There were two players that were key to ND's season because there was no depth behind. Dayne Crist and Ian Williams. . . and they're both out.
You can hide both of them a bit when you play the likes of Tulsa, but not against a team like the Utes.
Behind Crist, the Irish have Tommy Rees, a QB that they recruited at a time when Clausen was expected to be back for a year and Crist two years after that. It was a project recruit who couldn't lead his high school team to a winning record in a weak conference in the Chicagoland north suburbs. A dropback passer with no arm and little speed, he's a horrible prospect for this offense. But he was at South Bend for the Spring so he's got more knowledge of the offense than the other frosh. He lasted a drive against Michigan and was pulled.
After the Michigan game, Coach Kelly said that he needed to implement a 15-play package that his backup QBs could run so that they could be competent. Rees came into the Tulsa game and started 16 for 19. And then once Tulsa and their 120th ranked pass defense got a read on someone that they didn't scout before the game, he went 17 for 35. 54 passes . . . by a frosh . . . in a game he didn't start. . . againt Tulsa. . . tells you everything you need to know about Notre Dame's ability to run the ball. And now there's film on Rees. It's going to be a long day for the Notre Dame offense.
Ian Williams has been a beast all year and NT is absolutely key in a 3-4 scheme because he keeps pressure off the ILB's who make all the plays for ND. Cwynar and Stockton behind him are young and too light. And without Teo and Calabrese roaming, the improvements that the Irish have made on defense are non-existent. The defense will give effort, but their heart will be tested with the stuggles on the Irish offense.
Only concern is a let down for Utah, but for the Irish to play competitive against a quality opponent with significant injuries with everything going against them isn't something that a Notre Dame team has done for a long time.
I doubt I'll have a bigger play this year. I'm betting this line as soon as it comes out for 5 units and I expect it to be high single digits, but I'll take it all the way to 17.
Utes -?? 5 units
You can hide both of them a bit when you play the likes of Tulsa, but not against a team like the Utes.
Behind Crist, the Irish have Tommy Rees, a QB that they recruited at a time when Clausen was expected to be back for a year and Crist two years after that. It was a project recruit who couldn't lead his high school team to a winning record in a weak conference in the Chicagoland north suburbs. A dropback passer with no arm and little speed, he's a horrible prospect for this offense. But he was at South Bend for the Spring so he's got more knowledge of the offense than the other frosh. He lasted a drive against Michigan and was pulled.
After the Michigan game, Coach Kelly said that he needed to implement a 15-play package that his backup QBs could run so that they could be competent. Rees came into the Tulsa game and started 16 for 19. And then once Tulsa and their 120th ranked pass defense got a read on someone that they didn't scout before the game, he went 17 for 35. 54 passes . . . by a frosh . . . in a game he didn't start. . . againt Tulsa. . . tells you everything you need to know about Notre Dame's ability to run the ball. And now there's film on Rees. It's going to be a long day for the Notre Dame offense.
Ian Williams has been a beast all year and NT is absolutely key in a 3-4 scheme because he keeps pressure off the ILB's who make all the plays for ND. Cwynar and Stockton behind him are young and too light. And without Teo and Calabrese roaming, the improvements that the Irish have made on defense are non-existent. The defense will give effort, but their heart will be tested with the stuggles on the Irish offense.
Only concern is a let down for Utah, but for the Irish to play competitive against a quality opponent with significant injuries with everything going against them isn't something that a Notre Dame team has done for a long time.
I doubt I'll have a bigger play this year. I'm betting this line as soon as it comes out for 5 units and I expect it to be high single digits, but I'll take it all the way to 17.
Utes -?? 5 units
