(Photo Credit: Joseph Weiser)
So, just what is the identity of this Notre Dame offense? Run-first? Balanced? Quick strike? Ball control?
How about this: the identity of this offense is “The Riley Leonard Show.” After all, Riley Leonard has a superpower.
About halfway through the second quarter on Saturday, the Irish offense was dead in the water. ND trailed 3-0 to a 28-point underdog, having produced only 40 yards and just one first down. “Boos” rang down from frustrated fans who had seen the same movie two weeks earlier. Steve Angeli was trending on X.
Cue the Riley Leonard Show and activate the superpower.
The show got rolling starting at his own 13-yard line with 8:48 remaining in the first half. For his first act, Leonard produced five first downs on 4-of-6 passing and two of his own runs. He then summoned his superpower and scored from eight yards out on a scamper to the end zone that included a nifty cut and a broken tackle or two. Super power now engaged, the Riley Leonard Show was underway with a 10-play, 87-yard drive.
ND 7, Miami (OH) 3.
Act two came a couple of minutes later. This drive featured another twisting, turning, tackle-breaking keeper for 21 yards and 2-of-4 passing. One completion was pinpoint to Kris Mitchell, the other a perfectly placed 38-yarder that hit Beaux Collins in stride for the score.
ND 14, Miami (OH) 3.
Leonard had finally collected his first TD pass of the year on a big-time throw that ND Nation had previously doubted he could deliver. Finally, his superpower demonstrated a necessary complement.
The show resumed on the first drive of the second half. After two-for-two passing gained 15 yards, Leonard executed a perfectly timed RPO run for 43 yards, showcasing size, speed, and tailback instincts. Unfortunately, the ball got punched out as Leonard fought for a little extra yardage.
Never a dull moment when the Riley Leonard Show is on.
Things got back on track on the next drive with a couple of Leonard superpower scrambles, a pass interference call drawn on a well-placed pass upfield to Mitchell Evans, and a Jeremiyah Love 15-yard run to the end zone.
ND 21, Miami (OH) 3.
Leonard’s superpower next struck like lightning in the fourth quarter with a 50-yard burst over the left side to the end zone.
ND 28, Miami (OH) 3. Game over.
Leonard ended his day with 143 yards and 2 TDs on the ground, along with 154 yards and 1 TD through the air (16-of-25 passing).
When healthy, Leonard’s ability to run has never been in doubt; he is an extraordinary runner. In 2022 at Duke, he ran for 13 TDs. Through four games in 2024, he has already run for six TDs and 322 yards rushing. The all-time ND season record for TD runs by a quarterback is 14, set by Brandon Wimbush in 2017. Tony Rice holds the all-time ND season record for quarterback rushing yards at 884 (1989). Leonard is on a record-setting pace.
Running the football is Leonard’s superpower, without it, he is merely a mortal.
Against Northern Illinois, due to injury, Leonard did become merely mortal in the second half (zero runs on zero carries), and the ND offense was anemic. It was suggested by Fighting Irish Preview that when Leonard can’t run the football, Steve Angeli might be a better choice to play; he appears to be a more effective passer. Perhaps Angeli should have been inserted into the lineup during the second half of that game. If he had, there’s a good chance the Irish would be sitting at 4-0 today.
The Brandon Wimbush story from several years back is actually a good comparison for Leonard critics. Wimbush could run the ball as well as anyone, but he was not known for his passing accuracy. In 2017, when he set the QB rushing TD record, he was a 49% passer. He eventually lost his job to Ian Book, who went on to lead the Irish to a record-setting 30 career wins, posting a respectable 64% completion rate.
Riley Leonard is a 62% career passer. So far in 2024, he is hitting 63% of his throws, and he has a superpower.
Completion percentage isn’t everything, especially if you can’t get the ball down the field. But against the Red Hawks, Leonard did get the ball downfield. He threw one TD, drew two pass interference calls, and nearly completed a 50/50 ball to Jayden Harrison. Only one of those was a completion, but all were big-time throws, down the field. This progress was noted by Leonard himself post-game. When asked about it, he pointed out the pass interference calls, the 50/50 ball, and the 38-yard TD, saying, “Every game we’re getting better with the things we struggled with the game before.”
If Leonard starts getting the ball downfield consistently—look out. It will make his superpower even stronger.
The Riley Leonard Show was impressive Saturday. He accounted for 293 yards and 3 of the 4 touchdowns all by himself. He did struggle with some short passes—four by my count, to be exact. It was those throws that got Angeli trending and the “boos” to rain down. But so far in 2024, Riley Leonard has led the Irish to victory every time his running superpower has been intact.
When asked about those “boos” in the first half of the game, Leonard dutifully said that he blocked them out and really didn’t hear them. His focus stayed on one thing: “My job is to win football games…and we won.”
Scoreboard baby, scoreboard!
Eight more regular-season wins will be needed if the Irish are going to find a way to still live up to the high expectation there were for the 2024 team. Notre Dame’s defense will keep the Irish close against just about anybody. But to win out, Riley Leonard’s superpower, complemented by a reliable passing game, will be needed.
Well, it just might happen because Saturday’s performance provided evidence that Riley Leonard is rounding into the quarterback he was brought to South Bend, to be.