Notre Dame first Spring football series under Freeman
5 min read
SOUTH BEND – Observations, opinions and other choices from NDI columnist Tom Noie in the course of Saturday’s Blue-Gold video game, received 13-10 by the Gold in entrance of 33,754 at Notre Dame Stadium.
► It is freshman Steve Angeli diving for the in close proximity to pylon and a touchdown as time expires and we have drama in the spring recreation!
► Darn that previous phase of a staircase somewhere above at the Guglielmino Heart. We truly hoped/wanted/wished to see Tyler Buchner under middle in this 1. It wasn’t heading to present any answers as to whether he was all set to get started the 2022 time opener, but any peek at all is far better than no peek.
►Eighty levels – 78 at kickoff, but let us spherical up – and partly sunny skies in April are way better than 80 degrees in mid-September. We’re hunting at you humidity, which was a manageable 44 per cent Saturday.
Extra:Notre Dame soccer: TE Michael Mayer not thinking NFL, even if every person else is
►It took 55 performs and virtually the complete very first fifty percent right before an individual crossed the purpose line with the ball in his fingers. Elevate just one of yours if you had backup limited conclusion Andrew Yanoshak, a sophomore stroll-on from Bedford, Pa., as the male who was going to score the day’s to start with landing.
►No make a difference how perfectly he played for how prolonged he played, that quarterback Drew Pyne experienced his No. 10 red jersey tucked up into his pads to exhibit off a bare midsection was a really serious flex. Appreciate the look.
►Pyne was the only quarterback to enjoy in the very first 50 %. Doing the job for the Blue and Gold groups, Pyne accomplished 22-of-33 for 185 yards and a person score. He was intercepted 2 times.
►The initial contact for vast receiver Braden Lenzy on Saturday went for 11 yards – on a have. Relatively see No. jogging down the sideline – or the seam – that out of the backfield. Like later in the initially fifty percent when his to start with catch went for 24 yards. That’s extra like it.
► Senior wander-on broad receiver Conor Ratigan can do extra than host a well known podcast. He experienced the longest catch and runs of the working day (58 yards).
►The wind blowing the opening kickoff off the tee prior to Blake Grupe could put in the air? Figures…lol. Then Rylie Mills sacking Pyne on the game’s initially play? Figures, as well.
►If the first two collection are any sign, Mills is going to be a handful this period. He already looks the component.
►Three and out on the opening collection of spring? Hopefully not a preview of what is to arrive when it definitely matters.
►Freshman status apart, Jadarian Price tag will find a spot in the functioning back rotation this season, particularly if he can capture and run the way he did Saturday. He took an Angeli screen 51 yards for an early score in the second fifty percent, Seemed like a veteran accomplishing so.
►Looking to locate sort of a home on protection, now-linebacker Jordan Botelho amazed with an interception and 42-property return early in the second quarter. But a white hoodie beneath his blue uniform? On a working day like Saturday? Person, that’s bought to go, JB.
Of training course, if he finishes any first fifty percent this drop with 4 tackles as he did Saturday, Botelho can put on really substantially regardless of what.
►Most essential perform of the initially 50 % may have been a Pyne have for 4 yards on 3rd-and-two. Why? Both of those teams, every quarterbacked by Pyne, had merged to go 1-for-10 on third down just before he ultimately moved the chains.
►Sophomore Chris Salerno punting to his graduate pupil/brother Matt 4 plays in, that was very neat.
►Grupe from 36 yards out for the very first score of the spring game? Fantastic to see. Unique teams has to be close to automated this season. It just does.
►Even in the spring game and with a new particular teams mentor in Brian Mason, punt returns have been but a rumor. As in, non-existent. It’s possible in the drop. Perhaps.
►Junior tight close Michael Mayer did not perform considerably Saturday (three catches, 35 yards), which is Alright mainly because arrive fall, he’ll almost never leave it. Mayer was tapped at the end of the first 50 percent to assist the Gold team navigate a two-minute drill. When in question, uncover No. 87. Early. Usually.
►First quarter stats – initially downs (five), punts (four), interceptions nullified by penalty (1), scores (none). Not substantially improved in the second. Which is spring for you.
►Wanted: Play-earning large receivers. Please speak to Stuckey, Chansi, for more details.
►More from freshman linebacker Junior Tuihalamaka, please. He just seems like another person who can do damage in place.
► Similar goes for freshman cornerback Jaden Mickey.
► Sophomore working back again Audric Estime can be a difficulty late in game titles when the defense gets weary. He broke a 25-yard run late in the fourth quarter the place he busted out of at the very least four tackles.
►Among the hundreds of previous gamers back again on campus for the game have been 14 latest Irish in the NFL, recognized through an early timeout. That team involved Ian Guide (New Orleans), Chase Claypool (Pittsburgh) and Tommy Kraemer (Detroit).
► Notre Dame revealed the evident at halftime – home online games towards Stanford (Oct. 15) and Clemson (Nov. 5) and the Shamrock Collection activity against Brigham Younger (Oct. 8) all will get started at 7:30 p.m. EST. All other Irish house games will kick at 2:30 p.m.
► Term is that Notre Dame requested 300 incredibly hot dogs to serve the media in the press box. Reporters might like to consume, but not that a lot.
►Saturday marked the initially Irish football match played inside of Notre Dame Stadium given that Nov. 21, 2009 – a double extra time reduction to Connecticut – that Brian Kelly was not the head coach. That was 4,536 times ago.
Sorry, low-hanging fruit.
► On the subject matter of days, Saturday was 133 days right until Notre Dame plays an genuine football video game that issues – Sept. 3 at Ohio Point out.
Comply with South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on Twitter: @tnoieNDI. Make contact with: (574) 235-6153.
