on the stat sheet — registering just one tackle — but he <a href="https://madison.com/wsj/sports/college/football/4-observations-after-rewatching-the-badgers-win-against-eastern-michigan/article_cb56e1ba-1971-53aa-a32b-b708c8ea4588.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">gummed up the middle of the Eagles’ offensive line</a> and effectively made that a no-go zone. He also had a pass breakup.</p>
<h3 id="h6YlvH"><strong>CINCINNATI</strong></h3>
<p id="IwvzVs">Result: Won, 42-7, over FCS Murray State<br>Record: 2-0<br>PFF team rank: 13th</p>
<p id="wgl0OJ">A week after gushing over Desmond Ridder, the Bearcats signal-caller had a ho-hum 14-for-22, 243 yard, 2 touchdown performance against inferior competition. </p>
<p id="WuH9ci">Instead, the stars were on the defensive side of the ball — including nose tackle Curtis Brooks. The graduate student had five tackles, stifling the Racers’ offense. He also had two hurries and one hit of Murray State’s quarterback, for an overall PFF grade of 91.1 in 34 defensive snaps. </p>
<p id="vXEHGq">Bryan Cook was the highest rated strong safety of Notre Dame’s 2021 opponents in Week 2, allowing just one catch on two targets for two total yards. The hometown senior also had a pass breakup.</p>
<h3 id="cKqe7F"><a href="https://www.gobblercountry.com/"><strong>VIRGINIA TECH</strong></a></h3>
<p id="lPbYx2">Result: Won, 35-14, over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders<br>Record: 2-0<br>PFF team rank: 40th</p>
<p id="RbRhQe">One week after a surprise upset of North Carolina, the Hokies were leading just 14-7 at halftime against an Blue Raiders squad that was, on paper, outmatched.</p>
<p id="1gfM1j">A stout defense kept the Hokies in front while its rushing attack caught up, helping Tech cruise to a victory after a big second-half push. </p>
<h3 id="D6rNk5"><strong>USC</strong></h3>
<p id="z3Cua0">Result: Lost, 42-28, to Stanford<br>Record: 1-1<br>PFF team rank: 25th</p>
<p id="GM2Ym3">The Trojans inexplicable loss to the <a href="https://www.ruleoftree.com">Stanford Cardinal</a> started with their kicker being tossed from the game for targeting. This was only the beginning of a weird night that saw the Cardinal, who many of us left for dead, capitalize on numerous Trojans miscues to complete a surprising rout.</p>
<p id="2zA60F">Only one Trojans player on offense or defense graded out particularly well, according to PFF. Left guard Andrew Voorhees was perfect on his 59 snaps (37 passing), not allowing a single pressure and being the leader of the Trojans’ 185-yard, 2 touchdown effort on the ground.</p>
<h3 id="1S5BiG"><strong>NORTH CAROLINA</strong></h3>
<p id="wVw6lr">Result: Won, 59-17, over Georgia State<br>Record: 1-1<br>PFF team rank: 78th</p>
<p id="agj42Q">For as bad as Sam Howell looked in his first game was as good as the <a href="https://www.tarheelblog.com">North Carolina Tar Heels</a> quarterback looked in his second. The junior was a part of five of seven Tar Heels scores on the day, including a 62-yard scamper to keep the game well out of reach.</p>
<p id="21hx7d">Howell was 21-for-29 for 352 yards and three passing touchdowns and added 104 yards (on 11 carries) on the ground. He earned a 94 grade from PFF for his performance.</p>
<p id="8RVHQb">Other notables were weak-side linebacker Cedric Gray (two tackles, one forced fumble), free safety Ja’Qurious Conley (five tackles, one for a loss) and inside linebacker Power Echols (four tackles, one interception, limited receivers to one catch for seven yards in the three times his man was targeted.)</p>
<h3 id="gxsHs7"><strong>NAVY</strong></h3>
<p id="NgQhPr">Result: Lost, 23-3, to Air Force<br>Record: 0-2<br>PFF team rank: 121st</p>
<p id="k1yPGP">It’s very difficult to pinpoint what is going right for the <a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a>, who have now lost nine of their last 12 games.</p>
<p id="8CKvfq">The Mids finished with 68 yards of total offense and couldn’t manage two first downs before the fourth quarter.</p>
<p id="xfxwhR">Will Harbour, a middle linebacker who also lined up on the defensive line at times, was PFF’s top Midshipmen defensive player. He had nine tackles, one for a loss and didn’t allow a single yard to a receiver that he was covering.</p>
<h3 id="nkbw9E"><strong>VIRGINIA</strong></h3>
<p id="yp2oAe">Result: Won, 42-14, over Illinois<br>Record: 2-0<br>PFF team rank: 7th</p>
<p id="eseUeL">Through two games, Brennan Armstrong has been a joy to watch. </p>
<p id="HGvDFf">The junior captain was 27-for-36 for 405 yards, five touchdowns and one interception and had 31 rushing yards in a rout of Illinois. Armstrong attempted 11 (!) passes of 20 or more air yards, and completed five of them. He was also a perfect 9-for-9 for 111 yards and two touchdowns when the Fighting Illini brought the blitz.</p>
<p id="OBfFZe">He earned a PFF grade of 94.7 this week.</p>
