At 6-0 the Irish are halfway through the 2014 season. After Saturdays win over North Carolina there
may be as many questions to be answered as there were at the start of the
season and there might be as much to be happy about as there is to be concerned
about. So what can Irish fans deduct
about Notre Dame at the seasons midpoint.
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| Brian Kelly Post Game: North Carolina |
Concerns &
Questions
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| Offensive Line Coach Harry Hiestand |
The offensive line was supposed to be one of if not the
strongest part of this team. The
potential is there, the talent should be there but the results are coming up
short. The lack of a run game in my
opinion is not the fault of the running backs but is on the shoulders of the
offensive line. Lack of communication,
not knowing their assignments or maybe they are just not as good as we thought,
either way it needs to be corrected before next week.
The defensive secondary has played the "next man
in" role admirably at time but overall it has sown that it has been and
can be a liability. Injuries and
suspensions have played a very large role the problems that Notre Dame has had
in the secondary. Against a top 10
passing offense the Irish could have big problems.
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| Golson fumbles against Syracuse |
Turnovers are a more recent issue for Notre Dame. In the first three games the Irish did a very
good job protecting the football. In the
last three games turnovers have become a major area of concern. Everett Golson have thrown some interceptions
but the bigger concern should be the fumbles.
Positives &
Upsides
Notre Dame is undefeated at 6-0 and history proves that
Brian Kelly and more so Golson are winners, period.
The receiving corps have stepped up as a whole and as
individuals. This group is young and
talented and will be around for a while and will only continue to develop.
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| Jarron Jones blocking his fourth kick in two years. |
The defensive line has done a good job. We all knew what Sheldon Day could do but
there were a lot of question marks coming into the fall. Jarron Jones had shown some promise in
limited play last season and has done a very good job taking it to the next
level. Isaac Rochell continues to
impress, like Jones will still have two years of eligibility left after this
season. Freshmen Andrew Trumbetti and
Gratn Blankenship are looking good early.
Joe Schmidt. Not tall
enough, not heavy enough, not fast enough, all may be true but he silences his
critics week in and week out.
The team is young and coachable. Brian Kelly is playing and getting returns a
lot of young players. True freshmen;
Drue Tranquill, Grant Blankenship, Daniel Cage, and Andrew Trumbetti to name a
few. Second year players (those with at
least two years of eligibility left after this season and
some with three); Steve Elmer, Mad Redfield, Corey Robinson, Tarean Folston,
William Fuller, James Onwualu, Greg Bryant, Devin Butler, Tori Hunter Jr., Isaac
Rochell, Cole Luke, Jarron Jones and C.J. Prosise.
