The Irish finish up a rainy Alma Mater, postgame MSU. (Photo: Joe Weiser/Fighting Irish Preview)
I just knew it was going to be this type of game for Notre Dame. It really doesn’t matter how bad Michigan State has been, this game is always a dogfight and always seems to leave Notre Dame fans — including myself — wanting more.
Here’s the good news: Notre Dame has started its season 3-0 after a wet and sloppy victory over rival Michigan State. If you gave First and Fitzharris a read last week, the weather was very similar to the 2006 game between these two teams. The game could not have been more different, however. The victory was never really in doubt, sure, but the way it looked at some portions of the game was… unpleasant, to say the least.
My smile never left my face throughout the game as I sat next to my new fiancée. We had gotten engaged around 24 hours prior to kickoff. I am pretty sure the rest of her family now thinks I am insane because I always watch Notre Dame football standing up and about six inches away from the TV. Those of you who have ever watched a Notre Dame game with me know full well what I am talking about.
“Connor, you can sit down and watch the game,” someone told me over the weekend.
I responded by saying, “Actually, no, I can’t until the game is really out of reach.”
Now that we are through three weeks, it is time to go through the good, the bad and the ugly of Notre Dame’s season so far.
The Good
We have known since before the year started that Notre Dame’s defense would be one of the best in the country. Boy, is that ever the case. I truly believe through three weeks Notre Dame has the best defense in the nation.
It is by far the best defense I have ever seen a Notre Dame team have. Yes, it is better than the 2012 defense led by Manti Te’o & Co. I did not think I would ever utter that sentence after watching that defense some 14 years ago, but this defense is better.
Not only does Notre Dame maybe have the best defender in the country in Leonard Moore, but it has two of the best leaders on the defensive side of the ball in Drayk Bowen and Adon Shuler. The defense flies to the football. Everyone does. True freshman Rodney Dunham has also made an impact each time he steps onto the field. He reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Notre Dame players in Stephon Tuitt, who was also on that 2012 Notre Dame team.
Notre Dame’s defense is legit — and everyone knows it.
I can’t write this article without mentioning how good CJ Carr has been for Notre Dame. Through three games, he might not have flashy stats, put up huge numbers or made crazy no-look throws like he did last year against Miami — but did you see that escape from a sack last Saturday night??? — but he has been incredibly consistent.
Through three games, he doesn’t have a turnover. He has not even been close to turning the ball over, which is remarkable and incredibly satisfying to watch as a Notre Dame fan after we have been punished for years by quarterbacks turning the ball over. Tommy Rees, I am staring directly at you.
Carr has completed 72.6% of his passes, has six touchdowns and has only been sacked twice. Carr is essentially putting these numbers up without a receiving tight end and with an offensive line that is still shuffling around.
CJ is good — VERY good.
The Bad
It seems to be the same song and dance for the past few years for Notre Dame fans: the wide receiver room. Besides Jordan Faison, who is CJ Carr going to go to?
Maybe we received a huge answer to that question last weekend with Micah Gilbert hauling in eight catches for 170 yards, but I personally am still looking for more. I was really looking forward to Quincy Porter this year for Notre Dame to potentially replace Malachi Fields, but he has not been able to get on the field because of a knee injury.
Also, Jaden Greathouse failed to catch a pass last week, which has become a recurring concern. Mylan Graham is good for one or two catches a game, and the tight ends failed to catch a pass last week.
Notre Dame is desperate for someone other than Faison to be consistent week in and week out. Is it Gilbert? It could be — but time will tell.
The Ugly
It certainly is strange to say that the running game is “ugly” when the Irish rushed for 161 yards last Saturday night, but that is where we are.
To be honest, I am having a hard time understanding why Notre Dame is struggling to run the football. Is it the offensive line, not having a true No. 1 running back, or a combination of everything?
And oh boy, was I furious watching the offense do that dumb celebration after Aneyas Williams scored a touchdown. I am not quite sure what that was, and it certainly showed some immaturity from Aneyas and, honestly, the rest of the Notre Dame offense involved in it. There is a time and a place to celebrate. Costing your team 15 yards isn’t it.
A true No. 1 running back needs to emerge for the Irish if they want any hope of winning a national title. At this point in the year, it is not Aneyas Williams. Nolan James Jr. has been solid thus far, but he lacks the explosive plays Notre Dame is desperate for.
The only truly “ugly” part about this Notre Dame football team through three weeks is the rushing attack. Couple that with that hideous celebration Saturday night, and there is MUCH to improve on.
But Notre Dame is 3-0. And that is BEAUTIFUL.