Notre Dame Football developed the identity of a run-first, smash mouth team in 2020. It was a divergence from the rest of the college football world where even in the SEC these days, defense is at a minimum and airing the ball out has become the norm. If anyone thought Notre Dame might move back towards the mean in 2021, the hype video Notre Dame released for the offense heading into spring doesn’t suggest that.
Notre Dame seems to be leaning into the run-first, power offense mentality with the clips they’ve strung together and the soundbites from the players. That doesn’t mean Notre Dame won’t throw it more, or more efficiently in 2021, of course, but it does suggest at least that the “run the damn ball” crowd should be pleased with the run/pass ratio again this year.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Fact: Alabama hasn’t attempted an onside kick in a game in over 5 years.
Ergo, a gimmick play relegated to the dustbin of history.
Math.
Fact check: False
Bama attempted an onside kick during their loss to LSU in 2019.
Give the baby her baba.
Bama was 47th in rushing last year, 3rd in passing.
This is not the way.
Ah…grab a stat, present indisputable college football truism, smirk smugly.
If you don’t wind up in 3rd down very often, guess what it might to your P/R balance?
Versus, say….oh, I dunno….you have a QB who can’t throw accurately, or deep…and you end up in 3rd down a LOT.
Can’t think of any teams like that offhand….