Notre Dame 31 Northwestern 21 – Recap and Highlights

Irish Editor 2018 Games Tagged ,
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ND vs Northwestern Highlights
ND vs Northwestern Highlights

Notre Dame sleepwalked through the first half which ended 7-7. I’m becoming more disenchanted with the play calling as well as the OL’s inability to run block.

It’s incredible when you have a runner like Williams. He only went 19/56 – gotta fix that. Book matched that rushing yardage.

QB Ian Book took over the 2nd half with a display of passing wizardry going 22/34 for 343 yards – and he threw to all the receivers who got into the game including a perfect 47 yard toss to Michael Young for a TD.

Chase Claypool had a terrific game as did Boykin. Book also ran down the sidelines for a 25 yard TD.

The ND defense held NW to 21 points no thanks to a blocked punt. You can’t let this crap go on if you want to have a serious chance at the playoffs. If Book is off in any of the next games you can kiss that goodbye. I don’t want to play BAMA.

Here are the game highlights:

Here is the Brian Kelly post game press conference:

Next Game: ND vs Florida State

Notre Dame vs Northwestern Predictions – 7:15 PM EST ESPN

Irish Editor 2018 Games, Predictions Tagged
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ND vs Northwestern Predictions
ND vs Northwestern Predictions

It doesn’t matter what should on paper be a ND blowout. NW coach Fitzgerald has a deep seeded hatred for ND, not to mention the Chicago recruiting yearly battle.

NW is not doing bad this year sitting at 5-3. They’ve beaten Purdue, MSU, Nebraska and last week Wisconsin. They only lost to Michigan by a 20-17 score. ND better be ready for a 4 quarter battle as NW plays as hard as Navy for the entire game.

ND riding a wave has to get out early to take their confidence away, and ruin any chance for a 4th quarter comeback. It’s time for ND to look like a Playoff team and building on their current run its time to really ramp it up in both the run and pass game.

In that regard I would have Armstrong and Williams in a 2 back set – let’s use both these guys together at the same time. I would pass to set up the run then gash them on the ground.

You can expect NW to mirror the Pitt defensive scheme.

Chip Long has to get a lot more creative running the offense. ND defense can take care of itself. You want to be in the playoffs? Show it Saturday night.

Notre Dame 40 Northwestern 20.

Here is the Brian Kelly pre game interview: