No, Miami isn't Alabama, Florida, or even Florida State. But they're a good offensive team and a program that is definitely on the rise under coach Al Golden (at least until the sanctions hit, anyways). This was a game that a few years ago, hell, even last year, Notre Dame would have had a chance to win but would have either lost it or won it close. Instead, the Irish came out last night and ran all over the Hurricanes in an absolute thrashing. This wasn't just a season defining win. This was a program, tenure-defining win for Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish. Watch this clip - this is a different Irish team than any I can remember in recent memory. It has Kelly's stamp all over it, and it should make Irish fans everywhere excited.
Was this Golson's breakout game? |
Boy, that offense. Besides Golson, who really only had to be effective in the first half, the offensive line carried the day. They absolutely mauled the Miami defensive line to allow for 51 carries and 376 rushing yards. Read that again - the Notre Dame offensive line was so dominating, the ND offense barely had to throw the ball in the second half, and allowed for FIFTY-ONE carries for 376 yards. Oh and not to mention that the unit didn't surrender a sack, and that the offense as a whole has only 4 giveaways all year. That is absolutely incredible, especially given that ND has shifted to a zone blocking scheme this year and is just starting to come together as a unit in that regard.
Atkinson is going to be a superstar |
And the defense? Go back a week, when Miami held off a pesky NC State team that just so happened to beat Florida State last night. In that game, Miami put up 651 total yards of offense, including 566 passing from Stephen Morris. Last night, Notre Dame held this offense to only 285 total yards, and only 201 from Morris. Miami's running game? It had a total of 85 yards, whereas Notre Dame had 51 carries. This defense, with no hyperbole whatsoever, is one of the best in the country. Again, Brian Kelly has recruited, and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco has coached, athletes that would start in the SEC. Instead, they took a leap of faith, committed to Notre Dame, bought into Diaco's system, and are reaping the rewards right now.
Manti Te'o leads one of the best defenses in the country |
It helps that there are playmakers everywhere on defense. Reflective of an emphasis in recruiting, there are studs on the defensive line (Kapron Lewis-Moore, Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix, Sheldon Day), at linebacker (Te'o, Danny Spond, Dan Fox, Ishaq Williams, Prince Shembo), and in the secondary (Bennett Jackson, KeiVarae Russell, Zeke Motta, Matthias Farley, Elijah Shumate), even if they are inexperienced. As a result, and it's crazy to think about, but this defense is only scratching the surface of where they are going to be both later this season, and in seasons to come.
This type of depth, this emphasis in recruiting on getting elite athletes to compete with the rest of the top programs in college football, all the while maintaining Notre Dame's high standards, is why Brian Kelly deserves high praise for what he's done thus far. This is his third season with the Irish, and he already has this program playing better than it's played in years. He came to Notre Dame and asked one question - why not us? Why can't a program maintain high standards and still recruit, coach, and utilize elite athletes? Well, he's answering this question right now, as Notre Dame is flying high, undefeated at 5-0, with College Gameday on it's way to South Bend this coming Saturday. No one is expecting the Irish to go undefeated, or even finish the season with only a couple losses. But Brian Kelly, and his program, are showing that these types of conversations, those where the Irish are serious contenders for big bowl games every year, are back in play. Above all, whether I'm jinxing them or not, the Irish are back. It's about time.
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