Thoughts From the Press Box
Notre Dame came firing on defense and special teams and the offense eventually found their footing as the Irish roll past Iowa State 33-9 in the 2019 edition of the Camping World Bowl. So many questions surrounding this team going into the game whether it had to do with the vacant offensive coordinator position to who will play in this game to whether Notre Dame would be motivated in this game. I think a lot of those questions were answered, at least in the short term, with this victory today.
Offense
Notre Dame was able to rack up 455 yards of total offense with 208 on the ground and 247 through the air. There was a concerted effort to run the football the entire game even when it seemed like they were getting nowhere with it. Finishing the game with a 5.6 yard average is a testament to the offensive line as well as the commitment to the rush attack. Credit Tom Rees for keeping that commitment and calling a very good game throughout. When you have a weapon like Chase Claypool and you are a rookie play-caller, you get him involved and he did that. Kudos to Coach Rees for understanding that and not outsmarting himself.
Senior wide receiver Chase Claypool walked away with Camping World Bowl MVP honors and rightfully so. He dominated today not only with his route running and catch-ability but his body control was so effective today. Elite players can at times take plays off when the ball is not coming their way but Claypool would work and work to get open regardless of how the play started. That is how he was able to get open on the touchdown that wasn’t. He was bracketed at the beginning of the play with a corner and a safety over the top and the action was to the opposite side of the field but he continued to work his way across the field and eventually found himself wide open and Ian Book made a nice throw to find him for the big pick up.
Senior quarterback Ian Book played a solid game all day. He escaped pressure when he needed to and kept his eyes down the field looking to make plays with his arm. He did not leave the pocket too early and did not have the happy feet he has been prone to have in the past. He used his athleticism to keep plays alive and made decisive throws. There were a couple throws I am sure he would want back but even poorly placed balls look good when you are throwing to Chase Claypool. The throw he made for the touchdown was perfectly placed to Claypool where only Claypool could catch it. Let me repeat, only Claypool could catch that ball. The stretch and athleticism was unbelievable and Book knew it. Great play. The one play I am sure he would want back is the slant throw to Claypool on the third and one was behind and even Claypool couldn’t make that catch. He put a little too much zip on the ball and Claypool wasn’t able to make the catch. Overall a really solid performance from Book. Going 20 for 28 (71%) and 247 yards and a score (should have been three Claypool’s play stands and he hits Claypool again on the slant) is a workman-like performance but certainly gives Book something to build off of if and when he decides to announce he is coming back to Notre Dame for his fifth year.
Senior wide receiver Chris Finke ended the day as Notre Dame’s second leading receiver with six catches for 46 yards. He did what Chris Finke does, catch the ball in traffic, convert first downs, and do all the little things that receivers need to do in order to be successful. Two of Finke’s six catches were for first downs and his blocking on the perimeter was very good today. He desperately wanted to return punts but was unable to really break through in that regard.
Sophomore receiver Braden Lenzy continues to get his workload increased and was a non-starter in name only since Notre Dame started with three tight ends. He only ended with 19 total yards (12 on the ground and 7 on one reception) on offense but his presence is always felt. He is so dangerous to break the big play that he has to be accounted for on every down. I am looking forward to seeing him really blossom in 2020 to a fully complete player in this offense.
Senior running back Tony Jones, Jr. had an impressive day as well. Obviously he had two big runs of 26 and 84 yards that stand out but he did some good things on the short runs as well. There was really not a lot of running room for him to get through but when there was he was able to hit the holes and burst. Even on the long touchdown run he set up his perimeter blocking so well and then showed his speed to get down the field. His stiff arm to end the run was incredibly impressive and finished off that run in style.
Junior Jafar Armstrong ran the ball well when he was given the opportunity. The elusive two back set was a nice touch to hit for Tom Rees. Armstrong was asked to hit the perimeter more so than between the tackles and his blocking did not hold up too well out there but when he did run between the tackles he ran hard.
Sophomore C’Bo Flemister took advantage of his opportunities with 30 yards on 6 carries. He has shown all season that when he gets his chances, he runs hard and with authority. He is a great change of pace back from Tony Jones and is great to have in this offense.
As I mentioned before, Notre Dame started the game in a three tight end set and the tight ends were featured on the field prominently throughout the game. They did their damage more in the run gams then in the passing game which was a little surprising. Junior Cole Kmet finished the day with two catches for 33 yards and only three targets but both catches were for first downs so both were very important. The blocking was good overall from this group but Kmet and sophomore Tommy Tremble both had their negative moments. Kmet was called for a hold early in the game and Tremble needs to work on some of his open field blocking but other than that it was an impressive showing in the run game.
The play of the offensive line was, in a nutshell, a microcosm of the entire season: very solid in pass protection and suspect in the running game. Senior left tackle Liam Eichenberg played solid for the majority of the day despite the false start early. I was very interested to watch sophomore center Jarrett Patterson and how he handled having a man on his head all day and he excelled in the passing game but got tossed around in the run game. Overall the Irish OL struggled up the middle in the run game which is why so many runs were called on the outside as the game progressed. The run game blocking is obviously going to have to be a point of emphasis in the off season but it is hard to say if Notre Dame thinks it is a subject for improvement. Time will tell.
Notre Dame came firing on defense and special teams and the offense eventually found their footing as the Irish roll past Iowa State 33-9 in the 2019 edition of the Camping World Bowl. So many questions surrounding this team going into the game whether it had to do with the vacant offensive coordinator position to who will play in this game to whether Notre Dame would be motivated in this game. I think a lot of those questions were answered, at least in the short term, with this victory today.
Offense
Notre Dame was able to rack up 455 yards of total offense with 208 on the ground and 247 through the air. There was a concerted effort to run the football the entire game even when it seemed like they were getting nowhere with it. Finishing the game with a 5.6 yard average is a testament to the offensive line as well as the commitment to the rush attack. Credit Tom Rees for keeping that commitment and calling a very good game throughout. When you have a weapon like Chase Claypool and you are a rookie play-caller, you get him involved and he did that. Kudos to Coach Rees for understanding that and not outsmarting himself.
Senior wide receiver Chase Claypool walked away with Camping World Bowl MVP honors and rightfully so. He dominated today not only with his route running and catch-ability but his body control was so effective today. Elite players can at times take plays off when the ball is not coming their way but Claypool would work and work to get open regardless of how the play started. That is how he was able to get open on the touchdown that wasn’t. He was bracketed at the beginning of the play with a corner and a safety over the top and the action was to the opposite side of the field but he continued to work his way across the field and eventually found himself wide open and Ian Book made a nice throw to find him for the big pick up.
Senior quarterback Ian Book played a solid game all day. He escaped pressure when he needed to and kept his eyes down the field looking to make plays with his arm. He did not leave the pocket too early and did not have the happy feet he has been prone to have in the past. He used his athleticism to keep plays alive and made decisive throws. There were a couple throws I am sure he would want back but even poorly placed balls look good when you are throwing to Chase Claypool. The throw he made for the touchdown was perfectly placed to Claypool where only Claypool could catch it. Let me repeat, only Claypool could catch that ball. The stretch and athleticism was unbelievable and Book knew it. Great play. The one play I am sure he would want back is the slant throw to Claypool on the third and one was behind and even Claypool couldn’t make that catch. He put a little too much zip on the ball and Claypool wasn’t able to make the catch. Overall a really solid performance from Book. Going 20 for 28 (71%) and 247 yards and a score (should have been three Claypool’s play stands and he hits Claypool again on the slant) is a workman-like performance but certainly gives Book something to build off of if and when he decides to announce he is coming back to Notre Dame for his fifth year.
Senior wide receiver Chris Finke ended the day as Notre Dame’s second leading receiver with six catches for 46 yards. He did what Chris Finke does, catch the ball in traffic, convert first downs, and do all the little things that receivers need to do in order to be successful. Two of Finke’s six catches were for first downs and his blocking on the perimeter was very good today. He desperately wanted to return punts but was unable to really break through in that regard.
Sophomore receiver Braden Lenzy continues to get his workload increased and was a non-starter in name only since Notre Dame started with three tight ends. He only ended with 19 total yards (12 on the ground and 7 on one reception) on offense but his presence is always felt. He is so dangerous to break the big play that he has to be accounted for on every down. I am looking forward to seeing him really blossom in 2020 to a fully complete player in this offense.
Senior running back Tony Jones, Jr. had an impressive day as well. Obviously he had two big runs of 26 and 84 yards that stand out but he did some good things on the short runs as well. There was really not a lot of running room for him to get through but when there was he was able to hit the holes and burst. Even on the long touchdown run he set up his perimeter blocking so well and then showed his speed to get down the field. His stiff arm to end the run was incredibly impressive and finished off that run in style.
Junior Jafar Armstrong ran the ball well when he was given the opportunity. The elusive two back set was a nice touch to hit for Tom Rees. Armstrong was asked to hit the perimeter more so than between the tackles and his blocking did not hold up too well out there but when he did run between the tackles he ran hard.
Sophomore C’Bo Flemister took advantage of his opportunities with 30 yards on 6 carries. He has shown all season that when he gets his chances, he runs hard and with authority. He is a great change of pace back from Tony Jones and is great to have in this offense.
As I mentioned before, Notre Dame started the game in a three tight end set and the tight ends were featured on the field prominently throughout the game. They did their damage more in the run gams then in the passing game which was a little surprising. Junior Cole Kmet finished the day with two catches for 33 yards and only three targets but both catches were for first downs so both were very important. The blocking was good overall from this group but Kmet and sophomore Tommy Tremble both had their negative moments. Kmet was called for a hold early in the game and Tremble needs to work on some of his open field blocking but other than that it was an impressive showing in the run game.
The play of the offensive line was, in a nutshell, a microcosm of the entire season: very solid in pass protection and suspect in the running game. Senior left tackle Liam Eichenberg played solid for the majority of the day despite the false start early. I was very interested to watch sophomore center Jarrett Patterson and how he handled having a man on his head all day and he excelled in the passing game but got tossed around in the run game. Overall the Irish OL struggled up the middle in the run game which is why so many runs were called on the outside as the game progressed. The run game blocking is obviously going to have to be a point of emphasis in the off season but it is hard to say if Notre Dame thinks it is a subject for improvement. Time will tell.
