From The Cheap Seats
*I feel an obligation to make this forum a place to come and escape reality of the crazy world in which we live, but my prayers to everybody impacted by the insanity in Las Vegas.
*I find myself occasionally falling victim to my expectations of what I think should be and ignoring the beauty of what is. This could be the case with how I was viewing junior QB Brandon Wimbush. Years ago. I had zero expectations of Tony Rice being able to pass the ball effectively and simply marveled at his incredible abilities to be the steward of the running game and be an incredible leader in and out of the huddle. I defended his passing game as "plenty good enough." It was. I am not comparing their games as QB's, but I need to think that if Wimbush's completion percentage stays low but he completes a few big TD passes each game, that will be beautiful enough to lead the Irish to many more victories, which is very similar to Rice.
*Who was that guy calling for a reshuffling of the offensive line a few weeks back? That was I. My bad! The line is playing outstanding and the running backs are getting great lanes through which to run.
*Except for Josh Adams on his first-touch TD run. He put on a move similar to the one he put on Jalen Elliot in the hole during the Blue-Gold Game in the spring. In each of ND's blowout wins of inferior opponents at home, Adams has taken it upon himself to make a statement that upsets can happen on any given Saturday, just not on this Saturday. Each game, his first carry resulted in a TD run from distance that made the opposition look inferior. It is becoming clear that might be unfair assessment of the opposing school; Josh Adams really is just that good. I love when he throttles up in the open field with great strength, then stiff arms equally fast athletes into the ground. He came up short in his first Heisman audition versus Georgia, but he will get another chance against USC and Miami and then finally when he goes head-to-head with Bryce Love in the season finale. If any running back wins the award this year, I assume it will be Penn States Saquan Barkley, who is awesome, but Adams can possibly get to New York. I think that matters in the current age of recruiting.
*I have had a hard time welcoming Jerry Tillery back into my heart after his attitude issues that in my mind culminated with his Yeti-stomp of the USC player's foot last year. He is playing extremely hard right now and conducting himself above board. It now looks like the meltdown at the end of last year truly was a "heat of the moment" thing and was an aberration rather than the typical manner in which he represents himself. He is a good, tough football player. I give him the benefit of the doubt and wish him very well!
*The health of the running backs is certainly a concern, but if the team can just find a way to win the game on Saturday without taxing any of the top three, then the bye week should be enough to set up the backfield for a big second half of the year.
*Something seems off with USC this year, and now the rumblings are starting from Sam Darnold that he is leaning toward leaving after this season. Clay Helton has not had to respond to much adversity so far, but his coaching ability will be tested before he gets his Trojans into South Bend in two weeks. They also need to simply get healthy, which as many have stated, will not be easy to do as they are without a bye week this year.
*Georgia is an excellent football team and those laughing at the possibility of the Bulldogs giving Alabama all that they want in the SEC Championship Game are selling them short. Jake Fromm has plenty of time to grow between now and December.
*North Carolina is having just a brutal start to their season, which is good and bad news for the Irish. The good news is that they are almost certainly lacking in confidence and if jumped upon early, might have a tendency to roll over. The bad news is that North Carolina will playing its earliest bowl game in history when the Irish arrive for the first Saturday of October. The crowd will be energized and Larry Fedora will have his best opportunity to get his kids fired up for a game from now until the end of the season. Yes. I know. I lack the authority to declare this a bowl game.
*Am I the only one concerned for Dexter Williams when Doug Flutie declared that he didn't even dress for the game? A naked Dexter Williams seems unseemly and doesn't represent the Notre Dame that I know and love.
*Jamir Jones definitely decided to take his opportunity at playing time very seriously and he came out popping!
*I am interested to see how the Michigan State Spartans match up with their in-state rivals in the Big House this weekend. I am comfortable openly rooting for Sparty in this matchup, and I hope that Georgia and MSU beat everybody by triple digits (even if it's 001).
*It was really nice to see EQ break out a bit, because he will need to be a major factor as this season hits the tougher 6-game stretch. He is too talented and physically gifted not to have a solid second half of the season. he needs help from Wimbush and vice-versa.
*I feel far better than I figured that I would with Ian Book being the backup QB. He has a toughness/confidence factor that impresses me. If he believes that he can do it, I guess that is all that matters.
*I also like what I saw from Troy Pride who showed that he wants to be a physical football player and not just a track kid on the football field. He is a hidden talent who might fully develop until next year or the year after, but he can provide excellent depth until then.
*Welcome back Kevin Stepherson.
*Michael Young will score his first TD this weekend at North Carolina.
*Go Irish!