Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Who needs to show you the most vs. Purdue?
We’re two games into the 2021 football season and Notre Dame is 2-0 but plenty of improvements are required as the schedule is about to take a significant step in difficulty in the coming weeks.
For the first time since 2014 we can say “It’s Purdue week!” as the Boilermakers make their first trip to South Bend since 2012 this weekend. Notre Dame has released their initial depth chart for the game with a few notable changes from last week:
As ugly as Saturday was for Notre Dame it could have been even worse like it was for a few 2021 Irish opponents.
Notre Dame snuck by Toledo to move to 2-0 on Saturday, a 32-29 win that left plenty to be desired as it took a late touchdown drive led by Jack Coan for the Irish to escape with the win.
It wasn’t pretty but it did result in Notre Dame being 2-0. However, with the scheduling taking a significant step in difficulty improvements need to be made real quick.
Related:
Notre Dame sneaks by Toledo: 5 Instant Takeaways
5 Stars: Good, bad, and ugly of Notre Dame’s win vs. Toledo
As ugly as it may have been for Notre Dame fans Saturday, it could have been worse like it was for a couple of Irish opponents:
Who were Notre Dame’s best players on Saturday?
About the one good thing that happened in Notre Dame’s too close for comfort, 32-29 win over Toledo on Saturday was that the win kept us from the ridiculous amount of “HOLY TOLEDO” headlines that would have been written had the Irish fallen, something they probably deserved to do after an incredibly unimpressive showing.
Who played well? Did anyone star in the Irish victory? Plenty did not but here is who especially stuck out to the FIW staff and received game balls in the win:
Football guy.
Jack Coan didn’t have his best game in his Notre Dame Stadium debut but he did deliver a game-winning touchdown drive with the Irish on the verge of suffering a monumental upset at the hands of Toledo.
Coan, who threw a pick-six and was iffy at the very best of times for the majority of Saturday’s game, appeared to dislocate his finger in the middle of Notre Dame’s final drive.
Come out of the game though? Heck no.
Coan simply ran to the sideline, had it popped back in, and returned to the field without missing a down:
— UConn Has A Football Team (@UConnHasAFBTeam) September 11, 2021
Notre Dame survived and is 2-0 but plenty of questions remain.
Related:
Notre Dame barely escapes Toledo disaster: 5 instant takeaways
A bit too close for comfort. What are your instant takeaways, Notre Dame fans?
For the second week in a row it wasn’t pretty but it’s a win. No. 7 Notre Dame improved to 2-0 with an incredibly unimpressive 32-29 victory over Toledo on Saturday in a game that Brian Kelly was quick to say after the game the Irish were outplayed in.
It’s 2-0 for the Irish but it again won’t win any awards for its appearance. Here are five instant takeaways from the Notre Dame victory.
Anyone else ready to finally see a full house at Notre Dame Stadium again?
Notre Dame opens the home slate of their 2021 football season this afternoon as the Toledo Rockets make their first trip to South Bend, The Irish will be looking for move to 2-0 on the young season and for what would be their 25th consecutive win at Notre Dame Stadium.
This week’s hype video that Notre Dame’s digital team put together is entirely about that as it takes a look back at the current 24 game home winning streak the Fighting Irish are on.
Take a look here:
Related:
Notre Dame-Toledo FIW Staff Predictions
What do you most remember in the days following the September 11 attacks?
20 years ago today the attacks on the United States changed the world forever. I was just 15 at the time and didn’t understand it and 20 years later I’ve come to the conclusion that I simply never will.
One of the very few good things that came from the brutal attacks though was the sense of community and togetherness you saw in the days and weeks that followed. Flags were displayed seemingly everywhere and for once it actually did feel like everyone was in this together.
When things began to return to normal there were incredibly touching tributes all over. Rivalries took a back seat to the things that really mattered.
I’ll always remember Notre Dame’s first game after the attacks, a home contest against Michigan State, and the marching bands coming together to perform “Amazing Grace” in an emotional tribute.
See that halftime performance below:
On the 20th anniversary of the attacks the plan is for Notre Dame and Toledo’s bands to perform “Amazing Grace” similarly this afternoon, something we all can look forward to.
Related:
Notre Dame-Toledo staff predictions
Who has been your favorite color commentator in the ND booth over the years and why?
Future Pro Football Hall of Famer and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is set to make his debut in the Notre Dame television (or Peacock if you will) booth this weekend when the Irish host Toledo.
Brees, who is now part of the NBC studio crew on Sunday Night Football, previewed the Notre Dame home opener at halftime of the 2021 NFL lidlifter between the Buccaneers and Cowboys. Here’s what Brees had to say:
“Jack Coan brings a lot of great elements to the downfield passing game,” said Brees. “I still think they need to find their identity in the run game and then defensively the same. They gave up a couple big plays…a lot of just not good football on the defensive side so they’re gonna look to improve that against Toledo this weekend.”
OK, glad we asked. On with it.
Related:
Notre Dame vs. Toledo – FIW Staff Predictions
Do you think this is just for 2021 or for the long haul?
We’re only 1/12 of the way through the regular season but already Notre Dame’s linebacking group looks as much like the waiting room at a doctor’s office as they do a football team.
Marist Liufau was lost for the year late in fall camp while the opener at Florida State resulted in season-ending injuries to both Shayne Simon and Paul Moala.
As a result a young Notre Dame receiver is making the move to linebacker as Brian Kelly announced the plan Thursday to play sophomore Xavier Watts at the Rover linebacker position this week against Toledo.
“We wanted to strengthen that position, so we feel like with him there,” said Kelly, “it gives us the ability to cross train Jack Kiser at the inside linebacker position in case there is a need there.”
Kelly added that he feels the recent linebacker moves strengthen the position for the rest of the season, which stuck out to me, especially after he was asked later on about Watts and never declared the move to be something beyond 2021.
“One of my jobs is to get really good players on the field and we had a little bit of a logjam at the wide receiver position. Xavier is a really good football player and we need to get good players on the field…We’re gonna play him Saturday…When we get into the right situation, look, he doesn’t have all the knowledge of the position, we’re gonna pick our spots, you’re not gonna see him line up there the first play or the first series, but we’re gonna pick our spots and get him involved.”
It will certainly be compelling to see if Toledo tests Watts whenever those situations occur.
Related:
Notre Dame makes tweaks to depth chart ahead of Toledo game
Best photos from Notre Dame’s thrilling OT win at Florida State
How much will he be missed?
Lawrence Keys II has played his final down at Notre Dame as it was announced Thursday he has left the football program and plans to turn his focus to earning his degree by the end of this semester.
Brian Kelly met the media on Thursday and offered the following when asked about Keys:
“Lawrence Keys is no longer on our roster. Lawrence has chosen to pursue finishing up his degree. I think Lawrence’s is one semester, in my conversation with our academic coordinator, who handles those matters, I think he’s taking 18 hours this semester, which would allow him to get his degree this semester and then he’s going to evaluate what he wants to do after that, whether football is in the cards for him or not.”
-Brian Kelly
Bryan Driskell of Irish Breakdown originally broke the news Wednesday night.
Keys played just a handful of downs in Notre Dame’s season opening win at Florida State and was listed second on the depth chart again this week behind Avery Davis in the slot position.
Keys finishes his Notre Dame career with 18 receptions for 185 yards. He had a career-best three receptions in the 2019 loss at Georgia.
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