Instant Reaction | Notre Dame 52 Bowling Green 0
The main goal for this game? Don’t get hurt. It was probably the main goal for both teams as Bowling Green knew they weren’t going to win this game.
It looks like Notre Dame accomplished that goal, although there was a scare early with a bruised shin for Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa. (He returned to the game and looked fine)
Bowling Green is bad. We knew that coming in so there was nothing to prove in this game other than that the Irish could focus and take care of business. They did that and now get to focus on USC.
It was essentially a scrimmage out there and the practice can only help. I think it did for Ian Book, who gained some confidence by staying patient in the pocket and making down the field throws for big plays.
- Notre Dame gained 10.6 yards per play in the first half compared to 3.2 for Bowling Green. I point that out not only because the game was over by halftime, but because the backups who played on defense did well enough to have BGSU finish with 3.3.
- BGSU does not have the athletes to play with Notre Dame’s skill players, but they also had plenty of blown coverages as well. Receivers were running open all day long. Book won’t have an easier day than that in terms of time in the pocket and easy options.
- It was kind of crazy to see a team pretty much give up with so many called runs on 3rd and long. They converted a couple of times, but make no mistake, that was them waving a white flag because they didn’t want to get their quarterback killed.
Grant Loy made a couple of nice throws on 3rd down as well with pressure in his face. They also didn’t give him many options on those rollouts where he had one route to throw to. It was obvious they were moving the pocket to avoid the pass rush. It wasn’t all that different from what New Mexico did.
Loy ended up averaging 4.24 yards per attempt and they didn’t even try to push the ball down the field.
- BGSU deserved to have that field goal blocked going for it on 4th and 4. Another white flag play.
Julian Okwara destroyed 79. If you had to describe the result in one GIF, it would be that one.
- I liked the use of the tight ends off of play-action early. It was good to see Tommy Tremble and Cole Kmet gain some yards after the catch for easy conversions.
- Loved seeing Avery Davis in the slot for a big play when Phil Jurkovec in the game. That is Davis’ best position. If he’s going to have a role that helps the team in a big way, it will be as a receiver from that spot.
- This was a good game to get not just Jurkovec some confidence, but the second team offensive line. They did a nice job.
- Kyle Hamilton and Houston Griffith at safety together is probably the starting group for 2020. We got a little preview of that today.
Hamilton made a mistake on a run fit that gave up a pretty big run in the second quarter, but my gosh those hits after the catch.
- Although it’s never a bad day when the Irish win big, I wouldn’t have blamed anyone who skipped this game to do something with their family. This is exactly why I hope Notre Dame never plays any FCS teams.