Quarterback:
Will the real Carlyle Holiday please stand up?  The quarterback we saw today was not the same quarterback we saw last week.  Did Holiday have a great game last week or a horrible game this week?  I guess we will find that out next week.  I tend to believe he played about his worse game we are gonna see out of him today and that it will be all uphill from here.  That may be optimistic, but after seeing him hit his receivers in stride last week time and time again, it is evident he has the ability.  Against the Boilermakers though he was rushed and lost his composure.  He better get used to the pressure because you can bet it all that Michigan is going to rush him and make him beat them.  I think he is capable of leading the Irish to victory, but which Holiday will show up?
Grade: D

Runningbacks:
While Holiday's production drastically fell off, the backs performed much better running the ball.  Their pass protection still has a lot to be desired, but running the ball they were better.  They were still a little tentative and are still not attacking the whole, but they improved on that this week.  Look for more improvement next week as they get more and more comfortable in their roles.  Grant nearly had his first 100 yard game (96 yards on 21 carries) but he did get 35 on one run.  He still is not attacking the hole, that will come however.  Rashon Powers-Neal looks like a true player.  He averaged 6.1 yards per carry this week and looks to have a lot of potential.  His role will grow as the seasons progresses.  Blocking MUST get better however.  The Purdue defenders run through and around the backs all game long.  They have to do a better job to give Holiday time to find his receivers.
Grade: C+

Wide Receivers:
Granted they didn't see the ball much (2 receptions for 18 yards) but the drop by Battle was a drive killer and inexcusable.  The ball was there and he has to make that catch 10 out of 10 times.  The receivers blocked fairly well for the backs.  The receivers have to do a better job getting open.  When Holiday gets forced out of the pocket they must adjust and get open.  On one Holiday pass in the third quarter he was rushed from the pocket and the two ND receivers were standing still.  They must run with him and make themselves open.  They showed they can make things happen when they get the ball last week and they must do a better job at getting open next week.
Grade: C

Offensive Line:
Running blocking was better, but pass blocking was worse.  Purdue was getting pressure on Holiday even when they weren't blitzing.  The line will be tested greatly next week and will need to play much better next week.  If Holiday doesn't have time to pass next week, its going to put Holiday in a position where he is scrambling a lot and with the inexperience at the backup quarterback position, the Irish can ill afford to have Holiday running around all game getting hit.  If the current starters don't get the job done, put in some of the younger guys and let them have a try.
Grade: C-

Defensive Line:
The front four didn't get as much pressure on Purdue quarterback Kyle Orten as I would have liked, but they played decently.  They got to Orten a couple of times and let him get away which shouldn't have happened since Orten is not a very mobile quarterback.  They also didn't clog up running holes like they did last week, the Purdue offensive line had its way with the d-line at times.  Overall, it wasn't a bad performance, just not nearly as dominating as last week.
Grade: B-

Linebackers:
I am liking this young group of linebackers more and more.  Brandon Hoyte is gonna be a special player for Notre Dame.  Mike Goolsby is always around the ball.  Derek Curry also played well and recovered a fumble in the 4th that put the Notre Dame offense in position to take the lead.  When Courtney Watson comes back he is going to have a dog fight on his hands with Hoyte.  I expect Hoyte to start next week based on comments Ty made earlier this week that they are going to slowly get Watson back in the swing of things.  If he is healthy enough to play he will, but I think Hoyte gets the start.  Goolsby made a great play on a reverse that Purdue ran by dragging the receiver down and had 3 tackles for losses on the day.  Goolsby also tipped a key pass late in the game as Purdue tried to come back.
Grade: A

Secondary:
Duff and Walton both got beat long for the first time this year and both were HUGE plays for Purdue.  Outside of those two plays both to Standeford, they played another great game.  Duff made the game winning INT that he returned for a touchdown and Walton nearly had a couple of picks.  Glen Earl and Gerome Sapp both had nice games with Sapp returning the fumble for a touchdown and Earl making a huge hit on a critical third down play in the fourth quarter.   Garron Bible saw some action today and looked pretty good.  He covered his receiver well.  Overall the secondary was strong again and Walton and Duff are the best CB tandem at ND in long time.
Grade: A-

Special Teams:
The special teams scored 10 and gave up 13 (they scored on the fumble on the kickoff and on Setta's 18 yard FG and allowed Purdue to return a kick for a TD and missed out on 6 attainable points on Setta's 2 misses from 38 and 42).   The return game was pretty good and set up the offense nicely throughout the game. Battle was one tackler away from breaking huge returns twice.  Setta responded to his 5 of 6 game with one of his worse games.  I don't thin you will ever see him miss 2 straight field goals again, especially from those distances.  He is a great kicker and had a bad game.  He will bounce back and should still be counted on.
Grade: C

Coaching:
I thought the coaching was much better last week.  The offensive play calling this week was too Davie Era-like for my liking.  Where was the play action?  Where were the deep routes?  Last week the play calling put Holiday in a position to move the offense, this week it wasn't nearly as good.  Were the coaches holding back some for Michigan?  Maybe, but I highly doubt it.  I think the coaches were too concerned with establishing a running game.  Look for them to make an adjustment for next week.  I hope the first play next week is a bomb off the play action to Battle or Jenkins.  The staff got their first taste of boos from the Irish faithful this week and they weren't undeserved.  Running on 3rd and 8 and 3rd and 11 in a tie game?  That is putting too much faith in the kicking game.  Setta is a very good kicker, but he is also human as he showed today.  There was no reason to run the ball in those situations.  Holiday is going to be in situations where he needs  a touchdown to win, not a field goal and needs experience leading his team to the end zone.  On the defensive side of the ball however, I thought the coaches did a nice job.  Purdue ran the ball better than they should have, but they also ran a lot more than they normally do.  The defense made plays when it had it.
Grade: C

Overall:
It was an ugly win, but most importantly, it was a win.  If Notre Dame can win when its offense can't move the ball, that is great, but that can't happen every week.  The offense needs to step up in a big way.  I feel they are up to the task, but will need to come out firing in order to do so.  Play calling like this next week will not get it done.  Notre Dame needs to mix it up more next week.  They attempted 22 passes this week but it was when they attempted them.  It was more like last year out there when Notre Dame would only pass in obvious passing downs.  There is a lot of talent on this team and the offense is definitely capable of moving the ball, they proved that last week.  They haven't proved they can put the ball in the end zone yet this year however and will have to do both things next week.
Grade: C