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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | Louisville at No. 4 Notre Dame

October 16, 2020
74,468

Louisville (1-3, 0-3) at No. 4 Notre Dame (3-0, 2-0)

Notre Dame Stadium | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC

Game Week Articles | Roster| Depth Chart Schedule |Staff Predictions 


Offensive Fireworks Coming?

Louisville and Notre Dame will likely light up the scoreboard on Saturday afternoon as both offenses can score and score quickly. The Fighting Irish should be able to whatever they want against an undersized Louisville defense on the ground, but the Cardinals 3-4 scheme could make life a little difficult to start. 

Tutu Atwell and Javian Hawkins are two of the top big-play weapons in the ACC if not the country. Speed is the name of the game here and the Irish defense will need to account for both players all afternoon. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Irish pull away in the third quarter tomorrow and I don’t take that as a negative sign. Louisville had high expectations coming into 2020 and despite the record, the Cardinals are a team more than capable of hanging with anyone in the ACC.


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame LB Bo Bauer
Bauer has emerged on 3rd downs for Notre Dame and has flashed as a run defender. He pretty much split snaps with Drew White in the Florida State game and it will be interesting to see if he can push White for more playing time this week and beyond.

Louisville WR Tutu Atwell
A big play waiting to happen in the slot. His numbers aren't reflective of his impact so far this season. Notre Dame has to do everything they can not to let him get loose.

Notre Dame WR Javon McKinley
McKinley just had the first 100-yard game of his career against a Power 5 opponent and he's taken advantage of his opportunities. Ian Book hasn't found his go-to guy yet, but McKinley put his name into the mix after that performance.

Louisville RB Javian Hawkins
One of the most elusive backs in the country, Hawkins, is a dangerous runner when he's had space. He's ninth in the country in rushing yards per game. He'd be in the top-five if he had more help from his blocking. 

Notre Dame DE Ade Ogundeji
Ogundeji has been Notre Dame's best pass rusher and had two sacks against FSU. He should have favorable matchups against both of Louisville's offensive tackles. Look for Ogundeji to harass quarterback Malik Cunningham several times.


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah:
“There are a few adjustments and tweaks, but in the overall process, you want to treat everybody the same in terms of competition. 

“Coach Lea always tells us, 'The duty as a competitor is to respect all of your opponents.'”

Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton:
“I just try to leave all of that in a different space in my brain and just focus on being a regular college kid; just hanging with my friends, chilling, playing video games. I feel like that keeps me humble, knowing I’m never too big of a deal. At the end of the day, I’m just myself.

“I don’t need to get caught up in accolades or, ‘He’s this’ or ‘He’s that.’ I feel like once I start doing that is when I start falling off. I feel like I’ve just got to be the kid I’ve always been and that will make me my best.”

Notre Dame OL Liam Eichenberg:
"When I got injured, there was no thought in my mind that was like I want to stay out for the whole game. My first thought was, 'I need to go back in the game because you've got to take care of business no matter what.'

"I can tell you a lot of guys have dealt with a lot of things in past seasons and they were able to be out there. So felt like it was no exception for me."

Notre Dame CB TaRiq Bracy:
"When you get away from football for a few days or weeks, you're not going to play the same at first. Once we got into the game, we started to get a rhythm and we were able to win the game."

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly on having no one in quarantine or isolation:
"When you have all your guys back, you feel, from my perspective, you feel complete. You have your team together. You have depth. You have competition. You have practices that are a lot different because they are structured in a manner that brings that competitiveness out during your preparation. That's extremely positive in so many areas."


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Notre Dame Louisville
Points Per Game 40.3 29.0
Points Allowed Per Game 13.0 34.3
Total Yards 475.0 424.3
Yards Passing 204.3 246.5
Yards Rushing 270.7 177.6
Yards Allowed 323.3 389.8
Pass Yards Allowed 212.0 233.0
Rush Yards Allowed  111.3 156.8

Game Thread | Louisville at No. 4 Notre Dame

74,443 Views | 686 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by 6926bp
irishbearcat09
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atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.
irishtank6900
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I'm so freaking tired of BK playing kids out wide that are "good leaders" and "good blockers" over kids who can freaking win one on one.

Traits!

Until it costs you a game...
mjshepard
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QB draw is Book's best play
Brucealeg
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Lost deer Book so far, maybe he'll take a shot of whisky and wake up. Either take off and run with confidence or throw the ball away.
irishtank6900
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irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.
citykcor
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To be fair, gotta give Louisville credit. They came to play and are now in the game.
ND better turn up in the 2nd half.
atl irish
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irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.
It's not emotional, at this point I am ambivalent because I KNOW he can't take us anywhere. He doesn't play smart, he probably is very smart, but he's not a smart football player. He has the talent of a kid with his offer list.

