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The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
By AIDAN O’MALLEY
scene Writer
I love sofia coppola. I love all of her movies, even the ones that people hate. I love the texture of her films — their intimacy, their insight. I love her impressionist color palette and her eclectic needle drops. I love how she blurs comedy and drama into a kind of lived-in melancholy. she doesn’t make movies; she collects and captures moments. her films are like holding in a breath. And sometimes, I love her movies even more than I love her father’s (him being, of course, Francis Ford coppola, the director of “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse now” and “The conversation”).
I mention Francis — can I call you Francis? — not to drag sofia coppola back into her father’s shadow. The two might come from the same family, but as filmmakers, they hail from separate planets. I mention him only because her latest film, “on the rocks” on Apple Tv+, seems, in part, to have been inspired by him.
The film reunites coppola with her “Lost in Translation” star, bill murray. The man needs no introduction; watching “on the rocks,” it’s as if he isn’t acting. rest assured, he is — coppola’s patient close-ups seize his every last subtlety — but the role itself could call for no one else. he plays Felix, a geriatric new York playboy who can talk his way into a party just as smoothly as he can talk his way out of a speeding ticket.
By RYAN ISRAEL
scene editor some time between sundown and sunup, the blackon-black meeting of the narrow winding road and the hollow, empty horizon is broken up by the stanchions of modernity, the piercing neon pronouncements of business and the arrival of civilization. The static on the car radio gives way to the friendly canned sweeper of your favorite station, one oh six point something. but the noises that travel through the airwaves and eventually emanate from the stereo are not ones of Top 40 hits, classic rock or pointless banter; they are radiating synths, shimmering piano, chopped vocals; they are the sounds of the road and the night, one balancing on top of the other; they are the music of daniel Lopatin, the creations of oneohtrix Point never.
As oneohtrix Point never, Lopatin has spent the last decade and change moving through an underground world of experimental and electronic avant-garde music, steadily accumulating acclaim and notoriety. Plus seven,” for instance), soundtracked the films of indie brethren the safdie brothers’, “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems,” and collaborated across the board, working with Alex G, FKA Twigs and, most recently, Lopatin’s latest work, “magic oneohtrix Point never,”
but the movie isn’t about him. It’s about Laura, his daughter, played by rashida Jones of “Parks and recreation.” Laura is uptight and unhappy, and we get to know her not through dialogue, but through detail — the way she carefully arranges every paper on her desk, how she stares out the window of her chic new York apartment at nothing in particular.
Laura is a writer, but perhaps “trying to be a writer” is a better description. she’s not feeling herself, and she’s beginning to think that her husband, dean (marlon Wayans), isn’t feeling her, either. It’s not long before she begins to suspect an affair, and Felix — a male chauvinist who knows a thing or two about affairs — convinces her to drop what she’s doing and spy on her husband with her old man.
The film is a comedic caper turned father-daughter adventure. It’s also a love letter to new York, a version of the city that no longer exists and probably never did, unless your average night on the town ever involved eating caviar in a retro Alfa romeo convertible. but it’s also rather slight — a 90-minute pleasantry that feels almost like an afterthought compared to coppola’s iconic film canon. still, “on the rocks” is clearly personal for coppola. While her father might not be a womanizer, his socialite status in hollywood and frank conversations about romance were said to have informed murray’s character. murray, of course, is perfect, but Jones is just as magnetic. channeling her dramatic work in underrated presents the artist in summation, melding the aesthetic and sonic appeal of oneohtrix Point never into a grand mid-career album.
Across 17 songs, Lopatin generates and operates within a futuristic, digital soundscape equally occupied by the synthesizer and the collected melodies of faded memories. The vibe is eerie; the cold, calculated and metallic sounds of technological modernity, harkening back to ’80s new age music, borderline vaporwave and reminiscent of the “stranger Things” theme, leave little room for calm. From the warped vocals and clashing, discordant nature of “I don’t Love me Anymore” to the shimmering chimes of “bow ecco” and ever-shifting patterns of “Tales From Trash stratum,” the music of “magic oneohtrix Point never” is one of cybernated sounds. but spaces of comfort form within the cold; any hints of alienation give way to familiarity. It’s in the vibrating strings and fluid vocals of “Long road home,” the cinematic conclusion to “Lost but never Alone” and the transcendent chorus of “no nightmares,” sung by The Weeknd himself, that “magic oneohtrix Point never” finds its heart. The chirping songbirds of the album’s penultimate track, “Wave Idea,” lead into the atmospheric intro of the closing track, “nothing’s special,” which ends in a chaotic, disquieting flurry. It’s a small transition which captures the two thematic sides of the album as a whole. completing the aura of “magic oneohtrix Point
indies like “celeste & Jesse Forever,” Jones is luminous, and the warmth of her performance makes you care about her character before you know anything about her. but the film overall disappoints. In much the same way that I fail to find the words to describe the coppola films that I love, I can’t quite put my finger on why I don’t love this one. The tricky tonal shifts are choppier than they’ve ever been before, and the non-ending makes the movie feel meaningless. The best sofia coppola films disguise existential meditation as quotidian farce, but “on the rocks” is the reverse: a studio comedy that adorns itself with her aesthetic without going much deeper than that. oh, well. It was worth the free trial!
