Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Notre Dame managed the impossible last season, as they managed to win 10 games while dealing with a QB position that was largely well below average almost the entire season. Brandon Wimbush may have broken a school record for total scores by the position (30), but his passing ability was anything but that. With major holes across the board, a reshuffled offensive line, and a defense that was not exactly one of a "shut down" nature returning, can Notre Dame do the impossible once more and become the first Irish team to win 10 games in back to back seasons since 1992-93?
Breakdown Offense: Wimbush returns, and while he did plenty to help scoring (34.2 points per game as a team, 30 total TDs for him), when the Fighting Irish needed him to throw the football, they were often let down. His accuracy, in a word, was abysmal. He completed just 49.5% of his passes last fall, and averaged just 155.8 yards passing per game. He had a strong spring, and outplayed Ian Book, who was really never in the actual conversation to replace him anyway. He passed for just 1870 yards last fall with 16 TDs to 6 INTs, and rushed for 803 yards and another 14 TDs, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Book is the presumed backup after attempting 75 passes last fall.
The run game will largely be effected by the loss of Josh Adams. Dexter Williams, who carried all of just 39 times last season, is the expected replacement. He rushed for 360 yards and 4 scores, but did manage an eye popping Tony Jones, Jr. is also back after carrying 44 times, and averaging 5.27 yards per carry. There is very little actual developed depth behind them.
The Fighting Irish must replace 2 starters at WR, as only Chase Claypool returns after catching 29 passes last fall for 402 yards. He is the leading returning receiver as far as production is concerned. Michael Young and Miles Boykin are penciled in as starters. They combined for 16 receptions last season. Chris Finke and former QB Avery Davis are the only remaining depth, and it really falls off after that.
Alize Mack gets yet one more shot at TE. He cuaght 19 passes as a junior last fall, but has never lived up to his billing out of high school. Cole Kmet caught 2 passes as a freshman last fall, and is the backup.
The line has been reshuffled to make up for the losses of Quentin Nelson and Mike McGlinchey. Alex Bars is the LG, Sam Mustipher is at C, and Tommy Kraemer is the RG. That leaves for finding 2 new starters to fill the Tackle spots. Liam Eichenberg slots in at LT, while Robert Hainsey comes in at RT heading into camp. Sophomore Aaron Banks is the primary reserve at Tackle, while Josh Lugg and Dillon Gibbons are the backups at Guard. Trevor Ruhland is the backup at Center.
Breakdown Defense: Clark Lea is a DC for the first time, but he has 9 starters returning on defense, including 3 on the line in DE Daelin Hayes, NG Jonathon Bonner, and DT Jerry Tillery. Hayes totaled 6.5 TFLs last season, and added 3 sacks, 30 tackles, and 4 QB hurries. Bonner ended the season with 3.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 30 tackles, and 4 QB hurries. Tillery added 9 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 56 tackles, and 11 QB hurries. Junior Khalid Kareem is slated to be the new starter at DE. He has experience, as he finished last fall with 5.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 21 tackles, 2 PBUs, and 6 QB hurries. Julian Okwara and Adetokunbo Ogundeji are the backups at DE, while Kurt Hinish backs up at NG. Myonr Tagavailoa-Amosa is the backup at DT.
The LB corps returns 2 starters in Te'Von Coney and Drue Tranquill. Coney led the Irish in tackles last fall with 116, while adding 12.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, and 5 QB hurries. Tranquill totaled 85 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, and 3 QB hurries. Asmar Bilal is slated in as the new starter at LB. He totaled 18 tackles in 13 games last season as a reserve. Jonathon Jones, Jordan Genmark-Heath, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are the immediate backups at all 3 spots.
The secondary also gets 2 startes back in CB Julian Love and FS Jalen Elliott. Love is probably one of the top 5 returning corners in the college game, as he totaled 20 PBUs a year ago, and he returned 2 of his 3 INTs for scores. He finished the season with 68 tackles as well. Elliott recorded 43 tackles, 2 PBUs, and 2 QB hurries last season. Troy Pride is slated to start at the open CB spot, but Shaun Crawford will battle him for it. Pride totaled 2 PBUs last fall, while Crawford added 5, and added 2 INTs. Alohi Gilman, a transfer from Navy, starts at SS. Elliott could also slide over to SS, with Gilman taking over at FS.
Breakdown Special Teams: Justin Yoon returns at PK after hitting 14/18 FG attempts last fall. He was perfect on 49 PATs.
Tyler Newsome is back at Punter, and should be among the nation's best after averaging 43.63 yards per punt last fall as a junior.
Tony Jones is the lead KR man, while Chris Finke returns to his PR duties this fall.
Final Analysis: The schedule, alone, dictates that Notre Dame should probably win 10 games once again, as this is not exactly a schedule filled with potential loss candidates. Michigan and Stanford come to South Bend, and even if they split these games, they should probably still steamroll through most of what remains, with exception of a road trip to Virginia Tech. The depth is not what one would hope for, but there is certainly enough talent across the board to push for that 10 win mark once again, which would get the Irish back among the elite of the national scene. It's been a long time since anyone thought of this program that way, but the potential is there.
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