Notre Dame football vs Toledo: Offensive Grades for 2021 Week 2
![Sep 11, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) stiff arms Toledo Rockets linebacker Dyontae Johnson (2) in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports Sep 11, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) stiff arms Toledo Rockets linebacker Dyontae Johnson (2) in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/4de0958a7e8d2c4841723cbbd98354d0bf284acdeb4e480ae4bfb0eae85b3cd9.jpg)
Notre Dame football vs Toledo: Offensive Grades for 2021 Week 2
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
The numbers won’t jump out to you, but Notre Dame’s wide receivers and tight ends played a great game against Toledo. Throughout the game, they did a great job of getting open, making tough catches through physical coverage, drawing penalties, and getting everyone involved.
So, why weren’t their final stats a bit bigger? Just like everything else, it comes down to the failures of the offensive line. If there is no balance and the quarterback has no time to throw the ball, then there are going to be issues throughout the entire offense.
Still, if you isolate the play of the wide receivers, it was a good game, especially in the clutch.
Sophomore tight end Michael Mayer continues to dominate. He’s a clear favorite of Jack Coan, and he’s basically uncoverable for any defense in the country. The Irish are going to need to continue to lean on him, especially as a safety valve in tight spots.
Grade: A-