Tag: 2020 acc football

Notre Dame at Georgia Tech: Second-Quarter Analysis

Football is a game that can make you feel feelings on both ends of the spectrum quickly.

Football is a game that can make you feel feelings on both ends of the spectrum quickly. That definitely was the case for Notre Dame in the second quarter against Georgia Tech. Just when it seemed like the Irish would break this game open early, the exact opposite happened. Fortunately, they bounced back to take a 17-7 halftime lead.

On the very first play of the second quarter, the Irish were within striking distance of the end zone. Instead, Kyren Williams lost a fumble, and Zamari Walton picked it up and ran 93 yards for a touchdown the other way. The Yellow Jackets tied the game on the extra point. It was the longest fumble return in Georgia Tech history.

Still, the Irish have responded well to adversity this season, and the next drive was no exception. The offense mainly went right back to the ground, and it paid off. Though Williams did most of the damage, the biggest play went to Chris Tyree, who had a 21-yard run. Williams finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown, succeeding where he had failed the last time down the field.

The Yellow Jackets got into Irish territory on their next possession, but Kyle Hamilton was there to stop Jahmyr Gibbs for a big loss on fourth-and-2. Starting in Georgia Tech territory, the Irish’s offense used running attacks from Tyree and Ian Book to get to the Yellow Jackets’ 14-yard line. From there, Book took a couple of shots at the end zone, but to no avail. Jonathan Doerer salvaged the short drive with a 32-yard field goal.

Notre Dame at Georgia Tech: First-Quarter Analysis

Sometimes, you just gotta hold onto the ball in order to come out on top.

Sometimes, you just gotta hold onto the ball in order to come out on top. While it’s too early to determine if that will work for Notre Dame at this point, that certainly was case in the first quarter. How else to explain its 7-0 lead over Georgia Tech?

The Irish began the game with a possession that lasted 8:44 thanks to a nice mixture of runs and passes along with a few third-down conversions. It ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Ian Book to Joe Wilkins Jr. That’s the first score for Wilkins at Notre Dame. Book completed all seven of his pass attempts for 49 yards during the drive.

Despite having to wait longer than usual to see the field, the Irish’s defense did not miss a beat. It allowed Jahmyr Gibbs to pick up 5 yards on the ground on third-and-1, but took those yards right back when Gibbs was tackled behind the line after taking a pass from Jeff Sims. Soon after, the Yellow Jackets punted it away and then appeared to recover a fumble but a hands-to-the-face penalty. The Irish took advantage of their second life by getting close to the end zone again as the quarter ended.

Watch: Clemson Defensive End Xavier Thomas Ejected for Targeting

We’re a week away from Notre Dame playing its biggest game of the season at Clemson, but we’re already seeing implications for that contest.

We’re a week away from Notre Dame playing its biggest game of the season at Clemson, but we’re already seeing implications for that contest. We don’t know how Trevor Lawrence will play coming off his COVID-19 diagnosis. Now, the Tigers will be missing part of their defense, albeit temporarily. Late in the Tigers’ 34-28 comeback win over Boston College, defensive end Xavier Thomas targeted the head of Eagles quarterback Phi Jurkovec.

Not only did Thomas cost his team an interception, but by rule, he will miss the first half of next week’s game in South Bend. Of course, missing only one player on defense for 30 minutes might only affect the Tigers so much. Still, the Irish’s offense might be able to breathe a little easier knowing it has the chance to take advantage of a player’s who’s temporarily absent thanks to his own stupidity. Every little bit can help with so much on the line.

Tale of the Tape: Team Stats – Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech

Entering Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech, Notre Dame’s defense looks as strong as ever.

Entering Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech, Notre Dame’s defense looks as strong as ever. The unit has been superb at preventing points, yardage, third-down conversions and high passing efficiencies from opposing quarterbacks. Offensively, their strength remains their rushing attack, success on third down and holding onto the ball for extended periods of time. Add in the fact that the Irish have taken few penalties, and you have a team that is right to put itself in the College Football Playoff conversation.

