Here are some notes I had while watching the Notre Dame @ UGA game from last night:
Georgia’s crowd is pretty overwhelming. Such a stark contrast from the 2017 matchup in South Bend where it felt like a true neutral site game with all the red in the crowd.
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The tackling, especially in the first half, was stellar.
The defining series of this game occurred around the 12 minute mark in the 2nd quarter. Notre Dame punted after a 5 minute series that only went 30 yards, only for the UGA returner to fumble the ball (Chase Claypool was actually the one to recover the ball – he was everywhere this game.) Book hit his slot receiver Chris Finke for a short completion, and then Claypool drew a pass interference on Georgia’s DJ Daniel, giving Notre Dame a first down at UGA’s two yard line. The Fighting Irish then proceeded to run this set of plays:
- 1st down: Incomplete corner fade to Claypool that had no chance from the start.
- 2nd down: ND sneaks a guy into the back of the endzone when UGA bit on the apparent running play, but coach Kirby Smart was able to call a timeout right before the snap, neutralizing the play.
- 2nd down: Ian Book QB keeper, gains about a yard and a half.
- 3rd down: Ian Book throws another incomplete pass to Claypool
- 4th down: Ian Book throws to the back of the endzone, and tight end Kmet comes in front of the intended receiver to make the catch for a touchdown.
Yes, the Fighting Irish were able to score from the 2 yard line. But it was on an incredibly unreliable play, and the fact that OC Chip Long felt uncomfortable running the ball in a situation where he had four downs at the two yard line really speaks to how scared Notre Dame was to match up inside against UGA. There have been very few teams to ever truly contend for a national title without the ability to run the ball in from the half yard line, no matter how strong the opposing defense may be. I like Ian Book, I like their receiving corp, but they had to try to run the ball in. In not doing so, they indicated to the world that they have little faith in their ability to win in the trenches – not a good sign going forward.
Notre Dame’s commercial was about inclusion of ideas, and featured some blonde kid reading the Communist Manifesto. Interesting recruiting strategy.
Started getting pretty chippy in the third quarter. Refs did a good job keeping it under control, and I think both sides understood the magnitude of this game and allowed the tension to take a more healthy form.
The treatment of referees in this game has been utterly appalling. They have called a great game, and Brian Kelly especially was clearly being incredibly disrespectful, swearing up and down at the ref on his side. This abuse has got to stop.
Really interesting rulebook minutiae around the 4:30 mark of the 3rd quarter. Notre Dame got a holding penalty on a kickoff from UGA that resulted in a touchback; however, the rule did not allow the Bulldogs to take the ten yard penalty at the end of the return. Rather, their only options were to decline the penalty, or to redo the kickoff ten yards further up. UGA opted to re-kick, and ended up squib kicking the ball and actually giving up an extra yard, as the Fighting Irish returned the ball to the 26.
Notre Dame is absolutely shaken by this crowd noise. Some of it is definitely the silent count/fake clap from Ian Book, and some of it is the inexperience of their TE Cole Kmet who was accountable for a few of the false starts, but you have to give a lot of credit to the UGA crowd for impacting the game so directly.
Notre Dame has had multiple false starts when punting the ball. UGA’s crowd has not just rattled ND’s offense, but the special teams, and I would venture to say Brian Kelly himself.
In the least surprising turn of the night, Brian Kelly instructed players to go down to buy injury time in pretty blatant fashion. As much as I admire a good loophole, Kelly will never challenge the “frequent flopper miles” GOAT, Jimbo Fisher.
D’Andre Swift hurdle a defender late in the 3rd quarter, and even he seemed surprised how long he was in the air. Not only was it an effective move, it shows the crazy burst of Swift, as well as his crazy quick instincts.
Ian Book and Jake Fromm are both awesome college quarterbacks. Both have great poise, are incredibly in tune with their offensive weapons, and have a great understanding of how to effectively run their respective offense.
Notre Dame’s offensive line has had a crazy amount of penalties this game; to be fair though, they have done a solid job protecting Book this game, and on several plays he has had all day to throw.
Notre Dame’s execution down the stretch has been very impressive. Down 23-10, Ian Book led a fantastic drive down the field with a couple phenomenal catches by Claypool, scoring with about 3 minutes left. After the kickoff, Notre Dame stuffed the Bulldogs twice, putting Fromm back at 3rd and 14 with 2:15 left in the game. ND commits an offsides penalty, but Fromm was unable to complete either 3rd down pass. The Bulldogs’ followed it up with an atrocious punt that looked like it may have hit one of UGA’s offensive linemen.
Unfortunately, Book was unable to cap off the comeback with a final touchdown, but he showed a ton of poise and proved that he is a player worth betting on in clutch moments. I would love to see him in more high stakes games in the future.
Some guys that stood out as potential NFL prospects (focused more on the offense for this game since I was watching more as a fan)
- Jake Fromm (QB, Georgia) – such a phenomenal game manager, has never heard the word pressure in his life. I’d peg him as a 2nd/3rd rounder, but easily could work his way into the 1st round and could absolutely go high within that round
who were not too impressed with UGA’s victory. Shockingly.
- Ian Book (QB, Notre Dame) – it was a lot of fun to watch Fromm and Book go back and forth, both are such poised players who have an incredible feel of their respective offenses. I’d expect Book to be a mid-round pick in the future.
- D’Andre Swift (RB, Georgia) – explosive athlete who can really break some tackles. Could be the top back taken, probably a 2nd round pick.
- Chase Claypool (WR, Notre Dame) – had a very impressive second half after somewhat disappointing in the first half, given that he is now the #1 option for a pass-heavy offense. Claypool made some amazing catches in the second half though, both using incredible body control to make sideline catches and using his size and strength to back down smaller defensive backs and get position for jump balls. I didn’t have much of an impression of Claypool from the ND vs. Clemson playoff game last year, but it was clear in this game that he is an NFL talent. Where he gets drafted will obviously depend on his production this year, but he’s got mid-round or even as high as 2nd round talent.
- Cole Kmet (TE, Notre Dame) – this is a gut pick, but as a 6’5, 250lb guy with good athleticism and pretty impressive hands, Kmet absolutely put himself on the radar of NFL teams with his showing last night. After only totalling 17 receptions his first two seasons, the junior seems poised for a huge season, putting up 9 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown versus Georgia. Will need to shore up the penalties (Kmet had a few mistakes where he took off a little early and drew a false start) but he has both the talent and the opportunity to really put himself on the radar this year. Could see him rise all the way to a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
- Lawrence Cager (WR, Georgia) – a grad transfer from U of Miami, Cager was never able to carve out a significant role for the Hurricanes. Cager is a 6’5 athlete who made a series of nice catches on the UGA’s second and final touchdown drive of the game, pulling in three consecutive catches (though one was called back) and providing the spark that the Bulldogs’ passing attack needed. Cager is not a shoe-in to be drafted after this season, but with the impressive frame and athleticism he flashed last night, combined with his great situation alongside Jake Fromm, Cager absolutely has a chance to make a mark for Georgia this year and prove that he is not just an NFL prospect, but a highly desirable one.
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