<div id="X2Da5T">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">TOUCHDOWN HOOS!!! <br><br>Armstrong ➡️ Woods<br><br>Hoos with the early 7-0 lead!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHoos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHoos</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheStandard?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheStandard</a><br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/accnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@accnetwork</a><br> : <a href="https://t.co/ICB5tu9pJL">https://t.co/ICB5tu9pJL</a> <a href="https://t.co/F1nZDBED6K">pic.twitter.com/F1nZDBED6K</a></p>— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UVAFootball/status/1436708218609311744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a>
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<h3 id="vDtLob"><a href="https://www.fromtherumbleseat.com"><strong>GEORGIA TECH</strong></a></h3>
<p id="VKq5Mv">Result: Won, 45-17, over Kennesaw State<br>Record: 1-1<br>PFF team rank: 61st</p>
<p id="GfPcyT">Nice debut for Jordan Yates, making his first start for the Ramblin’ Wreck. The redshirt freshman was 17-for-23 for 254 yards and four touchdowns. </p>
<p id="tVqjMc">No surprise here, either: Defensive lineman Jordan Domineck, who rumbled his scoop-and-score was PFF’s top graded defensive player for the Yellow Jackets. Besides his score, he had another forced fumble, five tackles, two QB hurries and a sack. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW. <br><br>Early candidate for <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgiaTechFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgiaTechFB</a> Play of the Year❕❕ <a href="https://t.co/RekzoYRoNe">pic.twitter.com/RekzoYRoNe</a></p>— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/GTAthletics/status/1436731961448484869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a>
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<h3 id="H2vZKT"><strong>STANFORD</strong></h3>
<p id="KjLd1y">Result: Won, 42-28, over USC<br>Record: 1-1<br>PFF team rank: 110th</p>
<p id="eneWum">A much, much improved performance for the Cardinal. They shouldn’t have too much trouble with Vanderbilt next week, but which version of this team will we see against <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com">UCLA</a> in two weeks?</p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/12/22670319/how-notre-dame-opponents-fared-in-week-2-of-college-football-usc-stanford-ga-tech-va-virginia-purduendjrs2021-09-12T17:48:37-04:002021-09-12T17:48:37-04:00Three Things We Learned About Notre Dame After Win Against Toledo
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<img alt="Toledo v Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hmLFDumC8dN37F5xEkMYgwGEmh8=/0x0:5608x3739/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69849129/1235195883.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>You know, you don’t <em>have </em>to walk along the edge of the cliff</p> <p id="bVtKtx">Your <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> are, remarkably, still 2-0 after surviving a hideous home opener against the Toledo Rockets. The Irish offense, which spent most of the day hemming and hawing about whether it even <em>wanted</em> to play football, trailed inside of two minutes before finally bearing down. Jack Coan executed an efficient final drive and found Michael Mayer for the go-ahead touchdown, and a J.D. Bertrand fumble recovery sealed the deal. And there was much rejoicing.</p>
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<p id="u5TFUc">If week one’s narrow escape felt exactly like Notre Dame’s 2016 loss to the <a href="https://www.burntorangenation.com">Texas Longhorns</a>, this one was tracking almost as closely with the 2014 loss to the <a href="https://www.insidenu.com">Northwestern Wildcats</a>. A Notre Dame team brimming with talent nonetheless succumbed to frequent and near-total system failures on both sides of the ball, allowing a determined and capable underdog to hang around in Notre Dame Stadium until a brutal fumble by a normally reliable Irish running back handed them a chance to win. However, just as in week one, the 2021 Irish managed to avoid the final catastrophe that awaited their past counterparts, and still sit undefeated with hopes of better things to come. </p>
<p id="33bkUb">Somewhat mercifully given how embarrassing it was, this game was streamed exclusively on Peacock rather than being broadcast on national television. In my completely unbiased non-homer judgment, I’ve concluded that the Irish were thrown off by this and that caused their erratic play on Saturday. With that in mind, let’s go over the challenges the Irish faced in this game, which were definitely Peacock’s fault and will be fixed moving forward in bigger games. Amen.</p>
<h1 id="ud3NZ3">Code Red on the O-Line</h1>
<p id="3XQR9i">The Irish offensive line moved in the wrong direction on Saturday, continuing to struggle in the running game while regressing in pass protection against one of the smallest defensive fronts the Irish will play all season. Things went from bad to worse when Michael Carmody left with an injury and young Tosh Baker was forced into action at left tackle. The blind side became a sieve for the Irish quarterbacks and missed assignments ran rampant all over the line, allowing the Rockets to rack up a ridiculous six sacks that routinely stalled promising drives.</p>
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<img alt="Toledo v Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lQf7o5Xij4AxAhBbW6cm_adDNc8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22844982/1235195236.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="L5cB4Q">Even after the injuries it has endured, the Irish line is still made up of highly talented players who have the potential to form a solid unit. Certainly a better one than we saw on Saturday, at any rate. The problems on the line - missed assignments, failure to pick up pressures, etc. - are all things that can be fixed; but they must be fixed, now. There is no longer any room for error or time for delay as the heat turns up on this schedule. If the offensive line plays this way against the <a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com">Wisconsin Badgers</a>, <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> or <a href="https://www.gobblercountry.com">Virginia Tech Hokies</a>, the Irish will lose. Whether it’s position shuffling, improved communication or simply better mental preparation, the Irish front has to find a fix and find it fast.</p>
<h1 id="WuCAv2">Maybe We Have Two Quarterbacks?</h1>
<p id="HYg9RU">I imagine Tyler Buchner expected to see some playing time yesterday, albeit under different circumstances. Regardless, he got it. The offensive line struggles detailed above gave the Irish running backs little room to run, and with Jack Coan a non-factor from the quarterback position, in came Buchner to shake things up. The true freshman impressed in his limited action. He made a few impressive completions - including a beautiful RPO that led to a Chris Tyree touchdown - ran the ball effectively, and appeared physically ready for college ball. Perhaps most importantly, he forced Toledo to change the way they attacked the Irish running game, creating more running room for Kyren Williams in the second half. </p>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 11 Toledo at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nV9ocXaQoozEClmwb1REUqRFxiI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22845001/1235197148.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="X7k940">But when the chips were down and the Irish desperately needed a touchdown, it was Jack Coan who came in and led them down the field. We saw both the best and worst of Coan on Saturday, as two ruthlessly efficient touchdown drives bookended a day that otherwise consisted of stalled drives (not always Coan’s fault - see the offensive line above), missed deep balls, and a horrific pick-six that was a primary reason Toledo nearly won this game. The Irish still have tremendous weapons in the passing game - Michael Mayer and Kevin Austin were excellent, with solid efforts from Braden Lenzy and Avery Davis as well - and Coan has shown he has the ability to find them, but his inconsistent play and Buchner’s strong showing leave Irish fans with more questions than answers.</p>
<p id="HsAmMi">In his last year prior to coming to Notre Dame, Brian Kelly coached a Cincinnati team that made brilliant use of a two-quarterback system. His varying attempts to replicate that in South Bend (Rees-Hendrix, Golson-Rees, Golson-Zaire, Kizer-Zaire) have been short-lived and mostly ineffective, but Saturday indicated - and Michael Mayer’s postgame comments <a href="https://und.com/ndfootball-michael-mayer-postgame-presser-toldeo/">confirmed</a> - that he has planned to make it a part of the offense this season. Let’s hope for better results than we’ve seen in years past.</p>
<h1 id="GXnAul">The Defense: Improving, But Still A Question Mark</h1>
<p id="TYat1o">Marcus Freeman’s defense came in for criticism for a second straight week, much of it deserved. The defense again allowed an underdog to score multiple touchdowns late in the fourth quarter and nearly steal a win, and that is absolutely on them. But let’s also remember that same defense held Toledo without an offensive touchdown for the first 52 minutes of this game, and the Rockets would have never led without the aforementioned pick-six. </p>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 11 Toledo at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ES5K5A-WT8dATTc8KmHPIj6QOo0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22843386/1235196850.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="qF7KUB">It was primarily the Irish <em>offense </em>that allowed Toledo to hang around on Saturday, with long periods of futility and back-breaking turnovers that allowed the Rockets to possess the ball for just over 30 minutes. And during that time we saw a lot more of the defense we were promised - attacking, aggressive, getting pressure (five sacks, four QB hurries, 11 TFL’s) and generally giving Toledo’s quarterbacks a miserable day - than we did the week prior. Yes, they broke in the fourth quarter - but that wouldn’t have mattered much and may not have even happened if the offense had been competent and the Irish entered that quarter up 35-9. And, when most needed, they got the job done, forcing a turnover to seal the deal. We all need silver linings in life and this is mine - the Irish defense improved in this game, and I think we can expect to see more improvement as they learn to play together in Freeman’s system.</p>
