Notre Dame football: 3 things we learned from the Week 1 win over FSU
Notre Dame football: 3 things we learned from the Week 1 win over FSU
Jack Coan is who we thought he was
Jack Coan came to Notre Dame described as a bridge. He was a veteran quarterback who was going to help with the transition from Ian Book to Tyler Buchner. He was transferring after losing his job, despite taking Wisconsin to a Rose Bowl.
He lost his job in part due to injuries, but also because he has his limitations that Wisconsin felt Graham Mertz doesn’t have. Coan is immobile and often seems like a sitting duck in the pocket. His arm is also on the weak side for a Power Five starter.
Still, he makes good decisions and doesn’t make mistakes.
That’s exactly what Notre Dame got from Coan. When he ran, he ran poorly and awkwardly. When he threw, he often underthrew the ball and got bailed out by his wide receivers on multiple occasions. He also stayed confident the entire night, didn’t make mistakes and was running the offense with confidence and control.
He had a great game, and even if there were a few concerning signs throughout the game, that was always to be expected.
No, Jack Coan can’t scramble as Ian Book did, but no one thought he could. No, his upside isn’t as high as Buchner’s, but no one said it was. And, yes, plenty of other quarterbacks have better arms than Coan. This is all true. Still, it should be clear after Sunday night that Jack Coan is also Notre Dame’s best chance to win.