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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 3 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

October 24, 2020
72,685

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

72,670 Views | 659 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by tjhaley
irishfan32489
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Ian book stinks. That is all.
dc irish
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DUde also make horrible throws on regular basis
Firefighter8196
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I'm sorry but 1st and goal at the 2 and you pass twice!? Come on tommy! Piss poor series there
GulfCoastIrish
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How stupid
Sgt Hulka
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Run the ball 3x. C'mon Tommy
irishtank6900
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That was a phenomenal play by Ford
Cassin
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Why those calls?
irishfan32489
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I don't hate trying to get his confidence going... but he was lucky not to have the 2nd down pass picked and the 3rd was just the tuck and run.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Rwolf101
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This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.
JMAC
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Is Tyree out?
sdnd1
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Really sad you can't score a TD's with first down on the three.
MAS
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I love complaining about 31-3 games. Much more enjoyable.
irishtank6900
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Cassin said:

Why those calls?


You're up 4 scores trying to get your QBs confidence up. Defender made a great play on second down. Gives future opponents a look of PA on the goal line. I don't hate it at all, just didn't work.
leofitz
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JMAC said:

Is Tyree out?
I saw him in the first half for a few plays.
GulfCoastIrish
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Doesn't look like Pitt can get to the 13 I predicted for them.
bmhend54
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Rwolf101 said:

This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.


Pass the pipe please.....
irishtank6900
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Rwolf101 said:

This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.


He hasn't played bad at all, also hasn't played great. I agree.
dc irish
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Is it me or are the announcers outright rooting for Pitt? Why are they only highlighting the former Pitt stars? ND has had a few good players too if they dont know it. Seems like this is local Pitt broadcast!
Rwolf101
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bmhend54 said:

Rwolf101 said:

This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.


Pass the pipe please.....

How...how did you know?
bmhend54
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bmhend54 said:

Rwolf101 said:

This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.


Pass the pipe please.....


He is just awwwwwwful. The ball is almost never where it should be. High. Low. Behind. No pocket presence, no touch, and no ability to throw with anticipation.
73Irish
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The game announcers suck. That crack by Blackledge about the Pitt QB coming toward the sidelines to thwart signal stealing - something like ND "has a lot of assistants and a lot of mon". F@CK HIM!
A Chevy Suckerado or The Cat? Take The Cat: he's better looking, cheaper to feed and on quiet nights you won't hear him rusting in your garage.
ejsjr
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Hate to say it, guys, but most of what's happened on offense today never happens against Clemson. That throw aaaalll the way across the field to McKinley is likely a pick-6.
coachscott
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leofitz said:

JMAC said:

Is Tyree out?
I saw him in the first half for a few plays.


I did too. The last 6 quarters he has looked really lost and overwhelmed at times. Happens to freshmen. I am not hating or being negative about his likely very bright future. But if I see it, Lance Taylor does. Wouldn't be surprised if he sees limited snaps due to some of his hesitancy.
SWANSEA
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dc irish said:


Is it me or are the announcers outright rooting for Pitt? Why are they only highlighting the former Pitt stars? ND has had a few good players too if they dont know it. Seems like this is local Pitt broadcast!
At least Flutie not here.
Firefighter8196
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Will be interesting to see who our QB is next year with Buchner enrolling early for spring ball.
Hrothgar
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Rwolf101 said:

bmhend54 said:

Rwolf101 said:

This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.


Pass the pipe please.....

How...how did you know?
Wolf, have ever given a straight answer to anything???
rmirish
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Would like to get one more score, then let Clark get some reps. We may need him at some point should Book get hurt or Covid.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Jack Kiser in at Buck
Rwolf101
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Hrothgar said:

Rwolf101 said:

bmhend54 said:

Rwolf101 said:

This is far from Book's worst game. He's left some yards and points on the field for sure but he's taken some shots downfield. This game should improve his confidence.


Pass the pipe please.....

How...how did you know?
Wolf, have ever given a straight answer to anything???


I also like that Maria Taylor.
6926bp
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Doubt that he was open by 15 yds
mattfreeman
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Staff
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah interception.
Firefighter8196
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Nice play JOK
Rwolf101
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Put in backups.
andrew32
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I enjoy when the other team has the ball, but then Notre Dame takes it away.
 
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