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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 3 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

October 24, 2020
72,694

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

72,679 Views | 659 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by tjhaley
irishbearcat09
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Why do we always have DBs right there and WRs make these impossible catches that would make Randy Moss blush. Sickening!
usma95
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Crawford makes a play on the ball that is a pick. He hesitated. I think that is a catch.
sscott43
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Going to stand. Not loving our 3rd down d. Great throw by yellen though
irishfan32489
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It seems like he was over in time to bat the ball down.
Rwolf101
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Yellen just threw a ball that we saw FSU successfully throw 2 or 3 times vs ND. Loft a deep throw to the far corner. Either we lack height at corner or closing speed at safety.
sscott43
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Or both rwolf
mavscoach
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Gotta make plays on 3rd down & long geeez
Rwolf101
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GulfCoastIrish said:

Rush can't get home.

They're Canadian right?

Oh I see what you meant.
ndsean44
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Don't lack height or speed, they lack ability to play the ball in the air.
tcirish
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Crawford looked uncomfortable when he got up.
irishfan32489
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Crawford needs to make that play
ndsean44
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As impressive the first offensive drive was, this is equally disappointing defense.
Rwolf101
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JOK caused that incompletion with his blitz and spin move. Yellen was rightfully scared.
irishfan32489
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We need pass rushers.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Nice pressure from Jayson Ademilola.
Rwolf101
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Yellen is panicking a bit and not setting his feet.
mbmirish
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I feel bad for DBs in general can't hit anymore so I think they are afraid of a targeting call.
ndsean44
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What is the deal with the pass rush?

How do we have so many big name ends and none of them are getting home?
Escozoo4
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Watch for a fake
mattfreeman
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Staff
Pitt 45-yard FG good.

Notre Dame 7
Pitt 3

10 plays, 37 yards in 2:30

7:39 | 1Q
sdnd1
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Pitt helmets are butt ugly
Sgt Hulka
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Fair catch rhat
mattfreeman
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Staff
Braden Lenzy on the field this drive
mattfreeman
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Staff
Almost all the Notre Dame players are going out of their way to be physical right now.
Rwolf101
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Love how Book stared down Lenzy then handed off to Kyren
Rwolf101
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Obvious facemask
mattfreeman
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Staff
Facemask Pitt. +15 for ND
ndsean44
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Yeah, marking that as an L for the defense.

I know, holding them to three is okay, but failing to stop them twice on third and long against an offense this bad is not gonna cut it.

Not to mention, I don't know if ND can keep the pressure up on offense. Every point counts in a battle of defenses.
UpperMI
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Announcer just said Austin broke his foot again in practice this week. Ouch.
ejsjr
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I was hoping they'd run with Book under center and pass off of play action.
pbrad28
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Pull the helmet off, you should have to leave for the play
mattfreeman
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Staff
Book incomplete deep shot to Lenzy. A little underthrown. Prob should have taken the shot to McKinley but Eichenberg called for a personal foul so it doesn't matter. - 15 for ND
Rwolf101
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Ref with a clear western pa accent
Sgt Hulka
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I guess you can arm bar the WR
Wiggs4Irish
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Book throws a terrible deep ball. Has never improved
 
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