The Notre Dame football team continues to right the ship after starting the season 0-2, and after a 28-7 win over a Boise State team that is still considered one of the favorites to win the Mountain West, some fans might feel as though the rebuild is complete.
There's no doubt that despite the Irish offense not scoring like it had been of late, there was a lot to love about what Marcus Freeman and Co. did on Saturday afternoon. However, there was at least one issue that needs to be fixed if they want to keep this thing rolling.
Defensive turnaround was the highest of highs for Notre Dame football
After three games this season, the demands to already fire new defensive coordinator Chris Ash were loud. You could hardly blame fans for getting nervous when the Irish defense was allowing 32.7 points per contest.
However, it was clear things started to click against Arkansas, and they got even better against Boise State. The Broncos were just 6-for-15 on 3rd down conversions. They also threw not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 interceptions.
Leonard Moore's return to the field was obviously the focus, as he had two picks, but it felt like the secondary was flying around more in general. Notre Dame also had 4 sacks and 2 passes defended, and held a Boise running game that has been a strength to 2.9 yards per carry.
Notre Dame's 1-2 punch at running back continues to be a high
Mike Denbrock's offensive game plan against Miami was strange for a number of reasons, but right at the top of the list was how they used two of the best running backs in the game today. Since that loss, Denbrock has seemingly remembered the weapons he has at his disposal in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.
Love's Saturday afternoon was plenty good, racking up 16 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown with a 6.4 yards per carry average. But Price was a heck of a complementary punch, getting 83 yards on 8 carries and a 10.4 yards per carry. Both backs had a touchdown as well.
Penalties were a frustrating low for Notre Dame
The kicking game could have gone here as well, but the Irish Special Teams get a bit of a pass since their starting kicker was hurt. Instead, the biggest problem the Golden Domers need to work on for next week is reducing penalties.
They committed 11 for a total of 112 yards. Those 11 penalties weren't just a season high for the Notre Dame football team; it was almost twice their previous season high.