Instant Reaction | Notre Dame 32 Virginia Tech 29
There’s a lot that can be said about Notre Dame football in 2021. Way too much to be summed in any instant reaction piece.
What I can definitively say is that they are 5-1. Even if it feels improbable given the circumstances, it also feels very earned. They were starting a fourth left tackle this year. Playing a true freshman there, at quarterback, at tight end, and in the backfield could have been a disaster for this team. At times it was, but it never deterred the players one bit.
This game swung both ways several times and it should have been enough for the team to admit defeat. They refused and it’s why they are walking out of Blacksburg with one of the grittiest and strangest wins I’ve seen in a long time.
Unbelievable gets thrown around too often when describing sporting events, but how this game played out defied logic. All that matters is that result, though. This was a classic “just win, baby” type of week for the Irish and they did it.
Maybe it won’t go down as a great one, but they all count and the players deserved this one.
- The decision to start Jack Coan contributed to the situation Notre Dame was in. They were put in a hole because of it. Only 2.1 yards per play on his three drives and him stepping right into a sack looked pretty standard based on what we’ve seen in recent weeks.
That’s the truth.
It’s also true that his final two drives were the best ball he has played all season. Those drives that tied the game and then put Jon Doerer in position to kick the winning field goal were fantastic. Whether it was the quick tempo or spreading Virginia Tech out, it all clicked for him in a situation that many expected to end a lot differently. He absolutely deserves to be praised for that.
- I write all of that in knowing that now is the time to roll with Tyler Buchner.
Coan or Drew Pyne can be there in relief, but with the open week approaching, Buchner should be the guy going forward they build the offense around.
For the first time all season the offense had an identity. Sure, he looked like a true freshman who didn’t have a senior season when throwing the second half of the game. He also led the team to three touchdowns and was lights out during a two-minute drill before the half.
With Buchner as the guy and then Coan in relief, the Irish averaged 6.6 YPP against a pretty good defense. That is something to build on.
- It took six games, but I believe Notre Dame has found their five up front. Joe Alt and Andrew Kristofic were the left side that finished the game and they should continue to be the left side going forward.
For the first time all season, the O-line was getting movement up front. They protected pretty well. This was by far the best game for the group as a whole and it’s not even close. Obviously Kyren Williams and Buchner made some defenders miss, but the offense averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the final three quarters. That will do. You can win with that.
The Havoc Rate for Virginia Tech was 8.7%. The O-line deserves a ton of credit for that number going way down.
- With no Michael Mayer in this game, others had to step up and Kevin Austin was at the top of the list. That catch on the two-point conversion was as big as it gets.
- Logan Diggs and George Takacs hadn’t had one target between them all season. They both ended up making first down catches in the fourth quarter. The whole “next man in” always felt cliche, but it feels a lot less so when those guys actually step up big.
- For the first time in a month, Notre Dame’s 3rd down defense let them down. That ultimately was the biggest factor in the 22 points they gave up (minus the pick-six from Buchner).
TaRiq Bracy struggled tackling and Cam Hart, who had been playing really good ball as of late, had a whiff he’d like to forget on what should have been a stop on 3rd down. That drive ended up turning into three points when it should have been a three-and-out.
They had some issues early on with the jet sweeps and containing the quarterback was a problem too.
That Bracy interception was huge, though. They also got a huge stop when Virginia Tech had it 1st and goal at the one-yard line. Justin Fuente settling for three points there ultimately came back to haunt him.
Giving up too many third downs put a damper on only allowing 4.4 YPP and 5.2 yards per attempt. They forced Braxton Burmeister to throw it away a ton of times.
Giving up that final touchdown drive could have been a talking point for a long time if Notre Dame didn’t come back and score right after. But they did and then the defense had a three-and-out to follow it up.
- They still need to clean some things up, but only two plays of 20+ yards against is pretty great.
- ACC refs continue to be terrible.
- What can you say about Doerer? He’s now at a point in his career where he’s rightly considered clutch. That would have seemed crazy to say when he was backing up Justin Yoon and struggling in practice four years ago.
- The bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the team. They need to make some critical decisions on offense going forward, but this game gave them something to build on. They still are looking for some answers, but at least they appeared to find some this week.
Most of all, they need to get healthy. They’ll have a chance to do that and recharge before the second half of the season.
This team will have a chance to run the table the rest of the way based on the schedule. I don’t know if they’ll do it and they certainly will make all their fans sweat watching it, but it’s on the table and we should get a good look at the future while they’re trying to gets wins in the present.