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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 17 Duke

September 30, 2023
186,088

No. 11 Notre Dame (4-1) at No. 17 Duke (4-0) 

Wallace Wade Stadium | 7:30 PM ET | ABC | Line: Notre Dame -5.5 | O/U: 53

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Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans
Evans had a breakout game against Ohio State catching all seven targets that went his direction. He showcased ball skills that we hadn't seen previously and with Jayden Thomas out this week, Evans could be the go-to guy for Sam Hartman in key situations. He's three of three on contested catches this season.

Duke QB Riley Leonard
Duke's quarterback is getting buzz as a possible first round pick and he's much better than his numbers (only two touchdowns) would suggest. Notre Dame needs to contain him as a runner and try to make him uncomfortable. He's a good decision-maker, but when he's had to carry the offense as a passer, they haven't had much success.

Notre Dame LB Jaylen Sneed
Sneed didn't play many snaps against Ohio State, but he was in on the last drive when the Irish needed a pass rush. He's flashed in limited opportunities and has earned more of them in this role. Look for him to be more involved on 3rd down rushing the passer.

Duke DT DeWayne Carter
Carter was one of the best pass rushers in the country from the interior last season and he's one of the best 3-technique defensive tackles the Irish will face this season. He has been disruptive at batting down balls (nine his career). Notre Dame's guards have a tough assignment for the second straight week.

Notre Dame WR Rico Flores Jr.
Flores came up big with a fourth quarter touchdown against Ohio State and played 47 snaps in the biggest game of the year. His snaps should continue to climb with Thomas out, but Flores has shown enough that he'll continue to expand his role regardless of who is available. The true freshman has six catches in his last two games.


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
“We've had two really, really good practices, spirited practices, really attention to detail and those things that we look for that tell you if we are lacking focus it will show up in practice.

“I'm really pleased with the way these guys really focused on really improving the way we practice. Improving our overall team and that's the message been like. Every week, we have to get better.

“Well, how do we get better? We gotta understand where we're at and what we have to do to get better and then go do it on the practice field. The other part of that is continuing to preach the right message to them and continue to say the right things to him because there is noise everywhere, right? We gotta make sure that the noise we're saying and the message we're driving as a coaching staff is so loud that our players really focus on that and understand it in a midst of hearing other things and paying attention other things. So I feel really confident going into Thursday where the mindset of this football team is.” 

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker:
“Do I wish we'd have gotten the two fourth downs? Do I wish we would've finished? Yes. But as far as how we wanted that to go and how we ran the football and how we controlled pass and how those things went, are exactly how we thought it would go and hoped it would go to control that game and time of possession and those things worked out that way.”

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden:
“It's challenging. We have to just mix things up on them and play really good, sound football and not beat ourselves. But there's a reason why they're winning the way they're winning. I understand that they're playing good special teams and good defense, from the staff. But in terms of what we're focused on, kid’s doing a great job. Really is.

“And again, the two running backs, 7 [Jordan Waters] and 9 [Jaquez Moore], they're doing a heck of a job. They’ve got nice receivers. Tight ends are doing a good job. And I think the scheme, they're not beating themselves. They're protecting the football, and they're executing.”  

Notre Dame center Zeke Correll:
“We played really hard. We played really hard football. We played level of the standard. We’re playing five as one, playing together. No sacks, a few pressures, one or two against an elite defense that has high-level ball players at every position. Yeah, we’re proud of the way we played.” 

Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans: 
“I learned, put a linebacker on me, I’ll win. Put a safety on me, I’ll win.”

Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser:
”Guys are devastated and disappointed and frustrated, right? We had plenty of opportunities to win that game. But at the same time, the most reassuring thing was when everybody showed up the next day to get [on the] training table and watch film and kind of do their own thing, and you could tell everybody was ready to get back to work. No one was gonna sulk in their misery. Guys were excited to get back in here, get on the field, get in the film room, ready to move on and show that we can play a lot better football and we're gonna be a really good team.”

Notre Dame safety DJ Brown:
”For the younger guys especially, they haven’t lost. Especially freshmen, they haven’t lost. We haven’t lost in a while. Knowing that just one game is not the end of the season, we have a lot more football to play. Our fate is in our own hands. That wasn’t a playoff game. That wasn’t a national championship. So just moving on, not letting one loss affect the rest of the season.” 