<p id="udT8cP">It’s been a heart-pounding couple weeks, and next week’s matchup against the <a href="https://www.hammerandrails.com">Purdue Boilermakers</a> no longer seems like a sure thing, let alone the games to follow. As fans, all we can do is what the team is doing right now - take things one week at a time, and take solace in not yet becoming a victim of what is shaping up to be a wild, upset-filled 2021 in college football.</p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/12/22670361/notre-dame-football-three-things-we-learned-against-toledo-news-notes-irish-rockets-mac-nd-recapMatt Boomer2021-09-12T15:38:01-04:002021-09-12T15:38:01-04:00Notre Dame Slides to #12 in AP Top 25 and #10 in Coaches Poll
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 11 Toledo at Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xL6IOWAW7Eg3G1jgw344s-vnkjY=/0x0:5636x3757/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69848696/1235196734.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Definitely Expected This One.....</p> <h2 id="e7YY3c">Week 3 Top 25</h2>
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<h2 id="AXxWlX">Quick Hitter</h2>
<p id="8iXhCx"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> dropped 2 spots from to #10 in the coaches poll and dropped 4 spots in the AP poll to #12 after a 31-29 nail-biter of a win against the Toledo Rockets on Saturday Afternoon. The drop is understandable after the questionable performance from the O-line and the big plays given up by the defense. It was another weird College football day that Notre Dame ended up on top....unlike quite a lot of good team. Football is weird. Notre Dame wins weird games.....for now. </p>
<h2 id="nWm8d8">Notre Dame Opponent Quick Hits</h2>
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<li id="VQfqc9">
<a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/"><strong>Cincinnati Bearcats</strong></a>: Remain at #8. Cincy took care of business against Murray State. Not much coming out of there as they did exactly what they should have. They started slow before finding their footing in the route. </li>
<li id="ewHCa9">
<a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/"><strong>Wisconsin Badgers</strong></a>: Remain at #17/#18. Not much movement here. Wisconsin took down Eastern Michigan before having a week off before heading to Soldier Field to take on the fighting Irish. </li>
<li id="3lGfcD">
<a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com/"><strong>USC Trojans</strong></a>: Now Unranked. LOL. USC dropped this one in pretty brutal fashion. They got the doors blown off by a struggling Stanford team and honestly didn’t show much fight. USC is gonna USC this year. </li>
<li id="xtInNB">
<a href="https://www.gobblercountry.com/"><strong>Virginia Tech Hokies</strong></a>: Up to #15. Another solid win this week for the Hokies. They took care of business against Middle Tennessee State. They will face a test next week at West Virginia. This Hokies team is solid and will not be an easy matchup for the Irish. </li>
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<a href="https://www.tarheelblog.com/"><strong>North Carolina Tar Heels</strong></a>: Up to #21/19 There really isn’t anything you can gather from the game against Georgia State. I am curious to see how the Tar Heels will look next week against a very solid Virginia team. </li>
</ul>
<h2 id="Bl6Zhg">Next Up</h2>
<p id="Mae0Vr">The Fighting Irish will host the <a href="https://www.hammerandrails.com">Purdue Boilermakers</a> this upcoming Saturday.....look for another close one based on how the Irish have started off the year. </p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/12/22670189/notre-dame-football-irish-slide-to-12-in-ap-top-25-and-10-in-coaches-poll-news-rankings-college-ndPhilip Gough2021-09-12T00:38:29-04:002021-09-12T00:38:29-04:00Postgame Notebook: Notre Dame Fighting Irish 32, Toledo Rockets 29
