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Game Thread | Iowa State vs. (15) Notre Dame | Camping World Bowl

December 28, 2019
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Camping World Bowl | Iowa State (7-5) vs. No. 15 Notre Dame (10-2)

Camping World Stadium |12:00 p.m. ET | ABC

Game Week Articles | Roster| Depth ChartSchedule |Staff Predictions 


Don’t Freak Out

Notre Dame will look to get its 11th win on Saturday, but it could get off to a slow start. Tommy Rees will be in his first game calling plays and he’ll face an experienced defensive coordinator in Jon Heacock, who runs a complicated 3-5-3/3-3-5 defense.

The Fighting Irish see a variety of defenses every year, but Notre Dame has yet to face a scheme similar to the one they’ll see on Saturday. 

A slow start might not mean the Irish aren’t ready to play, although it very could, as there will be an adjustment period for Rees and quarterback Ian Book. The senior signal-caller will see looks he hasn’t seen before and you can expect Heacock to throw the kitchen sink at the Irish offense. 

While there will be overreactions in this thread, I’d encourage you to give the Irish a few series to get used to the defense and for Rees to grow into his new role. 

On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame enters the game giving up just 163.7 passing yards per game and there is a good chance Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy exceeds that in the first half. 

Don’t freak out. 

Notre Dame is going to give up yards and it will probably seem like they are getting shredded compared to most games, but that’s Clark Lea’s defense. The Irish are going to give up yards, but they will also make the Cyclones take care of the ball and force them into touchdowns, which the Irish have been very successful at this year as they’ve given up just 18.7 points per game. 

Purdy and Iowa State have moved the ball, but they have also lost five games this season. Notre Dame needs to make Purdy finish drives and not get discouraged by stats on Saturday.


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet
Will this be his final game for Notre Dame? It could be and the chances for that go up if he goes off on the field. Expect him to have a big day.

Iowa State LB O'Rien Vance
The Mike linebacker for Iowa State is a key to their pass rush. He's a very good blitzer and knows when to attack on when the running back is engaged with another defender.

Notre Dame WR Braden Lenzy
He touched the ball more than he had all season and was a difference-maker against Stanford. Look for Tom Rees to get Lenzy involved often to help provide the offense with explosive plays.

Iowa State TE Charlie Kolar
ISU has a great tight end as well. Kolar will be a tough matchup for the Irish and we should see Kyle Hamilton in man against him frequently.

Notre Dame DE Khalid Kareem
Notre Dame's pass rush has to get to quarterback Brock Purdy and affect his rhythm as they have with most passers this season. Kareem is the key to that and if he can be as dominant as he's been in the final half of the season, it will be a huge factor in stopping their potent passing game.


Quotes of the Week

DE Khalid Kareem:
"You look back - Q (Quenton Nelson) and Mike (McGlinchey) were two top 10 draft picks. I don't think they questioned not playing. If guys like that didn't sit out, then why should we?"

LB Drew White:
"They're an electric offense. They have some really good skill playmakers and a really good quarterback. They like to throw the ball and have a lot of hard concepts. 

"We have to dig deep into the game plan and make sure we're ready. I'm confident we'll be ready."

OL Liam Eichenberg:
"A lot of offensive lines have struggled blocking this defense. There is so much movement. They're a very good team. The defensive coordinator does a good job and they have great players. That program is really turning around." 

WR Braden Lenzy: 
"You shouldn't be at Notre Dame if you're not a competitor. If you don't go out there and win, then you probably shouldn't be here. It's simple." 


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Notre Dame Iowa State
Points Per Game 37.1 34.1
Points Allowed Per Game 18.7 25.3
Total Yards 429.2 458.7
Yards Passing 252.6 318.3
Yards Rushing 176.6 140.3
Yards Allowed 324.3 362.2
Pass Yards Allowed 163.7 228.3
Rush Yards Allowed  160.6 133.8

Game Thread | Iowa State vs. (15) Notre Dame | Camping World Bowl

166,836 Views | 663 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by irvinejack
Rwolf101
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Why the fudge would finke run backwards there?
Sgt Hulka
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Joe1976 said:

Sgt Hulka said:

Ok, can we open up the offense just a bit? Enough FB to the edge runs
THEY HEARD YA!!