Book played in those games, he didn't win them. If anything we have that record in spite of him.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Firefighter8196
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I've got a better chance of getting a date with Megan Fox than seeing the day Kelly benches Book.
mattfreeman
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Staff
This game aint all on Book. He needs to play better 100%, but so does the rest of the offense.
ndSlaw
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citykcor said:

To be fair, gotta give Louisville credit. They came to play and are now in the game.
ND better turn up in the 2nd half.
Not disagreeing, but this seems to be becoming the norm as of late. When can we expect Notre Dame (the whole team, not just a side) come to play?
IRISHLOYAL
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Others on the team have had as much or more to do with an awful lot of those wins. QB play goes well beyond W/L.
IRISHLOYAL
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Agree to disagree I guess. Haha
irishbearcat09
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irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.
mattfreeman
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Staff
I also bet NBC doesnt show BK's halftime speech.
irishtank6900
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irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?
RyanMcD
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How many takeaways does our defense have this year? Feels like very few
mattfreeman
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Staff
irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?
I trade Ian Book and Michael Mayer for Trevor Lawrence
ndsean44
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RyanMcD said:

How many takeaways does our defense have this year? Feels like very few
3.
irishbearcat09
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irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?


Absolutely not and this is what I'm talking about. People would trade for the QB who was slotted to be 3rd string this season for the one that is 18-3. It's absurd.
ndsean44
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What's sad about the offensive ineptitude in the first half.

UL apparently was without their best player on defense in the first half due to a targeting foul and Book still couldn't take advantage.
Mike Frank
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Staff
irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?


Absolutely not and this is what I'm talking about. People would trade for the QB who was slotted to be 3rd string this season for the one that is 18-3. It's absurd.
"slotted to be 3rd string." That's just ridiculous, and not even close to being true.

Mike
SWANSEA
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irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?


Absolutely not and this is what I'm talking about. People would trade for the QB who was slotted to be 3rd string this season for the one that is 18-3. It's absurd.
NDTerry
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Mike Frank said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?


Absolutely not and this is what I'm talking about. People would trade for the QB who was slotted to be 3rd string this season for the one that is 18-3. It's absurd.
"slotted to be 3rd string." That's just ridiculous, and not even close to being true.

Mike


Is that not true? Not arguing, genuinely asking. I thought we had heard that a part of the reason for Phil leaving was that he was getting passed on the depth chart by Clark.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Notre Dame's kickoff coverage has been solid this year.
cardova08
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irishtank6900 said:

I'm so freaking tired of BK playing kids out wide that are "good leaders" and "good blockers" over kids who can freaking win one on one.

Traits!

Until it costs you a game...


This could be stance that ends up limiting BK from taking that next step. Yes, you want to reward guys that do the right thing day after day. But at a certain point, you have to realize that McKinley and Ben ain't beating Clemson. Hayes over Foskey ain't beating Clemson. Simon over Kiser should not be happening. Gotta play the best guys.
irishtank6900
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mattfreeman said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?
I trade Ian Book and Michael Mayer for Trevor Lawrence


Clemson laughs and hangs up lol
Mike Frank
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Staff
NDTerry said:

Mike Frank said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?


Absolutely not and this is what I'm talking about. People would trade for the QB who was slotted to be 3rd string this season for the one that is 18-3. It's absurd.
"slotted to be 3rd string." That's just ridiculous, and not even close to being true.

Mike


Is that not true? Not arguing, genuinely asking. I thought we had heard that a part of the reason for Phil leaving was that he was getting passed on the depth chart by Clark.

That is not true at all. Clark hasn't even solidified himself over Pyne at this point. He'd be the first guy in, but he's not completely won that spot.

Mike
ndmars
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Mike Frank said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

irishtank6900 said:

irishbearcat09 said:

atl irish said:

jmsheridan said:

I would trade qbs with every team we played this year
it just pains me that such a talented team is wasted with a QB who is neither talented nor smart


He's certainly not Joe Montana. But to say a QB who is 18-3 at Notre Dame is "neither talented nor smart" is emotional and simply untrue. You don't have to like Book, but I don't understand trying to paint him to be worse than he is.


So how many of those wins were BECAUSE of Ian book?

Feels like we have won many of those games in spite of him, not because of him.

He's Probably a B level QB, and when he doesn't have guys who are winning one on one battles on the outside that's pretty easy to see.


LSU bowl game. He was extremely integral towards the 12-0 season and playoff run. He started last season slow played lights out in the second half. His losses are @Georgia, @Michigan in a monsoon, and to NC Clemson who smacked around Bama.

My contention was against saying he's not talented or smart. Nobody is arguing he is a 5 star QB. Irish fans get extremely emotional when we are struggling in game including me.

Notre Dame is extremely lucky to have Ian Book, PJ was likely going to be 3rd string, and Book is a major reason for Notre Dame's tremendous success since 2018. Those are the facts.


Simple question, would you trade Book for Phil right now if given the opportunity?


Absolutely not and this is what I'm talking about. People would trade for the QB who was slotted to be 3rd string this season for the one that is 18-3. It's absurd.
"slotted to be 3rd string." That's just ridiculous, and not even close to being true.

Mike



Oops there goes the big lie the anti-Phil crowd has been spewing for months.....
ndSlaw
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I'm going to take Doerer's best kickoff of the day as an omen of a good second half
mbmirish
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So we can all agree not a great half for Book but when our WRs are not able to get any separation where is he to throw it. Or am I seeing it completely wrong.
ndsean44
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mbmirish said:

So we can all agree not a great half for Book but when our WRs are not able to get any separation where is he to throw it. Or am I seeing it completely wrong.
A little of both.

Receivers not getting separation and Book missing a good few open looks.
cardova08
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Dude, Shayne Simon..*** was that?
Rwolf101
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Targeting?
jmsheridan
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Not getting pressure.
 
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