For Your Nerves 


PRESSERS

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Game Thread | No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 17 Duke

186,069 Views | 1275 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by irishduffy
tvanp63
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They F'd around and let this team back in the game. This team is unraveling before our eyes!
blairkiel
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Players coaches = penalties

Rwolf101
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Mike Frank said:

They deserve to lose. They've been playing losing football the whole night long.

Mike


Both teams are playing goofy football. Neither deserves to win. A 13-13 tie would be appropriate.
chsfb75
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Where is Heistand to yell at them when we need him?
Boss
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ND winning th.e penalty game…what is it, 9-0? Duke has none (called).
jmsheridan
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My suspicions about the staff not being up to the task on game day are being confirmed.
fredfenster
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Fowler mentioned the lineman downfield. Any merit to that?
pbrad28
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Do they know how to line up? ***.
fenixc
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If the offense plays just average we are winning this game 24-7. Instead we get this bs.
mattfreeman
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Staff
I'd like to see Tobias Merriweather make a play here.
ndsean44
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This team outta be ashamed of themselves.

This is easily one of the sloppiest, poor disciplined ND teams I have ever seen.

Captains should have their C's removed. Where's the leadership on this team right now? Where is somebody getting up somebody else's butt for their abysmal discipline?

PULL YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASS!
ndmatt01
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No alphas on this team. No one who stands up and says I'm the man you can't stop me. This is why stars matter. You need guys with that alpha mind set. Guys who know they are the best. This team doesn't believe no matter what they tell us. They just show up and hope.
java
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irishtank6900 said:

Can't wait for people to talk about AL golden and the defense lol.

Offense is a joke.
Exactly. So many fans are stuck in the past and think you can win games 14-3. This game should be over. The defense gave them the ball at the 13. They gave them great filed position the entire half and the offense has been nothing but horrific.
IrisHeel
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Full disclosure I'm a UNC grad. The flawless blue devils have zero penalties thus far. I feel like I'm watching one of their basketball games!
DogGuy
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Let's see what the offense is made of.
Senator#99
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Does Duke have a penalty?
The spots are against us as well!
ndsean44
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mattfreeman said:

I'd like to see Tobias Merriweather make a play here.
I'd like somebody, ANYBODY to make a play on this ******* offense.
Sgt Hulka
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fredfenster said:

Fowler mentioned the lineman downfield. Any merit to that?
It's not Fowler. If it was I can assure you he wouldnt have mentioned it
ohiondfan
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mattfreeman said:

I'd like to see Tobias Merriweather make a play here.


Don't hold your breath. Jet sweep is the only pass he can catch.
blairkiel
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mattfreeman said:

I'd like to see Tobias Merriweather make a play here.
I'd like to not see him get the ball
mavscoach
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Was there an illegal man downfield on that 4th down.pass
usma95
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We are not a very good football team. Pre snap penalties is a lack of discipline and poor coaching.

27 points the last 6.5 quarters. That is not good offensive football.

We got to ge to 25-30 points to win this one.
jared4523
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mattfreeman said:

I'd like to see Tobias Merriweather make a play here.



rmirish
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THIS is NOT a top 10 team. We got duped the first 4 games. USC will kill us.
Robert Morris
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Hartman's demeanor and that play on special teams by Tyree is odd. Maybe all isn't well in the locker room.
irishdane20
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Auream said:

This program is dead… they're going to lose this because this is a loser program… never be more than mediocre


After neutering the program with self imposed sanctions in the middle of Holtz's regime, the university is clearly A-ok with football mediocrity for 3 decades & counting.
Rwolf101
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mattfreeman said:

I'd like to see Tobias Merriweather make a play here.

I'd like my hounds to start cutting gold nuggets on my lawn instead of what they usually produce but I have to tell you I'm not optimistic on either outcome
andrew32
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This thread has been highly entertaining tonight.

chsfb75
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Zero penalties for Duke. 9 for ND
Auream
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andrew32 said:

This thread has been highly entertaining tonight.




At least something is
irishtex
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andrew32 said:

This thread has been highly entertaining tonight.

In your dreams
Boss
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Sgt Hulka said:

fredfenster said:

Fowler mentioned the lineman downfield. Any merit to that?
It's not Fowler. If it was I can assure you he wouldnt have mentioned it
He did say it. There was no replay to see.
REMND
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I am going to take the stance that we needed that for a week up call,
irishtank6900
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chsfb75 said:

Zero penalties for Duke. 9 for ND


They missed one hold on Duke. Other than that it's all on us.
AZdoc
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andrew32 said:

This thread has been highly entertaining tonight.




Good. Because the game hasn't been.
 
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