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Notre Dame football: Reasons Drew Pyne could start for the Irish in 2022

By Daniel Morrison

Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) throws a warmup pass before the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) throws a warmup pass before the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 09: A general view as Tyler Buchner #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish prepares to take the snap during the second half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 09: A general view as Tyler Buchner #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish prepares to take the snap during the second half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: Reasons Drew Pyne could start for the Irish in 2022

Tyler Buchner May Not Be Ready

There is an assumption that Tyler Buchner will start for the Irish in 2022. After all, he’s the phenom recruit at quarterback who Notre Dame football tried to get meaningful minutes in 2021. At the same time, he may not be ready to play big-time college football. His running game is incredible, and that’s an important threat, but he struggled under pressure in the pocket last season.

In particular, Jack Coan got banged up and had to leave the Virginia Tech game last season. The Hokies weren’t particularly good, firing their head coach midseason. They very nearly beat Notre Dame, though, holding a lead going into the fourth quarter. This, largely was to do with Buchner’s two bad interceptions.

There lay the problem that Buchner was dealing with for most of his freshman season. He could flash brilliance in the running game, which did occasionally open up the passing game. Leave him in the game too long, though, and Buchner struggled with turnovers.

Now, that’s correctable. As Buchner gains in maturity and experience, those mistakes will happen much less over time. The game will slow down for him and his decision-making is going to get better. The problem is that it may take longer than most fans expect for this to happen for Buchner.

He’s still incredibly young, and it’s important to remember that not even quarterbacks like Bryce Young took a redshirt season just to adjust to the speed of the game.

There is a chance that Buchner isn’t ready. If that’s the case, then Notre Dame is going to need to find someone ready to run their offense at a high level. Drew Pyne showed the confidence and ability to do that in short bursts last season. He’s developing and improving too. There is a good chance that he becomes the better option at quarterback.

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