So, the UNC Game was a hugely positive game for this ND team.
The ND OLine has started to gel. This was their best game, and it came against a good, high level DL.
ND solved its' rushing problems and clearly determined its' RB1 (Walton) and RB2(James). RB3 (Williams) is also valuable and needed depth.
- Walton brings the speed and power that we have been lacking.
- James and Williams have very similar styles, but james does it better.
- All 3 are good receivers (James probably the best)
- Williams and James are great in pass protection (Williams is the best at this) and
Walton is decent at it.
-a group with lots to offer in various scenarios.
Jaden Greathouse got a lot of mojo back - enough that we now have a real WR3 threat that other teams need to take into account.
The TE's played a great, great game. Their blocking, especially in 12 formation is beastly and elite. Very few teams - even the elite ones are going to be able to deal with it. They also catch the ball well enough to force respect (though they are only adequate receivers imo at this point - James Flannigan should be TE1 - he is a slightly better blocker, and the significantly better receiver threat.
ND also learned more about personnel liabilities - I am sorry to say this about any ND player, but everyone is paid well now, so they aren't just students anymore.
Specifically, CB Zackary is a liability against talented opponents. He has been burned several times (last week's last second score by Purdue comes most to mind - and the KO return looked to also be of his doing - he dove in from the side with his shoulder pad trying to make an armless. below the waist tackle, and he took out his own man #25 (Jeffries?) instead who had an angle where he could have potentially tackled him.
Last year, having the wrong personnel in (Karson Hobbs) at nickel cost us the first two games. This is more important than some might realize.
Pouring rain, ball so slippery that Carr couldn't even throw it in parts of the game....and NO FUMBLES other than one on the sideline by Faison as he was going out of bound after the catch.
Vulnerability to our safeties defending TE's in the throwing game (particularly Shuler) exposed so that it can be addressed.
-solution will be needed for BYU whose best weapons are its' TE's
-solution is incoming with return of Brontae Johnson
-if Johnson isn't back in 2 weeks, then scheme for Shuler or substituting O'Brien
to go with Talich is possible.
Invaluable knowledge - please send flowers to Bobby Petrino (UNC OC ).
CJ Carr is CJ Carr - even in the heavy rain (a question mark for him after last years poor USC performance which now, with this UNC game along with the MSU game has completely eliminated that specialized concern).
I feel really great after this game.