Eight final thoughts on Notre Dame’s emphatic 31-13 win against Georgia Tech, which said as much about the identity of Marcus Freeman’s team as perhaps any game this season.
1. A former Notre Dame assistant coach used the phrase “he can break glass” to describe Marist Liufau and why he kept getting run even when he wasn’t always productive. It meant Liufau hit so hard that he’d tackle through running backs and wide receivers. The violence of when Liufau connected compensated for the lack of production when he didn’t.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Drayk Bowen break glass. Georgia Tech, which at times looked like it was made of it, learned as much. Notre Dame’s two young linebackers play with such violence that they regularly knock opponents out of the game. This doesn’t feel like something that’s taught as much as it’s just who they are. Although Freeman clearly values their aggressiveness.
2. As much as this season felt like a last ride for this version of Notre Dame’s defense — eight opening-night starters figured to be gone — it’s hard to look at the current iteration and not think about what’s next. And be intrigued by it.
Viliamu-Asa, Bowen, Adon Shuler, Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, Boubacar Traore, Gabriel Rubio, Joshua Burnham, Jaiden Ausberry and Bryce Young? That’s an incredible place for Notre Dame’s next generation to start next winter. The Irish will need help from the transfer portal at defensive tackle, safety and nickel. But create a few developmental stories like Loghan Thomas, Sean Sevillano Jr. and Luke Talich, then check back on that.
Notre Dame might not be in the “reloading” neighborhood of Georgia or Ohio State, but the Irish move further and further away from the “rebuilding” camp every week.
3. As much as Riley Leonard’s interception felt like a freshman mistake from a senior, it’s worth remembering his 12-of-12 stretch during the second and third quarters that included two touchdown runs as Notre Dame scored 24 consecutive points. Leonard looked in command, a new reality that’s now common enough that you forget to notice it. He didn’t force the ball and spread it around. He took what the defense offered up, which is what he didn’t on the interception.
Leonard’s personality comes across like a player addicted to the big play. Or at least trying to make it. There’s a kinetic energy about him that way. The challenge for Notre Dame is to get Leonard to think layups, not 3-pointers, which has probably been a bigger challenge that Mike Denbrock expected. But maybe that interception helps drive home a lesson that needs to be mastered.
4. I don’t remember a better performance from a running back who finished with 10 carries for 51 yards. Because Jeremiyah Love dominated stretches against Georgia Tech. He stunned Yellow Jackets’ defensive backs in the run game as a blocker. Basically, he was the offensive version of Bowen and Viliamu-Asa. Freeman called Love the offensive player of the game, but his performance was so good that he might be the offensive player of any game this season.
Remember that NFL scout who called Love the “best player on the field, either side of the ball, either team” before the Purdue game? He was right.
5. As much as Freeman is in bounds to call that fake punt and fake field goal in the fourth quarter, Brent Key is in bounds to be ticked off about it. Freeman talked about “stealing a possession” in a game Notre Dame led by three scores with less than five minutes to play, at least with the fake field goal. I take Freeman at his word that Notre Dame had the fake in and Georgia Tech showed itself vulnerable to it, so he wanted to reward the special teams group by calling it. That’s fine. But he clearly could have chosen the opposite just as well. And yes, it’s on Georgia Tech to actually defend it.
6. Running up the score would be keeping the starters in for the entire game and letting Leonard throw passes until the very end. Leonard was 3-of-8 for 21 yards on Notre Dame’s last two possessions.
7. Now that’s starting to look like the Mitchell Evans that Notre Dame needs in November. Five targets, four catches, 26 yards. It’s not All-American Evans, but that player might not be coming back this year. Reliable first down Evans might be all the Irish get. And that’s not nothing.
8. We are at the point where it’s fine to wonder if No. 12 Notre Dame has learned anything about handling success after five consecutive wins, with four of those blowouts. The Irish are firmly in the Playoff conversation — with a 75 percent chance to make it, according to The Athletic’s model — and Navy, which has Playoff hopes of its own at 6-0 and ranked No. 24, won’t be a blowout. It will be a trip to the dentist’s office against a team scoring 44.8 points per game. And yet, Navy might not be a team Notre Dame automatically locks in for, considering last season’s 42-3 result.
For Freeman, this week is about beating human nature as Notre Dame is on the verge of re-entering the national conversation after checking out after Northern Illinois. Is Notre Dame mature enough to handle this kind of business? We’re going to find out.
(Top photo of Riley Leonard: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
