When I write I say it full-well knowing I’d still rather have four players listed on it than I wouldn’t and that leading the nation in returning players on this list is overall a good thing. However, did anyone else catch a theme that seemed to fit perfectly into the 2019 Notre Dame offense?
Of the four listed only Liam Eichenberg gets mentioned for anything positive in the run game.
The majority of praise for him is even guided towards what he’s able to do in pass-protection but the other three Notre Dame linemen listed don’t get any love whatsoever for their play in the run game.
Why does that stick out to me?
Because if you’re going to fix what one of the glaring issues with this offense was a year ago, that kept it at very-good instead of elite or championship level, the run game has to improve and that starts up front.
Notre Dame averaged 179 yards on the ground in 2019, a number on its own that is plenty worthy of praise. However, against the two best defensive fronts it faced Notre Dame combined for just 93 yards on the ground.
The Irish gained 46 yards on 14 carries against Georgia as they most deserted the run game against them despite it being a tight game throughout.
Notre Dame then managed just 47 yards on 31 carries at Michigan on a night from hell for the Irish.
If Notre Dame is to be able to knock of the two best teams on its schedule next year in Wisconsin and Clemson or to compete and think they can possibly win a potential College Football Playoff game for the first time in school history this talented unit absolutely must be able to take a step in the run game against top-tier opponents.
I’m not telling you not to get excited about this list because again, it’s better to have four guys on it than it is to not. At the same time though Notre Dame fans should be hoping for improvement up front in the ability to pick up two or three yards when they absolutely have to be able to.