Notre Dame Football: It might take two quarterbacks to beat Michigan
By Chase Eyrich
Despite the result of the Notre Dame football season opener with Michigan, Irish fans will more than likely not be pleased.
Some of the hardest people to please are those of a passionate fan base. Notre Dame football fans might be at the top of that list.
Why? Because this is Notre Dame. It’s that simple. It doesn’t matter what type of talent is on the field or on the coaching staff. For Notre Dame fans, it’s National Championship or bust.
Week one brings us one of the most compelling match-ups you could imagine — especially in a season opener.
College game day, renewed rivalry, playoff implications, Michigan vs. Notre Dame. The list could go on and on. After missing college football for so long, we have a late November-caliber game in week one.
With all the hype surrounding this game, it doesn’t matter if Notre Dame wins or loses. Irish fans will be upset.
There is a high chance that fans will not see what they want to see on September 1st. Many fans have already lost their minds reacting to the recent comments of head coach Brian Kelly.
Kelly says Brandon Wimbush will start vs Michigan but he's not afraid to use Ian Book if needed.
— Angelo Di Carlo (@angdicarlo) August 23, 2018
Says they will play to both's strengths.
Acknowledges he doesn't think Book will ever be runner Wimbush is & that Wimbush may never be able to 'sling' the ball the way Book does.
Once Kelly said he’s not afraid to use both Brandon Wimbush and Ian Book, fans thought of the worst.
In the eyes of those fans, thy are bracing to see exactly that on September 1st — the worst.
The reality is that Michigan has a solid defense. So much so that they believe it may make them a playoff-caliber team. Their defensive line will be a nuisance for Notre Dame to deal with. Add to the fact that Irish offensive line is not as experienced as last year’s unit, and you begin to see how things could be problematic.
Rashan Gary is looking to keep the heat on coming off a breakout 2017. He and the always consistent Chase Winovich are two players that will give Notre Dame’s offense fits.
The Michigan defense is going to focus on Wimbush, likely taking away what sets him apart from Book — the run game.
Behind a comparatively inexperienced line and facing the solid defense of Michigan, there is a realistic chance that Wimbush struggles to find running space.
Kelly is about winning. Thankfully so are the players. So what happens if Notre Dame could find more success with a less mobile quarterback but a better passer?
It’s likely that Ian Book will play at some point against Michigan.
Does that mean he will come out in the second half and be the savior like he was in the Citrus Bowl? Or does it mean that he comes in for a few different long down series?
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If Notre Dame wants to put themselves in the best position to beat Michigan, it’s likely that they will have to reap the benefits of both Wimbush and Book — and fans will just have to deal with it.