Grades: Notre Dame Running Backs, Offensive Line vs. Bowling Green

OFFENSIVE LINE

Like the quarterback position, the offensive line showed improvement that goes beyond simply dominating an inferior opponent. The line was a driving force behind Notre Dame’s big play offense by opening up gaping run lanes and giving quarterback Ian Book plenty of time to throw the football.

As a unit the Irish got better movement against Bowling Green than it did New Mexico, the last poor defense the team played. The interior linemen showed more power and a slightly better vertical push in this game. The group had very few assignment or mental mistakes, and we saw the unit working with good timing in combo blocks.

Both sides of the line did damage in this game, and both sides showed growth in regards to working cohesively to the other blockers on their side. With both sides playing at a high level, the Irish offense was able to be efficient and explosive, and it allowed the ground game to show a great deal of diversity.

This outside zone clip is a perfect example of all five blockers working on the same page and opening up a big run lane.

On the right side (call side) you see right tackle Robert Hainsey and right guard Tommy Kraemer working on a combo block against the end up to the inside linebacker. Hainsey stays with the combo as long as he can before coming off to take the linebacker. Hainsey gets knocked back initially but his angle and balance allow him to recover, and he seals the linebacker inside.

Kraemer doesn’t quite get to the outside on the reach, but he worked his feet well, got a push and stayed engaged with the end long enough to allow the running back to get outside.

Center Jarrett Patterson and left guard Aaron Banks are working on a combo block against the nose tackle and backside linebacker, and they do so impressively. Patterson does a great job using his inside arm to lock the nose tackle down, which allows Banks to work across his face and get the reach. At that point Patterson comes off the combo and picks up the linebacker.

On the backside, left tackle Liam Eichenberg takes a quick power step and then gets excellent width with his second step, which allows him to beat the end inside. Once Eichenberg knows that Banks isn’t at all engaged with the man Eichenberg is blocking he goes low and gets the cut.

It’s excellent teamwork and the result is a big gain.

This is Notre Dame’s counter play, which it is running to the left. Once again both sides of the line play a big role in this play going for big yards.

Eichenberg sets the tone for the play, coming off with power, keeping his base and then driving the end down inside while working to his outside shoulder to ensure the seal. Eichenberg getting such a strong push is key to this play because it widens the inside of the run lane. The more the end is able to hold his ground the tighter the hole, but the more Eichenberg can get movement the wider the lane.

Banks keeps his pads low and is able to get over to the nose tackle, preventing anyone inside from being able to get out and affect the play.

Kraemer and Hainsey are both pulling to the call side, with Kraemer responsible for a kick out block and Hainsey wrapping up to get a linebacker. I’d like to see Kraemer explode his hips through contact more effectively and get a better push, but his angle is good and he gets the job done. Hainsey gets around quickly, finds the linebacker and seals him inside, which opens up the outside cut for running back Tony Jones Jr.

Notre Dame’s front was especially good in pass protection against Bowling Green, and you can see an example in the clip above. The unit easily handled all of Bowling Green’s stunts and blitzes, and the starting offensive line allowed just one hurry in the game.

Bowling Green came into the game ranked 20th in the nation by averaging three sacks per game.

#74 Liam Eichenberg, Left Tackle (37 snaps) - Eichenberg had the one poor play in the pass game when he gave up a pressure in the first quarter. The senior left tackle bit on an inside move, which then freed up the end to beat him outside.

Other than that I graded Eichenberg out quite well. He was extremely physical in the game and got consistent movement throughout the game. You saw it in many of the clips above, and you see him doing it here:

Earlier I mentioned that I would like to see Kraemer drive his hips through contact, and Eichenberg shows what I’m looking for in this clip. He is responsible for opening up the cut back lane, which requires using a good angle - which he does, it requires getting a good push - which he does, and it requires a strong finish - which he does.

Eichenberg had a high number of blocks just like this on both the backside and at the point of attack. Eichenberg Grade: B+

#69 Aaron Banks, Left Guard (37 snaps) - This was the best game of the season for Banks. He was much quicker and played with more authority. There were two areas where Banks showed the most improvement. His pad level and base were much better, which you can see in the clip above. Banks also did a better job at stepping with power and getting off the line with more authority.

Playing with good pad level and a better base allowed Banks to grade out quite well in the pass game. He kept his eyes up, did a good job recognizing any stunts and was physical when he stepped up to take on rushers.

He missed a linebacker on a counter play and he came off an inside zone play on the wrong linebacker, which were the two big misses I had for him in the game. Banks Grade: B

#55 Jarrett Patterson, Center (37 snaps) - Notre Dame has been waiting for Patterson to show in a game the high level of play that he displayed in the spring and for much of fall camp, and we saw that against Bowling Green.

Patterson’s pass protection was excellent, with the sophomore anchoring extremely well. He and the other interior linemen stoned the Bowling Green pressures all game long, which gave Book a clean pocket to throw from.

He played with more speed and confidence in the run game, and Patterson actually got good movement at times and didn’t do nearly as much catching as we saw the first four games. This game was certainly a step in the right direction for the talented young center. Patterson Grade: B

#78 Tommy Kraemer, Right Guard (37 snaps) - The senior right guard played with a bit of an edge against Bowling Green, and his ability to get a push in the run game was as good as its been all season. There were snaps where he didn’t quite work his feet through contact the way I would want, but he kept his base, was physical and ultimately got push inside.

There were multiple snaps where Bowling Green tried to crash through the A Gap to Kraemer’s left in an attempt to blow up the run or get after the quarterback, and every time the Irish right guard saw the pressure, stepped to it with power and blew it up.

For the second straight game his pass protection was excellent. Kraemer Grade: B+

#72 Robert Hainsey, Right Tackle (37 snaps) - There were a few snaps where Hainsey didn’t have the base he needed and either got knocked back or couldn’t finish a block. Outside of a small number of those clips the junior right tackle thrived against the Falcons.

Hainsey’s quickness and technique made him a force on the edge, and his ability to get a reach on perimeter runs was a big part of the run game success we saw to that side. Hainsey also blocked effectively on the movement blocks (G scheme, counter) and worked well in space.

Hainsey was top-notch in pass protection and did a good job resetting his hands against a Bowling Green front that was quite good at using their hands to win in the pass game. It wasn’t a dominant game for Hainsey where he was blowing defenders off the ball, but it was an efficient and effective game. Hainsey Grade: B+

#75 Joshua Lugg, Left Tackle (24 snaps) - Lugg had a quality all-around game. He was physical in the run game, especially when he comes off with good pass level. Where I was most impressed was with his pass protection, with Lugg looking more comfortable in space than we’ve seen in the past. He used his length well, played with a good bas and played with good angles. Grade: B

#76 Dillan Gibbons, Left Guard (18 snaps) - Gibbons was physical at the point of attack but his pad level must get better and he must work his feet through contact more effectively. Grade: C+

#61 Colin Grunhard, Center (18 snaps) - Grunhard had a quality performance against the Falcons. He competed hard, played with good pad level and showed very fast hands. Running back C’Bo Flemister ran right behind Grunhard for a touchdown, and the junior center showed good quickess off the line. He has to be careful not to cross his feet, because when he does that he loses his leverage, and he cannot afford to do that. Grade: B-

#57 Trevor Ruhland, Right Guard - Ruhland showed good quickness on his pulls and when working to the second level. He was assignment sound and played with good pad level for the most part, but he didn’t get a ton of movement at the point of attack. Grade: B-

#56 John Dirksen, Right Tackle (18 snaps) - Dirksen did not play with good pad level in the game, which was the primary reason he gave up two hurries in the game. When he kept his base and stayed square he was good, but when his pad level suffered or when he turned his hips inside he had problems. Grade: C

RUNNING BACK

#6 Tony Jones Jr. (17 snaps) - It was amazing what Jones did with just 17 total snaps and seven carries. The senior back topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the third time in five games this season, but this time he did it with minimal carries. After the offense went three-and-out on the first series, offensive coordinator Chip Long turned the next drive over to Jones, and he started putting in work.

Jones went for 13 and 18 yards on his first two carries. On the first two snaps of the third quarter, Jones ripped off back-to-back runs of 36 and 28 yards. Four of his seven carries went for at least 13 yards and five of his seven runs were graded as efficient.

Jones didn’t just run through big holes either. His patient running and ability to set up his blockers played a big role, and his ability to maneuver around any pressure that did come also played a big role.

The Bowling Green end is working hard upfield against Eichenberg, but the combination of Eichenberg staying on and Jones quickly bouncing back and outside helps the Irish runner get outside. Jones then quickly read the block of the tight end and got vertical, where he cut perfectly inside the excellent downfield block of Banks.

He made several runs just like this, with Jones showing the ideal blend of patience and decisiveness. Jones Grade: A-

#4 Avery Davis (18 snaps) - This was arguably the best game of Davis’ career. His rushing numbers weren’t great, with the junior rushing for nine yards on three carries, but he ran hard and even put his head down and ran through a tackle attempt. Where he made his presence felt was in the pass game, with Davis catching three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

He would have had another touchdown had Book found him wide open up the seam. Davis also graded out well on his few pass block reps, although he failed to see an inside backer on a run through blitz. Davis Grade: B-

#34 Jahmir Smith (17 snaps) - Smith ran with authority in this game, showing a good vertical burst and the ability to quickly get through the line. I continue to be impressed with his first step quickness, and Jones also showed the ability to maximize available yards. His pass blocking continues to improve, with Smith showing the ability to step into the pocket and take on blitzers. He lost one defender late on a play-action pass, but even then he was physical at the initial point of contact, he just needed to finish better.

His game is starting to round out and he’s becoming much more of a complete back. Smith Grade: B

#20 C’Bo Flemister (16 snaps) - Flemister ran hard and showed a willingness to put his shoulder down, but at times his balance wasn’t what it needed to be, which kept him from making defenders miss. The holes for Flemister weren’t huge, but he showed the ability to hammer through those holes and play with power. In this game Flemister showed a lack of patience at times in regards to setting up his blockers. Flemister Grade: B-

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