Notre Dame football: Offensive position grades vs. North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Ian Book was terrific on Friday Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Ian Book was terrific on Friday Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Offensive position grades vs. North Carolina

Quarterback

Ian Book has gone from a frustrating quarterback, who flashed talent but was ultimately too conservative with the ball, to a creative and exciting quarterback. Despite his 29-3 record as a starter at Notre Dame, Book has seemed to have a monkey on his back going back to the Cotton Bowl loss to Clemson.

Ever since exorcising those demons, he’s been able to reach his potential.

All-day long against North Carolina, Book was able to create, at times being under pressure from creative Tar Heels blitzes. This manifested in deep shots to Javon McKinley, scrambles, and some backyard football to make coaches scream. It all worked, though, and Book kept the Notre Dame offense rolling forward over a solid North Carolina defense.

Memorably, Book took a bad snap in the red zone and evaded two defenders by backpedaling and reversing direction, only to find Kyren Williams for a touchdown pass. There was also the time in the second half, whereas Book scrambled to his left he flipped the ball out to Skowronek and Mayer in two separate plays that only work when Patrick Mahomes is at quarterback. It was brilliant, as the broadcast crew kept reiterating, day of backyard football for Book.

On the day, Ian Book went 23/33 for 279 yards and a touchdown. On the ground he added 48 yards on eight carries, with sacks counting against that number.

Grade= A