Notre Dame needed to come out and continue what they started with Purdue by playing with their hair on fire, and the defense did just that on the first series. But after the defense played at a high level, special teams muffed a punt and put the defense right back on the field. That’s usually a momentum killer, but not for this defense, as they got right back on that field and dominated followed by a Christian Gray tipped pass at the line of scrimmage and Junior Tuihalamaka secured the interception. This defense continues to prove that it is one of the best in the country.  Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame’s first offensive series left much to be desired, although they were deep in their own territory due to the defensive turnover. The O-line struggled to open up lanes for the run game, which is seemingly Notre Dame's only viable offensive threat. Riley Leonard didn’t get much time from the line, and the wide receivers didn’t have time to get separation before the pocket crashed, and Leonard was taken down for a very short gain if any. The offense continued to look flat in their opening, series but the highlight here is that Punter James Rendell finally got a hold of a ball and boomed it for 53 yards, something ND fans haven’t seen yet from him.  The staff continued to roll Riley Leonard out, and he continued to make inaccurate throws, as he missed Kris Mitchell followed up by another bad throw to a wide-open Mitchell Evans. Leonard still seems to lack major confidence in his passing abilities. It wasn’t until late in the first half that Riley Leonard finally threw a beautiful pass to Beaux Collins for a touchdown. Will that be the turning point that gives Leonard confidence in his passing? Time will tell, but so far, that hadn't happened at the half. This offense is out of sync and just bad right now. It continues to put major stress on the defense, which will eventually run out of gas if something doesn’t change.  Notre Dame continues to shoot themselves in the foot with bad penalties and securing the ball. Coach Biagi dialed up one of the best kickoff returns in a reverse play we haven’t seen in years, only to be brought back by a block in the back. That’s after Jordan Faison muffed a punt to give Miami (OH) great field advantage in Irish territory. Add to that a great play by Adon Shuler only to be nullified by a bad penalty on his part. And Riley Leonard failed to secure the ball on a run in the 3rd quarter, resulting in a fumble with a Miami (OH) recovery.  These things mount up and destroy momentum and confidence. It has to be fixed by this staff, and be preached until they are blue in the face that penalties are unacceptable at the capacity that this team commits them. The defense was on the field for the majority of the game. This just isn't sustainable, as they will wear out not only during a single game, but as the season progresses they could wear out as a unit. The offense has to find an identity and learn how to sustain drives. You can’t expect the defense to constantly save you! I feel bad for this defense - they have been tasked with keeping this team in the game every week. If it wasn’t for their stellar play, this team could be 1-3 right now. It has to be studied why this team can go to an away stadium and outplay an opponent, in the case of Purdue destroy them, and come home to fall flat in front of a home crowd. Of course, it all starts at the top with Freeman, and he needs to evaluate his game preparation and figure out why it keeps happening at home. And if he can’t, a more difficult conversation will have to be had.  This team came into the season with very high expectations, and was a “shoe-in” by many to be a playoff contender. Right now, it appears this team is a long way from playing at the level that was hoped coming into the season. Notre Dame would go on to get the win, but it certainly didn't feel like on. Something has to give! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame displays yet another flat performance this week against Miami Ohio. Photo by The Irish Tribune Marcus Freeman continues his slide against inferior opponents as the Irish came out flat against the Miami Ohio RedHawks, but ending up escaping, 28-3. The passing attack was again nowhere to be found in the majority first half. Riley Leonard displayed his yips on the second drive of the game, missing back-to-back layups in the passing department. However, he bounced back in the two-minute drill at the end of the first half and recorded his first passing touchdown of the season to Beaux Collins for a 38-yard score. Collins, along with Jordan Clark, has been the best transfer portal acquisition for the Fighting Irish. Fellow receiver Kris Mitchell had a great catch in traffic on the drive, as well, and delievered his best game of the year so far. On the offensive front, it appeared Mike Denbrock is somewhat handcuffed in his ability to call an effective game because the lack of overall passing attack. The RedHawks were stacking the box a ton in the first half of the game, and the Irish were bailed out by penalties that led them down the field in their first touchdown drive. Yet, in the second half Riley Leonard showed more confidence airing the ball out downfield and had better timing and footwork in the intermediate passing game. This eventually opened up holes for running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Leonard finished the game with 154 passing yards, on 16/25 throwing and adding 143 rushing yards, and two touchdowns on the ground. On the defensive side of the ball, the RedHawks matched their season total in rushing yards in the first half of this one. However, Al Golden and the Fighting Irish defenses bended, but didn't break. The defensive stars that shined in this one were Jordan Clark, Jaden Mickey, and Junior Tuihalamaka. Tuihalamaka had a great day replacing Jordan Botelho who had a season-ending injury last week against Purdue. Tuihalamaka recorded an interception on a deflected pass by Christian Gray, who had an interception of his own later in the game. Cornerback Jaden Mickey, who is respected by his peers for being a spark plug for the Fighting Irish, went up to the offensive team huddle and was inspiring his fellow teammates when the offense was dragging in the first half. The biggest central theme in this game was indiscipline, and it could be seen on all sides of the ball. The special team's unit was significantly the least disciplined unit. Jordan Faison muffed a punt, which lead to Miami OH to get the ball in plus territory. The kicking department also had a botched snap and hold that led to Mitch Jeter scrambling for his life. On offense, Sam Pendleton had a holding call and had two false start penalties that killed the Fighting Irish momentum. Riley Leonard and Jeremiyah Love both let go of the ball, as Leonard’s led to a turnover and Love barely broke the plane of the endzone to widen the Irish’s lead. Then on defense, as all the momentum was heading Notre Dame's way before the half, Adon Shuler threw the ball at the Miami Ohio sideline after an incompletion on third down. While the RedHawks didn't go onto score on that drive, Shuler's youth potentially took points off the scoreboard for the Fighting Irish. Nonetheless, the Irish escaped with a victory and did enough to keep their playoff hopes alive. The next, the Irish must play a significantly more polished game against the Louisville Cardinals in a revenge contest from last year. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame was able to prove to America that NIU was a fluke, so far. How Notre Dame fairs against Miami (Ohio) will give fans a good idea of whether or not Marcus Freeman has learned from his mistakes just mere weeks ago. The Irish Tribune staff make their official predictions for today's matchup vs Miami (Ohio). Photo by The Irish Tribune Connor Regan - Long-Form Writer Score Prediction: 41-6 Notre Dame The Irish ride the momentum of the Purdue win and further establish their identity as a run-first offense led by an elite defense. The Irish continue to take the schedule game by game and avoid overlooking the RedHawks in anticipation of Louisville, taking care of business for Notre Dame’s first home win of the season. The Irish offense won’t completely turn things around in the passing game, but there will be some signs of improvement. While this won’t be the scoring onslaught we saw against Purdue, the Irish should win this comfortably. Look for the Irish defense to not allow a single touchdown, Leonard to throw his first TD pass, and Love to post his first 2 rushing TD game of the season. Brenden Duffy - Senior Staff Writer Score Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame Same score prediction as I had versus NIU…hopefully it doesn’t backfire this go around. I think the key difference this week will be the amount of intensity ND brings. No doubt Miami (Ohio) will be hungry and it would not be shocking if they keep the score tight all game. However, I expect a similar game plan to last week featuring an elite defense and rushing offense from the Irish that puts the game away earlier rather than later. Noah Wehby - Writer Score Prediction: 37-13 Notre Dame Notre Dame comes out with a similar game plan to the one they had against Purdue and with similar intensity. That means a lot of runs and simple passes for Riley Leonard. The defense continues to be dominant, giving Notre Dame a couple of takeaways. Leonard will finally find the end zone through the air against the RedHawks and Notre Dame gets their first home win of the season. Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer Score Prediction: 42-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame finally was able to dominate a game from start to finish last week. They will now be fired up to chase that thrill again. Miami (Ohio) will start out competitive, but ND will take over shortly after. Riley Leonard gets his first passing touchdown tomorrow. Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst Score Prediction: 31-12 Notre Dame Notre Dame welcomes in another top-tier MAC school into South Bend, but with Northern Illinois still fresh on their mind, they avoid any upset scare. The defense will feed off last week's performance and I don't think they allow a touchdown. Offensively I expect more of the same, especially with the new injuries on the offensive line. A steady dose of Love and Price will lead ND to a comfortable win heading into a very important match-up with Louisville next week. Peter Mulroy - Associate Editor and First & Gold Podcast Host Score Prediction: 34-10 Notre Dame While Miami (Ohio) QB Brett Gabbert played well in a loss to Cincinnati last week, this ND defense is simply a different animal. I think this is a game where the Irish defense feasts. The likes of KVA, Bryce Young, and Kennedy Urlacher continue to gather playing time as well, and for all the right reasons: They’re good. Real good. Offensively, we should see more of a willingness to move it through the air from Notre Dame and take some big-play shots down the field. All in all, there shouldn’t be too much of an issue here, as the Irish get to 3-1 heading into the Louisville game. Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast Score Prediction: 52-6 Notre Dame Another MAC school comes to South Bend, and it’s a well-coached team on both sides of the ball. Only problem? They’re simply just not talented enough to keep this one close. The Redhawks have yet to cross the century mark in rushing yards. Not in a game, but within the season. This forces Gabbert to throw a lot. Conventional drop-back teams simply haven’t boded well against Notre Dame’s defense. It’s a recipe for disaster. Notre Dame’s offense is looking to answer some questions through the air, and this will be a solid enough test to get a good look. The Redhawks cornerbacks are long and relatively athletic. Is this the day Leonard finds his rhythm? He and his receivers, as well as a fully healthy Mitchell Evans, will have plenty of opportunities to do so. And if they do, this one will get ugly before the first half is over. Irish win, and they show something they haven’t- complementary pieces built around their elite run game. Jack McMillen - Writer Score Prediction: 49-7 Notre Dame The Irish have learned from their mistakes of playing down to their opponent. They come out hot, hold the standard, and play as good of football as we’ve seen from them. Love has another huge day behind the growing line. Leonard’s passing continues to be spotty but it services, and the Irish get another win at home. Liam Farrell - Senior Football Writer Score Prediction: 31-17 Notre Dame Miami OH gives a scare similar to NIU in the first half, but the Irish are more prepared for the gut punch in this one. Riley Leonard goes another week without a passing touchdown and a tight end will be the leading receiver. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price each get another touchdown in this one. What are your predictions for today's game? Leave them in the comments below! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

For the second straight week, Notre Dame has surprised us, but this time, in a good way. The Irish hit the road once again in week 3, following arguably the worst loss in program history, and handed the Purdue Boilermakers the single-worst loss in their 137-year history. The 66-7 thumping marked the largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s history and the most points scored by the Irish since 2019. Along with the win came a mix of emotions. Many were happy to see Freeman right the ship and prevent an ugly slide, some were elated with the offensive onslaught, and some were even more upset about the NIU loss after witnessing what looked like a completely different team. Photo by The Irish Tribune Happy or not, the Irish are not fully back in the CFP conversation, but definitely aren’t out of it completely. It could be argued that the loss to NIU came from Freeman’s squad overlooking what they viewed as weaker competition, thus Notre Dame will have to take the rest of the season week by week if they have a chance to win out. That mission continues this Saturday, September 21st, with the Irish seeking their first home win of the season against their 2nd MAC opponent, the Miami (OH) RedHawks. Miami (OH) After working with Brian Kelly at Grand Valley State, Chuck Martin followed him to Notre Dame in 2010 to coach the Irish DB unit. In 2012, Martin moved up to become Kelly’s OC and QBs coach, until he was hired away by Miami (OH) to become their next head coach. Now in his 11th season with Miami (OH), Martin has a 56-64 record but is coming off his best season so far, going 11-3 with a MAC championship and bowl game appearance in 2023. The RedHawks are the second MAC opponent on Notre Dame’s schedule this year, and like NIU, they’re one of the more experienced teams the Irish will face this year. They return 74% of their 2023 production according to ESPN, including 6th-year QB Brett Gabbert. They did lose their best WR Gage Larvadain in the portal to South Carolina, along with senior running back Rashad Amos who left for Ole Miss, leaving a gaping hole in the RedHawks’ backfield after losing his 1,000+ yard - 13 TD production from the 2023 season. Defense is this team’s strong point, led by senior linebackers Matt Salopek and Ty Wise who accounted for 265 tackles between the two of them last year, and led the defense to the 5th best spot in points allowed. While impressive, you have to consider the talent they faced and their lack of Power-5 size and strength. Thus far, the Redhawks have had a rough start to 2024, entering their matchup with the Irish at 0-2 after an opening week road loss to Northwestern 6-13, and a home-opening loss to Cincinnati 16-27. Against Northwestern, Brett Gabbert put up 227 yards on 22/37 passing, with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while senior wide receiver Cade McDonald led Miami (OH) with 105 yards on 8 catches, followed by Reggie Virgil and Kevin Davis with 32 yards each. Things were much worse on the ground for the RedHawks, with a final total of 40 rushing yards and no scores, led by Jordan Brunson with 8 rushes for 33 yards. The RedHawks defense only gave up 178 passing yards, 150 yards on the ground, and a single touchdown on a QB scramble, but the offense ultimately couldn't get enough going to win. Week 2 against the Bearcats was an improvement for the RedHawks, but not by much. Gabbert put on a better performance with 339 yards on 23/35 passing, this time throwing 2 touchdowns and only 1 interception. Once again, Cade McDonald led the receivers room with 8 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, followed by Reggie Virgil with 3 catches for 77 yards and a score. Somehow, things on the ground were even worse than week 1, as Miami (OH) only scraped together 24 total rushing yards and no scores. Kevin Davis led with only 14 yards on 3 carries, followed by Henry Hesson and Keyon Martin with 13 yards a piece. Miami (OH) only has 22 total points through 2 games, making their 11.0 PPG the 2nd fewest in the country. They’ve only scored 2 offensive touchdowns, both of which came through the air but were overshadowed by Gabbert’s 3 interceptions, and haven’t registered a single rushing touchdown. On the other hand, their defense has only allowed 20.0 PPG so far, which is respectable, but have only managed 2 sacks and 0 interceptions. They’ve been led by Salopek, who already has 19 tackles and a fumble recovery through 2 games, and Wise who has 13 tackles and one of the team’s two sacks. The Redhawks’ offensive line has been a real weak point for 2024, as they’ve surrendered 7 sacks through only 2 games, tied for 11th worst in the country, and have led the way for the worst rushing offense in the country with only 32.0 yards per game. At the end of the day, this Miami (OH) team is a group looking to both change and establish a new identity. The once-balanced offense from 2023 is gone, and the 2024 offense needs to decide if they’re capable of some sort of run game or if they’ll have to double down on their passing game. On defense, Miami (OH) needs proof that this defense can lead their whole team to success like last year, or if their defense won't be able to repeat the same level of success, even with all the returning experience. Notre Dame Leonard put up a solid yet somewhat strange performance in only 2 quarters of action against Purdue. He tossed 112 yards on 11/16 throwing, but once again failed to record a passing touchdown. Instead, he went off for 100 rushing yards on 11 carries for 3 of Notre Dame’s 6 scores on the ground, continuing his outsized rushing contributions despite his absent passing success. Steve Angeli came in during the 2nd half and immediately threw Notre Dame’s only 2 touchdown passes of the season, going for 100 yards on only 6/9 passes. Kenny Minchey came in after Angeli and went 1/1 passing for 4 yards along with a rushing touchdown. The running game saw more of the same from Jeremiyah Love, who ran for a season-high 109 yards along and a score, coming on a 48-yard dash around the edge. Jadarrian Price did his thing yet again, breaking a massive 70-yard run for a touchdown to finish with 86 yards on the day. Notre Dame’s 364 rushing yards meant things were pretty quiet through the air, as the Irish only managed 216 passing yards and didn’t have a single player with more than 3 catches. Jayden Harrison led the team with 47 receiving yards on 2 catches, while both passing touchdowns were pulled in by Irish tight ends, Cooper Flanagan and Kevin Bauman. While Denbrock’s offense has its flaws and deserves most of the criticism levied at it, the Irish are currently averaging 36.3 PPG and have 14 total touchdowns across 3 weeks. Of those 14 scores, 12 have come on the ground - 4 via Leonard rushes, and only 2 through the air - a numerical depiction of the lopsided offensive approach we’ve seen thus far. The Irish defense confused Hudson Card all game, forcing him to go 11/24 for only 124 yards, 1 passing touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Jason Onye led the defense with 1.5 sacks, followed by Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore with 1 a piece and Donovan Hinish with a 1/2 sack. Traore also pulled in 1 of Notre Dame’s 2 interceptions and took it back 34 yards for a score, with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa grabbing the other. Things were only worse on the ground for the Boilermakers, with Reggie Love only managing 61 yards on 10 carries and Devin Mockobee only 19 yards on 9 carries. Purdue’s longest rush of the day was a mere 11 yards and no one able to score on the ground. Purdue’s receivers only pulled in 11 total balls, with Kam Brown leading the way on a single 52-yard catch, and De’Nylon Morrissette pulling in 2 catches for 9 yards and the only Boilermaker touchdown of the day. The worst part of the Purdue game was the bevy of injuries that will only make things tougher for the Irish going forward. Senior DL Jordan Botelho was heartbreakingly carted off the field with a season-ending leg injury, along with center Ashton Craig who left with a season-ending knee injury, and RG Billy Schrauth with an ankle injury, though he’s expected to only miss a few weeks. Behind the subpar passing attack, Notre Dame’s biggest weakness is without a doubt the offensive line. Through 3 games, the Irish line has gotten progressively worse, surrendering 1 sack against TAMU, 2 against NIU, and 3 against Purdue, an issue only compounded by the 2 fresh OL injuries. Thankfully, veterans Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler will step up to fill those empty roles, with Coogan moving from LG to Center, Spindler at RG, and Sam Pendleton filling the now-open LG spot. This will be Coogan’s first official start at Center, although he does have some time there, but that now makes 3 backups on Notre Dame’s front 5, a concerning stat for a position group we knew would have some growing pains before the season even began. The Purdue win was enough to calm Notre Dame’s troubled waters and moved them up one spot to #17 as we enter week 4. Purdue was the opportunity to get young guys playing time that NIU was supposed to be, and things will likely be the same against the RedHawks. As long as Notre Dame doesn’t put itself behind the 8-ball early, we’re likely to see a similar level of personnel shuffling that we did against the Boilermakers. Prediction: Due to the unpredictability of Notre Dame’s 2024 team, predicting their games seems to get harder by the week. This seems like an almost “for-sure” win - kind of like NIU was supposed to be - but like lightning strikes, is the same thing really going to happen again? Notre Dame’s dominant win over Purdue was exactly the kind of showcase the program needed, but it shouldn’t have been so sweet that it fully removed the bitterness of the NIU loss. As long as the Irish can keep their focus on what's directly in front of them and don’t overlook Miami (OH) in favor of the Louisville matchup in week 5, we should see a Notre Dame team closer to the one that showed up against Purdue. The RedHawks return a ton of experience and have enough talent to make some noise and take advantage of mistakes, but odds say the Irish have no serious issues handling business. Although the margin won't be anywhere close to the Purdue game, this won't be a hangover game, and the Irish should cover the spread and the final score will likely go over the 43.5 total. Look for: The Irish to rush for at least 2-4 scores on the ground (hot take being 2 touchdowns for Love). Riley Leonard to finally throw a passing touchdown of his own. Mitch Jeter to go perfect from the field on both field goals and extra points. The Irish defense to hold the RedHawks to less than 100 yards on the ground. The Irish defense to not allow a single touchdown for the first time this season. Even with the predictions above, this won’t be a full “return to form” game for Freeman's squad. The struggling passing game won’t magically figure itself out overnight, but Notre Dame’s prolific ground attack and elite defense should carry the Irish to a comfortable win. Win: (3-1) ND: 41 - 6 MIA (OH) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Last week’s total domination of Purdue was just what the doctor ordered, and exactly what Marcus Freeman needed to quiet the noise from the fanbase after losing to NIU. But Freeman has now demonstrated several times that he can come back from a bad loss and motivate the team to victory. This has left many in the fanbase wondering how he can motivate the team after a loss to win, but not before the losses happen? I would say it’s the lack of respect for an opponent because of who they appear to be, and not based on who they are or what they’re capable of. Any team can be beat, and you can never allow yourself to think otherwise or it will happen to you.  Photo by The Irish Tribune Humility is a very important trait in any leader, but is often under discussed when describing what it takes to be a great one. Knute Rockne always preached to his teams about remaining humble and hungry at the same time. Rockne once stated that: “Overconfidence is the toughest poison a coach has to face. It can wreck any team…If your team isn’t keyed up and the other team is, the other team can easily overcome a handicap of two or three touchdowns.” Humility is a great way to recognize not only your strengths, but also your weaknesses. Rockne put it best when he said: “Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.” In doing this, you’re constantly allowing yourself to become better, grow stronger, and remain hungry for victory. As we’ve seen under Freeman, his teams handle adversity very well, but it’s the success that they’ve struggled to hold onto long term. Freeman has to find a way to keep this team both grounded and hungry week in and week out. This is not an easy task to achieve when the schedule is weaker in terms of the quality of the teams. This makes it easy to look past them to the next stronger team on your schedule. Freeman’s main challenge will be keeping a fire in the belly of this team like he did for the Texas A&M game. This doesn’t at all get any easier for Freeman, as he takes on last year’s MAC Champion MIami (OH) on Saturday, and don’t let them fool you, they're a very talented team that would love nothing more than to beat Notre Dame.  During and after the NIU game, several people posted on social media that ND should stop scheduling MAC schools, as if that will fix the problem of Freeman losing against these smaller schools, but I’d disagree for two reasons. First, if that truly is the problem, you don’t run from your problems, you face them head on and conquer them. Second, he didn’t have a problem with Central Michigan last season when his team dropped 41 points on them. It’s not about anything except the team and staff getting too comfortable when the voices outside the program and within the fanbase were hyping up Notre Dame for an undefeated season because their schedule is “weaker” than in years past. Believing in yourself and being  overly confident are two very different things, and the latter one often results in a hard lesson in humility. Not all this falls strictly on the coaches, as the players have to want it too. They have to be willing to put in the effort each and every day. It takes the entire team to make this work, as Frank Leahy put it: “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.” It takes every player and every coach to want to be successful, and to trust each other to do so. You really saw this in motion during the Texas A&M and Purdue games. Freeman has done a great job in remaining competitive and/or beating teams that Notre Dame would have failed to do in the past. If he can figure out a way to keep his teams hungry for the lesser opponents and continue to beat the stronger ones, he could do something that hasn’t been accomplished since the days of Lou Holtz. I think one of the ways to accomplish this is to never allow the team to buy into any hype, and to prepare them for every team as if it was a Top 5 opponent. Football is a weekly war on a battlefield, and it doesn’t matter who your opponent is, what matters is you come out of that battle the victor. As I've said before, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to pound your opponent into dust. Notre Dame proved that last week against Purdue when they refused to let up. This is the winning mindset that builds the starters' confidence and allows the backups to get into the game for meaningful game time reps. This keeps the hunger going and helps the younger guys progress for the future, which builds a complete team from top to bottom.  So, will Freeman have this team ready to compete at a high level on Saturday? We’ll get that answer shortly, but I fully expect this team to come out with their hair on fire after we saw last week against Purdue. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock needs to lean more on the dynamic running back tandem of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Photo by The Irish Tribune "I know going into this game that everyone was going to be on their stuff," said Jeremiyah Love last week after Notre Dame's bounce-back victory against Purdue. Love has done his part three games into the season, leading all Notre Dame rushers with 279 yards and adding three touchdowns. Love is currently averaging 8.0 yards per carry, and his success, partnered with fellow running back Jadarian Price, has the offense trending upwards after a disappointing performance at home against Northern Illinois. While much of the attention for the Notre Dame offense lays on the shoulders of Riley Leonard and his inability to jumpstart a Fighting Irish aerial attack, Love and Price have been the motor behind Notre Dame's explosive offense. Already, Love and Price have recorded touchdown runs of 70 yards, 47 yards, and 34 yards. While offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock could've leaned more on this running back duo in their embarrassing home loss, Denbrock has improved his play calling as the year has progressed. His gameplan against Purdue was simple and easy to attain; dominate the line of scrimmage with the run, spread out the box with quick passes, and integrate the tight ends in easy RPOs. With a simplified offensive strategy, Notre Dame excelled. While Purdue looked terrible defensively, with a plethora of missed tackles and lapses in coverage, Notre Dame was tactical in their attack and capitalized on Purdue's mistakes. Even in Notre Dame's 66-point thumping, the key takeaway from the game was still Riley Leonard's poor downfield passing performance. While Leonard was able to get it done with his legs, that same performance cannot be replicated against elite teams with superior athletes. While Denbrock tried to get Leonard more comfortable throwing the ball with easy reads and high percentage throws, he still lacked the skill of keeping his eyes downfield when evading the pocket. On the throws that weren't quick hitters, Leonard always loves to roll out to his right side. It appears as though the coaching staff told him if his primary read isn't there: takeoff. Leonard's lack of field vision will cost Notre Dame in the long run, but I don't necessarily think it's a matter of Leonard not seeing the open receiver, but rather him being scared to make a mistake. On a scramble last week early in the second quarter, Leonard held onto the ball on third and six, instead of risking an uncomfortable throw to an open receiver. I simply think Northern Illinois gave Leonard the yips, and he is afraid of throwing the ball downfield. This philosophy of "not messing up" instead of "making the play to win the game" is something that Marcus Freeman adopted in early losses in his career. I thought that book was flipped after Texas A&M and his aggressive nature on fourth down, yet behind closed doors, the message could still be resonating. Going into the future, it should be interesting to see how Mike Denbrock chooses to build off this performance from Leonard. Can he elevate Leonard's performance? Can Leonard graduate from tight end dump offs behind the line of scrimmage to 15 yard ins across the middle of the field? If Notre Dame can elevate Leonard's confidence and open up the running lanes for the talented stable of running backs, this Notre Dame offense can reach unparalleled heights. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame's first half beatdown against Purdue allowed some of Notre Dame's youth to see the field. In that time, there were some very impressive performances that have surely gotten coaches and fans excited about the future. Photo by The Irish Tribune Maybe the most impressive performance of the game was freshman safety, Kennedy Urlacher. Urlacher has been getting a lot of buzz this week due to his play on Saturday, and rightfully so. He showed off his blazing speed, quick pursuit, and hard-hitting ability for much of the second half. In his debut, he tallied three tackles and broke up one pass with a big hit that jarred the ball loose. All of this led to a 86.2 PFF rating, a nation's best among freshman safeties. Urlacher showed off his impressive athletic skills as a safety, proving that he is quick enough to cover the field, and physical enough to make hits at the line of scrimmage. "Man, he's a ball hawk," Coach Marcus Freeman said when describing Urlacher. He is player to keep your eye on next week against Miami (OH) should the Irish run away with the game, and for years to come. Another freshman that shined on Saturday was Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. KVA has been a huge piece of this Notre Dame defense so far this year, an impressive feat for a true freshman. Against Purdue, he seemed to be all over the field. It is easy to see that he has an elite knack for the football. This became apparent when he found himself on the end of a tipped ball resulting in an interception. Viliamu-Asa has all the right tools a defense needs at linebacker, but it is his instincts that are special given his age. He's been given high praise by Max Bullough prior to the season, and now it's easy to see why. His lateral quickness and secure tackling have compounded his sense for the position have set him up incredibly well for early success. Although his tackles dropped to just three against Purdue, his presence was felt with a half sack and one tackle for loss. It's hard to imagine a world where he won't be the center of this defense in the coming years. Cornerback Leonard Moore also caught the eye of Freeman with his elevated snaps on Saturday against Purdue. Moore, a freshman, is a talented and highly anticipated member of this secondary group. Due to the immense amount of skill in the secondary, he has hasn't seen significant playing time just yet, but given the praise from fellow teammates and coaches alike, his snap counts are likely to increase exponentially in the near future. On Saturday, Moore was able to play 21 snaps and looked good doing it, recording two tackles in his limited time on the field. Although Boubacar Traore has become a more familiar face on the Notre Dame's defense, as just a redshirt freshman, he is still looking to prove that the hype surrounding his game isn't just a flash in the pan. On Saturday, he took a step in the right direction with a very impactful performance. His big play came when he took an interception back for a touchdown. His performance also included a sack and two tackles for loss. Traore's athleticism helped seal the game for the Irish, which was a welcomed site after a slower start to Traore's season than some projected. In any case, this was the performance a lot of fans were waiting for, and likely a momentum builder for the young defensive lineman. He'll look to continue building upon an incredibly impressive performance this Saturday. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame returns home this weekend following a 66-7 thrashing of rival Purdue. With a trio of games in South Bend on the horizon, including Saturday's showdown against Miami (Ohio), what should fans of the Golden Domers be looking for as the season -- and team -- continue to evolve? On this week's show, Pete and Clayton break down Notre Dame's total domination of Purdue last weekend in West Lafayette. But despite the Irish offense finding the end zone on eight occasions -- largely due to their rushing attack -- are there signs the passing game is starting to develop as well? Plus, after suffering more crucial injuries in the win over the Boilermakers -- including losing Jordan Bothelo and Ashton Craig for the season -- what opportunities might these absences present for other playmakers on both sides of the ball? The guys have you covered with all this and more, so be sure to tune in NOW! GO Irish! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Two weeks removed from a collapse at home against a MAC opponent, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish find themselves in an eerily similar situation this Saturday. You can read about the RedHawks offense here , but now let’s look at this Miami defense: Photo by The Irish Tribune As mentioned in the offensive overview, Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin always boasts one of the more disciplined teams in the country on both sides of the ball. The RedHawks do not shoot themselves in the foot with erroneous penalties, and it is something that should be preached by more football programs, in college and in the pros.  Defensively, the RedHawks finished with one of the best red zone defenses around the country. Coach Martin’s defense finished tied-3rd in the nation among lowest red zone scoring percentage (69.23%). Despite some key secondary losses, it appears Miami will again be amongst the best red zone defenses. This season’s red zone scoring percentage sits at 66.67%, tied for 17th-lowest in the nation.  Expected key contributors in the secondary this season are cornerback Raion Strader and safety Eli Blakey. There were some concerns heading into the season about the depth of this group, however, they have put those concerns to rest in part due to the emergence of Silas Waters. Raion Strader is a sophomore who really showed off his talents last season, despite being in a deep defensive back group. Last year, as a freshman, Strader finished the season with 57 tackles, 13 pass deflections (10th-most in the nation), and an interception. After a quiet week one, the talented corner totaled five tackles and two pass deflections last week against Cincinnati. Coming into this season safety Eli Blakey was expected to breakout as a senior and he has answered the call. Blakey has 16 tackles, 2nd-most among RedHawk defenders, and a pass deflection. While he may not be your typical ball-hawking defensive back, Blakey is a speedy, hard-hitter who receivers need to keep their head on a swivel for. Behind Strader and Blakey has been a steady group led by Silas Waters (12 tackles and a pass deflection this season), and Luke Evans to complete the secondary.  Last season Miami had an overall solid pass rush, however, First Team All-MAC defensive lineman Caiden Woullard transferred to Oklahoma this offseason, leaving a hole in the middle of this defense. The struggles have been visible to begin the season as the RedHawks have only posted two total sacks through their two games. The heart of the defensive line will have to be 2023 Second Team All-MAC selection Brian Ugwu. The former Rutgers transfer finished last season with 62 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles. Ugwu has been solid to begin this season with seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Other than Ugwu, Miami has gotten some solid production from Nasir Washington (eight tackles) on the line. Miami’s most talented position group is their linebacker room. The RedHawks return All-MAC selections Matt Salopek and Ty Wise from last season. To begin this year, the linebacker room may be even deeper than previously thought due to the emergence of both Oscar McWood (9 tackles) and Corban Hondru (6 tackles and ½ sack). Ultimately, there are zero questions that 2023 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Matt Salopek is the leader of this defense. The 6th-year senior led the MAC in tackles last season with 143, 3rd-most in the country. He also added nine tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass deflections, and an interception. Through two games this season Salopek is on pace, again, to be the team’s leading tackler (19) to go along with his fumble recovery and pass deflection. If Salopek had decided to move on from Miami this offseason, there is a real chance fellow linebacker Ty Wise would be in line for MAC Defensive Player of the Year. The 2023 Second Team All-MAC selection finished last season with 122 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, eight sacks, five pass deflections, an interception, and forced fumble. Wise, a former Indiana transfer, has had a solid start to his senior campaign totaling 13 tackles and a sack to begin this year.  The Notre Dame offense will be tested this Saturday against a winless RedHawks defense. If the run game gets going early, similar to last week, then the Fighting Irish should find themselves in position to win. A more potent air attack would also be beneficial against a secondary that lacks true depth but we have yet to see any real threat from Notre Dame’s passing offense. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Two weeks removed from a shocking collapse in South Bend against a MAC opponent, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish find themselves in an eerily similar situation entering this coming Saturday. The RedHawks from Miami (Ohio) visit Notre Dame Stadium for what will be just the third matchup all-time between the two programs. Notre Dame is 2-0 against the RedHawks, with the most recent triumph coming in 2017, a game the Irish dominated, 52-17, at home. Photo by The Irish Tribune Miami entered the season off something of a unique campaign in 2023. Despite losing star quarterback Brett Gabbert to a season-ending knee injury, the RedHawks managed to finish the season 11-3, one that was capped off with a MAC Championship. Part of that success can be drawn up to their head coach: former Notre Dame offensive coordinator, Chuck Martin. Martin most notably served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during Notre Dame’s 2012 BCS National Championship run. He accepted the Miami head coaching job following the 2013 season, and still remains in charge of the RedHawks program eleven years later.  The RedHawks enter Saturday seeking their first win of the season after coming up short in their first two meetings. In its season opener, Miami suffered a 13-6 loss at Northwestern in a game where offense was nonexistent for both teams. Coming off a week two bye, the RedHawks then dropped a 27-16 defeat to in-state rival Cincinnati. One of coach Martin’s calling cards has always been team discipline. Despite a 56-64 head coaching record at Miami, his teams play the game correctly. In their two contests this season, Miami has committed just five total penalties for a total of 25 yards. In comparison, the Irish committed five penalties against Purdue (40 yards). The RedHawks’ 12.5 penalty yards per game are currently the fewest in the nation. Last season was no different, as Miami finished the year with the 16th-fewest penalty yards per game in the country, totaling 66 total penalties for 547 yards. Offensively, Martin's side will need to rely on the returning sixth-year senior Gabbert. The Miami signal-caller, who is the brother of NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert, has unfortunately dealt with injuries during his time at Miami, which greatly limited his playing time the past two seasons. When fully healthy, Gabbert has shown he can be the best quarterback in the MAC. For example, see Gabbert’s 2021 sophomore campaign where he completed more than 59-percent of his passes and averaged 264.8 yards per game (led the MAC). His 26 touchdowns and 158.6 passer rating -- both which led the MAC -- against only six interceptions, were also standout numbers. As far as this season is concerned, Gabbert has grappled with success. He struggled at Northwestern in week one, completing 22 of 37 attempts for 227 yards in addition to two interceptions and no touchdowns. And while he was more efficient the next time out where he completed 23 of 35 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, there is still room for improvement. That being said, signs exist that he is once again becoming more comfortable in the offense. On paper, the Miami offensive line is talented. The RedHawks return both of their Second Team All-MAC offensive tackles from a year ago. The interior line, however, is where question marks exist. Whether it be from a lack of talent or injury, this offensive unit has allowed seven sacks across two games this season, tied for 20th-most in the nation. Notre Dame’s front-seven outclasses that of Northwestern and Cincinnati, so expect the Irish to bring the pressure.  Gabbert’s receiving corp possesses talent as well, and it's a group that is considered one of the best in the MAC. Despite losing top target Greg Larvadain to South Carolina, there are enough talented options for Gabbert to work with. The expected go-to pass catcher coming into this season was the shifty Cade McDonald, and he has proven why three weeks into the year. The former Michigan State transfer has posted eight receptions and 100-plus yards in both outings this year, leading the team in both categories. McDonald impressed last week when he totaled 135 yards and a touchdown on his eight catches. Behind McDonald is a steady group of weapons consisting of Reggie Virgil, Javon Tracy, and Arizona State transfer Andre Johnson. All four receivers are capable of going for over 100 yards any given week, if Gabbert has time to get them the ball. Along the same terms of the offensive line, Miami may struggle in the run game. 1,000-yard rusher Rashad Amos transferred to Ole Miss this offseason, leaving a huge void in the RedHawks offense. Unfortunately, the 'Hawks are already down another expected key contributor in the run game, as Kenny Tracy has been ruled out for this season. It appears Miami will use a running back by committee system with Keyon Mooze and Purdue transfer Dylan Downing taking the majority of snaps. If Notre Dame takes this game as seriously as they did Purdue, they could be in position to put this game away early. The Irish defense has been stellar to begin the year, and there is no reason for that to not continue this Saturday in South Bend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

To ‘Bounce back’ is defined as “to return quickly to a normal condition after a difficult situation or event.” That is exactly what Notre Dame did this weekend at Purdue. One week after suffering the most disappointing loss in program history, the Fighting Irish exploded for a 66-7 road win, the most points scored in a single game during the Marcus Freeman era. Let’s look at what was successful for the Irish to retain the Shillelagh Trophy: Photo by The Irish Tribune Offense The Notre Dame offense is alive, and in classic fashion, running the da*n ball. Despite dealing with in-game injuries to offensive line starters Billy Schrauth and Ashton Craig, the Irish ran all over Purdue for 364 rushing yards, including 278 in the first half. This is the type of rushing performance that is needed to make up for a quiet passing game. Jeremiyah Love led all rushers with 109 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries, while fellow back Jadarian Price also found the endzone in his 86 yard outing on eight carries. Perhaps the biggest welcome sight for the Irish offense on Saturday was Riley Leonard’s rushing performance. Leonard rushed eleven times, totaling three touchdowns and 100 yards on the ground. This performance on the ground easily overshadowed his lackluster passing game. Leonard completed 11/16 pass attempts for 112 yards, and continues to lack a passing touchdown this season. On a positive note, Leonard proved he can control a game, run an offense, and continues to show good ball protection as he did not turn the ball over.  Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock may have found his groove. A week after going 3/10 on 3rd down attempts, the Irish play caller found much greater success last week, finishing 7/12 on 3rd down tries. Notre Dame’s 364 rushing yards was 174 more than they totaled against Northern Illinois, and they did it on two less carries. The Irish’s 8.5 yards per rush will be difficult to replicate, however, even a percentage of that success should open up the rest of the offense in future weeks. Letting the run game open up the pass game could be the key to offensive success for the Irish.  Notre Dame had a nice surprise in the second half, when backup quarterback Steve Angeli substituted in and performed very well. Notably, the game was won by the time Angeli had entered the game (49-0), however, he flashed his potential as a passer in this limited playing time. Angeli finished 6/9 for 100 yards and two passing touchdowns, the first passing touchdowns for Notre Dame’s offense this season. In the scenario that Leonard is hampered by injury or not performing well, this Angeli performance should be a good sign to the coaching staff that they have a viable passer waiting in the wings. Defense In a great performance from all three phases of the Notre Dame squad, it was the defense that truly shined. During this dominant effort, the Irish defense held Purdue to one third quarter touchdown pass and 162 total yards. Coach Al Golden put the clamps on Purdue, allowing only six first downs - for comparison, the Irish offense totaled 27. In addition, the defense played great on clutch downs, holding Purdue to 1/12 on 3rd down conversions and 0/1 on their sole 4th down attempt. Purdue quarterback Hudson Card was harassed and confused all game, completing just 11/24 pass attempts for 121 yards and a passing touchdown with two interceptions. Irish defensive lineman, sophomore Boubacar Traore, made the play of the game on this 34-yard pick six , which was a part of his two tackles and one sack performance. The second interception was made by true freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who was also impressive with three tackles and a half sack. The number that this Irish defense will remember: 38. That is how many rushing yards Purdue totaled on Saturday. The Irish defense was all over Card, as he finished with six carries for -42 yards rushing, his longest rush being one yard. The Irish defense finished with five sacks. The defensive leader was senior Jason Onye, who totaled four tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. Another performance that deserves a spotlight is that of Jordan Botelho who recorded three tackles and a sack before being carted off with an injury in the second quarter. Notre Dame, once again, has an elite defense. They will be the reason the Irish win football games and deserve respect for their efforts so far this season. Notre Dame’s 12 points per game allowed and 265 yards per game allowed are both top-30 nationally.  Eventually Coach Denbrock and Riley Leonard will need to figure out how to make the passing game more explosive, but for now, enjoy this historic win. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame got a much needed win against Purdue this past Saturday. What's next? Photo by The Irish Tribune Marcus Freeman dropped the hammer on Purdue, and scored the most points by Notre Dame following a loss since 1908, but was it ever a question that Freeman could bounce back through the adversity of a bad loss? Considering he had done it twice prior, it didn’t come as a surprise that Freeman would figure out a way to right the ship. The question remains - how did he allow himself yet again to be put into this situation, and will it be the last time? Those questions we may never have the answer to, or won’t know until the season progresses, but the fact remains that Freeman and this team responded, and we have to live for the moment and not in the past.  As I stated in a previous article, there's nothing wrong with dropping the hammer and pounding your opponent into dust as they did against Purdue. I would argue it’s more charitable to do so versus taking it easy on an opponent. By letting up, you're not allowing them to grow and realize their true mistakes. This brings me to the controversy surrounding the news that NIU’s Head Coach, Thomas Hammock, reached out to Freeman after his team beat Notre Dame. What was described of the phone conversation was that Hammock alerted Freeman to what he saw as deficiencies that ultimately allowed his team to beat Notre Dame.  While I personally do not have a problem with Hammock making that call or Freeman even allowing it, what I have a problem with is that it became public knowledge. There are certain things that should remain in the locker room, and between two individuals in the privacy of a phone call. I know Hammock was the one who allowed it to get out there, but it really took away from what he was trying to do. It appeared to fans that it was a mockery and embarrassment to the fanbase and the Head Coach. I personally don’t see it that way, but I'll admit it I can understand why some people think that. Did it actually even help? We may never know that answer.  What does look good is the fact that Freeman was open to it, as it shows humility and a willingness to create change. One of the greatest qualities in a leader is the ability to listen to constructive criticism and make changes. Freeman was open to both, and that bodes well moving forward. What he now needs to figure out is how to never let this happen again. Every week you have to have the same energy and motivation to win. The Marcus Freeman we saw in the tunnel before the Texas A&M game was not the same guy we saw before the NIU game. He has to find a way to rally this team each and every week like his job depends on it, because ultimately it does. Freeman did exactly that on Saturday.  The Purdue game was over at halftime by way of a blowout, and the backups were able to see the game for live reps. That is exactly the goal for the progression of the future of the program. You pound the weak teams into the dirt so the younger players can see the field. That’s what the big boys of college football do, and why they continue to have plug and play athletes ready to play at any moment. They have the experience to do so.   The team for the most part on Saturday looked like a well oiled machine. The O-line continues to grow and gain experience, while giving much more time to the QB in the pocket. The running game is top five in the country, and they continue to show that every week. The defense is also one of the best in the country, and hasn’t allowed a team to score more than 16 points through three games, but there is still one issue that needs to be addressed. The QB position is still very much a weakness. Although Riley Leonard is very good at taking off and running, making defenders miss and gaining ground in large chunks, his passing has left a lot to be desired.  He continues to struggle seeing downfield with wide receivers open on multiple plays throughout the game. Instead of trusting the pocket and stepping into it, he gets happy feet and takes off, relying on his legs when he doesn’t have to. He continues to throw off his back foot, which has led to inaccurate throws and missed opportunities. For Riley, I believe it's a confidence thing, because he just doesn’t seem to be very comfortable in what he’s seeing or in his arm.  Should Marcus Freeman move on from Leonard is the question that many are asking. I personally think that question has to be asked after watching Angeli come in and score the team’s first passing touchdowns with ease. He did suffer some sacks that Riley Leonard likely wouldn’t have, but sacks aren’t necessarily a rhythm killer, as you live to fight another down. Angeli may take sacks, but he protects the ball and doesn’t allow turnovers. I can live with a sack here or there much better than I can missing or not seeing open wide receivers.  The other question I’ve seen is could a two QB system work between Leonard and Angeli? I’m not necessarily a fan of a two QB system because it can kill momentum and confidence when one or both get into a good rhythm. But it’s not like it hasn’t worked before, as Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators immediately come to mind. Again, I'm not a fan of it and really think they need to stay with a one QB offense. So, if Freeman is going to stay with Riley Leonard, he has to figure out why he’s struggling to move the ball downfield and mitigate it - quickly. With a team like Miami (OH) coming up next on the schedule, he needs to get Leonard comfortable and in rhythm early. If Leonard continues to struggle, Freeman will have to make a change, as he can’t afford to continue to ride this train with a QB who lacks meaningful passing ability.  With all this said, you have to take the wins when they come sometimes and ride that feeling to the following week. For Freeman, he hasn’t erased the memory of the NIU game, but if he can figure out a way to right the ship and pound teams every week like this, he will begin to regain the full respect of the fanbase. Until then, it’s one game at a time. Onward to Miami (OH). Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun