The Notre Dame we all know and love was found this Saturday against the Boilermakers.  Another nailbitter against a team they should have cruised to victory.  A win is a win…no points for point differential or style.  ND got the W

Drama:  They only squeaked out a win.  Tommy Rees replaced Everett Golson in the last series of the game due to a “hand injury” sustained by Golson.  Coach Kelly reassured the Irish faithful that Golson is the starting QB against number eleven Michigan State.

Report Card of Week 2:

Quarterback:  B/A

Golson gets the B grade: 70% passing 2 TDs (passing/running).  Not terrible but far from Heisman watch.

Rees gets the A grade: 2 minute hero.  Converted two crucial 3rd downs that set up the field goal of victory.

Running Backs: C

Cierre Wood sat out game 2 of his suspension and will be back for Michigan State and boy do the Irish need him.  Riddick only had 53 yards on 15 carries and Atkinson had 1 carry for 0 yards.  Boilermakers defensive line is top notch but no excuse.  Running game needs to improve.

Recievers: B
We saw a lot of diversity out there on the field.  NINE different players got their touches on the recieving crew.  Golson should have went to Eifert more, guy was mismatched (in his favor) all game.  Davaris Daniels left the game, not sure why but I hope its nothing serious.

Offensive Line:   C-
They were pathetic.  Allowed Golson to be sacked 5 times.  You know what sacks do to a QB, it hurts him!

Defensive Line: B+
They controlled the game and kept ND in the game.  Tuitt and Nix each registered a pair of no sack sandwiches.  ND DLine held the boilermakers to less than 300 yards.  BOSS

Linebackers: B
They were the solid as ever.  Did not register a turnover but they were very good.  We saw ND in a 4-3 formation most of the afternoon and it was effective.

Secondary: B

They are still young and lacking experience but they are getting better with each game.  They only allowed 19 completions in 37 attempts.  Bennett Jackson is my guy…kid will be a STUD this season, he had 2 picks (not exactly meaningful INTs but they are still in the book as INTs.)

Special Teams: C+

Turk was solid averging 44 yards per punt with only one of them returned.  Brindza missed badly (wide right) 40 yard attempt in the 1st quarter but came through in the clutch on a 27  yard field goal to win it.

Coaching: B
Coach Kelly went with his gut and put in Rees over Hendrix.  Rees nailed it and set up the win.  He needs to change up a few things before Michigan state.