Notre Dame returns to independent status after a season in which they played in the ACC (due to COVID-19 scheduling restrictions) and ended up winning the regular season title after beating Clemson (who did not have Trevor Lawrence). In the last three seasons, Notre Dame has two appearances in the College Football Playoff, along with an 11-win season to boot. Last year, the Irish were right there until losing by 17 points in the national semifinal to Alabama.
What can they accomplish in 2021? Don’t miss our online college football betting thoughts on this team.
NCAA News: Notre Dame Calendar, Betting Odds & Analysis
A Rebuild on Offense
Notre Dame only returns two starters on offense, as four O-linemen and quarterback Ian Book (who had won 30 games as a starter and led the Irish to two unbeaten regular seasons). Book has left, and Jack Coan, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, will take the reins. In 2019, Coan completed just about 70 percent of his pass attempts with the Badgers, although a ton of those passes were short to medium yardage. Tommy Rees was in his first season as offensive coordinator, and the ground game became important. Tailback Kyren Williams had a breakthrough redshirt freshman campaign, scoring 13 touchdowns on the ground and rumbling for 1,125 yards. This time around, though, he won’t have that wrecking crew of an O-line. Rees also has tailback Chris Tyree, who is actually faster than Williams.
Notre Dame needs to throw the ball down the field more in 2021. They have deep threat Braden Lenzy back this season, and wide receiver Avery Davis returns to the slot for a fifth season, and Kevin Austin Jr will also be running routes. Can the O-line keep Coan protected long enough to get the ball down the field? Will Coan work on stretching the field after settling for dump-offs time after time? We will see.
A New Coordinator on Defense
Marcus Freeman comes from Chicago to take over after putting together a scary-good unit in Cincinnati. Freeman will keep the scheme in place for Notre Dame, and we can see why: 27 of the team’s last 38 opponents railed to score at least 21 points. He can also use a 3-3-5 look to slow down passing games, as the team has some work to do on the D-line to get ready — except for the interior line, where each lineup spot has three experienced players on the depth chart. Drew White returns at linebacker to lead the defense for a third year, and he has three experienced linebackers joining him.
The biggest name on defense is Kyle Hamilton. A junior, the safety played the majority of 2020 with an ankle injury that needed surgery in the offseason, but he still led Notre Dame in tackles and lit opposing players up, controlling the field between the sidelines. Shaun Crawford is gone at the other safety slot, so Hamilton will need a new partner back there. Losing Clarence Lewis means that the cornerback position is largely up for grabs as well.
Making the Special Teams Special
Kicker Jonathan Doerr only made four of his last nine field goals last year for Notre Dame. He did start strong, making 29 of his first 35 attempts. Punter Jay Bramblett upped his average to 42.7 yards per kick a year ago, holding returners to just one return in every four, with the others becoming touchbacks. Tyree should return kicks and should break a few, although he could not get down the field in 2020. Lawrence Keys III or Loreno Styles Jr could return punts, an area where the Irish need some greater firepower.
2021 Notre Dame Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 5 at Florida State
Saturday, Sept. 11 vs Toledo
Saturday, Sept. 18 vs Purdue
Saturday, Sept. 25 vs Wisconsin*
Saturday, Oct. 2 vs Cincinnati
Saturday, Oct. 9 at Virginia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 16 BYE
Saturday, Oct. 23 vs USC
Saturday, Oct. 30 vs North Carolina
Saturday, Nov. 6 vs Navy
Saturday, Nov. 13 at Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 20 vs Georgia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 27 at Stanford
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