Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame football vs. Cincinnati: Offensive Grades for 2021 Week 5

By Daniel Morrison

Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans directing the band in the 1812 overture in the second half of the NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish 24-13.Cincinnati Bearcats At Notre Dame Fighting Irish 233
Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans directing the band in the 1812 overture in the second half of the NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish 24-13.Cincinnati Bearcats At Notre Dame Fighting Irish 233 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 02: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish dives for a touchdown during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Notre Dame Stadium on October 2, 2021, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 02: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish dives for a touchdown during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Notre Dame Stadium on October 2, 2021, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football vs. Cincinnati: Offensive Grades for 2021 Week 5

Running Backs

The running game wasn’t particularly strong against Cincinnati, but who expected it to thrive? It’s been awful all season long. Part of that is certainly because of the offensive line’s failures, which have kept Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree from getting going or hitting the edge at all. When you’re trailing all second half, you have to throw out of it to succeed.

That’s going to make the team look weak statistically.

Credit Williams for doing a great job in blitz protection. Both Williams and Tyree were fine in the passing game too. But, you’re also going to have blamed Tyree for fumbling a kick return just a week after he saved the day against Wisconsin.

In the running game itself, Williams did find the endzone, but neither Williams nor Tyree could crack 4 yards a carry.

There is still a lot of work to be done in the running game this season, and it’s clear this is a pass-first team in 2021, but this was an improvement. Balance, or the perceived threat of balance, does matter. So, don’t give up on it.

Grade= C

Home/Notre Dame Football