Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 22, 2022 7 BY PATRICK ENGEL M arcus Freeman swatted down the idea like he nailed a pesky fly with a rolled-up newspaper. No, junior Drew Pyne's success in three games since being pressed into action as Notre Dame's start- ing quarterback hasn't made him rethink the preseason camp deci- sion to give sophomore Tyler Bu- chner the job over Pyne. "I don't question that deci- sion at all," Freeman said. "That was earned in practice." The decision, though, be- came ripe for revisiting after Pyne helped Notre Dame win three straight games after taking over as the starter Sept. 17 for Buchner, who is likely out for the season due to a shoulder sprain suffered vs. Marshall Sept. 10. In his first three starts, Pyne hit on 63 of 85 throws (74.1 percent) for 701 yards with 8 touchdowns and 1 in- terception. He entered Week 7 ranked 17th nationally in pass efficiency rating. It's hard to blame anyone for wonder- ing if this is an extension of what Pyne showed in camp and in spring practice outside of the Blue-Gold Game perfor- mance Freeman called "up and down." Notre Dame's staff praised Pyne throughout offseason. Freeman even told him that he would be needed this year when informing him Buch- ner would be named the starter. Asked what has surprised him about Pyne's first three starts, Freeman mentioned his play-extending skills. Not the clear comfort in the role, steady decision- making and ever-positive demeanor. The way Freeman and offensive coor- dinator Tommy Rees talked about him, those were likely expected. "He's starting to make some plays where he's improvising a little bit," Free- man said. "The one [vs. BYU] where he's falling down, he throws the ball to [run- ning back] Audric [Estime] and we're like, 'Whoa.' That was one where we probably thought he was going to take a sack." Pyne looking the part, though, doesn't necessarily mean he outplayed Buch- ner for the duration of the competition, though. If Freeman and Rees believed he did, he would have started the opener at Ohio State. Freeman remains adamant the choice of Buchner wasn't a misread. "Sometimes the results can put a mask over your eyes and cloud you to the pro- cess of getting to that decision," Freeman said. "I know we didn't win in that game and three quarters Tyler Buchner played, but he earned the right to be the starter." Buchner was the heavy favorite to be Notre Dame's 2022 starter from the mo- ment the offseason began. Perhaps even earlier. He wedged his way into the game plan during his freshman season as a change-of-pace QB, making 10 appear- ances and throwing for 298 yards on a 60 percent completion rate with 3 TDs and 3 interceptions. He added 336 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. That 163-snap sample was a showcase of the ceiling Notre Dame believed it saw as a recruit and was willing to bet on this off- season. It was one reason the Irish didn't take a transfer portal quar- terback after the 2021 season, even though Buchner was hit- and-miss as a freshman passer. Notre Dame trusted Buchner last fall. That trust grew in the offseason when he made strides as a leader and on the field. When considering all spring practice and preseason camp viewings open to media together, he out- played Pyne before missing the Blue-Gold Game with an ankle injury. That was the information available when considering the starting quarter- back. It wasn't immediately met with doubt either. The loss to Marshall rightfully takes up much of the discussion when evaluating Buchner's two starts, but it came after a decent game against then-No. 2 Ohio State (10-of-18 passing for 177 yards with no turnovers). The first start was choppy. It also highlighted someone capable of growth and with a legitimate high ceiling. The offensive problems in the first two games extended beyond the quarterback. A steadier offensive line, a more func- tional run game and more signs of life from the receivers have coincided with Pyne's insertion. Maybe those would have happened with Buchner. Maybe not. "[Pyne] has done an excellent job of leading this team," Freeman said. "He has earned the right to be our starting quarterback and has done a great job with this opportunity. But no, I don't question the decision to make Tyler our starter to start the year." ✦ UNDER THE DOME NO SECOND-GUESSING Marcus Freeman remains adamant he made the right quarterback choice in training camp Freeman believes Tyler Buchner (right) was the right choice to be his starting quarterback at the start of the season, even though Drew Pyne (left) has impressed after taking over for his injured teammate. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER