57 Thoughts Heading Into Game One

Notre Dame football is back in 57 days as Michigan travels to South Bend for a vital season-opener for both programs.

I will be looking forward to seeing and getting a feel for these 57 thoughts. 

1. How good can first-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea be on game day? 

2. Jeff Quinn has exceeded everyone’s expectations to this point, how far can he push his group heading into week one?

3. Who is the new holder for kicks? Ian Book would seem like the first choice. 

4. Does Houston Griffith start at free safety? 

5. Is the sound system going to get better in the stadium? 

6. Brandon Wimbush. 

7. How does Brian Polian improve the return game? 

8. Does freshman Braden Lenzy return the opening kickoff?

9. Where does sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah fit in?

10. How long does it take for Mike Frank to send an angry text to the ISD group text? 

11. Where does Shaun Crawford fit? 

12. Can Notre Dame fans actually pull off a green out? 

13. Tommy Kraemer at right guard.

14. Liam Eichenberg at left tackle. 

15. Which freshmen make their college football debut?

16. Safety has experience, talent and depth. What is the rotation?

17. Halftime adjustments.

18. Can linebacker Asmar Bilal continue to be an aggressive player?

19. Who is going to run the ball? 

20. How does Chip Long use a lighter Tony Jones Jr.? 

21. Can freshmen Jayson Ademilola, Justin Ademilola or Ja’mion Franklin get into the defensive line rotation?

22. Very excited to see Julian Love and Troy Pride Jr. on the field for extended snaps. 

23. Does Brian Kelly stress the importance of this game publicly? 

24. How does Drue Tranquill adjust to Buck?

25. Defensive end Ade Ogundeji has flashed for a year. Can he make a difference on Saturday?

26. Tight end Alizè Mack. 

27. Who is the kicker on kickoffs for Notre Dame?

28. How often does Chip Long take shots deep? 

29. Will we see a running back screen? 

30. The debut of quarterback/athlete Avery Davis. 

31. Does defensive end Jamir Jones find a role?

32. Where does linebacker Jordan Genmark Heath fit into the rotation?

33. Can freshman receivers Kevin Austin Jr., Braden Lenzy, Lawrence Keys III or Micah Jones get into the rotation?

34. Defensive lineman Micah Dew-Treadway has made steady improvements to his game. Can he earn snaps? 

35. Does Notre Dame produce a quality entrance video this season? 

36. Can freshman safety Derrik Allen get into the rotation?

37. How loud can Notre Dame Stadium get?

38. Does Chip Long push the tempo on offense?

39. Robby Regan on special teams.

40. Safeties coach Terry Joseph worked on turnovers all spring. Does that pay off week one?

41. How does linebacker Te’von Coney play out of the gate?

42. Does Notre Dame kill the game atmosphere with commercials for the University during timeouts? 

43. How improved are sophomore defensive ends Daelin Hayes and Khalid Kareem?

44. What is the role of Jafar Armstrong? 

45. Can freshmen running backs Jahmir Smith and C’Bo Flemister get into the rotation?

46. Will sophomore receiver Michael Young be a game wrecker? 

47. Does Notre Dame rattle Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson in his first game back after an ACL injury?

48. Looking forward to seeing ISD photographer Rick Kimball’s gallery. 

49. What is captain Tyler Newsome’s role on game day? Where does he step in? 

50. How does Notre Dame react to adversity?

51. Will Notre Dame come out relaxed, loose and ready to have fun? 

52. Does Chip Long use Brandon Wimbush more in the running game?

53. Excited to see tight end Cole Kmet get extended snaps

54. Jim Harbaugh on the sideline in Notre Dame Stadium. 

55. Will receiver Miles Boykin take the next step forward? 

56. The recruit visitor list. 

57. September 1st is the start of kicker Justin Yoon’s record-breaking season.