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There was no Offensive Player of the Game for Notre Dame

By Daniel Morrison

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 26: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to throw a first half pass against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 26: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to throw a first half pass against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Well, the Michigan game didn’t go great. Truth be told, it was pretty terrible for Notre Dame.

In the driving rain, Notre Dame laid their biggest egg on offense all season. Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown’s defense whipped the Irish offensive line. They haunted Ian Book. Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet were draped by coverage almost all night. No running back had more than 15 yards rushing all night.

What a sickening performance. So, who deserves to be the offensive player of the game?

Is it Ian Book, who went 8/25 for 73 yards and a touchdown. That’s a 32 percent completion percentage. Personally, I like to see a quarterback’s completion percentage above 60 percent, but that’s just me. At least there weren’t any turnovers. What about back-up, Phil Jurkovec? He was 3 of 4 for 60 yards and a touchdown in relief of Book. Well, that might be enough for a quarterback controversy, but four pass attempts isn’t enough for offensive player of the game.

How about the running backs? In the driving rain it makes sense to try and run the ball. It’s safer, and easier with a slick ball than throwing. The trouble is, when you’re in a deep hole, you need to throw out of it. No running back had more than 8 touches. That was Tony Jones Jr. Jones also only gained 14 yards on those 8 carries. Jahmir Smith had the most yards of any running back, with 15, and was more economical than Jones, doing it on only 5 carries.

Then a receiver, they’re the ones who caught the two touchdown passes. If you want to give it to Kmet, or Javon McKinley, that’s your prerogative. They both had two catches and a touchdown. Nothing special. Nothing I’d give an offensive player of the game award for doing.

The truth is, that was the worst offensive performance since the Cotton Bowl last season for Notre Dame. Book is playing scared, unable to get off of his first read. He doesn’t trust his offensive line, and why should he? They folded under pressure Saturday night.

No one deserves to be the offensive player of the game, so no one will be named one.

Notre Dame will be at home next week, against Virginia Tech. The Hokies have struggled this season, and Notre Dame should win without much trouble. Hopefully, the offense gets right, but I’m frankly tired of hoping they figure it out and play up to their potential.

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