Within Notre Dame’s dominant 49-7 win over the Stanford Cardinal last Saturday, perhaps the most promising aspect of Notre Dame’s performance was that the Irish passing offense finally started to spread its wings.
Finally, Irish fans saw glimpses of a high-octane and explosive Mike Denbrock passing offense that they have come to know and expect.
Against the Cardinal, Irish quarterback Riley Leonard threw for a season-high 229 yards and three touchdowns on 16-22 passing — his best passing performance of the year. Not only was Leonard’s improved passing ability a welcome sight for Irish fans, but it was a boon for the Irish receiving corps. Seven different receivers caught at least one pass, with senior Jayden Thomas and graduate student Kris Mitchell catching their first touchdown passes of the season. Irish graduate student Beaux Collins , who led the Irish with four catches for 85 yards on Saturday, spoke about how uptick in production from the wide receivers was an infectious motivator for the room as a whole.
"It’s awesome just for the morale of the group," Collins explained. "Seeing JT, [Kris] get their first touchdowns — it lights me up, it lights Coach ( Mike ) Brown up — it just shows what we’re capable of. “There’s still a lot left out there, so we just gotta come back, correct stuff, but plays like that are just uplifting to myself, the older guys, and the younger guys. Seeing all the work we put in since we got here and how it’s finally coming full circle.”
Thomas concurred on the production having an impact on the entire team.
"It [helps] a lot,” Thomas reflected about the dynamic passing plays. "Not only for us, but for the team, for your quarterback, for our o-line, for our tight ends, just everybody seeing more balls go in the end zone. Why wouldn’t it spark a light in the room?”
Collins and Thomas, as two of the older guys and two of the unquestioned leaders in the wide receiver room, reflected on how the passing game — engineered by Leonard — has improved throughout this season, while also reflecting on areas where the Irish can still get better.
"It’s amazing that [Riley] is able to be that relaxed now. I feel like earlier in the year we may not have gotten back to the third and fourth read, but that just shows how much he’s been improving,” Collins explained. "Film study, off-the-field, working with us, times like this after practice to get extra routes in. He’s getting more comfortable within this offense and I love to see it.
"Just the confidence to go out there and do it, man,” Collins continued on why the offense has improved. "Execution is the biggest thing. You know there’s still a lot left back out there for us, but I feel like we’re executing at a higher level than we ever have.”
Thomas echoed those sentiments, and believes the Irish — especially in regards to the passing game — still have so much more room for growth that is yet to be fulfilled.
"I think, as you can see, we’re on the right trajectory. I don’t think we’re nowhere near our full potential,” Thomas noted. "I know we had a good win, but ultimately there are still some mistakes we had out there. There is still a lot we watched yesterday and on Sunday that we left a lot out there still even though we won by a lot. We can get better.
"I feel like we know we can be a great team,” continued the veteran receiver. "It’s not a matter of when will that happen or how far we are from it. It’s getting one percent better each day just watching the tape, watching the good and the bad to get better.”
That mentality of slowly but surely getting better and better is one that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has preached all season, and one that Denbrock has emphasized about the passing game. It seems like the players have bought in and are continually ready to take the next step. However, going from "good to great” is a long, hard, and slow process. Collins and Thomas both reflected on what it will look like for Notre Dame to become a great team.
"I’d say just consistency," Collins stated. "Being able to make the routine plays all the time and the spectacular ones most of the time Eliminating mistakes, being disciplined as a team, and I think we’ll be good from there.”
Once again, Thomas was on the same page as his position-mate.
"It’s a disciplined football team in all facets,” Thomas spoke on what makes a great team. "Offense, defense, special teams, and just the depth that our team has - the culture that we have, the family aspect, all those things. Playing disciplined football is a great team.”
Notre Dame will aim to bring its consistency and discipline with it this weekend as the Irish fly down to Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on Georgia Tech. This’ll be a special weekend for both men, as Collins returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium — where he played Georgia Tech as a member of the Clemson Tigers back in 2022 — while Thomas, a native of Paulding County, Ga. returns home to play in front of family and friends.
"I can’t wait to get back in the crib,” Thomas emphasized. "Just to see all my family and my little brother watch me will be really cool.”
While the Yellow Jackets boast one of the nation’s better run defenses, their pass defense ranks 91st in the country in passing yards allowed per game (245.7). Facing a suspect secondary in an indoor Stadium, the Notre Dame passing offense may be improving at just the right time.
"I see an aggressive group,” Collins spoke about Georgia Tech after watching film. "They’re going to play to the whistle, every single play. They have some athletes on their defense as well. Front-seven is probably their most talented part of the defense. Secondary is good as well, but there are some areas where we can attack for sure, so going into this week, just polishing the things that we messed up on last week, and I think we’ll be just fine.”
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge
Irish Breakdown Content
2024 Scholarship Chart
2024 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2025 Scholarship Offers
2025 Commit Rankings - Offense
2025 Commit Rankings - Defense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
BECOME A MEMBER
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @joe97ev
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter
Local News
Comments / 0