By contrast, the Yellow Jackets don’t have many areas of obvious strength. The one that’s absolutely certain is the leg of punter Pressley Harvin III, who is one of the best college players at his position. The Yellow Jackets also are decent at running the ball and picking up first downs. However, it’s going to take a lot more than that for them to upset the Irish at home.

Tale of the Tape: Leading Receivers – Javon McKinley vs. Jalen Camp

Though Notre Dame receivers as a whole are getting better, they still don’t have a true leader.

Though Notre Dame receivers as a whole are getting better, they still don’t have a true leader. You can’t say that when their most productive member, Javon McKinley, still hasn’t cracked 200 receiving yards, reached double digits in receptions or scored any touchdowns going into the Irish’s Halloween matchup with Georgia Tech. To be fair, this should be expected of a unit that had nobody of note return from the previous year, and the loss of Kevin Austin for the season certainly doesn’t help. Still, you’d think more would be happening on a team that remains a College Football Playoff contender.

The Yellow Jackets’ top receiver is Jalen Camp, who’s only been moderately better than McKinley. Though he’s not blowing anyone away by any stretch, he’s still where an average top receiver probably would be at this point in the season. The only exception there is that he’s scored only a couple of times. Even so, the battle between Camp and McKinley should be almost even.

 

Tale of the Tape: Leading Rushers – Kyren Williams vs. Jahmyr Gibbs

Despite showing a better pass attack against Pittsburgh, Notre Dame remains primarily a team that gets its best production on the ground.

Despite showing a better pass attack against Pittsburgh, Notre Dame remains primarily a team that gets its best production on the ground. Kyren Williams is the ringleader for the Irish, and Georgia Tech will have no choice but to watch out for him. The Yellow Jackets’ defensive line in particular will have to figure out how to contain a running back who’s averaging nearly 6 yards a carry and always is a threat to eclipse 100 yards. If the early returns indicate anything, the linebackers and secondary will end up tackling him the most, and even then, it likely will be too late to stop any prominent production.

The Yellow Jackets have Jahmyr Gibbs in their arsenal. While merely a decent rusher, he has shined as a receiver, scoring more touchdowns in that role. Any program would be lucky to have a running back who can hurt you in multiple ways. Notre Dame might not be the best defense for Gibbs to break out against, but when facing a player with this much talent, no defense can let its guard down.

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Fourth-Quarter Analysis

There’s nothing to say about this game that hasn’t already been said.

There’s nothing to say about this game that hasn’t already been said. Notre Dame traveled to Pittsburgh and gave the Panthers their own behinds on a gold platter. With backups on both sides playing in the fourth quarter, everyone was resigned to the outcome. That outcome was that the Irish (5-0, 4-0) were going to walk out of a Heinz Field with a 45-3 walloping of the Panthers (3-4, 2-4).

In spite of the pending victory, the Irish experienced both a little good and a little bad. Isaiah Pryor recorded his first sack since transferring from Ohio State. Braden Lenzy had to be helped off the field after injuring his hamstring, adding to the ever-growing list of injury concerns for the Irish receivers. So you really had to be paying attention to pinpoint those things.

We’ve waited all season for the Irish offense to break out of its offensive doldrums, and that’s exactly what happened in the fifth game of the season. With Clemson looming in two weeks, this performance was just what the doctor ordered. Before that big game, Notre Dame gets one more tuneup against Georgia Tech. With that need to maintain momentum, there’s no time to ease up on that gas pedal.

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Third-Quarter Analysis

The third quarter between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh saw the Irish kick it into even higher gear.

The third quarter between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh saw the Irish kick it into even higher gear. They’re holding onto the ball for extended and/or productive periods, and the Panthers either can’t get anything going with the ball or even hold onto it. So it only makes sense that we have a 45-3 Irish lead going into the fourth.

