Five thoughts: Why the Notre Dame offense can score on anyone
How many quarterback/running back duos would you take over Notre Dame graduate student Sam Hartman and junior Audric Estimé right now? Maybe five? And even those, you could probably argue either way.
Regardless, Notre Dame is in the enviable position of being able to score in multiple ways. Load the box, and Hartman’s deep-ball accuracy will have a chance to shine. Five completions of 39 yards or more Saturday revealed just how good Hartman can be. Play coverage, and defenses should expect a healthy dose of Estimé. He’s running out of his mind, hurdling defenders and might be the early favorite for the Doak Walker Award.
Notre Dame can tailor its offensive game plan however it wants, and that makes the Irish incredibly difficult to defend. Head coach Marcus Freeman loves using the run to set up the pass, but the Irish showed Saturday they can just as easily do the opposite.
“We’re an offense that can do it all,” Estimé said. “We can run the ball and pass the ball. And having Sam Hartman, I feel, the best quarterback in the nation on my team and right next to me literally is a very big help for me. And I’m very blessed and honored for that.”
Here are four more thoughts on Notre Dame’s 41-17 win over Central Michigan.
2. Notre Dame needed, got bounce-backs from Thomas, pass protection
After spending the first two games as Notre Dame’s go-to receiver, senior wideout Jayden Thomas struggled against North Carolina State. On Saturday against Central Michigan, Thomas led the Irish with 4 receptions and ranked third with 63 yards.
While sophomore Tobias Merriweather and senior Chris Tyree are potent big-play threats, the Irish need Thomas’ consistency to stabilize the passing game. They got it in Week 3.
Up front, Notre Dame did a terrific job protecting Hartman against a Central Michigan team that traditionally rushes the passer well under head coach Jim McElwain. Hartman was not sacked. At times, it looked like he had time in the pocket to sit down, dust off his rib necklace, stand up and find an open receiver. The Chippewas did not get near him, which was welcome after four NC State sacks in Week 2.
3. Kiser gives Notre Dame a good problem to have
Inserted into the starting lineup in place of graduate linebacker JD Bertrand, fellow graduate student Jack Kiser put up numbers. Kiser finished with 10 tackles and 1 sack, which forced a fumble and caused a 10-yard loss.
He’s too athletic, physical and assignment-sound to keep off the field. But Notre Dame plays only two linebackers in the vast majority of its snaps, and graduate nickelback Thomas Harper played a great game as well.
The solution is definitely not to bench graduate linebacker Marist Liufau, who has been arguably Notre Dame’s best defensive player this season. As Kiser himself will tell you, it’s not to bench Bertrand when he’s healthy, either.
“JD is a captain, he’s a vocal leader,” Kiser said. “He knows what he’s doing on the field. And that’s very impactful. Like, there’s a reason he wears a C on his chest.”
Kiser, as the primary Rover, will often be the odd man out. But that’s a good problem for Notre Dame to have.
4. Eventually, the defense will recover a fumble
Notre Dame now has 7 forced fumbles this season and its opponents added 2 unforced fumbles throughout the first four games. The Irish have recovered none of them. This is a statistical improbability and it’s getting ridiculous at this point.
“Our ball disruption has gone up a lot,” Kiser said. Now, are we getting them? No. And so, that’s the next progression. Like, we’re getting the ball out on the ground. We just got to populate the ball and get on the ball.”
Notre Dame recovered fumbles at a lower-than-expected rate last season, too. Fumble recoveries are largely luck-based events. One would think the balls will start bouncing Notre Dame’s way soon. The Irish would love for that to happen next week against Ohio State.
5. Nation’s eyes turn to South Bend
As expected, College GameDay is coming to South Bend. Notre Dame and Ohio State, who recovered from a slow start and boat raced Western Kentucky 63-10 this week, are both undefeated. NBC will get its money’s worth this week, because no game in the prime-time window comes close to the Irish and Buckeyes in combined team strength and magnitude.
With the country watching, Notre Dame has a real chance to beat Ohio State on Saturday night.
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