Let me run this offense. Lol
ohiondfan
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I'd rather that go to Lenzy
REMND
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That trick play moved us out of FG range
Firefighter8196
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Offense leaving a lot to be desired...ugly
Rwolf101
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Wow how did doerer do that???
Tripucka
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Please, let this be the last we see of Rees as OC. This O sux.
Tripucka
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Rwolf101 said:

Why the fudge would finke run backwards there?

Bc Finke stinks.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Jon Doerer 51-yard FG good. Incredible leg strength lol

Notre Dame 13
Iowa State 3

7:23 | 2Q

5 plays, 32 yards in 2:04
Sgt Hulka
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Line drive in the alley off the wall.
REMND
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When you blow it but it still goes through the goalposts, you know you have your mojo working.
buffaloirish1
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Wormburner
Classof88
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He completely shanked-it through for 3 points!
irishbronx
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Weirdest looking converted kick ever.
Woodynd22
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This offense better figure something out soon, the defense cannot do everything
Sgt Hulka
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Classof88 said:

He completely shanked-it through for 3 points!


Iowa St guy has to be thinking "it's not our day" if **** like that is going through
brooklyn_to_chicago
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Maybe it's ND fan PTSD but every time I see an ugly line drive kick go through I have flashbacks to November '93
usma95
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Good job coming back and getting the points back on the board. Took a shot with a trick play that did not work. I am ok with that to be honest. I believe we score 30+.
dunwoodyfan
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Tripucka said:

Rwolf101 said:

Why the fudge would finke run backwards there?

Bc Finke stinks.


I think he was supposed to pass the ball. The whole play was ruined because Ruhland was destroyed, which threw off Jones and right on down the line.
Boss
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The O just seems to be all over the place. It doesn't help that the RBs can't get anything done for the most part.

Has Keys been in? No throws to Kmet yet? No crossing routes?
LADomer
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Crazy - but would've been good from 60! We'll take it
mbmirish
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I love that he just put his hands up and laughed have fun that's what this is supposed to be. Kid has turned it around that for sure. Haha
mattfreeman
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Staff
Looks like rain will be here soon.
Sgt Hulka
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buffaloirish1 said:

Wormburner


Let's not talk about me off the tee, please.
irish4life
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REMND said:

The difference in this game is the 2 TOs. Other than that, Iowa St looks better


Not really.

One nice run. One nice incompletion, and a FG.

They don't look, nor are they better.
Sgt Hulka
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mattfreeman said:

Looks like rain will be here soon.


Hitting the club after the game?
Rwolf101
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dunwoodyfan said:

Tripucka said:

Rwolf101 said:

Why the fudge would finke run backwards there?

Bc Finke stinks.


I think he was supposed to pass the ball. The whole play was ruined because Ruhland was destroyed, which threw off Jones and right on down the line.

If true then it's a stupid play call. Book can pass. Still trying to figure out what Finke can do outside of fair catches or 3 yard crossing routes.
Well, he did have a heck of a catch vs Michigan 16 months ago so maybe I'm being harsh.
Joe1976
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Joe1976
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Rain..... fml..
Joe
UpperMI
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Sgt Hulka said:

mattfreeman said:

Looks like rain will be here soon.


Hitting the club after the game?


This is such an underated post.
dunwoodyfan
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Bilal looks great today. Solid tackling.
Classof88
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22 acquitting himself nicely so far!
NYNDBLUE
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Penn State 21 Memphis 13
REMND
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Great throw
mattfreeman
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Staff
Iowa State timeout. Facing a 4th-and-1.
 
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