Instant Reaction: Notre Dame 21 - LSU 17
I tweeted it out already, but I’ll say it again. 4-8 to 10-3. Hey now, here come the Irish!
Okay, that’s hyperbole because this was not a pretty performance and this team’s warts were on display against LSU. Things will need to be addressed this off-season if they want to build off 10 wins and strive for more in 2018. But if you didn’t feel euphoric when Miles Boykin caught that ball and was running to daylight for the go-ahead touchdown, then I’d suggest you check your pulse to feel if you're still alive.
No hangover cure could be possibly more effective than a play like that. That was one of the greatest catches and finishes I have ever seen. We’ve been saying that Boykin has made some spectacular catches in practice the last couple of years. Now everybody got to finally see it in a game.
I’ve never seen anything quite like that from him, though. Wow. Wow. What’s the word I’m looking for? Wow. The throw versus tight coverage wasn’t too shabby either.
It was far more than that one play that was the story in this game, though. It was an overall rollercoaster ride to say the least.
- Ian Book taking over at quarterback and not relinquishing the spot for the second half is clearly the biggest thing we’ll be talking about all spring and summer. The ideal situation would have been for Brandon Wimbush to come out be the guy who made that throw on the first play of the game to Equanimeous St. Brown. Then stay that guy.
Unfortunately, he really was the same player he was all year. It can’t be denied that the offense was much better when Book was in the game even with that bad pick he threw. Book was way more patient in the pocket. He was able to gain yards with his legs. He made checkdown throws to get something out of nothing and that’s something Wimbush has not done all year. Book was just flat out better.
This now opens things up to a quarterback competition this spring and summer. We can talk about that later, but it’s better to focus on Book hitting Michael Young in the back of the end zone rolling to his left than worry about who will be starting against Michigan in September.
- It’s certainly not the finish that Josh Adams would have liked if this is his last game, but he didn’t have a ton of running room either. He still can be used more in the passing game and has ability there.
I think it would be in his best interest to come back, especially if you compare how he looked today next to Derrius Guice on the other side of things.
- What a joy to watch Quenton Nelson play football. Him pancaking linebacker Devin White in the end zone on Adams’ two point conversion is the perfect ending to what was a great career.
- Alex Bars was not great at right guard today. Those are dudes who are going to play in the NFL on LSU’s D-line. They ate him up too often. He is mobile and a weapon as a puller, but he needs to take another significant step in the off-season to be at the level where he can be considered a high NFL Draft pick.
- 6.1 yards per play against LSU’s defense is pretty good, but I wouldn't say Chip Long called a strong game. I thought Matt Canada had spurts in the game where he was pushing all the right buttons with his play-calling. Long I felt had some good calls, but never found a good rhythm.
That play-action call that ended up in an intentional grounding was perplexing when you consider they looked like they were getting some momentum running the ball. Dexter Williams gave the offense life with his two runs and then he never saw the field again. And whether it is on Long, Brian Kelly, or Autry Denson, there is something wrong when Williams doesn’t see the field until the 4th quarter when it’s obvious he has something that the other backs don’t in terms of burst.
It was a failure in this game and this year in general to not get him more touches.
- Te’Von Coney is a straight up baller. 17 tackles and he was phenomenal versus the LSU running game today. If it’s his last game, then he certainly made a statement with his performance. However, him getting beat on that touchdown to Guice was an indication of what he needs to improve on the most. He needs to show he can be a better player against the pass before he moves on in my opinion.
But if he leaves, I don’t have much doubts that he can play in the NFL for a long time. What a player.
- The defense as a whole did a nice job and the breakdowns often had to do with small things that were correctable like contain on the pass rush from Julian Okwara and Jay Hayes. Mike Elko had them ready as they could be for Canada’s shifts and motion. There weren’t a lot of plays that LSU made in the running game that were created because of those shifts.
- The good news for the safeties is that the season is over. It’s pretty amazing that the Irish were able to win 10 games with the way the play was at the position for most of the year. I don’t want to pile on Jalen Elliott, but he did not get better this season to put it nicely. I can’t see any way where he is a starter at the position next fall.
There is going to be some real competition and it was nice to see Jordan Genmark Heath get into the mix and play a lot. He was noticeable in a good way, which is the first time I can say that about a Notre Dame safety since Nick Coleman against Georgia (not counting Julian Love versus Navy).
- Jerry Tillery played far better than the numbers would indicate. He should have created at least three sacks today with interior pressure if the ends did their job on the outside. If him and Coney are back next season, then there are lots of reasons to be excited about the defense in ‘18. Love and Drue Tranquill played elite in this game as well. That’s a strong core to build around.
- 10 wins means a lot. Especially after what happened last year. Winning on New Year’s Day and going into the final recruiting push on a high note is important.
Michigan lost, USC lost, and Stanford lost. The Irish won. That’s a good thing no matter how they ended up getting there.