Notre Dame: Ian Book was Offensive Player of the Game vs. New Mexico

The Notre Dame quarterback came through in a big way in Week 2

When you score 66 points in a game, you’ll never be short of great offensive performances. That was the case Saturday, when New Mexico rolled over for the Irish. Ian Book, Notre Dame’s offensive leader, walks away with the offensive player of the game. Book threw for 360 yards, and five touchdowns. He ran the ball 9 times for 46 yards, and another score. Remember, sack yardage comes off of a QB’s rushing yards.

And to think, after the first quarter, finding an offensive player of the game seemed like a challenge.

Book changed momentum and gave the Irish an attitude they desperately needed. Notre Dame had been sleep walking. The offense had no urgency, and it looked like the Irish were falling into a trap game.

Then, Notre Dame found themselves on the goal line. A quarterback sneak on third and goal failed, like far too many short yardage runs have failed this season. Book, on fourth and goal, forced his way into the end zone on another sneak. Momentum had shifted in that moment.

Book’s guts and toughness woke up the offense. They exploded for 31 points in the second quarter and didn’t look back.

The attack was expertly spread around to the entire compliment of weapons. Five different receivers had at least 2 catches. His 5 touchdown passes went to four different receivers. New Mexico was spinning, and didn’t know who to even try to cover.

That’s the type of balanced aerial attack that opens the field up. When a quarterback can see the whole field and spread the ball around, defenses need to choose which receivers to give space to make plays. The only thing better than that for an offense is being able to run the ball as well as they throw.

Notre Dame is still coming up short there, as Ian Book was Notre Dame’s leading rusher with 46 yards. His ability to create and improvise keeps linebackers from only playing in coverage. It also gave the Irish the semblance of balance they needed.

Going into next week’s game at Georgia, Book will need to play at least this well again. He’ll need to spread the ball around and he’ll need to do it while staring down a tough pass rush. There will be times that he’ll need to create with his feet. More importantly, he’ll need to not turn over the football.

If Book can get all of that done, Notre Dame has as good a shot as anyone at beating the Bulldogs.