This is my second week with a summary of my thoughts. First Mitchell Evans is a player. He runs great patterns and wins contested balls. He moves the chains. ND needs him on the field. And in PFF he graded out with the highest run blocking grade for Notre Dame in the Purdue game. Second if you read and remember my last week comments I took the coaches to task for having Evans in almost exclusively for pass plays. I contended that that fact, and the inexplicable decision to not run Riley L after the second quarter, led to the second half offensive debacle vs. NIU. This week I am happy to say that all TE's and WR's players had a good balance of run and pass plays when they were in the game . Evans was in the Purdue game for 20 plays per PFF, 11 routes, 1 pass block and 8 run block. Last week against NIU he was in for 22 plays, 17 routes, 1 pass block and 4 run block. Coach Denbrock used a greater variety of motion for run plays and for quick pass plays then the previous week. Against NIU the motion was mostly TE's. In this game coach had running backs and WR's in motion. He also used 2 backs at times. And he used the immense running talents of Riley L. KVA is a beast, but he is so quick he gets to places he doesn't belong, in a sense in the way, in pass coverage. This team needs to keep growing at all offensive positions (yes RB's too as their pass blocking grades have been horrendous) . And on defense the young D linemen and young LB's need a lot of seasoning although their talent is remarkable. Lastly, for all the talk of recruiting and talent ND is 4th among all colleges with 41 player curently on NFL rosters , Georgia is three with 45, Ohio State 2 with 51 and as expected Alabama is 1 with 61. State by SportsGrid. And I am one who believes CMF and staff are recruiting at a higher level. Now its a matter of player development and winning on the field. A last tidbit. In looking at the CURRENT AP Poll ND is the only team in the top 25 to face off against two top 25 teams. No one else has. The polls will change. But ND would benefit by NIU and Texas A & M, along with everyone else on their schedule (think Louisville and USC) winning.
