Notre Dame football: Ian Book given tough hand in NFL debut
By Brad Weiss
The former star for the Notre Dame football team made his NFL debut on Monday night, and needless to say, it was a tough assignment.
On Monday night, former Notre Dame football star Ian Book made his NFL debut, starting for the COVID-depleted New Orleans Saints. Book, who won more games than any other quarterback in Notre Dame history, was starting because the Saints have been ravaged by COVID-19 positive diagnoses, including to quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill.
His night started ominously, as after completing his first NFL pass for four yards, he would see his second NFL pass get picked off, and returned for a Miami Dolphins touchdown. Playing behind a banged-up offensive line, and without many of the Saints’ main weapons, Book struggled, which was to be expected from someone making his first NFL start under such circumstances.
Still, as he has done his whole life, Book stayed in the pocket, tried to keep his team in the game, and did not let the excuses get in his way. Sure, the Saints may have lost 20-3 to the Miami Dolphins, who won their seventh straight game, but Book showed poise in the face of major disfunction.
Notre Dame football star under duress all game long
For Book, this was a baptism by fire, as he was under duress all game long, which led to him being sacked eight times. Yes, you read that right, Book was sacked eight times by this Miami defense and finished the game 12-of-20 passing for 135 yards and two interceptions.
Based on COVID protocols, Book is not likely to get another start for the Saints this season, as either Hill or Siemian should be back in time for the game against the Carolina Panthers at home this Sunday. For Book, this was a great learning experience at the NFL level, and while the statline did not show him having a great game, I am sure Sean Payton will take a lot out of what his 2021 fourth-round pick did on Monday night.