I think we've got a vertical threat. That Lenzy kid (was that his name, the one with the TD against USC?) is a flat out burner. It's not often you see anyone run away from a USC defense like that. I just don't like our offensive design at all. We need a vertical threat and we just don't seem to try it enough.
Corey, I am not totally familiar with Coach Kelly, but it seems he is very conservative in his approach to calling plays, much like Jim Tressel?
Look at the misdirection on the Lenzy TD. It looks for all the world like a sweep to the right, guards pulling everything...then Lenzy pops the other way. Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
it's been a long time since ND could run a misdirection predicated on the fact that 'our guy is faster than your guys' and be right. That Lenzy kid is a weapon.
All the sites are doing midseason reviews. They are all pretty consistent. 1. LB play has steadily improved and the worries that they would be a weak spot has not come to pass. A lot of praise for Asmar Bilal, who a lot of people were throwing under the bus in August some even wondering why we brought him back as a 5th year. But he's had an excellent season so far. There is a lot of young talent that is growing every week, Drew White, JOK, and Jack Lamb have all played well. 2. Kicking game is so much better than expected. Doerer has been a revelation. He got the game ball for USC after cooly making 3 FG's over 40 yds, the last one being 52. Bramlett has been solid as a punter but not spectacular, but a lot of angst was out there about him after watching him kick in the Blue/Gold game in the Spring. 3. OL slow start but has been playing better each week. That was a solid USC front 7 that they dominated, special praise for the Banks/Patterson/Kraemer. Good news is that there is a decent chance these guys come back as a group. 4. RB's Tony Jones Jr has laid all on the line and has been very reliable. Backups haven't played much but have looked promising ...everybody is waiting to see what Armstrong can do in the 2nd half he was projected to the #1 and looked like he would have a great year...that ended after his first carry in the Louisville game. Can he return to form? It'll be interesting to see how many carries he gets vs Michigan. 5. QB ..almost universal disappointment in Book. It's not so much that he's playing bad, he's not. He's only got 2 picks in 6 games. He protected the football and he put the team on his back in the game winning TD drive in the 4th qtr vs USC. But the thing was everybody was expecting to see a much improved Ian Book, instead we got the same reliable but unspectacular Ian Book. Of course there are calls for Kelly to give Jurkovec a shot but that's not happening. Book has only lost 2 games (Clemson and Georgia). 6. DL ..Irish fans worried about this line being thin and young. But they have played very well. We all knew we had edge rushers but the middle with MTA and Hinish was suspect. Jayson Ademilola and Jacob Lacey stepped up and given us a lot of good minutes. I think everybody acknowledges that making the CFP is going to take some upsets and crazy stuff to get us to the top of the 1 loss heap and into the CFP. But before we worry about that we have to finish the season off with that 1 loss.
I was very disappointed in Bilal in the Louisville game but have to admit, he's been doing a great job since then. Agree about Doerer and the O line. They covered for a mediocre passing attack vs SC.