Notre Dame’s defense is living up to its reputation of keeping points off the scoreboard. The unit is well-rested thanks to doing its job quickly and efficiently. We’ve even seen interceptions from Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Nick McCloud, the first of their respective collegiate careers. Owusu-Koramoah, widely seen as the unit’s best player, has made little impact for much of the afternoon, but at least he finally has that first pick out of the way.

The Notre Dame offense had a lengthy first possession of the second half, highlighted by a 41-yard pass from Ian Book to Javon McKinley. Though the drive stalled out at the Pitt 2-yard line, Jonathan Doerer salvaged the drive with a 21-yard field goal. The next time the Irish had the ball, Kyren Williams tried to throw a touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble from 27 yards out, which was unsuccessful but became a positive anyway after a defensive holding call against the Panthers. Two plays later, Book threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Michael Mayer, who had a 23-yard reception earlier in the drive.

That second drive of the half was made possible by Owusu-Koramoah’s interception. McCloud set up the third, this time with a short field at the Panthers 35. This one saw Avery Davis record a 21-yard reception that was added onto after a roughing the passer call. With C’Bo Flemister’s 2-yard touchdown run coming soon after, the rout definitely is on at Heinz Field.

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Second-Quarter Analysis

What in the name of Notre Dame offense is going on? It appears we’re finally getting that big game we’ve been waiting for.

What in the name of Notre Dame offense is going on? It appears we’re finally getting that big game we’ve been waiting for. And it includes a receiver who’s been very quiet until now. The result is a 28-3 halftime lead over Pittsburgh.

Ben Skowronek decided one big touchdown catch wasn’t enough. He decided he needed to make an unbelievable grab as Ian Book aired it out after being sacked. It was one of those plays that even he appeared to be shocked that he made. Regardless, the 73-yard touchdown reception, which allowed Book to pass Tommy Rees for second place on Notre Dame’s all-time touchdown pass list (62), was such a pleasant shock that even Skowronek’s former Northwestern teammate and current Los Angeles Charger Justin Jackson had to weigh in:

Meanwhile, the Irish defense continues to make Joey Yellen’s afternoon miserable as its pressure on him has helped hold one of the country’s best offenses at picking up first downs in check. Even after the Panthers were to get one in one instance, Bo Bauer picked Yellen off on the next play. Bauer’s 16-yard return into Pitt territory set up a particularly great drive for Kyren Williams, who recorded a 20-yard reception and eventually, a 2-yard touchdown run.

Not wanting to feel left out, the special teams also made a big play right before the second quarter ended. After the defense successfully defended another third down, Kirk Christodoulou came out to punt for the Panthers. But just as he did, Isaiah Foskey blocked the ball into the end zone, where he fell on it to wrap up the scoring for the half. It certainly helps to get points every which way after the Louisville game.

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: First-Quarter Analysis

For a game that was billed as a defensive showdown, we’ve seen some rather decent offense so far.

For a game that was billed as a defensive showdown, we’ve seen some rather decent offense so far. Fortunately for Notre Dame, it was the team that converted better on its scoring opportunities. The result is a 7-3 Irish lead over Pittsburgh after the first quarter.

Ian Book took control on the game’s opening possession, leading a drive that included using both his running and passing abilities to achieve third-down success. During that drive, Book became the second quarterback in Notre Dame history to eclipse 8,000 total yards in a career, joining Brady Quinn (11,944). It culminated on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Northwestern transfer Ben Skowronek. In the Irish’s fifth game, that’s their longest touchdown reception of the season.

On Pitt’s opening possession, the Irish uncharacteristically surrendered a pair of third-down conversions to start but held serve on the third series of downs thanks to some nice play from their secondary. The Panthers settled for a 45-yard field goal from Alex Kessman. After that, we started to see more of that defensive showdown we thought we were going to get as neither offense was able to do much for the rest of the quarter. We’ve also seen penalties make a difference in the course of the game, which is typical for a game involving Pitt, so keep an eye out for those.