Notre Dame Football: 3 Biggest Storylines vs. Ball State

Special Teams Improvement

While the offense got off to a hot start last week and the defense played absolutely lights out all night, the special teams unit for the Irish left some room for improvement moving forward.

Senior captain Tyler Newsome shanked his first punt of the season, kicking it just 25 yards and setting the Wolverines up at Notre Dame’s 41-yard line. The short field led to Michigan’s first points of the night with a 28-yard field goal.

Later in the second quarter — after a Jafar Armstrong touchdown put the Irish up 21-3 –Michigan’s Ambry Thomas took the ensuing kickoff 99-yards to the house, shifting momentum and keeping Michigan in the ball game.

Kickoff specialist Jonathan Doerer struggled as well, sending his first kickoff of the season out of bounds, setting Michigan up at their own 35-yard line. Doerer routinely failed to get the ball into the endzone on his other kickoffs throughout the game, leading to Justin Yoon being the kickoff specialist for the second half.

The special teams play did have its moments. A well-executed punt late in the first half that was surprisingly fielded by Michigan’s Donovan Peoples-Jones left Michigan starting from its own 2-yard line after a great tackle by Chase Claypool.

Newsome did bounce back from his rough start, finishing the game with a 46-yard punt average. Justin Yoon made his first and only field goal of the game from 48-yards out, and the punt coverage team only gave up four total return yards.

Regardless, look for Brian Polian and the Irish special teams to improve this week vs. Ball State. It is a great opportunity to bounce back and iron out any wrinkles that were had in the season opener, because poor special teams play down the road vs. tougher opponents could easily be the deciding factor in a loss or two.