Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1416392
8 OCT. 9, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Drew Pyne Will Get His Chances By Tyler Horka The Wisconsin game showed what can happen when an immobile quarter- back plays behind an offensive line struggling in pass protection. Graduate student Jack Coan was injured, and sophomore Drew Pyne had to replace him. Don't be surprised if the same scenario unfolds in the second half of the season. Pyne played admirably when called upon in the third quarter against the Badgers. His lone blunder was a sack-fumble that led to the field goal that put Wisconsin ahead 13-10 early in the fourth quarter. Pyne responded by leading a six-play, 46-yard touch- down drive on his next opportunity with the ball. Pyne waited 16 games for his first real chance to lead the Notre Dame offense, and the wait was well worth it. He likely won't have to wait nearly as long for his number to be called again. Even if Coan does not succumb to the injury bug again, there's a chance Notre Dame's offense goes stagnant under his guidance. If the offensive line continues to play poorly and Notre Dame finds itself in a situation in which it feels it needs a more agile quarterback behind center, Pyne proved he can be that guy. We surely haven't seen the last of freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner, who is the best dual-threat signal caller on the roster, but if Notre Dame had to turn to someone other than Coan in a full-time capacity it would likely be Pyne. He's been around longer than Buchner and could take the keys to the offense and operate it in a productive, satisfactory fashion. Kyren Williams Will Need Serious Improvement By Todd D. Burlage As we approach the halfway post to the 2021 regular season, not much has gone as expected for Notre Dame, especially offensively. Nobody could have predicted the struggles in the running game — or along the offensive line as a whole — and that's where the improvement needs to come from if the Irish are going to survive October and November, win at least 10 games for the fifth straight season and play in a top-tier bowl game. Junior Irish tailback Kyren Williams entered this season as an All-American and even a top-10 Heisman candidate on some lists. Neither of those projections proved accurate as Williams hasn't even provided half the production numbers in 2021 from his fine 2020 sophomore season, which actually magnifies his importance during these last seven games. Seasons, and opponents, evolve. Given Notre Dame has shown little in the running game to date, opposing defenses will focus more on controlling sophomore tight end Michael Mayer and slowing the Irish passing game, which will provide more op- portunities for Williams that he has to make good on. Williams isn't going to win the Heisman this season — it'd be a miracle if even approaches 1,000 rushing yards. But statistics aside, it's critical for the Irish offense to find a pass-run bal- ance to keep this season from unraveling during the home stretch, and that starts with a commitment from the offensive coaches, improvement from the offensive line and a dedicated focus to jump-start one of the best running backs in the country and the most important player on the team. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHO'S NOTRE DAME'S MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER FROM THIS POINT FORWARD? WILLIAMS PYNE After surviving a strange 2020-21 sea- son because of COVID-19, 17th-year Irish head hockey coach Jeff Jackson recently returned his team to action for 2021-22 with normal surroundings and a familiar routine, including full- capacity spectator seating inside The Compton Family Ice Arena on campus. The Irish opened Oct. 3 with an ex- hibition game and will begin regular- season play Oct. 9, at home against Long Island University. Notre Dame finished only 14-13-2 last season, with a disappointing 5-11-1 record at home with no fans in the stands, though the Irish did finish 4-1-1 in their final six games. Notre Dame qualified for the 2021 NCAA Tour- nament, but a COVID-19 breakout within the team forced it to withdraw from the event before playing a game. With four graduate transfers added to the 2021- 22 roster — defenseman Adam Karashik (UConn), defenseman Chase Blackmun (UMass Lowell), goaltender Matt Galajda (Cornell) and forward Jack Adams (Providence) — Jackson has a new- look team but carries the usual high expectations for a program he has led to four Frozen Fours. Blue & Gold Illustrated recently caught up with Jackson to discuss the start of a new season and what he has learned about his team so far. BGI: You brought in four graduate transfers, what is that dynamic like? Jackson: "It's an interesting envi- ronment for us right now with these 22- and 23-year-old guys coming in here as opposed to 18-year-old fresh- men. "They've made a significant impact on our team in the locker room, and I think they probably will on the ice as well. Quality individuals." BGI: What have you noticed from these "super seniors" during their acclimation? Jackson: "I really have been impressed with how these guys coming in here from other pro- grams. I think they have kind of created an inter- esting environment for our team in the fact that they are very appreciative of everything we have here, and they've let their teammates know that. "They're full members of our team and they've done a great job here." BGI: How refreshing is it to finally not be work- ing under stringent COVID-19 guidelines? Jackson: "It's been fun again to actually coach with- out a mask, not have to worry about social distancing. All of our guys are vaccinated with the exception of one, so it's a much different environment when you're coaching and practicing more back to normal. "Obviously, we are still a little bit more cautious in some situations, but it has certainly been a much different environment this year than it was a year ago." BGI: College athletes being able to earn income off of their name, image and likeness has been a hot topic, what are your thoughts on its impact? Jackson: "It's hard to project or predict right now. It's still a feeling out process for what oppor- tunities might be out there for these guys. Know- ing our guys, I walk into the meal room every day and they're talking about the stock markets, so I would assume maybe at some point somebody is going to step up and maybe start a business. "The other area I can see them taking advan- tage of is maybe running camps in the offseason. … I don't think it is going to be as big an issue in college hockey as maybe other sports, specifically basketball and football." BGI: Where does your team development stand right now? Jackson: "We're still trying to figure out exactly what our lines and power plays are. We've been able to practice but we're only limited to four hours a week through the first six weeks, and the majority of that is just getting guys back in the scheme of things, a lot of fundamentals and skills." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … HOCKEY HEAD COACH JEFF JACKSON JACKSON