August 31, at Miami - a place that hasn’t been kind to Notre Dame at all. And not just city but that venue. It ain’t been kind. But they ended up in a title game a year ago and while sustaining some losses, they will bring back the entire OL group and that includes many backups who saw starting time as starters began getting hurt during the year.
I suspect coach Freeman will lean into that line to try to win this one with a new QB onboard for them. CJ Carr is supposed to be good but will be getting used to the starting job there so why not run it a bunch? So will our DL be ready? We talk about being loaded at DE but what about our DT room? Do we have enough to stand in with our starters and depth for 4 quarters? How will Beck look IF he’s even available to go? How about the new secondary, what will their role be?
I have many questions about us with 100 days to go to kickoff that Sunday night.
But for the entire team to show up that day will be a tough ask. It’s not impossible, but our secondary issues might still linger, and gameplan and gameday coaching is always a wildcard.
Then again our team should be fired up for it. And hey, we’re not strangers with starting strong and fading over the season…
Games are won and lost in the trenches. When we thrashed ND back in 2017(?) our DL were in the backfield all day long. Heck, Rosier was our QB. Our DT play/depth will be critical here.
Secondary is MUCH improved, on paper, than what we had last year.
To be honest with you I think that one of our most important positions this season will be backup QB. Why? Beck is coming off a significant injury and let’s just say he falls on that elbow hard, then what? I know…what if…I get it, but it’s something to consider.
Honestly, our OL SHOULD move the pile this year.
Still aways away of course but I believe we will be ready to make a statement.