Contact Aidan O’Malley at aomalle2@nd.edu
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Marlon Wayans
If you liked: “A Very Murray Christmas,” “While We’re
he has made hard pivots in style (from “replica” to “r The Weeknd on his extravagant album “After hours.”
Young” never” is the visual work of robert beatty — the artist responsible for the album’s dripping hexagonal cover and accompanying inner sleeves — preserved in the digital landscape through spotify’s canvas feature. his catalogue of album art, discussed in depth with stereogum and including the iconic cover of Tame Impala’s “currents,” crosses psychedelic and retro borders, matching Lopatin’s ultramodern energy as oneohtrix Point never.
Lopatin based his pseudonym on boston radio station magic 106.7, misheard as oneohtrix Point never, and draws on radio conventions for the album’s four interludes. Thus, it seems fitting that “magic oneohtrix Point never” is an eponymous project; it tunes the radio to a station which picks up and rearranges the key elements Lopatin’s previous work as oneohtrix Point never.
Contact Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu
Oneohtrix Point Never
Label: Warp
Favorite Tracks: “Long Road Home,” “No Nightmares”
SuDOku | The mePhAm grouP
Happy Birthday: look at the possibilities and what’s positive in your life, and use your strengths to get ahead. dismiss negativity and people who drag you down. clear a path to a better future. Adopt what’s trending, and turn what you have achieved into something spectacular. balance and integrity will determine the success you achieve. strive for respect, honor and leadership. your numbers are 8, 13, 22, 26, 33, 42, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a closer look at places you want to visit or courses you wish to take. expanding your options and adding to your resume will broaden your chance to follow a path that suits your personality. romance is in the stars. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): you’ll be offered invalid information from someone you thought to be trustworthy. verify what you hear before you pass along information that will make you look bad. you are only as good as your word; stick to what you know. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): your charm and flirtatious ways will work wonders for you as long as you don’t break promises along the way. mean what you say, and avoid giving someone the wrong impression. make personal improvements, fitness and health priorities. CANCER (June 21-July 22): don’t get upset over things you cannot change. concentrate on what you can do and honing skills that will benefit you. Taking a unique approach to your responsibilities will set you apart from any competition you face. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Align yourself with the people you know and trust to have your back. how you deal with information will make a difference to the outcome. be direct, and refuse to make a decision or move without verification. self-improvement is favored. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): how you relate to others will make a difference moving forward. offer suggestions, but don’t force your opinion on others. It’s crucial to maintain peace and integrity going forward. If uncertainty sets in, back away. don’t mix business with pleasure. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take care of matters that concern your future. learn all you can, and look for ways to improve your health, appearance, knowledge and relationships with others. distance yourself from individuals who are demanding, excessive or disruptive. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): control will be necessary. Walk away from situations that appear risky or people who are trying to take advantage of you. gather the facts, and question inaccuracy and cover-ups. Think twice before you donate or get involved in a costly venture. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): make domestic changes, and improve the relationships with the people you live with or work alongside. keep an open dialogue, and it will offset accusations of evasive behavior. don’t let a money matter get out of hand. Joint ventures are discouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Think before you act. If you say something in haste, you will have regrets. you are better off biding your time and listening to what others have to offer. you may want change, but sound judgment and proper motives are essential. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): make positive changes at home that will add to your comfort and convenience and bring you closer to your loved ones. Put muscle behind your plans. do the work yourself, and the rewards will be greater than anticipated. romance is favored. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): defuse your emotions until you have all the facts. If you are too quick to react, you will upset someone you love. make a change that can help you get back on track or encourage a better way to earn a living. Birthday Baby: you are charming, energetic and proactive. you are playful and entertaining.
JuMBlE | dAvId hoyT And Jeff knurek
Work AreA
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Trifecta looks unlikely for LA
Matt Smith sports Writer
The city of Los Angeles just enjoyed one of the greatest sports months in recent memory. After the Los Angeles Lakers captured their 17th nbA title on oct. 11 with a 4-2 series victory over the miami heat, the Los Angeles dodgers ended a 32-year World series drought on oct. 27 by defeating the Tampa bay rays in six games. Los Angeles is on top of the sports world right now with champions in two major leagues, but that joy might fade quickly based on the play of the city’s two nFL teams.
Though not as bad as the Atlanta Falcons, the Los Angeles chargers are a close second for the title of biggest chokers in the league. Up 24-3 in the third quarter against the denver broncos on sunday afternoon, the chargers’ defense completely fell apart and allowed quarterback drew Lock and company to storm back for a game-winning touchdown as time expired to hand the bolts a 31-30 loss.
Although the loss is devastating by itself, according to esPn, this is the third time this season that the chargers have blown a lead of 17 points or more.
Those kinds of losses are incredibly demoralizing for a team and its fanbase, and it is hard to believe that head coach Anthony Lynn hasn’t figured out how to adjust his game plan to turn those leads into wins.
If it is any consolation for chargers fans, at least the team has been consistent with its losses. For Los Angeles rams fans, it has been a completely different story. The rams are much better off with a 5-3 record on the year, but it is hard to tell how good they truly are.
The defense has been stout so far this season, giving up the second-fewest yards per game and fourthfewest points per game in the league. defensive tackle Aaron donald has also continues to feast on opposing offensive lines, as he is tied for first in the league with 9.0 sacks on the year despite being double-teamed on most plays. however, the offense and quarterback Jared Goff have had a difficult time establishing a rhythm.
Facing the miami dolphins on sunday afternoon with rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa making his first career start, Goff was the player that looked like he was new to the league.
Goff had four total turnovers on the day with two fumbles and two interceptions, resulting in a 28-17 loss for Los Angeles despite the team outgaining miami by 326 total yards.
Goff will certainly need to pick up his play in the coming weeks if he wants to keep the rams in the playoff hunt, as they have an incredibly tough four-game stretch going up against the seattle seahawks, Tampa bay buccaneers, san Francisco 49ers and Arizona cardinals.
The rams have the skill position players to compete against all four squads, as speedy wide receivers cooper Kupp and robert Woods can blow past opposing defensive backs while running backs malcolm brown and darrell henderson Jr. provide a strong two-man punch in the backfield.
Yet Goff needs to drastically improve upon his 23rd-best total quarterback rating of 60.2 for the rams to have a shot at upsetting some of the hottest teams in the nFL.
Angelenos have been living the dream lately with the immense success of their sports teams throughout october. As a chicago sports fan, I must say that I have been feeling extremely jealous, as the bears, bulls, cubs and blackhawks have all been letting me down. Los Angeles may be coming back down to earth soon though, as it appears unlikely that the coming months will bring the same kind of joy based on how the chargers and rams have been playing. but if the chargers can learn how to keep their leads under 17 points, then we may have to get ready for yet another championship celebration in the city of Angels.
Contact Matt Smith at msmith88@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
mid-season nFL Awards: mvP goes to Wilson
Thomas Zwiller
sports Writer
After the first four games of the nFL season, I had wanted to do a quarter season awards show, but as I looked over the data, I realized that it was simply too early in the year to do so. so much could change through the remaining three-quarters of the season, that it was too early to pick awards. however, now that the nFL season is approaching the halfway point (some teams have played seven games, some have played eight) and the body of work from teams and players is taking shape, it seems more appropriate to start voting for candidates.
Most Valuable player: russell Wilson
The narrative all year has been russell Wilson has never had a single mvP vote in his entire career, a career which has seen him in two superbowls and hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Those years were different, years where he didn’t deserve the mvP. he was being carried by the Legion of boom, an elite defense who had become the story in seattle, a defense that essentially carried Wilson. The situation has changed now. Wilson carries a defense that is one of the worst in the league. Through seven games, he has a 72% completion percentage, 2,100 yards, 26 Td and only six InT, leading his squad to a 6-1 record. While people want to give the mvP to Aaron rodgers (who is deserving), they often cite him already having won the award twice before and Wilson never before. That is a terrible argument. Give the award to the best player! rodgers through seven games boasts 66% completion, 1,900 yards, 20 Td and two InT with a 5-2 record. I think these stat lines are incredibly similar; rodgers has fewer Tds, but he also has fewer InTs. The tiebreaker for me is the ground game. rodgers has 48 yards from scrimmage and averages 4.4 per touch, Wilson has 260 yards from scrimmage and averages 7.4 yards per carry.
offensive player of the year: Alvin Kamara
As much as I was tempted to give the award to Patrick mahomes, I find it fitting to give it to a non-Qb; the mvP is almost always a Qb. Alvin Kamara, through seven games has 7 Tds, and 987 yards from scrimmage rushing for 431 yards and receiving 556 yards. his closest competition is derrick henry with 856 yards from scrimmage but has eight touchdowns in seven games. The difference to me is that Alvin Kamara has an 83% catch percentage, while derrick henry only has a 56% catch percentage. While yes, henry may have more rushing yards, (775 to 431), to me, Kamara more evenly distributing his yards between rush and reception makes him a lot more valuable.
Defensive player of the year: Aaron Donald
Aaron donald currently has nine sacks in eight games, which is tied for first and makes him on track to have 18 sacks in the season. he also is tied for fourth in Tackles for loss with 13. donald also has three forced fumbles — tied for second — and even recovered one of his forced fumbles. donald does lack in the tackle area however, he has 15 solo and 11 assists, but he makes up for this by simply being such a dominant force. he forces teams to game plan around him, often able to eat up double teams and ruining blocking schemes. Look for him to continue to be a force this season.
rookie of the year: Justin herbert
Justin herbert came into the league behind Tyrod Taylor, but due to the injury and then medical complication of Taylor, herbert was given the start. since then, Justin herbert has never looked back. he has posted a 67% completion percentage, has a 3-1 Td-InT ratio at 15-5 and has 1,800 yards! That, to me is better than…
offensive rookie of the year: Joe Burrow
Joe burrow was the no. 1 pick in the draft after his rockstar year at LsU, where he won a national championship, and he has proved that he was worth it. he is clearly the Qb of the future for the cincinnati bengals. That being said, he isn’t the rookie of the year because his stats simply aren’t as good as herbert’s, still good but not spectacular. he also has a 67% completion percentage and more yardage at 2,300, but only has 11 Tds and five InTs. There is still time for this to flip-flop, but I think since burrow plays against both the ravens and steelers defense, he will have the tougher opponents.
Defensive rookie of the year: patrick Queen
Patrick Queen was drafted in the first round at pick no. 28 by the baltimore ravens. he has been stellar for the ravens through eight weeks, while he has yet to record an InT, he has one defended pass and has two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered. on those recoveries, he averages 25 yards, and one of them was a scoop and score. he has two sacks and five Qb hits, so he is able to apply pressure to the passer. he is also able to make tackles, he has 35 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles, for a total of 48. The ravens are arguably one of the best defenses in the league, and Queen is one of the cornerstones of that defense.
Comeback player of the year: Alex Smith
Alex smith was injured last year while playing for the Washington racial slurs. This injury not only put his football career in jeopardy but his life. To try to repair his injury and salvage his leg, smith contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesheating bacterium. To stop the spread, he had to have skin and muscle tissue removed. Alex smith came back and was able to stand, then walk and then run. he came back, and played against the rams in Week 5, defying the odds of staying alive, let alone playing football.
Coach of the year: Mike tomlin
In my opinion, mike Tomlin should have gotten the coach of the year award last year. he led his steelers to an 8-8 record, narrowly missing the playoffs, with a backup Qb, no, a third-string Qb. Tomlin has also lost Levon bell, (who since leaving the steelers has declined) and Antonio brown, (who since leaving has had off the field issues) who were core components of the team. Tomlin has continued that success and built upon it coming into this year, with the steelers leading the league at 7-0. he also has been able to navigate the problematic season of covId-19, while his team wasn’t affected, his opponent was, causing his bye week to change and forcing him to adapt. despite this, the steelers have a top-3 defense, and have a quality offense and a league-best record, despite facing unprecedented challenges.
Contact Thomas Zwiller at tzwiller@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Observer Fantasy Corner: Week 9
Elizabeth Gasiorowski, Jamison Cook, Andrew McGuiness and Sam Ouhaj
sports Writers
how’s your fantasty week going? Take a look at some of the moves our staffers are making this week.
Sam Ouhaj
Must start: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions
george Kittle and Zach ertz are both hurt and are out presumably till the end of the season.
This has left fantasy owners scrambling for a new tight end, and the answer to that is T.J. hockenson. hockenson has established himself as Te-1 in detroit and is currently averaging 12.4 points per game. This is not great, but hockenson has been very consistent in putting up the same numbers. hockenson is set to face minnesota this week and has a favorable matchup going in.
I advise picking up hockenson and starting him due to the vast amount of injuries we have seen this season. starting him is overall just a safe play.
Must sit: all of the Cowboys wide receivers
since dak prescott went down, the cowboys entire offense has gone to shambles. After only posting one touchdown over their last three games, the cowboys have no answers. As a result of poor play from both Andy dalton and ben dinucci, the cowboys’ receivers have suffered immensely. At one point everyone was
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conTInued From pAge 16 team,” riley said. opportunity in the 18th minute, but he fired it wide again. virginia Tech (2-2-1, 2-2-1 Acc) found their footing in the last 15 minutes of the half, testing notre dame senior goalkeeper two teams went into the break scoreless.
“virginia Tech’s a very good team,” riley said. “You’ve got to make sure you take your chances when you get them, so [we were] a little bit frustrated not to go into halftime up a goal.” finally capitalized on a chance.
Following an Irish turnover, virginia Tech forward Jacob talking about how great it is to play all three and that they could put up immense points. That is not the case anymore, and I would avoid the cowboys wide receivers until further notice. It is a shame this is the case for what is no longer the cowboys’ strong suit.
Who to pick up:
matt brieda, rb, miami dolphins (owned in 20% of fantasy leagues)
Andrew McGuinness
Must start: Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots
It’s historically difficult to get a gauge on bill belicheck’s plans for his backfield, but harris should be given plenty of opportunities with sony michel still on injured reserve despite being removed from the covId list. harris put together his best performance of the season in Week 8, rushing for triple-digit yardage for the second time this season and also producing his first score.
The fact he did as well as he did without catching a single pass is also impressive. even if michel returns to take away some of his carries, a likely resurgence in the passing game combined with the fact that he’ll be playing the Jets make harris a solid option.
Must sit: Ronald Jones II, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The return of Leonard Fournette to the bucs backfield has been more trick than treat for Jones owners, who saw the league’s Labovitz found the back of the net from a strong cross.
“We had a number of opportunities to defend better and we didn’t,” riley said of the goal. “We don’t feel that’s a goal we should give up.”
The Irish put pressure on the match, including a last-minute set-piece opportunity, but couldn’t find a way to score.
“[We want to use] our positioning to be a little bit more dangerous and to go forward instead of just keeping it at times,” riley said of the attack. “I thought we got into dangerous spots and we didn’t try to penetrate their backline.” notre dame’s record drops to 3-3 with the loss.
“I think there’s a few key moments in the game that we would have wanted to handle leading rusher during Fournette’s absence put up a paltry 23 yards each on the ground and through the air. Fournette received just over twice as many carries as Jones did against the giants (15-7), out-snapping Jones by a wide 51-17 margin as well. part of that may have been a frustration benching by head coach bruce Arians after a Jones fumble (albeit one that Tampa bay recovered), but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Fournette is the bucs’ lead back for good. And on the fact that Tampa faces a stingy panthers defense on sunday afternoon, and Jones’ odds of a strong Week 9 performance don’t exactly look sky-high.
Who to pick up:
marvin Jones Jr., Wr, detroit Lions (owned in 49% of fantasy leagues)
Elizabeth Gasiorowski
Must start: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens
With veteran rb mark Ingram II out last week for the ravens, rookie J.K. dobbins carried a careerhigh 15 rushing attempts for 113 yards alongside a decent performance from fellow rb gus edwards against the steelers.
Ingram’s high ankle sprain should keep him sidelined for at least a couple more weeks, which might give dobbins the chance to continue improving his yards as the ravens battle the colts in Indianapolis this week.
Against the steelers’ strong defense, baltimore looked to keep the ball on the ground to rack up 264 total rush yards, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they continue to focus on running the ball better and likely could have got a different result,” riley said. “but I think overall there were enough positives to take out of it, even when we didn’t probably have our best day.” notre dame plays their final regular-season game of the year Friday night against Louisville. The game will essentially serve as a play-in for the Acc tournament. The top four teams in each region advance to the tournament, and notre dame currently sits fourth in the region with six points, and Louisville is fifth with four points.
An Irish win or draw would see them through to the tournament, while Louisville needs a win to advance.
“It means everything,” riley said. “This is what you prepare for. The guys know what it means, and I think they’ve put against the top-ranked colts.
Must sit: Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys
cowboys star Wr Amari cooper was targeted by not dak prescott nor Andy dalton, but third-string Qb ben dinucci a pathetic one time for a 5-yard catch in sunday’s loss to the eagles.
All hope for Andy dalton’s return from the concussion suffered two weeks ago and improvement in the cowboys’ offense shattered Tuesday morning as dalton was placed on the reserve/covId-19 list, so again be wary of this offense.
If the dinucci-cooper pairing couldn’t do much against philadelphia, I wouldn’t be too confident that they’ll be able to do much against the undefeated steelers this weekend.
Who to pick up:
ryan Izzo, Te, new england patriots (owned in 0.1% of fantasy leagues)
Jamison Cook
Must start: James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
coming off a bye, robinson will be rested and ready to go against a Texans defense that should not offer much resistance to the impressive rookie.
The Texans defense ranks 31st in the league against the run, allowing 165.9 rushing yards per game.
They are also giving up 31 points per game, third-worst in the nFL.
With backup Qb Jake Luton set to start and fellow running backs chris Thompson and ryquell Armstead out a lot of work into putting ourselves into a good position with something to play for.”
This will be the second matchup between the two teams this year. notre dame was defeated 2-1 on the road on oct. 3.
“You can certainly learn some things, but at the end of the day I think both teams are probably in quite different places than we were from that game, but certainly some familiarity is nice,” riley said. “We want to change the outcome for this game, so it’ll be a lot of motivation regardless to get a victory on Friday.”
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. will be televised on rsn. due to covId-19 complications, robinson is poised to carry a huge workload for the Jaguars in upcoming games. he does not have any single-digit point games this season. expect that trend to continue for the rest of the season.
Must sit: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor rushed for a measly 22 yards and only caught two passes for nine yards last week, and was significantly outperformed by fellow backs nyheim hines and Jordan Wilkins.
The colts now face one of the league’s top rushing defenses in the baltimore ravens.
The ravens are giving up just over 100 rushing yards per game, good for seventh in the nFL.
The colts will most likely be playing from behind for the majority of this contest, meaningless carries and more passing attempts. given the contested backfield and the difficult matchup, I would stay away from Taylor for the week.
Who to pick up:
corey davis, Wr, Tennessee Titans (owned in 52% fantasy leagues)
Contact Jamison Cook at jcook22@nd.edu, Elizabeth Gasiorowski egasioro@nd.edu, Andrew McGuiness at amcquinn@nd.edu, and Sam Ouhaj at souhaj@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily
mcFadden had another great Keagen mcLaughlin, but the
After the break, the hokies
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the ball back.
After saturday’s game against Georgia Tech, notre dame is allowing less than a 25% conversion rate on third downs. The defense surrendered less than 10 points for the third consecutive game (the offense gave up a scoop ’n score that allowed the Yellowjackets to record 13 points on the day). It’s not the most talented defense Lea has had, but it has a couple of guys (Jeremiah owusu-Koramoah and Kyle hamilton) with higher ceilings than any other Leaera players. Those kinds of X-factor contributors can and probably will be the difference in this game.
That said, it doesn’t mean that they can do it alone. The odds are very low that safeties, pick-6s and scoops ’n scores give the Irish a win. The offense has to make plays.
Ian Book / Because Ian Book is due to finally play at the level needed to beat a top level team
This is going out on a limb. It would be incredibly welcome (and overdue) for him to be the one to put the Irish over the top, but to date Ian book has proven to be at his best against the worst competition and at his worst against the best competition, and his best and worst can be worlds apart.
I can’t see book being the deciding factor in this game. I have to personally witness him throwing/running for the game-winning touchdown from my own little corner of notre dame stadium.
Belief!
Love your optimism. Last time a no. 1-ranked team came to notre dame stadium on a 36-game regular season winning streak, it was 1988. That game and season turned out pretty well for the Irish. We’ll see how this one turns out.
Now on to the negativity…
Reasons for a Loss
Inability to stretch the field offensively / Ian Book has failed to show he has the game necessary to beat a top level team / The offense, dude
book is a game manager. officially. You can take it to the bank. but that doesn’t necessarily mean the offense will hold them back, dude.
There’s certainly potential for that with the lack of a miles boykin or chase claypool type of threat at receiver, but there are weapons at tight end (if book can see them/not overthrow them on touchdown opportunities, but I guess that goes to your point, doesn’t it…).
You’re absolutely right that notre dame is going to have to bang at least one play (and probably more) over the top of the Tigers defense to keep them honest. They can do that if book and the pass catchers are on their games. but remember, if Kyren Williams or chris Tyree manages to record a 75-yard catch and run on a screen pass, that’ll also make the defense adjust, too.
Choke
I honestly wouldn’t put it past almost any notre dame team that I’ve seen in the last four years to choke away a win against a top-5 team. That said, let’s be clear about what we are defining as choking.
Last year against Georgia, notre dame was up 10-7 at halftime. They ended up losing 23-17 in a game that — despite the fact notre dame was driving in Georgia territory with a chance to win in the fourth quarter — wasn’t really as close as the score suggested. Was that a choke job? I could hear an argument for it considering book threw two interceptions (more turnover discussion coming momentarily) against the bulldogs, but it was a max lead of just seven points and the Irish only took the lead because of a fluky muffed punt recovery in the red zone. Their offense really didn’t belong on the same field as that UGA defense last year. so what qualifies as choking against clemson? Let’s say notre dame gets out to a two- or three- touchdown lead late in the second quarter or early third quarter (unlikely, but possible) before losing. That’s probably a choke job where the Irish get conservative and try to drain the clock (but that strategy could work for this rushing unit...) or they give up an onside kick. (side note: why can’t they recover onside kicks? one of life’s great mysteries I suppose).
If the Irish get a onescore lead on the Tigers and eventually lose in a similar fashion to Georgia last year, that’s a grey area. but what if they score a go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes and clemson manages to march downfield and win on a field goal or touchdown — and let’s say for sake of argument that the Irish were down by more than three, so they couldn’t take a knee to keep clemson’s offense off the field and kick a field goal as time expired?
That’s what happened to the Irish against stanford in 2015, and it arguably kept them out of the Playoff. It was probably a choke job against the cardinal as good as they may have been. Against clemson, even a Trevor Lawrence-less clemson, I think we can give the defense at least a little bit of a pass — assuming they didn’t already surrender 30 or more points by then.
Turnovers
notre dame absolutely cannot afford to commit turnovers in this contest. That hasn’t been a big problem this season considering book has only thrown one interception and it came in the season opener. however, the running backs have gotten a little fast and loose with the ball, especially with Kyren Williams coughing up two fumbles, one of which was returned over 90 yards for a touchdown against Georgia Tech. I think that actually could benefit him against clemson because he’ll take better care of the ball with that mistake fresh in his mind. conversely, maybe this respondent was referring to the lack of turnovers that the Irish have been generating. They lost the turnover battle 2-1 to Georgia last year and lost the game by six. They drew even with the bulldogs 2-2 in turnovers in 2017 and lost by one point. They lost another 2-1 margin against clemson in 2018 and the Tigers won by 27. sensing a pattern?
Whichever way you choose to look at it, the turnover battle is going to be a barometer for this contest.
Brian Kelly air show
not totally sure what this is supposed to mean. I assume it’s a dig on Kelly for being in love with the passing game. If that’s the case, then this individual has either not been paying attention to notre dame’s offense this season or is taking the whole “notre dame is saving its best hand for clemson” idea to a new extreme. do you think the Irish have been building a strong running resume just to make the Tigers think they’ll run it, but they’re actually going to come out slinging it mike-Leach-air-raid-style? do you think the passing offense has actually been elite in practice, but this is one elaborate long con trying to make clemson think that it is a weakness? If so then no offense, but that is an asinine viewpoint.
For all brian Kelly’s faults, he’s a smart guy and football coach. If that’s what he’s been planning, then I’m sure it won’t work out and, were I not a broke college student, I would personally write the check for Jack swarbrick to buy Kelly out of his extension through 2024. however, I’m pretty confident that Kelly has realized his strengths are his offensive line, tight ends, running backs and defense, and I’m also confident that he intends to lean on those in this game.
Underestimate DJ [Uiagalelei]
I highly doubt that notre dame is going to underestimate a quarterback who, in first career start as a freshman, went 30-41 for 342 yards and two touchdowns and led his team to an 18-point comeback, the school’s biggest in a home game since 1966. couple that with brian Kelly commenting in his monday press conference about how the last time they faced clemson, the Tigers also had a freshman quarterback starting. his name is Trevor Lawrence. You might have heard of him.
Granted, Lawrence had been starting since the fifth game of the season in 2018 and Uiagalelei will be making just his second start in a trip to south bend with all the eyes of the college football world trained on this matchup. The Irish are probably dealing with two competing thought processes: relief over the fact they don’t have to face Lawrence and concern over the lack of game film they have to break down Uiagalelei’s tendencies. so no, I don’t anticipate them underestimating him, even if the national pundits and haters will try to make this a lose-lose for the Irish — blaming them for not being able to beat clemson without Lawrence or for only being able to beat them because he wasn’t playing.
What I think:
no one mentioned the offensive line or running game! Are you people daft?
As I alluded to, notre dame’s current approach to winning — which has been to bully teams into submission and drain the clock at the end of the game — is a double-edged sword. The downside is their offense is not built to make a comeback if a team gets out to a big lead. That hasn’t been an issue to this point, but most certainly could be against clemson. conversely though, imagine notre dame gets a lead in the range of one or two touchdowns. I mentioned last year’s game against Georgia wherein the Irish had the lead into the third quarter.
They ended up turning the ball over twice through the air, largely because they were forced to throw 47 times because the running game was non-existent. This running game is far better than it was, and it’s going against a defense that isn’t as good against the run as the bulldogs’.
Getting conservative is a real issue, but in this case, it’s also been the strength of the team. If notre dame is going to win this game, it will not be in a shootout, but by mucking it up and eking out a close one. And I for one can’t wait to see them make it ugly.
That’s everything. Thanks to everyone who took part in this. can’t wait to hear the reactions next week to whatever happens on saturday.
Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
to the program.
“Nick, although had a lot of snaps, I think he needed to really get a sense and feel for what our strength and conditioning program was about,” Kelly said. “Each program has its own kind of standards, if you will, and I think he’s done a terrific job of meeting those standards here and fitting in very well.”
McCloud recently had his first interception for the Irish against Pitt, a game which Notre Dame won 45-3.
Another player that came up was Avery Davis.
“Avery Davis has been really good for us,” Kelly said. “I think there had been times where we felt like he hadn’t played as fast as he actually is. He’s playing a lot freer, a lot more confident. That’s a good thing for us, because when he gets the ball in his hands, he can rip some runs for us.”
Kelly also commented on Jafar Armstrong and his move to the wide receiver position.
“We felt like where we are in the program at this point that the three backs that we have are pretty constant and consistent,” Kelly said. “We think that Jafar can be much more of an impact player for us at the wide receiver position. And he will continue to work there. And eventually, I think when he gets a little bit more time there, he’s going to impact us and help us win football games.”
Still, most of the questions focused on the Irish’s match-up against No. 1 Clemson.
“Everything they do, they do well,” Kelly said about their opponent. “Consistency is really what is amazing about this football team and in what Dabo [Swinney] has done. So again, just in all phases, they’re well-coached, prepared for everything.”
About the consistency of his own team’s play, Kelly said “we’re certainly well on our way to checking that box. We’ve shown incredible consistency as a football team of winning week in and week out.”
Saturday will not bring the Book-Lawrence matchup that was anticipated, due to Trevor Lawrence testing positive for COVID-19 Wednesday. Instead, freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei will lead the Tigers against the Irish. Kelly was asked how he will handle facing a young quarterback.
“D.J. will be well prepared for the number of things that we’ll show him. The most important thing is to make sure that he’s not comfortable back there,” Kelly said. “You’ve got to get a great pass rush. You’ve got to get him to move his feet. You’ve got to make sure that they don’t get in a rhythm, which is really the case for a lot of quarterbacks.”
As for the defense, Kelly said, they need to “make [Uiagalelei] do some things that he doesn’t want to do.”
Kelly also commented on the defensive line as a whole, and how the best way to judge their caliber is not always with their counting stats.
“I really think it’s about keeping people off the scoreboard, keeping the points down, and our defense does a really good job of eliminating big plays,” Kelly said. “And when you do that, I think that those are the most important statistics, when you really look at it. I mean, the rest of those things end up coming out as individual stats. This is a team unit, it’s a brotherhood of 11 guys playing together. And that makes it a dangerous defense.”
Notre Dame’s defensive line will be an important factor in the game this weekend. Even with a backup quarterback, Clemson is still a formidable opponent for Notre Dame, making this game its biggest of the season. According to Kelly, that fact does not phase the team much.
“Look, this game, it’s not the end all for us,” Kelly said. “We’re still in pursuit of a conference championship.”
Kelly also spoke on the added pressure the undefeated matchup could bring.
“We’re not a team that’s easily overcome with the moment. So, we’ll be just fine,” Kelly said. “So you’ve got to execute, you’ve got to play well in the moment. But this team has exhibited that they’re not a team that’s going to back away from a challenge, and when they’re down, they’ll certainly pick up their pace and answer any challenges that are in front of them. I have no question about that.”
Kelly also mentioned several times that Saturday’s game may not be the only time the Irish will face Clemson this season.
Kelly said that, although the team is excited, they need to keep sights on the bigger picture.
“If you empty the tank this weekend, and you don’t have anything left for BC, they’re going to beat you flat out,” Kelly said about their upcoming games. “So there has to be a measure of emotional mastery here where you understand the opponent, you’re excited about it, but you’ve got to play your best. And that’s what we’ve been building up for, is that competitive greatness on Saturday, but still understanding that there’s a lot of football still in front of us.”
Kelly assessed that the Irish are “at a great level to play and beat Clemson.”
In 2018, following the Clemson playoff game, Kelly had similar faith in his team when he said that they were on the brink of something “special.”
“I just felt like we had a lot of young players that were going to continue to grow in our program, and we played an outstanding football team,” Kelly said.
When asked where he thinks the program is today, Kelly presented the media with facts.
“We’re 29-3 in our last 32 games. I don’t know, we’ve won 22 consecutive games at home. We went 12 in a row,” Kelly said. “I don’t know, you guys decide.”
The team is taking off Tuesday after the NCAA mandated no team events on Election Day. This disrupted the team’s normal practice schedule for the week.
“It really makes it difficult because we’re on a testing regimen that makes it difficult because we don’t get all our testing back at the appropriate time,” Kelly said. “There are some realities to this that make it difficult. We’ll work through it. … I don’t think there’s any bad intent here. We’re all kind of dealing with the times that they are, and we’re reacting to it.”
Kelly said the football program has made an effort to be involved in voting.
“We’ve been at this for
PAID ADVERTISEMENT about a month now, registering our players,” Kelly said. “I think 90 of 114 of our players have already voted by absentee mail-in voting. We’ve already encouraged them to, again, use their voice. When we started this, in terms of being socially active, part of it is to do something about being involved in making a change, and so they can make a change by voting.”
Kelly said players who choose not to vote have the right to do so.
“But, clearly, when you have 90 out of 114 guys voting, this was very important to them,” Kelly said. “So we’ve prepared for that. We’ve been extremely active in it.”
Even with the eventful week that lays ahead for the team, Kelly remains focused on the task at hand.
“Really all that matters is that we get an opportunity to play Clemson this Saturday and compete against them. And who knows, it might not be the only time we play them this year,” Kelly said.
Though he knows Clemson will be working hard, Kelly said Notre Dame has plans to win this weekend.
“We feel pretty good about where we are. We’ll continue to develop our players in the manner that we feel is best for Notre Dame. Dabo is going to continue doing a great job of developing the players that he has and in the manner that he has. But we have different business plans,” Kelly said. “We’ll do what we’re doing, and should make for a great game on Saturday, I can tell you that.”
Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu
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Email Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