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 11 Toledo at Notre Dame" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c86yfsidbou04L2OKXrZC5aY1Uc=/0x0:4380x2920/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69846504/1235196999.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another close one</p> <p id="wpZBvU">The <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> survived another thriller to start the college football season when they edged out the Toledo Rockets 32-29. It was a boring game, and then a frustrating game — and then it just went completely wild. A 3 play 75 yard touchdown drive in under 30 seconds by the Irish and quarterback Jack Coan put the Irish up with just 1:09 left in the game, and a busted Avery Davis reverse pass was converted into 2 points to add a little insurance. Still... it wasn’t until Notre Dame stripped the ball away and recovered a fumble with 25 seconds left in the game, that we could finally exhale a sigh of relief. </p>
<h2 id="fPrhrn">STREAKING</h2>
<p id="ikeXaL">Say what you will about Notre Dame’s performance on Saturday, because it wasn’t great — and certainly not what we expected — but they got the win. If we live by the mantra that “winning is hard” then we should also understand that “winning on a streak is even harder.” </p>
<p id="dqKJQg">On Saturday, Notre Dame upheld two massive streaks with their win. The Irish now have a 25 game winning streak at home and a 34 game winning streak against unranked opponents. These things don’t last forever, and it’s likely that both will be up for grabs once again next week when the <a href="https://www.hammerandrails.com">Purdue Boilermakers</a> come to South Bend.</p>
<h2 id="1x4oYQ">A FRESH FACE</h2>
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<img alt="Toledo v Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xQypMz3Tw-DcSeACGHurPRGlT5o=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22843619/1235195854.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="yYoMql">Tyler Buchner made his Notre Dame debut early in the game at quarterback, but it wasn’t a planned appearance. After the game, Kelly admitted that the Irish were struggling on the ground and with pass protection, and thought Buchner could provide a spark. With the Irish on their own 4 yard line, Buchner came into the game and ran the ball for 26 yards and 11 yards in consecutive runs. Two plays later Tyler found Braden Lenzy for a 15 yard pass play. All three of those plays help set up Kyren Williams 43 yard touchdown run on the very next play. </p>
<p id="mqE3ji">Later in the game, Buchner got the ball to Chris Tyree and he took it 55 yards to the house. So of the 32 points scored on the day, Buchner had a direct effect to 14 of them. He rushed for a total of 68 yards on 7 carries and was 3-3 for 78 yards and a score. It was a solid debut.</p>
<h2 id="T4rbFv">GAME BALL BERTRAND</h2>
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<img alt="Toledo v Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KN8UbNt4g0ypzW2CKw8_7BgPOHA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22843394/1235195638.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="eozqMn">After the game, linebacker J.D. Bertand received the game ball for a solid performance on the day. Bertrand made 11 tackles (10 solo) and had 3 TFL. More than that though, he brought a sack of bricks with every hit. this is a physical football player that should only get better as the season progresses. </p>
<h2 id="buQvPC">MISTER MICHAEL</h2>
<p id="QZrld7">For the second game in a row, Michael Mayer was the receiving leader with 7 receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns — despite being bracketed for most of the game. If you predicted that Michael Mayer was going to set new Notre Dame records as a tight end this year... you are probably right.</p>
<h2 id="Bq0ydn">SACK DAY</h2>
<p id="sLvpaR">There were 11 sacks that we witnessed on this sunny day in South Bend. Toledo racked up 6 while the Irish made 5 of their own. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa had two sacks and Isaiah Foskey added another to his total — but enough about that.</p>
<p id="OpugDp">Notre Dame’s offensive line was out of sorts all day long, but a well executed CB blitz and a couple of “coverage sacks” shouldn’t be pinned all on them. Still, it was a rough day for the big boys on offense, and with Michael Carmody going out with an injury, it makes two weeks in a row that the starting LT was knocked out of the game. ND only has so many left.</p>
<h2 id="YLqcak">TURNOVERS</h2>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Toledo at Notre Dame" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OB5meuR2feQE-XS_b7V1mjzWk18=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22843622/usa_today_16732198.jpg">
<cite>Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="uUATTG">Notre Dame committed 3 turnovers on the day that resulted in 19 points scored by Toledo. One of those turnovers was the interception return for touchdown right before the half. Turnovers are a part of the game, and the Irish were able to overcome this massive hinderance — but that’s a dangerous game to play and one they should treat like War Games and simply not play.</p>
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https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/9/12/22668948/postgame-notebook-notre-dame-fighting-irish-32-toledo-rockets-29-tyler-buchner-michael-mayer-nd-newsJoshua Vowles