First and Gold: Notre Dame Podcast
Notre Dame is starting to FIGURE IT OUT: DL is SURGING + Running Game FINDS its FOOTING
Shop B.Draddy https://bdraddy.com/collections/notre-dame Shop TMPR Sports https://tmprsports.com/?aff=198 The Irish continue to find answers on both sides of the ball, and there are plenty of encouraging developments to break down. Notre Dame’s defensive line continues to show legitimate pass rushing ability on the edge, with Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young making their presence felt. Young in particular has been a pleasant surprise, continuing to show the growth and development that has made him an increasingly important piece of the Irish defense. With Brauntae Johnson and Luke Talich unavailable, true freshman Joey O’Brien was thrust into action at safety. The former five-star recruit made the most of his opportunity, showing the instincts, athleticism, and playmaking ability that made him one of the nation’s most highly regarded recruits coming out of high school. On offense, Notre Dame is beginning to show more balance and creativity. The ball was spread around more consistently, including opportunities for the tight ends, while multiple wide receivers continue to make their mark. Micah Gilbert’s emergence has been one of the biggest storylines, while Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse continue to give CJ Carr reliable weapons in the passing game. And perhaps most importantly, the Notre Dame running game is starting to find its footing. After some early season questions, the Irish are beginning to establish more consistency on the ground which is an encouraging sign as this offense continues to develop its identity.
