One Foot Down Reacts: Notre Dame’s Top Need Against Stanford
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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Notre Dame fans and fans across the country.
This week for One Foot Down Reacts, we’re asking: What do you, as a Notre Dame football fan, need to see against Stanford that convinces you were are still on the championship title track?
After a sloppy 37-26 win in rainy Chapel Hill, the Irish return home for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday against the Stanford Cardinal.
Here are four outcomes. Which one do you think is most pressing?
- Improved linebacker/pass coverage: The play of safety Adon Shuler and linebackers Jaylen Sneed and Drayk Bowen were put under the microscope after North Carolina passed for 208 yards and three touchdowns. Shuler had his second “down” game of the season in coverage, allowing three catches for 73 yards and one touchdown, according to PFF. Bowen had his worst game of the season, according to the analytics site, registering just two tackles and giving up 18 yards on two receptions. Ditto for Sneed, who was largely absent from the box score after registering two tackles, and yielding one target for 13 yards.
- No special teams miscues: North Carolina’s Jaden Jefferson opened the second half with a 98-yard kick return for a touchdown that was predicated on a blown lane assignment. Can the Irish chalk up this major miscue to the weather? We’ll be monitoring during Stanford.
- A dominant performance from running backs Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr.: Notre Dame figured out an inclement weather strategy that seemed to work well – feeding freshman Jonaz Walton the rock more than 20 times. Walton produced, rushing for 120 yards (81 after contact), according to PFF. His performance diminished the efforts of Williams (8 rushes, 42 yards, 0 missed tackles forced) and James Jr. (9 rushes, 65 yards, 1 missed tackle forced). Does Notre Dame have a running back by committee or will Williams re-establish himself as RB1?
- Win by 39+, impress the pollsters: Miami beat Stanford earlier this year, 45-6. While the Irish and Hurricanes will meet on the field Nov. 7, it may do wonders for the perception of each team if Notre Dame can turn in a similar (or better) performance against the Cardinal. Is a top 3 matchup imminent after Election Day?
Cast your vote and come back Friday to see the results. Early returns suggest Irish fans are looking for a crooked scoreboard Saturday by any means necessary. Do you agree? Or will some other category take the top spot?
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