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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 3 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

October 24, 2020
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No. 3 Notre Dame (4-0, 3-0) at Pittsburgh (3-3, 2-3)

Heinz Field | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC

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


Rugged Saturday

Notre Dame will hit the road for the first time in 2020 and will get to face a Pitt team looking to end a three-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers defense has stolen all the headlines this week despite teams scoring 30 or more against Pitt the last three games. 

Ian Book will need to be aggressive down the field on Saturday, but this game will still come down to Notre Dame being able to run the football against the nation’s top run defense. Pitt is only giving 61.5 rushing yards per game and it’s more impressive when you see teams are averaging just 1.85 yards per carry. The good news is Notre Dame is No. 7 in the country in rushing offense, so if you like physical football, this is the game for you...well at least when Notre Dame is on offense. 

On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame’s defense might not be getting enough credit as Pitt will likely struggle to score with redshirt freshman quarterback Joey Yellen expected to get the start for the injured Kenny Pickett. Pitt has an atrocious run game, which is odd to say, but the Panthers are averaging just 107 yards rushing per game (2.8 ypc). For perspective, 77 FBS teams have played and Pitt ranks 70th in rushing offense. 


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame WR Kevin Austin
Two targets isn't enough for him. He needs to be involved more often. He will have the benefit of plenty of one on one matchups, so we'll see if Notre Dame can take advantage of that.

Pitt DE Rashad Weaver
Is Weaver the best defensive end in the ACC? He may be the best defensive end in the country. He's an elite player against the run and the pass. His matchup with Liam Eichenberg will be one to watch.

Notre Dame OL Robert Hainsey
There has been more attention given to Eichenberg, but Hainsey has played some of his best football for Notre Dame. He has had some issues dealing with bull rushers in the last few years and defensive end Patrick Jones is an excellent speed to power rusher. Hainsey needs to hold his own against a player who leads the nation in sacks.

Pitt S Paris Ford
Ford leads their team with three interceptions, but he can do it all for Pitt. He's an aggressive player against the run and also leads their team in tackles.

Notre Dame DE Ade Ogundeji
The Pitt starting defensive end duo is outstanding, but don't sleep on the year Ogundeji is having. He's been strong setting the edge and PFF has him second in the country in pressure percentage.


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame DL Kurt Hinish:
"It means the world to me to go back home and play Pitt. I grew up watching Pitt. I'm excited to play at Heinz Field for the fourth time. We played there in high school, so I've played there before.

"I’m really excited to go home and play in front of my family and friends. This game means everything to me." 

Notre Dame WR Avery Davis:
“We're going to go out there and compete. I'm not worried about what happened last week. We're confident and sticking to our process. We're going to go out there and have a good game." 

Notre Dame OL Aaron Banks:
"They're really strong up front and do a lot of things with blitzes and movement that make it hard for teams to move the ball. I think we have a really good scheme for them this week and we just want to go out and dominate every single play." 

Notre Dame LB Shayne Simon:
"I kind of love road trips. I've never got to play at Heinz Field, so I'm excited to play there. As long as the excitement and we're ready to play, there isn't anything going to be different.

“We're all going to be amped up and ready to put our best effort forward." 

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly:
“I don't know that we have, maybe Clemson is the only team that we've faced that has that kind of depth at the defensive end position. Now Clemson had more depth at the tackle position that we've ever seen, but this is probably the deepest defensive end position rotation that we've seen in quite some time.”


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Notre Dame Pittsburgh
Points Per Game 33.3 29.5
Points Allowed Per Game 11.5 20.3
Total Yards 440.8 390.2
Yards Passing 179.8 283.2
Yards Rushing 261.0 107.0
Yards Allowed 300.8 274.7
Pass Yards Allowed 193.3 213.2
Rush Yards Allowed  107.5 61.5

Game Thread | No. 3 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

102,368 Views | 659 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by tjhaley
Rwolf101
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Was that a designed play? Not sure Book is tall enough to complete a quick short crosser.
irishtank6900
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Book leaves so many yards on the field. Mayor against a corner and he tries to make a perfect throw. Just give him a chance.
Mike Frank
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Staff
Book just gets worse.

Mike
jmsheridan
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Other than skowronek today, this offense is pathetic. From play calling to execution.
irishbearcat09
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The passing game is garbage. We are lucky we came up with that last deep ball tuddy.
Sgt Hulka
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Everything is off his back foot
sdnd1
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Book has zero touch
atl irish
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Is it time to go with someone else at halftime? Book has lost it mentally I think
Rwolf101
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Mike Frank said:

Book just gets worse.

Mike

You must be reading anything Anne Rice has ever written.
tcirish
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Book has no feel for the game at all. He's like a point guard that sees everything late
pbrad28
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How about. TO...
pbrad28
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Yes!!!
Firefighter8196
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Big Bo Bauer and those blonde locks!...I can only hope
That it's a mullet
Rwolf101
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I LOVE Bo Bauer!
Burgoliscious
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It really is extremely frustrating to watch over.. and over... and OVER again! NO touch. He has seriously regressed
SWANSEA
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Yes a TO. This is fun.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Bo Bauer interception.
mbmirish
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3rd and 12 and we throw a 1 yard pass lol. I guess the idea was to surprise them.
dc irish
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Love Bauer. Wish he played more
NDFanT
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They need to bench Book. The defense can win this game for them.
Sgt Hulka
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The only Bo I ever liked
sulli1697
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Book is a B- QB in his best day.....and he will never have his best day against a top 20 team......ever!
bmhend54
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I'm taking credit for that pick I called TO earlier
irishtank6900
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This defense is so well coached
Rwolf101
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Bahaha Indiana beating PSU!
jmsheridan
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Loading up and making Book beat them. Be interesting to see how this plays out.
pbrad28
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The O line isn't do so well either...
mattfreeman
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Staff
Kyren Wiliams in the open field.....
Rwolf101
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I absolutely adored that play call!
sulli1697
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How's that running game coach?
irishtank6900
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Please stop running into the teeth of this defense, holy sh**

Jet sweep, counter, anything
irishtank6900
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Great call there though, beautiful
coachscott
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Man, the playcalling has been a bit head scratching today.
What do I know?
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irishtank6900 said:

This defense is so well coached
If the ND administration is unwilling to open the checkbook to keep Lea, you will know they just dont care anymore about winning.
mattfreeman
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Staff
If you get the rewatch this game....Watch the pure physicality going on everywhere by Notre Dame. They are on a mission each play.
 
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