Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1421675
24 OCT. 30, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 1. Quarterback Stability For the first time since the opener at Florida State, Notre Dame ended a game without creating quarterback curiosity or a full-blown conundrum. The Irish have a two-man system, but this time it feels like a more polished timeshare and sustain- able method. Graduate student Jack Coan started and threw for 189 yards. He completed 20 of 28 passes with one touchdown and one interception. In many ways, it was a continuation of his final two drives of the 32-29 win at Virginia Tech Oct. 9. Notre Dame picked up its tempo and gave him quick reads. Freshman Tyler Buchner played, but his usage was limited until the final quarter. He was in for just two plays in the first half. Buchner played 10 snaps, excluding kneel-downs, and connected on 2 of 2 throws for 24 yards. He also had three carries for 11 yards, including a three-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Buchner's second pass attempt was a straight dropback and 15-yard completion to sophomore tight end Michael Mayer. It was another sign offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is opening more of the playbook for Buchner. The best illustration of the growing trust, though, was his usage in high-leverage moments in the second half. His touchdown run capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive right after USC cut its deficit to eight points. 2. Another New Defensive Wrinkle Just like the last time the Irish played USC, they changed their base defense to nickel to counter the Trojans' pass-heavy offense. Senior TaRiq Bracy started the game at nickel, replacing the rover position. Notre Dame's dime package usage went beyond third downs, too, coming out on some second-and-longs. As a result, junior rover Jack Kiser barely saw the field. His backup, graduate student Isaiah Pryor, played safety in dime packages after junior Kyle Hamilton left in the first half due to a knee injury. The increased dime usage also led to more snaps for sophomore cornerback Ramon Henderson. Notre Dame didn't put the clamps on USC as em- phatically as the score might suggest. This was the definition of bend but don't break. USC outgained Notre Dame 424-383 in total yards and averaged 6.1 yards per play. USC junior wide receiver Drake London had 15 catches for 171 yards. At the same time, Notre Dame allowed just three total points on USC's three drives of 10-plus plays. Senior linebacker Bo Bauer's interception snuffed out a red-zone drive in the first half. USC marched to Notre Dame's 25-yard line on its first drive of the second half, but Notre Dame broke up two passes and dropped London for no gain on a screen to force a field goal attempt that USC kicker Parker Lewis missed. 3. Drake London Notre Dame's nickel defense took USC wide re- ceiver Michael Pittman Jr. out of the game the last time these two played. It did not wipe out London, who entered the game ranked second nationally with 64 catches and fifth with 832 yards. USC junior quarterback Kedon Slovis threw 37 passes, sending 20 of them London's way. He was open on a couple plays where he was not targeted, including for a potential touchdown right before halftime. London, though, is hard to shut down entirely. Especially when Notre Dame played most of the game without Hamilton. And Notre Dame didn't let him get free for a big downfield gain until he beat sophomore cornerback Clarence Lewis on a double- move in the fourth quarter. It could live with him doing most of his damage on shorter passes. Lewis drew the primary assignment on London. 4. Another Step From The Offensive Line For the second straight week, Notre Dame topped 170 yards on the ground. The rushing attack is turning into a viable weapon after five games as only an occasional factor. Junior running back Kyren Williams had 25 carries and rushed for a season-high 138 yards. It's a byproduct of Notre Dame finding consis- tency on the offensive line. Freshman Joe Alt started at left tackle once again. Junior Andrew Kristofic made his first ca- reer start at left guard. He made a key combination block with senior center Jarrett Patterson on Wil- liams' 38-yard run in the third quarter. The season-long starters have turned a corner as well. Notre Dame didn't allow a sack until the first drive of the third quarter, when USC potential first- round pick edge rusher Drake Jackson beat gradu- ate student right tackle Josh Lugg. Otherwise, Lugg handled Jackson well. All told, the Notre Dame offensive line gave up one sack and three tackles for loss. It did not per- mit a tackle for loss on a run play until the fourth quarter. 5. More From The Freshmen Consider this the mini-arrival for freshmen wide receivers Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Deion Colzie. Their workload had increased in recent weeks. Now their production has, too. They combined to catch four passes for 70 yards on six targets. Styles had three of those for 57 yards, including a team- high 29-yard gain on a screen pass. He came into the game with two catches for 16 yards all season. Colzie had a singular catch, but it was a pivotal one. Coan found him for 13 yards on third-and- eight as part of a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. FIVE THOUGHTS: NOTRE DAME HANDLES USC, 31-16 BY PATRICK ENGEL Senior cornerback TaRiq Bracy tied for the team lead with seven tackles (six solo) and also recovered a fumble that ended USC's final drive. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER