Learning

What we’ve learned heading into the by the bye week.

After four games, 4-0 feels much better than 2-2.

The loss of Aaron Lynch was not as big a deal as we thought it would be.

We are thrilled T’eo stayed.

Tyler Eifert is getting a lot less touches then we thought he would.

Talent and ability can be better than experience.

Kelly does like the two quarterback option, no matter what he says.

The left side of the O-line is better than the right side.

Brian Kelly has worked on his sideline temper.

Notre Dame is conceding “some” of its tradition; uniforms and ACC.  But it’s a win for everybody but the Big East.

We are getting turf…maybe.

“Irish Chocolate” (a.k.a. Louis Nix) has a future in entertainment.

Brian Kelly does not coach to make fans or players happy…he coaches to win games.

The turnovers improved (it couldn’t have gotten worse) and so did the record.

What we have yet to learn heading into the bye week.

Is Everett Golson the future at quarterback for the Irish?

You don’t always get what you want but sometimes you get what you need.

I have not agreed with the offensive play calls, player moves (inserting Rees) or overall game management, but it is hard to argue with the results that Kelly is getting.  I guess that is why Kelly is coaching the Irish and I am writing about them.  Kelly has Notre Dame at 4-0, with wins over three Big Ten opponents, rivals and two ranked teams. 

Offensively, Notre Dame scored enough to win and when the clock reads all zeros, as long as you have more points than your opponent, that’s all that matters.  Notre Dame’s three-headed monster of Atkinson, Riddick and Wood combined for a total of 95 yards on 28 carries and a lone touchdown, which was apparently good enough but left fans tasting vanilla.  The passing game did not offer much excitement either.  The Irish used only (I say only because Kelly said we would need the media guide to follow all the receivers they would be using) four receivers, completing 11 of 19 passes for a total 145 yards with zero touchdowns.  All-American Tyler Eifert had one catch, to which Kelly stated “he is a tight end and will also be used to block.”

Kyle Brindza made special teams respectable by kicking two field goals of 33 and 39 yards.

Defensively, Notre Dame needed to contain Denard Robinson and did so.  Normally, when an opposing quarterback rushes for 90 yards that does not speak well of your defense, but in this case it does; no touchdowns and limiting Robinson to a rushing average of 3.5 yards per carry is impressive (especially when he gets 26 carries and his running backs only get 15 combined).  The defense also kept his passing game in check, 13 of 24 for 138 yards with no touchdowns is a solid performance by the Irish defense, but the three sacks and four interceptions really speak volumes.  For the second week in a row there is no argument that the defense won the game.  With three sacks, five tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery and five interceptions (two by Te’o), the defense provides the excitement fans want and the wins we need.