First off, I want to say ND was very well represented tonight in Cardinal Stadium. No where near how many UL fans came to ND Stadium in 2014, but a more than respectable showing. The fact the game was played at 8PM on a work/school night speaks volumes.
- I'm not sure what ND's problem was tonight, but even before the opening KO, the team lacked any emotion or energy. Almost like they wanted to get this game over with ASAP. Even after ND went up 18, the sideline looked like a bunch of guys who hadn't slept in several days. No emotion what so ever.
- I love Kurt Hinnish, but he had no business being a starter on the DL. He's too slow and doesn't get any push on the OL. He constantly struggled to shed his blocker and not once (that I saw) was he double-teamed by the OL. Again, I love the guy's energy & passion but he is at best a guy to come in and give the starting DT a breather on a play or 2.
-I have no idea what is wrong with Ian Book. At the first sign of pressure, he panics and either tries to run or tries to throw the ball away. There were at least 2 plays in the 1st half where Claypool & Keys were so wide open they were both swatting their arms in the air begging to get Book's attention. He saw neither & wasn't under duress from UL's D-Line on either play. That's very concerning.
-Gilman was as good as advertised. This is the 1st time I've seen him in person & he was terrific! Even when ND's D was struggling early on, GIlman was always making plays and NEVER let the RB/WR he was guarding against make any sort of meaningful play. This time next year he will be on an NFL roster.
-Other players of note- Claypool looked like a man against boys out there
-Tommy Tremble was open a lot (not just the 2 catches he had) & he blocked as well as could be expected. By the time ND plays UGA, don't be surprised if the 2 starting TEs are Kmet & Tremble
-Hamilton is a freak. He will be an All-American in the near future
-Aaron Banks & Liam Eichenberg absolutely abused the players they were blocking against
-Shawn Crawford is fast & looked great considering all that he has been through
-Bramlett looked good on punts with the exception of one. Regardless of the opponent, he looked pretty composed. Same goes for Doerer. Before ND started to pull away, I was praying the game would not come down to a FG by ND. There will be sometime this season Doerer will be required to hit a crucial FG and he definitely has the leg to do so, but will he have the confidence?
-UL fans are pretty much what I expected. There were some cool people, but it got old listening to dip shits yelling things regarding Catholics, Rudy, 2013 game vs Alabama, Priests, joining a conference, 2018 Cotton Bowl and (no kidding) Declan Sullivan. It was a little more than satisfying to see UL fans by the hundreds get up & head towards the exits after Jahmir Smith scored his 2nd TD & put ND up by 18.
-For most of the game I was wondering where Jafar Armstrong was at & later on, I found out he hurt his hamstring. Tony Jones CANNOT handle the workload of the carries on this team. You could tell by mid to late 3rd Q he was gassed. If Armstrong will be out for a while, Kelly & Long MUST, I repeat MUST get C'Bo & Williams plenty of carries vs NMST.
-Lastly, I am hoping the reason we struggled was b/c of it being the 1st game of the year, on the road in front of a hostile crowd facing a team with a new head coach & not having much film to study. We will learn A LOT in our next game. I am hoping for vast improvement in tackling, QB play and the DL not constantly jumping off sides.