Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1529460
24 NOV. 23, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 1. Despite 21-Point Win, Irish Leave Unsatisfied Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden was the first to break formation at the conclusion of Notre Dame's alma mater. As the band played, "Love thee, Notre Dame," Golden took his arm off defensive backs coach Mike Mickens' shoulders and started walking to- ward the locker room. His stoic expression didn't change as he made his way into the tunnel. In the prior three hours and change, Golden's unit was excellent. The Irish held Virginia to 4.4 yards per play and forced 4 turnovers (not includ- ing a muffed kickoff by former Notre Dame wide receiver Chris Tyree). But the veteran assistant coach wasn't pleased. Perhaps the Cavaliers' 16-play, 80-yard touch- down drive that turned a 28-point lead into a 21-point win left a sour taste in his mouth. In any case, while the Irish try to enjoy every win, they left Notre Dame Stadium anything but satisfied. "We can't look at the outcomes," head coach Marcus Freeman said. "We can't. We've got to evaluate everything and continue to find ways to improve and get ready for our next opponent." Notre Dame is a veteran team who knows it didn't play its best, despite the game being over before halftime. That's bad news for Army, who will face Golden's wrath Nov. 23. 2. Still, If That Was Notre Dame's C-Game … Then it's probably in good shape. Senior quarterback Riley Leonard was fine. He threw 3 touchdown passes, but he'd be the first to tell you he didn't see the field tremendously. The Irish ran the ball very well, but they kept shooting themselves in the foot with penalties. The pass catchers did some good things, but this was not their best game, and the offense as a whole was rarely in a rhythm. Even ordinarily reliable gradu- ate student punt returner Max Hurelman muffed a punt, resulting in a short field for the Cavaliers. And yet, Notre Dame beat a Power Four team by three scores. We've seen the Irish play much, much better than they played in Week 12. It's safe to say it was their worst game since their first bye, which came in Week 6. It speaks to the way Notre Dame's of- fense has raised the bar for its performance since early in the season, as well as the way its defense can seemingly engineer a blowout win by itself. If I were an Irish fan, I'd leave this one feeling pretty good. 3. Mickey Mouse Touchdowns Were All Virginia Could Muster Case in point: Virginia probably shouldn't have scored either of its touchdowns. With Notre Dame up 35-0, graduate student quarterback Tony Muskett threw deep down the right sideline to senior wide receiver Malachi Fields. Fields appeared to make a contested catch against sophomore cornerback Christian Gray, but replay showed Gray clearly pried the ball loose and caused it to hit the ground. Kudos to Virginia for doing what an offense should do when a missed call goes its way: sprint- ing to the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball as soon as possible. Four plays later, the Cavaliers scored. Later, with Notre Dame's reserves in, Virginia barely mustered that long touchdown drive. If the Irish left their starters in the whole time and the officials didn't miss that call, they probably would have posted a shutout. 4. Notre Dame Should Shut Jeter Down Until He's 100 Percent Graduate student kicker Mitch Jeter kicked four extra points, but he did not kick either of Notre Dame's 2 field goal attempts. Sophomore Mar- cello Diomede missed a 54-yarder in the second quarter, and junior Zac Yoakam missed a 36-yarder in the fourth. Jeter has been hobbled since Week 7 with a hip injury, and he did not look comfortable when he missed a kick during his return Week 11 against Florida State. So, if the Irish determined he's not healthy enough to kick field goals, then why are they playing him at all? Notre Dame will need Jeter healthy to accom- plish its goals this season. Trotting him out there against Virginia when he's not 100 percent accom- plishes nothing. 5. Hello, Jayden Harrison The receptions will get the attention, and we'll get to those shortly. But graduate student wide receiver Jayden Harrison made a play on special teams that really set the tone for this game. After a 64-yard punt from graduate student James Rendell, Harrison hustled down the field and made the tackle for a net of 63. Soon enough, the Marshall transfer would be rewarded on of- fense. After sophomore slot specialist Jaden Great- house left the game with an apparent shoulder injury (which did not look serious), Harrison took over. He caught 3 passes for 41 yards and a touch- down. He would have had 4 for 119 and 2 scores if not for an illegal hands to the face penalty. When Greathouse — a "big slot" type and a great route runner — is back, he and the speedy Harrison form a dangerous tandem. And as the punt-team play shows, Harrison will do whatever it takes to win. ✦ FIVE THOUGHTS BY JACK SOBLE Graduate student wide receiver Jayden Harrison excelled on special teams and also caught 3 passes for 41 yards, including his first Irish touchdown. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER