(UPDATE: we finally have news regarding the suspended ND 5)
The good:
-Notre Dame football is 5-0, despite losing two very good players in KeiVarae Russell and DaVaris Daniels, as well as three solid players in Ishaq Williams, Kendall Moore and Eilar Hardy to suspension. (The five Notre Dame football players were not at practice Wednesday, that’s all we know as of yet, but we may not gain knowledge of a resolution until after the North Carolina game,)
-The passing game. Despite missing his top receiver, quarterback Everett Golson has been very accurate throwing the football at 64%. He also set a school record for consecutive completions in the win over Syracuse.
(Related: Notre Dame football game preview and prediction vs. North Carolina)
-The emergence of sophomore receiver William Fuller. Outside of a couple of drops early in the Stanford game, Fuller has been Golson’s main target and leads the team in touchdowns with 5 and catches with 28. Without Fuller, the Irish would not be sitting on a 5-0 record.
-The hiring of new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. The first year coach brought in a more aggressive 4-3 press defense that has left opponents with very few answers. No opponent this season has scored more than 17 against the Irish.
-Even when Golson has struggled, he has still been able to shake off the mistakes and make plays. No better example than the game winning drive against Stanford. When the Irish star qb needs to make a play, he has answered the call every time so far.
The bad:
This Notre Dame football team does not excel in the running game. The three headed monster of Tarean Folston, Cam McDaniel and Greg Bryant have been anything but dominant against mediocre competition. (Obviously, Stanford defense is the one exception) If this issue doesn’t get resolved soon, it could end up being the down fall later as the weather changes and winter sets in.
-Constant change across the offensive line. It’s a very bad sign when you have to make position changes across your offensive line four games into the season. Whatever head coach Brian Kelly says in media availabilities, this is still a bad sign when you have to make this big of a change in midseason.
-Notre Dame’s quasi-Heisman candidate turning the ball over 6 times inside of 5 quarters against Syracuse and Stanford. Make those types of mistakes in the upcoming run of tough road games and losses will mount. A Jameis Winston led offense will not leave points on the field like Stanford did this past Saturday.
The ugly:
-Lack of resolution of the status of the 5 suspended athletes. Waiting close to 3 months and still not making a decision is unfair to the 5 athletes, but also to the whole team. The longer this drags out, the worse it looks for Brian Kelly, the University and the Notre Dame football program
-Potential strength of schedule through the first 5 games of the season. Obviously, the Fighting Irish are not to blame at all for this, but all 5 opponents so far have not lived up to their preseason expectations, and it could potentially bite the Fighting Irish at the end of the season when strength of schedule decides who makes the playoff. If the Irish lose even one game other than #1 Florida State, it could be enough to keep them out of the final four; depending on how everything shakes out. If schedule strength ends up ruining the 2014 Notre Dame football season…well, that’s yet another problem you can blame on Michigan head coach Brady Hoke.
Finally back to the good:
This team has a real sense of togetherness and they believe in one another. The players seem to have bought into what the coaching staff has been selling so far.That is so important during the long college football season ahead. Thus far, Notre Dame football has answered the bell and more. The ending of the Stanford win had a very 2012 feel for the team. And individually for Golson, it was a Heisman type moment.